Chapter 449: The Three-Wheeled Cart Returns

If they truly received this halo's 'blessing,' it would be a devastating blow to practitioners of the 'cautious path.'

These days, practitioners of the cautious path are finding it harder and harder to get by.

After a sigh of emotion in his heart, Xu Xing casually asked, "When did you start preparing this halo?"

"It's been a while."

Even before this 'Ascension Plan' was proposed.

Although she was away year-round, she was still the Ancestral Master of the Supreme Dao Sect after all, and had always kept an eye on the situation within the sect.

At first, when this 'cautious path' first showed signs of emerging, she didn't pay it much mind.

She figured it was no big deal for the sect's juniors to act a bit more steady, but never imagined it would later evolve to its current extent.

Dispelling the halo spinning at her fingertip, Xiang Yuanjun lowered her hand: "It's just that there's a good opportunity right now, so I took the chance to release it."

The current 'steady' atmosphere is prevalent within the Supreme Dao Sect, especially among the younger generation below Return-to-Void.

Some people even chose to join the Supreme Dao Sect precisely because of this…

To change this, one can't do it overnight—lest it affect their Dao path—so it can only be done gradually, correcting it bit by bit.

"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore."

The help she can give is just this much; the rest still has to be handled by the Sect Master and her elder brother.

"Are there any problems with the 'Ten Thousand Phenomena Spirit-Washing Transformation Divine True Art' uploaded to the Immortal Net?"

The 'Ten Thousand Phenomena Spirit-Washing Transformation Divine True Art' is a cultivation method Xiang Yuanjun improved on the basis of her previous 'Grand Yin Spirit-Washing Transformation Divine True Art,' enhancing its universality and lowering the difficulty of cultivation.

It can be applied both to the world and to cultivation, specifically designed to handle the Xuanxiang Realm 'polluted' by the Herding Spirit lineage.

"No need to worry about that. I've already simulated and rehearsed it many times through the Immortal Net—the results are very good," Ning Ruo replied.

"Mm."

Xiang Yuanjun nodded slightly.

She wasn't worried her true art would have problems; she just wondered whether the Immortal Net could fully adapt to it…

After that, neither of them said more, and like Xu Xing, they looked into the distance, observing the state of the remaining contestants.

The current situation: aside from those old sixths from the Supreme Dao Sect remaining steady as ever, and the artifact-refining masters from the Divine Mechanism Treasure Pavilion hiding away while making final adjustments to their large-scale combat artifacts—

The remaining participants of the Xian Sect Grand Competition had mostly made the same decision—first find trustworthy people to cooperate with.

No choice; after all, if one were to go it alone…

Just the sects of this world alone would be enough to give them a hard time.

For specifics, one can reference a certain body cultivator from the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect who was hunted by the Blood Vajra Temple the moment he landed, and after being injured, had the further misfortune of running into other contestants.

Among these temporary teams formed, many were from the same sect, but there were also some temporary teams composed of members from different sects.

They were all the most outstanding juniors of the Xian Sect, having met each other at past Xian Sect Grand Competitions, and through repeated interactions had developed a certain understanding of one another.

Looking at the overall picture, Chi Jiuyu's temporary team couldn't even be considered mid-tier.

Additionally, because the previous clash only seized a few spiritual energy base stations, the technology for extracting desire essence through the screen was not obtained.

Therefore, the charm cultivator who had narrowly survived was also jointly wanted, forcing her to hide away just like the old sixths of the Supreme Dao Sect.

At the same time, several dozen Soul Transformation cultivators far surpassing their own realm were causing trouble everywhere.

The guardians of some immortal cities, fruit domains, and resource cities lived in constant fear, worried that one day those bizarre Soul Transformation cultivators would come knocking at their door.

But the Return-to-Void cultivators didn't really care.

Let them cause trouble—so what, why personally enter the fray and take risks?

As long as the Heavenly Orbit Spirit-Drawing system exists, all beings are consumables; when this batch dies out, just ferry more in from the mortal world.

This world has never lacked people who wish to cultivate…

Unless those bizarre Soul Transformation cultivators kill off everyone in the mortal world and the Cultivation Realm.

But is that possible?

Compared to these, they cared more about whether the technology displayed by those charm cultivators could help them break through the Mysterious Imagery Heavenly Orbit.

……

……

The entire Cultivation Realm of the Xuanxiang Realm had become a tangled mess because of the appearance of the Xian Sect Grand Competition participants.

But no matter what, life must go on, and cultivation must go on.

Outside 【Five Senses Immortal City】, teams streaming into the city came in an endless flow, looking quite spectacular.

The resource escort team from 【Paper Transformation Immortal City】, following Zhao Ruoming's orders, was currently stopped by the roadside, resting and reorganizing.

Dry hard rations washed down with water, sorting through their gear.

From time to time, people glanced at the black-robed figure sitting cross-legged with closed eyes on the bluestone.

The younger ones had eyes full of admiration.

While those older ones had somewhat inexplicable looks in their eyes.

Freely distributing cultivation techniques…

There couldn't be some conspiracy behind this, could there?

Everyone's thoughts stirred, each with their own ideas.

Of course, with their meager cultivation, they couldn't tell that the figure in the black robe sitting on the bluestone was merely an illusory body maintained by a divine ability.

And the real Zhao Ruoming…

Behind a small slope, a somewhat guilty Zhao Ruoming was looking at his younger sister:

"I can arrange for you to join the team from 【Green Talisman Hall】, and slip into this city in the lowest-risk way."

A small faction with a mere Golden Core upper limit was naturally at his mercy.

If it weren't for his caution in not being too aggressive, the entire 【Paper Transformation Immortal City】 might have already been completely under his control.

Just now, after finally clearing the air, the group prepared to temporarily cooperate and jointly tackle the 【Zhitui Xiancheng】 dungeon.

Those Soul Transformation guardians were no threat—even those at the peak of Soul Transformation could be crushed effortlessly.

But the Return-to-Void cultivators from the Heavenly Mechanism Palace must be taken seriously.

Attacking such an important asset as Zhitui Xiancheng would very likely draw the attention of the Heavenly Mechanism Palace's Return-to-Void cultivators!

Now, Chi Jiuyu and Ye Zhiwei foolishly stayed outside the safe zone and were attacked, while Zhao Ruohan was ambushed by the Heaven Spirit Sect and has not yet recovered from her injuries.

Zhao Ruoming, meanwhile, has exhausted his spirit from prolonged study of the 【Zao Sheng Fu】.

It's a perfect "old, weak, sick, and crippled" combination—they can only rely on each other.

"I'll stay outside to refine pills; just notify me if anything happens," Ye Zhiwei refused.

Although everything had been clarified, her gaze still held that same look she gave "a pile of trash."

"Then we'll guard you!" Chi Jiuyu immediately said.

Since someone else could enter anyway, she had no desire to go in herself.

Mostly because she feared that if she saw what was inside the city, she'd be unable to resist acting—after all, Jiuyu Laozu had a heart burning with righteous justice!

Seeing both refuse, Zhao Ruoming was momentarily stunned.

He could offer a safer method, yet they had no intention of entering?

He turned to his younger sister: "Little sister, you…"

You're not going in either, are you?

"I'll stay outside to recover. Take this," Zhao Ruohan handed him a purple fruit. "That way, I can see from outside."

"… "

They really weren't going in…

Zhao Ruoming could only reluctantly accept the fruit.

Regardless of others, he was determined to enter the 【Zhitui Xiancheng】.

Although he had recently developed the 【Zao Sheng Fu】, which could help paper dolls whose souls had scattered and flesh and bones vanished, the fundamental problem remained unsolved—

The fact that cultivators in this world had their cultivation constantly drained every day.

He had conducted experiments these past days: even his own crude Qi Condensation technique, never before existing in this world, could not avoid it.

In other words, the problem was not in the cultivation methods.

To uncover the truth behind this, he decided to infiltrate 【Zhitui Xiancheng】 by joining the 【Paper Shedding Xiancheng】 team.

"Alright, I'll relay information to you later through my sister's puppet."

"Mm-hmm! Thanks, Dog Brother!" Chi Jiuyu said solemnly.

"… "

Whatever. She wouldn't change even if he said it again.

Zhao Ruoming gave up arguing over the nickname and finally asked: "How strong are the pursuers outside the safe zone? Can you handle them?"

To be honest, his original goal in joining this Xian Sect competition was to defeat Chi Jiuyu and redeem his honor.

But now that he'd actually met her, he had no desire to settle scores with her.

His mind was filled only with this twisted, malformed world, the endless undead paper dolls in the city, and the urgent need to enter and uncover the truth…

Honestly, he didn't even understand his own thoughts anymore.

Instead of aiming for a high rank in the Xian Sect competition, he was wasting time on these things.

"The pursuers?" Chi Jiuyu paused. "Actually, they're not too bad—stronger than you guys, so don't try to confront them lightly."

Hearing this, Ye Zhiwei glanced at her.

Why wasn't she saying "a slightly dirty hem" this time?

"Mm."

Her answer was vague, but Zhao Ruoming didn't press further—he had no intention of risking himself anyway, just satisfying his curiosity.

He actually wanted to ask more about Zhiwei, but…

Better not now.

As he turned away, Zhao Ruoming's face instantly filled with worry.

Zhiwei…

Sigh~

He sighed inwardly, his body dissolving into mist, vanishing in an instant.

Only after Zhao Ruoming had completely vanished from sight did Zhao Ruohan turn to Chi Jiuyu: "You… you should all come to my place."

"Mm-hmm!"

Ye Zhiwei hesitated, then gave a slight nod.

"Alright."

…………

Not long after.

A human-powered tricycle executed a stylish drift and came to a steady stop before the cave where Zhao Ruohan had been recuperating.

It nearly threw the two passengers out of the cart.

"We're here!" Chi Jiuyu exclaimed cheerfully.

The two passengers quickly climbed out of the cart, momentarily at a loss for words.

Didn't we just say we were coming back?

Chi Jiuyu noticed Ye's lingering hostility toward Zhao, so she claimed she had brought an extremely awesome vehicle and insisted they try it.

She hoped the ride back would help ease their tension…

Neither of them thought much of it.

After all, who in their right mind would bring a human-powered tricycle into the Xian Sect's Grand Competition?

No matter how wild their imagination, they couldn't connect the two.

But clearly, Chi Jiuyu couldn't be considered a normal person.

When she pulled it out, both of them were stunned.

But since it was too late to back out, here they were…

"You… why did you bring something like this?" Zhao Ruohan couldn't help asking.

"Oh, I still had three spirit coins left at the time, and since I couldn't carry anything else anyway, I just brought this."

Chi Jiuyu stepped down from the tricycle and explained casually.

"So many restrictions—can't dismantle it, can't modify it, can only use it to pull people."

The two: "…"

This girl is truly a genius.

It wasn't just the two of them.

Before the competition began, the Supreme Elder in charge of verifying item values was equally stunned when he saw Chi Jiuyu choose this human-powered tricycle.

Calling it a magical artifact…

It certainly wasn't.

But calling it not a magical artifact—the materials used in this tricycle were still excellent…

In the end, he consulted the Sect Master's opinion, imposed numerous restrictions, and only then allowed her to bring it in.

"Don't look down on it—this cart has only ever pulled my Senior Uncle and Senior Sister!"

Chi Jiuyu wore an expression of "you're lucky."

But after speaking, she suddenly felt a chill down her back, looked up at the sky in confusion, and instinctively covered the back of her head.

Hmm…

Scaring herself.

"Master Jian Zu… also rode your cart?" Ye Zhiwei's tone was strange.

She truly couldn't imagine that scene.

"Of course! When Senior Uncle came out of seclusion, we went to pick him up ourselves!"

Chi Jiuyu stowed the tricycle and began boasting about her experiences.

On this point, she dared to guarantee her experiences were unmatched—even Xiao Zhao, the fairy, couldn't top them!

"Listen up, don't tell anyone," Chi Jiuyu lowered her voice. "You know Master Elder Lingzu, right? When I went with Senior Uncle to Ling Yin Fang, I ate fish she made herself!"

"…" Ye Zhiwei suddenly understood. "No wonder you recognized it right away."

"Hey, didn't I warn you when we ran away?"

Zhao Ruohan listened, confused.

What did she recognize? What running away?

"You… met Master Elder Lingzu?"

"…"

Damn, I slipped up.

"Of course we met—didn't you already see my Xuan Zhu fruit tree?" Chi Jiuyu tried to deflect.

"So the 'pursuers'… were actually Master Elder Lingzu?" Zhao Ruohan frowned slightly. "No—it must be all the Ancestral Masters."

"!"

You're so smart you'll have no friends!

"So you both only held out for a few dozen strikes, right?"

Huh?

Only a few dozen strikes?

How did those words even come together?

That's a True Immortal Ancestral Master!

Chi Jiuyu and Ye Zhiwei exchanged glances, then Chi Jiuyu asked: "Xiao Zhao, why do you say that?"

"I fought my father at the same realm—I lasted thirty-some strikes at best before losing."

Huh?!

He held back!

Definitely held back!

No!

That's not holding back—that's letting her win!

Just a few dozen strikes!

What does that make me, getting one-shot by my Senior Uncle at the same realm?

What about being knocked unconscious for a full day by Master Mei Zu in one glance?

"Hmm…" Chi Jiuyu rephrased carefully. "Xiao Zhao, is there a chance something called 'paternal love' exists?"

"Huh?"

Zhao Ruohan was still confused.

"I didn't even last one glance," Ye Zhiwei said coolly.

"Huh?! Then I…"

Zhao Ruohan finally realized it.

Chi Jiuyu gave Ye Zhiwei a slightly reproachful glance.

Why say it so directly? At least soften it a little!

"In short, roughly, the specifics… are more or less what Xiao Ye said." (End of Chapter)