Chapter 70

The machine butler stammered in silence.

After a while.

It walked over and picked up the coffee cup.

“I still think, if someone’s truly pitiful, helping them out isn’t wrong.”

After reflecting on what had just happened.

The machine butler still held to its own view.

“No wonder you only have pseudo-self-awareness.”

Jiang Jian set down the wooden sword and said softly, “How can you be sure what it said was true or false?”

“You need to understand.”

“Ghosts are born from grievance.”

“Their essence is the aggregation of resentment.”

Jiang Jian pointed at the holographic screen.

The surveillance replay showed the ghost’s face twisted in fury.

“To achieve their goal.”

“They disguise themselves using memories from their past lives.”

“They use every possible means to stir your inner softness.”

“Lying, fabricating, deceiving.”

“They spare no effort.”

Jiang Jian turned off the identity device.

The holographic screen dissolved.

The machine butler’s form was that of a young woman.

Upon hearing Jiang Jian’s words.

Its expression clearly wavered.

Jiang Jian whispered, “I never discriminate against any race.”

“All beings with spirit are living beings.”

“But.”

“Ghosts, filled with resentment, have but one in ten thousand who are truly conscious.”

“Their thinking differs vastly from that of humans.”

“What you just saw—the ghost speaking like a human—was merely illusion and disguise.”

Here, he paused.

Jiang Jian picked up Han Guang and placed it into the virtual chamber’s scanning unit.

“Facing ghosts.”

“When I was young, I once believed in them.”

“Later, I nearly died outside.”

The particle glass dissolved; the virtual chamber flickered with faint light.

Jiang Jian stepped inside, looked up at the machine butler, his gaze cold and clear.

“As a technological construct, refusing an order.”

“If it happens again.”

“I will cut you down with one sword.”

The glass lid sealed shut.

The machine butler stood frozen for a long while.

It shifted its body and walked toward the mechanical room.

“Total number of students in the district: 42,720.”

“Your ranking: 650.”

“Scanning for a divine-awarded weapon… simulating…”

“Simulation successful!”

On the floating stone arena, Jiang Jian opened his eyes.

Fine specks of light coalesced; Han Guang hovered before him.

“As expected.”

Jiang Jian took Han Guang, sensing it briefly.

“This simulation, Han Guang became a Level 3 divine-awarded weapon.”

Jiang Jian spun a sword flourish.

Invisible sword qi scattered in all directions, slicing through the air with sharp whistles.

The blade’s edge was icy, cold as white frost.

Jiang Jian stood with sword in hand, tapped the holographic screen, and initiated the ladder match.

A few seconds later.

“Match successful!”

Jiang Jian raised Han Guang and slashed upward!

The swordlight howled past, instantly shredding the opponent into fragments!

“You have won this round of the ranking match!”

“Your ranking: 124.”

“Special notice: You have achieved thirty consecutive victories!”

Jiang Jian’s expression was odd; he held Han Guang before his eyes, examining it closely.

“No wonder.”

“Shi Xuan’s divine palace spiritual essence was clearly weaker than Liu Tiezhu’s.”

“But his Moon-Chasing Knife was too sharp.”

“It even let Shi Xuan carve through the ladder matches like cutting melons.”

“Those millions of Alliance coins weren’t wasted.”

Level 3 divine-awarded weapons are extremely powerful.

With only a small amount of spiritual energy, they unleash tremendous power.

Jiang Jian swiped the holographic screen, initiating another match.

Yet his mind turned to one thought.

Level 3 divine-awarded weapons cost millions of Alliance coins apiece.

Though expensive, someone always has the means to afford them.

Students near the top of the rankings likely possess Level 3 divine-awarded weapons.

Even.

More than one!

After all, to purify his spiritual energy, Jiang Jian had bound only the Wish Jade.

But theoretically, after the Ritual of Divine Invocation,

Everyone could bind multiple divine-awarded weapons.

However, the virtual chamber imposed a restriction.

Its scanning unit could scan only one item at a time.

Binding more would be useless.

“Match successful!”

The holographic screen dissolved.

Dozens of meters away.

A beam of light, like lightning, tore through the air!

Jiang Jian had no time to dodge; he thought, and a crimson light barrier instantly appeared before him!

Divine palace spiritual energy surged forth, thickening the barrier!

BOOM!

The light beam struck the crimson barrier, rippling outward and shattering into fragments!

“It’s a spell,” came a flippant voice. “I just love breaking turtle shells.”

The next second.

Dozens more beams of light surged forth, hurtling toward Jiang Jian!

Dozens more beams of light surged forth, hurtling down toward Jiang Jian!

The beams hammered continuously against the crimson barrier, igniting dazzling fireworks!

Brilliant light exploded, rain of sparks!

Behind the crimson barrier, Jiang Jian stood motionless, expressionless.

Yet his divine palace spiritual energy surged wildly, constantly sensing the opponent’s position.

The spiritual energy of the Shenque dantian surged wildly, constantly sensing the other’s location.

"Your turtle shell is pretty tough."

From within the gap of the light rainbow, that flippant voice came again.

"Found you."

Jiang Jian’s gaze turned icy; in an instant, he pinpointed the opponent’s position and slashed out a sword strike!

The Hanguang sword light had been building for a long while.

If it doesn’t move, it doesn’t move—but when it does, it explodes like thunder!

The sword’s howl roared like thunder, crashing like a sudden storm!

A blazing white sword rainbow surged upward, blazing across the arena, instantly obliterating all light streams and slamming toward the corner of the platform!

CLANG!

CRACK!

The piercing clash of metal and iron!

A clear, sharp cracking sound echoed across the floating stone arena!

"Fuck, my treasure armor!"

In an instant, that voice erupted in furious shock!

Its tone carried deep, hidden terror and awe!

In the blink of an eye.

Jiang Jian gave him no chance to breathe—he leapt upward, pushing the Shenque spiritual energy to its peak.

Holding Hanguang horizontally, he and his sword crashed straight toward the arena’s corner!

Around him, blood-red light flames roared fiercely.

Where the true fire passed, the air hissed as if scorched!

CRACK!

An even sharper, more piercing crack rang out!

The so-called "treasure armor" shattered into ash in an instant!

Though the man was utterly stunned, he still moved in a flash, summoning multiple protective measures before him!

Jiang Jian arrived with sword in hand, the blood-red light flames trailing behind him.

The sword light swept through, shredding every defense, its momentum nearly spent.

"Jingling."

The crimson flames instantly surged!

Afterward.

The Jingling true fire engulfed and consumed him, reducing him to ashes!

"You have won this ranking match!"

"Your ranking: 67."

"Special notice: You have won 31 consecutive matches!"

Jiang Jian paused briefly.

He sensed his Shenque spiritual energy had fully replenished.

Match again!

A few seconds later.

"Match successful!"

"Special notice: Opponents in the top 100 receive one minute of preparation time."

On the floating stone arena, a transparent light barrier separated them.

In the center of the barrier.

A 60-second countdown was prominently displayed.

"Linjiang Academy, Jiang Jian."

The boy across from him wore Shaoshuizhou Academy’s uniform and called out Jiang Jian’s name.

His weapon was a spear nearly two meters long.

The spearhead was silver-white, with flickering lightning coursing along its blade.

Jiang Jian remained silent, his pale fingers gripping Hanguang, threads of bloodlight swirling around them.

(End of Chapter)