Chapter 410

Watching Zhao Ruohan clench her fists with eager anticipation, and Chi Jiuyu sporting an "heroic martyr" expression, Xu Xing's eyebrow twitched.

"She'll be assigned to the appropriate group." After a pause, he added, "Compensation will also be provided, but it's hardly your place as a junior to offer it."

Huh!

So he really does intend for me to join the Soul Transformation group in the Xian Sect's grand competition… and there's compensation too…

Of course—given my peerless talent, supreme wisdom, and invincible Dao heart, how could fighting those Nascent Soul cultivators possibly be training!

Glancing at his dim-witted sister who'd been beaten into a dog, Chi Jiuyu whispered via telepathy: "Uncle, how much compensation are we talking?"

If it's too little, I might as well just take it straight from the beaten-dog sister!

"Don't worry, your aunt won't let you lose out."

Hmm…

That does sound right—it won't be too little, at least.

Huh!

Wait, Uncle, why did you just say that out loud without telepathy?!

What if the beaten-dog sister hears?

Out of the corner of his eye, Xu Xing noticed Zhao Ruohan didn't seem to care about that remark—her eyes blazed with combat intent.

"Thank you, Elder, for your kindness."

"No need to thank me—I planned it this way anyway." Xu Xing pulled out a blood-red jade, "This is a token of our first meeting."

"Thank you, Elder."

Zhao Ruohan did not refuse.

The Xiang Jianzong Elder is my father's closest friend; as a junior, I should accept this gift properly.

Uncle's throwing money around again…

Chi Jiuyu grumbled inwardly.

This beaten-dog sister is so rich—why not give some of it to your poor nephew instead!

By the way, why does this jade look so much like Zhang Yunlu's?

While his mind was still pondering, his mouth had already blurted out the question.

"What about me? What about me! Uncle, you went on a trip—didn't you bring me a gift too?!"

Her brain finally snapped back at the critical moment.

Uncle went to the Hehuan Sect—can you even talk about going to the Hehuan Sect?!

As the saying goes: family shame must not be aired publicly…

Xu Xing: "..."

This guy's beatings really aren't wasted.

With a wave of his hand, a wine jar appeared on the table, its entire surface glowing with a lustrous sheen—carved from some unknown spiritual jade.

"Be careful—one sip will make you drunk for a full day."

Spiritual wine…

She wasn't particularly interested in alcohol, but whatever Uncle brought back surely wasn't ordinary.

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Xu Xing gave a slight nod: "Work hard in your cultivation. This Xian Sect grand competition will be a good opportunity."

With that, he reached out, snatched the Xiang Jianzong Token hanging from Chi Jiuyu's waist, and vanished.

"We respectfully bid farewell to the Elder."

After bowing, Zhao Ruohan immediately turned and fixed her burning gaze on the forlorn Chi Jiuyu.

The Xiang Jianzong Token…

Gone already. She was looking forward to playing with it a few more days.

Uncle is so stingy!

"Chi Jiuyu, after the Xian Sect grand competition begins, let's fight again." To bolster her own confidence, Zhao Ruohan added seriously, "This time, I won't lose!"

She must prove that spell cultivators are the strongest today!

"Mm-hmm, we'll take it seriously too." She replied with utter indifference.

Chi Jiuyu walked over to the table and picked up the jar of spiritual wine.

After examining it closely, he shook it gently—the crystal-clear wine swirled inside.

Hss~

Never seen this before—what kind of spiritual jade is this?

"Do you know what kind of spiritual jade this is?"

Zhao Ruohan froze.

Chi Jiuyu doesn't recognize this material?

She hurried forward, studying the jade wine jar intently…

"I don't know either," Zhao Ruohan admitted, surprised.

Since childhood, she'd seen countless treasures and spiritual materials—but she'd never seen this wine jar's material before.

Not even anything similar.

"You haven't seen it either…" Chi Jiuyu set the jar down.

If even this rich beaten-dog sister hasn't seen it, this must be an extremely rare material. After finishing the wine, I could probably sell it for another profit.

Honestly, if I weren't afraid of being hung up and beaten by my master, I'd just sell it outright…

"By the way, you keep saying you want revenge for your brother—doesn't he compete this year?"

Logically speaking, shouldn't it be "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river — never look down on the child of an immortal"?

"He's not important."

"... Fine, fine."

She was a normal, once-in-an-era prodigy — better not try to guess the bizarre brain circuits of this dog-beaten little sister.

"Let's add each other as friends, it'll be easier to keep in touch later." Chi Jiuyu took out her phone.

This was a big spender, and the best candidate to sell wine jars to — of course she had to add them as a friend, so she could ruthlessly farm gold coins from them later!

"Sure." Zhao Ruohan had the same thought.

Only by understanding your opponent more can you surpass them better!

A few seconds later...

Chi Jiuyu stared at the friend 【Silently Cultivating Little Zhao】 and fell into thought.

Zhao Ruohan also stared at the friend 【Future Sect Master of Xiang Jianzong】 and fell into thought.

Isn't this that idiot from the Spirit Net before?! x2

……

……

Sword Reverence Hall.

Bie Xuening sat upright at the center of the dais, eyes closed in quiet contemplation.

Firelight flickered, casting a crescent-moon sliver of aloofness across her slender brows — the same unapproachable air as always.

"Ye Shijie." A call came to her ear.

Her brow furrowed slightly; she slowly opened her eyes, revealing autumn-water pupils. Only after clearly seeing who had come did a faint ripple stir in her gaze.

"Junior Brother is back."

The one who came was none other than Xu Xing.

"This trip to the Hehuan Sect — did you gain anything?"

"Mm." Xu Xing walked over and sat down before her. "Although I still haven't found a way to completely dispel the 'Dao Bewilderment,' I did at least come to understand its cause, and roughly figure out the direction for solving it."

Bie Xuening's expression remained calm as she listened attentively.

The balance between the 'Dao' and the 'Self,' the Severing-Self Transcendence Art, the Three Daos of a True Immortal...

Only after hearing all of Xu Xing's various conjectures did she give a slight nod.

"Going to the Hehuan Sect to find her this time did have some use..."

Suddenly, she recalled the things Master Mei Zu had said in the group chat, and couldn't help frowning.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to ask, Xu Xing spoke first: "Before I came back, Master Mei Zu asked me to bring you some gifts."

He took out those wine jars carved with little yellow duck patterns and laid them out.

Looking at the pattern on them, a faint light stirred in Bie Xuening's eyes.

"I also left a jar for Jiuyu."

Left for that rebellious disciple...

Would the wine brewed by that fellow Master Mei Zu be...

After examining it for a while and confirming that even Soul Transformation cultivators could drink it without issue, she finally set her mind at ease.

Indeed, Junior Brother had always handled things reliably.

She cast a glance down the mountain: "That's Lord Hong's daughter."

Zhao Ruohan's background naturally couldn't be hidden from Bie Xuening.

"She came to challenge Jiuyu, saying she wanted to avenge her brother. I went to meet her, and gave her a meeting gift along the way."

Challenging that rebellious disciple...

Bie Xuening withdrew her gaze, no longer paying attention.

She couldn't be bothered to manage the squabbles between juniors — among their peers, no one could defeat that rebellious disciple anyway.

"For this Xian Sect Grand Tournament, Jiuyu will be placed in the Soul Transformation group, but the compensation won't be lower than the first-place reward of the Nascent Soul group. What does Ye Shijie think?"

"Mm, then let it be so. Let the sect masters work out the specific details."

With her saying so, the matter was settled. Bie Xuening reached out, picked up a wine jar, and held it before her to examine. Seeing the little yellow duck pattern pleased her even more.

After a while, she set it down: "What Master Mei Zu said — is it true or false?"

"Mm?"

"What was said in the group chat."

Dual cultivation?

"Of course it's false, how could it be true?" Xu Xing was caught between laughter and tears.

Bie Xuening merely nodded slightly and asked no more.

Although she knew it was unlikely, confirming it did put her mind somewhat at ease.

…………

After returning to Xiang Jianzong, Xu Xing rested for a day.

He looked in on the few disciples of his still at Xiang Jianzong.

!

He mostly listened to Li Ke complain about the endless affairs of the Miscellaneous Duties Hall, received Jing Hai's report on star-domain garrison rotation matters, checked on Yan Ming who was in closed-door cultivation, and so on...

He also went to visit Ye Shijie Ji, but sadly the situation was still not optimistic.

Besides that, he helped the Sect Master resolve some difficult problems...

Early the next morning, he set off for Qingxu.

The Xian Sect's grand competition is imminent, and he must select a suitable world to serve as the training ground for this event.

He must also screen those worlds that had been anchored by Xuan, marked by its schemes, and purge the influences within them.

Too many worlds had been tainted by Xuan; naturally, it was easier to go to Qing Xu, where the world's veil was thinnest.

There was no need to worry about failing to find them.

After all, Xuan now had to maintain balance on the frontlines of the starry battlefield, prevent the Dao Slaves in Ancient Tai Xuan Tian from causing chaos, and plan for its ascension.

It could no longer spare the energy to conceal its methods scattered across the myriad worlds of the Chaotic Sea.

……

……

Yet shortly after Xu Xing departed,

the Xiang Jianzong welcomed a special visitor.

Though only at the Reversal Void realm, he claimed he wished to meet the Ancestral Sword Master?!

A Reversal Void cultivator seeking the Ancestral Sword Master?

Even those at the Cave Truth realm might not get a chance to see him!

Outer Sect Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

"The Ancestral Master's whereabouts are unpredictable, and whether he wishes to see someone is not for us juniors to decide."

The Jin Dan-stage disciple receiving him offered a polite, composed smile.

Reversal Void? He'd assumed this was some elder's friend, not someone who'd come straight out asking for the Ancestral Sword Master.

Utterly… inscrutable.

Nonsense—anyone who speaks like that either has real backing or is insane.

Whether the former or the latter, neither was someone he could afford to offend.

He was just a lowly Jin Dan; he'd never be so foolish as to look down on a Reversal Void elder.

Only those brain-dead villain types would be stupid enough to misread the situation.

"Do you know any other elders in the sect? I can deliver a message on your behalf."

The Ancestral Master was beyond his reach—he couldn't even touch the edge of that level, let alone deliver a message.

"Then… what about the Sect Master?"

Sssss~!

Not the Ancestral Master, but the Sect Master? Just who was this Reversal Void elder?

"Please wait a moment—I'll inform the administrator." After a pause, the reception disciple added, "Do you have any further details about your identity?"

"..." The man hesitated, then finally said, "Li Ming of Fuliu, Reversal Void Perfect."

Indeed, this man was Li Ming, the Fuliu Realm's transcendent.

During this time, after touring the Central Continent, he ventured into the starry expanse, cultivating the "Zheng Wo Ming Yuan Fa Xiang" given to him by Xu Xing, helping repel several biological weapon attacks.

Now feeling the timing right and his cultivation reaching a bottleneck, he returned to the Central Continent, preparing to pursue a Higher Realm.

But he still had many unclear points regarding Dao Union, and wished to seek guidance.

He also came to thank the Ancestral Sword Master for his recent protection, and to inform him of his intention to join the Tai Shang Dao Sect.

As for why he did not join the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect,

it was not due to prejudice against body cultivators.

It was just that body cultivation… though excellent,

he still felt he was better suited to method cultivation.

"Very well, I've informed the administrator; I believe you'll hear back soon..."

Before he could finish, his terminal received a message—

The Sect Master agreed to see him.

What the hell!

The Sect Master, who was buried in affairs day and night, busy as…, actually agreed to meet this Reversal Void elder.

Good thing, good thing—he'd followed protocol, and his attitude had been flawless.

"The Sect Master has replied. Please wait a moment."

"Thank you."

Li Ming bowed, then sat on a nearby bench, his gaze fixed on the doorway.

Flying shuttles came and went; swordlight crisscrossed.

Some seemed to be cultivation partners, flying side by side, tender and affectionate.

Then, slowed by their sluggish sword speed, they were caught by monitoring devices and fined.

Uh…

All in all, everything was quite good.

"Tai Xuan Xianjie..."

In this past year, he had witnessed too much, too much prosperity.

A systematic, standardized cultivation education; various advanced artifacts integrated into every facet of daily life...

He felt he would never forget, never forget the awe he felt the first time he saw the star-system energy collection array.

And the star-system port, and the miraculous techniques of the Star Refiners...

One could say, besides body cultivation not suiting him well,

the other reason he chose the Tai Shang Dao Sect was because its Star Refining methods were unquestionably the best.

If, on the day I achieve Dao Union, I ever get the chance to return home and take a look...

Such a divine ability should greatly improve the living conditions of the human race in Fuliu Realm.

Ah~

I've been in Taixuan Realm for over a year now; I wonder how Fuliu Realm is faring today.

Just as his thoughts were in turmoil.

Hum~!

A streak of sword light, carrying a chilling intent, pierced through the gate and landed on the ground, transforming into an elderly man with an ethereal, immortal aura, clad in a purple-gold long robe, his demeanor refined and otherworldly.

It was none other than Du Ruoheng's Sword Intent Spiritual Body.

How could one handle the countless affairs of the Xiang Jianzong without forging thousands of Sword Intent Spiritual Bodies? How could one ever become the Zong Sect's Patriarch!

He walked calmly and unhurriedly toward Li Ming.

"Greetings, Elder," Li Ming quickly rose and bowed.

But before he could complete the bow, Du Ruoheng halted him with a hand: "Young friend, no need for such formalities."

A hint of appreciation shone in his eyes.

He had been watching this transcendent's every move — a true and genuine pillar of talent.

Not only does he carry great righteousness for the human race, he is also a prodigy who rose above billions of beings in his realm; though his methods are somewhat cautious, not a single flaw can be found beyond that.

No wonder even the Ancestor praised him.

Too bad he isn't a Sword Cultivator.

"Young friend, you've come here for the purpose of merging with the Dao," Du Ruoheng smiled, then sighed, "Unfortunately, the Ancestor is not present; I shall have to explain to you the subtleties of merging with the Dao."

Whether a transcendent can merge with the Dao is a matter even the Ancestor watches closely — naturally, it cannot be taken lightly.

Fortunately, that old fellow Cheng Junming hasn't left yet; I'll have him come over too to explain, since Li Ming is a Law Cultivator after all!

"Thank you, Elder." (End of Chapter)