Chapter 154

Beneath Nüwa Palace, at the extreme depths of the eighteenth level of the Earth Palace, beside a teleportation array, two enormous stone pillars stood upright.

Translation: "In the depths beneath Nüwa Palace, at the extreme depths of the eighteenth level of Earth Palace, beside a teleportation array, two enormous stone pillars stood upright."

Beneath Nüwa Palace, at the extreme depths of the eighteenth level of the Earth Palace, beside a teleportation array, two enormous stone pillars stood upright.

Square stone pillars bore round fire basins on their tops.

Translation: "The stone pillars were square, with round fire basins placed on their tops."

In the strange, richly scented oil, two huge wicks, twisted like gold thread, shot flames ten‑some zhang high, lighting a teleportation array a hundred zhang in diameter and an Earth Palace about one li in radius.

Translation: "In the oddly fragrant oil, two enormous lamp wicks, twisted like golden threads, shot up flames ten-some zhang high, illuminating the teleportation array with a diameter of a hundred zhang and also lighting the Earth Palace with a radius of about one li."

ten‑some zhang, a diameter of a hundred zhang, and a radius of about one li.

Through the teleportation array, vertically downward three thousand li, beneath a rock layer three thousand li thick, nine false suns each a thousand zhang in diameter shone brightly, illuminating the stone cavern world with a radius of over two thousand li, making it brightly lit.

Translation: "Through the teleportation array, vertically downward three thousand li, beneath a rock layer three thousand li thick, nine false suns each with a diameter of a thousand zhang emitted strong light, brightly illuminating a stone cavern world spanning over two thousand li in radius."

Nine false suns, each a thousand zhang in diameter, shone forth, illuminating the stone cavern world with a radius of over two thousand li, making it brightly lit.

A thousand li of fertile land lay flat as a whetstone, everywhere laid out in orderly fields; a wild wind from unknown origins swept across the plains, sending towering waves through crops as tall as an average man, while the air filled with the rich fragrance exuded by the plants.

Translation: "A thousand li of fertile land lay flat as a whetstone, everywhere were neatly planned fields; a wild wind blown from who-knows-where swept across the plains, causing crops nearly as tall as an ordinary man to surge in huge waves, and the air was filled with the fragrant aroma emitted by the vegetation."

A thousand li of fertile land lay flat as a whetstone.

Hall after hall of ancient, simple, rectangular design stood orderly in the stone cavern world; their outer walls were carved with countless ancient and wondrous reliefs, while powerful, abnormal invisible force fields enveloped these halls, and occasionally one could see women in black robes, stern and aloof, entering and exiting.

Translation: "Ancient-style, simple and square great halls were neatly arranged in the stone cavern world; their outer walls were carved with countless ancient and wondrous reliefs, and powerful abnormal invisible force fields enveloped these halls; occasionally, women in black robes, solemn and aloof in demeanor, could be seen entering and exiting."

At the center of the stone cavern world, a platform was piled from five‑colored earth; atop a pyramid‑shaped platform a hundred meters high stood an altar, towering majestically.

Translation: "At the center of the stone cavern world, a high platform was piled from five-colored earth; atop a pyramid-shaped platform a hundred meters high, an altar stood towering."

At the heart of the altar stood a pedestal bearing a statue of a woman with a human body and serpent tail, her visage obscured by a halo of five‑colored divine light, coiling around the altar and emanating a terrifying aura so dreadful that none could bear to look upon it.

Translation: "At the center of the altar stood a pedestal, around which a statue of a woman with a human body and snake tail, her visage blurred by a mass of five-colored divine light, coiled; the statue emanated a terrifying awe that made one dare not look directly."

At the center of the altar stood a pedestal.

Below the altar, nine stone pillars stood in a line, likewise square, each bearing a round fire basin on top.

Translation: "Below the pedestal, nine stone pillars were arranged in a line; they were also square stone pillars, each with a round fire basin on top."

Wa Mu stood beneath the altar, holding a bone staff, staring dumbfounded like the dozen or so black‑robed women beside her at the image projected within a five‑colored crystal on the altar—within the crystal, Wu Tie thrust his spear straight, slaying Gongsun Yuan as easily as killing a chicken on the spot.

Translation: "Wa Mu stood beneath the pedestal, holding a bone staff, just like the dozen or so women in black robes, staring dumbfounded at the image projected from a five-colored light crystal on the pedestal—in the crystal, Wu Tie thrust his spear straight, slaying Gongsun Yuan as easily as killing a chicken."

Like the dozen or so black‑robed women, she stared dumbfounded at the image within the five‑colored crystal on the altar, where Wu Tie thrust his spear straight, slaying Gongsun Yuan as easily as killing a chicken.

Wu Tie's spear thrust was overbearing and brutal; with a single strike he killed Gongsun Yuan, the force piercing the void and somehow blasting a hole that deep into the rock face more than ten‑some li away.

Translation: "Wu Tie's spear thrust was overbearing and brutal; with one strike he killed Gongsun Yuan, the spear's force pierced the void, and indeed it opened such a deep hole in the rock face more than ten-some li away."

more than ten‑some li away

The cliffside near the arena, having been baked by the subterranean magma river for countless years, is far tougher than ordinary refined steel, and furthermore the Wa clan experts have set up various seals around the arena; even an ordinary Chonglou Realm cultivator would find it extremely hard to leave any mark on the rock.

Translation: "The rock face near the arena, having been baked by the underground lava river's high temperature for countless years, was several times tougher than ordinary fine steel; moreover, various prohibitions set up by Nüwa Clan experts near the arena made it extremely difficult for an ordinary Chonglou Realm cultivator to leave even a trace on the rock wall."

an ordinary Chonglou Realm cultivator would find it extremely hard to leave any trace on the rock wall.

With a full‑force blow, Wu Tie somehow managed to leave a pit on the cliff face more than ten‑some li away, deep enough to reach about one li.

Translation: "Wu Tie's full-force strike, incredibly, could leave a hole reaching about one li deep in the rock face more than ten-some li away……"

"Gongsun Yuan, you little brat… heh, is that the Gongsun courage?" a black‑robed woman sneered.

Translation: "\"Gongsun Yuan, you brat… hehe, the courage of the Gongsun? \" a black-robed woman sneered."

"The so‑called Nine Dragons Nine Elephants Power, the Gongsun family's secret heritage… that subduing demon pestle is huge and heavy, but what good is it?" another black‑robed woman laughed gleefully.

"The so‑called Nine Dragons Nine Elephants Power, the secret inheritance of the Gongsun Family… that subduing demon pestle is huge and heavy, but what good is it?" another black‑robed woman laughed gleefully.

"Well, this lad, he surely has no Wa clan blood, right?" a woman who looked about forty, with crow's‑feet at the corners of her eyes but still retaining her charm, laughed brightly: "Heh, the tacit understanding among the great clans and sects is that anyone with Wa clan blood cannot become the head or heir… heh."

Translation: "\"Well, this lad, he doesn't have Nüwa Clan blood, does he? \" a woman who looked about forty, with crow's-feet at the corners of her eyes but still charming, laughed brightly: \"Hehe, it's the tacit understanding of those great clans and sects—anyone with Nüwa Clan blood cannot be the heir as family head or sect head… hehe. \""

She curled her lip and said coldly: "This time let them understand—how can trash without Wa clan blood compete with Wa clan geniuses?"

Translation: "She curled her lip and said coldly, \"This time let them understand—how can trash without Nüwa Clan blood compete with Nüwa Clan geniuses? \""

Wa Mu closed her eyes and drew a deep breath.

Translation: "Wa Mu closed her eyes and took a deep breath."

She pursed her full, red lips, then looked at the women standing beside her—these were her elders, the Wa clan elders; the woman who had just spoken was even her mother, the former matriarch of the Wa clan.

Translation: "Her ruddy lips were forcefully pursed; she looked at the women standing beside her… they were her elders, all elders of the Nüwa Clan; the woman who had just spoken was even more her mother, namely the previous generation's matriarch of the Nüwa Clan."

She snorted coldly and said proudly: "Back when I chose Wu Zhan, what did you say?"

Translation: "She snorted coldly and said proudly, \"Back when I chose Wu Zhan, what did you say? \""

A group of women who had been mocking the Gongsun family and Gongsun Yuan simultaneously shut their mouths, their necks craned out like a flock of ducks strangled and unable to quack.

Translation: "A group of women who had been sneering at the Gongsun Family and Gongsun Yuan all shut their mouths at once, each stretching out their necks long, like a bunch of ducks choked and unable to quack."

"You say, 'small families, no lineage… barbarians!' Wa Mu sneered: 'No background,'"

"You say, 'small families, no lineage… barbarians!' Wa Mu sneered: 'No background, no backing, no strength, no potential, no future—children born with him will amount to nothing.'"

She lifted her head arrogantly and sneered: "So, when Wu Jin was bullied like that, I, as his mother, did everything I could to help and save him, yet some people jeered, saying I was useless as a mother and that my son was also worthless."

"But look now—aside from little Xi, my sons are all heroes and paragons of virtue." Wa Mu jabbed her bone staff hard at several women in the crowd.

She lifted her head arrogantly and sneered: "So, when Wu Jin was bullied like that, I, as his mother, did everything I could to help and save him, yet some people jeered, saying I was useless as a mother and that my son was also worthless."

She lifted her head arrogantly and sneered: "So, when Wu Jin was bullied like that, I, as his mother, did everything I could to help and save him, yet some people jeered, saying I was useless as a mother and that my son was also worthless."

"But look now—aside from little Xi, my sons are all heroes and paragons of virtue." Wa Mu jabbed her bone staff hard at several women in the crowd.

Wait we need to re-evaluate lines 22-30 from original:

Let's copy the lines again:

"Aunts, you said those things back then—I, Wa Mu, am a petty woman… I've remembered every one of them." She sneered: "You praised Gongsun Yuan, Gongsun Ying, and Gongsun Xiong as if they were three flowers, but what's the result?"

Wa Mu's pretty face flushed with excitement, her whole body trembling slightly as she gritted her teeth and laughed: "Even my little son can't withstand a single spear thrust… genius? Pah!"

The few Wa clan elders singled out by Wa Mu flushed red with embarrassment, unable to speak.

They sighed, then silently bowed deeply to Wa Mu to express their apology.

The Wa clan's rules stand as they are; Wa Mu is the current matriarch, and until a stunningly talented clansman appears to replace her, her word is the clan's supreme will.

Moreover, Wu Tie's shot truly shocked all of them.

Wu Tie, at the first layer of the Chonglou Realm, instantly killed Gong Sun Yuan with a single shot, despite Gong Sun Yuan's realm being more than ten layers above his.

As for Nuwa Mother's husband Wu Zhan, his origin—everyone knows he was a wandering wild cultivator who drifted from nowhere; after marrying Nuwa Mother, he barely managed to seize a small cave and set up a minor force, nothing more than an insignificant figure.

Moreover… such a tiny clan was even wiped out by a surprise attack.

Wu Tie essentially grew to this level on his own, without any help from clan power.

No matter what fortuitous encounters Wu Tie may have had, his age and background speak for themselves; his present strength alone shows—what an astonishing, world-shaking monstrosity he is!

Nuwa Mother is very proud—so proud it makes these elders feel sour—but the fact remains: whether it's Wu Jin or Nuwa Xiaoxi, plus the present Wu Tie, her children are each exceptionally formidable.

There's nothing to say, truly nothing to say.

In the light crystal, Wu Tie challenged everyone of the Gong Sun family surrounding the arena.

This included several Gong Sun family stewards who had brought wagers to Nuwa Valley, each a master at the half-step Life Pool Realm.

Moreover, there were nearly a hundred elite warriors of the Gong Sun family, all adept at the high level of the Chonglou Realm.

As Wu Tie's provocation continued, within the light crystal those Gong Sun members roared furiously, striding into the arena.

In the light crystal, Wu Tie merely waved at the Demonic Chapter King, summoning the golden-haired, blue-eyed Demonic Chapter King into the arena. As the Demonic Chapter King entered, he also took the Banner of Wind and Cloud from the wu maiden's hand and passed it to Wu Tie.

Those few Gong Sun stewards roared angrily, but having learned the lesson of Gong Sun Yuan being shot dead, they each solemnly donned heavy armor, wore cumbersome metal neck guards, and even strapped on external heart-protection mirrors and other gear, sealing their bodies completely.

In the light crystal, Wu Tie received several bracelets from the scar-faced maiden, a close confidante of Nuwa Mother.

These bracelets were the winnings from Wu Tie's bet with Gong Sun Yuan, including the vast resources and wealth sent by Nuwa Mother—a huge sum.

Wu Tie raised that set of bracelets and waved them provocatively at the Gong Sun entourage.

"Continue betting lives……and also continue betting money……you lot, dare you?"

On the altar, the light crystal shuddered violently.

Nuwa Mother raised her eyebrows, pointed a finger, and the statue of a human-bodied snake-tailed woman on the altar sprayed five-colored divine light, enveloping the entire high platform built of five-colored earth.

A ray of light shot forth from the light crystal, condensing into a light screen.

The current head of the Gong Sun family, Gong Sun Hao, appeared in the light screen, looking sternly at Nuwa Mother: "Nuwa Mother, what do you Gong Sun clan mean?"

Nuwa Mother let out an amused laugh, rolled her phoenix eyes, and sneered: "Betting lives……just a children's game; Gong Sun clan head, could it be you can't afford to lose?"

Gong Sun Hao felt his breath catch in his throat, making him roll his eyes upward.

He fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice: "Gong Sun Yuan is the most outstanding descendant of our Gong Sun generation; he was killed, and you, Nuwa clan……"

Nuwa Mother lightly pointed her bone staff at Gong Sun Hao in the light screen: "Nonsense, no need to say it……Your Gong Sun clan isn't unable to bear losing a Gong Sun Yuan……If you have any plans, just lay them out plainly. But remember one thing: send over the wager from that previous match at once."

Nuwa Mother sneered: "The debt owed by my Nuwa clan, you cannot afford to repay."

Gong Sun Hao exhaled, then spoke in a low voice: "Alright, I accept the first match for the Gong Sun clan. In the second match, your son challenged so many of our clansmen—that was his own provocation……In this match, do you dare to gamble another round with me?"

Nuwa Mother snorted: "Gamble? What do you want to wager?"

Gong Sun Hao closed his eyes, curled the corner of his mouth with a hint of a feral smile, and said coldly: "I wager the position of clan head of the Gong Sun family against the matriarch's seat of your Nuwa clan……If your son wins the second match, I will resign as clan head; if your son loses, you must relinquish the matriarch's seat and retreat into secluded cultivation."

On the altar, all was silent; the Nuwa clan elders stared at Nuwa Mother in shock.

Wa Mu's mother suddenly exploded in anger: "Gongsun Hao, you have the gall—you treat my Wa clan as……"

Wa Mu's mother suddenly flew into a rage and shouted: "Gongsun Hao, you have a lot of nerve, you treat my Wa Clan as……"

Make sure it's a single line.

Wa Mu lightly raised her bone staff and said softly: "All right, just like that. But if my son wins this match, aside from you getting lost, half of all the resources in your Gongsun family's treasury will belong to my son."

Translation: "Wa Mu lightly raised the bone staff in her hand and said softly: 'Good, just like that. But if my son wins this match, besides you getting lost, half of all the resources in your Gongsun Clan's treasury will belong to my son.'"

Keep 'bone staff' and 'get lost'.

Gongsun Hao immediately agreed to the terms: "If your son loses this match, Wa Xiu will become the Wa clan matriarch."

Translation: "Gongsun Hao immediately set the condition: 'If your son loses this match…… Wa Xiu will become the matriarch of the Wa Clan.'"

Wa Mu raised an eyebrow, gave Gongsun Hao a sideways glance in the light screen, and said: "You and she—are you sleeping together? I never imagined Wa Xiu's tastes were so depraved that you, a bone fit only for firewood, could be gnawed on by her."

Translation: "Wa Mu raised an eyebrow, glanced sideways at the light screen showing Gongsun Hao, and said: 'You and her, you have a thing? I never imagined Wa Xiu's taste was so heavy—you, this kind of bone that could be used as firewood, she could even take a bite of?'"

Keep 'light screen' and 'old thing'.

She shook her head and said calmly: "Then it's settled."

Translation: "Shaking her head, Wa Mu said calmly: 'Then it's settled.'"

She chuckled, tapped the crystal, and said softly: "Old Four, you may strike now—show no mercy, kill them all… the Gongsun clan is big and prosperous; a few more deaths don't matter."

Translation: "Chuckling, Wa Mu flicked a spark of light and said softly: 'Old Four, you can make a move now—don't hold back, kill them all…… The Gongsun Clan is big and prosperous, a few more deaths don't matter.'"

Old Four

In the arena, Wu Tie stood before the Demon Chapter King, coldly eyeing the several hundred experts of the Gongsun family arrayed before him.

Translation: "On the arena, Wu Tie stood before the Demon Chapter King, coldly gazing at the several hundred Gongsun Clan experts standing before him."

Keep 'arena', 'several hundred', and 'experts'.

Seven Half‑step Life Pool Realm experts, and over a hundred senior Chonglou Realm cultivators.

Translation: "Seven half-step Life Pool Realm experts, over a hundred Chonglou Realm seniors."

Such power could sweep the Cangyan Realm; it is no wonder that the Gongsun family exclusively holds the White River Realm in the outer domains and also controls several neighboring major realms.

Translation: "This strength is enough to sweep the Cangyan Realm; it's no wonder they exclusively occupy the White River Realm in the outer domains and also control several other major realms of the Gongsun Clan."

A shout from Wa Mu rang in their ears, and the Gongsun experts' faces twitched slightly—clearly they had all received Gongsun Hao's order at the same time.

Translation: "Wa Mu's reprimand came from nearby, and the faces of those Gongsun Clan experts also changed slightly—evidently they had all received Gongsun Hao's order at the same time."

A Half‑step Life Pool Realm expert clad in heavy armor and wielding a wolf‑tooth club roared, preparing to charge Wu Tie, but Wu Tie countered with a backward elbow strike that slammed into the Demon Chapter King's belly.

Translation: "A Gongsun Clan expert at the Half-step Life Pool Realm, wearing heavy armor and wielding a wolf-tooth club, let out a loud roar as he prepared to charge at Wu Tie; Wu Tie countered with a backward elbow strike that slammed into the Demon Chapter King's belly."

【159】

The Demon Chapter King had been drawing deep breaths, gulping air continuously, his belly swollen like a ball.

Translation: "The Demon Chapter King had been taking deep breaths, continuously gulping air, his belly swollen like a ball."

Wu Tie's elbow strike sent the Demon Chapter King belching a thick black‑red mist; the dense fog roiled and instantly enveloped the entire arena.

Translation: "Wu Tie threw an elbow strike, and the Demon Chapter King suddenly spat out a mouthful of black-red mist; the thick mist roiled and in an instant enveloped the entire arena."

Wu Tie's Wind and Cloud Banner fluttered, smoke and clouds roiled, a cold wind whooshed, and he led the Demon Chapter King in slow circles around the arena.

Translation: "Wu Tie shook the Wind and Cloud Banner in his hand; smoke and clouds roiled, a cold wind whooshed, and Wu Tie, leading the Demon Chapter King, slowly walked circles around the arena."

In the black‑red toxic mist, the Gongsun experts screamed and shouted curses, but the fog sealed every sound, letting none escape.

Translation: "In the black-red toxic mist, the Gongsun Clan experts screamed and shouted in panic, but their roars and curses were completely blocked by the mist—no sound could escape."

On the cliffside stands, the youngsters of the major powers who had come to watch

Translation: "In the stands on the cliffside, the youngsters of the major powers watching the spectacle clamored, feeling vaguely that things were developing in an unexpected direction."

【188】

Translation: "After about a quarter of an hour, a deep inhalation sound came, and the black-red mist enveloping the arena was slowly swallowed back into the Demon Chapter King's body."

【193】

Translation: "On the arena, the Gongsun Clan experts lay scattered in disarray on the ground."

【198】

Translation: "Each person had a piercing wound on the neck; clearly, it was inflicted by the White Tiger Split."

【203】

Translation: "Even wearing heavy armor or a neck guard, they could not withstand the edge of the White Tiger Split; a light thrust was enough—these finely forged metal armors offered no resistance at all to the White Tiger Split."

【208】

Translation: "Wu Tie had the Wind and Cloud Banner tucked at his waist, the White Tiger Split resting on his shoulder, and he looked down at the corpses lying in the arena."

【213】

Translation: "\"I don't know how much torment my older brother endured here. I don't know how many of you have cursed and mocked him, using him to vent your base, pitiful joy. \""

【217】

Translation: "\"Gongsun Yuan, who bullied my older brother, I have killed. \""

I killed Gongsun Ying and Gongsun Xiong, who had bullied my older brother.

Translation: "\"Gongsun Ying and Gongsun Xiong, who bullied my older brother, I have killed. \""

【223】

Translation: "\"These lackeys of the Gongsun Clan, I have killed too. \""

You... if you have any objections, come find me.

Translation: "\"You…… if you disagree, come find me. \""

【229】

Translation: "\"You, who hold a grudge against my older brother, come find me. \""

You, whoever dares to have designs on my sister Qi Xiaoxi, come defeat me first.

Translation: "\"You, who dare harbor designs on my sister Wa Xiao Xi, come defeat me first. \""

【234】

I am Wu Tie, I'm not someone great... I'm just a small figure... a petty, grudge-holding, narrow-minded person.

Translation: "\"I am Wu Tie, I'm not anyone special…… I'm just a small figure…… a petty, vindictive small figure. \""

【239】

Anyone who harms my family, I will kill them—eye for an eye, blood for blood, it's that simple.

Translation: "\"Whoever dares to harm my family, I will kill them—an eye for an eye, blood for blood, that's all there is to it. \""

【246】

Translation: "A point of golden light flashed between his brows, an invisible force surged, and the Qiankun bags and storage bracelets on the bodies of the several hundred Gongsun Clan experts flew up one after another."

【251】

Translation: "All together, over ten Qiankun bags and two bracelets fell into Wu Tie's hands."

【256】

Translation: "Wu Tie lightly bowed to the dazed youths on the stands and said: 'Right, thanks for your bets. You all could have bet on Gongsun Yuan to win…… how great.'"

【261】

Translation: "The entire venue fell dead silent."

【266】

Translation: "Wu Tie bore the White Tiger Split, leaving bloody footprints with each step as he slowly walked out of the arena."

He picked up the shamaness, reached out and patted Wa Xiaoxi's head, and left this bloody place, laughing hehe.