Chapter 53

Chi Jiuyu felt extremely uncomfortable and tossed his phone back into his storage ring.

"Senior Uncle, how is there internet in the Secret Realm?"

"Because I wanted there to be."

The principle of the Spirit Net differs from that of the previous life's internet; its essence relies on a treasure capable of covering the entire Central Continent, so with minor adjustments, it can be connected.

Moreover, given the rank of this Secret Realm, that treasure could not possibly detect the specific conditions within.

Such a powerful justification—Chi Jiuyu had no rebuttal.

"... Then what should I do next?"

She summoned her Life Blade.

"Simple." Xu Xing gestured with one hand.

Her Life Blade flew from her grasp and, as if lifted by unseen hands, slowly rose upward; the surrounding Tongxuan grass swayed gently, thin threads of red energy rising from their leaves and drifting toward the ascending blade.

Chi Jiuyu looked up eagerly until the Life Blade reached the peak of the Sword Peak.

The red energy swirled around the emerald-gold blade, occasionally a strand merging into it.

The blade trembled slightly, as if fed a potent elixir, and Chi Jiuyu, as its master, could feel the Life Blade's spirit rejoicing with delight.

"This is sufficient for its cultivation."

This is the optimal method for Sword Cultivators to elevate the rank of their Life Blades.

But be cautious: do not allow the blade's spirit to surpass its master's too greatly, or you risk the awkward situation of 'a child swinging a great hammer and injuring himself.'

…………

Outside Xuanjian City, an ancient-style flying vessel cut through the clouds at tremendous speed.

The flying vessel, the most common passenger aircraft in the Ancient Cultivation Realm, remains the dominant aerial device on the Central Continent even today.

Aside from cultivators' personal preferences, this is because the manufacturing techniques for flying vessels have long been highly refined.

Some newer aerial devices still cannot match the performance or cost-efficiency of flying vessels.

A pale golden, translucent barrier encircling the vessel flowed with illusory runes, repelling turbulent air currents while providing moderate defense.

On the spacious deck, several figures chatted merrily; each appeared young, dressed in different styles of Xian Sect uniforms, their cultivation levels between Jin Dan and Nascent Soul.

They were a group of young disciples from the Gedaxian Sect.

"We'll reach Xuanjian City soon—what are your plans?"

The speaker had a handsome face, wore a green wide-sleeved robe, and carried a jade tablet at his waist engraved with two powerful characters: Jishi.

He was a Pill Alchemist from Jishi Valley, mid-Nascent Soul.

Pill Alchemy has, since ancient times, been a highly profitable profession, pursued by countless cultivators.

How many cultivators can go their entire lives without taking pills?

"If no other matters, why not find a place to test our skills and mutually verify our cultivation?"

"Excellent—I look forward to your guidance, Senior Brother; I hope to learn your Pill Alchemy techniques then."

"Of course, of course."

"Your suggestion is indeed sound; everyone knows Jishi Valley's Pill Alchemy is peerless—until the previous Xian Sect Grand Competition, we only learned that their combat arts are also top-tier."

"You flatter me; in combat, Ling Yin Fang's techniques are slightly superior."

The Artificer from Divine Mechanism Treasure Pavilion had intended to speak, but upon hearing this, he fell silent.

In the last Immortal Sect Grand Competition, Hehuan Sect ranked last, Divine Mechanism Treasure Pavilion second-to-last, and Jishi Valley third-to-last.

The hammer-wielding Artificer had been trampled by the pill-popping Alchemist—utterly humiliating.

Still, he showed enough face by not speaking and ruining the mood.

The group exchanged compliments, and for a while, all was mirthful.

"We are all young disciples of the Xian Sect; though inferior to our Senior Brothers and Sisters, this trial of skill might be called the 'Xian Sect Minor Competition,'" said another Jishi Valley Alchemist.

"Don't put on airs—you don't even know your own weight?"

The group stiffened, then turned to glare at a Body Cultivator sitting in the corner. What the hell! We're just chatting and joking—what's wrong with that? Why say such blunt truths? Don't you know it hurts?

"Sorry, sorry—I couldn't help it," the Body Cultivator from Longxiang Qingtianzong apologized repeatedly, "I'm used to it back at the sect."

Thinking of the bizarre environment of Longxiang Qingtianzong.

Forget it, I won't hold it against him.

The group ignored him, wanting to resume their earlier topic, but couldn't bring themselves to continue.

After a long silence, someone broke the tension—it was a disciple of Ling Yin Fang.

"Speaking of the last Xian Sect Grand Competition, our Senior Brothers and Sisters' techniques were truly astonishing."

"Indeed—any one of them is beyond our ability to match."

This was still a polite way of putting it; every participant in the Xian Sect Grand Competition was a prodigy—our group might not even withstand a single blow.

"The Dao is boundless—when will we ever attain the prowess of our Senior Brothers and Sisters?"

Hearing this, another Jishi Valley Alchemist sighed, then encouraged: "As long as we persist in cultivation, one day we will surely match our Senior Brothers and Sisters and fight alongside Chi Jiuyu in the Xian Sect Grand Competition!"

"If you walk in now and prop up your pillow, you won't dream such absurd dreams tonight."

Fuck your dad!

What did I ever do to you? Why do you keep targeting me?

The Body Cultivator looked thoroughly embarrassed—he clearly couldn't hold back again.

"Senior Brothers, don't stop me!"

The Alchemist rolled up his sleeves and stormed toward the Body Cultivator.

Halfway there, he turned back.

Wait—you're really not stopping me? The Body Cultivator rose slowly, walking forward; his towering frame loomed a full head taller than the Alchemist, radiating overwhelming pressure.

Although everyone says physical cultivators are brutes, that also means they're truly fierce in battle.

"I'm truly sorry, fellow cultivator," the physical cultivator said sincerely without moving, "if you're upset, why not hit me once?"

"No, no need."

"Don't worry—unless you use spiritual techniques, you won't even hurt me."

┭┮﹏┭┮

In that instant, he truly wanted to jump off the flying vessel.

The sect's records state that ancient physical cultivators were all silent types, brutes who only charged forward blindly.

But since the "Fruits of Governance" arena was created, the entire Dragon Elephant Heaven Sect has gradually become abstract.

Who the hell invented that damn arena?! …………

In the hospital, Huo stood at the highest point, expression calm, eyes seeming to hold countless flickering lights.

There were disciples of the Immortal Sect arriving on flying vessels, heading toward Xuanjian City.

There was Zhang Yunlu in the classroom, pondering sword techniques.

There was Jiang Yujiu, a charm cultivator of the Hehuan Sect, in the hotel.

There was also Xiao Fan, whom he personally nurtured, who stole the Qi of the Qiecang Clan and received heavenly favor.

That outstanding young disciple of the Sword Sect was nowhere to be seen—he must be beside Brother Dao.

Brother Dao's emergence from seclusion is itself a "force." Among the Qidaxian Sect, regardless of cultivation realm, someone will always come drawn by that force.

Under current circumstances, Xiao Fan undoubtedly holds the greatest advantage—but…

"So what if he's favored by heaven?"

If being favored by heaven alone were enough to decide everything, the Central Continent wouldn't be held by the human race today.

The future remains unknown.

Please collect and follow! (Chapter end)