Chapter 51

Tianyuan Mystical Realm, opening in three months!

This news swept through the entire Imperial Capital like a hurricane and quickly spread to all corners of the Tianyuan Imperial Dynasty's territory. All Golden Core cultivators who met the criteria, whether they were from sects and great clans or were rogue cultivators, were all rubbing their hands and looking forward to it. This was a feast, but even more so, a cruel elimination tournament.

Lin Xuan knew the dangers within. At that time, the top batch of Golden Core geniuses of the Imperial Dynasty would gather to fight for opportunities, life or death. The threats from the Zhao Clan, the Youming Sect, and the Shadow Pavilion were definitely not empty words, and a Son of Destiny like Ye Chen was an even more formidable rival. Even though his strength had greatly increased, he did not dare to be the slightest bit negligent.

During these three months, he had to make full preparations!

The Four Seas Trading Firm indeed kept its promise and soon sent people to deliver the generous resources for a guest Elder, including fifty thousand superior spirit stones, several bottles of "Condensing Yuan Pills" that were of great benefit even to late-stage Golden Core cultivators, and a set of high-quality Third Rank Supreme inner armor, the "Mystic Silk Soft Armor."

Lin Xuan accepted them calmly; this was what he deserved. But his true foundation went far beyond this.

He first cast his gaze toward the System Mall and those eighteen thousand-plus "slacking points." This was his greatest reliance for rapidly improving his strength.

"System, filter items that are most helpful for improving my strength, including but not limited to attack, defense, escape techniques, healing, and special functions, with priority given to dealing with group battles in the Mystical Realm and top geniuses."

【Ding! Based on the host's needs and current slacking points, the following items are recommended:】

1. Divine Ability Upgrade Ticket: Can designate one existing divine ability to increase by one proficiency level (Minor Accomplishment -> Major Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment -> Perfection). Price: 【Redacted】 slacking points/ticket.

2. One-time Talisman Treasure · Small Void Displacement Talisman: Fourth Rank Mid-grade talisman treasure, can randomly teleport up to a hundred miles away in an instant, ignoring most spatial lockdowns. A life-saving tool. Price: 【Redacted】 slacking points.

3. Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Milk (one drop): Fifth Rank heaven-and-earth treasure, containing vast vitality and spiritual energy, can instantly restore all spiritual energy and severe injuries, with a weak body-tempering effect. Price: 【Redacted】 slacking points.

4. Array Disk · Small Zhou Tian Illusion-Killing Array: Third Rank Supreme portable array disk, can cover a hundred-zhang radius after activation, combining illusion confusion and sword energy strangulation, with power comparable to a continuous attack from a peak Golden Core. Price: 【Redacted】 slacking points.

5. Law-Breaking Thunder Bead (three pieces): One-time item, can release Geng Metal Divine Thunder that specifically breaks various protective spiritual lights and array seals after detonation. Significant effect against those below the Nascent Soul stage. Price: 【Redacted】 slacking points/piece.

Looking at the list, Lin Xuan quickly made a decision. Survival was always the top priority!

"Exchange for the Small Void Displacement Talisman and one drop of Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Milk!"

【Ding! Slacking points consumed, exchange successful!】

With a flash of light, a silver talisman radiating profound spatial fluctuations and a jade bottle sealing a bright green liquid drop appeared in his hands. These two items were equivalent to having two extra lives!

Attack and crowd-control methods also needed to be strengthened.

"Exchange for the Small Zhou Tian Illusion-Killing Array disk and one Law-Breaking Thunder Bead!"

【Ding! Slacking points consumed, exchange successful!】

A bronze array disk engraved with Zhou Tian stars and three beads with golden electric snakes dancing on their surfaces were obtained. The array disk could be used for setting ambushes or blocking enemies, while the Law-Breaking Thunder Bead was a sharp tool for breaking through defenses.

In the blink of an eye, the eighteen thousand-plus slacking points were reduced to only five hundred, almost completely exhausted. But what he got in return was real confidence!

Next, he began to deal with the materials on his body. He chose to have the system recycle the damaged Youming Ten-Thousand-Ghost Banner and some unused Youming materials.

【Ding! Recycled Youming Ten-Thousand-Ghost Banner (damaged) and some materials, obtained 25% system energy and 200 special points.】

【Current system energy: 63%】

【Special points: 550 points】

The system energy received a big boost, and quite a few special points were accumulated.

Then, he took out the most important Youming Soul-Suppressing Token (fragment). The token was still dim, but he could feel the faint spirituality within. He tried to slowly nourish it daily with his own pure Chaos spiritual energy; although the progress was slow, he could feel the connection between them deepening bit by bit. This token had huge potential and might be a key trump card for him in the Mystical Realm.

He also took time to practice several secret techniques from the "Nine Nether Soul-Devouring True Scripture." In particular, one of them, the "Soul Armor Technique," could form an invisible soul armor on the outer layer of his consciousness sea, specifically to defend against soul attacks, which just happened to make up for his slight deficiency in this area. Another, "Shadow Step," although not as profound as "Shrinking the Earth into an Inch," had quite effective results for concealing his figure and moving through shadows in specific environments.

Cultivation knows no time, especially when one is fully devoted.

Lin Xuan practiced divine abilities and familiarized himself with the newly acquired array disks and talismans during the day, while at night he sat in meditation to practice Qi, nourish the Soul-Suppressing Token, and practice the Soul Armor Technique, occasionally exchanging information about the outside world with Qian Duoduo. His days were fulfilling and compact.

His cultivation base, under the Condensing Yuan Pills and his own hard work, was thoroughly consolidated at the late-stage Golden Core, and his Chaos nascent infant became a fraction more solid.

"Shrinking the Earth into an Inch," although not broken through, was used more purely.

"Nine Transformations Lei Gang Body" was steadily moving toward the late-stage Second Transformation.

"Eye of Truth" was even more insightful than before with the assistance of the Soul Armor Technique.

The newly practiced "Soul Armor Technique" and "Shadow Step" had also entered the introductory stage.

Qian Duoduo was not idle during this time either; he used the Four Seas Trading Firm's intelligence network to collect a large amount of information for Lin Xuan about the geniuses who might enter the Mystical Realm, as well as some known area information and dangerous zones inside the Mystical Realm.

"Elder Mu, these are the few people currently known who need special attention." Qian Duoduo handed a jade slip to Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan's spiritual sense sank in:

·Ye Chen (Ye Clan): Late-stage Golden Core, Purple Heaven Divine Thunder has peerless power, suspected of mastering stronger lightning divine abilities, possesses secret treasures, combat power recognized as top-tier.

·Li Daoyi (Third Imperial Prince of the Imperial Family): Late-stage Golden Core, practices the Imperial Family's supreme skill "Imperial Extreme World-Shocking Technique," possesses numerous magic treasures, deep foundation, likely followed by Imperial Family experts.

·Saintess Yun Yao (Piao Xue Palace): Late-stage Golden Core, ice-type divine abilities are superb, also practices soul secret techniques, strength is unfathomable.

·Xiao Zhan (Zhenbei Marquis Mansion): Late-stage Golden Core, dual cultivator of body and law, powerful strength, straightforward and fierce personality.

·Shi Potian (Diamond Sect): Late-stage Golden Core, specializes in body refining, physical body comparable to same-rank demonic beasts, defense is extremely strong.

·Zhao Song (Zhao Clan): Late-stage Golden Core, veteran cultivator, ruthless methods, need to be wary of his collusion with the Youming Sect and the Shadow Pavilion.

·Ghost Li (Suspected to be secretly cultivated by the Youming Sect): Late-stage Golden Core, mysterious and unfathomable, skilled in Youming ghost path techniques, extremely dangerous.

Each name represented powerful strength and background. And this was only what was known on the surface; who knew how many experts were hidden in the dark.

Lin Xuan's gaze was calm as he kept this information firmly in his heart. Pressure certainly existed, but even more so, there was a boiling fighting spirit!

Just ten days before the Mystical Realm opened, the Ninth Elder summoned Lin Xuan again and handed him an ancient bronze key.

"This is the key to the Mystical Realm's 'Safe House'." The Ninth Elder explained, "Inside the Mystical Realm, it is not all barbaric slaughter. Some ancient abandoned caves and stone halls are relatively safe inside and protected by special seals. This key can open one of them. The location has been marked on the map given to you. At critical moments, it can be used to avoid disaster or as a place for rest."

"Many thanks, Ninth Elder!" Lin Xuan took it solemnly. This was undoubtedly another protective talisman.

Everything is ready, all that's missing is the east wind!

The atmosphere in the Imperial Capital reached an unprecedented level of tension and heat on the eve of the Mystical Realm's opening. The air seemed to be filled with the smell of gunpowder.

Lin Xuan sat quietly in his small building, wiping the Mystic Heavy Ruler, his eyes deep and sharp.

All preparations were complete.

All grudges and debts should also be settled.

Tianyuan Mystical Realm, I am coming!

(End of Chapter 51)