Chapter 434: Chi Jiuyu, the Treasure Hunter

Golden light flickered in her eyes as she swept a glance across the entire imperial city.

Beneath the might of the Void-Breaking False-Delusion Golden Pupils, nothing could hide, and in the end Chi Jiuyu's gaze settled on a corner of the imperial palace.

"Found it."

She muttered that, and the cyan-gold longsword that had been hovering high above began to drift, wobbling as it descended into the imperial palace.

At the same time, she summoned the pale-blue, semi-transparent panel projected by the Grand Mystery Immortal Net.

【Name: Chi Jiuyu】

【Age: 23】

【Realm: Early Soul Transformation】

【System Loaded This Round: Scales of Time】

【Current Points: 0】

【Evaluation: The Abstract Number One Prodigy of All Heavens and Worlds】

【Time Remaining: 128:56:43】

Apart from the addition of a Time Remaining option, the Grand Mystery Immortal Net panel itself had basically not changed.

One hundred and twenty-eight hours—if she had not reached this world's Cultivation Realm by then, she would be eliminated and the rankings tallied directly.

It was the unique shrinking-circle mechanic of the "Battle Royale" rules.

Otherwise, with a world this vast, wouldn't that sneaky bunch from the Grand Supreme Dao Sect just hide until the end of time?

But that was the only restriction; beyond it, anyone could use any means to eliminate their competitors in this Xian Sect Grand Tournament.

Tsk tsk!

Such brutally simple rules—even the supreme wisdom of their Jiuyu Hehuan Laozu had no use here!

In that case, if she ran into those old-timers in their fifties or sixties, there'd be very little room for outwitting them…

Looks like she'd still have to rely on this Scales of Time system.

Worth mentioning was that, through study, Chi Jiuyu had already initially figured out the "cheat"—or rather, the "golden finger"—she'd obtained this time.

The Scales of Time system belonged to the "Temporal Causality" series of rule-assistance modules.

Based on the age gap between herself and her opponent, it could weaken her opponent to a certain degree.

Simply put, it pulled her opponent's cultivation realm and overall condition back to a time period close to her own age.

At twenty-three, she was undoubtedly the perfect fit for the Scales of Time system.

If she could drag an opponent's state all the way back to twenty-three, their Jiuyu Hehuan Laozu would simply be invincible, alright!

Twenty-three years old, mind you!

Besides herself, who else had reached Soul Transformation at that age?

Some mere Nascent Soul cultivators thinking they could reverse-slash their Jiuyu Hehuan Laozu—dream on!

But unfortunately, the weakening wasn't that exaggerated.

Setting aside the fact that when used on fellow Xian Sect Grand Tournament participants, their own solid foundations would reduce the effect considerably, this "system" had only unlocked twenty percent of its performance so far.

The remaining performance would only continue to unlock after the "shrinking circle."

"Sigh~"

Chi Jiuyu silently sighed inside.

Not only was her supreme wisdom useless, but the cheat they'd given her was still a half-finished product…

Looks like this Xian Sect Grand Tournament won't be easy.

Emm…

Wonder how Little Zhao and Little Zhang Zhang Yunlu are doing now.

Little Zhao's level isn't bad, just don't know where his "initial spawn point" is.

As for Little Zhang Zhang Yunlu, I heard they were dropped into another trial ground this time—don't know how she's faring either.

Little Zhang Zhang Yunlu still falls short in every respect. Even though Eldest Senior Sister gave her emergency special training recently, the time was too short; winning the championship will still be very difficult.

……

……

As her thoughts drifted, Chi Jiuyu had already floated above the imperial palace.

She looked down.

Within the triple-layered moon gate entwined with peony scrolls, the bronze crane incense burner in the inner hall was puffing out wisps of green smoke, and nine white-veil Daoist nuns carrying celadon purification vases walked slowly along the cloister.

Each one was born with ice-flesh and jade-bones, fair and lovely.

Finally, they stopped before the elixir chamber hung with shark-silk curtains, watching the white-haired Emperor inside, robed in crimson gauze, lift vermilion with a silver needle and trace the final cloud-seal onto yellow hemp paper.

The seal-script coiled, vigorous and forceful, like a coiling dragon held under decree—truly carrying a touch of the extraordinary.

'This dog Emperor actually has some real skill.'

A strange look crossed Chi Jiuyu's face; she'd originally assumed this dog Emperor was just messing around.

She held her position and kept watching.

The Emperor lifted the finished talisman, examining it left and right, feeling every stroke had reached a marvelous point.

But the more he looked, the more irritated he grew.

Ever since, several years ago, he had chanced upon a chance to obtain this talisman-making method from an immortal master of the Cangxuan Dynasty, he had put in tremendous effort, never slacking for a single day!

But why did this Life-Extension Talisman still show not the slightest effect!

"Hmph!"

After a cold snort, he tore the talisman paper in his hands to shreds.

The several white-veil Daoist nuns holding celadon vases were so terrified they dropped to their knees, hearts filled with boundless dread.

However, the Emperor did not turn around; after tearing the talisman to shreds, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

After quite a while, he finally calmed down.

No matter — there was still the "Mortal-to-Immortal" grand array. Even if the life-extending talisman couldn't take effect, with the grand array he would surely be able to…

"Tsk tsk! I must say, you dog-Emperor really do have a knack for courting death."

The voice from behind cut straight through his thoughts.

Hmm?!

After a brief daze, he whipped his head around to look up at the sky — and the sight before his eyes made his pupils contract.

A figure sat astride a cyan-gold longsword, quietly suspended in the air just like that.

He looked a bit of a slacker…

No, wait!

Carefree and unrestrained!

Sword Immortal?

That was the word that surfaced in the Emperor's mind.

What he had sought his whole life had once again appeared before his eyes; his lips trembled twice, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

It was at this moment that he realized something was wrong.

All the hidden sentries in the palace, the guards stationed around him — they all seemed to have gone blind; not a single one rushed out to "protect the Emperor."

Even the nine white-robed Daoist nuns kneeling on the ground remained prostrate, none of them lifting their heads.

"I… We… I." He switched through several self-references in a row, then finally cupped his hands in a bow. "The Emperor of Panyun Kingdom of the mortal realm, Pang Ling, greets the Sword Immortal."

Having once witnessed a Celestial Master's power with his own eyes, he now harbored not a shred of arrogance in his heart.

Or rather, the little arrogance he had was worn clean away over the years as his body grew ever more decrepit.

Sword Immortal?

Chi Jiuyu paused: "You dog-Emperor really do know how to talk, don't you."

"…" Pang Ling was silent for a moment, not angered. "May I ask what brings the Sword Immortal here?"

"Of course it's to kill you." Chi Jiuyu said bluntly.

The blunt words left Pang Ling somewhat stunned: "I… have I somehow offended you, Sword Immortal?"

It was absurd — he had been quietly drawing talismans inside the palace, hadn't even gone out much, so how on earth had he offended a Sword Immortal?

"I've been watching you along the way here, and I noticed you don't seem to be a good sort."

Just as Pang Ling was about to open his mouth to defend himself, Chi Jiuyu spoke first: "But looking at you, you don't have more than two days left anyway, so it saves me the trouble."

He didn't have more than two days left?!

"I don't know where you got your talisman arts, but while they have some use, drawing too many of these talismans drains your own vital essence, so… you're already nearly dead."

She had thought she'd have to do it herself, but as it turned out this guy was already half-dead anyway — might as well let him die knowing the reason.

"Wasn't that a life-extending talisman?" Pang Ling blurted out.

"Life-extending talisman? You're thinking too much. Under normal circumstances, low- to mid-grade talismans simply can't have that kind of function." Chi Jiuyu took out a talisman paper and waved it. "Yours doesn't even count as a basic talisman."

Doesn't even count as a basic talisman?

Chi Jiuyu spoke casually, but Pang Ling's face suddenly went deathly pale. Clutching his heaving chest, he staggered back two steps and only stopped when he leaned against the desk.

All the talismans he had drawn over so many years not only drained his own vital essence, but didn't even count as basic talismans?

This truth was a bit hard for him to accept.

He instinctively didn't want to believe it, but his reason reminded him that this was the truth.

Ever since he had obtained this talisman-making method from the Cangxuan Dynasty several years ago, he had practiced day and night, yet his body had grown worse by the day, far from what it once was.

He had always assumed it was from being too obsessed and overworked, but now that he thought about it…

No matter, no matter — he still had the "Mortal-to-Immortal Grand Array"…

"Oh right, that grand array down below — it's a kind of array that 'refines blood into spirit.'"

Chi Jiuyu flicked a sword-light from her finger.

A cold gleam flashed in the void, sinking into the ground; the matchless sharpness made one's heart run cold in waves.

Boom boom boom!

The ground before the alchemy chamber collapsed, caving inward, revealing a pitch-black space within.

It was clearly an underground palace!

Inside was also a massive blood pool, filled to the brim with the blood of fierce beasts; beside the pool were drawn crooked, twisting array patterns — extremely eerie.

The array was one final step from completion — using nine sheng of fresh heart-blood from premature infants to "ignite the spirit."

Because the heart-blood had to be collected within a single shichen, Pang Ling had only ordered people to build a pregnancy hall, and hadn't yet gotten around to acting…

Most of the methods now circulating in the Xuanxiang Realm originated from the "Spirit-Herding" lineage left behind by Xuan, so such techniques were especially common.

"If you wanted to use this array to extend your life, forget it — it's basically impossible."

Pang Ling, still stunned by the Sword Immortal's methods, felt a chill run through his heart at these words.

"You're far too old, and your body is severely depleted. Even if your talent were peerless — a hundredth of mine — you still absolutely could not use this to successfully cultivate Qi."

"Let alone the fact that you don't even have a cultivation method."

"Wait for death. There's no saving you."

As if delivering a verdict, Chi Jiuyu patted the sword hilt, and the cyan-gold longsword carried her off, vanishing into the horizon just like that.

Pang Ling, who had still wanted to say something, to struggle, watched her leave so cleanly; his face churned with a livid, dark pallor.

Pent-up frustration coiled in his heart, and a surge of rage attacked his chest.

Pfft!

A mouthful of old blood spewed out, and he collapsed helplessly to the ground, his vision blurring.

Noisy voices came from all around, but he could no longer hear them.

In a daze, he felt his body growing lighter, as if auspicious clouds were rising beneath his feet, and three flowers bloomed atop his head, carrying him floating toward the sky.

A gate crafted from precious jade, radiating streams of rosy light and auspicious radiance, where sages and saints of old gathered in assembly.

In another blink, all strange phenomena vanished; figures surged about, and the incense rising high above formed a dense, woven mist.

Where were the auspicious clouds? Where were the three flowers atop his head…

"Hahaha! Fake! All fake! Hahaha!"

Amid a burst of loud laughter, Pang Ling expired.

…

…

"Is that it? He's dead?"

High above, Chi Jiuyu scratched his head, watching the scene.

"Was it my words that crushed him too hard… or was he just too fragile?"

Sitting there in midair, thinking for a while, he soon stopped dwelling on it.

He tapped the sword hilt: "Let's go!"

The swordlight transformed into a rainbow, wrapping around him, slicing a thin line of azure sky through the clouds.

Thanks to the powerful spiritual sense of the Spirit Transformation Realm, she had already located the Cultivation Realm.

This dog Emperor broke down and died of rage—now the focus must shift to the Xian Sect's Grand Competition; none of this year's opponents are easy to handle.

Thus, the swordlight soon reached the border of Pan Yun Nation—

An endless sea.

Rumors claimed that colossal sea monsters dwelled here, and countless ships that ventured into this sea never returned.

Thus, this sea was called the "Nonreturn Sea."

But in truth, those who explored the sea didn't return not because of any so-called "sea monsters."

Rather, the middle section of this sea was sealed by the Tianling Sect's Lock-Spirit and Seal-Void Great Array, designed solely to prevent spiritual energy from leaking into the mortal realm.

Entry permitted, exit forbidden.

Those fleets that strayed in were likely long since devoured down to the last bone.

In today's Cultivation Realm of Xiang Phase, even cultivators are stripped of skin and bones, their marrow squeezed dry—let alone ordinary people who wandered in by accident.

The swordlight crossed the sea, reached its midpoint, and vanished into the void.

…

…

【Nonreturn City】.

One of the largest Zhitui Xiancheng in the Xiang Phase, far surpassing 【Paper Molting Zhitui Xiancheng】 in scale.

Located at the border between the territories ruled by the Tianling Sect and the Xue Jin Gang Temple, its city lord is a Return-to-Void cultivator, known among cultivators as the Nonreturn Immortal Venerable, who also serves as a guest elder of the Xue Jin Gang Temple.

Yet as the leader of the orthodox path and the most dominant sect in the Xiang Phase, the Nonreturn Immortal Venerable himself treats the Tianling Sect with great respect.

Disciples of the Tianling Sect who enter Nonreturn City enjoy the same treatment as disciples of the Xue Jin Gang Temple.

Not only is the entry fee halved, but various taxes are also reduced to varying degrees.

Moreover, any Tianling Sect disciple gains Level Three purchasing privileges upon entry, allowing direct purchase of soul fragments and human flesh.

Above the Nonreturn Sea, a group of hunters clad in blood-red cassocks, their bald heads inscribed with Xue Jin Gang patterns, their bodies massive and sturdy, searched along the sea surface.

Dense and countless, they resembled a swarm of blood-colored mosquitoes hovering over the water.

A hidden swordlight flashed and vanished, drawing no attention whatsoever.

Shh!

The azure swordlight landed on a distant small hill outside the city, sinking into the forest shade, transforming into the agile, lively figure of a woman.

It was Chi Jiuyu!

"Damn it! Have the locals already spotted me coming in? Is that array really that advanced?!"

Due to sheer coincidence, she mistook the hunters for those sent to capture her.

"I need to be more careful."

After muttering this, she walked straight into the depths of the forest.

About ten minutes passed.

A moss-covered boulder by the roadside suddenly "split open."

More accurately, it stretched its body, transforming from a "boulder" into a tall, burly man.

"Huh~"

The burly man sighed, his expression as if he'd just swallowed a dog.

Fuck!

What shitty luck—meeting Chi Jiuyu, this idiot, in this godforsaken place!

Fucking Xue Jin Gang Temple Return-to-Void!

I fucking hate this!

Wait till my system is fully unlocked—I'll make you pay!

After mentally launching a genealogical assault against every member of the Xue Jin Gang Temple, from Return-to-Void down to Qi Condensation, the burly man sat down by the roadside.

He took a pill from his storage ring, swallowed it, and resumed his meditation.

As a body cultivator, he relies solely on his own forged, invincible physique—so his initial resources are plentiful.

Although I used one Great Teleportation Talisman, I still have plenty of pills left; it won't take long to recover.

"Tsk tsk! You've hidden well! Did you learn that from the TaiShang Dao Sect?"

The giant's mighty frame trembled! (End of chapter)