Chapter 290: World Chat Channel Activated

Foundation Establishment, body cultivator!

A body cultivator so dangerous even I feel threatened!

Zhang Yunlu quickly guessed the man's identity, since his opening words had already made it clear.

Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect!

Clearly, this is also a cultivator on trial!

I never expected to meet another trial cultivator here.

So…

Did that sudden Jin Dan not even notice me?

Zhang Yunlu continued maintaining the Purple Qi Concealment and Spirit Hiding Technique, shifting slightly behind the rockery.

Jiji!

A small bird, half the size of a palm, gray and dull, flew down from the sky and landed precisely on the peak of the rockery where Zhang Yunlu stood, staring straight ahead.

…

…

Inside the waterside pavilion.

Fu Yun quietly exhaled in relief upon seeing the body cultivator leap out.

Good, good—it's just a Foundation Establishment.

But he did not lower his guard.

"I wonder, sir, what business brings you to intrude upon my junior's home at night?"

Ziqing Temple was mysteriously wiped out; though major sects sealed the news, rumors say it was done by a group of body cultivators with abysmal manners who cursed nonstop…

This fellow clearly fits the description.

Better to be cautious.

After all, "clearing all obstacles" doesn't always require fighting!

"Seven days ago, I… I met Old Lin here, and he treated me to two fish and three crabs," the body cultivator looked up at the men in the pavilion.

"But when I returned today, I found Old Lin's legs broken and his daughter seized as tax payment."

"I just want to ask—why charge tax for fishing? Do you also charge tax for killing fish?"

"And you call it 'Mercy Tax'? Tsk tsk!"

"Truly merciful toward all living beings."

Fu Yun froze—he had imagined a thousand possible reasons, but never this one.

He turned to Gu Cong: "Explain this to the young man."

As a Jin Dan, he knew more than a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Tai Xuan Tian is now in turmoil; even Ziqing Temple, a great sect with a Reversal Void elder residing, was destroyed—what more for Chengyun Sect?

This involvement in the mortal realm isn't just for a share of the spoils—it's also to secure an escape route if needed.

The sect master personally instructed me: this mission is of great importance.

"I don't know…"

Gu Cong was equally bewildered—he had no idea about any of this—but seeing Master Fu Yun's gaze, he swallowed the rest of his words.

"Brother, I am unaware of this matter, but rest assured—if it truly happened, I'll have them release the person immediately!"

If Master is this serious, I must respond with equal gravity.

"No need—the person is already back with me," the body cultivator waved his hand.

"…?"

Wait, you already took them back—then why the hell did you sneak in here in the middle of the night?

"Then what is your intent, young man?"

"Sigh~ I've thought and thought, afraid that after I leave, this will happen again—and it's not the only case. Someone must be held accountable."

Gu Cong's heart lurched: "Brother, are you implying…"

The body cultivator rubbed his head: "After investigating, everything seems tied to here. So I'm going to talk to Dingnan Wang."

"You're talking about my father—!" Gu Cong's voice rose.

"Don't yell—I haven't done anything to him yet!" the body cultivator roared like thunder.

Gu Cong: "…"

Who the hell has the louder voice here?

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"I don't know yet—but after I talk to Dingnan Wang, it'll be clear."

Clear after you talk to him?

He'll be dead by then!

That won't do—if other great sects intervene later, at least having a moral claim could help!

"This cannot be allowed—it involves the great affairs of my Cheng… Chengfeng Pavilion. Could you please grant me this favor?"

Huh?

Gu Cong and the woman in the pale yellow long skirt froze.

Chengfeng Pavilion is their sworn enemy, Chengyun Sect's rival!

"That's impossible."

"Sigh~ Since you're determined to make this difficult, I shall have to test your skills."

"So it's gonna come to fighting after all!" The body cultivator clenched his fist, his body crackling with sharp, snapping sounds. "Listen up—if you lose, you're not allowed to interfere in my business!"

He had a decent attitude, so he hadn't formed any killing intent.

"Please, young friend, instruct me."

Shhh!

Floating Cloud spat out!

A soft sound—a nearly invisible sword qi flashed and vanished, stabbing straight at the body cultivator of Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect.

"You're a Jin Dan attacking a Foundation Establishment? You're truly shameless!!"

Boom!

Blood qi erupted, forming a visible heat wave that spread outward; the body cultivator stomped the ground, dodged the sword qi, and lunged violently toward the pavilion.

"Just a Jin Dan, and he keeps calling himself 'this seat'? His skin's so thick!"

"You're really talented—you can be both shameless and have thick skin at the same time!"

Hmm, fits the character perfectly…

Wait.

It fits the sect's speech pattern perfectly!

This is clearly the early stage of Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect symptoms.

Stung by these words, Floating Cloud's body trembled slightly; his face darkened, and he gritted his teeth: "I… how I address myself is none of your business, you Foundation Establishment brat."

"Sorry, sorry, I'm used to cursing."

As the apology reached his ears, the body cultivator had already lunged to his front.

Though his physique looked massive, it was incredibly agile; the heat wave from his blood qi pressed down on Gu Cong, making him feel suffocated.

"Catch this punch!"

He clenched his five fingers; the surging blood qi made Floating Cloud's heart skip—he dared not slacken for a moment, summoning all his magic power to block with a horizontal palm.

Bang!

A kick directly struck Floating Cloud's abdomen; the overwhelming force made his eyes bulge in pain!

His body instantly curved like a shrimp, then smashed through the pavilion's railing and flew out.

Cheating!

Floating Cloud, flying backward, his eyes turned bloodshot.

But the body cultivator just chuckled, still hurling curses.

He stomped his foot!

His figure shot forward, catching up to the flying Floating Cloud; the water surface sank inward, as if split open by a passage.

Behind the rockery, Zhang Yunlu watched intently.

This body cultivator's fighting style is so dirty…

Will my big brother turn into this too?

"Sigh~"

A soft sigh came from behind.

Zhang Yunlu's heart leapt; she spun around sharply.

There, behind her, stood a small girl with a delicate, pretty face—no taller than one meter fifty…

She wore a long, wide-sleeved green robe, with a jade tablet hanging at her waist, engraved with two bold characters—Ji Shi.

From Ji Shi Valley…

Could not discern her realm.

!. read

She flicked a spent green incense stick in her hand and muttered.

"That's why I hate fighting body cultivators."

Then she turned toward the rockery.

"You agree, right?"

Of course.

She couldn't possibly have missed me.

Zhang Yunlu prepared to stand and greet her.

"Indeed."

A clear voice came from above.

Huh?

A dull gray bird flapped its wings down and landed on the girl's shoulder.

Hmm…

So she hadn't noticed me—she must be Foundation Establishment too.

That gray bird was probably summoned by some other Xian Sect cultivator on training… yet not a single hint of spiritual energy could be sensed…

Truly, there are always greater beings out there.

The alchemist girl patted the bird on her shoulder curiously: "What technique is this? I didn't sense any spiritual energy at all?"

"Technique? No, this is the seventh-generation Gray Bird UAV from Shenji Lianbao Pavilion—no spiritual mechanism, powered by electricity."

Gray Bird… UAV?

Wait, you bring a UAV into the outer realm training?

"It's sold on the Spirit Net—they say the eighth generation's coming out soon, so it's cheap."

"You can do that? You're from Shenji Lianbao Pavilion?"

"No, I'm from Ling Yin Fang." After a pause, the other asked with some confusion, "But didn't this training exercise have no requirements at all? Why not?"

"…"

Alright, I just can't adapt.

The young alchemist and Zhang Yunlu thought simultaneously.

"Still, I'm curious—my drone has no Qi fluctuation at all. How did you notice it?"

"Well, of course it's because I have a pair of enlightened eyes!" the young alchemist said proudly.

Who has a little bird just staring motionless at one spot?!

"By the way, I'm Lin Xuanxuan, Foundation Establishment mid-stage. What about you?"

"Nangong Ruo, Foundation Establishment mid-stage." A voice emerged from the drone.

Zhang Yunlu listened silently as the two introduced themselves, saying nothing.

…

…

High above, Hehuan Laozu, seated on a blue-gold longsword, had heard every word.

She couldn't help but slap her thigh in frustration!

Of course!

The Miscellaneous Affairs Hall had so many convenient and fun magical devices—why hadn't she thought to bring some along for fun?!

She pulled out her phone.

With a casual spell of Qi replenishment, the battery, which had been down to a sliver, instantly filled to full.

Most modern phones now charge with both electricity and Qi; they're extremely durable—just cast a charging spell or Qi replenishment spell when the power runs low.

She glanced at the top-right corner of the screen.

Sure enough, no network.

Sigh~

Chi Jiuyu looked up at the sky, where stars sparkled everywhere.

"Omnipotent Master Uncle, can you get me internet in this world?"

A sincere prayer from Hehuan Laozu.

"…"

Naturally, she received no response.

But just as she slumped, putting her phone away—

Hum~

A soft buzz sounded, and her wrist suddenly went numb.

On her wrist, the green mark glowed with a faint luminescence.

At the same time, a grand voice echoed in her mind, making her head ring.

"Taishang Dao Sect, Nascent Soul Yang Lin's training failed. World chat channel activated!"

Huh??!

Someone failed their training?

Immediately, a semi-transparent pale blue screen appeared before her, displaying one line of text and a box.

【Please set your nickname】

What the hell?

Had Hehuan Laozu's prayer actually worked?!

"I'm definitely the protagonist!"

Whatever you think of appears—what else could this be but the protagonist's fate?!

Set a nickname?

No need to think.

Chi Jiuyu typed with perfect ease: "Future Sect Master of the Xiang Jianzong."

【Confirm "Future Sect Master of the Xiang Jianzong" as your training nickname?】

Just as she was about to click confirm, she suddenly froze.

Hmm…

Wait, doesn't the Three Realms have no Xiang Jianzong?

A flash of "wisdom" crossed her eyes; she quickly backed out, deleted two characters, then clicked confirm!

As if fulfilling some long-held wish, Chi Jiuyu couldn't help but grin widely. (End of Chapter)