《Ashes Of Heaven Book 1 : Solar Calamity》


 Chapter 1: Heavenly Calamity

    For the last day of a brief winter, it was a cold one. The sun was hiding with the excuse of winter''s presence while the trees shed dead leaves, shaking their branches along with the bone-chilling cold wind.


    Light presence of snow could be seen on the far mountaintops.


    Several large groups of people were walking steadily on a particular road which cut through a foggy valley between two gargantuan mountains. Their pace was not slow despite the chilling blades of the winter''s wind.


    At the front of the crowd walked a group with a small number of people, mostly teenagers and elderly; their gait revealing nobility and grace, attire rich in color and style, faces relaxed, and conduct exuding dominance over those following behind.


    Behind them was a faction of people who comparatively had a large population. But they seemed quite anxious and showed a somewhat subservient attitude towards the first group. The people in this group were of all ages and most of them were clustered, as if belonging to different families. They showed animosity towards each other and contempt towards the third group.


    The third group was the largest, having people of different standings in society. Their clothes were shabby, their bodies bore signs of labor, and their demeanor was nervous yet more easygoing and friendly. They walked while maintaining a fair distance from the first and second groups.


    In any of these groups, there were very few who were alone. Han Xuhan was one of these oddities.


    His clothes resembled a peasant''s. He had a small bag on his back. While walking, he stuck close to a group of armed men wearing combat attire. This tiny group was there to escort an old man with an ambiguous identity, he had discovered at some point.


    Han Xuhan chatted with these soldiers frequently out of curiosity. The stories they discussed among themselves were wild.


    "Brother Shen, what''s the situation in the fifth region now? Are the attacks of the spirited beasts lessening at all? I heard the emperor invited experts from every sect to deal with those beasts once and for all."


    The fierce-looking leader of the soldiers, Shen Hai shook his head and replied, " it''s not as simple as you think, little brother. There are beasts with unbelievable strength hiding among normal beasts in the recent invasions.


    Almost every sect has lost a few experts and core disciples because of them. In a recent news, I heard about a Devilshadow Eagle with the strength of a ninth-layer Soul Reformation realm expert attacking a convoy with thousands of people. Even in the mid-level sects of our Seven Regions, experts like that are treasured by the sect masters."


    Han Xuhan sucked in a breath as he tried to imagine the strength of somebody who had reached the second great realm of cultivation, the Soul Reformation realm. But he really had no idea how to do so since he had never seen a proper and decent cultivator that powerful.


    "Brother Shen, have you ever seen a cultivator of that level? Their strength has to be unimaginable!" He couldn''t help but ask.


    "If you pass the entrance test, you will get a chance to cultivate to that level too, as long as you are willing to work hard and have the necessary talent."


    Shen Hai looked wistful as if fantasizing about being a cultivator himself. For soldiers like him, strength was the most important factor in life.


    He hadn''t answered the question, Han Xuhan realized.


    At this moment, a shout from the front of the groups alerted everyone.


    "Look! You can see the gate! There are so many tents outside in the plains!"


    The whole group fell silent as they walked at a faster pace. All of them eventually found the valley widening ahead, their road leading them to an open expanse. By the side of the river encircling the mountains beyond the plain, countless people could be seen moving about outside colorful tents.


    As they approached the huge, intimidating gate at the foot of the mountains, a man wearing red robes came out to greet them.


    "Welcome to the Crimson Snow Sect. The entrance examination will be held in the designated areas at noon. Those with 3rd-level invitations, please follow me to your personal tents, and those with 1st and 2nd-level invitations, please explore the plateau where you will find the public tents," the man declared, pointing at the tents outside the gates.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    The small groups at the front paid no heed to the man and strode inside the gate while chatting among themselves in a relaxed manner.


    The man seemed to be used to this and followed behind without a single glance at the rest of the people. A few old men in the second group looked incensed but they didn''t raise a ruckus.


    Han Xuhan took out his invitation and inspected it carefully again. It didn''t contain much information.


    [ First Level


    The bearer of this invitation card has been permitted to take part in the entrance examination of the illustrious Crimson Snow Sect. Please follow the map and attend the examination, which will be held within four weeks.


    Attendance is mandatory. ]


    Under those sentences was the badge of the sect showing a crimson-colored snowflake and a small, basic map of the hilly territory at the edge of their region. The position of the sect was marked there, inside an area surrounded by dozens of large mountains. The journey to this place had not been easy.


    He had gotten this invitation from an influential backer of the orphanage he lived in. Apparently, the backer had noted that Xuhan was suitable for cultivation after examining him with the help of a native cultivator from a small sect.


    The invitation was something he had received a few days back and he gladly gave it to Xuhan, telling him that if he managed to become a cultivator, their orphanage would have much more resources and influence than before.


    Touched from receiving such a precious opportunity, Han Xuhan had thanked him profusely and immediately started his preparation for this year''s test. Of course, as an ordinary mortal, there was hardly anything he could use to give himself an advantage in the world of cultivation, but he had made sure to keep himself in top shape since that day.


    Han Xuhan walked with the soldiers to the public tents. The old man they were guarding looked tired from the journey. It had taken them a whole day and another morning to reach the sect from the fifth region''s borders.


    "Little Xuhan, it''s time we separated. I have some business to take care of. Go and rest for a bit. The examination will start soon," the old man said suddenly to Han Xuhan.


    He smiled at the grandpa and continued walking forward. The old man nodded at the soldiers and walked off in another direction.


    "Old master, you should have taken the demon chariot. Every time you pass through the spatial intersections, your injury keeps worsening," Shen Hai reprimanded the old man lightly.


    "Eh, but crossing the intersections of space is the most fun part of the journey, kid." The old man laughed.


    "What did you think of the youngster, master?" Shen Hai asked the old man as they glanced back at the boy.


    "He has the aptitude. But nothing special," the old man replied absent-mindedly.


    "Do you think he will pass? Boy looked pretty passionate about cultivating, haha!"


    "Depends. But I don''t think it matters."


    "Why not?"


    "Shen Hai, you must keep in mind that not everything that appears simple is simple in essence. That boy appears harmless, but I suspect he is not so innocent inside.


    "There is an aura of heavenly calamity shrouding his existence. And you know very well which type of people suffers that sort of punishment. If my conjecture is right, he''s about to face many, many perils soon, continuously at that too. I don''t think he will survive the calamity."


    "Heavenly punishment?!" The soldiers halted, heads turning swiftly once more, sight locking in on the distant figure of the unsuspecting youth.


    "...Should we inform the sect master?" Shen Hai said in a low voice.


    The old man waved his hand. "Don''t. Interfering in the neutral territories will get all of us implicated. As the representative from the home solar system, I''ll only face nominal penalties. But you...you''ll become another example for those who''ll have to replace you. I''m sure you can recall what happened to Inspector Xie just a few days ago, right? The news should have spread fast."


    Shen Hai sucked in a shallow breath and nodded.


    "Thanks for the advice, master Ming."


    "Ahaha, no need for the formalities, little Hai. I appreciate the amount of effort you''ve given in protecting the future disciples of this sect. It hasn''t been easy on you! It''s no simple task to deter those disasters without people noticing."


    "We could''ve done better, had the information about this region been correctly reported. So many natural disasters striking so frequently...nobody told us how sensitive the Heavenly Laws in this place is." Shen Hai''s expression was sour.


    "Could it have been because of the boy?!" One soldier from behind suggested doubtfully.


    The tension in the air became almost palpable instantly. Had that innocent-looking companion of theirs been the source of their suffering this whole time?


    Old man Ming Zi shook his head.


    "Injured as I am right now, I could''ve still sensed it if the boy was the real source of the calamities. It''s something else...this planet is too close to the rift, after all. Such anomalies aren''t rare at all, I''m certain.


    "Whatever, these are no longer our concern. Come, all of us could use some rest. Accommodation befitting my status will surely do you good!"


    Followed by the soldiers, the old man entered through the gate uninterrupted by the sentries. Anyone who saw him moved out of the way, standing by the side of the road with their heads bowed until he had left.

 Chapter 2: Your Ancestor Was An Asshole

    The test could begin anytime now.


    Han Xuhan stood inside one of the roomier tents, among dozens of kids around his age. None of them was familiar with each other.


    The only thing they had in common was the first-level invitation in their hands, meaning they were less important to the examiners compared to the second and third-level invitees.


    He didn''t mind though.


    As an orphan, it was almost impossible for him to achieve something as grand as entering a famous sect for cultivation. He had been so happy when he received the invitation. He remembered the jealous, yet admiring faces of his friends when they saw it. It had filled him with pride as well as a sense of emptiness.


    The head of the orphanage was a kind woman who treated him especially well because of his academic prowess. That woman held a lot of hope for him.


    He really wanted to become someone as awesome as an immortal cultivator from the folk-tales, not the ordinary run-of-the-mill sort!


    His chances of passing were low, he had fantasized in his mind, coming up with scenarios after scenarios full of grandeur and then he had compared them with the life of an average, ordinary orphan. The conflict he had felt about leaving his current life had been swept clean from his heart.


    As he imagined how powerful he would become after reaching the peak of the Soul Reformation Realm, an old man in tattered robes passed by him, entering the tent with his hands outstretched, palms open.


    Where did this beggar come from?


    Anyway, Han Xuhan was too poor to be giving alms. He chose to move away in case the beggar turned towards him. Being unable to help the elderly made him feel quite embarrassed.


    From where he was standing now, a heated argument between his fellow tent-mates entered his ears.


    "Wang Da, you don''t know what you''re talking about. I am absolutely sure that Ji Qing is in the third layer of the Physique Transformation realm. I came with the Ji family here, you know?"


    "But I am pretty sure that Nian Yi said Ji Qing is in the fourth layer. He fought him just last week at a friendly exchange between the great families."


    "Nian Yi probably said that because he was too embarrassed to admit that he lost to a guy with lower cultivation."


    The other kids who were watching the heated argument started giving out their own opinions. Han Xuhan wasn''t very familiar with the Nian or Ji family. But he had heard about the tournament between the great families in the fifth region.


    As far as he knew, The Physique Transformation was the first great realm of cultivation. In this realm a cultivator would undergo the process of transforming their own body into a vessel that could survive apotheosis, in other words, it was a process of turning mortal flesh into immortal.


    Of course, Han Xuhan''s knowledge could be called minuscule when it came to these matters. An average mortal could hardly find the chance to research about cultivation. What he knew was just general knowledge to everybody.


    Han Xuhan watched the kids nearly get into a fight and thought about the unfair advantage the children of great families had over normal kids like them. He barely knew anything about cultivation yet those kids from the great families were already in the middle stage of the first realm. How would he contend against them?


    "All of you, shut up! I, your examiner, have been standing here for so long and you don''t even acknowledge my presence?"


    A somewhat shrill yell made the dozens of youths jump in fright.


    Han Xuhan noticed the old beggar in tatters standing in an inconspicuous corner of the huge tent. His hands were still outstretched, striking a perfect begging pose...except, a volunteer from the sect was patiently wiping those hands with a wet towel, his conduct exuding respect and affection.


    The man, despite sounding infuriated, had an amiable, grandpa-next-door face. He looked nothing like the images of a proud elder cultivator in his imagination.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    "Elder Fan, this robe cannot be worn anymore. I''ll send someone to bring you a new one," said the volunteer as he finished wiping off the man''s fingers with utmost care.


    "I''ll wrap up the examination here in that time, disciple Zhi. Go aid master Jun for now," the old man replied.


    "Celestials above, thank you for making me broke," Han Xuhan muttered for the first, and hopefully the last time in his life.


    Had he tried to hand that old man a coin or two...ahem.


    The elder had successfully attracted everyone''s attention with his yell. He scrutinized their group for a few moments before speaking.


    "All of you are first-level invitees, which means you neither have a great family backing you nor do you bear a significant bloodline. You either got lucky or got the invitation because someone didn''t need it. So stop acting like a bunch of proud peacocks and get in a line. "


    The kids all scrambled to follow his order, Han Xuhan included. He stood in the last place to avoid trouble. After the commotion settled down, the old man spoke again-


    "The first test is to check your bloodlines, roots and potential. It will determine your significant ancestry in the world of cultivation and how that affects you. Our sect values talent, but we will not foster the descendants of any unfriendly forces, no matter how great your bloodline, ancestry, or potential is."


    Then he took out a small knife and pointed at the first guy in the line, saying, "Oi you, come here and stand in front of me. Don''t scream like a chicken when I cut you. Those snot-eaters from the big clans drowned this old man in tears and spit. Damned weaklings...kids used to be so much hardier fifty years ago!"


    Visibly trembling, the boy walked up to the man resolutely. The elder wiggled his eyebrows while looking at his palm and the boy presented his hand in front of him.


    Everybody could see his hands shaking. The old examiner shook his head and before anybody could prepare themselves, he drew an invisible arc in the air with his knife.


    The boy hissed in pain as blood splattered the knife''s blade. The examiner took out a vial from his robes and placed the blade in its mouth. Then he took out a bottle full of light purple liquid and let the liquid fall on the blade, drop by drop, which carried the blood inside the first vial.


    The droplets of the bloody liquid, changed their color as they fell inside the vial from the tip of the knife. Everyone could see a golden hue emitting from the vial after being half-filled.


    The old man nodded as if it was expected.


    "A descendant of the blue sword ancestry, with thirteen percent concentration!


    Not too bad. But that''s barely enough to guarantee an average potential. Go stand behind me. Next!"


    Although no one seemed to have any idea what the old man was talking about, they silently looked at the boy who seemed to have passed the first test.


    The next person, a girl, walked up to him with a pale face. The same procedures were performed. Her blood shined yellow. The old man scrutinized the vial for a moment before laughing.


    "Not bad at all. You have a mixed ancestry of the blue sword family and golden earth dynasty. Quite remarkable concentration too. I have high hopes for you. Looks like it''s our lucky day today."


    The girl held her bleeding hand which was as red as her face. The old man took a good look at her before calling the next person.


    By now everybody felt excited. So it wasn''t that hard to pass this test!


    But their hopes were shattered as the next nine kids were tested.


    "Hmph, black scorpion bloodline, not worthy!


    Red sun family, not worthy!"


    "Saber soul family, why are you even here? Your great-grandfather was an asshole. Get out!"


    "What the hell is this? One percent concentration? Not worthy!"


    The nine shocked teens stood together with haggard, aggrieved expressions. The old man didn''t even leave them with a shred of dignity, insulting their ancestry in a vulgar manner.


    The test continued. But only one more teen, a boy, was found with a passable bloodline among the next twenty kids.


    In the end, only two youngsters remained. The girl in front of Han Xuhan stepped up.


    "EMERALD DRAGON FAMILY!" The old man''s yell made all of them jump. The pulsing light inside the vial was blinding white with specks of green mixed in.


    "Heavens! I haven''t seen this bloodline in a century! And the concentration is so high! The sect master will be happy, hahaha..."


    The old man looked truly ecstatic. He started asking the equally excited girl about her origins as well as personal details. Everyone felt a twinge of jealousy watching a competitor forming valuable connections without even trying.


    After that, it was Han Xuhan''s turn. All the kids watched him closely as he stepped up with countless thoughts clouding his mind.


    The old man slashed. Blood splattered his arms. But Han Xuhan could hardly feel it. The blood and the purple liquid mixed together, falling inside the vial.


    Nothing happened.


    No colours, no blinding lights, no shout.


    The old man frowned. To Han Xuhan, everything else had become still, silent and heavy. He couldn''t even breathe.


    The old man slowly took out a smaller vial from his pocket and opened it. It was full of a white watery potion, giving off a heavenly aroma.


    A drop fell inside the vial, it touched his blood.


    The vial shattered. A Black, frothy substance spewed out. It stank, it was the most horrible smell he had ever smelled.


    The old man stood still as if thunderstruck.


    A long silence ensued.


    "You...p-pass. Stay right there and don''t move out of my sight." The old man''s voice shook slightly.


    Han Xuhan didn''t know whether to feel elated or not. In a corner of his mind, he noted the strange gaze of the examiner.


    Something was wrong. Definitely, definitely wrong...


    Han Xuhan felt a bad premonition growing in his heart.

 Chapter 3: Im No Sadist, But...

    But hardly had he gotten the time to contemplate what was happening when the old man suddenly pulled out a black pipe from a pocket of his robes and blew on it, all the while keeping a cautious stare fixed on him.


    A shrill sound emanated from the wooden confines of the pipe, alarming all of those present. Far away, from outside the tent, many more looked in their direction as a commotion rose up among the crowds. The front of the tent was instantly crowded by the families and companions of the competitors.


    "Mother, look! The old man is just like that crazy fellow from our village who walks around naked and whistles!"


    A very young girl shrieked at her mother, who panicked and tried to stop her child from making further comments.


    Her son, probably their examination candidate, staggered and hid his face inside the crowd. However, the over-enthusiastic girl kept shouting.


    "Is he going to take his clothes off too, now? Mother, look! You can see his tummy already! Ew, it''s so hairy!


    The old man, still busy blowing air into the pipe choked and almost bit off the portion of the pipe that was inside his mouth. Yet after glaring at the little girl, he resumed whistling as if his dignity wasn''t worth enough compared to what he was doing. Imperceptibly, however, he dragged over a part of his ruined robe to cover his exposed stomach.


    Han Xuhan was still somewhat stunned as he watched the commotion and felt alarm bells ringing inside his head.


    No way in hell was this unrelated to his bloodline test results! Something must be terribly wrong.


    Had any of his ancestors had huge enmity with this sect? After all, every sect had a huge amount of adversaries. Neighboring sects, rivalry between sect leaders, and demonic sects that were hated by everyone. If that was the case...


    Han Xuhan somberly looked at the sky and muttered,


    "Ah, ancestors. Little Xuhan is coming to you very soon. Start the preparations for a welcoming ceremony. I''m sorry that I couldn''t leave a few children to continue our bloodline.


    My ''could''ve been'' wife, please don''t blame me. Your husband was a heroic man..."


    The few kids around him who heard his mutterings had very strange expressions on their faces as they suddenly moved away, as if afraid of catching diseases from him.


    While he gazed at the sky and continued to think about how painful his death would be, a sudden powerful gust of air appeared out of nowhere, blowing dust and gravel into the tent from outside. Everyone looked toward the source of the wind and gasped.


    "I-is that an actual cultivator who can fly?"


    "I didn''t even see how fast he was!"


    "So cool!"


    "Why is he posing like that?"


    "Who said that? Who said I''m posing?" A sharp, irritated voice cut the strings of exclamations and made the hubbub die down. The crowd parted, and a man walked into the tent with a swagger.


    Han Xuhan looked this newcomer up and down and realized that the whistle must have been used as a form of emergency summoning of an influential figure of the sect.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    The guy strutting toward the old man like a proud peacock certainly looked quite impressive with his voluminous colorful robe that seemed to work as a cape as well to add in a dazzling effect, alongside the unsheathed sword in his hand that shimmered despite the day being a gloomy one.


    Seeing him, the old man''s face turned sour for some reason. But he finally stopped whistling and bowed very formally.


    "Elder Mu, greetings!"


    The guy waved him off impatiently and looked around at the crowd of onlookers.


    "What is it? Hurry up!"


    Not flustered in the slightest, the old man rushed forward and whispered something to the elder''s ear.


    Hearing the old man out, elder Mu became visibly tense and whipped his head around to focus on Han Xuhan.


    Extremely tense, Han Xuhan focused on the gleaming sword in his hand, gulping down the urge to sincerely apologize for whatever reasons his bloodline ancestors had a feud with this sect.


    However, things became even more confusing and alarming with what followed next.


    The titular elder Mu suddenly rushed toward Han Xuhan and caught him by his collars, following which, Han Xuhan experienced the sensation of flying freely like a predatory bird in the sky for the first time in his life. As poetic as that sounds, it was an experience he would probably remember in his nightmares in the following days.


    With his stomach heaving, by the time he had finished painting the elder''s expensive-looking robes with his half-digested breakfast, he had found himself back to the ground, although not on his feet, but on his face, which was still leaking the last traces of a slimy pudding.


    "My robes!" Elder Mu moaned in a high-pitched and not-so-manly voice.


    Disoriented, Xuhan slowly got back to a sitting position and wiped off the liquid from his chin while the elder nearly tore off his robe and patted himself all over to see if any other part of his body had come into contact with the vomit.


    "You got what you deserved. Why would you drag a poor mortal through the air like that ?" A woman''s voice from behind made the two of them turn around.


    An impressive-looking building greeted Han Xuhan''s sight, with all sorts of cool-looking pictures on the walls depicting cultivators meditating till their butts became a part of the ground. It instantly killed off half of his enthusiasm for cultivation, which wasn''t much considering his current situation.


    In front of the building stood the speaker who had drawn their attention with her chastising words to elder Mu. The elder looked quite guilty of his actions, although Han Xuhan didn''t really believe that his internal feelings were the same.


    "Ah, Elder Cai, I got carried away because the pleasures of riding a sword and flying in the sky were too great. I''ve only recently been able to master the technique, and it''s too addictive! I''m sure he loved the feeling of flying too, right? The blue sky is every man''s dream!"


    While passionately blabbering, the elder surreptitiously winked at Xuhan to make him comply with his words.


    His actions convinced Han Xuhan that he wasn''t feeling guilty in the slightest and would jump at a chance to repeat his crime. But this wasn''t the proper time to file a complaint against him. So Han Xuhan nodded repeatedly and tried to stand straight on his shaking feet.


    A couple of seconds later after standing up steadily, he threw up a bigger load right at elder Mu''s feet.


    "Haha, I''m sure he''s just too excited. I threw up a lot too when teacher demonstrated flying techniques to me for the first time. I can sympathize with him !" Elder Mu said with a nervous laugh.


    "Clean up now, come on, young man!" He emphatically signaled at Xuhan''s wet face.


    "...Are you sure you haven''t become a sadistic demon who gets off on destroying children''s dreams of flying on a sword ?" The woman asked skeptically.


    "That sounds oddly specific. My lady, you''re projecting right now! Of course I haven''t become addicted to seeing these cute juniors swear off mastering the art of flying swords!"


    Thumping his chest to express his honesty, elder Mu turned towards Han Xuhan, only to find him calmly wiping off the traces of vomit from his face with elder Mu''s discarded, expensive robe.


    "...."


    Silently, he grabbed Han Xuhan''s hand and dragged him toward the building behind her, avoiding the lady''s narrowed gaze.


    Personally, Han Xuhan felt that these cultivators were a bit off from what he imagined them to be.

 Chapter 4: Awaken...Or Dont Wake Up At All!

    Han Xuhan was still slightly dazed when he was brought inside the ancient building by the maniacal elder Mu.


    "Tell me, young man, did you like flying like an immortal?" Elder Mu asked on the way rather vindictively.


    The suspicion of the woman outside the building was very possibly accurate.


    But currently, he was more worried about his predicament. Elder Mu''s sadistic tendencies were hardly a major concern when he might just end up getting killed any moment now.


    His thoughts were interrupted when he was shoved forward inside a huge hall while the elder stayed back outside. Han Xuhan turned around in a hurry, only to see the thick, gigantic doors closing in and trapping him inside.


    Immediately, Xuhan flattened his back on the door and turned around to survey the room he was locked in. With a shiver going down his spine, he realized that he was not alone.


    A man sat in the middle of the room, on the floor, seemingly lost in meditation.


    Grizzled looks, sharp features, and shoulder-length gray hair made him look memorable. In terms of appearance, this man came off as someone crossing his fifties, but still quite handsome.


    Thinking of how long the lives of cultivators could stretch, Han Xuhan decided to treat this man as a respectable senior.


    Rather flummoxed by the turn of events, Han Xuhan decided to stay silent and still.


    But that silence did not last long. A few seconds later, the senior opened his eyes suddenly, startling the nervous young man.


    Meeting the old man''s penetrating gaze, Han Xuhan felt a premonition that that gaze could see through everything! Even his most secret thoughts wouldn''t stay secret before those eyes...


    Moving imperceptibly, Han Xuhan put his left leg in front of his right one, blocking his crotch area from that pervasive gaze...


    He didn''t want to make this senior feel inferior! Not now, at least.


    However, the old man noticed the covert action and immediately became so incensed by the implications of his movements that the veins on his neck bulged out for a moment before he could control his fury.


    "YOU....!"


    Seemingly lost for words, the old man gritted his teeth before calming himself down and speaking again.


    "Did elder Mu explain to you why you''ve been brought here?"


    Hearing the cold question, Han Xuhan shook his head, which prompted a snort from the old grandpa.


    "Understandable. That brat really needs another hands-on lesson on flying. Now listen attentively, I won''t bother explaining twice."


    Han Xuhan was simply relieved that his death didn''t seem imminent yet. Nodding like a good boy, he focused his attention fully on this grandpa.


    "Are you familiar with the concept of ''reincarnation'' ?"


    Han Xuhan nodded. It was a familiar concept among most mortals.


    Many religions and school of thoughts claimed it to be real instead of a simple afterlife with heavens and hells. After death, everyone''s souls would forget their memories of past life and be reborn into another vessel. Of course, there were varieties of claims concerning how this whole rebirth process was operated, but Xuhan, being a standard orphan with no fixed religious bias, always had seen those claims from the viewpoint of a skeptic.


    But right now, his beliefs were about to be challenged as the old man continued speaking.


    "To those among the cultivators who have stepped into the realms of immortals and above, the cycle of reincarnation is a very ordinary passage of life. To shed mortality, one must understand what the essence of mortality is. Every immortal cultivator has reincarnated once at least in their lifetime of cultivation. "


    Han Xuhan''s jaws fell open. Reincarnation was real?


    "However, the heavenly law is not something that can be so easily manipulated to man''s convenience. More often than not, the process of voluntary reincarnation goes awry somewhere and the world ends up with some oddities whose fate has been twisted and crushed into an unrecognisable state. This is akin to a punishment from the heavens to those who continuously challenge the way of the heavens."


    Sufficient to say, Han Xuhan''s mind was already forming some strings with his current predicament to these new pieces of information. It couldn''t be that...


    "Yes," the old man nodded, looking pleased with his fast thoughts.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "You, boy, turned out to be one of those instabilities whose fate was basically screwed by the heavens in your past life. That ancestry test was a precautionary step for us to detect the unfortunate freaks like yourself."


    Han Xuhan''s face became pale as he realized that his luck was actually even worse than he had thought.


    It was one thing to be the descendant of a famous person who had a feud with a reputable sect like the Crimson Snow Sect. At best, he''d just die tragically young.


    But to be directly placed among a randomly selected group of people who were the punching bag of the frustrated heavenly law, what kind of dogshit luck was this? What did he do in his past life to deserve this? Wouldn''t he be tortured even after death?


    "Hehe, don''t wet your breeches now. It''s not that bad. As cultivators, we always have been a bit of an eyesore of the heavens. So being a victim of their unfair laws isn''t all that uncommon among us. However..."


    The old man paused as a dark glint appeared in his eyes. Xuhan felt a chill down his spine as if death itself was right around the corner. He could already make a few guesses as to where this conversation was heading.


    "Existences like you are a very unstable factor to have around. Anyone with a sufficient knowledge of the cultivation world knows that those who are the reincarnated selves of mighty cultivators from ancient times are always discriminated by the heavenly laws.


    They are the harbingers of apocalypse and destruction. If they manage to awaken the memories of their past life and get stronger, they often start bloodbaths and challenge the heavens, blinded by their vengeance and driven almost crazy due to how twisted the heavens have made their fates to be.


    This is also another form of punishment by the heavens on us mortals and immortals alike, whether we challenge heavenly laws or not, simply because we cultivate to become immortals."


    "...I can honestly swear that I won''t do any of those things. Let''s just forget that I took the test and you can let me leave while no one is looking..." Xuhan muttered unhappily.


    The old man chuckled gloomily.


    "It isn''t so simple as that. What if you awaken your memories after you return and realize that the heavens have greatly wronged you?


    Such as intentionally killing your past life''s daoist partner in a tribulation, or making your parents reincarnate into humiliating vessels such as animals or demons.


    How are you going to deal with that eh?


    Are you willing to let it pass off and bear the humiliation, hmmm?"


    Han Xuhan numbly thought about it and found a tiny trap in the old man''s words. If he said no, then it would mean he was definitely an unstable factor who might bring destruction to all living beings around him. As a reputable sect, Crimson Snow Sect would never let him off the hook. The small town he lived in was under the jurisdiction of this sect. Where could he run?


    But if he lied and said yes, it would be a proof of a timid and cowardly nature, thus marking him as a sinister person, a scum who wouldn''t mind sacrificing his and his family''s dignity to survive.


    Would such a guy who could potentially become stronger be spared by anyone with a working brain? The risk was even greater in this case!


    Han Xuhan stayed silent for a long time before speaking.


    "Your words are very cleverly placed..."


    "Call me Xuan Zi."


    "Your words are very cleverly placed, master Xuan Zi. You''ve placed many prerequisites in your question and made it impossible for me to answer without stepping into a trap. Those conditions about having my daoist partner killed in tribulation, or my parents being humiliated in their afterlife because of me...aren''t these rather far-fetched?


    Now, I don''t know much about this heaven you speak so casually of, but I have some doubts about how you''re portraying such celestial beings...they can''t definitely be a bunch of retards!


    "Unless I committed heinous crimes in my past life, why would they go that far to pick a fight with me? Would they leave me alive after doing all that?"


    "How do you know that you haven''t committed heinous crimes in your past life, boy? Hehe..."


    "Master Xuan Zi, your questions have too many ifs. Such uncertainty cannot make for a good argument.


    If I asked you, what if you had been a great pervert in your previous life, and so, are the ladies of the sect really safe from your hands now that you''re a powerful cultivator...?"


    Xuan Zi''s mouth opened and closed, but no words got out. Clenching his teeth, he closed his eyes for a few moments before regaining clarity. Showing him a thin smile, the man said,


    "Indeed. That''s a valid argument when you put it like that, young man."


    Xuhan noted how the old man had gone from addressing him as ''boy'' to ''young man''. It seemed that he had avoided a calamity there. His back was already covered in a thin layer of cold sweat. He had a feeling that if his answer was simply either yes or no, he wouldn''t be alive at this moment.


    "If any of the celestials above heaven had met you in your previous life, they''d probably have enough reason to pick a fight with you, young man. After all, it has barely been five minutes into our conversation and I was almost angered to the point of awarding you with some gentle slaps."


    Han Xuhan coughed awkwardly and chose to ignore that comment from master Xuan Zi.


    "Well, now that that''s out of the way, we both seem to agree that it is of paramount importance that we know what you were in your past life so that we can judge whether to let go of you or not, eh?"


    Han Xuhan sighed. He had seen this coming.


    Despite wriggling out of the trap set by the old man, it was inevitable that his answer would lead to this. Master Xuan Zi was a crafty old fox who hadn''t wasted his long life keeping his brain idle.


    No matter how intelligent Han Xuhan was, his experiences simply couldn''t measure up to a cunning old cultivator like him. Defeating this guy with witty arguments was beyond his ability.


    "I suppose so," he muttered despondently in the end.


    "Hehehe. Then you shouldn''t have any complaints against our technique of cracking open the memory seal of reincarnation and making you recall your previous life, hmmm?"


    "That sounds quite dangerous."


    "Oh, don''t worry! The results are very simple. Either you awaken your memories and tell us what really happened in your previous life so that we can judge whether to ''terminate'' any threats; and if it doesn''t work...uh, you wouldn''t need to worry about your future. Shouldn''t be a problem to understand the implications for a bright young man like you, hmmm?"


    Once again, Han Xuhan realized that his arguments were useless when his opponent was a cultivator with both power and wisdom.


    Cultivation was the only thing that could guarantee his safety in this cruel world where the heavenly laws had anger issues.

 Chapter 5: Crack Him Open And See Whats Inside

    Half dragged by sect master Xuan Zi, a depressed Han Xuhan was forced to enter a small, empty cell with white walls and no windows. Master Xuan Zi made an attempt to patiently explain to him how this would work before he left, locking the door behind him.


    Apparently, the walls were made of precious materials that could, to some extent, block the interference of heavenly elements and stabilize any sort of low-level dangers, hiding the process under the radar of the Heavenly Dao.


    Several elders from the sect would gather outside and help with the process of stimulating his memory seal, which according to them, was a unique feature of every reincarnated being who had the touch of heavenly law in their fate.


    While the whole process sounded fairly straightforward and harmless, Han Xuhan couldn''t help but feel unsettled at how lackadaisical Xuan Zi''s behavior was. He didn''t seem very concerned about the dangers of the technique.


    To him, it seemed, Xuhan''s life wasn''t worth much. After all, he was just another mortal mired by bad luck and an eyesore of the heavenly dao. Even if he survived this ordeal and turned out to be a harmless cultivator in his previous life, he was bound to attract disasters every now and then. Who could guarantee that he''d live long anyway?


    Moreover, all of this jargon about the heavenly dao, twisting fates, inescapable punishments, and reincarnation was too much to handle at once. He could not even understand half the connections Xuan Zi made in his explanations and reasonings that followed.


    The words were new, the concepts were mind-boggling, and the chain of events was adverse to his safety.


    Terribly glum, Han Xuhan paced around the room while his thoughts raced. He had no reason to think that Xuan Zi was lying.


    Why would an esteemed cultivator of the prestigious Crimson Snow sect bother to stage such drama with a mere mortal? At least most of his explanation had to be true. If that were the case, what was his life like in his previous incarnation?


    Was he really a powerful cultivator in his previous life whose existence hadn''t been tolerated by the heavens?


    Although it sounded very cool to phrase it this way and could probably make every imaginative young man''s blood boil in excitement and pride, Han Xuhan was just terrified, plain and simple.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The only reason he had wanted to cultivate was to become a prestigious expert and live a life full of luxury and laziness. He had no intention of achieving incredible feats and contending with the celestials above heaven for the position of godly status. What sort of a buffoon would bother to do all that anyway?


    Such feats sounded cool in stories, but when he put himself in those bloody sagas, everything felt so dark and terrifying!


    Now though, things were going in a direction he had no control of. He sincerely hoped that his past incarnation had been as low-key and charismatic as his current self.


    Hopefully, he would turn out to be one of those unlucky fellows who got caught up in these hijinks of the heavenly dao and had no clue what had hit him before dying tragically young, preferably with a dozen tearful young maidens attending his funeral and lamenting about how they had missed their chance of expressing their love to him when he was alive...


    Ahh...that would have been a beautiful scene.


    But he immediately lost interest in imagining further as he realized that life must have gone on without him for those girls.


    Those heartbroken maidens would have to forget their love for him and marry somebody else. It made Xuhan feel like a husband who has been cucked.


    His sorrow overflowing, Han Xuhan decided to focus on more pressing matters, such as the murmurings outside.


    "Seems like they''re about to begin."


    Preparing himself for the worst, Xuhan closed his eyes and sat down in the middle of the cell.


    Soon, the voices outside quieted down and he felt a chill spreading inside the cell. It was as if countless predators were gazing at him hungrily.


    His mind was suddenly assaulted by a great pang of unrest and fear. His thoughts turned chaotic and aimless. A sound similar to constant strokes of guzheng surrounded his consciousness. The volume increased and increased. Countless roars exploded within his head. The frequency of the guzheng had reached an unimaginable level, nearly making him clap his hands over his ears. He could feel a strange sort of detachment from his own body. Heavy shackles seemed to bind him and drag him back to his body while his consciousness felt like an explosive in its last moments.


    CRAACCKK!!!


    An inaudible, yet somehow terrifyingly impactful sound rumbled inside the cell.


    Han Xuhan felt a rush of nausea while countless streams of information flowed inside his mind as if they had been waiting for just this moment.


    Scenes after scenes, words after words flashed through him while he lay on his back, unable to move. As his consciousness became somewhat tranquil and free from all those pestering interferences, Han Xuhan began to process the information that had been freed from the seal. What he saw, however, was beyond anything he could have imagined in his wildest dreams.


    Forget being the eyesore of the heavens, this...was... simply mind-numbing!

 Chapter 6: Memories Broken, The Truth Goes Unspoken...

    The esteemed elders outside were impatiently waiting for their subject of the experiment, Han Xuhan, to recover. After all, today was the selection of their future disciples. How would they have enough time on their hands to waste on this one young man whom no one wanted to take in as a disciple?


    Yes, that''s right.


    Almost no sect would easily take in a potential disaster like him. Who knows when he might just attract a mini-apocalypse while breaking through? Who would dare to bear such risks?


    "Sect master, it seems that the technique was successful. We can modify some parts and improve it by a small margin before we display it on the fifth floor of the archives pavilion," remarked one of the elders in charge of observation.


    "I agree. But I''m more interested in what the boy shows us. Should it be anything remotely risky, we''ll have to follow the protocols, unfortunate for him...mortals can be really pitiful at times," one of the younger elders said, shaking his head with a rueful expression.


    "When have the heavens ever been fair?"


    As the masters discussed the plausible scenarios in a low tone, sect master Xuan Zi suddenly perked up and hushed everyone.


    "Use your arrays and observe. The boy is about to recover. The heavenly dao should have noticed that anomaly has happened. Based on how much it had interfered with his fate in the past, an appropriate reaction would surely come.


    Gauge the amount of heavenly elements that are being assimilated around us.


    Record the intensity of the lightning strikes and heavenly laws that assault the walls of the cell. That should be more than enough to figure out whether this boy is a threat to us or not.


    "Moreover, he himself might let slip some emotions now that he remembers his previous life. That should give us a clue too. Master Wudi, use your secret technique of reading people''s emotions. A mortal like him wouldn''t be any different from an open book in front of that technique. "


    Elder Wudi nodded and focused his concentration on the boy who seemed to be in a daze as he slowly sat up. He couldn''t read anything too significant from his expression. The boy seemed confused, still in denial and disbelief, and rather rattled.


    All signs appeared quite ordinary for someone who has just experienced the memories of his last life.


    Focusing his mind, Wudi muttered the incantation of his secret technique and released a wisp of his consciousness to invade the boy''s thoughts to a superficial level.


    The boy was confused, seemingly because he couldn''t understand how concepts like reincarnation and the heavenly dao worked...these stray thoughts were caught by master Wudi''s senses.


    The boy was also in disbelief because of what he had seen in those memories...and how strange THIS world was...


    Huh.


    Elder Wudi''s brows cramped with slight confusion, but he didn''t think much of it. The world changes with every era. If the boy was a cultivator in the past, he could have been alive thousands of years ago. No wonder he was confused about the state of the world right now.


    He was also rattled by... the dangers around him.


    What was that about? Does the boy think the Crimson Snow Sect is a demonic sect that would kill him without any regard for rules and regulations? Had Master Xuan Zi scared him silly?


    Doesn''t seem very bright, this lad...


    While various stray thoughts of Han Xuhan''s mind were being captured one by one with the help of Master Wudi''s secret technique, most elders of the sect were focused on the aura of the heavenly dao, as it was supposed to come for the boy''s life any moment now....


    Except it didn''t.


    Minutes passed. There was not even the slightest fluctuation in the heavenly laws around them, let alone assaulting the walls of the cell. Technically, the whole ordeal should have been over by now. But the heavenly punishment was inexplicably absent from the show.


    "Erm...master Xuan Zi, it can''t be that..."


    "Yeah, seems like the boy isn''t a particular threat..."


    "But isn''t this strange? It is absolutely certain that the heavenly dao has punished him before. Then how come it forgot about his reincarnation? This is illogical!"


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The multitude of masters present was flabbergasted by this phenomenon, or more accurately, the lack of any phenomenon at all...


    "...Master Wudi, has that boy revealed anything yet?"


    "No, master Zi. His thoughts aren''t particularly interesting. It''s a typical scenario of a mortal recalling his previous life. Nothing particular sticks out, except that he seems a bit scared of everything right now. In fact, he seems a bit too scared for some reason..."


    "Scared? Of what? It can''t be that his memories allowed him to discover any particular threat to him here? Immediately siege every single strand of his thoughts regarding this! It''s our only chance left!"


    "That...I''m afraid, is a bit difficult to explain. I''ve already investigated. And seems like he is scared of ordinary words and phrases, such as ''cultivators'', ''immortals'', ''jade skin'' (???), ''breakthrough'', ''young masters'', ''the dao'', ''duels''..."


    As master Wudi listed the words one by one, everyone''s expression became increasingly odd.


    What exactly is wrong with those words?


    Was the boy a retard in his previous life?


    More and more confusing words kept coming, some seemingly absolutely meaningless. If the masters were flabbergasted before, they were completely stunned now...


    " ''Body cultivation'', ''ancestral ground'', ''tests'', ''competition'', ''aphrodisiac''..."


    "Why would anyone be scared of something so useful as aphrodisiac?" One of the oldest elders suddenly became incensed, attracting awkward gazes from his colleagues.


    Meanwhile, Han Xuhan, the newly awakened boy, was staring vacantly at the air while screaming inside tearfully.


    My God! What crimes did I commit in my previous life to deserve this? Noooo!


    Why is it a damned Xianxia world!


    Heavens, why??? Why have I reincarnated into a world of cultivation??!


    Master Xuan Zi, who had been focused on Xuhan''s figure, suddenly warned everyone.


    "He''s moving. Look! Listen carefully and see if he says or reveals anything extraordinary. "


    Han Xuhan leaped up from the floor and touched himself all over.


    No damned lockets with mysterious origins, no damned rings with a sleeping grandpa or a loli, no damned suspicious tattoos or birthmark, no damned strange object inside my mind or consciousness, no beautiful maiden''s soul hiding inside mine, not even a damned system!


    FUCK!


    I reincarnated without the most crucial element! Where is my cheat?!


    Does that mean I''m not the main character?


    Oh, God! I can''t be the villain or something, right? Or even a minor side character that dies half a dozen chapters later to provide an emotional upheaval for the main character!


    Oh hell no, this is bad...


    Well, at least I''m not the heroine, thank God, nothing gets worse than that...


    What should I do?! Those old fogies outside might start to get suspicious if this goes on, right?


    Xuhan''s brain raced. He was absolutely sure that that bastard Xuan Zi was watching him. How to turn this situation around and feign ignorance...


    Seems like I''ll have to use...unconventional means!


    Snorting loudly, Xuhan started voicing out his "thoughts " at the moment.


    "Huh, is that it? I was a simple mortal in my previous life who was mistakenly dragged into this mess? What a disaster!"


    Master Xuan Zi, who had really been observing him twitched with anger.


    Did this brat think he could dupe immortals with his two-bit acting skills?


    Turning his head around, he wriggled his eyebrows at master Wudi, who was still using his secret technique to read minds.


    "He...doesn''t seem to be lying, at least on the part of being a simple mortal. That much I can guarantee. However, he seems to be exaggerating a few details to prove his innocence..." master Wudi explained with a complicated expression.


    Master Xuan Zi was flummoxed. Although his heart insisted that there was something queer about this brat, he couldn''t refute Wudi''s words.


    "That''s actually not a bad outcome then. At least, we can safely assume that the boy shouldn''t be too much of a danger to those around him. It must''ve been an oversight on the part of the celestials," another elder chimed in ruefully.


    "All that trouble for nothing. Fine, he lives.


    So, what do we do now? His aptitude wasn''t too bad on the test. The bloodline was barely acceptable. We can''t refuse to accept him, not to mention, he still needs to be kept in check.


    Can''t let an anomaly like him dance back among the ordinary people, can we? Who wants to take him in as a disciple?" Another elder spoke.


    No one voiced out their affirmation.


    The atmosphere became rather awkward.


    "Erm... how about we send him to elder Daheng''s pavilion?" One elder proposed tentatively.


    Suddenly everyone seemed to find the suggestion very much proper and justified.


    Let''s dump this trash on the guy who is absent from the meeting.


    "Yes, yes. Elder Daheng shall be the perfect teacher for this boy. Absolutely!"


    "I agree!"


    "Me too! I don''t have the qualifications to teach this outstanding young man!"


    While everyone shamelessly voiced their agreement and looked at master Xuan Zi for support, he frowned but silently nodded after a few moments.


    "Before sending him there, let''s observe a little more. I have a strange feeling that the boy might let out some crucial information while muttering to himself. Look, he''s still doing it!"


    Back inside the cell, Han Xuhan was starting to grow nervous.


    Why was he not being released? Did they plan to take more drastic measures to figure out his real thoughts?


    Do I really have to use my trump card like this?


    This might lead to some...risks, but I have to make sure these guys don''t keep spying on me until I let something slip or they''ll decide to experiment on me again...


    "Huh, I wonder if anyone is watching me right now. I heard that the immortal cultivators are like godly beings who can observe situations from far away. It can''t be that they''re spying on me right now, eh?


    Well, that master Xuan Zi sure seemed like a pervert who enjoys peeping on people. I wonder if he spies on the female elders and disciples of the sect..." Xuhan spoke VERY loudly while mentally lighting a candle for Xuan Zi''s dignity.


    Seconds later, a muffled, infuriated yell came from outside...

 Chapter 7: Memories Collide! Personalities Unite!

    Little Xuhan,


    sitting under a tree


    K, I, S, S, I, N, G!


    That''s right. There is no girl''s name in the rhyme.


    Of course, that doesn''t mean he was making out with himself, which is impossible even for an immortal, unless their clone is gay.


    His mouth was kissing the back of his hand. He had put a clamp on it, fearing that he would scream out with frustration if he was careless.


    Today, he, Han Xuhan, had experienced the awakening of the memories of his previous life. He had immediately wished he hadn''t. But it was too late to change his course.


    In that chaotic situation, he hadn''t had any time to carefully sort out his thoughts.


    Now though, he had been transferred to a big mountain peak that sported a few unimpressive-looking huts and a small run-down palace. Apparently, he had been accepted by the Crimson Snow sect''s elder Daheng as an outer court disciple.


    However, Han Xuhan had a sneaky suspicion that there was something wrong with this arrangement. He had not seen the elder, and the elder hadn''t seen him either. Why did he get chosen?


    Was this another elaborate test?


    He had been waiting for nearly half an hour in front of the elder''s pavilion. Not a single soul, not even another outer court disciple, had appeared outside this entire time.


    Have these people fallen asleep while meditating?


    Anyhow, this was also a good thing for him. He still needed to calm himself down and assess the situation. Just as the omnivorous lord Bear Grylls used to quote, "improvise, adapt, overcome!", he was going to follow the golden rules of survival in this cruel world.


    His past life showed him a decaying planet called earth, where he had spent a lifetime doing nothing remarkable.


    It had been a peaceful life, an ordinary course full of the experience of a typical mortal.


    Usually, an adventurous earthling who has been reborn in a fantasy-esque world where they can become supernaturally powerful would be extremely worked up by now, excited about the boundless adventures that await them.


    Han Xuhan, however, was very, very familiar with the worldbuilding elements of a typical universe where one could harness supernatural, superhuman powers and rise to godhood, or similar ranks.


    This kind of world would be divided into layers, where each layer would form a society with the most powerful existence as the top predator, the ruler.


    If allowed to develop for a few centuries, or even a millennium or two, these layered societies would germinate a more complex structure of power in order to maintain its balance. The mortals who are unable to cultivate shall be absorbed by those who can into the form of a hierarchical, mutually beneficial relationship. Groups would begin to form.


    Sheer personal ability, in this case, called cultivation level, would cease to be the one and only factor that keeps a ruler in his position. Politics between powerful families, clans, interference from the higher layers of society would slowly modify the resource pyramids.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    From what he had observed so far, allied with the memories of his current life, Han Xuhan had come to the conclusion that the continent, or even the planet he was on right now was close to the latter form of socio-political structure.


    However, these conjectures and theories of his were purely reliant on an extremely dubious source...novels, written about cultivation by mortals on earth, a planet where no such concepts existed in reality.


    Han Xuhan couldn''t quite fully trust this source, but the bizarre thing was, his experience in this current world of cultivation would mostly fit the narratives of those stories.


    And here was where the most crucial issue emerged.


    It was the norm for reborn earthlings in those stories to get cheating devices so that they can just axe the whole thing and become a god after a few volumes of mass killing, screwing, and adventuring. He himself would have followed a similar path gladly as well...provided that he had a cheat, which, he did NOT.


    This led to the reasoning that he, Han Xuhan, was not destined to be a protagonist of those types of sagas.


    So what, you ask? What is wrong with being a side character?


    If he was not the protagonist of this world, which he was aware was a pretty stupid-sounding clause, someone had to be, right?


    Too many stories lined up with the elements of the world he was in right now. This could indeed be some sort of a grand saga of a weakling''s ascension to the top of the universe, although Han Xuhan could not justify how, or why something so ridiculous was taking place.


    Everything would make sense if he accepted the fact that he was still on earth, alive but insane, locked within a mental asylum where the medical treatment was only increasing his delusions and hallucinations.


    Maybe spending his youth reading machine-translated novels night after night had finally disabled his last brain-cell...


    But the world felt too real. His experience right now was as real as it could get. Pain, happiness, fear, and awe came to him as naturally as they did before, during his life on earth.


    How could he accept this world, this life as a mere manifestation of his insanity? His seventeen years of memory in this world was no trifling concept to make light of.


    There was an entire, complete human being, a rational persona constructed around those memories. The Han Xuhan before the awakening was a different person compared to the Han Xuhan who had spent his life on earth. Their names, morals, life experience, ambitions...every factor differed significantly.


    As for the current him, he was an amalgamation of these two, with the earthling being the dominant side.


    How can simple madness construct something this complex and detailed?


    So he was forced to consider the alternate routes, no matter how ridiculous these theories sounded.


    As far as Han Xuhan was concerned, any side character with secrets like himself was predestined to die at some point during the protagonist''s ascension in a typical cultivation story.


    Even if he didn''t die, there was a good chance of being crippled for life or something of a similar caliber of misery. After all, most authors didn''t like to maintain the mysterious circumstances around an unimportant character since it''d be too taxing. There was a high chance that he was a predecessor of the main protagonist who could serve as a warning sign to the protagonist, who would hear of his tragic tale and operate more cautiously as a part of his character growth.


    Setting his own disbelief of this theory aside, Han Xuhan was forced to reconsider his seemingly ominous fate.


    The more he considered, the darker his future seemed, his expression becoming sourer and sourer.


    He still didn''t have much knowledge about this world of cultivation. The generic rules may not always hold true in reality. This instilled a tiny spark of hope inside his heart. Maybe a real world of cultivation wouldn''t be so bad...


    After much consideration, Han Xuhan decided to observe this world more before coming to a conclusion. He would have to start from this mountain peak of the Crimson Snow sect, the Black Sheep pavilion...


    Wait, what?


    Black sheep???


    Xuhan refocused on the words written on the small plaque above the door of the shabby palace. He had just noticed it a moment ago. Now that he had slightly calmed down, it dawned on him that the name of this palace was very odd...


    Jerking his head around, he looked for a sign at the official entrance of the mountain peak, and noticed a small signboard behind one of the pillars of the gate that said-


    WELCOME TO THE BLACK SHEEP MOUNTAIN PEAK!


    ELDER DAHENG GREETS THE GUEST!

 Chapter 8: In A New World, Your First Challenge Is...Cultural Difference

    Han Xuhan fell into a daze. If the authorities of this sect were aware of what the title of this mountain peak meant, did that signify...


    "So I have been categorized as a black sheep by the sect," Xuhan muttered finally.


    "Indeed! I''m happy to see that you''ve figured it out by yourself. Spares me the effort," a cool voice affirmed his observation from behind.


    "What the-"


    Leaping a few feet away, Han Xuhan saw an older girl with a flat expression standing not far from him.


    Was she here to escort him to the elder''s residence? What was the point of sneaking up on him? To teach him the gulf between a cultivator and a mortal to intimidate him into submission?


    Going by the generic xianxia logic, all females were waifu materials for the super horny male protagonists, unless the author was a practitioner of the dark arts of BL.


    There were many types and subtypes of waifus as well, starting from the tsundere senior sister to peerless yandere beauty with epic cultivation level...


    Which type is this lass?


    Within seconds, countless bizarre and creepy thoughts flashed through Han Xuhan''s mind, his experiences with this sort of tropes speaking volumes.


    Seeing him speechless, the girl assumed that he had become a bit wary of her and nodded to herself.


    Seems like this new junior brother of hers was good at accepting the harshness of reality.


    "After assessing the situation, I assume you have an idea of your position in the sect. Now hold that thought and come with me to meet master. The master-disciple ceremony should be completed before you start off as an official disciple here."


    Saying her part, she turned around with a flick of her sleeves and walked speedily toward the shabby palace without waiting for Xuhan.


    "Yeah, definitely the icy beauty type who appears at the start of every cultivation novel to ridicule the main character before either falling for him by chapter 20 or getting killed by him by the end of the volume due to a conflict of interests," Han Xuhan muttered to himself and followed her from a distance.


    After all, he was probably not the protagonist.


    The chances of this senior sister picking a beef with him were very low as long as he kept his mouth shut and eyes controlled.


    Han Xuhan would ensure that he maintained a healthy distance from every outstanding person he met unless he was desperate. Everything and everyone special in a xianxia world spelled trouble. For a powerless shrimp like him, the world of cultivation was too terrifying a place to poke his nose around in others'' business.


    While sorting out the strategies he had planned to let himself survive this world, Han Xuhan entered the shabby palace following his soon-to-be senior sister whose fate he could almost predict by now.


    It was actually rather homely inside, seemingly cared for by its occupants. He noticed a few servants working inside every now and then, many of whom emitted the intimidating aura of low-level cultivators, making him gulp in nervousness.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Even the servants are stronger than me!


    His senior sister seemed to have been greatly satisfied by his nervous response to this sight as she smiled faintly. Feeling even more awkward than before, Han Xuhan followed her to a large room devoid of any furniture, other than a comfortable-looking rug at the center, with a man sitting on top of it peacefully.


    "Master, another black sheep has joined the herd," the girl said before retreating with a snicker.


    Han Xuhan''s face twitched, but he stopped himself from saying anything and opted to observe his soon-to-be master instead.


    He was a middle-aged man, rather handsome with his grey sideburns and shoulder-length hair with irregular black and white streaks. But the biggest problem here was that his master''s name was Daheng, which meant big giant. But this guy seemed to be on the scrawny side. Was this really the elder Daheng, master of the black sheep mountain peak?


    "Yes, I''m elder Daheng, no need to keep wondering about my stature any longer. I didn''t name myself," the man said rather incisively all of a sudden.


    Coughing loudly to alleviate the stifling atmosphere, Han Xuhan put on a gratified smile and greeted the elder.


    "No need to bother with the pleasantries. Let''s get down to business. I was informed of your results in the bloodline test, so I''ll skip the aptitude test and just accept you as a disciple of the outer court. Now let''s commence the master-disciple ceremony. We shall keep it simple. Pour me the tea first. I''m thirsty. "


    Elder Daheng waved his hand and a kettle and two teacups appeared in front of him. Xuhan was familiar with this as well. Immediately he did as he was told and earnestly handed the full teacup to the elder.


    Taking a sip from the cup, the elder raised an eyebrow at him curiously.


    "Have you forgotten? You need to bow three times as well. That''d be enough. "


    Han Xuhan froze. Due to his memories of his previous life on earth, he felt a strong opposition in his heart when it came to bowing his head in front of someone. He hadn''t been an atheist in his previous life. Other than a creator-level figure, he was extremely unwilling to bow in front of anyone.


    Fuck, none of the xianxia novels he read in his previous life had any issues with the cultural differences...but not bowing would make me seem like a typical arrogant asshat. What do I do?


    Seeing his hesitant look, the elder''s brows furrowed.


    "Do you not want to be a disciple here?"


    With a complicated expression, Han Xuhan answered his query with full honesty.


    It was best to explain his issues rather than lying through his teeth. Elder Daheng knew of Xuhan''s ''specialty ''. Trying to wriggle out of this would only result in a cliched disaster.


    "In my previous life, bowing to someone was a taboo...so I, erm..."


    Elder Daheng sighed.


    "Fine, you reincarnated lot are always full of weird issues like that anyway. From now on, you are a black sheep of the sec-cough...a disciple of the black sheep mountain peak. Your senior sister over there will take you to the outer courtyard where others like you reside. Take your identity token and sincerely do your job and maybe one day, you''ll become someone with significant capabilities.


    Come to me only if you suffer a major setback in cultivation. I do not appreciate being interrupted between my cultivation sessions. Now off you go."


    Xuhan was grateful that he hadn''t been forced to bow at least. This master of his didn''t seem half bad; in fact, going by xianxia logic, this was already a high-tier master who didn''t seem to be the type to sell out or abuse his disciples for personal gain.


    A good start, definitely a good start!


    Xuhan obediently followed his senior sister who didn''t look very pleased with his conduct, judging by the frosty demeanor on her face.


    Leaving the palace, they entered a formation of small huts in the surroundings at various parts of the mountain peak. Taking him to one of the empty huts, his senior sister handed him a heavy pouch and finally spoke.


    "Everything you need to know is inside. If you have any urgent problems in the future, find me or any other seniors around here. There aren''t many of us here, and we''re rarely available. So try to solve your own issues by yourself first. Remember to do your daily duties or you''ll be punished. Don''t slack off."


    Then she turned around and before Han Xuhan had even opened his mouth to thank her for the guidance, she flitted off into the distance with extraordinary speed, making him gasp in shock inaudibly.


    Cultivation really seemed so amazing from a real-life point of view instead of novels or cartoons!

 Chapter 9: The Wisest Decision Of His Life...? Ahem!

    "Good Heavens, what have I gotten myself into?"


    A very distressed Han Xuhan was sprawled on a bed inside his newly acquired hut, which had just undergone a thorough cleaning.


    It was rather cozy and warm inside the room, with only the small bed and a low table nearby that took up half the space. The other two rooms contained a few necessities, food reserves, and cooking utensils for a single person to live by themselves.


    At this moment, however, the single occupant of the hut, namely Han Xuhan, didn''t look very motivated to live on.


    He was absorbed deeply in the task of pulling on his own hair and moaning in an anguished manner every now and then while reading a thick book he had found on the bedside table.


    The plain cover of the book showed a very impressive title-


    [ The glorious history of the world of cultivation: The advent of the new millennium ]


    Han Xuhan had initially been very excited after reading the title and realizing that he could get a free, simple introduction to this world so soon! This would be of great help to him if he wanted to avoid potential disasters in the future that usually befall small fries like himself.


    However, he was wrong; terribly, terribly wrong. Free and simple?!


    No such concept could exist in his current world.


    As he turned each page of the book, his hands shook, his fingers shivered, and his eyelids twitched uncontrollably. The more he read, the worse his symptoms got.


    In the end, he threw the book aside and lay lifelessly on his bed while clutching his head.


    "Finished, it''s all finished. So many things make sense now. No wonder the elders of the sect have such unfavorable view of reincarnators like me. How is this even possible...."


    Half the historical figures known for incredible feats rivaling the celestials are known to be reincarnated beings with odd characters.


    Many of their achievements literally mirror the protagonists of the cultivation novels he had read on earth. Some of their biographies even feel like a rip-off of famous webnovels in that genre...


    There was also the well-known fact that many of these historical figures operated in a close-knit group and are rumored to have shared secrets.


    Even more alarmingly, the number of apocalyptic events and horrifying dangers that popped up was too high!


    Apocalyptic disasters happened every few years! And almost every time, the disasters seemed to be tailor-made for the heroic cultivator who comes to the rescue of the mortals and cultivators alike!


    No wonder the development of the civilization of the mortals is so slow! It was a miracle that normal people still existed on this planet.


    Is this really an actual world and not a


    reflection of all those xianxia novels from his past life in one big clusterfuck?


    How can a world like this exist?


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    What mysteries hid behind this world?


    "Or am I really an insane man sitting inside a cold asylum, imagining all of this inside my head?"


    Han Xuhan immediately pushed that notion aside. Even if he had gone insane, the real world would have to have some physical effect on his body. But here, everything worked perfectly as a reality, logically and physically.


    The biggest clue was that he had no cheating devices, which were always the core theme of the stories he was so obsessed with. If this entire life was a hallucination of a madman, why would such an important factor be absent?


    This forced him back to square one.


    After going through the history book, which was pretty much a compilation of generic cultivation stories, Han Xuhan had discovered the existence of many protagonist-level characters.


    And there was he himself.


    "Did any celestial maiden fall in love with my previous incarnation and the guy in charge of the whole reincarnation process became jealous?" he couldn''t help but wonder.


    I must''ve been too outstanding an existence on earth, spending a lifetime in simplicity, peace, and the warmth of one''s roots.


    What did they call such lives in cultivation novels...?


    Right, returning to the origin realm! Simple, yet true; brief, yet timeless; common, yet in touch with the heavenly way...


    Ahem!


    Wallowing in misery and narcissism, Han Xuhan finally managed to convince himself that being too saintly and outstanding in his previous life must have attracted the wrath of the heavens.


    Why else would he be punished like this?


    "Nevertheless, now I need to consider my options at hand. What is the biggest bargaining chip in a xianxia world that can allow me to live peacefully?


    "Cultivation, a really high level of cultivation!


    "Then how do I proceed to attain high cultivation without any cheating?"


    Han Xuhan wracked his brain and came to a conclusion.


    Impossible.


    Attaining high levels of cultivation without some sort of cheating method was impossible. He had never seen anyone do it in the novels. Those awesome, ruthless, hardworking, visionary, heroic, wise, scheming, men of superior characters, ALL cheated on their way to the top, in one way or another.


    If their origins were humble, they cheated. If their origins were incredible, they cheated. If they weren''t walking around with cheats, reality bent itself for their convenience and let them trot to the top of the world.


    These were novels, wish-fulfilling sagas. Of course such a flow of plot had to be present!


    But what about now? What about him?


    Is this life...even worth living?


    For a long time, Han Xuhan pondered the answer to this question. If he wanted to keep things simple, he could just swing a knife past his throat and bleed to death, all alone in this dark hut. After all, if reincarnation is real, he''d be reborn once more, right?


    But suicide...Han Xuhan had nothing but contempt towards this concept. Oftentimes, in situations he could only imagine, suicide may seem like a tempting option. Those who suffer in the darkest corners of the world, those who bear the burden and pain they never deserved, they may think of suicide as the ultimate escape route, the only way to stop the flow of never-ending pain.


    Han Xuhan had never found himself in such a situation, not on earth, not even now. And even if he found himself in a situation so painful, he would never take this easy way out. The worse his circumstances became, the more deeply he felt the truth of his reality, the more he got to experience where his own limits lay.


    It was as if he was experiencing a virtual world, where the depth of the danger he was in increased his immersion. He believed that there existed no such burden, no such pain which could drive a person to terminate their existence.


    There were limits to physical pain, limits to mental trauma. Once the limit is crossed, a person may break physically and mentally, but to kill themselves was a decision entirely up to them.


    Thus, Han Xuhan, the ordinary mortal who had found himself in a chaotic world of extraordinary powers, chose to wait and see what the world had in store for him.


    In retrospect, this might not have been the wisest decision of his life.

 Chapter 10: Snap Back To Reality

    "Well, now that''s just beautiful."


    If he compiled his current experience into a book, the most appropriate title would be-


    [ How To Get Fucked In Every Possible Way (PG-13) (Nosex) ].


    Han Xuhan was tired of these disasters that kept striking him in the nuts over and over again.


    After proclaiming internally that he would cultivate to the highest level possible and show it off in front of the Celestials above, he had opened the pouch his senior sister had given him earlier that day.


    Following the usual tropes, he should''ve found a few cultivation techniques for beginners inside that could give him a primary boost in his path to becoming a powerful cultivator, except...


    There were no cultivation techniques inside.


    The pouch held a small booklet, riddled with various rules and tasks an outer court disciple had to learn, abide by and accomplish. Alongside the book were his identity token, a few brightly coloured, polished stones which he assumed to be a form of currency in the world of cultivators, and a peculiar-looking thin piece of jade that was labeled as an emergency contact establishment token.


    That was it.


    Initially, Xuhan was flabbergasted. He couldn''t understand why he hadn''t been given any cultivation techniques. Did they forget that he was a mortal?


    However, once he decided to read the rulebook first, he understood that if he wanted to become a cultivator, the road ahead was way too slippery and dangerous...


    Rule 1:


    An outer court disciple has to obey any reasonable order from an inner court disciple / a core disciple / a legacy disciple / a direct disciple/ an elder.


    Rule 2:


    An outer court disciple must always perform their daily tasks, regardless of their personal issues and shall be punished appropriately if they fail to do so unless vouched for by an elder. They''ll be paid a fixed amount of spirit stones as revenues based on the difficulty of the accomplished tasks.


    Rule 3:


    An outer court disciple must buy their own cultivation techniques from the sect''s archives at full price. Only spirit stones will be counted as currency.


    Rule 4:


    An outer court disciple must accomplish the achievements listed below or risk facing expulsion from the sect.


    4.1- reach the second layer of physique transformation within one month


    4.2- reach the fifth layer of physique transformation within one year.


    4.3- reach the eighth layer of physique transformation within two years.


    4.4- reach the peak of the physique transformation realm within three years.


    4.5- breakthrough to the Soul Reformation realm within five years.


    Rule 5- All outer court disciples must be responsible for their own expenditures and must pay a fixed amount of fees to the sect every two months.


    As Xuhan kept reading, more and more complicated and seemingly unfair rules popped up endlessly. How many elders the sect has, what the division of ranks and authorities of those elders was, who was in charge of which mountain peak, what type of food would be served in the sect''s kitchen, what the price of the land around the sect''s main territory was, etcetera etcetera etcetera...


    Although Han Xuhan was greatly dissatisfied with many of the rules that seemed to resemble slave contracts, he still found them bearable.


    But afterwards, he reached the part of the book that listed the usual daily tasks of an outer court disciple.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    There were many tasks suitable for outer court disciples. For example, delivering shredded logs of at least 50 kilograms to the sect''s kitchens, collecting fees from the neighboring smaller sects and organizations using their sect''s mighty reputation as an excuse, collecting herbs and crafting materials from dangerous jungles, mines, and whatnot, helping other elders with experimenting on newly developed cultivation techniques and martial arts...


    The problem here was that all of these tasks were suitable only for those with exceptional influence outside the sect or someone who has already taken a step into the realm of Physique Transformation.


    There was nothing appropriate for a mere mortal like Xuhan!


    As stated in the book, the more tasks a disciple accomplished, the more spirit stones would they earn, otherwise, punishment awaited! Did that mean his chances of earning spirit stones and buying his cultivation techniques soon were dashed just like that?


    He counted the small number of spirit stones he had found inside the pouch.


    25 in number.


    Then he looked for the part of the book where the prices of various residential services were listed.


    Bi-monthly fee- 20 spirit stones


    Archive entrance fee- 2 spirit stones


    Monthly food expenditure - 15 spirit stones


    Living quarter''s fee- 10 spirit stones per month


    Toilet maintenance and hygiene product fee- 8 spirit stones per month


    By this point, Han Xuhan''s rage had reached the high heavens.


    Was this still a reputable righteous sect and not a band of bandits?


    This is daylight robbery! Even if he could accept most of the fees, what the hell was up with that toilet and hygiene product fee?


    He was sure that if he made a fuss about this, the sect would just bar him from entering the toilets of the sect...


    A horrifying scenery played itself in his mind uncontrollably--


    Bleak dawnlight illuminated the mountains, caressing gently his silhouette, which was rushing towards the closest latrine.


    A white figure suddenly appeared out of thin air and blocked his path, his road to salvation.


    A saber rose, gleaming in the soothing, soft sunlight, radiating a deathly aura.


    Foot-long beard moved as their owner declared, "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!"


    In defiance and desperation, Han Xuhan raised his hands, ready to fight his way to his destination, as befitting of a cultivator!


    Then he noticed that all the water inside the bidet he was carrying had fallen out in the process.


    "NOOOO!" He screamed in fury, rushing back to the nearest stream to collect water once more.


    "Hmph! Go take your dump outside, or pay 8 spirit stones, plus 3 more as a fine for late registration," came the old man''s voice from behind, laden with contempt.


    Han Xuhan slightly shuddered at the mental image of himself running for a toilet outside the sect''s vast territory every morning.


    By the time he finished reading the whole book, his heart was shaken deeply.


    Then he saw a line written on the back of the book.


    This book contains precious information about the sect and was written by the arduously working elders of the sect. So it is not free and the reader must pay a tribute of 2 spirit stones to the sect''s treasury as soon as possible after reading this.


    ".....#&#¡ê€£¤#!!! "


    Han Xuhan temporarily lost his ability to be stunned. With the number of spirit stones in his hand, could he even last a week here?


    Other disciples were mostly beginner-level cultivators with much more strength and influence than Xuhan. They would definitely be able to perform those tasks without much issue while Xuhan could only despair.


    He remembered the kids present in the bloodline test arguing about how some guys among the examinees had a cultivation level at the third and fourth layers of physique transformation. Would those guys even need to bother with these shitty tasks?


    Han Xuhan wanted to cry but had no tears left in his eyes.


    But he didn''t want to give up so easily. Even if his chances of becoming a cultivator were as minuscule as a single drop of water in an ocean, he knew he had to seize the chance. This world, as far as he was concerned, was an abomination of too many xianxia tropes and apocalyptic events every few years. A mere mortal had no choice but to accept their death or a worse fate in a place like this. And Xuhan still wanted to exact his indirect revenge on the heavens by becoming an immortal celestial.


    Rubbing his slightly reddened eyes, he opened the only window of the hut to gaze outside at the vast expanse stretching infinitely from the foot of the mountains where the sect was located. A bright moon stared back at him from the sky for a few seconds before the dark clouds covered it. As the hut plunged into darkness from the absence of the moonlight, Han Xuhan felt a strange mood settle down in his heart.


    It was a rather unfamiliar feeling, an intense longing, bordering on the point of obsession. He wanted to become an entity that could gaze at the moon and could blow away any cloud that impeded his vision with a single thought, an entity whose power was beyond fathomable boundaries, just like those super-powerful figures he loved to read about in junk novels in his previous life. Moreover, his curiosity to know exactly what was going on with his rebirth mishap was overflowing his thoughts ceaselessly since his awakening.


    Han Xuhan laid back on his bed in the gloomy darkness and steeled his heart for the following day when he would start his duty as an outer court disciple of the Crimson Snow sect. He understood that he had a week''s worth of time here, at best, if he didn''t find a way to earn spirit stones and perform his daily tasks.

 Chapter 11: This Sect Has Sharks

    The morning was neither bright nor gloomy, constantly transitioning between both while maintaining a serene aura.


    A young man around the age of seventeen walked down from the black sheep mountain with a calm expression. He wore a robe that was a few sizes too big for him, and his eyes were ceaselessly jerking around his surroundings, trying to absorb as much information as possible on his way.


    The structure of the sect was simple. Dozens of mountains were clustered together here, and on top of each mountain, a pavilion or the residence of an elder had been constructed. Surrounding the residences of the elders lay a series of huts, sheltering the disciples of the elders. As for the pavilions, these mountain peaks were more like the organs of the sect, running business, tasks, partnerships, contracts, administration, discipline maintenance, and countless other miscellaneous jobs in order to keep the sect operating without a hitch.


    Counting the entire body of outer court disciples, elders and servants, a population exceeding 700 resided in this sect. And this was just the population within the sect''s main territory. The Crimson Snow sect was an authoritative figure in the Fifth region, exerting its influence across an area of fifty square miles.


    It was hardly a simple task to run it smoothly.


    "According to the rulebook, first of all, I''ll have to pay 2 spirit stones for the book to the treasury, which is situated at the Golden Shark mountain peak. Among the few special mountain peaks that do not take in disciples, this one handles the administrative tasks for the sect."


    Xuhan strode across the mountainside pathways from one peak to another and managed to find his way to the Golden Shark peak by following another group of disciples with the same destination.


    "Whoa! That building is the treasury?! Those pillars...if I''m not mistaken, those pillars are made of black jade! And those domes on the roof, those are made of high-grade gold!"


    A disciple from the group ahead of him suddenly exclaimed from the foot of the mountain, making Xuhan stumble in shock.


    Jade pillars and golden domes?!


    No wonder the fees were so high! This sect is such a spendthrift!


    On their way, they saw many more signs of the luxurious ways of life of the Crimson Snow sect. But few of the luxuries were available to the disciples, especially the junior generation. Some of them were delighted to see the majesty of their sect, while the rest of them only felt their chests tightening in sorrow.


    At the door of the extravagant treasury sat an older disciple with a stony face.


    "I assume all of you are here to pay the fees for the rulebook and perhaps apply for loans. Form a line and start one by one. Don''t waste my time. "


    The senior disciple''s frosty glare made their excitement wither as they soon followed one another in a long line.


    Han Xuhan was rather puzzled by what the senior said about applying for loans. So he turned around to ask the guy behind him.


    "Hey, martial brother, what did he mean by loan?"


    The guy, towering above Xuhan with his height, width, and circumference, smiled warmly.


    "You must be a mortal with exceptional results in the tests. Almost everyone with a bit of background knows this."


    "...Uh...Yeah, my results were quite exceptional. Even my wildest dreams never conjured up anything like that," Xuhan answered meekly.


    "Oh? I''m Xiao Wu from the black sheep mountain peak! What about you?"


    "Really? Me too! Han Xuhan from the same mountain peak! What a wonderful coincidence!"


    "...I thought you said your results were exceptional."


    "Of course!"


    "Then why the hell are you in the black sheep mountain peak? It''s the worst mountain peak that hosts the worst disciples!"


    "Ah, you see, the word exceptional can be used for various purposes-"


    "...Say no more brother! I get it." Xiao Wu flashed him a knowing grin.


    "So, about the loan thing-"


    "Oh yeah, that. Well, the way to becoming a powerful cultivator is a very unpredictable path. One needs to focus on many things while cultivating, and it''s nigh impossible for a single elder or a master to teach


    so many things to their disciples without sacrificing their own precious time for cultivation. So the sects usually divide the lessons among all the elders so that each can teach for a short time and use the rest to cultivate. This also gives rise to a great many issues, for example- most elders are not exactly inclined to teach the disciples of other elders for free. So the sect allows them to collect a small number of fees for their lessons and we disciples must pay that fee if we want to attend their lessons.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "If I''m not wrong, you received 25 spirit stones yesterday. If we''re talking about the minimal amount of lessons that we MUST attend, then the total fee amounts up to 20 spirit stones per month.


    Then there are the higher tier curriculums where you can attend more lessons with longer time duration, which also require higher fees, such as fifty spirit stones, eighty spirit stones and the legendary tier costing 120 spirit stones per month!


    "Now tell me, martial brother, how do you expect yourself to pay for even the lowest tier of the curriculums without a loan when you are a mortal who has only 25 spirit stones with himself?"


    Xuhan went into a long daze. His resolve to become a powerful cultivator seemed to have been cracked before even he could start working for it.


    "How-how are the others going to pay? Wouldn''t a lot of people have to take loans?"


    "Not really. Almost ninety percent of disciples here have an influential family and a minimum cultivation base. It''s not very easy to get this sect''s invitations unless you are exceptional in some way. So most of us have a way or two to earn spirit stones steadily or receive the necessary amount from our family in case of emergencies. We can also perform the tasks which give out remunerations."


    Han Xuhan felt aggrieved to the extreme. Why doesn''t this sect follow the standard xianxia procedure where everything is free? He would have been happy enough with a bog-standard sect as long as things were affordable.


    Why did he get recruited into this ivy league hodgepodge?


    No no, I must not become disheartened. I''ll surely find a way to earn spirit stones. I don''t believe it''s impossible!


    Xuhan consoled himself and prepared himself to ask for a loan when his turn came.


    Soon, he was facing the stone-faced older disciple.


    "Name?"


    "Han Xuhan."


    The disciple looked for his name in the registry and quickly gave him another calculative look upon seeing the insignia of the black sheep mountain beside his name.


    Without further ado, Xuhan handed him the spirit stones and requested for the loan.


    "Senior, what are the procedures for taking a loan?"


    The disciple didn''t seem surprised. He pulled out a new register from a bag.


    "Reason for the loan?"


    "To pay for the lessons, senior."


    "Here, take these forms and fill them carefully. The pledges cannot be retracted once registered, so don''t make a mistake. "


    Standing at one side of the building, Xuhan slowly filled it with some relevant information, including signing the clause assigning five years of unpaid labor in case he failed to pay up in time.


    Xuhan''s breath hitched when he saw the annual interest rate of twelve percent...


    The sect''s image in Han Xuhan''s mind began to morph into the form of a bloodsucking monster...


    Underneath was the clause including how much money he was willing to borrow based on the curriculum he would choose.


    According to the rules, he would have to pay at least 5 percent of the total amount per month, excluding the interest. Each loan would be enough for him to pay for a whole year of tuition.


    There were four tiers, each dotted by a number of stars according to their worth. Xuhan immediately chose the one-star tier curriculum since he wouldn''t be able to afford anything higher even if he were to sell himself.


    After finishing up, he handed the papers to the older disciple and waited for a response. The disciple looked at the information carefully before he snickered for some reason. Then he threw up the papers in the air and waved his hands at them.


    Han Xuhan stared, wide-eyed, as the papers assembled themselves into a neat stack and a fire lit up the corners of the papers, dissolving the stack into a pile of ashes which was blown away by a gust of heavy wind.


    "Oh, don''t be so surprised. It''s just a technique to transfer paper documents far away. This is just the treasury. I''ll need one of the elder''s signs before I can hand you the money.


    Gasping slightly, Xuhan nodded with an amazed expression.


    What a cool-looking technique!


    Half a minute later, the air surrounding the disciple suddenly twisted and a pile of ashes appeared out of nowhere. The ashes began to morph speedily and assembled themselves into a stack of familiar papers and fell on the table neatly.


    So awesome!


    "See? The signing is done. Now, wait for a second while I retrieve the money. It''s a big amount after all..."


    Xuhan''s brows furrowed suddenly. A big amount, was it?


    "Here you go, all of it is in there. Count it beforehand if you want to re-examine."


    Xuhan dubiously opened up the two large pouches that were handed to him a moment later, only to be dazzled by what was inside...


    "Senior, I remember applying for the lowest tier loan, the one-star curriculum. Why does this pouch seem to contain more than five hundred spirit stones?"


    Xuhan, who had just finished a rough counting of the amount in one of the pouches, asked in a trembling voice.


    "What are you talking about, junior brother? The one-star tier is the highest level of curriculum plans, with an amount of 120 spirit stones per month as a fee. It also includes a certain amount of money for a better lifestyle in the sect, making up a total loan of 2000 spirit stones. The four-star tier is the lowest one totaling up to only 350 spirit stones!"


    The senior''s delighted reply was akin to the sound of thunder beside Xuhan''s ears.


    "Wha-how can that be? Shouldn''t four stars be the highest?"


    "Whatever gave you that idea, junior brother?"


    "...This-this is a mistake! Please reconsider and let me correct this! I don''t want-The contract was so vague..."


    "Junior brother, all of the procedures have already been recorded. I told you to be careful, remember? You just could''ve asked for my help if you are so ignorant. Moreover, even if I sympathize with you, the elder who signed the papers would never break the rules for a mere mortal..."


    Xuhan stared in a daze at the two heavy pouches as the name ''Golden Shark'' pavilion resurfaced in his thoughts. Golden sharks...loan sharks...


    His senior rattled on beside him about how Xuhan would have to pay 100 spirit stones per month from today on.


    Xuhan however, was barely listening. He was sure that this was absolutely intentional on their part. His habits of rating games and novels back in his previous life were also to be blamed. He hadn''t been careful enough...He suddenly felt that the whole world was operating against him.

 Chapter 12: There Is Always A Lower Peak

    "Don''t cry, martial brother. You''re a man. Think about your dignity..."


    "Fuck dignity!"


    "Ahh, I''m sure we can work something out. Maybe you can talk it out with the sect''s elders. They''ll understand, right?"


    "Oh, I''m quite sure they''ll understand. But I''m also certain that that won''t change a thing..."


    Han Xuhan was walking back toward the Black Sheep Mountain peak with tears streaming down his cheeks, his hands clutching the pouches full of spirit stones which felt heavier than anything he had ever carried.


    Xiao Wu was trying to console him half-heartedly, knowing full well that those consolations meant nothing and this unfortunate martial brother of his was about to face a miserable fate.


    Racking his brain, he finally came up with a reasonable response to Xuhan''s woe.


    "Look, this is also a good thing. If instead of living extravagantly, you save up a bit and manage to cultivate the first few layers of physique transformation realm, you''ll definitely receive a warmer response from the sect. They won''t enslave a talented, hardworking disciple for a few spirit stones!


    This can also fuel your drive and perseverance. So I suggest you use the spirit stone well and try your best to learn everything the elders teach you.


    I already talked with some people and from what they said, you can''t take a loan for a certain tier of the curriculum but choose another after receiving the money. So you can''t exploit this loophole to save your skin for the next few months. From those 2000 spirit stones, only 560 can be spent freely or saved up for the first few instalments. Therefore, I suggest you hurry the hell up with your cultivation."


    Han Xuhan, who had just thought about that particular loophole had his hopes dashed again.


    Cultivate fast? How do I do that? I don''t have a cheat, I don''t have the protagonist halo that saves my skin from every disaster. I don''t have godly talent or some rare bloodline.


    Exactly how the heck do the common people like me cultivate? How do I make it faster?


    "Hey, we''re back already. So why don''t we get to know our fellow peers, eh?"


    Xiao Wu''s proposal pulled Xuhan out of the stifling gloom of his inner world.


    The two martial brothers ventured to various parts of the mountain peak and met three more of their peers, two female and one male. All three of them were quite odd, to say the least.


    The male disciple, named Mu Ran, was busy cultivating. While it seemed like he was a very diligent person, when they asked about his cultivation level, the answer turned out to be...zero.


    Yes, he claimed to be at the zeroth layer of the Physique Transformation realm!


    "Are you sure there is a zeroth layer, and you''re not just making things up to hide the fact that you have no cultivation base ?"


    Xiao Wu had asked that question dubiously upon this revelation and became rather alarmed as an expression of utter disdain and disgust passed through Mu Ran''s face.


    "Hmph! Mere mortals like you are NOT worthy of knowing the secrets of heaven and earth. How dare you question my intellect? Are you seeking death? I can grant it to you if that is so!"


    Such familiar wording! Such familiar sentences!


    Standing at a side, Han Xuhan''s eyes widened as information about countless cultivation novels revolved around his thoughts.


    Such arrogant attitude, such claims of secrecy and ambiguous knowledge, such a style of speaking...


    In this sort of novels, there were only two sorts of people who held those qualities.


    One: A mid-level villainous young master of an influential family!


    Two: the protagonist himself! Specifically, the ruthless, slightly retarded, edgy, antihero archetype.


    Xuhan gave this guy a look of appraisal and felt his heart shaking. Obviously, his heart wasn''t shaking because of love at first sight, it was shaking because he was scared shitless. If this retard somehow ended up being the main character, what would be Xuhan''s position in his story? A low-level villain? A random lackey? The comedic relief? A stepping stone?


    None of these positions sounds very good...


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Xuhan gulped and quickly left Mu Ran''s hut with a confused Xiao Wu in tow after managing to exchange some pleasantries while the guy snorted every five seconds and maintained his haughty attitude.


    "What''s wrong with that guy?"


    Xiao Wu finally asked after they had left the vicinity of his hut. "Does he have sinus problems?"


    "Martial brother, seeing how good-natured you are, please heed my advice and never, ever mess with that guy. If possible, bootlick him whenever possible and stay away from him as much as possible while maintaining a friendly relationship. Also, as a safety measure, do a favour or two to him if it''s within your capability. But you should definitely not get too close to him if you value your life."


    Han Xuhan mustered some courage and sincerely gave his martial brother the most precious advice possible at the moment, which in turn, confused the big guy even more.


    Why was Xuhan suddenly so wary of Mu Ran? Did they know each other prior to coming here?


    But seeing Han Xuhan was unwilling to divulge anything more, Xiao Wu felt that he shouldn''t be too nosy and take Xuhan''s advice to heart since he seemed to be genuinely scared of Mu Ran.


    Indeed, it seems that my martial brother Xuhan has some secrets of his own!


    Then the two new friends visited their female peers. They were once again stunned when they reached their joined huts.


    The two girls were playing chess instead of tending to their daily tasks or cultivating.


    "Hello, martial sisters! I''m Xiao Wu and this is Han Xuhan. We are visiting all of our fellow martial brothers and sisters in this mountain peak."


    The two girls completely ignored them.


    "Erm...hello? Martial sisters? Should we not get acquainted?"


    Total silence.


    The two girls didn''t seem aware that someone was talking to them. They were completely absorbed in the chessboard, not even blinking once the whole time.


    Just when Han Xuhan was about to drag an enraged Xiao Wu back outside before he did something regrettable, one of the girls finally spoke.


    "I will defeat you in five moves. Defend with everything you have if you can, take this!"


    Then she moved one of the knights forward and waited for the other girl to counter her move.


    Xiao Wu was pissed beyond belief. First, his martial brother got scammed by the sect, then his other martial brother pretty much flattened them with his humongous ego, and now this pair of martial sisters were treating him like a dead log...


    On top of all that, he had been judged as the type with the lowest potential among the disciples who were selected by the sect, placed in this trashy mountain peak...


    "Martial brother, let''s just return to our own huts. It''s not as if we''ll have any problems if we don''t get acquainted with this bunch." Xuhan was alarmed by Xiao Wu''s thunderous expression and dragged him back.


    The whole time, their martial sisters hadn''t even spared them a single glance.


    "Those little pricks-"


    "Martial brother, as cultivators, our paths are bound to be lonely most of the time- this is a belief that''s ingrained among all the younger generations. So it isn''t strange that most of them would prefer being left alone. We should also learn not to interfere with others'' business when we''re not welcome there," Xuhan consoled him.


    "Aren''t you a mortal? How come you became so knowledgeable about the cultivation world so suddenly?"


    "Hah...I''m not that ignorant. Anyways, let''s finish up the rest of the procedures and make a routine for the near future, shall we?"


    "Fine, let''s go to master''s palace."


    Xiao Wu was still discontent, but he agreed in the end and the two friends paid a visit to their master''s "palace".


    "Which curriculum are you two choosing?"


    The older disciple in charge of their lessons management asked them upon meeting him.


    "...the three-star tier," Xiao Wu muttered hesitantly. His family was quite influential. So he knew he could manage the cost somehow.


    The older disciple finished his paperwork and collected fifty spirit stones as the fee for the next month before turning to Xuhan.


    "Well...?"


    Han Xuhan looked pained as he handed over a very large pouch that was almost about to burst.


    "One-star tier."


    The surroundings suddenly became very silent.


    The servants working not far away had stopped working and were staring at him, mouth agape.


    The older disciple slowly looked for Han Xuhan''s name in the register in his hands and stared at it for a good while before sighing ruefully.


    "Did you get scammed?"


    "...yes."


    "My condolences, junior brother."


    Han Xuhan teared up again before he managed to control himself.


    The older disciple didn''t waste any more time and completed their paperwork and handed them two small brochures each.


    "One of these lists your daily tasks for the next month while the other is your lesson timetable. Make sure not to miss any. Do your best and don''t ruin the reputation of our black sheep mountain peak. "


    "Our mountain peak has a reputation?"


    Xiao Wu, who was still pissed, asked in irritation.


    The older disciple gave him an amused glance.


    "You might feel discouraged that you were placed here, but there''s one maxim you must always remember in the word of cultivation. The peak may be lonely, but there is always-"


    "A higher peak?" Xiao Wu cut in.


    "No, a lower peak."


    "What?"


    "Look at your martial brother Xuhan here. You have it thousands of times better than the poor sod. So what''s with the frustration and anger? You''re already in a good position compared to him. Be satisfied and adapt to your current circumstances." The senior smiled serenely.


    "...Senior, I''m still here," Xuhan said in a choked voice.


    "Not for long if you can''t pay the instalments in time."


    " . . ."


    Han Xuhan gritted his teeth and returned back to his hut after parting with Xiao Wu. As an official disciple, he had some duties to attend to. He took out the leaflet given by the senior disciple and scanned it cautiously.


    "Let''s see, what''s my task for today?


    "Help in carrying the blackvein boulders from the plains to the Starfire mountain peak. To reach the limit of the daily quota, at least one thousand kilograms must be carried by each disciple and any more than that shall be paid for accordingly."


    Reading out the task in a loud voice, Xuhan felt an abnormal pressure on his chest.

 Chapter 13: Dominating The World With Imagination

    "Exactly how do you expect me, a mortal to carry ten boulders up that mountain, each of which is heavier than 100 kilograms?"


    "I don''t really. Not at all. I expect you to get the penalty due to your failure in this task."


    "But-but..."


    "Listen up, young man. The sect recruits one or two mortal disciples at every selection ceremony. If we really try to intentionally oppress them, then this whole process would be completely unnecessary. Whether you can do the tasks or not is your problem, not ours. This sect only cherishes those who have it in themselves to explore their total potential, not slackers. You think one thousand kilograms of boulders in total is an impossible amount for you?


    Ask any of your peers, they have five times that amount as the target limit. We separated the smallest boulders for you because we know that you are a mortal. If you find this unfair, go sit in a corner and wait for the penalty."


    Han Xuhan glared at the elder in charge of overseeing this public task and gritted his teeth in frustration. Initially, he had thought he could carry the boulders with enough effort and perseverance, given some time. But when he saw the size of each boulder and realized the fact that all of them were twice as heavy as him, he finally understood that this sect had a very harsh attitude towards their mortal disciples.


    If he tried his best, he could probably push some of these boulders up to their destination...but he was not quite inclined to do that much labor.


    Perhaps they were trying to test his perseverance this way. But what was the point? He didn''t have the time to spend six hours a day doing labor work when his cultivation level had a deadline to meet.


    "What''s the penalty?"


    "Deduction of one spirit stone."


    Xuhan might have spat blood at the answer yesterday...but those days were over. No more monetary oppression, no more cowering in front of expenses!


    He was a tycoon now. It might be borrowed money, but it was money nonetheless!


    "Here you go, brother. I won''t be attending to my tasks today, tomorrow...and you know what? Make that a week. Here you go!"


    Han Xuhan handed over seven spirit stones with sneer after a few moments of consideration and walked away from there while the rest of the kids watched him go with complicated expressions.


    They didn''t know whether to feel pity for him or envy him.


    "If this goes on, I won''t last long here even with the number of spirit stones I have right now. First of all, I need to cultivate to the first layer of the physique transformation realm, for which, I need to buy a cultivation method and resources from the sect. This should substantially boost my physical strength, which can be helpful in accomplishing the daily tasks. I also need to rank up to the second layer to avoid expulsion within one month..."


    Han Xuhan clutched his pockets and decided to take a walk into the Archives pavilion in order to see if there was any suitable cultivation method for him.


    The Archives pavilion was a very large building with multiple floors stacked on top of each other in a pagoda-like structure. There were many disciples outside and inside, discussing about different techniques or contemplating what to buy from there.


    Han Xuhan felt quite queer as he paid the entrance fees and entered the building. As a mortal outer court disciple with zero cultivation, he could only access the first and second floors of the building.


    All of this was quite familiar to him! After all, every main character of cultivation novels experienced this scene at least fifty times! They would always search every nook and cranny of the archives for cultivation techniques because they didn''t want to cultivate the popular techniques. It''d look uncool for a protagonist to go with the flow...


    Somehow, they also managed to find a cultivation technique that no one wanted to learn because of its handicap, usually from trashbins.


    With their monstrous luck and cheats, they would remove that handicap to become the strongest cultivator in every realm...


    Am I, Han Xuhan, that lucky?


    Hahahahaha.....


    Xuhan could almost hear a mocking, snide, uproarious laughter coming from the sky.


    He chose to explore the lowest floor first since the second floor asked for more entrance fees. There were dozens of scrolls carefully preserved inside intricately carved showcases. The techniques were divided into many categories. Such as, the elemental techniques, the techniques of force manipulation, the techniques on heavenly laws, the techniques of purely physical strengthening, techniques for spiritual strengthening and many more.


    Not expecting everything to be so neatly cataloged, Han Xuhan was taken aback at first. But this was a good thing.


    It made it easy for him to choose a technique according to his requirements.


    There were four scrolls in the showcase marked with the label of physical strengthening techniques.


    One by one, he opened them all.


    1- Spiritual Bones: a technique that allows the practitioner to use spirit qi from outer sources in forging a skeletal form of their own body which helps strengthen their bones and becomes an additional layer of protection inside their body. The spiritual bones can also absorb qi from the surroundings to replenish themselves and become sturdier automatically at later stages of the technique. This technique is suitable for anyone in the physique transformation realm to the peak of the soul transformation realm. A cultivator above these realms will have no use for this technique.


    Priced at - 101 spirit stones per volume, five volumes in total.


    Special discount- 1 spirit stone.


    "Wow, that discount sure is special!"


    Han Xuhan gnashed his teeth while feeling quite nostalgic about his previous life. Wasn''t this very similar to his shopping experience there as well?


    2- Warrior''s body: This technique allows the practitioner to reinforce their meridians, arteries, and veins with spirit qi, thus making them sturdier, stronger, and physically many times more capable than an ordinary cultivator''s body in the same layer of a realm. It also improves one''s physique, enhances particular attributes, and cleanses impurities and diseases. Only useful to cultivators in the soul Reformation realm and below.


    Priced at- 121 spirit stones per volume, three volumes in total.


    Special discount- 1 spirit stone


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Xuhan was slightly confused by the price of the second technique. Clearly, the first technique looked more useful than the second in a deadly situation. Why would this have a higher price?


    He turned around and asked an older disciple not far away from him,


    "Senior, I''m new here. Could you tell me why the spiritual bone technique has a lower price than the warrior''s body?"


    The older disciple seemed amused by the question.


    "Did you read the description correctly, junior? The spiritual bone technique has to be cultivated INSIDE yourself, inch by inch, layered over your bones. Can you even imagine how painful the process is? This technique is only popular among the perverted masochistic cultivators. Stay away from those who buy this!"


    "...Thanks for the warning, senior."


    Heart shaking, Xuhan went back to reading the descriptions of the rest of the techniques, swearing internally that he would never trust any description of this sect ever again; he had had enough of being scammed by them.


    3- Divine manifestation of physique: a technique that allows the practitioner to manifest random traits of divine physiques that have been lost to the world. After practicing this technique to the peak of the physique transformation realm, a cultivator has a chance of manifesting a permanent divine trait that boosts their physical prowess to an unsurpassable peak. It has only one volume, useful for physique transformation realm cultivators.


    Priced at- 255 spirit stones.


    Special discount- 5 spirit stones


    Xuhan couldn''t help but click his tongue at this technique where everything was up to fate. A random divine physical trait? He could see the hidden emphasis on the word ''random''. No wonder the discount is so high...


    4- Dragonskin: a technique that allows the practitioner to cultivate an extremely sturdy armor as a form of extra skin over their body that is fueled by their qi. It can also produce spikes and hooks from the exterior as both shields and weapons. Useful for cultivators till the Soul Reformation realm.


    Priced at- 300 spirit stones per volume, three volumes in total.


    No discount, fixed price


    "Yep, the only useful thing here is a fixed-price item." Han Xuhan chuckled drily.


    So what should he choose?


    He wasn''t a masochistic pervert, so number one was out.


    Cultivating a buff body didn''t seem to be very useful other than being able to flex his pecs at every skinny disciple out there, nope.


    Divine manifestation technique? One that was heavily reliant on luck?


    Haha, haha, hahaha... Han Xuhan''s luck was so extraordinary that he would probably turn into a divine dog in heat or a divine whale on top of the mountain peak and die from asphyxiation, yeah, doesn''t seem like a neat way to hell...


    The last one? It seemed very useful, but the price was way too high. Even though he had taken a massive loan and could be called a tycoon now, he still couldn''t afford to buy anything that expensive. Furthermore, it was a technique that focused on battlefield strategies rather than physical attributes, which would be nearly useless to him in the current situation.


    What a difficult situation...


    Xuhan was just fussing over what to do when he saw his martial brother, Mu Ran the-man-with-planet-sized-ego, strutting toward a shadowy corner of the room as soon as he had entered.


    Xuhan''s eyes lit up with curiosity and suspicion.


    Look at that snitchy behavior. He definitely knows something. Isn''t that a standard xianxia protagonist behavior? Looking down on the proper techniques and picking up something from the trashbin?!


    "Senior, what are those stacks of scrolls in that shady corner over there?" Han Xuhan asked the guy beside him in a low voice.


    "Oh? Those are experiments, unfinished products, and relics that the elders sometimes bring in from their journeys. Most of them are dangerous and extremely circumspect techniques that can harm the practitioner or have zero effect other than wasting your time. They''re cheap, and if you are tempted by that, you''re welcome to destroy your own future."


    The older disciple answered in a heavy tone while sparing a glance at the young junior beside him, expecting to see a disappointed face, only to find that the boy was grinning like a madman.


    "???"


    What did I say that made him so happy? The senior disciple fell into a rabbithole of confusion.


    "Thank you so much for the advice, senior!"


    "What?"


    Xuhan profusely expressed his gratitude and sneaked toward Mu Ran cautiously, leaving the puzzled senior behind.


    Mu Ran seemed to be muttering to himself while he looked through the dusty scrolls that no one wanted.


    "Hmm, not bad, but this isn''t suitable for me. The Twin Dragon Devil Reverend physique would be averse to these elements. Ah, that''s not good either. What to choose..."


    Han Xuhan caught some of the words and almost spat blood.


    The Twin Dragon Devil Reverend physique?!


    It sounded so cool!


    He wanted something like that too, who didn''t?


    "No no no, is it really not here? How can that be? One of the reasons I came to this sect was for that technique..."


    Mu Ran kept muttering as his hands swept through the pile of scrolls.


    Xuhan''s heart was beating like a drum. So this guy had come to this sect with a purpose! Something in the archives had brought him here...Han Xuhan was forced to reevaluate his opinion of Mu Ran. This martial brother of his was a dragon of deep waters. What kind of background did he have?


    Which technique would this guy choose?


    Would it be some divine technique that no one in the sect could identify?


    Suddenly, Mu Ran''s hands paused. A scroll had caught his eyes. He took it in his hands and slowly opened it.


    "Heavens...this is it! It really is here! No one can stop me anymore!"


    Xuhan chose this exact moment to interfere.


    "Martial brother! What are you doing? You cannot possibly attempt to practice a technique from that pile of trash! What if it harms your cultivation?


    "I, your martial brother, cannot bear to see this! We are from the same mountain peak. If you have any trouble in choosing cultivation methods, please ask us for help. That pile of trash only harms innocent and shy people like you!


    "Please listen to me and throw that scroll away! Why would you attempt something so insane? If you need money, I can pay for you!"


    Mu Ran was dumbstruck by this sudden change of situation.


    What was going on? Who was this?


    What was he talking about?


    Oh! This guy seemed to be speaking out of goodwill. Was he really trying to help him? What a simple-minded peasant! Hah!


    Nevertheless, he was touched by this fool''s concern for him. This youth didn''t have eyes that could see mountain Tai, but he had the aptitude to be a good servant!


    It helped that he, Mu Ran, was lacking a bit in the financial department these days. And this peer of his sounded like he was loaded!


    Mu Ran chuckled generously and threw a small scroll at Xuhan from the pile under his feet.


    "Martial brother, I know who holds goodwill toward me when I see them! So I will tell you a small secret. This scroll in my hand holds a technique that is tailor-made for a person like me due to various circumstances. You can rest assured that it''ll cause no harm to me! As for that technique I gave you just now, it''s an erm... amazing technique too. Become my underling and cultivate this technique. We shall conquer this world together!"


    "...Become your underling?"


    It was Xuhan''s turn to be stunned this time.


    What the fuck was wrong with this guy''s brain?


    What was he talking about?


    "Well, you''re a mortal who needs a good cultivation technique. And I am already close to breaking through to the first layer of the physique transformation realm. So I''m leagues stronger than you are. Is it not normal for the weak to seek shelter from the strong?


    "Besides, I already rewarded you with that awesome cultivation technique! Are you refusing my goodwill and offer of protection?"


    Xuhan felt a chill down his back. This guy looked rather fixed on the proposal, with a fierce gaze that carried over a threatening aura. He reminded Han Xuhan of those gangsters who offered ''protection'' to establishments in exchange for money. Most of the times, the protection wasn''t from other threats, but the gangsters themselves.


    "Erm, brother, I haven''t begun cultivating yet. So I need time to reconsider something like that..."


    "No problem! Just cultivate it peacefully and ask for my help if you face any trouble! Being my underling is an awesome opportunity that many would die for! Contact me as soon as you make up your mind."


    He laughed uproariously and left with the scroll in his hands, leaving a flabbergasted Xuhan behind.


    "With a cultivation level below the first layer of physique transformation realm, this guy is boasting about world domination???


    I haven''t made a wrong choice. This guy is definitely a protagonist-level character! Or a retarded young master with some powerful backing!


    No one else would be dumb and proud enough to say something like this, unless they were extremely confident about their future path!


    Either way, Han Xuhan needed a golden thigh to hug on to right now. This could be it!


    Becoming an underling to praise his boss every five seconds and enjoying the fruits of his heaven-defying fortune like a useless trash?


    The sentence sounded retarded even in his mind.


    Would I, the reincarnated enigma Han Xuhan, who aims to make the heavens regret messing with me, stoop so low?


    Fuck yeah. Of course I will.

 Chapter 14: I Became The Lackey Of A Young Master

    "Let''s see what this amazing technique is..."


    Han Xuhan opened the scroll that Mu Ran had forced him to take with a hint of doubt after Mu Ran left the archives'' pavilion.


    [ The skeletal monarch Manual ]


    A super awesome cultivation technique suitable for any realm known to mankind. This heaven defying technique allows the practitioner to create his own army of skeletons that shall obey the practitioner''s every order without hesitation. This super awesome and incredibly powerful technique that surpasses every technique in existence is the creation of the super genius master Duotian! Buy it or regret it!


    Priced at : 40 spirit stones per volume, four volumes in total.


    Special discount : 20 spirit stones! It''s only for today!


    "...What is this abomination?"


    Xuhan gasped at the description of the technique.


    His impression of the cultivators in this world hit an all time low through that one paragraph.


    This technique was the most unreliable thing he had ever seen in his life. Even the guaranteed STD treatment experts from the back alley of his apartment in his previous life suddenly seemed more reliable after seeing this impactful description.


    "Why did Mu Ran praise this technique? Didn''t he say this is an awesome technique that could allow me to become a powerful cultivator?"


    With heavy doubt in his mind, Xuhan went back to that helpful senior disciple to verify his suspicions.


    "Senior, is this technique any good?"


    The older boy turned toward the scroll he had presented to him and his eyes widened at the description. Despite opening his mouth, he suddenly seemed at a loss for words.


    "Junior, this thing is still in the archives? My goodness! Didn''t some disciples make a petition to the sect to chuck that out in the river?"


    "...It''s that bad?"


    "Yes! The technique really lets you summon skeleton soldiers, except these skeletons are so weak that one slap from any average cultivator can reduce them to mere bones. Moreover, you can''t summon a large number of them unless you are a high level cultivator, so normal disciples cannot even use them as meat shield. Furthermore, the skeletons are dumb as hell, not to mention sometimes they rebel against their summoner''s orders. The only thing they can do for you is to cheer you on from the sidelines. "


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Han Xuhan finally realized why Mu Ran had given this technique to him!


    As a protagonist''s lackey, Xuhan''s main job was to cheer for him from a distance while he fought all the enemies. He was to admire Mu Ran''s techniques in an extremely loud voice to let everyone hear just how badass his boss was.


    So these skeletons would supposedly be his helpers in this job. He could already imagine the scene in near future...


    Mu Ran: Evil demonic cultivator! How dare you glance at my woman''s sister''s pet! Die for me!


    Han Xuhan: it''s time to roll, boys!


    skeleton 1: HEAVENS! How can Mu Ran defeat a cultivator from a higher realm! It''s impossible!


    Skeleton 2: Oh My God! What a vigorous fist strike! That aura surpasses his own cultivation!


    Skeleton 3: Incredible! How did Mu Ran dodge that? What level of accomplishment do you need to have in xyz heaven defying cultivation technique to achieve such perfection? This Mu Ran is a monster!


    Skeleton 4: So Handsome! I- I think I''m falling for him...


    Han Xuhan: Wait, Skeleton 4, did you forget that you''re dead? And even more importantly, why are you gay?"


    Skeleton 4: Hmph! True love has no such boundaries!


    What a marvelous boss! Giving me personal assistants when I haven''t even agreed to the job...


    But Xuhan knew letting go of this opportunity might be the biggest mistake he would ever make in this life. This Mu Ran guy was a person with deep secrets and a proper background. Even if his insane theories about this world being a clusterfuck of cultivation novels were...well, insanely wrong, Mu Ran was still someone he could use.


    Han Xuhan decided to buy the technique on the spot without any worries since it didn''t have any negative effects. Actually, it didn''t have any effect at all, but that is not the point...He needed this technique to gain the protagonist''s trust and become his lackey.


    But Xuhan also felt how defenseless he was when it came to personal strength. He couldn''t find any suitable cultivation technique to boost his own strength. The Warrior''s Body technique seemed useless for any half-decent cultivator, divine manifestation of physique was out of the question, dragonskin was too pricey and the spiritual bone technique would be painful if he tried to cultivate it...no wait, bones?


    Han Xuhan slowly looked at the scroll in his hand before making his way to his previous position in front of the four techniques focused on physical enhancements again.


    "What if I combine both techniques and cultivate the spiritual bones on the skeleton soldiers'' body?"


    It was a risky move. But a cultivation technique was a cultivation technique regardless of its use. These trashy techniques might look simple, but they could still promote him to a cultivator. Even if they were trashy, their simplicity was what he needed right now to get past the deadlines for new disciples.


    A sinister smile appeared on his face.


    Indeed, becoming a protagonist''s lackey was the best thing he could hope for. His shitty luck was finally going to be lifted for once...right?


    Five feet away from him, the senior disciple was once more dumbstruck.


    "He''s smiling again! I clearly explained to him how trashy that technique is...Why did that make him so happy?!" he muttered, deeply disturbed.

 Chapter 15: Put Your Trust On A Madman

    Han Xuhan''s heart bled as he handed the 120 spirit stones in total to the archive pavilion''s treasurer and came out with two scrolls in his hands.


    "I''m a tycoon, now, a tycoon! How can I let a meager 120 spirit stones make me feel the pinch..."


    Muttering lines like these were how he consoled himself as he clutched both scrolls and hurried toward his hut in the black sheep mountain peak.


    His first priority now was to cultivate one of the techniques and reach the first layer of the Physique Transformation realm.


    Inside his hut, Han Xuhan sat on his small bed, feeling that this moment was perhaps the most important turning point of his life. He would turn into a cultivator from today forth; what a glorious fate! He had fantasized so much about this in his previous life...


    "I''ll try the skeleton monarch technique first to summon the skeletons. So what''s the first step...Ah, there it is. Use your spirit qi to channel them in the way shown in the diagram below...Wait.


    "How do I use spirit qi?


    "In fact, what the hell is this spirit qi?


    "I get that every cultivation novel has something like this as a source of their powers...but is this supposed to be common knowledge?


    Even though I''m familiar with this trope, I don''t even know what this qi actually is...


    So how am I supposed to use it?"


    With a huge pang of realization, Han Xuhan became aware that he didn''t know the first thing about practical cultivation in this world. All his assumptions were based on the novels he had read in his previous life...which were turning out to be more and more unreliable.


    Then he remembered a very important matter. He had a boss now who was supposedly a protagonist-level character.


    "Hahah, can''t I just ask boss?"


    Bubbling with happiness, Xuhan ran to Mu Ran''s hut.


    His boss was sitting inside, calmly reading the scroll he had purchased from the archives. Seeing Xuhan, his eyes lit up.


    "Ah, peasa-erm...martial brother! Have you come to a decision yet? Are you finally giving in? Heh, what I, Mu Ran, want, will eventually become mine!"


    Han Xuhan blanched, staggering on his feet.


    This guy...he couldn''t be the protagonist of a yaoi novel, right?


    Mu Ran seemed to have noticed his dubious phrasing. Coughing loudly, he explained himself.


    "Don''t misunderstand martial brother. I was just thinking about my childhood sweetheart, whom I haven''t met in a long time. So I blurted out something strange."


    Han Xuhan was dazed again. Heavens, this guy has a childhood sweetheart? Yet she had been separated from him!


    How many more tropes was he going to dig out from this guy?


    And exactly what had Mu Ran been thinking about at that moment where such phrases could be suitable...?


    "Yes! I agree to become your underling, martial brother." he slapped his own chest and put on a strong pose after taking a deep breath.


    "I''ll definitely do my best in this job. That technique you gave me was so cool! The description verified that it was a super awesome technique made by a super genius cultivator! Thank you so much! I would have never found it without your guidance!"


    An awkward smile appeared on Mu Ran''s face as he listened to Han Xuhan boasting about that technique.


    Ahh, this underling of his was so innocent! Why are people so easy to fool these days? Or is it that he, Mu Ran, was just too smart?


    "Now that you''ve become my underling, I''ll surely look after you in perilous situations, martial brother. As for your first duty as a lackey, go buy some delicious food for me from the sect''s kitchen. Let''s throw a celebratory feast!"


    Eyes emotionless, Han Xuhan nodded solemnly and ran to perform his duty as if it was a mission from the gods. After forking out another two spirit stones, he bought one of the most expensive dishes from the kitchen. He would make this guy fork out his money''s worth one way or another. The expense didn''t bother him now.


    Mu Ran''s eyes widened at the sight of the dish. Nodded with appreciation, his tone took on a lukewarm guise as he praised Xuhan.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Martial brother sure knows how to celebrate!"


    "Haha, this is our first feast together, so a bit of luxury is nothing!"


    "Mmm...this dish is not bad! Martial brother, I''m very satisfied with your service. If you need anything right now, just tell me!"


    "Ah, there IS something I needed to know boss. Could you teach me how to cultivate?"


    "...You don''t even know that?" Mu Ran looked aghast, like a teacher disappointed with his student for failing a basic test. Han Xuhan wanted to remind him that none of them were officially cultivators yet, and between the two of them, he at least had enough shame not to make up imaginary levels of cultivation like that zeroth layer Mu Ran had bragged about.


    But this wasn''t the appropriate time to make snide remarks. This was milking time! The milk producer must be treated gently now!


    ....wait, that sounded wrong for some reason. Anyway...


    "Agh fine." Mu Ran relented finally. "I''ll teach you after we finish the lunch.


    In fact, you''re my underling, so I''ll even let you in on some secrets very few people know in this world about cultivation. You can put full trust in your boss!"


    Looking at Mu Ran''s satisfied expression as he feasted on the chicken wings, Han Xuhan nodded to himself. Indeed, these types of characters were too easy to scam. He''s telling me incredible secrets over two spirit stones...


    After licking their plates clean, both of them cleaned up and settled down inside Mu Ran''s hut, a solemn, peaceful atmosphere draping over the surroundings.


    "Martial brother, I won''t hide it from you. There really is a zeroth layer of physique transformation realm." Mu Ran''s opening sentence struck Han Xuhan like a bludgeon.


    "If we were to count the number of people who understand the complexity of this secret layer, my dick would be enough to keep the count."


    "...What?"


    "Sigh...you''re so slow, underling. It means only I know this secret! Wasn''t it obvious? See, I''ve got only one di-"


    "Yes, yes, of course. That much I understand, boss."


    Xuhan imperiously interrupted the explanation of his analogy and sent him a dry chuckle.


    "Yes. To most cultivators, the start of cultivation is a common point. They learn to sense and absorb qi from the world and cycle it throughout their meridians, thus slowly unlocking the door to the first layer of the Physique Transformation realm, except...there exists a different method to start cultivation, which is opening the door to the zeroth layer of physique transformation realm. "


    Completely oblivious to Han Xuhan''s look of distrust, Mu Ran lazily spoke at his own pace.


    "For most cultivation techniques in the Crimson Snow sect, the cycling of qi has its own unique characteristic, separating them from other sects. All of the powerful, top-tier sects have their own uniqueness.


    The cycles of spirit qi unlock the shackles inside our body to let us step out of the mortal boundary, guiding us to the door of the first layer of physique transformation when the cycle is repeated enough times, perfected and saturated, settling down with its mark on the practitioner''s body. Every disciple of this sect starts out from there.


    "However, the zeroth layer of physique transformation is a realm that completely deviates from this path. It is an extraordinary layer that can enhance your abilities to a very formidable degree.


    It also removes the hidden problems and weaknesses of your dao foundation to some extent, thus taking your cultivation to the very peak of perfection. This layer forms a complete cycle with the other ten known layers of this realm, thus making one''s dao foundation truly complete!


    It gives you an absolute advantage over any cultivator in the same layer and even some above your cultivation base!"


    After saying all this, Mu Ran smugly looked at Han Xuhan, expecting a stupified expression and amazed exclamations, only to find him staring back with the same expressionless face as before, as if he had been expecting Mu Ran to say these things already.


    In fact, that wasn''t far from the truth. Han Xuhan had just recalled that most xianxia novels had a unique cultivation system with a few extra levels and layers reserved solely for the main character.


    So he wasn''t particularly surprised by this revelation.


    He was just taken aback at the fact that Mu Ran hadn''t been making things up back when he had boasted about being at the zeroth layer.


    This guy turned out to be reliable when the time came!


    Seeing him unmoved, Mu Ran snorted and continued.


    "Now comes the question, how do you reach the zeroth layer of the physique transformation realm?


    "This is a diagram I made from my comprehension of this realm. According to my own experience, this should be the most ideal way to channel and cycle your spirit qi into guiding you to the zeroth layer."


    Mu Ran took out a scroll and opened it to let Xuhan see the shockingly complex diagram with many letters and strangely shaped symbols that almost hurt his eyes.


    "How did I know how to draw this- that question should have appeared in your mind, correct?


    "That, however, is a big secret. So let''s skip that part and assume that I''m just an average heaven-defying genius, nothing too serious.


    "In short, if you absorb and cycle your qi like this, you''ll definitely reach the zeroth layer like me and become a mighty, formidable cultivator."


    "Erm... a question boss. What is spirit qi and how do I absorb that?" Han Xuhan said meekly.


    "...My god! What backwater hovel are you from, underling Xuhan? How can you not even know what qi is?"


    "Ah, not everyone can be as knowledgeable and wise as boss now, can they?" Han Xuhan laughed, trying his best to appear embarrassed.


    "Haha, underling, you certainly know your place! I''ll teach you, sure!


    "Qi is the source of every cultivator''s power. For beginners, the usual practice is to absorb it with the help of formations, precious treasures or with secret techniques. I assume you do not have any of those, yes?"


    Seeing Xuhan nod minutely, Mu Ran was immensely satisfied.


    "Well, go buy a pair from the Treasury. One for you, one for me..."


    Han Xuhan was again reminded of the fact that Mu Ran was as much of a noob as he was when it came to real cultivation.


    He considered his options for a second. What harm could there be in giving this guy''s suggestion a shot?


    If it worked out, he''d be striking a gold mine. If it didn''t...he''d be striking Mu Ran''s skull with the heaviest Blackvein boulder he could carry.


    "Now, martial brother, as my underling, your next job is to help me clean up my toilet. It needs a thorough renovation."


    Han Xuhan was forced to strongly reconsider his choice.

 Chapter 16: First Time Is Very Fulfilling

    Han Xuhan sat inside his hut, on his bed, and stared at his two hands, which he had just used to clean his boss''s toilet.


    The trauma had better be worth it.


    Regardless, it was a small price to pay when he had gotten such precious secrets and knowledge from his martial brother.


    Zeroth layer of physique transformation realm? If you exist, I''m about to hit you up!


    He had bought the equipment for rich beginners from the Treasury without a hitch. They had even given him a lucky coupon for his first purchase...with which he had hit the jackpot!


    The prizes were a ''Thank You'' note, a 2.5% discount (rounded down to 2%), and another lucky coupon which could only be activated if he visited them again within a week.


    Han Xuhan had been awed, not at their shamelessness, but at their ingenious business scheme. This sect was truly a top-tier institution for education, real education.


    Taking a deep breath, Xuhan busied himself with the instructions to operate the devices.


    The first device was called...the qi cannon.


    With a one-foot-long barrel that sported a pinhole-sized opening, this cannon would shoot bursts of liquified qi at its target. Since beginner cultivators were unable to smoothly attract qi towards themselves, rich families bought these watergun-no, qi cannons for their children. It provided the beginners with a highly malleable, maneuverable supply of moving qi, rushing right to their meridians!


    This way, it not only helped them cultivate, but also trained them into sensing qi in the air and what it feels like to absorb it.


    His second purchase was an ointment, to be applied on the skin before cultivation. It would open up the pores of his skin, letting the process of qi entering his meridians become smooth.


    The third and final gadget was a giant funnel, its narrow end attached to a glass bottle. Intricately carved inscriptions and symbols crowded the body of the funnel, giving it a somewhat sinister, archaic appearance. This funnel would apparently attract the qi which he would fail to absorb into his body. With the qi cannon in front, and the qi funnel at his back, he could cultivate effortlessly without worry. However high the amount of unabsorbed qi became, it would be gathered up and processed inside the bottle, ready to be recycled as new ammunition for the cannon.


    Once he had gotten a good grasp of the basics of practical cultivation this way, he could slowly practice without these ''training wheels''.


    After going through the instructions, Han Xuhan placed the formation of devices accordingly and sat at the center of the room.


    With a flick of a switch, the gears of the automated cannon began to move.


    Click. HISSS!


    Click. HISSS!


    Click. HISSS!


    With each shot, light red jets of qi (mint flavored) splattered on his naked body. The ointment was doing its job well. Xuhan''s skin was crawling, as if tiny insects were all over his body, walking, biting, scratching...


    It was time to concentrate fully on sensing qi.


    Gritting his teeth, Xuhan bore with the discomfort, trying to get a good feel of the wet fluids dripping from his body.


    He could sense the same thing repeatedly smacking on to various parts of his body.


    Putting his full mental effort into it, he tried to exert some form of control over it.


    Nothing happened. The cannon continued to fire away, his body began to shiver from the cold.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Then, the ammunition of the cannon ran out.


    Just as he was expecting the discomfort to go away, it became even stronger instead. The imaginary insects on his body were now bigger and bit harder, scratching him bloody...


    Is it finally happening?!


    Han Xuhan''s chest began to heave as he tried to mentally picture a forceful absorption of the qi on him. His head hurt from the conscious, furious effort.


    Beginning to feel breathless suddenly, his nostrils flared from trying to breathe properly, yet his windpipes seemed to have been blocked by solidified air.


    In his panic, Han Xuhan tried to stop, but his limbs had gone numb at some point. Losing his balance, he banged his head on the bed frame and groaned one last time before falling unconscious.


    ...... .....


    "Wake up, brother Xuhan."


    Rays of bright sunlight hit his bleary eyes.


    Han Xuhan blinked dazedly and jumped up from his bed. The memories of last evening came back in a flood of terror and confusion. Whipping his head around, he saw Xiao Wu staring at him with a rather strange expression.


    "Martial brother, I didn''t know you were such a smooth player. One day in the sect and you already...sigh, never mind."


    "Wh-what are you talking about?"


    "Hah, look at yourself first. You sure had a...rough night, hehehe."


    Xuhan looked down and saw that he was nearly naked, with his underwear sporting a large tear from being stretched. His bed was messy, but he himself was on the floor, and his head sported a considerable bump upon touching, which he discovered the hard way after slapping himself there.


    "Tell me the truth, brother. Who was it, eh? She sure roughed you up..."


    As pissed as he felt about the situation, Han Xuhan swallowed all the rage and described his experience of trying to absorb qi to Xiao Wu.


    Xiao Wu looked more disappointed than surprised.


    "Isn''t that normal? Qi isn''t something you can absorb that easily on your first attempt. You probably tried to absorb too much and received a backlash. Although it seems a bit exaggerated in your case, it''s a good thing that you managed to get going on the path to becoming a cultivator. The deadline is coming closer every day for you.


    "Now that I think of it, who gave you these obsolete gadgets? The models are so old..." Xiao Wu''s eyes suddenly widened.


    "Wait a damn minute, did you hook up with an elder?!"


    "...No! I bought them from the Treasury! And what do you mean these devices are old?"


    "Damn, martial brother. You got scammed again! Look at the paint on the gadgets, look at the blurred inscriptions on the qi collector! And this bottle of ointment-" Xiao Wu sniffed the mouth of the bottle as he added," this ointment is about to go bad soon, martial brother. Did you really take the stuff on display in the treasury without checking?!" Xiao Wu gasped.


    "I...how the hell was I supposed to check? I don''t know anything about how these things work!" Han Xuhan said, his expression darkening at the revelation.


    "You could''ve just asked me for help! I may not be much of a cultivator myself, but I hail from a family of cultivators. I told you that already!"


    "...I didn''t think of that," Han Xuhan muttered.


    Indeed, he had assumed he could trot his way forward in this foreign world without the direct help of others. Reading too many such novels about loners had truly harmed his way of thinking.


    Man was a social being, not just due to his own interest, but also due to the interest of other men. Being a loner meant he would just get taken advantage of.


    "What''s done is done. You should focus on your progress now. How does your body feel? Can you sense the heaviness in your meridians?


    Han Xuhan furrowed his brows and tried to sense the changes in his body. Surprisingly, his perception of his own physique seemed to have improved by a great margin.


    All across his body, he could feel the existence of alien threads, creating a complex, three-dimensional network.


    So these were his meridians, finally caught in his perception after being filled with qi!


    Awesome!


    So awesome!


    In his delight, he decided to forgive the senior disciples who had sold him those old cultivation gadgets.


    "Feels quite satisfying, eh?"


    Xiao Wu chuckled seeing Xuhan''s invigorated expression.


    "Yep, I feel so full though." Xuhan rubbed his stomach with a satisfied expression.


    "Probably because you tried too hard and went overboard. The first time doesn''t usually provide one with much qi."


    "Now, my next step should be the cycling of the qi, right?" Han Xuhan laughed it off.


    "No, now you''ll have to learn how to control qi first. Do you think the spirit qi is a sentient creature that''s going to listen to you or something? It''s really difficult to move and control their flow with mental commands. I am at the second layer of the physique transformation, but even I have trouble completing a whole cycle, let alone you, a beginner."


    Han Xuhan was stumped. He was already about to envision grand fantasies of commanding an army of skeletons screaming "BANZAI!". But it was dashed before he could even decide on the details of the scene, like how many damsels in distress would be present in the scene, and which type of waifus would be the first one to be saved...


    "And that''s where our lessons come in. The elders will teach you everything you want to know since you''re a...top-tier student, from an economical viewpoint of course.


    Check your schedule, we have lectures just an hour later. Let''s go together. I have a feeling that the disciples from other mountain peaks might not hold us in a very high regard. We black sheep must stick together. "


    Xuhan was delighted. At least something good came out of that shitty loan scam! Together with Xiao Wu, he came out of his hut and took in the gloomy, wintry scenery from the mountain peak. White snowflakes had covered the ground, more were drifting along the wind.


    The two boys carefully walked down from the snow-covered mountain peak to attend their first-ever official lesson on cultivation.

 Chapter 17: Info Dumps Must End With A Duel

    "Cultivation is an arduous process of self-refinement. The path may vary in terms of turns and smoothness, but a the end of the journey, the destination remains the same.


    "Think of cultivation like a journey on a boat. In the beginning, the speed accumulates, the small canal becomes wider with each turn, the calm water becomes more turbulent the further you go, the stream turns into a river and the river falls into the ocean. You, the boatman, are bound to make mistakes at first, veer off the path, and lose control. But as you move further into the wider stream, you gain experience, you learn the rules, you become strong enough to ferry yourself into the vast ocean that awaits ahead; that is, of course, if your mistakes do not drown halfway.


    "All of us cultivate to attain immortality and for a chance to reach the end of the road, where lies the gateway to the celestial realm, what one may call the Heavens.


    "So what is it that makes a cultivator worthy of becoming a celestial? Worthy to find that vast sea ahead?


    A high, formidable cultivation base? Powerful techniques? Incredible comprehension? A grand dao of their own?


    "The answer is...none of them.


    To be worthy of reaching the peak, every step must be steady. So what if you are a peerless swordsman? Once your sword falters, you''re a dead swordsman.


    So what if your cultivation base is higher than all living being? It is limited, it will exhaust itself faster than you think, if the tiniest flaw exists in that vast ocean of qi.


    This is where the essence of our lessons comes in. To attain the steadiness you need, to find the tricks to become a good boatman- in other words a good cultivator, to perfect your craft, the most important thing is the practical, boring, and repetitive process of cultivation.


    "How do we cultivate? We all know the answer. We absorb qi, cycle it through our body, let it nourish our physique and soul, let it imprint itself on our cultivation base.


    Then we do it again.


    And again.


    And again.


    And again.


    The cycle continues.


    "At your age, it is natural to feel that this is boring, repetitive. It is also natural that this thought may lead to a lapse in concentration and thus failure to complete a cycle. Many times, the qi can also slip out of your commands when you do not pay attention.


    Thus, they damage your cultivation base, your meridians slowly, steadily, repeatedly.


    The gradual damage accumulates into a great flaw one day and suddenly you find yourself failing to live up to what is expected of a cultivator of your level, simply because that flaw in your base keeps expanding and threatening your abilities.


    "Sounds scary, eh?


    "Well, that''s what you get for being a lazy prick who doesn''t bother to put 100 percent of their focus on cultivation because it''s boring.


    "Now, to start off today, I see that most of you have already reached at least the first layer of physique transformation, with five of you already past the fourth layer."


    The elder''s voice rang throughout the large hall while every disciple listened with relish. His voice was very pleasant to hear, as if he was using some sort of technique to make them attracted to each of his words.


    "Those five above the fourth layer of physique transformation, stand up!"


    Everyone looked on with scorching gazes as five disciples stood up from various parts of the hall, each of them with their unique disposition.


    "Disciple Lu Wei greets the elder."


    "Disciple Nian Yi greets the elder."


    "Disciple Chen Yao greets the elder."


    "Disciple Shi Ruoxi greets the elder."


    "Disciple Xiang Wei greets the elder. "


    The five different disciples spoke smoothly in perfect synchronization, as if they already had decided on a hierarchy among themselves.


    Elder Kong nodded curtly and then shouted again.


    "I''ve heard there are three disciples with no cultivation at all. All three of you, stand up."


    In quick succession, Han Xuhan, Mu Ran and an unfamiliar female disciple stood up from the masses, attracting countless curious gazes from the rest.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    "Boss, you go ahead," Xuhan turned to Mu Ran.


    "No, underling Xuhan. A true mighty figure like myself must always be the one to end events. It helps increase my charisma."


    "Disciple Yuen Zhou greets the elder."


    While the two were bickering about who should go first, the female disciple greeted the elder softly and looked at them with a peculiar expression, which was mirrored by the rest of their peers.


    "Fine. I''ll go first. Disciple Han Xuhan greets the elder," Xuhan finally gave in and shouted.


    The elder furrowed his brows at his lackadaisical attitude. Just as he was about to scold the young man, the third and final disciple suddenly spoke up.


    "Disciple Mu Ran sends his greetings to the elder," his lazy, haughty voice cut through whatever the elder had been trying to say.


    The impressive-sized hall full of disciples fell silent, everybody stunned by his manners...well, the lack of it.


    Was this still a greeting and not an open taunt?


    Is this guy retarded?


    Apparently, elder Kong Ye felt the same. His attention was now fully focused on this disciple who, despite having no cultivation base to speak of, seemed to treat himself as the most important person in the room.


    "Boy, you sure look pure and honest! How about detention for the next whole week? No, make it two weeks, and a fine of 20 spirit stones. Yeah, that should teach you some humility. "


    The room was filled with a collective sound of gasping. What a vicious elder!


    Mu Ran''s eyes widened. It was apparent that he hadn''t expected the elder to be an asshole like himself.


    What the hell is wrong with this elder?


    How would he show off his capability and attract useful attention if this goes on?


    Exasperated, Mu Ran turned to look at his underling Xuhan, who wore a similarly dumbstruck expression as he watched the exchange.


    Their eyes met, and Mu Ran emphatically gestured at him to provide backup, just as an underling should.


    Han Xuhan, who had gotten the silent message and felt his heart constricting, gritted his teeth and turned to look at the elder with a pained expression.


    "Elder Kong! This is unfair! Is it wrong to speak confidently even when one has the ability to back it up? Naturally, my martial brother Mu Ran is a man who is above such petty behavior! He simply speaks this way due to his natural disposition of being the most powerful person in the room, no matter who he faces. Is this not a demeanor of an expert that one should try to attain from a young age?"


    Breathlessly, Xuhan shouted at the elder while his mind continuously spun webs. The logical leaps his thoughts made in order to make that explanation sound serious astounded even himself.


    Upon hearing his words, the previously silent room went into an uproar!


    "Fuck, I think I just lost half of my intelligence!"


    "His reasoning has destroyed my auditory senses! Can someone slap him and make my auditory nerves return back to full function? I don''t want to miss this!"


    "Hey, what has slapping HIM got to do with YOUR auditory sense?"


    "Are you saying you don''t want to slap him?"


    "...You''re right, someone slap that guy!"


    Han Xuhan was sweating profusely from the onslaught of shouts from the disciples. Elder Kong seemed a tad too stunned to retaliate and gaped at him foolishly.


    Boss, I''ve taken a great risk for you. Do not let the dignity of the protagonist be stained! My job depends on this.


    Mu Ran smiled widely. Even though his underling was a bit foolish at times, he sure knew how to handle difficult situations.


    Sure enough, elder Kong grinned ferociously at Xuhan before turning to Mu Ran.


    "Was what he said correct? Do you really think you are the strongest disciple in this room?"


    Mu Ran''s smile became wider.


    "Hmph, in the same realm, no one is a match for me. My martial brother is absolutely correct!"


    The commotion among the rest of the disciples grew further.


    Such gall, such audacity!


    "Mu Ran, I''ll fight with you today and teach you some humility! How dare you take that tone with the honorable elder!"


    A disciple stood up with an enraged expression and bowed toward elder Kong, who in turn, nodded in agreement after a second''s contemplation.


    Mu Ran sighed VERY elegantly and walked out from the middle of the crowd while the rest of the disciples cleared a space for the duel.


    Han Xuhan was quite elated.


    Finally! Things were going according to the tropes. Despite how boastful Mu Ran was, he had proved himself to be capable of keeping his promises. He didn''t know what was about to happen in the duel, but there was no need for Xuhan to worry about being punished for his retaliationagainstt the elder. Mu Ran would snatch all the limelight from him!


    At that moment, while speculating about the outcome of the battle from the crowd, he noticed the only other disciple with no cultivation base in the room standing close to him with an interested expression on her face as she observed Mu Ran and his challenger.


    Waifu alert!


    Han Xuhan was immediately on guard. This disciple was on the prettier side. Surely, she wouldn''t be able to escape the protagonist''s "harem king" aura. He had to do his best to avoid this young lady.


    "Tian Zi, disciple of the Crimson sword peak, second layer of physique transformation realm. Please advise me!"


    The enraged disciple gave a short bow toward Mu Ran and took a standard boxing pose with his impressive fists clenched.


    "Mu Ran, disciple of the black sheep peak, zeroth layer of physique transformation realm. "


    Skipping a part of the greetings, Mu Ran stood upright while running his hands through his hair stylishly.


    "Damn! No wonder he''s such a retarded fellow! He''s from the Black Sheep peak!"


    "What the hell is the zeroth layer of physique transformation realm? Isn''t it the same as saying he has barely cultivated and still hasn''t broken through to the first layer? What a shameless fellow! Making up imaginary layers to satisfy his vanity. Tian Zi, I''ll give you a treat if you can slap a few of his teeth away!"


    The onlookers started gossiping immediately after hearing the short exchange.


    Tian Zi had flared up and spat on the floor.


    "Zeroth layer? Are you so ashamed of your powerlessness that you''re inventing something so absurd on the spot?"


    Mu Ran sneered and ignored him.


    Tian Zi howled, feeling insulted. His fists suddenly took on a dark red shade and began to emit an ominous glow.


    "Let''s see you run your mouth after eating this!"


    He growled and swiftly moved toward the nonchalant Mu Ran with a gloomy expression.


    BAM!


    Every single being present in the hall went silent upon seeing what transpired...

 Chapter 18: Verbal Bombs Drop In Style

    BAM!


    The sound of a powerful punch striking its target came from the center of everyone''s attention. While it was an expected outcome that Tian Zi would land the first hit and win very easily, what took place, however, fulfilled only half of their expectations.


    The fist had struck Mu Ran right on top of his sternum with enough force to make the audience wince, only to stop there and then without dealing any apparent damage to the receiver at all.


    Tian Zi''s fist still glowed red, but his face became redder as he stared at his opponent with incredulity colouring his face.


    How was an ordinary person able to take one of his punches head on and still remain standing?


    The only spectator who could answer him was perhaps Han Xuhan, who was looking on gleefully as his protagonist boss did whatever is expected from a protagonist.


    Only somebody like Mu Ran could ever get away with making trouble and constantly acting like an asshole.


    "Is that your best?" Mu Ran smiled faintly at the sky, without even glancing at the dumbstruck Tian Zi.


    Seconds later, another large crimson fist flattened the smile on his face, striking his chin.


    Yet the resultant force only made Mu Ran''s neck stretch backwards a couple of inches.


    Still looking at the sky, Mu Ran snickered.


    BAM!


    BAM!


    The spectators were stunned into utter silence. Tian Zi''s fists were relentless as they created a hail of crimson storm upon Mu Ran''s defenseless body.


    Mu Ran''s clothes were almost about to burn away from the bursts of flames that flickered around Tian Zi''s fists.


    Yet he only took a couple steps backwards without showing any signs of feeling pain. In fact, everytime a patch of his robes burned away, Mu Ran slightly leaned toward the portion of the crowd with more female disciples and flexed his exposed body none too subtly...


    Huffing slightly, Tian Zi looked extremely depressed as his crimson fists slowly returned back to their normal brown color.


    His mastery of the technique and cultivation base were simply not enough to keep maintaining the high-intensity boxing technique.


    "Hah, trash like you who can only boast, yet cannot even defeat a ''mere mortal'' are not worthy to call themselves my peers. My turn!"


    Mu Ran chuckled and finally took the initiative to attack.


    In front of all the disciples'' astonished eyes, his fists glowed red, although not as intensely as Tian Zi''s had. One fist hurtled toward the stunned guy''s face faster than he could react.


    Bang!


    "My god! Is what he said about zeroth layer of physique transformation true? How can a mortal with no cultivation base use the Bloodfuel Brawl Manual?"


    "This guy must be hiding his cultivation base! I don''t believe this!"


    As the spectators gasped in awe and disbelief, Tian Zi flew back a couple of meters, staggered on his feet and crashed into the crowd, accidentally falling on top of a frail looking female disciple who, contrary to her looks, punched him away like swatting a fly.


    "Take him to the infirmary," elder Kong Ye said as he helped Tian Zi back to his feet and checked his bleeding lips, gums and slightly misshapen jaw.


    No one moved voluntarily. After all, the show here wasn''t over. Who''d want to leave now? Not to mention, none of them were that well acquainted with Tian Zi to begin with.


    At this moment, a figure struggled its way through the crowd with much effort and held Tian Zi''s arm.


    Elder Kong blinked. His confusion was mirrored by the rest of the disciples.


    "I''ll take him there," Han Xuhan declared, stunning even Tian Zi himself.


    From the corner of his eyes, he saw Mu Ran flashing him a covert thumb-up...


    There was a reason why he had done this, and that wasn''t Mu Ran''s approval.


    Han Xuhan could predict what would happen here following this duel anyway. The protagonist was about to make his first impression on his fellow disciples. Surely, there was going to be a lot of incredible feats, never seen before techniques and tons of face slapping.


    Xuhan, the veteran xianxia reader, was not interested in the slightest to stick around lest the situation should go out of control with the elder joining in.


    Farewell, you poor side characters! Keep being thrashed by my boss and be impressed by his outstanding, explosive charm!


    As he struggled to carry the half unconscious Tian Zi across the mountain peaks, the poor guy finally snapped out or his daze.


    "You- aren''t you the disciple who defended that asshole? What are you doing?"


    "Ah, fellow disciple, please do not misunderstand. I only spoke the truth, see?"


    "...." Tian Zi fell silent.


    Indeed, Xuhan hadn''t really lied, he realized. Mu Ran was an extraordinary disciple.


    Defeating a cultivator two layers above him isn''t something any average person can achieve. Even though he had a problematic attitude, nobody near his cultivation level could stamp it out of him anyway.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Power breeds arrogance, this was something Tian Zi well aware of.


    Nevertheless, he was rather touched by Han Xuhan''s gesture of goodwill. This disciple from the black sheep mountain peak sure seemed easygoing and friendly! He was even willing to defend such an arrogant bastard. It wouldn''t be bad to have such a loyal friend.


    As these thoughts circled around Tian Zi''s somewhat dazed mind, Han Xuhan carefully helped him reach the infirmary pavilion, a facility in the central area of the clustered mountains.


    "Fellow disciple, if you need any more help, please say it! It was partially my fault for riling all of you up so much that you even challenged my martial brother, " Han Xuhan said as the healers checked Tian Zi''s injury.


    Tian Zi squirmed uncomfortably, still slightly amazed by how helpful and good natured this fellow disciple was!


    "No, brother. That''s enough. I''m very grateful for your help. I''ll remember it."


    Under normal circumstances, Tian Zi wouldn''t be so touched by someone helping him a bit. But he was aware that Han Xuhan had no cultivation base and thus, it mustn''t have been easy for him to carry Tian Zi all the way to the medicine pavilion. Furthermore, Xuhan was from another mountain peak and one of the culprits behind Tian Zi''s injury, albeit indirectly.


    In his mind, he decided to befriend this fellow disciple and repay the favour by protecting him in case he got bullied for his zero cultivation base.


    Han Xuhan finally bade him goodbye and left the medicine pavilion after handing him over to the person in charge.


    Glancing back at Tian Zi''s grateful face, Han Xuhan smiled to himself nefariously.


    Heh, making allies and forming connections was too easy in a sect like this. All he had to do was to make use of the incidents Mu Ran created.


    It''s so easy making friends in a xianxia world! All of the disciples here were young folks far from their home. In such a sensitive time of their life, small gestures of goodwill could really work wonders.


    Xuhan''s aim was to make as many friends as possible. The more friends he had, the less enemies he would have. And a good reputation among fellow disciples could save his skin if any particular scum or a proud young master from xyz family tried to walk over him with their superior techniques and cultivation bases due to a conflict of interests.


    As he had expected, when he reached the summit and entered the humongous hall, the oppressive silence there had grown stronger.


    Many disciples were sprawled out on one side of the room, sporting many different sorts of injuries. But Mu Ran must have gone easier on them, because no one looked as injured as Tian Zi.


    Mu Ran was now locked in a staring contest with elder Kong. Neither was willing to be the one to back down.


    "Not bad, not bad at all. In each and every fight, you conserved your strength, took hits and exhausted your opponents before retaliating with the highest amount of force you can muster. Moreover, your technique in manipulating and conserving qi was exceptional!"


    Han Xuhan blanched at elder Kong''s words. Is this guy praising the troublemaker when he''s supposed to punish him?


    ....The situation seemed to be veering off from his expectations.


    "Since your prowess has reached a considerable level, I''ll refrain from punishing you for your arrogance. None of your peers can defeat you unless they have a very high cultivation base, in which case, they''d be unwilling to even bother fighting you anyway.


    However, you should bear in mind that there are cultivators far, far stronger than me in this world. Even I can squash you with a finger.


    So you better learn how to be polite fast, child."


    Elder Kong suddenly changed his tactics and retreated back to his podium. Mu Ran let out an imperceptible sigh of relief.


    Han Xuhan came beside him and congratulated his boss on the successfull reputation heist.


    "Boss, every disciple in this sect will learn of you from today forth."


    "Haah~, I didn''t really want to be such a high profile figure, but they forced me..."


    Han Xuhan scoffed in his mind. What a shameless fellow! Who was the one that asked for backup to show off back then?


    "Nevertheless, we should keep our heads down for a while. I understand that boss has many secrets. What if any particularly sinister elder of the sect covets your treasures?"


    Mu Ran nodded gloomily.


    "You''re right. I should speak less from now on."


    Han Xuhan was speechless.


    I told this guy to learn to speak politely, but he''d rather not speak at all?!


    What was this if not the very height of shameless arrogance?


    As he contemplated how to make this troublesome golden thigh act more low key, the rest of the disciples slowly settled down and waited for the elder to start speaking again.


    "As you have witnessed, Mu Ran, claiming to be on the zeroth layer of physique transformation realm, which I assume is a lie to hide his own cultivation base, defeated nine disciples in succession, with the last of them being on the peak of the third layer of physique transformation realm.


    "How did he do this, that question is floating inside everyone''s head, correct?


    Does anyone have a guess?"


    "I think he used some sort of secret cultivation method to absorb all the damage dealt to him in the beginning of each duel, after which he gathered all of it and fought back," one of the five top disciples of the hall answered thoughtfully.


    Mu Ran''s expression hardened at that.


    "Your answer is quite close to the truth," the elder smiled at the disciple and looked at Mu Ran.


    "However, that doesn''t answer how he was able to continuously defeat nine disciples in a row.


    "So let me tell you the accurate answer. Mu Ran has, in actuality, attained a very high level of control over the minuscule amount of qi he can absorb at this stage. During each duel, he constantly circulated the qi inside his body and despite being hit so many times, not a single drop of the qi deviated from the original pathway of the cycle.


    "With each hit he received, he absorbed some of his opponents released qi and used it to observe his opponent''s techniques before attacking back with a similar method.


    "Even while he fought back, not a single drop of his own qi was wasted.


    "In short, he was able to use the resources available to him with nearly a hundred percent accuracy and perfectly defeated opponents far above him in terms of cultivation but not even comparable to him in terms of control over qi.


    "Even the five top disciples in this room with the highest cultivation base wouldn''t have such high level of control over their qi."


    Each and every disciple inside the room took in sharp breaths again and again as elder Kong dropped his verbal bombs. Even Mu Ran''s breaths were hitching by now. It seemed that he hadn''t expected the elder to be so observant.


    But it didn''t just end there.


    "Before the duel, I asked all of you indirectly, what is the most important attribute of a cultivator?


    "While the answer can be given in many ways, an easier approach to this conundrum would be...control of qi.


    "Do you understand now?


    "Mu Ran''s actions, intentional or not, should have opened your eyes today.


    "To be a better cultivator, understand yourself, your resources, your qi.


    "All of those disciples who proudly challenged Mu Ran didn''t comprehend this, and thus they were defeated by a person who understood the fact, despite having higher cultivation base.


    "From today on, Mu Ran will represent your class in front of foreign sects. He has earned that. He will bear this responsibility.


    As for the rest of you, the higher your cultivation base, the higher difficulties you shall face in controlling your qi as perfectly as Mu Ran.


    "That means, the five disciples with the highest cultivation base here are going to be the worst students in this class because they are already far along their own path of qi control, based on their own family''s methods. It is going to be quite difficult for them to learn to adapt to my teaching."


    The silence inside the hall was deafening now. But the elder had no intention to stop.


    "And the two students who do not have any cultivation base at all...


    You shall be this elder''s uncut gems. I shall


    oversee every step of your learning myself."

 Chapter 19: Elder Badass

    The elder''s announcement hit the audience like thunderclaps.


    No one could believe that he had called the five best disciples trash, elected Mu Ran as the representative of their generation, and chose the two pathetic mortals to be his most treasured pupils.


    The twists and turns today had been too unexpected, to the point of being unimaginable!


    How did things come to this?


    Perhaps Han Xuhan was the least surprised by the turn of events.


    Of course, the protagonist was bound to catch every proper and powerful cultivator''s eyes as soon as he started showing off. What he did not expect, however, was the elder''s focus on the two other weakest disciples of their generation.


    If this is not the protagonist''s halo rubbing off his own aura of misfortune, how else could it be explained? His usual dogshit luck would never lead to such circumstances!


    Internally, Xuhan vowed to stick around Mu Ran like a proper lackey. Who knows...he might even pick up a cheat from the roadside someday.


    "Now, let''s move on to the more practical part of our lessons.


    How can you achieve control over qi cycles as perfectly as Mu Ran?


    I assume all of you have already purchased at least one qi absorption method from the sect, or brought one practiced in your family, yes?"


    To the elder''s questioning tone, everyone nodded vigorously, including the other mortal disciple apart from Han Xuhan. Xuhan had used an expensive technique to skip the slow, methodical practice of ordinary beginners. He didn''t need these inefficient, archaic absorption techniques.


    The elder''s eyes focused on him for a fleeting moment and a flash of curiosity seemed to pass by in his gaze.


    "Then everyone must have meditated once at least before coming here, correct?"


    "Yes, elder," the collective voice of the disciples was heard.


    "Do you have your cultivation techniques with you?" He inquired.


    This time, the answers didn''t come as loudly as before.


    "Do those of you without your cultivation manuals at hand have the routes and cycles of qi memorized?"


    Those who hadn''t replied to the previous question shouted their confirmation.


    "Good. Begin absorbing qi into your body first if your meridians aren''t filled up yet. Those whose meridians are full with qi, begin your cycles according to your manuals.


    Don''t worry about anyone peeking on your secrets. The sect has taken strict methods to prevent that from happening. Only the buyer of a cultivation method can read their own scrolls."


    While every disciple nodded with relief and excitement, Xuhan glanced at his boss immediately. It was time.


    He knew he had only one chance at this. He had to make it count.


    "Boss, I took great risk for you today, braving all the humiliation and insults thrown at me to defend you! At least give me what you promised."


    "What did I promise?"


    Mu Ran asked in alarm. He suddenly felt like he was facing a shrewd salesman who has already laid a trap for himself to step into.


    "...The method to cultivate to the zeroth layer of physique transformation realm."


    "I said that?" Mu Ran pretended not to remember.


    "Boss, you want your underling to be an ordinary cultivator who can''t even support you when you start accelerating in your ascension?"


    "...Well-"


    "Boss, is this how you treat your loyal underling ? Are you afraid that I''ll surpass you one day if my dao foundation is perfected ? Sigh...I understand. I resign-"


    "Alright, alright, fine. I''m a magnanimous man. But it''s way too precious. So you''ll have to work harder from now on to pay it off."


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.Mu Ran gritted his teeth and pulled out the scroll. He understood by now that his underling was a bit of a schemer...but that particular jab about being afraid of his own lackey, hurt his pride!


    Who was Mu Ran?


    He was the future lord of the world of cultivation, the man who has vowed to dominate heaven and earth. The most powerful cultivator this world will ever know of in future!


    How can a man like him take that insult lying down?


    Inwardly, he decided to beat some sense into his lackey once both of them reached the first layer of physique transformation realm to squash out all these rebellious scheming thoughts from his brain.


    "You''re the best, boss."


    Xuhan nodded like a chicken, hiding his wide smile. Both of them opened the same scroll and peered down at the cycling designs drawn on it.


    "Begin!" The elder shouted.


    Immediately, the whole class filled with silence as everyone started to mentally connect with the qi inside themselves and slowly move it according to their respective cultivation method.


    For Han Xuhan , it was a fresh experience. He had the barest possible amount of control over qi, and even that was turbulent. Often, he had to concentrate to find the qi first rather than guiding it. The extremely complex cycle that circled all around his body didn''t help either, making him falter very few seconds.


    After completing the first successful cycle where he had moved nearly one percent of his total qi according to the design of the scroll, Xuhan felt very tired and decided to take a break.


    Taking his eyes off the scroll he looked around, only to be greeted by the elder''s face three feet away from him, gazing at him curiously.


    "You two, your current cultivation technique isn''t from this sect."


    Xuhan was given a massive fright. Why was this elder so perceptive? Aren''t elders in xianxia novels supposed to be dumb old woodblocks who ignore everything the protagonist does under their nose?


    There was definitely something wrong with this elder! He keeps veering off the script!


    "Yes, elder Kong. The cultivation technique we''re practicing is a family treasure of my martial brother Mu Ran." Bracing himself, Xuhan answered the elder''s question after sneaking a glance at the meditating Mu Ran.


    Pushing the ball towards the man in limelight always works fine in situations like this.


    But not this time.


    The elder narrowed his eyes and lifted a hand with one finger stretched toward Xuhan''s temple.


    "Let me examine your progress. Don''t worry. I am not going to steal your cultivation technique."


    Xuhan swallowed down his immediate urge to protest and let the elder push his finger on his right temple.


    "Hmm...about one percent has gone through a cycle and imprinted on your juvenile cultivation base. Along the way, you lost track of nearly half of the qi from the initial amount and your concentration slackened at least nineteen times throughout the cycle.


    Halfway through the cycle, one of your meridians blocked a portion of the qi due to a natural defect in that particular vessel. This defect will trouble you greatly in future if you don''t take any measures to remove it.


    Seven meridians inside your body are in a bad state from internal blocks and muscle structures. If I''m not wrong, approximately seven months ago, you suffered from a deadly sickness, which damaged the growth of four essential vessels of your body. They will definitely slow you down when you cultivate.


    In the end, from that initial one percent of the total cycled qi, one tenth of it reached the final point and completed the session.


    "If this is your first time with this technique, then I''m not going to criticize you for such lackluster performance.


    Now, cycle your qi again. Let me see if you can correct your mistakes. "


    Xuhan was dumbstruck.


    You can infer that much just from a casual examination touch?!


    Holy shit! This elder has to be a hidden boss or something!


    No way can a normal cultivator be so badass!


    Even Mu Ran, who had been absorbed in his own qi cycle opened his eyes and stared at the elder with a stunned expression. Suddenly, his face became deathly pale. Stopping his session midway, Mu Ran rose from his seat.


    "Elder Kong! I think I received a hidden injury earlier in the duel. Please let me visit the infirmary pavilion," Mu Ran hurriedly turned to leave.


    "Wait, a hidden injury? Where? I''m good at identifying them. Let me inspect it-"


    "No, elder! It would be rude of me to interrupt your teaching. Please keep instructing my martial siblings. This isn''t something you need to bother with."


    Mu Ran''s face become even more pale as the elder tried to inspect him in the same way as he inspected Xuhan.


    Without even waiting for the elder to give him his permission, he hurried away out of the hall while everyone looked at his back with suspicion.


    The elder slowly walked to the door of the hall and gazed at the half-running silhouette of Mu Ran in the distance.


    In a low voice that no one could hear, the elder muttered to himself.


    "First that girl, and now this kid. Both of them have the halo. I have to take them in as disciples to fill the yearly quota from my system or face dire punishment.


    Heavens...why is my system such a cruel one? How am I supposed to unlock the blueprints of spirit grade weapons from the shop if these disciples with halos are such weirdos!


    No, I must keep trying. His Twin Dragon Devil Reverend physique is a top tier physique in this realm. Moreover, he definitely has other secrets. I can''t let such a big fish off the hook.


    "Hehe...little boy, do you think just because you have the halo, you can oppose this young master?


    Prepare to bow down to me and call me master!"

 Chapter 20: The Sixth Black Sheep

    Han Xuhan could easily take an educated guess regarding Mu Ran''s suspicious behavior.


    Someone like him obviously had secrets that could cause trouble if revealed, the most common among them being abnormal phenomena inside their body, or soul, or cultivation base.


    With how terrifying elder Kong''s detection skill was, there was hardly a doubt that Mu Ran''s secrets would have probably gotten exposed in a jiffy if things had gone the elder''s way.


    So it wasn''t hard to see why Mu Ran had run away like a mouse that has seen a cat. In fact, now that Han Xuhan thought about it...the elder might have the observation method as an excuse to investigate Mu Ran''s secrets. Problem was, Kong Ye hadn''t considered the fact that despite being an inexperienced beginner, Mu Ran was aware of his own specialty and guarded his secrets fiercely.


    Of course, Han Xuhan had bigger things to worry about at the moment. The elder was going to examine his cultivation process again after the second cycle. He could only hope that this scarily perceptive man didn''t catch any signs of the zeroth layer of physique transformation realm while doing so. That could be...disastrous.


    Thankfully, the lesson that day proceeded without further incidents. Elder Kong kept teaching everyone about the detailed process of cultivation, discussed every disciple''s problems while cultivating while solving them on the spot, and watched over Xuhan and Yuen Zhou, the other mortal disciple''s cultivation cycles quite thoroughly, explaining many intricate methods to them that didn''t even seem to exist in normal cultivation techniques.


    Xuhan also got quite an amount of extra attention and advice from the elder due to his cursed curriculum, something that ironically made him both happy and scared shitless.


    "This elder Kong really gives off epic boss vibes..." Xuhan muttered to himself as he finally walked out of the hall after the lesson had ended.


    Any decent cultivator would live on for centuries. So following the mortal world''s style of cramming half a dozen lessons per day was not thankfully present in the world of cultivation.


    As he was the last disciple to come out from the hall, he found the mountain peak mostly empty. At one corner, Xiao Wu seemed to have been waiting for him.


    "Martial brother, your loan sure seem to be paying off."


    Seeing Xiao Wu''s envious look, Xuhan snorted.


    "Wanna exchange our positions? You take up the loan while I take your curriculum to become a normal disciple-"


    "In your dreams, brother."


    "Man, I wish I had dreams that good. All I dream about these days is about flying swords taking me up in the sky and then throwing me off," Han Xuhan shook his head sorrowfully, recalling elder Mu''s sadism.


    "Anyway, what''s your impression of elder Kong?"


    "He seems to be a very good teacher. Even the respected elders in my family couldn''t solve most of the problems he pointed out and gave solutions to today. If the rest of our lessons are anywhere near this level, then I''m confident enough to break through to the next two or three layers within a few months."


    Han Xuhan wasn''t surprised by the high evaluation coming from Xiao Wu. Even though his knowledge of cultivation was next to zero, he could feel how exceptional and effective the elder''s lesson was.


    Mentally marking elder Kong as a highly important target of observation and a possible hidden boss of the coming arcs, Xuhan set off for their black sheep mountain peak, accompanied by Xiao Wu.


    On the way, their discussion inevitably hit the subject named ''Mu Ran''s absurd feat'', starred by Mu Ran the protagonist, elder Kong the uselessly powerful cultivator, Xuhan the lackey, and many many arrogant young masters who were there just to be face-slapped, both literally and figuratively.


    "You know Xuhan, I recall a certain somebody warning me not to get too close to martial brother Ran. But after seeing what happened today..." Xiao Wu trailed off, fixing a narrow gaze at Xuhan.


    Han Xuhan coughed awkwardly. "Brother Wu, what''s with that suspicious look? Do you remember the rest of my advice that day?


    I told you to help him if you can, and not get bogged down with his personal business. That''s exactly what I did today!


    We Black Sheep must stick together! Even though that guy is an asshole, I''m pretty sure that he isn''t so stupid as to pick a fight with the elder on the first day, unprovoked. That''s why I supported him!"


    "Wait, wait, wait," Xiao Wu''s face controted into an expression of befuddlement.


    "What did you mean by that? You''re saying that Mu Ran deliberately created a scene? He did all of that with a plan?"


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Han Xuhan flashed him a tight smile. "I am just guessing...but I do think I might have understood his motives."


    "What do you think would be the easiest way to grab the attention of every elder, every disciple of our generation? How would you plan if you wanted to climb to the top of the hierarchy among the disciples of our generation in one fell swoop?"


    "...That''s stupid," Xiao Wu argued. "What''s the point in that? I mean, I get wanting to be well known to the elders; that''s certainly beneficial. But what''s the point in climbing these childish hierarchies among the disciples? Every time someone reaches a new layer, the hierarchy shifts."


    "Which is why, it was absolutely necessary to beat these disciples up when they are at their weakest. From here on, everybody will steadily improve in terms of cultivation base. What better time than now to imprint your existence on their sensitive little hearts forever?" Han Xuhan answered.


    "Wouldn''t they just beat the shit out of you a week later when they have a breakthrough?" Xiao Wu scoffed.


    "Exactly!" Han Xuhan''s exclamation struck him speechless. "Mu Ran wanted to create a pressure, both on himself as well as his stepping stones. All of them will be attempting their best to take revenge on him directly, slapping his face in public in the same way he had slapped theirs! They''ll cultivate like crazy and come back stronger, again and again! This realization, this pressure is what Mu Ran seeks! He wants to push his own drive to the limit, manipulate himself into working harder than the rest of his peers. He needs to keep getting stronger faster than them, or he''ll be getting beaten up daily from today."


    Xiao Wu was stunned by Xuhan''s reasoning. Although what he said wasn''t unreasonable, why was there a need to be so...extreme?


    Meanwhile, Han Xuhan himself felt like he had really caught on to Mu Ran''s reasoning. He had read some stories on earth with similar incidents caused by protagonists. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to figure out why anyone would do what Mu Ran did today unless their intelligence was...severely lacking. Mu Ran may not be the smartest guy...but that did not mean he was so retarded as to not understand the implications of his actions today.


    As both of them silently walked past a curve on the road, a voice from their back made them stop on their tracks and turn around in confusion.


    "Martial brothers! I''m your newest martial sister, Yuen Zhou. I umm...don''t know the road to our mountain peak, the Black Sheep Mountain Peak, was it? C-could you take me along with you to where I''m supposed to live from now on?"


    A nervous, stammering girl stood behind them, seemingly unsure of what their response might be. Both of them recognized her.


    She was the only other mortal disciple among this year''s selections.


    The problem however was...


    "Wait a minute, how can that be? This year, there were only five disciples who were selected for the Black Sheep Peak. We have already met all of them. So what are up to, lying to us like this?"


    Xiao Wu, naturally suspicious, didn''t hesitate to voice out his doubts with narrowed eyes while alarm bells went off in Xuhan''s head.


    "Martial brother, please don''t misunderstand!" The girl panicked and tried to explain.


    "I''m a...special case. I was selected by one of the elders a few years ago. But circumstances allowed me to come to the sect only now. But the elder who selected me died not long after he returned to the sect, something that I wasn''t aware of till yesterday. No other elders were willing to take me in. I was asked to return home. But due to some personal reasons, I cannot return to my home any time soon. So after I pleaded to the sect master, it was decided today by the sect master that I''d become a disciple of the black sheep mountain peak. I attended the lessons straight from the meeting with the sect master after this decision was publicized. So I really don''t know my way around the sect..."


    Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu listened with their mouths open. This girl, she was even more pitiful than them!


    The two young men exchanged a glance and saw the sympathy in each other''s eyes.


    "Martial sister, please don''t take any offense at my previous harsh words. We''ll be more than glad to accompany you to our mountain peak. I''m Xiao Wu, and this is Han Xuhan. Both of us are your martial brothers from the same peak. So you can always come and seek our help if you run into any trouble."


    Xiao Wu laughed in a good natured manner and gestured at her to follow. She smiled at the warm welcome and joined the two of them.


    Xuhan, meanwhile, was running his brain at full speed. Which trope is this going to follow? Was there any xianxia novel where the female leads are so pitiful yet they are helped by the side characters instead of the male lead?


    He couldn''t recall any at the moment. This trope didn''t seem very important either. So he made some essential small talks with her on the way, especially advising her not to fall for the loan scam, the dishonest business tactics of the treasury, and to ask for others'' help before making any move.


    Soon, they finished her registration to the mountain peak and the master disciple ceremony where she seemed to bow to their master with much more reverence than necessary. Master Daheng was extremely pleased and he sent a dark look toward Han Xuhan while she kowtowed to him.


    Han Xuhan decided to examine the beautiful and interesting sky upon noticing the resentful gaze of his master.


    After sending Yuen Zhou off to her own hut in the mountain peak, Xuhan and Xiao Wu said goodbye to each other and returned to their respective huts.


    Unbeknownst to them, a dark gaze was set upon their backs, the source of which was their newest martial sister, Yuen Zhou, who sat inside her hut and stared at them through the small window...


    "This doesn''t make sense at all. Mu Ran, Xiao Wu, and I were supposed to be the only disciples who would be selected from this year''s batch. In the last timeline, Mu Ran became a high and mighty cultivator while I was deceived and harmed by that crazy elder and became unable to cultivate normally. This time I have killed the elder without anyone noticing before he could do any damage to my dao foundation. I no longer have to resort to the demonic cultivation path in this timeline.


    But why...why is there another disciple here?


    What changed? How did this happen? I had even never heard of any elder Kong in the last timeline...


    "It doesn''t matter. I''m destined to be Mu Ran''s opponent. Even if I have to resort to extreme methods, I must not lose. The great cataclysm is very close. I cannot let this world be destroyed again in this timeline...not when I am on it."

 Chapter 21: Scamming The Scammers

    Three days after his first lesson from the Crimson Snow sect, Han Xuhan finally managed to achieve something noteworthy by cooping himself up inside his hut and cultivating crazily, no matter how boring it was.


    Just as he had said, he skipped his daily assignments, the fines for which had been paid in advance, a punishment that would render any other normal disciple bankrupt within half a month.


    But being a "tycoon" with loaned money, Han Xuhan didn''t give a damn about these expenses. If he didn''t manage to reach the second layer of the physique transformation realm within the first month, his future would be doomed anyway.


    But it seemed that the constant fear and tension had really stirred his mind and made it more resolute, a trait that he didn''t have originally.


    All in all, he cultivated maniacally and on the third night of his seclusion, Xuhan suddenly felt that the qi gathering and cycling had lost its effect on him.


    It was the cultivation technique for reaching the zeroth layer of the physique transformation realm. After re-examining the scroll, he understood that the technique had lost effect because he had officially reached the peak of the zeroth layer of the physique transformation realm. The technique had already imprinted itself on his imaginary cultivation base.


    In other words, he was ready to break into the actual cultivation realm, the first layer of Physique Transformation!


    Setting aside the scroll Mu Ran had given him, Xuhan took out the second scroll from his table, the skeletal monarch.


    This was the other cultivation method Mu Ran had "recommended" to him, one which he planned to use as a supplementary technique mixed with the Spiritual Bones Manual to see if he could create something new altogether.


    Despite sounding far-fetched, Xuhan felt an uncontrollable urge to make this work. In his previous life, he had read the stories of countless awesome techniques in xianxia novels, many of which seemed to be compatible with each other. Yet those dumb protagonists never even bothered to do any research, relying on sheer overpowered plot armor to overcome all obstacles. Where was the fun in that?


    He, Han Xuhan, had working brain cells. Even if it was a risky move, he couldn''t bear to see such a valuable chance of using his creativity go to waste. Why would he let go of such an opportunity to experiment with magical techniques and create something brand new?


    "A lego-nerd like me shall never give up a single chance to build something new with the materials in hand..."


    Feeling nostalgic about his lego set in his previous life, which he had been forced to hide from his young cousins for decades, Han Xuhan started examining the skeletal monarch technique with great interest.


    The skeletal monarch was much more complicated than he had thought. The author must have used some high-level techniques related to space or illusions to make thousands of words fit into the foot-wide scroll. Because the words were still readable somehow despite their puzzling size.


    The handwriting, on the other hand, was simply ugly.


    Why couldn''t the author use a technique to at least improve his writing instead of using those esoteric techniques related to space?


    What''s more, he didn''t understand many of the research terms, the diagrams were mind-boggling, the qi cycle had to be repeated not only inside his own meridians but also inside the bones of the skeletons he summoned, leading to a lengthy and time-consuming cultivation session the further he cultivated.


    The principles behind the summoning were very vague, seemingly intentionally. But Xuhan didn''t care. As long as it worked, he would be fine with it.


    After he finished studying the whole scroll, Han Xuhan felt his head hurt.


    He still had to worry about the one-month deadline. But since he planned to use the spiritual bones on the summoned skeletons'' bodies, Xuhan had to cultivate this one first and summon a skeleton minion.


    "Never thought I''d say something so abominable, but I am really starting to miss my physics and chemistry books..."


    The future cultivation sessions would only be more and more complicated, from what he had gathered so far. Compared to the horrors he might face in the future, Han Xuhan would take on college-level physics any day.


    Sighing despondently, he started absorbing qi again to start cultivating the skeletal monarch technique.


    According to Mu Ran, once he had reached the peak of the zeroth layer, he could officially start cultivating any technique and break into the first layer with enough time and dedication.


    While Xuhan certainly didn''t lack dedication, he was definitely short on time.


    Four weeks, two layers to surpass, no cheats to rely on either.


    As time passed, Han Xuhan grew more and more familiar with the technique. Yet instead of feeling relief, Xuhan was starting to lose his nerve as his understanding of the technique deepened.


    That evening, he stopped cycling his qi and began scribbling down a large amount of numbers on a piece of paper.


    After ten minutes of careful calculation where Han Xuhan mapped out his overall growth chart based on each qi cycling session for the next twenty-seven days, his face became darker than ever.


    Numbers didn''t lie.


    With his current capabilities, even if he improved the effectiveness of each cultivation session by more than 30%, it''d take him five weeks to reach the second layer of the physique transformation realm, provided that he cooped up inside his hut the whole time and didn''t waste a single second.


    This scenario was also impossible, since he was obliged to attend every lesson, perform the less taxing daily tasks such as cleaning up the sect grounds and classrooms, and helping out in the kitchen...


    Yet the sect would definitely punish him greatly or directly expel him if he failed to reach the deadline within four weeks. This puzzled him. Why did they put an impossible target in front of the inexperienced disciples?


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ...Or did the issue lie with him? His cultivation sessions weren''t producing the result they were supposed to¨C this could actually be the crux of his problem. Elder Kong did say that his meridians weren''t in a perfect condition that day.


    Could it be?


    Gripping the sheets full of calculation, Xuhan felt sweat covering his forehead. This world was nothing like those from xianxia novels in certain aspects.


    The disciples in novels got paid for being a disciple and all the martial arts or cultivation techniques were free in the sects. But the situation here was the total opposite. He was the one paying for being a disciple. There was no relaxed atmosphere, no arrogant young masters to stomp on and loot, no jade beauties bearing treasures and blessings.


    There wasn''t even a fricking inter-sect tournament to take advantage of.


    Feeling distressed, Han Xuhan ran his hands over his only assets in this world, his pouches full of loaned money.


    Suddenly, a eureka moment struck him as he remembered one of the popular tropes.


    "Aren''t all sects supposed to have cultivation resources in novels, especially a large amount reserved for the genius disciples to cultivate faster? This isn''t something that can be avoided if one wants to cultivate faster than normal, right? Pills, ancient grounds filled with opportunities, heavenly treasures that could boost cultivation level..."


    There should definitely be something similar in this sect too. Han Xuhan was sure of it. After all, he had been able to purchase the supplementary gadgets from the treasury. Even though he had been scammed, the opportunity was still there!


    So he immediately ran out of his hut in a disarray and started looking for his seniors in the neighboring huts.


    The senior disciples who stayed inside the sect were never available, always busy in closed-door cultivation or recuperating from injuries that they didn''t want to talk about.


    But his quick idea paid off. Soon, he tracked down the first senior he had met here, the snarky big sister who had introduced him to master Daheng. From her, he found out some detailed information about cultivation resources in the sect.


    The sect did actually follow the style of cherishing the strong and suppressing the weak. The disciples with the highest potential received cultivation resources for free, provided that they broke through to the soul reformation realm within two years.


    While the notion seemed absurd to Xuhan, he was more concerned about his current predicament.


    "Senior, can I use spirit stones to directly buy resources from the sect?"


    The older disciple gave him a strange look upon hearing his question.


    "Junior brother, you certainly can...except, don''t mind me asking this but, how many spirit stones do you have?"


    "A bit more than a thousand, senior."


    The older disciple looked taken aback for a moment, making Xuhan feel a bit more confident. But then she chuckled derisively.


    "Junior, I advise you to give up on those pipe dreams. Even the lowest quality of resources is worth hundreds of spirit stones. And they are consumables, get it?


    Unlike those gadgets you''ve bought, these resources will run out very soon. Then you''ll be stuck with no money, and no way to continue cultivating fast anymore, which is a very, very, frustrating experience...since you would have already tasted the sweetness of fast cultivation speed." The senior disciple looked traumatized, as if she was speaking from personal experience.


    "If you borrow emergency funds to buy resources, you''ll be mired with loans again. You''ll end up like a drug addict from the mortal world. Are you sure you can pursue such an extravagant lifestyle? "


    "Do I have a choice? I''ll have to go for broke, whether I want to or not," Han Xuhan replied calmly.


    "...I suppose not," she muttered. "Farewell, then. Go make a visit to the treasury, see what they offer you in there...and take a piece of advice¨C


    Only buy resources from elder Shen, the person in charge of the treasury. The rest of the disciples working there will do their best to scam you...again. That''s how they operate. But the elder himself wouldn''t give away his face by scamming a child."


    "I see, I see..." Han Xuhan was stupefied.


    After thanking her, Xuhan visited the Treasury immediately. It was located far away from his mountain peak, near the center of the mountain-cluster, guarded 24/7 by some intimidating seniors.


    Xuhan revealed his intention to buy resources from the storage to one of the disciples there. The senior seemed to recognize him, his eyes lighting up with schadenfreude.


    "Come in, come in! I''ll help you choose!" he dragged Han Xuhan inside enthusiastically.


    "Elder Shen will help me choose, senior. Thank you for the warm welcome, though."


    The senior''s expression turned sour. "Elder Shen is unavailable at the moment," he said flatly.


    "Well, I ain''t buying then."


    "Suit yourself, junior. I can tell you''ve got a deadline to meet. Are you sure you want to wait?"


    The senior''s smile was dirty, making his intention clear. But Han Xuhan wasn''t bothered in the slightest.


    A dead man fears no guillotine.


    Why would he care about offending these scammers when his life was on the line here?


    Han Xuhan opened his moneybag and began to surf through its contents.


    "Oh! A junior who understands the rules so fast! That''s rare! I like you, young man!" The senior disciple laughed, putting his palm forward to receive the bribe.


    A second later, his smile froze.


    Looking down at the large number of spirit stones placed on his palm, he also noticed the blue, glowing crystal accompanying them, and his thoughts fell into disarray.


    "The emergency contact method?" he said in a daze.


    "The rulebook says any elder near an activated contact crystal is obliged to appear and help." Han Xuhan recited from memory.


    "Hahaha! Do you think elder Shen will appreciate the fact that you''ve interrupted his cultivation session for your personal business?!" the disciple said incredulously. "That crystal is used in times of fatal danger, you retard!"


    "Who is it?! What is it?! Who dares to make a scene in my treasury?!" Came a roar from outside.


    An old man furiously rushed in and caught sight of the crystal in the senior disciple''s hand. His expression turned strange.


    "What''s happening here? You!" He pointed at the senior disciple immediately, before Han Xuhan could open his mouth. "Explain!"


    Han Xuhan sucked in a breath. The elder was clearly picking the side of this scammer! It seems this isn''t the first time someone has tried this method.


    The senior disciple played the role of a dumbstruck salesman perfectly in front of the manager. Han Xuhan was the Karen of his story.


    "How insolent of you to interrupt my cultivation for your personal busi-"


    "What? No!" Han Xuhan cut in sharply. "I interrupted your cultivation session because this senior forcibly robbed my spirit stones. He threatened to cripple me if I didn''t hand my pouch over. What else could I do if not seek the help of an elder?"


    "..." Elder Shen glanced at the senior disciple.


    "What a bucketload of lies!" The senior disciple roared. "You think you can accuse anyone of any crime like this?"


    "The evidence is in your hand, senior. Those are my spirit stones," Han Xuhan said. "And that is my contact crystal."


    "Lies! These spirit stones are mine, elder. He wanted to borrow some of my money to buy resources. But when I tried to hand the amount to him, he-"


    "How many stones are in your hand, senior?" Han Xuhan asked.


    "...Well, I didn''t keep count, did I? I took out whatever fits in my palm!"


    "But I know how many spirit stones are in your hand. Even though these stones have been piled up on your palm and it''s impossible for me to count them without going through the pile one by one, the total number of spirit stones in your palm, added with the number remaining in my pouch, equals to one hundred."


    "...."


    "....."


    Both elder Shen and the senior disciple fell silent.


    "I would never be able to make this calculation, had that pile originated from your bag as you''ve claimed...so what is it going to be, senior? Are you going to stick to your false claims?


    I mean, that would be pretty pathetic...but it does befit you, pardon my insolence."


    Han Xuhan spoke the last sentence with his eyes fixed on elder Shen''s face, which was turning sourer and sourer with each syllable.

 Chapter 22: I Want To Sell My Divine Physique, But Who Will Buy It?

    There were multiple types of resources listed in the Treasury, arranged according to their quality.


    Herbal medicine to temporarily increase concentration and affinity with qi, potions to temporarily make skin pores larger, solid blocks of frozen qi that could be used in bathwater to absorb without any effort, drinks spiked with qi, supplementary techniques to speed up qi cycles, pills to stimulate meridians, gadgets that made meridians more flexible, devices to influence one''s mental power and concentration, formation ingredients that automatically attracted qi and pushed them inside the cultivator and many more!


    The pricing, however, was predictably far from being generous. It took Han Xuhan a long time to filter the resources priced less than 300 spirit stones.


    But he did it gleefully, watching the elder impatiently twitching at his deliberately sluggish shopping process. After he had scammed the elder''s underling back, the man hadn''t dared to return lest he should make another scene. Right now, all he wanted was for Xuhan to complete his shopping and go away.


    In the end, he chose to spend 350 spirit stones and bought several blocks of frozen qi, bottles of liquified qi, a vial of concentration-increasing potion, and the lowest level of formation ingredients.


    "Didn''t you say you only brought 100 spirit stones in your pouch?" the elder was stunned when he saw the list of chosen resources Xuhan had handed to him.


    "...I lied, elder. Just like the senior had."


    With his pouch light and a heart brimming with satisfaction, Han Xuhan returned to his hut, replaying the scene of the elder''s countenance contorting in incredulity again and again in his mind.


    The senior disciple had been punished with a penalty of one hundred spirit stones, as well as unpaid physical labor of several weeks. The elder was obviously not willing to deliver a punishment so harsh...


    But the prestige of the sect was in question here. Han Xuhan had been kind enough to remind the elder of that fact, multiple times.


    "I wonder what his expression will be like when he comes to know that I was lying. I really want to see it..."


    * * * * * * * *


    One week after his massive expenditure, Han Xuhan finally shed his identity as a mortal and entered the first layer of the Physique Transformation realm while cycling his qi under elder Kong''s observant eyes.


    He had received a substantial amount of help from the elder while breaking through, for which Xuhan was very grateful to the elder.


    Even his boss Mu Ran felt the pressure he was under and exempted him from his lackey duties until he broke through to the second layer.


    He had been cultivating furiously for the last few days. With the passing of time, Xuhan had managed to gauge his talent in cultivation compared to his peers. The discovery had shocked him greatly.


    No, he wasn''t an amazingly talented hidden gem, like he had hoped. His aptitude for cultivation was in fact nearly trash tier. After asking around, Han Xuhan had learned that more than 80 percent of his fellow disciples had taken barely half a week to break into the first layer from being a normal mortal.


    The only redeeming quality he discovered about himself was perhaps his comprehension. Having his basic science lessons from his previous life still fresh in his mind, he could adapt and bulldoze his way through complicated lessons, cultivation techniques, and mathematical aspects with much more ease compared to his fellow disciples, something that the elders appreciated while teaching him.


    For example, a couple of days ago, elder Shi was describing the subtle differences between bloodlines and how they affect one''s body by circulating through the blood vessels. Nearly none of the disciples understood the process or the theory at first, being ignorant of the physiological knowledge of the human body at a molecular level. The only vessel they cared about was the meridians where qi flowed.


    But Han Xuhan easily managed to identify the keywords and understood how the bloodline characteristics blended with the blood corpuscles and made tiny changes at the molecular level.


    Of course, none of the magical aspects or mutations could be explained scientifically. But he wasn''t interested in pursuing harmony between science and magic. So he just marked the inexplicable parts as [cultivation magic] in his notes and left it at that.


    However, this was already an exceptional level of comprehensive ability from the viewpoint of the teachers. So Han Xuhan received more care from them as a result.


    While such care from the elders would inevitably generate jealousy from his peers, no one was actually feeling any envy toward Xuhan. The reason was simple.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.Xuhan''s cultivation speed was the worst in the class.


    Even Yuen Zhou, the other mortal disciple had broken through to the first layer on the third day of the first week, followed by Mu Ran on the next day.


    Multiple elders had refused to believe such a mediocre disciple could have so amazing performance during comprehensive parts of their lessons. After breaking through to the first layer, Han Xuhan had been asked to visit the infirmary pavilion, the head of which turned out to be a familiar person.


    She was the woman who had reprimanded elder Mu for giving Han Xuhan the precious opportunity to fly on his sword...


    "So, I''m supposed to be examined for abnormalities again, right, elder Cai?"


    "Yes. I''m going to conduct a thorough examination of your meridians and the skin pores that connect with your qi vessels. Elder Kong in particular was very adamant about examining you. He refuses to accept your slow speed of cultivation as a simple lack of talent."


    Han Xuhan was still rather confused regarding the matter. Wasn''t normal for some disciples to lack talent in any sect? Why did elder Kong insist on this?


    Or was there more to the story than it seems...?


    "Okay. Lie down and try to relax. This might be a bit uncomfortable..."


    Hearing her instructions, Xuhan shivered.


    Lying on the bed, he felt elder Cai touching his temples lightly. Just as he was about to relax his nerves, a jolt of dull pain went through his head as if something blunt had forced its way through his skin.


    Before he could yelp out in alarm, the pain disappeared, replaced by the sensation of strangely fluid movements under the skin of his temples.


    "Uh-huh, don''t tense your body. Just try to relax." the elder ordered him not to move. The sensation of a foreign object moving under his skin continued, as if probing for something.


    Han Xuhan did his best not to freak out. The sensation was nightmarish. It was like a worm moving inside his body. From head to toe, it didn''t miss a single centimeter.


    After what felt like ages, elder Cai stood up and retracted her fingers from his temples, taking whatever it was that had been crawling under his skin with her, and started walking around the room with furrowed brows.


    Han Xuhan sat up and massaged his brows to relieve the tension he was feeling around his forehead while waiting for the evaluation.


    However, the tense elder Cai ignored his pointed coughs and stared at her finger in a dazed manner, her lips moving silently as if she was muttering to herself about something problematic.


    Xuhan started feeling a premonition of dread. It couldn''t be...was there really something wrong with him?


    Could he be so unlucky?


    Speaking from experience....Ah, shit.


    Their reverie was broken when elder Kong entered the pavilion out of nowhere.


    "What''s the situation? Did you discover anything worrisome, elder Cai?"


    Elder Cai snapped out of her daze and seemed to be gathering her thoughts slowly. Han Xuhan patiently waited for her to speak.


    "Upon examination, it seems that disciple Xuhan has a few damaged meridians, which to be frank, isn''t a rare phenomenon. Most mortals do not take proper care of their qi vessels due to ignorance. I have seen many disciples here in this sect with the same handicap."


    "Is that it? I''m aware of that already. But that shouldn''t be the sole reason behind his mediocre speed of cultivation, right?"


    Elder Kong didn''t seem surprised in the slightest.


    "Yes, there are other reasons as well. Some of his meridians have had unnecessary growth spurts which have blocked multiple crucial points of his qi routes. This is also not an unnatural thing. Most cultivators have a few mutated meridians.


    "While examining his dantian, the point where most of the qi is stored and processed, I noticed that it was a size smaller compared to average. This is another reason why his cultivation speed is slow.


    "I also checked his skin pores, which are smaller in number compared to the skin of an average person, as well as being slightly narrower than usual, making his qi absorption slower."


    As elder Cai listed the reasons one by one, elder Kong''s expression became odd.


    Technically, none of those defects were particularly problematic. Few people were born with a perfect body suitable for cultivation. Almost everyone had one or two of these defects, except...


    "Yes, exactly what you''re thinking elder Kong. None of those defects should have impeded his cultivation by much. They can be neglected when compared with the bigger picture.


    Yet, Xuhan has too many of such small defects in his body. Statistically speaking, it''s very common for someone to have one or two such defects, slightly rare to have four or five, and very, very rare to have over half a dozen.


    "But little Xuhan has tens of such defects.


    "If we were to talk about the possibility of such a physique''s existence, it would be ten times rarer than the top-grade divine physiques mentioned in legends that all cultivators dream of.


    "It''s not unnatural, he is just unfortunate, incredibly, terrifyingly unfortunate.


    Simply said, the heavens seem to have a vendetta against little Xuhan. All of those defects are natural and harmless when alone, but stacked together in one body? That''s the same thing as making a mere mortal run a race on one foot. He''ll always be the last without external help.


    "Hell, he might not even finish the race and collapse halfway. Without a very large and constant supply of resources, Xuhan has no chance of progressing his cultivation at the normal speed."


    Elder Hei''s words were like thunders clapping beside his eardrums. Both Han Xuhan and elder Kong were stunned into silence.


    This kind of luck, to have obtained a physique ten times rarer than divine physiques...


    What atrocities did Xuhan commit in his past life? Wasn''t he just an innocent mortal? Is this any different from the heavens bullying a helpless man?


    Gloomily, Han Xuhan walked out of the medicine pavilion while elder Kong remained seated inside, still shell-shocked.


    As it turned out, he had no other way of cultivating normally except consuming external resources like those geniuses that are cherished by the sect, with the only difference being that he would have to pay for it all...


    "Looks like I''ll have to go earn some spirit stones," Xuhan muttered in a low voice. He was already used to such shockingly depressing news. So it didn''t affect him much.


    Being this unfortunate was just like playing a game on hard mode. It might be a frustrating experience, but it certainly offered a more interesting gameplay.


    Either way, he was determined to become a powerful cultivator, regardless of the handicaps.


    In all honesty, finding out about this handicap only made him even more curious about why the heavens had screwed him over so hard.

 Chapter 23: Ride The Waves, Write The Waves

    Han Xuhan put down the pen from his hand and stared at the recent calculations on the sheet in front of him.


    He had just tried to calculate his optimum monthly expense.


    Altogether, he''d need nearly a thousand spirit stones per month to cultivate at a decent speed. This expense was not a constant, of course, the higher his cultivation got, the more spirit stones he would require. And the increase wasn''t small either. Every two or three layers later, the expense would multiply, forming an exponentially increasing graph.


    Based on what elder Cai had said, thousand spirit stones per month would be the barest minimum requirement for his physique to maintain a decent cultivation speed.


    So Xuhan knew that he was currently broke and facing expulsion even though he had more than 500 spirit stones left. Even if he cultivated desperately and managed to break through to the second layer of the Physique Transformation realm within the next three weeks, he wouldn''t have any resources to continue further afterwards.


    So his first priority right now was to find a method to earn spirit stones. After that, he could cultivate in peace for a while.


    Han Xuhan put the sheets aside and examined a leaflet he had acquired from Xiao Wu. The leaflet contained a list of almost all the ways to earn spirit stones in the sect.


    There were multiple choices that had been marked by Xuhan on the list. At the moment, however, the number one choice he was inclined to pursue was...writing books.


    Literature was a common hobby to dabble in among cultivators. Due to their long lifespan and attraction towards flair and style, novels, poems, and dramas were quite popular among the younger generations.


    Upon seeing that particular way of earning spirit stones, Han Xuhan had gotten excited initially. Why would he not?


    He had been a novel addict in his previous life. He could copy all of those popular novels from earth and with a bit of editing, he could earn cash faster than breathing.


    However, in his excitement, he had decided to take a peek into the business. He had contacted many disciples to run a survey.


    He had wanted to figure out what the popular genres among this generation of cultivators were. With the results of the survey in hand, he had felt like somebody had slapped his face very hard.


    His martial brothers and sisters had given him a list of popular stories and poetry styles that were in the vogue these days...


    Stories


    1- The overbearing sect master and the introverted female disciple


    [ Known for having broken all the sales records, even though nobody knows who bought the copies. ]


    2- The wolf demon is my fuckbuddy


    [ Again, all the copies of this book had disappeared from the shelves soon after coming out, and the publishers have no idea who had taken them. The thief had apparently left an appropriate amount of money before taking the books. ]


    3- My scheming husbands want my attention


    [ This novel was banned in six of the seven regions. But that ban only spiked the sales. ]


    4- Lord of the Nine Rings


    [ A classic, written by an anonymous person with the pen-name Ladykiller42069. ]


    5- Hai Ri Po Te and the Heavenly Stone


    [ Extremely popular with children, this huge saga has been read by almost every cultivator born in this century. The author had left this world (literally) before it got popular. ]


    6. The Fault in Our Blackholes


    [ Written by the illustrious, mysterious master of a powerful, foreign sect named Abyss Guild. ]


    7. Invisible Dragon


    [ Not even the publishers of the original copies knew who wrote this. But the content of this novel is extremely popular as a gift to one''s enemies. ]


    8- The Avenger Cultivators


    [ The only book in the list that uses pictures instead of only words to tell its story. It has been praised for bringing revolutionary ideas into the fashion field. Also, the anonymous author of this book wrote their opinion at the back of the book, stating that Tai Niu Si was indeed right about the lack of resources in the universe. ]


    9- Fifty Trillion Shades of Green


    [ Everyone who has read this claims to have hated it. But that doesn''t explain why its sales record remains within the top 10 every year. ]


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Han Xuhan had stomped on the list after reading the ninth entry and hadn''t even bothered to look at the popular poetry list. He was sure it would be filled with similar writings stolen from Earth.


    This also confirmed one suspicion of his. There really were other transmigrators and reincarnators in this world from earth. But sadly, most of the authors of these books were anonymous.


    Now that his head had cooled down a bit, Xuhan massaged his forehead and thought hard about what else he could write that would earn him any cash at all.


    He would have to ditch the previous plan. If he went to the publishers with the manuscript of a novel from earth, it might get published. But that would land him in a different sort of minefield.


    Who could guarantee that the transmigrators and reincarnators on this planet were friendly, or good-natured? They could be a sinister person as well. Hell, the chances of the latter being true were more realistic.


    Most of these people were bound to be powerful and influential. If they had an unfriendly attitude towards other ''special'' cultivators...Han Xuhan would be shooting himself in the foot by revealing his secret.


    All in all, it was better not to write anything too closely related to earth. And it would be best if he could keep his identity a secret when the book gets published...


    Moving on to the content of his book, if he aimed for anything original or unusual, it would take a long time to generate any profit even if it was a masterpiece. And he didn''t have that much confidence in his writing ability anyway. So that was out of the question.


    Following the general flow wouldn''t work either. Books of that sort wouldn''t get him any profit when he was a mortal nobody knew. Which publisher would give a flying fuck about a random copycat? His competitors were way more educated and experienced than he was.


    Half an hour later, Han Xuhan was still lost in his thoughts when he heard a knock on his door. He walked out of his room and saw Mu Ran standing outside his hut with a rather strange smile on his face.


    "Yeah, boss. Need anything?"


    Mu Ran wasn''t exactly aware of his situation, as Han Xuhan hadn''t spread the details.


    Mu Ran just felt that his lackey wasn''t very talented and had to cultivate harder than most disciples.


    He didn''t seem very concerned about his underling''s future prospects. Occasionally, he helped Xuhan with practical problems during cultivation and gave him pointers. In his words, that would be enough to boost Xuhan''s cultivation level to a passable height.


    Passable for what exactly...Mu Ran had never made it clear.


    Han Xuhan had his suspicions, but Mu Ran hardly seemed like the type to concoct insidious schemes. So he didn''t put too much concern on that rabbithole of paranoia.


    "Underling Xuhan, I''ve reached the peak of the first layer of physique transformation realm. I came to invite you to a celebratory feast! You''ve been working too hard these days. Take a break and come with me to the kitchens. I''ll pay for your shares and you''ll pay for mine!"


    Exuberant, Mu Ran dragged Xuhan out of his hut and started boasting about how powerful he was now compared to before. Xuhan absentmindedly listened to his ridiculous boasts knowing most of them must be true. After all, this was another protagonist like those anonymous authors...


    "Xuhan, are you going to buy anything from the auctions? "


    Mu Ran''s question interrupted his musings.


    Auction?


    Wasn''t that just another cliche to make the protagonist strike gold by giving him priceless treasures that no one could identify?


    "I''m in a tight situation, boss. Can''t spend much on anything right now."


    "You should at least buy a weapon for self-defense you know? As your boss, I can help you in a fight provided the opponent isn''t stronger than a cultivator at the sixth layer. But above that, you''ll need to rely on your own capabilities as well. If you don''t even have a weapon, how would you protect yourself when I''m not around?"


    "Sixth layer of the physique transformation?" Han Xuhan''s eyes widened.


    "Haha, I''m not exaggerating, but I can definitely say that I''m unmatched below the sixth layer of physique transformation realm!"


    Xuhan was just about to nod mechanically with a well-placed "sigh of admiration" when an incensed voice came from behind them.


    "Not exaggerating? That''s really funny. How about you prove that?"


    Both guys turned around and saw a very pretty girl holding a sheathed sword in her hands and staring at Mu Ran with flames spewing from her eyes figuratively.


    Han Xuhan suddenly felt a bit more awake.


    What a familiar chain of events!


    Ah, our protagonist has encountered his first waifu in the sect, the tsundere type with anger issues.


    "And the trope starts..." Xuhan muttered under his breath as Mu Ran and the unfamiliar girl started squabbling. Slowly, more and more disciples started gathering around them, attracted toward the commotion.


    "You pervert! You peeked at me while I was bathing on the way to the sect that day. I have finally gotten the chance to get you back for this! I''ve broken through to the second layer this morning.


    I challenge you to a duel at the arena. If you''re a man, then accept!"


    The yell of the furious girl was heard by all the disciples present. An uproar among them followed her shout.


    "That was absolutely accidental! How was I supposed to know you were bathing there? I was just passing by! How is that my fault?"


    Mu Ran completely denied her accusations. But no one gave a damn about what he had to say anyway. Everyone got the gist of the story. These two had met on the way to the sect''s selection ceremony in an awkward situation and the girl was furious about it. Now she wanted revenge.


    The male disciples were envious. The female disciples were snickering and giggling.


    Han Xuhan sighed again as he saw Mu Ran accepting her challenge because he was "definitely a man who could back up his boasts", even though he still insisted on his innocence.


    The two bickered their way towards the duel arena, with the crowd following behind.


    Han Xuhan shook his head and returned to his hut. He wasn''t interested in the results of the duel. It didn''t matter in the bigger picture.


    Mu Ran would steal his waifu''s heart regardless of whether he won or lost.


    Cliches, cliches, all around...


    Sitting on his bed, Xuhan picked up a few sheets and a pen full of ink. His inspiration had hit him moments ago.


    He was going to write a book alright, a book that would be remembered in the legends of the Crimson Snow Sect. A book that could change the life of all cultivators who read it. A book that was going to overturn the lives of this Crimson Snow sect''s disciples.


    A book that was going to bring a revolution.


    With steady hands, he wrote the title of the book on the first page...


    How To Make A Harem: A Guide To A Blissful Marital Life

 Chapter 24: The Great Dao Of Scamming

    Other than the sound of a pen scratching against paper, Han Xuhan''s hut was as silent as it could be. He sat on the bedside, hovering over the small table where a stack of sheets laid in front of him. For the last ten days, he had been busy filling up these sheets.


    Today, he had finished writing a passable manuscript for his book. Now he was busy editing it thoroughly.


    In his previous life, he had read a huge number of cultivation novels with the harem tag attached, not to mention all those shounen animes full of harem tropes and dense protagonists.


    What had he not seen or read in those days?


    Using all those experiences, he wrote tirelessly, dissecting trope after trope and filling the gaps in logic with vague criticism, erudite sounding words that were too advanced for this world, explanation of human nature through psychological theories no one had ever heard of, references to unknown ancient gods like Yun Che, Ji Ning, Nie Li, Han Lin, Rito Yuuki, Shido, and Yuu Illhan...


    The humongous amount of useless information inside his head was finally being used to its full potential. He presented arguments based on false premises and countered them with set-up logic that would confuse any gullible reader.


    He fashioned the book in such a way that no one would be able to find any flaws in the advice and guidelines he had written, mainly because they had no idea such tropes existed.


    He even carefully designed his words to make his source of information mysterious, just in case another transmigrator or reincarnator read the book and tracked him down.


    He used a lot of advice to improve personal lifestyle that he had learned from the internet, something that would definitely increase the credibility of his book when applied in real life.


    If someone criticized his book, these portions of the book could be his defense.


    He was planning to publish the book using the sect''s influence. So, during the edits, he entered some direct hints in the book to make the readers feel that sucking up to one''s own sect and getting closer to their own masters was a part of the overall process of becoming a harem king, something that was bound to be approved by the sect''s authorities since it would strengthen their hold over the disciples.


    After all, which sect didn''t want their disciple to have better characters and be more dependent on their sect?


    All the advice and guidelines he wrote in there pointed towards cultivating a decent character, a praiseworthy set of morals, better behavior in daily life, and many psychological issues that dealt with the problematic attitudes of traditional cultivators, altogether leading the readers into becoming a better person.


    And if one becomes a better person compared to their peers and stands out in a crowd due to his better nature, obviously, he would receive more admiration and adoration from the opposite gender. In the world of cultivation, looks could be made better easily with minor techniques, so character was more important!


    Alongside such indirect and "profound" message, Xuhan dropped the multitude of harem tropes and their detailed explanations. Then he mixed it up with every cheesy flirty line he could remember from his previous life that served only to confuse and arouse the passionate hearts of young readers...


    There were dozens of pages, full of discussion regarding dual cultivation, yin-yang integration, and similarly comprehensible, yet vague terms that gave off a "realistic" impression. Countless high-level cultivation techniques and dual cultivation methods stolen from junk novels were involved between the lines. All in all, anyone could guess that this book wasn''t written on a whim to fool others. How could a mortal author imagine that much detailed information regarding high-level cultivation systems?


    Which passionate youth was going to challenge such flawless logic when such new possibilities opened up ahead of them all of a sudden?


    Inwardly, Han Xuhan finally realized why all the scheming villains in novels and movies laughed so dementedly every time their schemes worked, the allure was irresistible!


    With this book, who can stop me from sweeping this sect clean?


    Chuckling creepily, Xuhan set the pen aside, rearranged the stack of papers from his table, and walked out of his hut, his destination¨C the treasury of the sect.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    After asking around, he had learned that the treasury was in charge of managing the auctions. Since Xuhan wanted to get the sect''s recognition for his book, the auction was the best bet for him at the moment.


    The elder was available this time, according to the disciples at the gate. Han Xuhan detected a hint of displeasure and wariness in their gazes as he waited for the elder to show his face. This was to be expected. After all, one brother of theirs was still toiling in the plateau, unpaid.


    "Hey, did any of you tell him I was lying that day?" he asked them curiously.


    "...." Nobody answered.


    "You should," Han Xuhan reprimanded them gently. "It''ll be good for his character growth. As a junior, how can I bear to see my seniors going astray? Hopefully, he''ll learn the lesson."


    The elder came out of the Treasury at this moment. How could he not, after all, when he had heard that insolent scourge had come knocking on his door again?


    Among the youngest generation of disciples, this child''s appearance had been burned into his memory.


    But it was hardly appropriate for his image to display the harsh impression he had in his heart.


    With a kind smile, elder Shen said, "come in, come in!


    "Elder, I''m not here to buy but sell!" Han Xuhan began his pitch as soon as they entered the treasury.


    "Huh?"


    The elder was dumbfounded. Sell? What could a mortal sell to the treasury of a sect?


    Seeing that the elder''s thoughts had slammed into a blockade in their path, Han Xuhan pulled out his manuscript and handed it to the elder.


    "Elder Shen, I found an ancient scripture in an old cave many years ago. I modified some parts and made it into this book that I believe would be treasured by any hot-blooded male!"


    The elder looked at the manuscript that has been thrust into his arms in a daze. The title of the book was...very eye-catching.


    His heart lurching, the elder opened the book and started going through its contents with an odd expression.


    As a powerful cultivator, his reading speed was quite extraordinary. Within half an hour, he finished reading the whole manuscript!


    Han Xuhan calmly stood before him and watched as the elder finally looked up at him after completely reading the manuscript.


    "Young man, what is your name?"


    "This humble disciple''s name is Da Dong."


    "...Impressive pen-name you''ve chosen, young man. Are you interested in joining my pavilion and pursuing the great dao of the Crimson Star mountain peak? I see a great potential within you, Xiao Dong!"


    "It''s Da Dong, not Xiao Dong. May I know which dao elder Shen pursues?"


    Han Xuhan''s heart was beating so fast. This was just like those fortunate encounters that happened to protagonists! Was his luck finally about to change? Could this elder be one of those legendary cheat "grandpas"?


    "The great dao of deceit and treachery, of course! Was that even a proper question? Couldn''t you have guessed the answer already? Obviously, your potential in this dao is extraordinary!


    That day, when you scammed someone under MY tutelage, I had nothing but derision for you!


    But now I''m starting to see a pattern in you that I like!


    Tell me, are you interested in becoming my apprentice and creating the legend of the greatest scammers in the world of cultivation?"


    "...Elder Shen," Han Xuhan said with a sigh. "You seem to think that I need to PURSUE that dao. I don''t, really. I don''t wish to either. My apologies."


    The elder''s answer put out the fire in his heart cruelly. Even if it was an alluring offer, Han Xuhan didnt want to become an infamous scammer. Moreover, what if the elder was making that offer just in order to scam him? He was pursuing that dao after all...why did he get his hopes up anyway? He wasn''t the protagonist, to begin with. Those fabled fated encounters wouldn''t happen to him.


    The enthusiastic elder didn''t seem to mind in the slightest. With the smell of spirit stones so close, who cared about some disciple even if he had potential? If necessary, they would collaborate again!


    This book was the very epitome of what a scammer can reach using sheer wit and literary skills! On one side, its exterior had the allure to attract countless young men with its promise and seemingly legitimate information that was extremely hard to fake.


    On the other side, it was written so finely that even if anyone actually understood the scam, they couldn''t find a way to refute it without using great influence. There were technically no lies in the book, but the premise was totally misleading! Anyone who complained against the author would find themselves in a tight position because this book vehemently supported the hierarchy and system of the sect''s authority and advised the readers to love and protect their sect since filial piety to masters was a great virtue!


    This was nothing but a money-making scheme to trap gullible young men!


    Of course, the great number of dating advice wasn''t being overlooked here, but the aged elder had been married long enough to have lost such temptations...ahem.


    "Hahaha, disciple Xuhan, you brought it here to get the sect''s endorsement so that it can receive more attention from the start right?"


    Xuhan nodded emphatically at the elder''s question, and then froze.


    "Wait, how did you know my name?!" he said in alarm.


    The elder didn''t answer.


    "It''s decided then. We shall reveal this book after the auction ends tomorrow and encourage the audience to buy this, hahaha...."


    His wariness brewing, Xuhan managed to work out a forty-sixty deal with the elder. Papers were not cheap in this world. The production cost set aside, Han Xuhan was intelligent enough to swallow a few disadvantages during the bartering for profit management and leave a small percentage to the elder as a "gift ".


    Looking at his back as he returned to his own mountain peak, the elder chortled happily and clutched the manuscript in his hands with his eyes burning passionately.


    Tomorrow, the auction would be held, and he was going to strike a fortune!

 Chapter 25: Dao Foundations Are Like Buildings

    "The most important part of cultivation is building your dao foundation.


    "Think of a building under construction.


    First and foremost, the base, or in other words, the foundation, must be built properly, while keeping in mind that the rest of the building''s stability would depend on it.


    If you build a narrow, shallow foundation in a tiny land, maybe you can build two small rooms on it, which will be cramped and uncomfortable to live in, shabby to look at. Not to mention, a shallow foundation will never allow you to build higher floors past its limits. If you forcibly do so, one tiny earthquake, one half-decent flood can make it crumble.


    BOOM, the cultivation you have achieved throughout your life will be gone just like that.


    So if you are intelligent enough to understand this, you''d definitely build a better foundation for your dao tower.


    Now imagine a foundation covering more than a hundred square meters of land, delving dozens of feet underground to lay a firm footing for the building in the future.


    Even if you build a pagoda with ten floors, your foundation can support the building. You''ll have many large rooms on each floor that are comfortable to live in.


    You can imagine these rooms as your cultivation techniques.


    Each room on the lower floors will be more influential than those above it. The higher you go, the riskier it is. The lower-level techniques may not shake the earth or color the sky, but they''ll lay the foundation for the techniques you''ll practice at the higher levels.


    Naturally, you must make sure to practice the lower-level cultivation methods to their fullest extent or otherwise risk losing a room on the ground floor, which would simply waste the foundation you''ve built in that area, thus blocking much of your potential.


    Of course, all of this is but an analogy. Don''t try to argue with me about how buildings are actually made and losing a room isn''t something that cannot be remedied...


    In essence, cultivation techniques allow us to reach higher, like one floor after another.


    Now, the next matter a young cultivator is often concerned with is how many techniques to cultivate.


    "As I''ve said before, these lower-level techniques are just your foundations. Theoretically, the more you master, the better and deeper your foundation gets because different techniques give you different sorts of outlooks and methods to influence nature. The more you learn, the better grasp you have over your own ability.


    But practically, it''s useless to cultivate dozens of techniques because it will waste your time by keeping you in the lower realms of cultivation for a long time, which can lead to the loss of your youth and potential. You won''t even live long enough to reach the truly impactful realms to increase your longevity.


    "One may ask, how about I cultivate to a very high level and then practice a lot of lower-level techniques from the scratch with my immense longevity? This will expand my dao foundation, right?


    If only the answer was that easy...


    "Once you pass a floor, there is no coming down. Either you keep going upward, or you can just jump down to commit suicide, in other words, destroying your own dao base.


    "After reaching a higher floor, even if you cultivate the low-level techniques meant to enhance the foundation, they would only leave a shallow imprint on your dao base.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Once a technique has left an imprint on your dao foundation, you may cultivate it to its highest potential, taking your mastery over it to your immense cultivation level.


    After the techniques reach your level, they can occupy any one of the rooms on that floor of your dao tower, and be used like any other technique. But they wouldn''t have any effect on your foundation like your original techniques, and neither will you be able to execute their full potential.


    Now, you might ask, how many rooms are we allowed to have?


    That solely depends on you and your foundation. If you cultivate three techniques from scratch and reach a higher level, you''ll have three rooms on each floor where each technique occupies one. They can be replaced at will with a technique of a similar level at any time. But it''ll never exceed three no matter how high you go.


    "There is a theory in legends that once you reach a very, very high realm, you can attain the ability to build more buildings beside the one you possess. They can be used as a substitute, but I doubt they will ever be as effective as your original dao tower.


    "Now, daydreams aside, let''s move on to more practical stuff, like the effects of cultivation methods at your levels.


    "Once you start cultivating a technique, it can allow you to break through layer after layer till its limit. No matter how many more techniques you practice afterward, they won''t encounter bottlenecks as long as the previous technique has cleared the path for them. The following techniques will be more focused on enhancing your dao foundation.


    "The trend right now is to cultivate three to five techniques in your realm, the realm of physique transformation.


    "Naturally, your path ahead should be quite clear by now.


    "First, cultivate your primary technique till the ninth layer, the peak of the physique transformation realm.


    Then start with your secondary techniques one by one, making them all reach the ninth layer and enhancing your foundation to its highest potential.


    Once all of your cultivation techniques have reached the peak of the ninth layer, you are a true cultivator at the peak of the physique transformation realm and ready to step into the next floor. However, there exists a dangerous staircase, a sub-realm named Physique Tribulation where all of your techniques shall ascend to the tenth layer together. Here, you''ll transform your body into a vessel strong enough to survive heaven''s test and reach the next realm, the second floor, the Soul Reformation realm.


    "Alright, that''s too far from your current level. So let''s put that discussion off for the future and start with our routine qi cycles. Close your eyes and start absorbing qi. "


    With elder Kong''s shout, all the disciples in the great hall started their qi cycles, their minds still reeling from the precious knowledge they''d acquired today.


    "That felt like an info dump. But damn, this stuff is so interesting! " Xuhan muttered to himself.


    Sneaking a glance at his boss who was sitting just a bit ahead, Han Xuhan noticed his relaxed posture and couldn''t help but feel relieved.


    Mu Ran finally seemed to have figured out a proper way to avoid the invasive claws of elder Kong. Even after the elder had examined his qi cycle multiple times rather suspiciously, he didn''t seem to have found anything extraordinary, judging by his lack of reaction at that time.


    If his boss''s secret remained safe, Han Xuhan was hopeful that he would be able to get a few more perks out of him slowly. As a person who had cultivated the zeroth layer of the physique transformation realm, he already understood how beneficial it was after comprehending the lecture from elder Kong today. His dao foundation would be leagues better than most of his peers!


    If he could continue to receive such advantages... Hehehe.


    Celestials, it wouldn''t be long before I, Han Xuhan, show up on your doorstep and take a piss on it. Of course, I''ll take care to be discreet about it and run away before anyone can catch me...and I might even shift the blame on my boss just to troll you into picking a fight with the protagonist.


    After the lessons had ended, Xuhan accompanied Mu Ran and Xiao Wu to the sect''s auction. He carried a large bag with him, something that attracted the attention of many.


    "Xuhan, are you planning to buy something big from the auction? I thought your financial situation was a bit tight."


    Both Xiao Wu and Mu Ran kept pestering him with similar questions. But Han Xuhan evaded the inquiries, making them even more curious.


    He was confident in his money-making scheme. With the sect''s direct support, there was no way it could go wrong. He was about to make some big cash.


    Hell, he might even earn enough to buy enough resources to propel him straight to the second layer of the physique transformation realm.


    If everything went smoothly, he might even be able to buy some good stuff from the auction with Mu Ran''s help...


    Han Xuhan couldn''t help smiling deviously. Was his bullshit luck finally about to abate?

 Chapter 26: Losing Money In Auctions

    "Now, for the second item of this auction, we have here a sword forged by the master of the Heaven Searing Steel peak, elder Lu Yue himself.


    "This sword was made with steel produced from..."


    As the elder in charge of the auction conducted his business smoothly, Han Xuhan finally understood how this auction event worked.


    The auction was divided into two levels¨C ordinary items, and extraordinary items. Accordingly, the audience of the auction was also divided into two types¨C ordinary mortals and cultivators.


    The gates of the sect had been opened again today, and hundreds of mortals, rogue cultivators, and even cultivators from small sects nearby had come to attend the auction.


    Of course, just because some of these items were tagged as ordinary, it didn''t mean such items could be found and bought anywhere. They were merely ordinary compared to the extraordinary items sold here, imbued with magical powers by expert cultivators.


    For example, the first item sold here was a set of bow and arrows. The 50 arrows which had been a part of the set were forged from the highest quality of steel in the seven regions, via techniques so sophisticated and risky that only someone as powerful as the elder of the Heaven Searing Steel peak could create such weaponry here. It might not be as magical as the second item, the sword imbued with enchantments, but it was still enough to put any common steel weapon to shame.


    For the ordinary items, anyone could bid freely. But to bid for the extraordinary items, one either had to be a disciple of the sect, or a rich unaffiliated cultivator, or a mortal with deep connections and deeper pockets.


    Each extraordinary item displayed in the auction had at least one speciality. After the auction was officially over, many similar products would be sold outside the auction hall, except they would be normal products made specifically for those who''d buy such cheap alternatives.


    At times, this auction was more of a showcasing event where senior disciples or those with more money than necessary would buy something a tad too fancy than the rest of the ordinary disciples.


    The older disciples and some elders were already preparing a few temporary shops for the after-auction marketing campaign outside, on the plateau. The poor disciples who would be left feeling envious after seeing the items sold in the auction were bound to be attracted to similar-looking items sold outside at a cheaper rate, albeit the items'' less impressive functions.


    This was another psychological tactic to dupe the simple-minded disciples into buying these knockoffs from within the sect...


    Han Xuhan couldn''t help feeling that whoever established these tactics in this sect was a black-hearted merchant.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    The sword that was being showcased right now was made personally by elder Lu Yue. It was of a much higher quality compared to the swords that would be sold outside, with two special enchantments cast on it that could probably save the wielder''s life in some specific situations.


    Proportionate to its enhanced functionality, the sword sold in the auction was much more expensive than those sold outside.


    Han Xuhan wasn''t very interested in the auction itself. He didn''t have some heaven-defying knowledge library or discerning eyes that could identify rare materials or artifacts that were being displayed; that was Mu Ran''s forte.


    And it didn''t take much time for this fact to take effect. After half a dozen items had been sold, Mu Ran finally started competing for an "ordinary looking piece of rock" with some random senior disciple who looked pissed about the fact that an outer court disciple dared to go against him. The elder had presented the rock as a frozen egg of a mysterious spirited beast.


    "Boss, why are you drooling over that piece of rock that no one except that scary-looking senior wants to buy?"


    Although Xuhan could guess that the rock was probably a treasure, he couldn''t help poking fun at Mu Ran. It didn¡¯t help that his fuming opposition was bidding for that rock like his life depended on it.


    "Xuhan, you must understand, not everything is what it seems from outside. I have a hunch that the egg is...special!"


    "...Just a hunch? You''re willing to make an enemy out of that senior over there just over a hunch?"


    Han Xuhan knew it wouldn¡¯t bear much fruit, but he still tried to dissuade his idiot friend.


    "Hmph! What I, Mu Ran, want to possess, will be mine one way or another. How dare that villain dare to covet my treasure?! Courting death!"


    "Erm...boss, that''s not YOUR treasure yet, right? The auction hasn''t ended. And why are you calling him a villain when he just wants to buy the egg legitimately?"


    "Hah, what a joke! I was the one who bid first. Why would someone try to snatch it from me unless they have got a malicious intention? It''s mine! Whoever dares to oppose me deserves death by a thousand cuts."


    "...Hmm, I''m pretty certain that''s how an auction works. Someone indeed bids first, but that doesn¡¯t automatically make it his property," Han Xuhan said helplessly.


    But at this moment, the senior disciple stood up and yelled, "200 spirit stones!"


    His eyes flashed at the two of them, seeming satisfied with Mu Ran''s thunderstruck expression.


    Mu Ran''s last bid had been only 120 spirit stones, which was the entirety of his wealth. Seeing the senior''s move, Han Xuhan took a relieved breath.


    Finally! The danger was gone. Had Mu Ran outbid that guy...


    "220 spirit stones!" Mu Ran shouted, jumping to his feet as well, stunning Han Xuhan and the senior disciple.


    Han Xuhan took a second look at Mu Ran''s moneybag. It didn¡¯t have extra pockets...wait...


    "250!" The senior yelled.


    "300!" Mu Ran replied.


    "Fuck!" Han Xuhan gasped.


    The senior disciple gave up with a venomous look at the two of them. The egg was sold to Mu Ran smoothly.


    The worker who came over to hand the egg to him smiled gently, demanding payment.


    Mu Ran handed his pouch over. "That''s 120."


    Then under Han Xuhan''s gloomy countenance, Mu Ran patted him on the back and gestured at the worker, saying, "he''ll pay the rest."


    Han Xuhan was forced to take out 180 more spirit stones from his emergency stash.


    "Don''t worry, underling. I usually turn a blind eye towards the small expenses you make on behalf of me. But 180 spirit stones is a pretty large amount. I''ll pay you back...someday."


    Mu Ran''s consolation went mostly ignored by Han Xuhan. Because from the corner of his eyes, he noticed a chilling gaze locked on him, the source of which was none other than that loser senior.

 Chapter 27: The Scammers Vs The Robbers

    With a sour expression, Han Xuhan contemplated how to exact an equal repayment from his boss.


    Soon, all the items were either sold or set aside after being displayed. Han Xuhan slightly edged forward on his seat, anticipating the upcoming stunt.


    "Now that all the promised items have been displayed, I, Zhang Shi, would like to promote a book with the sect''s permission!" The speaker was not the elder, but one of the mortal businessmen in charge of auctioning the ordinary goods.


    "A book?"


    "Did I hear that right? When has this sect ever promoted books?"


    "What could this book be about?"


    "Whose book could be promoted by the authorities of the sect? Which famous author has this much influence?"


    Chatters like these could be heard all over the hall. But the presenter didn''t give the audience much time to digest the announcement.


    Han Xuhan was impressed by the insidious wisdom behind elder Shen''s business tactic.


    Both of them were aware that this book of his was more of a trollish prank than anything else. And anyone who bought this book would realize this as well as long as they weren''t too naive. So selling this under the sect''s banner would harm the reputation of the sect.


    This was why, the elder had convinced an affiliated mortal trade partner to conduct the business, bearing the risk of a ruined reputation in case this scam caused an uproar beyond their control.


    How had he done it? And why had this mortal businessman agreed to go along with the publication of this book?


    Han Xuhan was curious, but this wasn''t the time to speculate on such details.


    With a simple gesture from Zhang Shi, several workers dragged a silver-plated case to the middle of the raised stage. Fitted in the case was a thin book.


    But its dazzling appearance was definitely impressive. The covers were made of crystalline materials that softly glowed. The bindings were designed like snowflakes intertwining together, crimson-colored like the sect''s insignia.


    Bright golden letters with crimson outlines on the cover shone like a beacon, attracting the eager audience''s gaze.


    HOW TO MAKE A HAREM: A PERFECT GUIDE TO A BLISSFUL MARITAL LIFE


    The outbreak of whispers was subtle, very sneaky, yet alarmingly fast.


    The biggest question at the moment was...


    Why the hell would Crimson Snow Sect promote such a book that looked even less credible than love potions found in the streets of the mortal world?


    The whispers soon grew louder and evolved into a chaotic commotion.


    "What the hell is this?"


    "Is this some sort of a prank?"


    "Have you no shame?"


    "Hah, this sect will do anything for money."


    "Do they take us for morons?"


    Many shouts like these were heard over the pandemonium. The presenter hadn''t even had the chance to provide a neat description. The crowd was jeering at him blatantly.


    Han Xuhan, one of the main perpetrators behind this disaster, didn''t look disappointed in the slightest by the negative reaction from the crowd.


    His eyes held an anticipatory glow, as if awaiting the right catalyst to take charge...


    "SHUT UP YOU BUFFOONS!"


    There it was!


    A boisterous young man stood up from his seat and glared at the crowd that was still throwing ridicule toward the businessman, as well as the sect.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "I, Xu Feixiong, have absolute faith in the integrity of Crimson Snow Sect. Moreover, this isn''t their project, is it? They have merely permitted the sale of this book, not authored it, get it?


    It may look ridiculous and funny to those who harbor different thoughts in their heart when it comes to this aspect, but I know for sure that since the sect has decided to promote this book, it is a treasure worth buying!"


    Marvelous performance.


    With that shout, the laughter from the crowd was snuffed out, a very predictable outcome.


    Whoever dared to laugh at or disagree with this young man would be indirectly insulting the authorities and picking a fight with the sect. In an ordinary auction like this, no one with the backing to handle that kind of trouble would be attending.


    But this wasn''t the end, was it?''


    Come on, Xu Feixiong, complete the combo.


    Han Xuhan grinned as his anticipation rose higher.


    "Hmph! Trash like you all who has no respect in their heart for their own sect... I cannot comprehend why the sect even bothers to bear with disciples like you who obviously lack filial piety and the simplest ethics. Do you take the authorities for a joke? You don''t even deserve to bid for these treasures, I''ll buy it myself! And you outsiders, hahaha, you lot can forget about squeezing special favors from the sect after your insolence!"


    There, there; wonderfully done, albeit lacking in the vocabulary a bit. But it''s okay, it doesn''t matter right now...


    Xuhan''s grin grew wider. This was a good setup by the greedy elder. This Xu Feixiong wasn''t a disciple of the sect himself. But he came from an influential family nearby. So regardless of what he spouted, the authority couldn''t be held liable for it.


    What had he been bribed with? Judging by his last sentence...probably a special favor!


    That sentence had hit the nerves of all the influential families and small sects nearby!


    Their real mistake was the fact that they had laughed openly at the item and ridiculed the sect in their enthusiasm.


    Had the crowd been more subdued...this move would have had no effect. In a way, the crowd had made themselves susceptible to this scam.


    "Sir Zhang, what is the base price of this book? There is no need for you to describe the worth of this book to these unfilial scums who dare to ridicule and look down on the sect that protects them. Just name the price."


    "Ahem...the starting price is Twenty spirit stones, with each increment equal to or above five spirit stones."


    "Forty spirit stones, I''ll take it," the young man loudly announced with visible pride. Every elder present in the hall looked at him with a warm gaze full of approval. In fact, their gazes were so direct and easy to read that the audience immediately realized that the Xu family had just won the favor of the Crimson Snow sect!


    Meanwhile, those with deeper connections to the sect had already changed their stance. They were hardly stupid. How could they let themselves be labeled as bad disciples or allies unworthy of the sect''s care?


    The flow of the events was so smooth that almost no one could adapt to the situation properly.


    "What do you mean by calling us unfilial scums? We were simply taken aback at the sudden surprise." One quick-witted disciple finally managed to get back his bearings.


    "Yeah, that''s right. How can you insult us like that?!"


    "We were just surprised, that''s all."


    The voices started to pick up in volume.


    Even if they didn''t trust the credibility of the book, they didn''t want to be labeled as bad disciples either. The allied families and affiliates even more so


    The uproar spread like wildfire. Some over-enthusiastic disciples even started bidding for the book, trying to make themselves look better than the rest of the hypocrites.


    In the end, the book, a special handwritten edition signed by the sect master himself, was sold at the sky-high price of one hundred spirit stones.


    Of course, there was also a part of the crowd who were very interested in learning the contents of the book.


    For these curious bunch, the shops outside awaited, where a normal mass-copied version of this book would be sold at a much cheaper price.


    The biggest sufferers of this incident were obviously the couples among the disciples.


    "Honey, the sect wouldn''t be selling this for show. It wouldn''t hurt to buy a cheap copy and take a look..."


    "I''m merely curious, my fair lady. I am only buying this to see why this is being promoted. "


    "I wouldn''t cheat on you. How could I?! I''m just buying it to get into the elders'' good grace."


    Awkward explanations like these were heard many times after the auction was over. The single disciples bought the cheaper copies for reasons that did not need to be explained, while the disciples with a partner at their sides were trying to console their counterparts while they looked at the title of the book with strange smiles...


    Half an hour after the end of the auction, all the copies of the book were sold out, with many more disciples left unsatisfied by the shortage of production.


    Han Xuhan laughed sinisterly after seeing the complaining disciples and nudged Mu Ran.


    "Boss."


    "Yeah, underling?" Mu Ran said impatiently. He had been itching to leave the auction since the frozen egg had been handed to him. But the commotion had made him stay till now.


    "That senior disciple looked so sinister...I think he''ll send someone to beat you up and snatch the egg back," Xuhan said, sounding worried.


    "Good thinking, underling. I''ll hide somewhere for the next few days. You can pay my penalties for the daily tasks, right?"


    "...Yeah, that''s not an issue. But what about me? That guy might look for me too!"


    "You want to hide as well?" Mu Ran asked.


    "Boss, listen, I''ve got a plan..."


    Mu Ran looked utterly befuddled as he listened.

 Chapter 28: Money Makes You Run

    Elder Shen was hunched over a bunch of registers, his eyes filled with pure, unadulterated happiness. Upon seeing Xuhan, he calmly pushed the pile aside and cleared his throat loudly.


    "Good, good, good! Disciple, it appears that our business scheme was an absolute success!" His lips stretched to their limit, elder Shen''s joy was infectious. Even Han Xuhan grinned victoriously.


    "Elder, I''m here for my share of the profit. It should be over four hundred spirit stones, judging by today''s sales," Xuhan said as he took out an empty pouch from his pocket and started waving it in the air like a flag.


    "Oh, I understood that, little Xuhan. But the trade association which sold the copies hasn''t sent anyone with our shares yet. So I was just spending the time re-examining the sales'' records." Elder Shen''s smile slightly faded.


    "In fact, these guys are quite late. Unusual, if you ask me. I''ve been waiting for over an hour now."


    Han Xuhan''s brows creased.


    "Have you tried contacting them, elder?" he asked, anxious.


    "Yeah! Nobody''s picking up my messages. Maybe they''re on their way here already. Let''s wait a bit more..."


    The two of them spent fifteen more minutes sitting near the gate of the sect. In the end, Han Xuhan impatiently stood up and faced the elder.


    "It''s been nearly two hours since the sales have stopped. It''s highly unlikely that their association hasn''t yet found the time to send us our due. I propose we pay them a visit."


    Elder Shen didn''t seem to agree. "What''s the rush? You''re just too impatient, little Xuhan. It''s just a few hundred spirit stones!"


    "That''s a pretty large amount for me."


    Elder Shen sighed in annoyance. "You know what, here, take this."


    An azure medallion was thrown in his direction, which Xuhan managed to catch at the last second.


    "That medallion represents the authority of the Treasurer of the Crimson Snow sect, in other words, me. Go pay those idiots a visit, and chuck it in the face of their supervisor. No matter how rebellious he''s feeling today, he wouldn''t fancy seeing his entire family lose a limb each."


    With the evening sun waning, Han Xuhan walked out of the sect''s territory gloomily, heading for the caravan of the merchants who had supplied the cheaper versions of the items sold in the auction.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    They had camped near the other end of the plateau, at the foot of two especially large mountains. Han Xuhan was greeted respectfully the moment they noticed his formal robes, as well as the medallion clutched in his palm.


    "I''d like to meet the merchants who were in charge of selling the books at the end of the auction," Han Xuhan said to the person who had stepped forward to greet him.


    The man''s expression turned odd.


    "Them? They''ve left hours ago."


    "...." Han Xuhan''s nostrils flared. "Did they say or do anything unusual before leaving?"


    "Not really...but usually we leave together after spending a day or two here in the plateau. Everyone is in a festive mood after the decent sales. The leaders decided to cut us some slack and let us relax till tomorrow. Only Zhang Shi was itching to leave. Later, he really forced his people to pack up. No wonder..."


    The man seemed to have understood that Zhang Shi had done something troublesome from Han Xuhan''s stormy expression.


    "Which way did they leave? How many hours ago exactly?" Han Xuhan queried.


    "Through the valley. That''s the only road leading to the closest city. As for the time, I''ll have to ask someone. Please wait a bit."


    A small commotion rose as the man scurried into the crowded tents.


    Soon, he returned with a middle-aged lady, both looking distressed.


    "Zhang Shi wouldn''t respond to our signals if he has truly committed a crime, young master." The lady bowed, making Han Xuhan''s nerves twitch. He had still not gotten over the taboo.


    "I sent one of my sons with their caravan for some personal business in the city. I''ve already sent him a message with this. He''ll respond soon!"


    Han Xuhan examined the object in her hand. It looked quite similar to the emergency contact crystals he had used a couple of weeks ago.


    "We bought it from the sect. Each association has a couple of these. The Crimson Snow sect is quite strict about the sale of this item."


    Han Xuhan nodded and waited curiously to see what the response from the other side would be.


    They didn''t have to wait long. A pigeon came flying from within the valley like a bullet. Han Xuhan knew pigeons were fast...but he was still taken aback at this speed. That had to be beyond 100 kilometers per hour!


    It landed on the woman''s arm smoothly and raised one of its feet in the air, showing the tiny parchment tied to it.


    The woman took it off and went through its contents with a pale face.


    "The stone bridge is broken?!" She gasped in a mixture of surprise and horror. Han Xuhan knew that bridge. He had used it to cross the serpentine streams at the other end of the valley back when he had attended the examination of the sect.


    That wasn''t too far away from here!


    If he had a fast ride, he could catch up with them in fifteen minutes.


    "They''re trying to go around the streams by taking a detour into the mountains. They should have reached the end of the valley by now..." The woman summarized the contents of the parchment anxiously.


    "How can the stone bridge be broken?! It was fine yesterday..." the man trailed off, looking both puzzled and worried.


    Han Xuhan took a deep breath and ordered, "get me your fastest horse."


    The pair exchanged a look before they ran towards the stables.


    Two minutes later, Han Xuhan was holding the reigns of a seven-foot-tall bundle of impatience.


    "Do you need someone to accompany you?" the man asked as Xuhan climbed on top of the horse with great effort.


    "That won''t be necessary," Han Xuhan flashed him the azure medallion.


    "Now...how do you make this thing run?"


    "...."

 Chapter 29: The Principled And The Deceitful

    Han Xuhan held on for dear life as the horse sprinted through the gravelly pathway at the heart of the valley.


    His balls had taken a dip down into hell''s gates. Sitting in an awkward posture, Han Xuhan was forced to contemplate whether breaking through to the second layer of the physique transformation realm would heal his precious jewels.


    The only good thing about the horse was its speed. He had reached the stone bridge in less than ten minutes, and was forced to halt for a moment there.


    It really had broken into two.


    The bridge was a narrow one. Originally, it had been an assortment of large stones in the middle of the streams, fallen from the mountains in landslides. The founders of the Crimson Snow sect had moved the tonne-heavy stones into a single line, with enough gap between each to let the water of the stream pass. On top of the stones, thick wooden planks, polished rocks, and artificially created stone slabs had been placed to form the bridge.


    But now, right in the middle of the bridge, the widest stone slab had cracked and caved in, barely hanging on from the top of a foundation stone.


    Unless someone could leap ten meters forward, they''d not be able to reach the other side of the broken bridge, let alone a caravan full of ordinary humans.


    Right when Han Xuhan was about to turn around and look for the alternate route through the mountains nearby, he noticed a thick vine below the broken slab that connected the two halves of the bridge.


    Jumping down from the horse, he cautiously climbed down the foundation stone he was on, looking for the rest of the vine.


    The vine turned out to be thick enough to support his meager weight, with a somewhat delicate grip on the walls. Han Xuhan ripped it away from the stone wall and tied it to a stone slab.


    It was then a simple task to reach the other end of the vine, which had taken root into a crack in the foundation stone just dozen meters away. Climbing back up on the other side of the bridge, Han Xuhan quickly made his way through the rest of the valley.


    The caravan he was chasing was not even fully out of the mountain. Those leading at the front were forced to stop as they noticed a disciple of the Crimson Snow sect standing in the middle of the road leading to the city.


    It was apparent that he had been waiting for them.


    "Where is your supervisor? Where''s Zhang Shi?" Han Xuhan enquired in a warm tone before they could greet him.


    The scouts hesitantly returned back to the lines of carriage following behind.


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    However, neither Zhang Shi nor the supervisor turned up. Rather, the same scouts returned with several people Han Xuhan didn''t recognize.


    "Master Shi and supervisor Lang have left in a separate carriage without telling anyone," said the leading man, a towering fellow with a kind face.


    "Did they do something...sir?"


    Han Xuhan pursed his lips. "The opposite, actually. They did NOT do something that they were supposed to do. They left without paying the shares of the books sold today."


    The eyes of those present widened in shock.


    "What?!"


    "How can that be?"


    "Why would they do something like this?!"


    "Please, don''t take offense, sir cultivator. We''ll interrogate the person in charge right away!"


    A commotion followed as someone dragged out a lady roughly and enquired about the truth of the matter.


    "Supervisor Lang and leader Shi both demanded a review of the spirit stones earned and goods sold. I handed the keys to them. How was I supposed to know?" the woman said tearfully.


    "It doesn''t matter, I suppose," Han Xuhan said as everyone turned toward him to hear his opinion.


    "We can do this the easy way, or the queasy way.


    At this point, it''s impossible for me to track down your masters. But I have found you lot, and that''s enough.


    Hand over five hundred spirit stones, which is approximately the share the Crimson Snow sect was supposed to receive. I''ll take my leave and the sect will not pursue the matter. If you feel aggrieved by the matter, go to the city and track down your masters yourselves. It''s none of our business."


    "Five hundred!"


    A collective gasp went through the crowd. Han Xuhan had not exaggerated, in all honesty. The elder and his shares together would probably surpass that amount.


    "Respected sir, the masters have nearly emptied our coffers before leaving. The only way we''d be able to produce an amount that high is if we gave away our own money. But these are our life-savings. We would not be able to feed our children..." the brawny fellow trailed off.


    "Shut up, Wang!" someone hissed from the back.


    "Don''t take offense in his words, sir cultivator! He''s new here!" another guy dragged the stocky man back into the crowd to reprimand him.


    "He doesn''t know the rules and proper conduct, sir. We''ll pool our money together and hand it over to you!"


    Han Xuhan stood still and watched the conundrum unfold. The chaos among the caravan members grew. People began to shift blames. Fights began to break out.


    Han Xuhan took out the medallion.


    Those at the front of the crowd went still. Those at the back of the crowd calmed down as they realized a new development had taken place.


    "I could use this medallion to take forcibly whatever you have," Han Xuhan enunciated his words slowly, giving each word a weight.


    "But that isn''t my money. That''s not the sect''s money. So I suppose there''s nothing to be gained from you lot.


    But I won''t let you leave just like that."


    He watched the gazes in the crowd shift through an array of emotions with each of his sentences.


    "Wherever your masters have escaped to, track them down within one week. I wish to see either the five hundred spirit stones that the sect owns, or those two bastards tied up and brought before the gate of the sect. There are many of you here. You have a chance to accomplish the task, or face the sect''s wrath."


    Suddenly, an uproarious laugh rang through the crowd.


    "Everyone! This guy is just a scammer! Look at that medallion in his hand! That insignia means he has been expelled from the Crimson Snow sect already!"


    The brawny man who had been dragged to the back of the crowd had jumped on top of a rock at some point. He dropped the electrifying revelation among the crowd.


    Han Xuhan cast a frosty gaze at his azure medallion.


    Elder Shen was truly an impressive figure in the dao of deceit.

 Chapter 30: Dying In Style

    The revelation had been astounding to all of them, but what astounded them even more was the following chain of events.


    Two unfamiliar men shoved their way forward from within the crowd. Those who noticed them crinkled their brows in confusion.


    "And who might you two be?" Han Xuhan said in a surprised tone, although he had already guessed their identities.


    Zhang Shi removed the artificial hair, beard, and skin patches he had been wearing on his face. His companion, who Han Xuhan assumed was Supervisor Lang, followed.


    Under the faint light of the sunset, Han Xuhan finally recognized both men. And so did their peers.


    A collective gasp rose from behind. Whispers, hisses, and aggrieved shouts heated up the atmosphere. It seemed that their fellow workers and associates in this caravan hadn''t known the depth of their plans either. Almost everyone had been kept in the dark.


    The brawny guy named Wang jeered from the top of the rock.


    "Rushing to stop an entire caravan when you haven''t even begun cultivating? Boy, you sure are a gutsy one! Did you think we''re so dumb that we wouldn''t recognize the honorary expulsion medallion? Hahahaha!"


    "Xiao Wang, keep your mouth shut!" Supervisor Lang growled.


    Zhang Shi, on the other hand, was still focused on the medallion Han Xuhan was clutching. He sighed in relief as if he had just confirmed that Xiao Wang had spoken the truth.


    "Young friend, we have no enmity between us. The only reason we haven''t sent you back with a few broken limbs is because of the reverence and respect we have for the Crimson Snow sect. Even if you''re an expelled disciple, we''re still showing you some face and letting you leave unscathed. Don''t waste the opportunity...or the consequences will be painful."


    Zhang Shi appeared quite articulate for someone so nervous and fidgety.


    Han Xuhan nodded solemnly.


    "Oh I''m all too ready to leave! But I still haven''t gotten the payment that I was here for. I''ll leave the moment you hand it over."


    Zhang Shi''s countenance turned doubtful. Turning towards supervisor Lang, he said what everyone in the vicinity was thinking.


    "Is this kid an idiot?"


    Supervisor Lang shrugged. "Maybe that''s why he got expelled. He''s too retarded to cultivate..."


    "Well, that sounds like a tragedy I could go without hearing. Look, kid, you''re a nobody. And I''m not paying a single spirit stone now that we''ve left the main territory of the sect-"


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "Leader Shi, wouldn''t this anger the sect? How could you take such a decision all by yourself?" Shouted the woman who had been incriminated by the mob just a while ago.


    "Yeah! We got our safety to consider here! How could you just take all the profit and betray the agreements? Not to mention, you''ve even hidden the spirit stones we''ve earned this time!"


    Voices of support came from amidst the crowd. But faster came the slash of a knife, drawing the blood of the woman like a gushing, vibrant spring.


    She fell to the ground with a scream, writhing in pain.


    Xiao Wang sauntered over past her crumpled body. Those near him rushed away in horror and panic as shrieks accompanying the woman''s cries rose in the air.


    Han Xuhan felt his heart twitch at the sight. His toes dug into the hard soil of the mountainside.


    Things were getting out of his hand...


    The crowd was silenced upon being made to witness one of them screaming.


    "Too violent, tcheh!" Supervisor Lang made a sour expression.


    Zhang Shi''s countenance remained the same.


    "If you don''t want to be next in line to follow her, better scamper off here," he said to Xuhan in a grave tone.


    Han Xuhan watched the woman sit up, still shaking from the shock of the injury. She''d probably not die from that slash on her back. But she needed medical attention fast.


    Face turning sombre, Han Xuhan loudly, slowly, cleared his throat. And then he said in the exact same tone as Zhang Shi, "if you three don''t want to be next in line to follow her, better pay my money and scamper off here."


    "Kill him." Zhang Shi ordered immediately, his expression blank.


    "No, wait," Han Xuhan spoke before Xiao Wang could take a step forward, stopping him halfway.


    "You should add an apology letter as well, alongside the money. Your conducts and ethics truly deserve the heaviest criticism. How can you expect to do business in future if you ruin the reputation of your association like this?"


    "...." Zhang Shi cast another blank look at Xiao Wang, who rolled his eyes and sprinted towards Han Xuhan like a hungry predator.


    "Kid, when you visit the afterlife, you can boast about dying a hero''s death at the hand of a superior cultivator!" Xiao Wang shouted as his knife whistled through the air, driving towards Han Xuhan''s left shoulder in an arc beyond Han Xuhan''s reach, in a speed beyond his reflexes.


    Intense fear gripped his heart as he forced himself to stand still. There was no point in resisting or fighting back. Xiao Wang had to be a rogue cultivator at the middle levels of Physique Transformation realm. He could barely track this man''s movement.


    The knife halted to stop three inches above his exposed neck.


    Xiao Wang''s entire body had gone rigid.


    A gush of blood sprayed Han Xuhan''s clean robe. A thick branch of a tree was poking out from the center of Xiao Wang''s chest.


    Eyes closed, Han Xuhan sighed.


    "I told you lot, we could do this the easy way, or the queasy way. You should have understood the implications when I never bothered to explain what the latter method meant for you."


    Shivering uncontrollably, Xiao Wang''s body fell down like a log. Han Xuhan bent his body sideways to let the body crash into the hard soil.


    Watching life leave someone''s eyes was perhaps a harrowing experience for someone unaccustomed to such scenes. So Han Xuhan appreciated the fact that Xiao Wang had fallen face first. It spared his delicate heart a few nights of traumatized dreams.


    Zhang Shi and supervisor Lang had frozen in the middle of their motions, eyes wide and face bloodless.


    Without emitting a sound, both of them crumpled down on the ground, their eyeballs jerking up, down, and sideways as if they had gone haywire.


    Clack. Clack. Clack.


    The sound of a walking stick hitting rocky soil came from a direction nobody had been looking at till now.


    Elder Shen walked out of the dark valley with a gloomy expression.


    Han Xuhan had to force himself to swallow a victorious laugh.

 Chapter 31: A Game Of Manipulation

    Elder Shen had been sitting right where he was supposed to, peacefully going through the Treasury''s registers like he liked doing in his spare time.


    The cool wind of spring made the gate of the sect a comfortable place to spend time in.


    However, this comfort was short-lived, as someone approached him from the road that led into the sect, coming to a stop right in front of him and blocking the wind.


    Elder Shen did not recognize this disciple. He could only sense that this young man was a first-layer cultivator, meaning he was a part of the recently recruited generation.


    "Good evening to you, elder," said the young man in a haughty voice. Elder Shen''s dislike toward him grew instantly.


    "Say what you''re here to say," Shen Ping replied in an impatient tone.


    "I''m here to invite you, elder. I sincerely hope that you''ll come to attend our event." said the youth as he handed elder Shen a flyer.


    Shen Ping grabbed it in annoyance and went through its contents with a cursory glance.


    And then he froze.


    Blinking slowly, he read the words on the flyer once more, this time more slowly, pondering over each line.


    His reading finished, Shen Ping looked back at the young man''s countenance with confusion.


    "What the hell is this?" he asked, slamming the flyer down on the table. "What are you trying to do?"


    The flyer had only a few lines written on it, accompanied by a picture of a book.


    Do you suspect that your daoist partner/ fiancee has bought the abominable book named "How To Make a Harem''?


    Are you angry that he dares to harbor such thoughts?


    Are you angry at the sect for promoting such disgusting books?


    Are you worried that you might be seduced by one of these harem seeking bastards?


    Look no further.


    This is your salvation.


    The book that will tell you how to counter their disgusting tricks and keep your daoist partner in check.


    HOW TO COUNTER HAREM SEEKERS: A PERFECT GUIDE TO A BLISSFUL MARITAL LIFE


    Underneath the flyer was the address of the Black Sheep Mountain Peak where the book would be sold tomorrow afternoon. The colorful picture of a book sporting that title was drawn below.


    "I just told you, elder. I''m inviting you to the event! As a guest, surely your presence shall attract more disciples! That way, we''re even willing to share with you some profit!"


    Mu Ran didn''t look at all intimidated by elder Shen''s outburst.


    "You were so helpful in promoting that book earlier! That gave us the idea."


    Elder Shen leaned back in his seat, expression heavy.


    "Han Xuhan could not have written a second book. My people have kept him under observation. He had nothing in his home that suggests the existence of a second manuscript."


    Mu Ran nodded. "You''re right. He didn''t write this one. It was I, the enigma about to turn the world of literature upside down, who wrote this book after seeing that abominable creation that my underling Han Xuhan had come up with. As his boss, it is my duty to correct his wrongdoings!"


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Bullshit!" Shen Ping Slapped a palm on the table again in anger.


    "Do you think you can just lie in front of me and get away? It''s clear as a day to me that you wrote no such thing!"


    Mu Ran rubbed his chin. "Well, you''re half correct. I''ve not completed writing the entire manuscript yet. After all, I only started a couple of hours ago."


    "....And you think you can complete it, copy it, and sell it within tomorrow?"


    "I am twenty-three percent confident of my success, yes! Why that is so, I won''t tell you, of course. Trade secrets, old man!"


    "...."


    Shen Ping stood up from his seat and leaned forward a few degrees, eyes cold.


    "Say, disciple Ran, what if you don''t manage to leave this place till tomorrow evening? Or maybe you leave gravely uninjured..."


    "The flyers are still gonna fly all across the sect. I''m the author of the book, not the advertisement manager. Someone already has been working arduously in that post...wait, how did you know my name?"


    The intimidation didn''t appear to work on Mu Ran. Shen Ping narrowed his eyes and decided to give it a go.


    Soundlessly, a spell was released. The dao of deceit began to reshape Mu Ran''s reality, Mu Ran''s perception. With a wave of his hand, Mu Ran''s cultivation was nullified and the qi in their surroundings became too chaotic to be absorbed.


    "Does confronting an elder at his full power fall within your plan as well, disciples?"


    Shen Ping whispered to himself, watching Mu Ran''s eyes glazing over bit by bit.


    And then, they returned to normal.


    "...."


    Mu Ran looked around, his gaze rather odd. Shen Ping noticed the alertness and ferocity despite still being confounded by the development.


    How the hell did a brat at the earliest stage of the Physique Transformation realm solve his illusion spell?!


    It was supposed to be nearly unbeatable even if the target was at the peak of the Soul Reformation realm!


    Shen Ping felt a cold chill crawling down his spine.


    For the first time, things had spiraled out of his control in this little trial. The culprit appeared to be Mu Ran...but Han Xuhan''s visage popped up in his thoughts immediately.


    "Alright, elder," Mu Ran suddenly spoke in a normal tone. "I''ll take my leave now. The flyers have already been distributed by now. See you tomorrow!"


    Despite his ordinary tone, Shen Ping sensed the brutality of a predator in his eyes. The aura was fading slowly, but it was still there, faint as the waning daylight, yet still fierce enough to leave an impression, a strong impression.


    Watching his retreating figure, Shen Ping retraced his thoughts.


    If these flyers had been truly published, the disciples of the sect would realize fast that despite the sect''s nominal approval of the first book, someone here was clearly supporting the second book.


    Things could go two ways then.


    If the advertised book is not sold tomorrow evening, the disciples shall form the impression that the sect had prevented the publishers from doing so.


    This would be a disaster, because it would indicate that their previous nominal approval was an act, and they clearly wanted no competition to harm their current business. This book would be a fatal slap to whoever had written the former book.


    Many disciples were still trying to buy the first book, while a great number of disciples were dissatisfied with the fact that the sect had let such a vile book to be sold on their premises, with their permission.


    Making it evident that the sect was involved with the business directly, rather than nominally, would enrage these disciples. Shen Ping knew that by tomorrow, a majority of the disciples would realize that the book was a trollish creation. They''d feel betrayed. In the ideal scenario, they would blame the mortal businessmen, not the sect.


    But in this scenario...the sect''s reputation would be dragged into dirty mud instantly.


    However, the second scenario was different. Han Xuhan, who was possibly one of the perpetrators of the plan, should be in danger by now, which was why Mu Ran had come to deliver this threat.


    Saving Han Xuhan immediately was the only way to salvage the situation. Once he did that, the rest of the conundrum could be solved easily.


    Shen Ping felt like he had figured it out. Han Xuhan had written the second book long before coming to strike the deal with him. This second book was the insurance, in case someone backstabbed him, just like the current situation.


    No wonder he had left to track down the caravan of the mortals so simply! Han Xuhan knew he could compel elder Shen to follow his tracks soon. If something happened to him, the books tomorrow would never be sold!


    "Well played, disciples, well played," Shen Ping muttered as he began to walk towards the valley outside the sect. On his way, he picked up a dry tree-branch to wield in case he needed to fight.


    Two of his people were waiting for him in the plains, near the caravan of the mortals.


    "Location?" he asked the lady with the dove.


    "Outside the valley, at the foot of the mountain on the left," she pointed carefully.


    "Anything particular about his behavior?" Shen Ping asked, passing by the two of them.


    "He seemed quite collected for someone so desperate. Good trait," the man spoke.


    "What''s Xiao Wang''s cultivation level again?" Shen Ping enquired.


    "Fifth layer of the Physique Transformation realm, through the practice of a technique stolen from the Hearthold Sutra of the Northern Wandering Monks."


    "Zhang Shi and his colleague must be completely charmed by him then. Tsk tsk...


    By the way, have you been able to feel ''happiness'' yet?" Shen Ping turned toward the man.


    "No progress," the man said.


    Shen Ping sighed and disappeared into the valley at a lightning-fast speed.

 Chapter 32: Who Is The Real Manipulator Here?

    Xiao Wang''s death was quick. On the ground, his bleeding body convulsed a few times before it went still. The source of the bleeding was the two-meter-long tree branch that had shot over like a javelin and skewered him right through the center of his chest.


    The blood began to pool around Han Xuhan''s feet. Stepping aside, he walked over to Zhang Shi and supervisor Lang''s unconscious bodies.


    The audience was too stunned to react as they watched him check the two wrongdoers for signs of life.


    "Alive." Han Xuhan''s declaration roused the audience from the stupor they had been thrown in.


    But before their shouts of surprise, and questions could come, the wind carried over elder Shen''s grave voice.


    "Alive, yes, but not for long if treatment isn''t provided fast. Bring your best healing medicine in stock, especially the ones good for spiritual injuries."


    Those who recovered quickly rushed toward the caravan. Those who stayed were in for another round of shock as they watched Han Xuhan begin ransacking through the garments Zhang Shi and Supervisor Lang had been wearing.


    Even Elder Shen looked slightly stunned.


    There were no keys to be found, but Han Xuhan dug out a thin, rolled-up parchment from a secret pocket on Zhang Shi''s waistline.


    Hah! Too easy!


    The parchment contained a map of the mountain they had just come out of, with an area marked in a corner conspicuously.


    The carriage that had left separately on the way must have been hidden in that area along with the spirit stones.


    However, Han Xuhan had no way of being certain that this map was not a fake, or a trap. So...


    "Elder Shen, I found out where the sect''s money is! Please send someone to recover it!"


    He handed the elder the map and stood by his side obediently, donning the appearance of a model disciple.


    He didn''t bring up the matter of the azure medallion. This wasn''t the time to start an argument.


    Soon, the only healer of the caravan, an old man in his sixties, rushed out of one of the carriages with a pouch and several bottles.


    "The medicines you asked for, sir cultivator," he addressed Elder Shen with deep respect as he placed the objects on the ground and began to examine Zhang Shi and Supervisor Lang.


    Elder Shen didn''t seem very well-versed in medicine. His instructions were quite basic.


    "Check their pulse, physiological reaction, and whatever else that signifies a spiritual injury. Xiao Wang had cast a charming technique on the two of them. His death gave them a backlash through the mental connection he had with them."


    While the old man busied himself, elder Shen took a look at each of the bottles and nodded to himself.


    "You''ve got a soul-budding pill...that''s quite rare. That''ll help regenerate the damaged portion of their souls."


    "Master Zhang procured it for his little daughter, sir cultivator. He spent his entire life savings on it!" The lady who had been in charge of their finances, accused just a while ago of collaborating with the wrongdoers, said in a choked voice.


    Elder Shen exhaled, his expression bleak. Han Xuhan suddenly found himself spellbound by the development that took place.


    The daughter of Zhang Shi was apparently something akin to an autistic child, six years of age, and extremely hostile to anyone outside her family members. She barely had the cognitive capacity to communicate with her parents.


    A wandering cultivator had once examined her and told Zhang Shi to buy a Soul-budding pill from a decent sect. It would help stabilize her condition and even develop her mind.


    Zhang Shi had done so without worrying about his future. He had spent all the money he had on the pill.


    And now, the entire crowd voted for the pill to be used on Zhang Shi, their trusted leader who had been under the control of an evil cultivator.


    Two people opposed the decision. The lady who had revealed the information, and supervisor Lang''s wife.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    From the feedback of their healer, Zhang Shi would certainly be saved. But supervisor Lang''s fate was unknown. And Zhang Shi''s daughter had just lost her only chance to grow into a normal person.


    So many tragic twists of fate, and all of them led to one man, now lying dead as his fate had taken him where he deserved to be...although, personally, Han Xuhan was of the opinion that Xiao Wang''s death should have been a few degrees more painful and slow.


    "Why did he do it? We didn''t even know Xiao Wang is a cultivator. We trusted him! Master Zhang gave him a good job. Why..."


    These were the speculations burning throughout the crowd. Elder Shen answered them in one go.


    "Xiao Wang is a rogue cultivator who had stolen a technique from a foreign sect, using which he usually infiltrates small sects and organizations like yours to plunder wealth and advance his cultivation level. Your leaders took him in knowing only half of that. This time, Xiao Wang wanted to rob the entirety of your profit in one go and hide for a while from our sect''s eyes. Unfortunately for him, one of our disciples was fast enough to stop his schemes."


    Elder Shen and Han Xuhan left soon after, leaving a downcast, terrified crowd behind. Before leaving, he assured them that the sect wouldn''t punish those who ought not to be punished, and the hidden money would be recovered, with their original shares returned to them.


    That was perhaps the only good news they''d encountered in a while. It placated most of them.


    "You knew beforehand the actual identity of Xiao Wang, huh?" Han Xuhan said as they entered back into the valley.


    "He was a careful criminal. But cautiousness isn''t enough to win against numbers, power and influence."


    "So why did you trick me with this? What was the point?" Han Xuhan said as he took out the azure medallion from his pocket.


    "We weren''t certain how deep his webs were in that caravan. Nor did we know the specifics of his plan. It would bode ill for the sect''s economy if the authorities started to randomly kill seemingly powerless mortals who have come to trade and do business with us. It is of utmost importance that we show the true faces of these criminals before we punish them. Once Xiao Wang made his move, you saw the results yourself. It went as smoothly as possible. You served as a good bait, disciple."


    Han Xuhan wasn''t quite convinced by the explanation, but he found an opportunity to exploit here, and there was no need to be stubborn and let go of the chance. Imperceptibly, he pocketed the medallion again.


    "Since I''ve made such a valuable contribution, surely, the sect will issue me a reward, no?"


    "...."


    Silenced by his disregard for circumstances so dire, elder Shen''s disposition seemed to fall into a spiral of gloom.


    After a while, Han Xuhan spoke again.


    "You know, for someone as crooked as you, elder, you seemed awfully touched by the fate of Zhang Shi''s daughter."


    Han Xuhan didn''t hold back this time.


    "What?" Elder Shen glanced at him in surprise.


    "That girl? Hah! Disciple, I''m simply not in the best mood because a brat with practically no cultivation managed to walk past my little prank. Had your martial brother Ran not intervened...you''d probably be on a stretcher right now. Xiao Wang didn''t have the guts to kill an ex-disciple of our sect, but you can be certain he would''ve crippled a few of your limbs!


    Celestials, what would I not give away to witness that scene!"


    "...."


    Han Xuhan''s expression turned sour, and then it evolved into a look of surprise.


    "Wait, what do you mean my martial brother Ran intervened? What did he do?!"


    Elder Shen cast a calculating look at his face in the dark.


    "If you do not know, ask him when you return."


    The rest of the journey was silent. They parted ways in front of the gate of the sect, and Han Xuhan kindly reminded the senile old fart to recover the hidden money as soon as possible.


    "I mean, there is obviously nothing I can do even if you renege on your words and backstab me like you did with that expulsion medallion, but I do have high hopes for your fondness for your own dignity. I may lose my four hundred spirit stones, but you''ll lose your reputation if you keep playing such sick jokes on young, naive, disciples like me. I believe you can hold yourself back from committing such deeds in the future! Please don''t disappoint me!"


    "...."


    Han Xuhan found the look on Elder Shen''s face to be truly enjoyable. It was an expression he would remember for a long, long time. He was certain Elder Shen would remember this volley of insults for decades to come, as well!


    Vengeance, when it renders your opposition incapable of responding, is truly the most flavorsome treat!


    Shen Ping watched the boy leave in the same direction Mu Ran had.


    From behind the gate, a figure walked out and stood beside him. The figure was trembling silently.


    "Found that funny, did you?" Shen Ping hissed.


    "Ahem, ahem!" the person cloaked in darkness coughed.


    "So what''s your evaluation? Is this an anomaly we can withstand?"


    "You were there. You saw what I saw," Shen Ping said, incensed.


    "I was too busy thinking about the fact that someone as greedy as you could hand some unknown mortal girl a Soul-budding pill while no one was looking. So I might have missed some of the details..."


    Shen Ping''s expression turned murderous. But he sucked in the fury and spoke in a cold tone.


    "He probably has the backing of someone powerful to rely on, or even a forbidden technique to massacre opponents above his level, but he''s too afraid to resort to either. That means he won''t be a problem for now, at least not when it might matter to you, Master Zi."


    "You''re not considering the fact that he has nothing to rely on?" sect master Xuan Zi asked curiously.


    "First of all, the boy didn''t look surprised to see me appear to save his ass.


    Secondly, he was way too calm even when he witnessed a violent murder three feet away from his face. That''s not exactly a normal reaction of an ordinary mortal seventeen years of age.


    Thirdly, with the level of intelligence he has shown, it is obvious that he would not just dance into a dangerous situation without a plan. I understood that much the day he made a fool of that useless disciple of mine.


    But he claims to be unaware of Mu Ran''s intervention. If that is true, he set off to procure his money with nothing but the medallion I gave him.


    Do you think he trusted me that much?"


    Shen Ping laughed mirthlessly and walked off, leaving sect master Xuan Zi to his own musings behind.

 Chapter 33: Culprits Profit, Victims Suffer

    In retrospect, Han Xuhan felt that there were too many protagonist-level characters in this sect. Never having seen cultivators in his life before coming here, he couldn''t come to a decision regarding whether it was this Crimson Snow sect that was odd, or if this was a general phenomenon all around the cultivation world nowadays.


    That history book he had read on his first night in the sect suggested that the latter situation could very well be true.


    There was his boss Mu Ran. What need was there to explain why Xuhan considered him a protagonist-level character? This guy hit every flag there was in the templates.


    There was elder Kong, whose behavior was very suspicious too, just like in those novels where the main character reshapes the world by teaching outstanding disciples.


    Martial sister Yuen Zhou was another, with a mysterious and tragic backstory as well as the demeanor of determined female protagonists.


    And finally, there was Han Xuhan himself, an ordinary guy with no cheats, yet hounded by the heavens for some mysterious reason.


    His character would fit the templates too so long as he took his grudge with the celestials seriously. And that was why he usually did his best to keep the grudge in his mind in check.


    He didn''t want to become a second Mu Ran.


    But these speculations hardly bothered him much now that he had more pressing tasks at hand.


    He had eleven days left to make another breakthrough and reach the second layer of the physique transformation realm. How else would he be able to safeguard himself from expulsion?


    Looking down at the pile of spirit stones on the floor of his hut, Han Xuhan felt quite satisfied. His little business scheme had gone pretty smoothly.


    Yesterday afternoon, countless female and some male disciples of the sect, as well as some of the outsiders, had rushed to the Black Sheep mountain peak, their faces showing rage and spite, probably angry at their partners for buying a book that contained instructions on how to make harems, in other words, how to cheat on them while appearing righteous.


    In fact, the number of people who had bought the first book wasn''t high. But many bought the second book just to be on the safe side and out of curiosity. Some bought it due to their suspicious nature as well, feeling that their daoist partners might buy the first book secretly.


    This formed a chain reaction where the innocent daoist partners realized that since there was already a solution to the first book, then it wouldn''t be a problem even if they bought it to satisfy their curiosity, at least that''s what they told their partners anyway before proceeding to buy the first book gleefully.


    Having gotten a very short time to prepare the second book, Han Xuhan had had to take some drastic measures. He had already prepared the materials and contacted a few businessmen from the caravans to mass produce the new book before the auction, since he didn''t trust elder Shen fully. After all, anybody could take the credit for an anonymous work!


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Convincing the new business partners had taken a toll on his wealth. But the subsequent profit had been worth it.


    Mu Ran had played his part well as the main perpetrator of the drama. He had faced elder Shen according to the instructions Han Xuhan had left for him before going to confront Zhang Shi''s caravan. He had also handled the disciples who had come to make trouble upon seeing them swimming in money.


    Most of the readers suspected that Mu Ran was the author. Who else would be so audacious and shameless enough to pull a stunt like this?


    A considerable portion of the readers also seemed to have found the content hilarious. They assumed that the author had penned the concepts sarcastically, and provided the advice as a joke...it became a trend among the disciples soon to quote the most ridiculous lines from the books in their conversations for laughs.


    As the pile of spirit stones got bigger and bigger with time, Han Xuhan could already smell his target, the second layer.


    It had only been three days. Nearly every outer sect disciple, regardless of their relationship status, had bought at least one of these books. In the caravans, anyone who could afford the price had also bought a copy.


    If the situation continued, perhaps the two books would''ve started affecting even the elders. But unfortunately for Han Xuhan, the authorities, including the sect master himself, came out to put a stop to this farce and banned both books after lecturing the outer court disciples about how insidious and useless the books were.


    "The sect only permitted the sale of the first book because we had great trust in Zhang Shi and his association. It is a tragedy that the infamous criminal Xiao Wang had infiltrated their association and charmed Zhang Shi into pulling such a scandalous scam! We, as righteous cultivators, can certainly not let these useless books be sold under our name! I strongly condemn disciple Mu Ran for profitting off the first book, even though he claims that he only wanted to help his fellow brothers and sisters by writing the second book!"


    This was Xuan Zi''s explanation for the ban.


    Thankfully, he didn''t mention that it was actually Han Xuhan who had written the first book to trap his fellow martial siblings into his scheme, possibly because Xuan Zi didn''t want to delve into the details of how exactly elder Shen had trapped Xiao Wang.


    That man truly was a formidable opponent in manipulation. He had used Han Xuhan''s scheme to arouse the greed of Xiao Wang, who in turn had desperately made Zhang Shi agree to his plan of running away with the profit. Then he had sent Han Xuhan to confront Xiao Wang, with a sign that Han Xuhan was no longer a disciple of the sect.


    Xiao Wang''s greed and desperation had been pushed to the brink seeing how lax the security and attitude of the sect he had just robbed was. He had dropped all pretense and decided to go for broke...then elder Shen had broken his ribs.


    From the whole incident, elder Shen had even earned some spirit stones!


    With all the parties except the victims of these many-layered schemes left satisfied, the matter had concluded there.


    "I''ve earned nearly two thousand spirit stones, excluding the production cost and labor fees. I must thank boss, brother Wu and those seniors who helped me. I''ll remember this favor..."


    Han Xuhan collected around a thousand spirit stones in a pouch and went to visit elder Shen again, this time to buy more resources.

 Chapter 34: A World With A Cold, Crimson Sun

    Upon going through the most expensive shopping spree of his life, Han Xuhan was naturally feeling rather overwhelmed.


    Following the exchange rate between the mortal world''s currency and spirit stones, he could''ve used that amount of money to build a castle and live like a lascivious young master for a decade.


    Right now, he was holding a large block of crystallized special qi with body-nurturing properties. It had cost 150 spirit stones per block, each of which was around half a pound in weight.


    On the floor of his hut, complicated symbols had been drawn using a special type of ink that could affect the coagulation of qi in the air.


    It would save him the trouble of wasting his time to replenish his qi once his reserve ran out during the cycles. The qi cannon he had bought earlier had been refilled as well.


    Seeing that everything had been set in place, Han Xuhan started his first attempt at making a breakthrough to the second layer of the physique transformation realm.


    He had five more days left before the deadline came. In the last few days, he had used up resources crazily, his expenditure reaching a level that could frighten even the richest geniuses. Hundreds of spirit stones had disappeared with each major session.


    Han Xuhan had come to the realization that without using resources like this, his normal cultivation speed would pretty much be stagnant. So, other than the sessions where he could burn resources to complete qi cycles, he didn''t really need to cultivate anymore. The ordinary, inexpensive sessions wouldn''t matter anyway.


    Today was the day. Xuhan could avidly feel the changes in his body. During his long leisure hours every day when he didn''t need to cultivate, he either hung around with his boss Mu Ran, or any senior disciple of his mountain peak and asked for guidance.


    Just as he had planned to do since his first day here, he had managed to form a friendly relationship with most of the disciples he was acquainted with. Even his nominal master, elder Daheng, had become more mellow after being gifted an expensive tea set.


    From their advice and casual lessons, Han Xuhan had benefitted a lot. With his own comprehension and the tenacity of someone who had gone through more than a decade of torturous education on earth, his mastery over his cultivation sessions had reached near perfection...well, as perfect as it could be with the damaged meridians.


    The technique Han Xuhan was trying to cultivate first was the Skeletal Monarch manual.


    Although it was deemed as useless, he had managed to make up a rough sketch of how he could integrate it with the Spiritual Bones technique.


    The manner of cultivating the Skeletal Monarch manual was quite fun.


    At each layer, the cultivator had to use his qi cycles to conjure and construct pieces of bones. With each passing cycle, they would have to merge the pieces into complete bones of whatever creature they were trying to create.


    Each bone would have to be accurately merged in the skeleton structure, alongside the joints and ligaments.


    The interesting thing was, the scroll where the technique was recorded never explicitly mentioned any limits regarding what kind of a skeleton the practitioner could construct.


    This had given Han Xuhan some semblance of hope.


    What if he managed to construct a humongous dragon''s skeleton...?


    But harsh reality told him otherwise.


    First of all, the skeleton would have to be perfect and identical to the living creature it mimicked. Xuhan was familiar with human skeletons, and he could buy a model from the sect anytime.


    But a dragon? No one in the sect had even seen anything of that sort in their lives.


    Only one of the old elders with unfathomable cultivation was known to have battled a flood dragon at the peak of soul reformation realm, which was the weakest and most distant cousin of the legendary dragon race. It was actually considered to be a variant of snakes by many.


    Without medically accurate structures available to him and no time to lose, the only thing Xuhan could do was to buy a human skeleton structure from the treasury. It was an essential for any cultivator who practiced body-strengthening techniques anyway. So it hadn''t cost much.


    He had a faint suspicion that the bones he was using as a template were real bones, and the skeleton a real person...but no one seemed bothered by that, so he couldn''t complain.


    "One day, hopefully, I''ll be able to create a dragon skeleton. Even if it''s a powerless pile of bones, just its appearance should be enough to settle any small scuffles. Heck, I could probably use that to fly around like a dragon-riding epic boss..."


    This had become his new dream.


    In the last few days, he had managed to construct a human skeleton after almost one thousand qi cycles.


    Two hundred and six bones, roughly three hundred and sixty joints, nine hundred ligaments...most of which seemed unnecessary considering the skeletons wouldn''t be moving in ways science could explain.


    This also made Han Xuhan understand why this technique had such a bad reputation. Even the slowest mainstream techniques didn''t require this much time and accuracy. Unless one cultivated like Xuhan, using up resources like a bottomless abyss per session to speed up the process and even construct multiple bones in one session with the added boost, it would be extremely difficult to keep up with the rest of their peers.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Once this skeleton gains sentience, I''ll be instantly promoted to the next layer," Xuhan muttered as he ran his hands over the adult-sized male skeleton. It looked no different from the real thing, other than having a strangely smooth texture on its bones.


    As a finishing touch, Xuhan had also made a few very minor changes to its body that wouldn''t affect its overall appearance and wouldn''t stray far from what was considered medically accurate, like lengthening and sharpening the teeth considerably, making the finger-bones harder and thicker, making the toes stronger and heels more flexible with the help of extra ligaments....


    The manual mentioned that once the practitioner''s mastery over the technique went beyond the soul reformation realm, they would be able to fashion the skeletons any way they wanted, disregarding the previous limitations. But that was a destination far, far away.


    Right now, these small changes were already toeing his limits.


    "Let''s hope this works out..."


    Closing his eyes, Han Xuhan started running the cycle again. This time, he would have to be extra careful. The practitioner had no way of influencing how the personality of the skeleton turns out. One could only hope that it wouldn''t be the personality of a teenager in their rebellious phase...


    The qi inside his vessels moved like molten lava. Slowly, steadily, the cycle was forming. He could feel a deep pressure on his body and spirit, like something was being engraved on his very being.


    Is this the "imprint" of a cultivation technique?


    In elder Kong''s words, a room and a foundation are being constructed?


    The air around him distorted as if heated to an unnatural degree. The formation to gather and replenish his qi glowed in the dark. The block of crystallized qi was consumed in one fell swoop, something that could''ve instantly promoted a normal cultivator at his level, but it could only help him reach the peak of the first layer even after consuming many similar resources before this.


    As time passed, Han Xuhan could feel his consciousness slowly slipping out like a piece of iron being attracted to a powerful magnet despite gravity''s pull.


    Moments later, his perception of the world was twisted like a crumpled paper. Try as he might, he could no longer open his eyes or even feel his body. The only thing he felt was a chilly rush through his very existence itself.


    Without even trying, he imagined a plot of land that was his consciousness. Such a scene was planted thoroughly in his mind by elder Kong during his classes. It was moving, changing, evolving, like a gigantic, automatic machine revolving on its own.


    Was this his sea of consciousness? How come there was no water in the sea? It was all cracked, flat soil.


    Slowly, a tower drilled out of the flat ground, sending vibrations through the land that he could actually somehow feel reverberating in his mind. He was very close to the tower, and could see it in great detail.


    A single room, illuminated by a radiant light from above, its source unknown...


    Xuhan could feel his consciousness being pulled toward the tower, a grand door opened up by itself, leading him inside the room.


    However, as soon as he floated in, the door was shut with a boom.


    Xuhan felt a sense of deja vu. Wasn''t his entrance to the sect also similar to this?


    Inside the room, a serpentine form revolved in the air. Upon observation, Xuhan realized that it was the core qi diagram of the skeletal monarch technique. The cycle was made up of purple strands of liquefied qi. Twisting beautifully in the air, it looked very pleasing to the eye.


    As it moved, Xuhan noticed a white structure inside the cycle, surrounded by the liquefied qi all around.


    It was an identical copy of the skeleton he constructed in the real world, albeit smaller in size.


    Xuhan remembered the advice from his teachers.


    "Once you reach the peak of the first layer while practicing a technique, your dao base will reveal itself to your consciousness. It''ll take the shape of whatever you imagine it to be instinctively. In your case, it should be something like a building since that''s how elder Kong taught you to visualize your dao base.


    Inside the building, you''ll find a symbol of the technique you''ve cultivated. Once you see it, follow the instructions of the scripture to promote yourself to the second layer."


    Remembering their words, Xuhan understood that now, his job was to make the skeleton gain sentience.


    Xuhan imagined himself moving close to the small skeleton and realized his consciousness was actually moving according to his will.


    Forming imaginary hands, Xuhan slowly touched the skeleton inside the imprint of the qi cycle.


    A sucking sensation appeared all around him, making his consciousness distort and lose his visual ability once more. When the sensation vanished...


    The room he had been in had disappeared. Now he stood on a huge barren field.


    Everywhere he looked, the field stretched beyond his vision. A Crimson crystalline sun hung over his head in the sky, yet it radiated a strange chill rather than heat.


    Looking up, Han Xuhan felt overwhelmed.


    It was raining. But rather than droplets of water, what fell from the sky were countless crystal shards of various shapes and sizes.


    The manual had been quite vague about this stage. What it mentioned could be summarized in one line-


    Choose one soul, whichever you feel attracted to.


    In this disembodied state, he couldn''t feel his body, but he still sensed a primal fear as he witnessed the shards approach.


    However, this fear was surpassed by his curiosity soon, because he could see lights of various shapes inside the shards.


    As the shards began to fall into the ground all around him, Han Xuhan cautiously examined the light inside them and came to a conclusion.


    Each of those shards represented a personality...or perhaps a soul. The shards all contained the same crimson light of the sun they originated from. The bigger the shard, the more intense the light inside.


    The shards which fell on the ground sunk into the ground slowly instead of shattering, disappearing after some time. Han Xuhan avoided being hit by the falling shards, a task that wasn''t particularly difficult since each and every shard maintained a good distance from the others.


    The manual spoke of some form of attraction...he couldn''t really feel that till now.


    But there was indeed a strange sensation whenever he approached each shard. Most shards made him feel a sense of danger or abhorrence, while a few didn''t really stimulate any feelings.


    It took nearly fifteen minutes before he finally found one that he could approach without feeling an instinctive aversion or disinterest.


    Inching closer, he touched the shard after hesitating for a while. The moment his consciousness came in contact with the shard, it melted into the air, leaving the crimson glow exposed to the air.


    The light wrapped around his consciousness.


    Han Xuhan felt a faintly familiar sensation. His vision was distorted for a moment again. When it was restored, he was inside the only room of his dao tower, his imaginary hands still touching the small skeleton avatar, which now radiated the same crimson glow as the shards.


    As Han Xuhan looked at the crimson skeleton quietly, it suddenly moved its skull, locking its blank gaze with him.

 Chapter 35: Farsight Of A Pervert

    "Would you prefer the fish cooked or fried today, master?"


    An odd looking skeleton with crimson colored bones spiked with a purple tint held a large fish in its bony hands and spoke Han Xuhan, who was busy going through his notes on integrating qi cycles belonging to different techniques.


    Elder Kong was a really capable teacher. Han Xuhan had managed to learn a lot from him; in fact, he suspected that the elder''s abundant help was more than just a sympathetic favour. But as one of the few disciples who were paying for the highest tier of curriculums, Xuhan always received more attention from the teachers anyway.


    As their most important lessons were overseen by elder Kong, it was natural that Xuhan got to spend more time with him than the rest. Oddly enough, the elder often muttered to himself like a deranged maniac, sometimes lamenting his luck regarding lotteries and special discounts.


    Han Xuhan had a faint suspicion that this elder might have a ''Teacher System'' as a cheat. However, it didn''t seem like the elder was from earth, much to his disappointment.


    "Fry half of it and leave the rest for the next day, little Zhanxian!"


    Xuhan had named the skeleton Zhanxian, despite its harmless appearance. The skeleton didn''t seem very happy with the name though, and it expressed that verbally, vehemently. Han Xuhan had been quite surprised after hearing it speak for the first time. He hadn''t designed any vocal chords inside its throat. How it could speak was a mystery. Heck, it didnt have eyes either, but who knows how it saw things...Xuhan had stopped marvelling about it after a while.


    The world of cultivation was truly miraculous.


    The skeleton was predictably quite weak. Even Xuhan himself could knock it out within a few seconds. And it''s intelligence wasn''t particularly high either, but it caught onto things quite easily.


    In fact, he even felt that the skeleton was rather adorable. Han Xuhan had been teaching it to cook, sweep the hut, clean the toilet, wash the clothes and all sorts of other miscellaneous jobs. It did the jobs assigned to it very seriously, although with a bit of grumbling.


    This would let Han Xuhan skip these menial tasks that Mu Ran often asked him to help with.


    He had a rudimentary idea to teach the skeleton how to cultivate after noticing how human-like the skeleton''s behaviour was. But it had no meridians, so Han Xuhan had to put that idea aside.


    This also made him contemplate a grave matter; was the world of the Crimson sun where the personalities of summoned skeletons resided as simple as it seemed?


    Why did it feel like a world where souls without memories were detained?


    Nevertheless, that wasn''t something he had any means to verify, so he put it out of his mind too, for now. Ever since he had become a cultivator, he had been trying to juggle too many matters at once.


    It had been a week since he had reached the second layer of physique transformation realm. The deadline had passed, and Han Xuhan had passed the sect''s benchmark, even though he was the last disciple to achieve the breakthrough in the outer court. As dictated in the sect''s rulebook, he had eleven months to achieve three more breakthroughs and reach the fifth layer.


    Although it sounded like a long time, Xuhan knew his own situation very well. With the amount of resources he could afford right now, he could reach the third layer at best, after which he would go broke...again.


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    Moreover, he was facing quite a dilemma regarding his cultivation. Should he continue to practice the skeletal monarch technique, or switch to the spiritual bones?


    The skeletal monarch technique had no offensive ability to speak of.


    As a cultivator, it was essential to have a few offensive techniques. If he cultivated the spiritual bones, at least the skeleton would be able to take a few hits.


    But this would slow down his already abysmal cultivation speed, as he would have to cultivate the Spiritual Bones technique from the beginning.


    Unable to make up his mind, Han Xuhan got up from his bed and went out of the hut to visit his boss.


    Mu Ran was enjoying his life in the sect. His cultivation had boomed forward to the fourth layer a couple of days ago after he had returned from a sneaky venture out of the sect. When interrogated by Xuhan and Xiao Wu, he had refused to disclose how he had achieved a double breakthrough in one night.


    "Boss, don''t tell me you started dual cultivation with someone..." Xuhan had probed back then.


    "Huh? Impossible! How can that be? Haha...you''re a funny one, Xuhan. How could I be so lucky to have accidentally stumbled upon an ancient dual cultivation technique in a hidden cave while roaming outside...haha, what a joke! It''s definitely not anything like that!"


    Immediately realizing that his guess had perhaps hit the mark, Han Xuhan didn''t press his boss further.


    Now, all that was left unanswered was...


    Who the hell agreed to dual cultivate with this douche?


    That jade beauty must be desperate!


    Either way, it wasn''t his business. The only thing he could do was stamp out the envy from his heart...ahem!


    Soon, Han Xuhan reached Mu Ran''s hut. His boss seemed to be contemplating something deeply, sitting outside on the yard.


    "Boss, want to chat?" he said, sitting on a rock nearby.


    "Oh, not really. Just experienced an enlightenment a few minutes ago, nothing too serious.


    I''ll probably make a breakthrough soon. Ai~my cultivation speed is so slow...


    Underling, how''s your cultivation coming along? Is the skeleton behaving properly?"


    "Yes, boss. He''s quite well behaved. Picks things up as soon as I teach them too. I''m planning to teach him how to fight."


    Han Xuhan had nearly choked upon hearing his boss calling an enlightenment ''nothing too serious''.


    He himself would sell all his possession for an enlightenment during cultivation, given the choice.


    Xuhan could finally sympathise with all those arrogant and talented young masters who failed to keep up with the protagonist in xianxia novels in his past life.


    "Underling Xuhan, that''s where you''re wrong! Why did you create a male skeleton? Why not a well proportioned female skeleton?


    Just think about it. One day, you might reach a very high realm of cultivation. With the skeletons in tow, they''re bound to evolve alongside you. Right now, they might be simple skeletons, but on that day, they might evolve into real people! If you keep constructing these powerful male skeletons, what can you get then? A bunch of disposable soldiers! Uselss bags of bones and meat!


    Isn''t it better to create heavenly beauties? You can have a custom made harem!"


    "...Boss, you''re so farsighted! Indeed, you''re a dragon among men. Only someone as exceptional as you could come up with such incredible ideas!"


    Han Xuhan forced a laugh out of his mouth. It took some real effort not to roll his eyes in disbelief and annoyance.


    Planning to have a custom made harem while being uncertain of reaching the peak of the lowest cultivation realm?!


    Heh.


    "Underling, speaking of cultivation techniques, you don''t have a weapon for self defense yet, right? You''re still a weak shrimp, so having a weapon is a must for you. We will be going out of the sect regularly from now on to complete special tasks since my cultivation has reached a substantial level. You''ll definitely need a weapon then. Come with me, I was planning to go visit the Heaven Searing Steel peak for a weapon as well today. I need a weapon too, something big, thick and impressive, just like my-"


    "Right, let''s set off, boss. "


    Noticing Mu Ran''s emphasis on the last part of his speech, Han Xuhan interrupted him as fast as possible. A heavy feeling inside his heart told him that the disciples of their sect were about to face a great disaster named "Mu Ran''s weapon".


    Chatting amicably, the two young men headed toward the mountain peak where the sect''s forgery and weaponry were.

 Chapter 36: I Am No Soldier, I Am The Entire Armory

    The weaponry pavilion was a large and grim palace built halfway on the Steel Searing Heaven mountain peak. It was as heavily guarded as the sect''s treasury, and the guards looked much scarier than the senior disciples who usually take up such duties.


    Han Xuhan and Mu Ran were not the only ones who were planning to buy weapons from there. This particular pavilion wasn''t always open to the public, and now that most of the disciples had settled in comfortably after a month in the sect, it was high time for everyone to take up special tasks issued by the sect that usually came with their share of dangers.


    For example, wiping off powerful feral beasts from the vicinity of the sect, delving deep into the jungles to look for rare herbs, exploring the mines owned by the sect, apprehending sinister criminal cultivators, investigating supernatural incidents that plagued the ordinary population under the sect''s responsibility...


    Xuhan had initially been confused about why anyone would be stupid enough to take up such dangerous tasks. But once he saw the remuneration for the tasks...


    The number of spirit stones for each task was counted in tens! There were even a few with hundreds of spirit stones as a reward!


    Needless to say, Han Xuhan was extremely interested in these tasks. Earning money without risk was nearly impossible anyway. At least he wouldn''t have to come up with bizarre scams too frequently anymore.


    "I assume all of you are here to buy weapons, yes? Line up and follow me. Don''t wander off or I''ll give you a beating that you''ll remember for the rest of your life, even if you live till the end of the world."


    The rumbling voice of the elder in charge made the disciples who heard him quake as they scrambled to follow the order. Perfectly in line, they followed the owner of the voice, a burly middle-aged man with arms thicker than their waists.


    The elder led them inside the weaponry pavilion. It was spacious inside, filled with all sorts of weapons on the walls, some elegantly displayed on tables, some even protected inside glass casings.


    "Now, let me see..."


    The elder carefully assessed each of them, walking around the line slowly. Occasionally, he would separate some disciples into forming new lines.


    After he was finished, there were three lines of nervous disciples.


    The elder pointed at one of the lines and spoke thoughtfully,


    "You lot, you should wield heavy weapons. Your physical structure and dispositions are very suitable for that type of combat."


    Then he moved his finger toward another line. Mu Ran was the last guy in this line.


    "You guys, on the other hand, should try out both lightweight and heavy weapons. Pick whichever you prefer."


    Then his sight moved to the last line, the line where Han Xuhan stood nervously.


    "You kids, don''t you all eat? Did you starve yourself while cultivating? Where are your muscles? Bunch of sissies...Just pick lightweight swords, throwing knives or bows. See if there''s anything you can actually lift..."


    Xuhan felt deeply offended. This elder was body-shaming! Who wanted to be a muscle-headed brute like him? Being slim and elegant was in the vogue these days, hmph!


    "Brothers, the elder is right! Look at you, all skin and bones. How do you expect yourselves to find a Daoist partner if you don''t look as impressive as me!"


    Mu Ran dealt fatal damage to Xuhan and his fellow disciples with his casual comment, something that earned him many murderous glares. But he had grown used to such glares by now.


    The elder looked at Mu Ran with extreme approval in his eyes, like he had finally found a candidate to be his soulmate.


    Mu Ran shivered suddenly and shut his mouth, afraid that the elder''s affection meter might go up again if he added another pint of salt to the other disciples'' wounds.


    Han Xuhan sneakily gave him a thumbs-up and a ''knowing smile'', as if to express his ardent support, darkening his expression further.


    "As I''ve just evaluated, each of you try out the weapons suitable for yourselves. Don''t touch anything you shouldn''t. For example, everything in the glass cases is out of bounds, and every piece on the tables are still unfinished products I''ve been working on. Chop chop!"


    The disciples immediately scattered all over the hall, trying to get their hands on the best stuff first.


    Mu Ran clasped his hands behind his back and surveyed the weapons that were on display with a haughty expression.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Underling, keep an eye out for the biggest and most impressive weapon in here. I don''t care what it is. It just has to look good!"


    "Yes, boss. I''ll get right to it!"


    With a mock salute, Han Xuhan walked into the maze of shelves, eyeing the weapons he found cool. His eyes got stuck on a longsword soon. It was the ideal weapon for an elegant hero, as far as he was concerned.


    But when he tried to swing it around, his arms nearly came out of their sockets. Most of the weapons were unusually heavy, he discovered soon enough. HanXuhan suspected that in the mortal world, no one would be able to wield them properly.


    He strolled through the spacious hall full of disciples swinging swords and spears elegantly, expression somber.


    Suddenly, he remembered how protagonists in novels chose their weapons.


    It was always the same few recycled tropes. Either the protagonist would feel a "spiritual attraction" toward a particularly infamous weapon that no one wanted, or he would scour through the whole room and finally find an ordinary looking one...except it would turn out to be a REALLY powerful weapon no one had known about.


    Chuckling to himself, Xuhan strode to a less populated corner of the room and started examining the weapons there.


    The weapons here were either out of fashion or unorthodox. This was the ideal place for a protagonist to throw a stone in the dark.


    With a cursory look, he noticed a long spear with a jagged blade. His eyes immediately lit up.


    Just as his hands were about to stretch toward the weapon, another pair of hands snatched it up, fast as an eagle.


    "Boss?"


    "Good choice underling! This spear...I like it!" Mu Ran patted him on the back.


    Han Xuhan nodded, swallowing the torrent of verbal abuse down his throat. Since this was a weapon the protagonist wanted, he wasn''t foolish enough to make a complaint.


    In the end, Han Xuhan ended up as one of the five disciples who couldn''t find a weapon they liked. The elder in charge was fawning over Mu Ran''s choice of weapons when he finally noticed the five of them.


    Mu Ran looked immensely relieved as the elder left him and strolled toward Xuhan and his fellow unfortunate disciples.


    "Did you forget what I told you? Just find something that you can lift, or come back later when you''ve become stronger. Just look at your martial brother, Mu Ran from the Black Sheep Peak! Mu Ran, tell them how you picked your weapon."


    Mu Ran cleared his throat.


    "As soon as I laid my eyes upon this spear, I felt an attraction on a spiritual level. As soon as I touched it, I felt that this spear was made to be wielded by my hands! As soon as I swung it for the first time, I promised myself that this spear would be mine, no matter what!"


    "See? That''s the way, youngsters! You must feel the rhythm in your soul, must feel the steel''s intent, must find the resonance that stems from within yourself!"


    Han Xuhan scrunched up his face and looked at Mu Ran and the spear in his hand while the elder gleefully gave them some utterly incomprehensible instructions.


    All he wanted was a weapon to swing around and look cool. These discussions about soulful resonance were fitting only for battle maniacs. Han Xuhan made up his mind and whipped around with determination laced in his stride.


    Listen to my heart, must I?


    I''m weak compared to typical cultivators at my level. So I should choose something light and long ranged.


    Attempting to test things out, he casually picked up a seven feet long glaive. It was thin, nearly brittle. The metal used to forge it was not light. To reduce its weight, the forger had just fashioned a hollow tube with the metal.


    Han Xuhan didn''t feel any "resonance " or "intent" while handling it. But it looked cool and intimidating, while not being overly heavy due to its hollow body; and that was enough.


    Wait, what if I face an enemy who is an expert at dodging and close combat?


    Striding forward, Xuhan picked up a set of half-meter-long axes. They were another pair of badass weapons that he had seen frequently in cheesy action films. Imagining himself posing with each axe in hand when an unsuspecting enemy got too close, Xuhan snickered.


    He''d look so badass!


    What if the enemy is an archer or a spell-caster type? There are so many varieties of cultivation techniques out there...


    Xuhan went further and picked up a set of throwing knives imbued with explosive spells. He didn''t need to learn to throw these perfectly. The explosion would do its job. As a certain wizard had quoted many times, "explosion is the best weapon!"


    Wait, what if the enemy is so good at fighting that they beat all my strategies and disarm me in close combat?


    Xuhan didn''t think much. He looked for spell-based weapons in the hall, a specific scene from his past life playing in his mind.


    Soon, he found a...pair of shoes. The description of the shoes said-


    [ These cursed shoes are the result of a failed experiment conducted by an inner court disciple. While the specific intent of the experiment is unclear since said disciple was drunk while he developed this, the shoes explode at predetermined intervals when activated. The explosion is mostly a ripple of gravitational force with a radius so narrow that it doesn''t harm the enemy but the wearers themselves. Also, the explosion angles are unpredictable and the force generated is different each time, leading to a chaotic experience. ]


    Han Xuhan chuckled and carefully picked the box that held the shoes. It didn''t fit the definition of a weapon, but it would do the job to give him a "push" if he encountered enemies who were experts at close-quarter combat or muscle freaks like the elder.


    Want to punch me? Can your fists even touch me?


    Want to kick me? My shoes kick harder!


    Upon seeing him return, many disciples were shocked open-mouthed. He looked like he was heading to an all-you-can-kill battlefield. It wasn''t that they didn''t want to copy him....but the expenditure of so many weapons was unimaginable to most disciples.


    But Han Xuhan was a tycoon now! This time he was spending his own money! He still had over a thousand spirit stones. He could afford this!


    Under the incredulous stares of the elder and all the disciples present, Han Xuhan paid four hundred spirit stones in total for the weapons and left the pavilion with an equally dumbfounded Mu Ran.

 Chapter 37: Do Demonic Cultivators Even Exist?

    [ For the last two months, strange disappearances have kept happening in Pine town, an area under the direct jurisdiction of the Crimson Snow sect. The local authorities have failed again and again to find any trails regarding these incidents and the townsfolk are restless. Certain clues suggest that the disappearances may be influenced by demonic cultivators or at least some organizations with dangerous individuals who cannot be caught by mere mortals. The local authorities have requested for the help of the sect to solve this issue. ]


    [ Estimated Danger: Level- 2 ( shouldn''t exceed opponents with strength higher than the seventh layer of physique transformation realm) ]


    [ Payment: 100 - 150 spirit stones based on the rate of completion ]


    [ Credit: 25-40 ]


    Han Xuhan read the leaflet Mu Ran had handed him a few moments ago.


    "Did you really find this in the Task Administration Pavilion, boss?" Han Xuhan enquired. It looked too good to not have been snatched up by senior disciples with high cultivation levels.


    Mu Ran surreptitiously winked at him and said in a low voice, "of course not! I charmed one of the pretty seniors working there and asked her for a favor. How could she refuse THIS?!"


    Pointing at his own body, Mu Ran grinned like a maniac. But Han Xuhan''s suspicious expression made his grin fade.


    "What? Do you think I''m boasting, underling? Come with me to the Pavilion; I''ll show you-"


    "Ah, of course not, boss! I''m just naturally a bit paranoid about this kind of missions. I have full trust in you. But..."


    "So what is it?" Mu Ran said in irritation.


    "Boss, what about me? I can''t fight against anyone at the seventh layer of the physique transformation realm! How do you expect me to be of any help? Heck, I could die or get fatally injured! Are you gonna be responsible for my death?"


    "I''ll be there, don''t worry. Even if you die, I''ll just find your next incarnation after rebirth. I''ll soon become powerful enough to do that."


    "What the-? Do you even know how high your cultivation has to be to accomplish a task like that?"


    "Isn''t it possible as long as I enter the heavenly court as a celestial? Those people are supposed to be in charge of the life and death of all living beings, aren''t they?"


    "A celestial? How many realms above ours is that?" Han Xuhan said in desperation.


    "I don''t know. Why does it matter, though? I''ll reach it however high that realm is."


    "How are you so sure that you''ll become that powerful?"


    "Why would I not? Is there any particular reason for me to NOT become powerful?"


    "...I-what if I reincarnate into an ant or something?"


    "Then I''ll just kill you so that you reincarnate again!"


    "You know, I''d be touched if your disregard for my life wasn''t so blatant, boss."


    "Aren''t you supposed to be a reincarnator or something? When did you begin to value your life so much? It''s not like you''re having a good time in this life, with that shit physique and all..." Mu Ran grumbled.


    "...You know what? Forget I ever complained. What the hell is this credit thing again?"


    Han Xuhan gave up halfway through his complaint and decided to change the subject.


    "It was mentioned in the rulebook, right? Somebody said it was. Check yours and see what it says."


    "Didn''t you read your- no, never mind."


    Han Xuhan rummaged through his hut and came back with the thin book, carefully studying the index.


    "Found it. Whoa! If we can earn five thousand credits, we can get promoted to the inner court directly!"


    Mu Ran''s interest was piqued. They didn''t know much about the super secretive inner court of the Crimson Snow sect. But the rumors said inner court disciples received not only a higher status, but also fixed amounts of payments, free lessons and resources regularly. Any outer court disciple would be tempted by these perks.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Then we''ll have to try our best, Xuhan! Start preparing, we''re gonna wipe the floor with those demonic cultivators!"


    Carefully storing the mission token and their identity badges as disciples of the Crimson Snow sect, Han Xuhan and Mu Ran packed up for a few days outside the sect and bade farewell to their fellow disciples and seniors of the black sheep mountain peak.


    Surprisingly, their sudden act of bravery as the first disciples to take up such missions among their batch didn''t raise any particular commotion.


    Han Xuhan probed an older disciple he was familiar with regarding this, unable to understand the lack of reaction from them.


    "Junior, all of us are the disciples of the Black Sheep Mountain peak here. What''s there to hide? One of the few common traits of the disciples here is sheer stupidity. In every generation of disciples, some of these stupid ones always try to take the mantle. It''s nothing new. Is cultivating inside your hut peacefully so difficult?


    "No, not at all! But you still want to go catch demonic cultivators, criminals whom you have no idea about, just because of the monetary reward...aren''t you actively seeking death?"


    Han Xuhan was stumped by this answer. It was true that neither he nor Mu Ran had any idea about how to catch those criminals. But as far as he remembered from xianxia novels, demonic cultivators were usually just overpowered serial killers practicing some shady cultivation techniques that required dead bodies or something similarly gory and disgusting.


    Even scums like Xiao Wang fit the definition of a demonic cultivator.


    He wasn''t sure if the demonic cultivators of this world were something similar to those creeps. But even after asking around, the definitions of demonic cultivators he got were quite vague. Outer court disciples rarely handled such cases, not to mention, his source of information was the trashy disciples of his own mountain peak.


    Caught in a bind, Han Xuhan decided to pay a visit to his master, elder Daheng. Suspiciously enough, his boss seemed to have vanished from his hut in the meantime, nowhere to be found. Xuhan couldn''t help but wonder what kind of preparation a protagonist would take for a mission like this as he walked alone to the elder''s palace on top of the peak.


    Elder Daheng always appeared to be busy cultivating inside his palace. Unlike most elders, he didn''t have any particular duty to attend to for reasons unknown, and neither did he seem motivated to go out of the sect to seek fortuitous opportunities. He was like the shut-in NEET of the family, always cooped up inside his room.


    Noticing Xuhan, he gestured for him to enter his room and take a seat. After the pleasantries, Han Xuhan quickly moved on to the real topic.


    "Master, what are demonic cultivators?"


    "Ah, I''m not sure. I''ve never met a real one in my life."


    "...Are they that rare?"


    "I suppose so. Not many have actually encountered a true demonic cultivator even in this sect. Usually, the so-called demonic cultivators we hear about are just one or two crazy criminals who veer off the traditional paths and commit atrocities to fuel their cultivation techniques. The source of such techniques is never clear. But you can blame shady markets and gatherings among rogue cultivators for that. These sorts of criminals are just scary in name. They might practice demonic techniques, but calling them demonic cultivators is a bit too much of a stretch."


    "Then master, have you never even heard of a true demonic cultivator?"


    "I have. But few of those descriptions left a particularly strong impression. Most of the things I''ve heard about demonic cultivators seem to be rumors.


    For example, you can consider the fact that there are no actual ''demons'' in our world. The only people who''ll tell you otherwise are a bunch of cultists whose beliefs and rationality are...questionable. So calling some insane practitioner a demonic cultivator is more of a condemnation than a literal title."


    "But master, I''ve heard that demonic cultivators have unstable cultivation bases because most of their techniques rely on evil deeds and committing atrocities. They have to carry the risks of fatal backlashes too..."


    Han Xuhan tried to recall the bits and pieces of information he had read about typical demonic cultivators in his previous life and probed his master.


    "Backlashes? Unstable cultivation base?"


    Elder Daheng started laughing, shaking his head.


    "Disciple Xuhan, do you think that it''s possible to evade, hide and toy with the investigation forces and spies of dozens of reputable sects around the seven regions with such horrible cultivation techniques?


    I know for a fact that our sect master himself, along with five other sect masters close in terms of cultivation base, tried to locate the headquarters of the demonic cultivators.


    They returned empty-handed. Can you imagine that? A whole sect that can hide from them?


    True demonic cultivators, if they actually exist, aren''t opponents you can fight, kid, not with your measly cultivation base. Why are you so curious about them, anyway?"


    "...Because martial brother Mu Ran and I accepted a mission that may lead to a scuffle with low-level demonic cultivators."


    "And the dumbass of the year award goes to you, my disciple. With your second-layer cultivation base, you want to beat demonic cultivators? The sect wouldn''t issue such dangerous missions to outer court disciples. It''s probably just some exaggerated details about some crazy rogue cultivators. If you insist on going, I suggest you try your best not to start a fight. Leave the action to Mu Ran...That uppity brat deserves a good beating."


    Xuhan nodded obediently, pretending not to hear the last sentence. That was the original plan anyway.


    Afterward, he made some small talk with the elder before returning to his own hut for a last-minute inspection. Little Zhanxian, the skeleton he had nurtured, would accompany them as well. Han Xuhan now had enough control over the skeletal monarch technique to actively summon and unsummon Zhanxian. He couldn''t wait to use his cultivation technique in actual battles and see the results!


    How many otakus and chunni kids dream of such an opportunity? To shout out an intimidating name of a technique and wreak havoc over their opponents while standing in cool postures...


    It was a disgustingly cool daydream.

 Chapter 38: Grandpas Dont Lie

    "Boss, do you think these demonic cultivators might have any spies inside other sects? Because I don''t really get how they''re so good at avoiding the detection of every sect''s powerful masters so well."


    Han Xuhan wondered aloud while looking at Pine town''s location on a map.


    It wasn''t very far from the sect. Half a day''s journey on one of the large ferry boats that roamed the numerous rivers crisscrossing through the seven regions was all it would take to reach there. Both young men were feeling quite refreshed from the journey. Mu Ran had even face-slapped a random young master on the boat in a random competition no one cared about. He had been especially cheerful since then.


    "I have no idea, Xuhan. Why do we need to care about such measly details, anyway? You keep worrying about the most absurd stuff! Come on, have a match of Immortal Slayer with me. The scenery here really fits the mood for this game."


    Mu Ran completely glossed over the issue and threw out a box full of thin cards from his pocket. Xuhan caught the box and sighed. How he wished he could be as relaxed as this guy...


    The Immortal Slayer was a popular card game among cultivators. The rules were similar to the widespread card games Xuhan had played back on earth. The cards were divided into multiple types, such as outer sect, inner sect, core members, elders, dao ancestors, and many others depending on the variations of the game.


    Each type of cards were again divided into subtypes, such as the first layer outer sect disciple (trash), second layer disciple (slightly bigger trash), third layer disciple ( still a trash ), and so on.


    Similarly, the other types were also divided into subtypes that followed a realistic setting. The outer sect disciple cards were cannon fodder, the inner sect disciple cards were special cards, the core disciples were flag bearers with unique skillset, the elders were trump cards, and the dao ancestors were killing move combiners....


    The focus of the game was to use lower-level cards to consume higher-level cards of the opponent team and keep enough trump cards in hand to kill the other party''s dao ancestors.


    It was not a complicated game when just these rules were applied. But historically speaking, once it became popular, the slightly dumber cultivators realized that they always lost a lot of face whenever they played against smarter, yet weaker cultivators.


    So they decided to change the rule by saying that when cultivators played such games, cultivation elements naturally had to be present or it''d become a game even mortals could play.


    And thus, new rules were born. Now players had to use their reserved qi in order to fuel the ability of each card. The higher the card level, the more qi it consumed. So one had to be careful about powering up each card and take strict measures while dealing with lower-level cards. But for a cultivator who was more powerful than his opponents or more skilled at qi manipulation, this rule was like a booster.


    Regardless of the unfairness, it was an unanimously agreed upon fact that the powerful always hold an edge over the weak in the world of cultivation. So the new rule didn''t meet much opposition during its popularization; or even if it did, it got squashed by certain muscleheads who didn''t want to lose anymore...


    But still, most cultivators cared a lot about their face. So they usually didn''t bully weaker cultivators by playing this game with them. Mu Ran, however, was a freak of nature, not to mention, he didn''t feel any shame in oppressing weaklings.


    He played the game not just for fun, but also to flex his terrifying qi manipulation skills and polish his skills further by giving himself bigger and bigger handicaps progressively in game.


    Han Xuhan, whose meridians were barely functioning, lost quite frequently due to his lack of skills compared to Mu Ran. It irked him to no end, to be honest. Mu Ran didn''t even work half as hard as him when it came to theoretical and practical cultivation. Yet this guy steamrolled him regularly as if his skills were leveling up while he was sleeping and eating. It made no sense. At this point, Xuhan had given up on trying to figure out how his boss was leveling up and credited all of his skills to the perks of being a protagonist. Further thoughts on this subject depressed him.


    Shaking his head, Xuhan pushed the issue at hand out of his mind and decided to relax for a bit. He was accompanying a main character as an ally, after all. Regardless of what disaster they might face, Mu Ran would take care of them while Xuhan helped him by cheering from a safe distance.


    Taking the cards out of the box, Han Xuhan was about to start dividing the pile when a commotion attracted his attention.


    Not far away from their seat on deck, some passengers surrounded an old man.


    The grandpa looked quite suspicious, with his eyes shifting around the passengers'' bodies and often gawking openly at their jewelry. His clothes were tattered, his white hair was messy, and he carried a lot of pouches on him that looked like perfect thieving equipment.


    "Grandpa Di Qian, did you really mean what you said? I can change my streak of bad luck as soon as I get rid of this custom-made, gold-plated, azure crystal necklace?"


    A rich woman squealed in a mixture of delight and misery. Her expression made it clear that she was having trouble distinguishing between her ''choices'' now.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "Yes, of course. I, Di Qian, have never lied in my life! I see a great cloud of misfortune hanging above your head. If you listen to my advice and chuck this out of the window right now, your luck shall definitely improve."


    The old man spoke eagerly, the greedy gleam in his eyes getting stronger with each syllable. But the woman still seemed a bit hesitant to follow his advice. Realizing that they were attracting a large crowd, the old man hurried to convince her.


    "Beautiful madam, do not doubt this old man''s integrity! If I were a scammer, I would have asked you to hand this necklace to me, not chuck it into the river. As long as you do what I said, you''ll definitely sense an improvement in your luck by the time we reach our destination, or I''ll castrate myself when we get down from the boat!"


    "Old man, at your age, castration doesn''t sound like that much of a punishment, though. It''s not like you really need-"


    The furious companion of the woman, a burly-looking man, snapped at him and tried to drag her back to their seat. But the woman looked rather convinced and stopped him from finishing his sentence with a withering glare.


    Han Xuhan and Mu Ran found the flow of events quite interesting. They crept toward the crowd and observed the old man quietly.


    "Underling, have you noticed?"


    "Yep. He has a faint aura of qi around him. But it looks scattered and chaotic."


    "A cultivator who has suffered from qi deviation, perhaps? Definitely a professional scammer. It''s not that difficult to retrieve jewelry as long as you leave a trace of qi on it even if it sinks into the river. "


    Mu Ran exchanged a glance with Xuhan and wriggled his eyebrows.


    "I have no idea what you''re trying to imply with your twitching eyebrows, boss."


    "We should punish him, right? We are cultivators after all, righteous and full of justice..."


    "Yeah, righteous my ass. My experience in the sect disagrees."


    "As my underling, how can you whine over such small stuff? We must uphold the image of good, righteous cultivators. Let''s teach this old bastard a lesson. How dare he use his abilities to scam mortals!"


    Mu Ran rode roughshod over Xuhan''s complaints and forced his way into the crowd, trying to get closer to the old man. Strongly feeling that he shouldn''t get involved with any old man in a xianxia world, Han Xuhan decided to stay away from the chaos that was about to ensue and just watch the drama.


    "Husband, you gave this necklace to me. How can you be so cruel and controlling? It''s my necklace now. If throwing it in the river makes me luckier, why can''t I do so?"


    The woman, meanwhile, seemed to have decided what to do and pushed her companion''s hands away. Then she took off her necklace and threw it in the river with a tearful expression on her face.


    Splash!


    The heavy necklace made a small sound and sank into the water, raising a round of ''aaahhs'' and ''ooohhhs'' from the onlookers. Mu Ran, who was just about to dive in and save the day, looked dumbfounded as his eyes traced the trajectory of the necklace vanishing from his sight.


    The old man looked ecstatic.


    "Beautiful and wise madam! You have made the best choice of your life! You will not regret throwing away that precious, gold-plated, azure crystal necklace !"


    The old man was practically drooling as he praised her, his eyes never leaving the spot where the necklace had just sank. There were snickers from the onlookers, as well as the tragic howl of her husband mixing in the chaotic situation.


    "Fellow travelers, this old man is definitely a scammer! I can prove it to you! Do not fall for such lies!"


    The harbinger of justice, Mu Ran, yelled as he forced his way further into the crowd and caught the old man by the collar of his tattered robe. The old man was completely caught off guard.


    "Look, I''m a cultivator from the Crimson Snow sect! I threw out a trace of my qi on the necklace just before it sank. I can sense that the necklace has been caught by a creature as soon as it fell into the river. This old man must have trained a fish-type spirited beast as a pet. All of this farce was just to steal that necklace!"


    His yell silenced the crowd and stunned the old man. With a contemptuous snort, Mu Ran flicked his fingers at the river and made a grasping motion.


    Before the stunned onlookers'' eyes, the necklace rose from the river water as if it was being tugged by a string. Attached to the necklace was a large, saw-toothed fish covered in black and red scales and gleaming gem-like eyes, its jaws locked on the necklace.


    "It''s really a spirited beast! I can recognize it from its eyes!"


    "This young man really is a cultivator!"


    "So awesome!"


    "Can you teach me how to catch fish like this? I''m a fisherman!"


    "Can you use this technique to tug down people''s pants?"


    "Hey, who the fuck was the last guy? Throw him into the river before anyone gets any funny ideas!"


    All sorts of shouts sounded throughout the deck. Mu Ran ignored them and tugged the necklace closer with his qi manipulation technique. In a practiced, fluid motion, he threw it at the dumbstruck woman and her hopeful husband. Then he caught the fish by its neck and glared at the old man.


    "As a cultivator, how can you use your powers to scam innocents and bully the weak? You need to be locked up!"


    The old man looked livid. He tried to refute Mu Ran but before he could speak, he was surrounded by all the over-enthusiastic travelers. When the crowd cleared after a few minutes, his hands and feet were bound with rope meant for cattle. Perhaps due to his seniority, he had been spared a beating. But his expression looked like he had never suffered such indignity in his life.


    "You ungrateful bastards! I, Di Qian, never lie! How can you treat me like this just because a random child said so? Woman, you''ll regret this!


    And YOU! Little cultivator, unhand my little Hei at once! Or I''ll make you wish you were never born!"


    Xuhan was about to return to his seat when he sensed something odd.


    The old man''s level of cultivation was fluctuating...


    His heart beating wildly, Xuhan looked back at Mu Ran, who had suddenly gone stiff. His hands still held the struggling fish. But he was no longer paying any attention to it and instead slowly turned to look at the old man sitting on the deck with his hands and feet bound.


    The aura coming from the old man''s body was no longer scattered and chaotic. Instead, it had become sharp and dominating, spreading everywhere like a voluminous tide, suffocating Han Xuhan and Mu Ran so brutally that they felt as if they were facing a tsunami. This was the aura of a powerhouse beyond anything they had ever experienced.


    Han Xuhan silently backpedaled and decided that the scenery by the riverside was very fascinating. In fact, the scenery was so gorgeous that he was going to ignore all the shouts for help from his boss and admire the view.

 Chapter 39: Lets Beat Up That Injured Grandpa

    Two little yellow birds sitting on a deck


    One Mu Ran whose bones are gonna break


    Swim away Han Xuhan, save your neck


    Goodbye Mu Ran, don''t call him back


    Xuhan always knew he was a talented poet, but damn...He felt like he had just created his magnum opus. The emotions it invoked were so fierce!


    He was back on his seat, ramrod straight, holding his cards while maintaining a lookout on Mu Ran and the old man through the corner of his sight. The two were locked in a staring contest where Mu Ran was slowly losing his momentum with each passing second.


    Even from his seat that was far away from them, Han Xuhan could feel how domineering the old man''s aura was. He was undoubtedly a powerhouse whose cultivation had reached the soul reformation realm at least. Xuhan had sensed such aura before only on the elders of his sect. He knew fully well that even Mu Ran would be unable to turn this situation around without a miracle.


    How did things come to this?


    This Di Qian had clearly appeared to be a weak scammer who had recently suffered from qi deviation. Why did he suddenly reach the peak of his power now?


    Was he doing something akin to those tropes of ''drawing on lifeforce to fuel one''s power''?


    Han Xuhan had no fucking idea.


    Mu Ran, to his credit, held his ground despite the vastly superior aura pressing on him like a heavy boulder. Even the mortals around them had sensed that something was wrong despite never having sensed a single drop of qi in their lives. The old man had undergone a complete transformation from his previously sloppy, shady appearance.


    Slowly, the old man stood up. The ropes that bound him suddenly seemed like spider silk wrapped an elephant, not appearing to be bothering him in the slightest.


    "Punk, not so full of yourself anymore, huh?"


    In a tone laced with rage, the old man growled at Mu Ran.


    "If you aren''t a scammer, care to explain how your beast pet was caught stealing the necklace?"


    Obstinate as ever, Mu Ran lashed back, even though it was apparent to the onlookers that his voice shook a bit.


    "And why would I need to give an explanation to you? Who do you think you are, huh? Your puny cultivation level isn''t even enough to pluck my hair."


    "As a righteous cultivator, it''s my obligation to protect innocent mortals from evil scums like you. I don''t need a special identity to punish evil!"


    "Punish evil? Exactly how do you plan on doing that, punk?"


    The old man laughed angrily, a purple vein throbbing on his temple as his teeth emitted a grinding sound. Mu Ran visibly swallowed.


    Seeing that the situation was going downhill with each second, Xuhan decided to help Mu Ran by jumping out of the boat and swimming his way to the river bank, after which he''d run until he had reached the sect, where he could report the incident to the elders and send reinforcements. Granted, the whole process might... take a while, but something was better than nothing! Surely, his boss would appreciate it if Xuhan didn''t become a part of the collateral damage in their battle and made sure that the old man couldn''t use Xuhan as a weak hostage to threaten Mu Ran.


    Where else can a protagonist find such a smart underling?


    Slithering his way to the side of the deck unnoticeably, Han Xuhan rolled the sleeves of his robe up and prepared to jump. But right at that moment-


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    "Haha, nice try, old man! You thought you could trick me with that? Take my attack! Astral heatwave!"


    Mu Ran''s shout came unexpectedly. By the time Xuhan looked back at them, the space where the old man had been standing was empty. Instead, a crumpled body was lying a few feet away and Mu Ran was pointing at it with his arms stretched ahead in an aggressive manner.


    "I knew it! Even if the old man was so powerful, he never revealed a hint of his strength despite being insulted and tied up. If I hadn''t noticed the inconsistency in his aura, even I would''ve fallen for his bluff! Indeed, this guy is a scammer to the core!"


    Han Xuhan stared with his mouth wide open. Why hadn''t he noticed any such inconsistency? He might not be a decent cultivator, but he definitely wasn''t dull enough to not notice flawed or faked aura. It hurt his pride!


    "Xuhan, you noticed it too, right? It was so easy to see through! " Mu Ran hollered loudly.


    Gritting his teeth, Han Xuhan stomped his way toward the unconscious old man.


    "Of course, boss. Look, I had even rolled my sleeves up to come and help you give this old bastard a beating!"


    Unnoticed by Xuhan, a cunning gleam ran through Mu Ran''s eyes.


    "Right, tie those ropes tighter. Someone fetch me some water. I might have overdone it a bit..."


    After being splashed with cold water and a surge of Mu Ran''s qi, the old man opened his eyes, dazed and exhausted.


    "This is the thing you used to amplify your aura, right? Hehe, using your qi to stimulate the qi inside the crystal? Nice trick."


    Mu Ran reached into one of the old man''s numerous pouches and pulled out a glittering black marble that seemed to be pulsing with some sort of sealed qi. Han Xuhan could clearly feel the scary aura of a powerhouse leaking out from the marble.


    So that''s how he had been tricked!


    Glaring at the old man intensely, Han Xuhan tightened the rope on him and tied him to the leg of a chair on which a fatty was sitting. One look at the fatty''s magnificent body made the old man lose all hope of escaping as a despairing expression appeared on his face.


    "If I return this little trinket to you, you''ll definitely scam more people. As a righteous cultivator, I cannot let that happen. So I''ll take this," Mu Ran explained without a trace of shame and threw it toward Xuhan.


    Xuhan put it inside one of the twelve secret pockets he had sewn on his robe. It was definitely a very useful treasure. One glance at the old man''s furious face explained that much. Perhaps he had been using that to scam mortals and cultivators alike for a long time.


    "Fellow journeymen, our destination is on the next stop, so we''ll have to hand the responsibility of taking this old man to the law enforcers to the rest of you."


    Shaking off further responsibilities, Mu Ran returned to his seat with a heroic gait. Xuhan picked up the cards again and started dealing them out.


    A few games later, the ferryboat docked at a stop close to their destination. They got off the boat while a few enthusiastic passengers practically carried off the old man to the nearest law enforcers on the dock.


    Even while he was being carried away, the old man''s eyes stayed on Mu Ran''s figure. If Xuhan had been close enough to observe him, he would have realized that the furious look on his face had cooled off, replaced by a cold, observant expression.


    "It''s impossible for a normal cultivator in his realm to detect my faked aura. In this lower world, there is no such soul cultivation system that can find flaws in my technique. Furthermore, that technique he used to manipulate qi seems a bit familiar. Where did I see it before...definitely not in the neutral territory...It-it can''t be a technique from one of the Solar Aristocrats, right?


    "If only, if only little Hei could consume that azure crystal and go through the next growth phase, it''d be a simple task to cross the poison ocean and bypass the beast tide.


    "Ai~being insulted at this age only because of my injury. That brat from the Crimson snow sect is definitely not a normal cultivator. His soul is very odd. This matter needs further investigation..."


    With a flicker of his fingers, the old man sent a small stream of qi flying toward Mu Ran and Xuhan, and another toward the fish he called Little Hei. Despite being out of water, it didn''t seem uncomfortable at all, much to the wonder of the little boy carrying it on a pole. For a spirited beast, it was quite tame, not even as aggressive as a regular fish.


    "If it really is what I think it is...then this anomaly must not grow!"


    Old man Di Qian rubbed his aching knees and a determined expression flashed across his face.


    A commotion rose behind them on the ferryboat they had just left. A certain rich woman had just stumbled while walking on the deck and her custom-made, gold-plated, azure crystal had slipped out of her grasp, falling into the river, again.


    Unlucky indeed.

 Chapter 40: The Dao of Pee

    Pine town was a small locality, barely qualified to be labeled as a town. Everybody knew everybody and their ancestors. So the few frequent disappearances had raised quite the storm.


    Some people even wanted to leave the town and come back after the problem has been solved. The town chief was definitely not in his best mood, which was apparent from the conversation Han Xuhan had with him. Mu Ran apparently didn''t think he needed the help of mortals to catch the demonic cultivators. So he had sent Xuhan on behalf of the sect to meet with the authority figures of the town while he went to visit the places where the recent disappearances had taken place.


    From the town chief''s account, Han Xuhan learned that most of the disappearances had happened on a route near the town that went through a medium-sized, dense stretch of woods. At this point, going near that place by themselves was synonymous to a suicidal move for mortals. At the end of their discussion, the town chief called for someone from inside his house upon hearing that Xuhan planned to visit the route immediately.


    "This is my nephew, Shen Kai. He''s very familiar with the town''s layout and has cultivated a bit too. So he''ll be a great help to your investigation. "


    The young man who came out from the town chief''s house looked rather unassuming, with reverence bursting out from his gaze which was glued to the badge of the Crimson Snow sect on Xuhan''s robe.


    "Fellow cultivator, I''m an admirer of the crimson snow sect!" He opened the conversation in an enthusiastic tone.


    "I wanted to be a cultivator so much that even when I was thrown out of the recruitment process due to having no talent when I was your age, I still sold half my assets and bought one of the cultivation techniques sold in an auction run by the sect. Despite the lack of my talent, I''ve done my best to cultivate and reached the fourth layer of the physique transformation realm last month. If I may ask, what is the level of your cultivation?"


    "Ah, that certainly is an encouraging story. Not bad, not bad at all!"


    Nodding like a senior evaluating a child''s academic performance, Han Xuhan fixed the flattest glare he could muster at the enthusiastic young man who looked barely older than himself.


    It instantly squashed the enthusiasm of the young man. Perhaps he realized that he had made a wrong move, because he immediately pretended that the past ten seconds hadn''t happened and started speaking again, very respectfully.


    "Fellow cultivator, It''s such an honor to meet the representative of the crimson snow sect! With you here, I don''t believe those criminals can get away! Let''s set off and catch those bastards, shall we?"


    Han Xuhan couldn''t help but praise this fellow cultivator''s quick thoughts. Such a smart lad!


    The two of them first met up with Mu Ran outside the town, who looked a bit impatient for some reason. After the introduction was over, Shen kai led them toward the stretch of woods. While trailing behind him, Xuhan found a suitable chance to interrogate Mu Ran without being overheard by Shen Kai.


    "Did you discover anything? Any clues? "


    "Not exactly. There were no hints of abhorrent rituals around the places I visited. But there is this odd feeling I''ve been experiencing for a while now. It''s like someone has been watching us since we''ve entered the town. I think, we''re being followed..."


    Han Xuhan couldn''t think of anyone other than the malicious forces plaguing the pine town who might have any motive to follow them.


    So Mu Ran''s vague answer boosted his vigilance to the maximum.


    He was mentally prepared for some sort of conflict taking place, but his inexperience was something he couldn''t deny. Never having been in real mortal danger where the enemy was unknown made Xuhan''s heart beat incredibly fast. He had to stop his fingers from twitching due to nervousness. He hadn''t been this nervous even when he had faced off elder Shen.


    Taking a few deep breaths, he started planning for unforeseeable circumstances in the near future.


    After walking for nearly an hour at a moderate pace through the desolate woods, Han Xuhan realized that they had made a rookie mistake. It was already close to dusk. The night would be a dangerous time to go sniffing around for clues of their enemies. Neither Xuhan nor Mu Ran was familiar with the terrain here. And Shen Kai had no strong obligation to help them fight off demonic cultivators if they were ambushed due to their lack of experience.


    "Xuhan, if things take a turn for worse in the jungle, you should run."


    Mu Ran awkwardly patted him on his back and seemed to have made a resolve in his mind.


    "But boss, we can just walk back right now and come back tomorrow..."


    "We could. But think about it, underling. When is the best time to catch these evildoers? After the whole town has been informed of our arrival? Under bright daylight? You don''t really think they''d reveal themselves in front of everybody, right? This is a sacrifice we have to make in order to bait them and catch them off guard. We must seize the initiative! Right now, we may appear to be the prey, but we can very well be the predator!"


    "You''re smarter than I thought, boss."


    Han Xuhan distinctly felt that Mu Ran''s logic was a bit off. But he decided not to complicate things by starting an argument right now. Moreover, just because Mu Ran had asserted that they''d have to fight these criminals, it didn''t mean Han Xuhan was obliged to participate if a fight really broke out. He was prepared fully to sprint at the first sign of trouble


    "Haha, I know- no...wait a minute, does that mean you thought I was -"


    "Fellow cultivator Shen Kai, let''s discuss some strategies and talk about the clues we''ve managed to find so far, shall we?"


    Leaving an indignant Mu Ran behind with huge strides, Xuhan rushed toward Shen Kai, their guide. Shen Kai looked slightly confused at his sudden approach but nodded immediately, seeming eager.


    "According to the town chief, there is no particular pattern to the disappearances, except that quite a few of the victims were not very well-liked in the town, right? I have heard that some of them were even despised due to their characters and misconduct."


    Of course, this wasn''t exactly a major clue that could help them find the trails of the evildoers. This was the town chief''s personal opinion, which he seemed to have kept a secret from his own nephew as well, judging by the surprised look on the young man''s face.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Representative Han, that...that''s not something I can comment on. The victims might have been disliked by many townsfolk. But that doesn''t mean anyone would hate them so much as to kidnap or kill them in secret. Almost everyone here has a family. The small disagreements between folks shouldn''t ever reach the point of such cruelty."


    Shen Kai''s answer was quite measured. He didn''t seem to have an iota of suspicion toward the townsfolk regarding these incidents. And Xuhan couldn''t think of any particular motive that could fuel the townsfolk''s hate toward the victims either.


    Feeling vexed, Han Xuhan continued to converse with Shen Kai, discussing smaller clues found around the disappearance sites.


    There was another important clue that had been discovered by a rogue cultivator who had stayed in the town temporarily a few days ago.


    One of the victims was a rich merchant who had hired three cultivators as his bodyguard. His carriage had been found empty just outside the town where he was planning to build a villa. When the news spread, the rogue cultivator had visited the place where the empty carriage had been discovered. She had found signs of a battle between cultivators and a small trace of a spell that didn''t match any of the orthodox styles of the sects close by. This clue gave birth to the popular opinion that behind this incident was the hand of the ever-elusive demonic cultivators.


    "I think this clue has the greatest merit. Rogue cultivators are usually never united enough to run such a huge operation without leaving a clue behind. The cultivators that merchant hired were not easy opponents by any means. Kidnapping them all without leaving any particular trace is quite the feat. And this further solidifies the theory of demonic cultivator criminals," Shen Kai said with a troubled expression.


    "But even if it is true, there is no way to track them. We can only hope that the representatives from the sect can solve this issue now."


    Xuhan, meanwhile, was contemplating a rather complicated question.


    Should he tell Shen Kai about Mu Ran''s hunch so that he could run before things go south? Or should they stick together and deal with the enemy? After all, without Shen Kai, Xuhan and Mu Ran would be lost out in the woods for the night. But as a cultivator himself, Shen Kai should want to protect his own town and solve this problem too, right?


    "Representative Han Xuhan and representative Mu Ran, we are very close to our destination now. So far, seven disappearances have happened in the place ahead of us. If there is anything you need to prepare, please do so."


    Xuhan''s chain of thoughts was broken by Shen Kai''s sudden announcement.


    Looking ahead at the densely packed woods, Xuhan realized that night was about to fall. The forest looked especially creepy in the dying light of the sun. All sorts of insects were starting to buzz and flying creatures were shifting from one tree to another as silently as possible.


    Han Xuhan suddenly wanted to run back to the sect, but he remembered the rewards for solving this problem and moved forward while gritting his teeth.


    There was a thin line between cautiousness and cowardice, and he felt like he was about to cross that line now...


    The three of them stuck close to each other and felt the last warmth of sunlight disappearing swiftly. Xuhan gripped the handle of the glaive he was carrying on his back, feeling slightly more reassured.


    Right now, Xuhan was practically a walking armory. He had hidden more than a dozen small knives imbued with explosion spells within the numerous folds of his robe.


    There were two small axes hanging on his waist, both of which he was using as a distraction in order to hide the auxiliary blade of his glaive tucked just under the back of his right thigh. If an enemy saw him using the knives, they''d be under the assumption that the axes were his secondary weapons in case of an emergency.


    The shoes he was using were a wild card that would explode every few seconds once he stimulated them with his qi.


    And all of this was still not his full defense. He still had Zhanxian, the simpleton skeleton whose hobby was to contemplate the meaning of life and getting some sunlight on his bones for the daily vitamin D supply. The scientific reasoning here eluded Xuhan, but he knew better than to challenge his sanity by trying to fit this world into scientific chains of logic.


    Quietly slithering to the back of the group as if he wasn''t paying attention to his pace, Han Xuhan chose a curve in the road where he would be temporarily hidden from anyone behind him and summoned Zhanxian. After ten seconds, the red skeleton materialized from his back like a ghost.


    Its first reaction upon seeing their surroundings was to whimper immediately.


    Not wanting to alert Mu Ran and Shen Kai, Xuhan gestured at him wildly to make him shut up and whispered, ''''Someone might be following us. Hide here and move through the forest while keeping track of our movement. Follow us from a distance and keep an eye out for anyone behind us.''''


    ''''Master, where is this?! So scary! I want to go back! Summon me back!''''


    ''''You''re an undead! What the hell are you scared of?''''


    ''''I''m scared of the dark.''''


    ''''What the f- just do it! You''re a grown-up adult. Why are you scared of the dark? The moonlight is enough to light the way here. We don''t even need a torch.''''


    ''''Nope, ain''t doing it.''''


    ''''You want to die with us here, slaughtered by demonic cultivators, killed without receiving a burial?''''


    ''''I already got a burial once, probably...''''


    ''''I''m going to dismantle you and divide your bones among my next projects.''''


    After a long pause, Zhanxian finally agreed, with the added condition that Han Xuhan would give him some expensive resources needed for bone nourishment.


    "Of course, of course! You can expect a great reward for your behavior when we get back to the sect!" Han Xuhan spoke in a demented tone. Then he handed the skeleton a black robe from his bag.


    "Now wear this. It''ll save both of our skin in an emergency."


    "Xuhan, why are you walking so slowly? Do you want to be the first to die?"


    Hearing Mu Ran''s shout from ahead, Xuhan threw Zhanxian''s light body toward a thick bush and hurried to catch up with the other two.


    Soon, they entered the ''danger zone'' and slowly scoured every inch of that area while maintaining the highest vigilance all the time. Sadly, neither of them found any clue. They had taken some preparations before leaving the sect, having learned the signature signs of deadly spells and rituals. But none of that sort could be found here. The signs of battle also provided nothing to their unskilled eyes.


    "Did we scare them off? Perhaps I should have converged my aura..."


    Hearing Mu Ran''s mutterings, Shen Kai frowned for a second, but quickly hid his displeasure. Thanks to the minuscule glow of the moonlight, Mu Ran didn''t notice his expression.


    "There is nothing here. Maybe we should explore further and check deeper into the woods around this area as well. Best to do it tomorrow..." Xuhan suggested nervously. But Mu Ran suddenly stopped walking and looked back at Xuhan with a surprised expression.


    "Did you discover something, representative Mu Ran?" Shen Kai asked eagerly.


    Mu Ran nodded.


    "I have an idea. If somebody is observing us, then they''re definitely waiting for a suitable opportunity to attack. Why don''t we create one?"


    "Observing us? What do you mean?"


    Shen Kai looked stunned and suddenly looked around in panic.


    "Don''t worry, little Kai. Whoever it is, I''ll be able to at least hold them off and even capture them if we are lucky. I''m not as weak as my martial brother here. You two wait here while I separate from the group and pretend to be busy answering the call of nature. "


    Mu Ran instructed them to stay put and vanished in the dark. Xuhan didn''t even manage to protest. Within seconds, Mu Ran''s footsteps had vanished from their perception.


    Suddenly feeling that he was very defenseless at this moment, Xuhan turned to look at Shen Kai, only to see him staring back at Xuhan with an equally nervous expression.


    In the silent Woods, Han Xuhan and Shen Kai raised their vigilance to the extreme and stopped making any unnecessary movement.


    A few minutes passed.


    Xuhan felt that Mu Ran was taking a bit too long with his "pretentious pissing" around the woods. If anyone were to observe him, they would realize that something was off. How long does one need to pee? Does he have urinary incontinence?


    "Representative Xuhan, representative Mu Ran is overdoing it a bit, isn''t he? It''s been more than ten minutes..."


    "Let''s wait a bit more before we make any rash moves, brother Shen Kai."


    The two of them could wait no longer after two more excruciating minutes had passed. They decided to move toward the direction where Mu Ran had disappeared.


    Suddenly, a familiar voice shouted from within the dark woods ahead.


    "Underling Xuhan, little Kai, come quickly! I found an underground entrance here while peeing!"

 Chapter 41: The Woes Of A Squirrel

    The contents of the shout gave Han Xuhan a pause.


    That was a very suspicious shout. Mu Ran''s original intention was not to pee, but to bait the enemy stalking them into thinking that he was busy peeing. Feeling iffy about the whole thing, Han Xuhan decided to move carefully.


    Instead of running toward the source of the shout like he had wanted to initially, Xuhan ran at a moderate pace. Shen Kai didn''t seem to have understood the problematic situation and ran like the wind, only to realize that despite his companion''s impressive stomping on the ground that made it seem like he was running as fast as possible, Han Xuhan was actually falling behind slowly.


    But in the heat of the moment, Shen Kai didn''t seem to care and kept running. Soon, he was dozens of meters behind Shen Kai in the middle of the woods.


    While running, Han Xuhan turned around and threw a pouch from his pocket toward the place they had just left.


    It was a sort of insurance for the future. Since he had no trump cards or killing moves to rely on, he had to create them himself!


    A few moments later, Shen Kai''s gasp came from ahead. Han Xuhan focused all of his concentration on grasping the details of what he was about to see.


    In front of them was a tiny clearing, about a hundred square meters of an area that lacked the shrubs and trees commonly found in these dense woods. In the gleaming moonlight, Mu Ran stood at the edge of the clearing, his posture rather stiff.


    "An underground entrance? Where?"


    Shen Kai huffed as he stopped beside Mu Ran and peered closely at the clearing. Han Xuhan was more interested in defending himself than observing the newfound clue. Instead of jumping forward like Shen Kai, he stopped while maintaining a distance from both of them. He felt like a schizophrenic at this point, unable to trust anyone around him. Was he taking it a bit too far, perhaps?


    "Look at the middle of the clearing, can you see it?" Mu Ran spoke in a hushed tone.


    "...That''s a squirrel," Shen kai answered.


    "Exactly. What is it doing there?" Mu Ran asked back smugly.


    "...I don''t know. It''s just sitting there," Shen Kai sounded even more confused.


    "Exactly. Why is a squirrel sitting on the ground? And why is its fur wet?"


    "Boss, I thought you came here to pee, not get drunk."


    "Underling Xuhan, you really like to kill the fun in everything. Listen closely!


    When I was trying to bait the enemy into attacking me while pretending to pee, I realized that I really needed to pee. So, I just stood at the edge of this clearing, set up a few traps, and then started peeing for real.


    While I was peeing, I saw this squirrel staring at me from that low-hanging branch of that tree. I suddenly felt that this squirrel could be the enemy''s scout.


    To test my suspicion, I aimed my pee at the squirrel."


    "You- is that why the fur of the squirrel is wet? Good heavens-"


    "That''s not the point, little Kai! The point is that when the squirrel tried to escape and I followed it with my ceaseless stream from here, it ran to the middle of the clearing to get away from being splashed and then it nearly sank inside a hole!"


    "Boss, what do you have against squirrels? You''re not a dog-"


    "Shut up. That''s not the point! You''re focusing on the wrong thing here!


    See, when I tried to aim further and hit the middle of the clearing too, I realized from the sound emitted by my pee that this clearing is actually hiding a deep tunnel!


    It''s a huge trap set to make people trip and fall down. What''s scarier is that I can''t gouge what is under the cover of the soil. Every time I send a bit of qi down there, the mental connection between me and my qi gets blocked as if it had gone to a whole another world. It''s both fascinating and scary! This must be one of those legendary array formations made with the language of eternal laws!"


    "How are you sending your qi down there?"


    "Through my pee of course, but that''s really not the point. While the squirrel was running, the splashes it got hit by were also imbued with my qi, which I used to penetrate its body and take control of its limbs. That''s why it hasn''t fallen down into the tunnel yet, hanging from a dead tree-branch on the camouflaged surface.


    I plan to make it our scout since it doesn''t seem to be affiliated to with any enemy. I have a suspicion that this underground entrance may lead to the demonic cultivator''s den directly. "


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    "Poor squirrel," Xuhan muttered while exchanging a look with Shen Kai. The young man looked like he was as stupefied as the squirrel.


    Despite Mu Ran''s convoluted account, Han Xuhan had realized the oddity of the situation. He didn''t quite fully believe the explanation. And he didn''t hesitate to voice his doubts.


    "Boss, are you sure this isn''t a trap specifically set for us? I mean, look at how conspicuous it is. It''s literally screaming- I am a trap! Come fall for me!"


    "No, I''d only ever fall for women, not traps!"Mu Ran said indignantly.


    "...." It took Han Xuhan a second to process the leap of logic there.


    "Are you two going to keep wasting time here?" Shen Kai said in a frustrated tone.


    "We''ve got a huge issue to solve, possibly many murderers to catch!"


    Neither of the duo paid him any heed.


    "Boss, I''m pretty sure that the demonic cultivators wouldn''t be dumb enough to leave such an ''entrance to their lair'' which anyone can find easily. Nobody found this trap even though this place has been searched recently. This has to be a temporary trap made for investigators, especially cultivators. This also indicates that the demonic cultivators were aware that we would visit."


    Xuhan''s concerns were not unfounded. But Mu Ran simply smirked as if he had figured all of these out, even though Xuhan was pretty sure his boss wasn''t the sort of person who thought things so far ahead so fast.


    "I understand. However, this is also the easiest way to confront the demonic cultivators. At least one trace has been found, right?"


    "There is no way in hell I''m going down that trap. You can''t make me," Xuhan growled.


    "But what about the victims? We can''t abandon them to their fate just because we are scared of a trap," Shen Kai snapped at him suddenly.


    "Moreover, did you forget, underling? When the sect experts saw evaluated this mission, they marked the danger level at around the seventh layer of the physique transformation realm. They wouldn''t be so dumb as to falsify the danger level of a mission just because they''re lazy, would they? They''re all veterans, they know what they''re doing." Mu Ran''s rebuttal was even more firm, stomping on any other objections Xuhan could raise.


    It wasn''t that Xuhan couldn''t think of other solutions. They could always call the rest of the townsfolk here while guarding the trap and then explore it together.


    But that would put a certain level of danger on the lives of the mortal townsfolk, as well as reducing their performance evaluation when they returned to the sect. It could also make their targets escape without a confrontation, which would just be as bad an outcome.


    Perhaps, in a world of cultivation, taking risks was the only way for a shrimp like him to advance fast.


    "...Fine. We will check out what''s on the other side of the trap. Who will go first? I vote...not me." Xuhan finally said in a resigned manner and raised a very important question.


    "The squirrel of course!" Mu Ran declared.


    ". . . "


    ". . ."


    Both Xuhan and Shen Kai found themselves struck speechless by Mu Ran''s innovation. Inquisitively, Shen Kai decided to volunteer.


    "How about this? I''ll go down first and check it out after the squirrel. This is my town. I have a responsibility here."


    "Shen Kai, your cultivation level is basically trash. How can I let you take on such a risky task? I''ll be the first one to go!" Mu Ran laughed him off. Shen Kai looked like he didn''t know whether to feel insulted or relieved.


    Han Xuhan felt that things were advancing at a pace too fast for him to follow. All of his backup plans would be reduced to meaningless labor at this rate. The appearance of the trap had changed everything and upended the entire situation.


    These criminals sure were insidious!


    Meanwhile, Mu Ran proceeded to control the squirrel with his qi and made it approach the edge of the trap, which had very obvious signs of human activities around it even in the dim moonlight.


    The squirrel stiffly stood for a second at the edge of a pile of fallen leaves and then jumped forward.


    A strange scene took place. The moment the squirrel''s body touched the leaves, they blurred like a ripple in a pond, following which, the squirrel''s body disappeared. No sound, no contact with the leaves or the ground...it was as if the squirrel had simply passed through air before disappearing.


    Mu Ran, whose concentration was placed on the squirrel, suddenly jerked back and almost lost his balance.


    "What happened?"


    "You alright, boss?"


    "I''m fine. This array formation is too profound for me to crack with small tricks. The mental connection to my qi was severed again despite hiding the qi inside the squirrel''s body. But it doesn''t matter, I''ll be going in anyway. I must accomplish this mission at all costs."


    Han Xuhan''s eyes narrowed at the last sentence uttered by Mu Ran. This guy was definitely hiding something from the rest of the team. There was no way his boss could be so selfless as to sacrifice his life for a mission that barely meant anything to him. Did he sense something on the other side of the trap? He had been acting like a madman since he had discovered the trap. Why was he unwilling to tell the rest of his companions about it?


    Xuhan''s nerves tingled at the implications. But his thoughts couldn''t reach any solid conclusion. Mu Ran was already ready to jump in. Shen Kai followed his tracks and stood a few feet away from the trap''s edge as well.


    Resigned to his fate, Xuhan walked into the clearing as Mu Ran jumped gracefully inside the trap. The leaves blurred for a second before Mu Ran''s body vanished behind them.


    After a few seconds of silence, Xuhan moved ahead and stood beside Shen Kai, who was so nervous that sweat covered his face.


    "Well, after you, brother Shen."


    Nodding vigorously, Shen Kai took a step back and prepared to jump in, his body bending slightly in a stable posture.


    Then like a spring tightened to the limit, Shen Kai soared forward swiftly, his speed unnaturally fast for anyone at the fourth layer of the physique transformation realm.


    Han Xuhan never managed to move a muscle as Shen Kai''s right hand, gripping a dagger, plunged down on Xuhan''s unprotected back as he closed in on him with that inhumanely swift leap.


    From the beginning, Shen Kai had never planned to leap into the ''trap''.

 Chapter 42: Battlefield Reversal

    *Clink* *screech*


    Instead of sinking into Xuhan''s back, the tip of the dagger encountered a solid block of metallic elements.


    Han Xuhan felt a sharp pang of pain searing through his back as his assailant''s weapon slipped, only managing to leave a shallow slash on his left.


    Less than half a second later, Shen Kai crashed into his back as well, unable to maintain balance due to the surprising development.


    Han Xuhan''s body pretty much flew forward due to the incredible force behind the collision.


    But Shen Kai''s surprise lasted for only half a second. His body was tilted at an awkward angle. In mid-air, it''s extremely difficult for one to change their posture without preparation. But Shen Kai somehow managed to twist his body away from Xuhan like a flying worm, trying to avoid any type of retaliation from Xuhan.


    However, he was overestimating Xuhan''s capability.


    Han Xuhan never managed to attack him back.


    In fact, he was busy skidding forward in such an exaggerated manner that it could fit the scene of a rabbit getting hit by a warhammer. His body traversed at least ten meters, spun 180¡ã in the air, barely avoided the edge of the underground tunnel, and hit a thick tree with a loud *SMACK*


    By then, Shen Kai had recovered from his surprise, steady as ever back on his feet. Without any hesitation, he leaped forward with superhuman strength and landed right in front of Xuhan''s crumpled figure.


    "What did you put on your back, kid?"


    Xuhan groaned and tried to sit up. He had hidden his knife sets in the numerous small pockets on the back of his robe. Getting stabbed in the back through the heart is a very common way of dying in stories, after all!


    Han Xuhan made sure that the area behind his heart and lungs was mostly covered by double-layered leather with knives sheathed inside. Who knew it would actually save his life so soon?


    However, he hadn''t foreseen that his first opponent would be so incredibly powerful. Many outer court disciples he knew had reached the fourth layer of the physique transformation realm a long time ago. He was certain that none of them could burst out with such strength and agility.


    Shen Kai had definitely lied about his cultivation level! He had to be much stronger, maybe even stronger than Mu Ran!


    Xuhan, with his early second-layer cultivation level, was no different from a child fighting an adult. This wasn''t even a fight, but more like a butcher subduing a chicken. Even if he attacked Shen Kai with all of his strength, he wouldn''t be able to leave any serious injuries on him unless Shen Kai welcomed his attack without putting up any sort of defense at all.


    "Damn, brother Shen, you''re so strong! We have no grievances between us! Have I offended you somehow? I had eyes but I couldn''t see mountain Tai! Please have mercy!"


    The situation here was much different from the time he had faced Xiao Wang. At that time, he was certain that no righteous organization like the Crimson Snow sect would shelter a truly evil, malicious elder. Elder Shen''s hands had been forced by Mu Ran already. The man would do his best to save him whether he wanted to or not. Besides, there wasn''t any way he could have fought Xiao Wang anyway.


    But now, he had plans, defensive measures, but no overpowered elder to save his butt...he would have to desperately put up a fight.


    Shen Kai was stunned for the second time. He had never expected Xuhan to be so weak, to begin with. On top of that, Xuhan looked like he was about to cry while begging him to spare his life.


    What kind of sniveling brat did the Crimson Snow sect send here?


    Shen Kai''s eyes narrowed into slits. He knew how the Crimson Snow sect operated. They wouldn''t even select a coward like this if he wasn''t some sort of cultivation genius. But Han Xuhan seemed useless from every point of view...except, he had somehow survived an assassination attempt by somebody much more powerful than him. But that could be attributed to luck, right?


    Han Xuhan, meanwhile, was stammering with a painful expression on his face as he slowly inched backward. His body ached terribly. He couldn''t even muster up enough strength to sit up properly.


    Despite the pleadings for mercy coming out of his mouth in a frenzy, Xuhan''s nerves had become calmer. Before Shen Kai had revealed his murderous intention, the enemy in his mind was something he was unfamiliar with. The unknown is always much scarier compared to enemies who had revealed themselves and their abilities. Granted, Xuhan was aware that his enemy was much stronger than he had anticipated, but it didn''t mean he would just lie down and wait for death.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    Shen Kai snorted at Xuhan''s pleadings. Even he realized that the beggings resembled veiled insults. Smiling thinly, he advanced toward Xuhan''s retreating form.


    "Hey, look at you! Not so high and mighty now, eh? Where did all that pomp and eloquence go?"


    Shen Kai naturally wasn''t willing to waste his time mocking his weak opponent. But he felt that this guy was a bit of a weirdo. Shen Kai was experienced when it came to life and death battles. He knew when to hold back and when to advance swiftly.


    Shen Kai was confident that this kid had some secret cards to play. The aim of his verbal abuse was to stir up Han Xuhan''s anger and make him eager to retaliate. An eager warrior is a dead warrior when the final outcome is either life or death. And cocky youths like Xuhan were always prone to getting riled up in a verbal battle.


    However, the scene he imagined didn''t happen. Xuhan simply kept begging for mercy while backing up. What irked Shen Kai even more was that all of Xuhan''s pleadings sounded like they had been taken out of a cheap soap opera written by someone who has never been in an actual fight.


    "Big brother Shen Kai, you''re a dragon among men. You''re a real man! How can you hit and bully weaklings like me? Please spare this shrimp''s life and you''ll definitely accumulate great positive karma, enough to push even a fucking dungworm to the celestial realm! Even if you cripple my cultivation, I''m fine with that! Just don''t kill me. Killing me will bring great bad karma to you-"


    "Okay, shut the fuck up."


    Shen Kai had had enough of this crap. Time was running out.


    His original cultivation level was at the sixth layer of the physique transformation realm, yet he had to listen to the crap this trash kept spewing; it felt insulting.


    He knew almost no righteous cultivator whose pride could fall so low. Was this guy a dimwit?


    If he had any trump cards, he should have played them before degrading himself like this. Besides, what can a cultivator at the second layer of the physique transformation realm do to him?


    The most concerning issue was that Mu Ran was waiting for them on the other side of the portal. That guy, despite his low cultivation level, was a difficult opponent to handle. Shen Kai''s instinct told him that taking care of Mu Ran wouldn''t be as easy as Han Xuhan. He had to finish up the work on this side as fast as possible lest Mu Ran should suspect something.


    The distance between Xuhan and Shen Kai was barely seven steps. As Shen Kai stepped forward and raised his dagger like a reaper about to harvest a life, the dirt underneath his feet felt slightly uneven. Looking down from the corner of his eyes, Shen Kai saw a roughly made shoe under his feet, barely visible in the dim moonlight.


    Without further hesitation, Shen Kai''s body leaned forward and his right hand swung in a fluid motion. But before the dagger had reached Xuhan''s throat, Shen Kai noticed a cunning smirk replacing Xuhan''s pleading expression.


    Shen Kai felt his nerves tighten and his hair straightening into needles. He instantly took a couple of steps back, his reaction instinctive from past battle experience.


    Nothing happened.


    Shen Kai waited another two seconds, standing still with his nerves strained. The moment he perceived a threat, he was going to move with every bit of explosive strength he could muster.


    Still nothing.


    Damned brat! It was a feint!


    Shen Kai''s anger reached an immeasurable peak as he growled and rushed forward again at Han Xuhan. The infuriating kid scurried back with a pale expression.


    BOOM!


    With an unexpected, subdued exploding sound, Shen Kai felt a tremendous gravitational force pushing him in a tall arc like an arrow. Something had exploded behind him!


    Han Xuhan had been trying to buy time for this move! He had been tricked!


    About fifteen feet away, Han Xuhan suddenly stopped scampering backward and pulled out two small knives from his robes in a practiced motion.


    Without stopping his motion, without any preparation or aiming, he threw both knives at Shen Kai''s unprotected face. The Whole process was beautifully synchronized with the sound of the explosion.


    Even after suffering such a blow, Shen Kai recovered his bearing in mid-air in less than half a second. He didn''t dwell on the source of the explosion. He didn''t need to, in such a precarious moment. Instead, he pushed his arms in front of his face and shielded his eyes from the first knife, which was already halfway on its trajectory.


    The reflexes and agility of a cultivator at the sixth layer of the physique transformation realm were far beyond what such weaklings could crack through.


    But what hit his palm was the butt of the knife, really softly at that too. The impression Shen Kai got from that impact was that...the attacker had never practiced throwing knives in his life.


    Damn it! Another false move!


    Shen Kai removed his hands from his face and...saw the other knife flying toward his heart. Instinctively, he pulled his hands to form a shield over his chest, knowing full well that it wasn''t even a threat.


    What if the first throw had been an intentional blunder?


    Within these two seconds since the explosion, Shen Kai''s mind had become a mess.


    Adding to his chagrin, the second knife also hit his hand...and rebounded off like a twig. By then, Han Xuhan had brought out two axes from his waist-buckles and leaped forward at Shen Kai''s stumbling figure.


    Shen Kai could do nothing but to numbly stagger toward the kid due to the inertia. His feet were already touching the ground, skidding forward and digging shallow ditches. The residual gravitational force of the explosion had still not fully receded. What sort of terrible weapon was this?!


    The axes held above Han Xuhan''s head looked like two small guillotines waiting for his neck to fall under them. His hands were still clutched over his chest, and he knew he wouldn''t be able to pull them back to use his dagger to block the swing of either axe.


    How did this happen? Shen Kai briefly wondered. This scene was totally opposite to the situation that had been under his control barely five seconds ago.

 Chapter 43: Lecturing Demonic Cultivators On Morality

    Han Xuhan understood very well that despite his momentary advantage over Shen Kai, he had zero chance of killing him successfully.


    Just by observing Shen Kai''s skillful movement while he had been caught off guard by the gravitational detonation of his shoes, Xuhan gathered a rough idea of how much more agile Shen Kai was compared to himself.


    The comparison was laughable.


    During their exchange of moves just now, Han Xuhan had attacked indiscriminately, his actions smoothly flowing one after one. But this was the credit of his planning while he had been begging for his life and buying time. He had envisioned and planned each movement multiple times mentally while blabbering back then.


    Yet Shen Kai had managed to fend off all of his attacks. Although those attacks were feints, Shen Kai controlled his balance, analyzed the trajectory of each knife, and managed to shield his vital organs, all while recovering from the sudden blast of the exploding shoe.


    Xuhan knew his limits well. He had to take things up another notch or this move would be the end of him, even though it looked like he was about to kill Shen Kai; that much he was certain of.


    Shen Kai staggered toward the raised axes helplessly. His eyes showed a trace of hopelessness and fear. But his speed suddenly increased as soon as he came within the range of the axes.


    One of the two axes swung down at an awkward angle, but Shen Kai''s body twisted in an inconceivable manner and spun in the middle of the move unpredictably, avoiding the blade of the axe narrowly.


    Then he vanished into thin air.


    Dumbfounded, Xuhan finished his swing and looked at the space Shen Kai had just disappeared.


    How did a cultivator at the sixth layer of the physique transformation realm teleport? That was absolutely impossible. Even soul reformation realm cultivators didn''t have such abilities, as far as he had learned.


    Sadly, there was no spectator here to cheer for them and analyze every move like experts, unlike those xianxia stories he used to love. He had no idea how a cultivator could use teleportation spells in the first realm of cultivation. Some shouts from expert spectators would have been a great assistance.


    Unless...that was an illusion technique. Xuhan was fairly familiar with supernatural abilities commonly seen in cultivation novels due to his obsession with them in his past life.


    Cheats and super overpowered techniques were not sold in the streets. It was uncommon enough to see freaks like Mu Ran in one lifetime. Shen Kai had to have used a shady trick to avoid his perception.


    But since his axe had missed, where did Shen Kai go after casting the illusion? Han Xuhan could only assume the worst.


    It was high time to begin the next series of attacks.


    Han Xuhan immediately stimulated the qi he had imbued in the knives he had thrown at Shen Kai just a couple of seconds ago.


    After bouncing off Shen Kai, the knives had fallen around their playground. After being stimulated by Xuhan''s qi, the knives did their job by exploding one after one!


    Had his control over his qi been as smooth as Mu Ran, he could have made them explode mid-air while hitting Shen Kai. But Xuhan didn''t mind this either. The fallen and seemingly useless knives were excellent ambush weapons in plain sight.


    Boom! BOOM!


    From the smoke, dirt, and surge of force produced by the explosions, Shen Kai rolled out from behind Xuhan, barely two steps away from slicing Xuhan''s neck off.


    "Cough...cough...Agh!"


    Han Xuhan had been affected by the explosion almost as severely as Shen Kai, but he was willing to accept the damage in order to preserve his own life temporarily.


    Immediately, he rolled up from the ground and saw Shen Kai sprinting toward him with superhuman speed, dagger raised, already about to cut him down in the next second.


    Gasping in fear, Xuhan lifted up his arms in a furious swinging posture. After all, he still had the axes with him...except, in mid-swing, the handle of the axe left his grip and flew inches above Shen Kai''s head, making him dodge.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Both Xuhan and Shen Kai stared at the bleak sky lit by moonlight and tracked the axe flying off into the dense woods. It disappeared into a bush dozens of yards away.


    "Oops, slipped my hand," Xuhan muttered nervously. Then he saw the furious expression on Shen Kai''s face and added as an afterthought, "sorry for the fright."


    Shen Kai felt like he hadn''t just heard a righteous cultivator apologize but an abyssal devil mutter abhorrent scriptures. He had never felt so humiliated and violated in his eighteen years of life. This was...this was...he failed to come up with any appropriate word to describe his emotions right now.


    "I''m going to skin you."


    Completely ignoring his original intentions and his superior''s orders, Shen Kai really went for the kill this time.


    Shen Kai''s body vanished from where he had been standing and reappeared behind Xuhan within the span of half a second. Even in his most enraged state, he wasn''t stupid enough to initiate a direct attack on a cultivator who had so many tricks up his sleeve. Xuhan''s reflexes were not even fast enough for him to react this time.


    But Xuhan expected this to happen. So his counter move didn''t have anything to do with dodging the upcoming strike, no matter which direction it would come from, no matter how fast.


    Hardly had Shen Kai''s body vanished from his sight when Han Xuhan shouted a one-word order.


    "Attack!"


    Shen Kai had just drawn his dagger back in order to strike as hard as possible at Xuhan''s chest. But halfway through his strike, his superior senses perceived an object flying toward his back very fast.


    Shen Kai''s heart shook. Mu Ran was back?!


    So fast?


    Han Xuhan was using himself as a bait to lure him into action so that Mu Ran could ambush him from the dark?


    Shen Kai twisted in the air like a weightless, floating leaf and avoided the object thrown at his back. From the corner of his eyes, he caught a glimpse of the object...


    It was one of those axes that had ''slipped out'' of Han Xuhan''s hand.


    So that blunder had been intentional!


    Shen Kai couldn''t even get angry anymore. He had reached the limit of his anger and all that was left in his mind was simple stupefaction.


    A trace of fear was born in his heart as the rushing axe whipped past his right ear. Even while facing other demonic cultivators from his sect, Shen Kai had never experienced such sordid moves. Despite his superior cultivation, he had been forced to retreat to save his own neck repeatedly in this battle, not to mention that each of his own moves seemed to set him up and bring him a further disadvantage.


    Was this kid really a weak cultivator at the second layer of the physique transformation realm? It felt like he was being toyed with!


    Rolling in the air, Shen Kai smoothly landed on the ground and stared at the direction from where the attack had come. To his surprise, the person who attacked him wasn''t visible to his enhanced eyes. The woods were full of dark, shadowy areas. The moon could not light all of it.


    Shen Kai couldn''t locate any sign of life ahead of him even using a special technique that took a toll on his spirit.


    Shen Kai grew even more unsettled. This was not Mu Ran. Whoever had attacked him, they were an anonymous third party whose power level was unknown to him.


    There was only one strategy left for Shen Kai to try. Calming his boiling nerves, Shen Kai turned toward Xuhan and decided to subdue him at the cost of fatal injuries and take him hostage to threaten the other party.


    But hardly had he turned on his heels when he felt the aura of somebody at the fifth layer of the physique transformation realm behind him, hidden within the woods.


    Shen Kai felt relieved knowing that the unknown third party wasn''t that powerful. But then he immediately froze...


    Because the aura had suddenly jumped up.


    It was now at the seventh layer of the physique transformation realm, one layer above him.


    Shen Kai gritted his teeth and mentally got ready to receive some serious injuries. He no longer wanted to keep on fighting. Mu Ran might actually come back for real if this continued.


    But then, the aura became even stronger than before...


    It was at the ninth layer of the physique transformation realm now.


    Shen Kai suddenly missed his sect full of insidious demonic cultivators. That life had been so simple and peaceful.


    While he was contemplating whether to beg for mercy, a confused voice came from another direction.


    "Guys, why are you all still here? Eh? What''s going on?"


    Mu Ran finally returned from the other side of the ''trap''. Without any hesitation, Shen Kai reached into his pockets and crushed a jade talisman. To the surprise of everyone present, a red light enveloped his body out of empty air.


    Shen Kai turned toward Xuhan and spoke his last words.


    "We''ll meet again, kid. Better prepare yourself for a surprise!"


    It didn''t take a genius to understand that he was using an escape method unknown to them. Fortunately, Han Xuhan recovered fast enough to gift the evil youth with some precious advice.


    "In the meanwhile, you should totally take some anger management courses from your daddy! He clearly didn''t beat the immorality out of you when you were developing!"


    "...FUCK YOUUU!"


    Those inadvertently became Shen Kai''s last words as his body vanished into thin air alongside the red light. This time, Xuhan realized that it probably was real teleportation.


    It must have const a precious life-saving treasure!


    He suddenly felt that Shen Kai''s penultimate proclamation had seemed a bit too convincing, as if Shen Kai was confident of the fact that they''d meet again.


    A chill ran down Xuhan''s spine. This world was too scary for a naive, pure youth like him.

 Chapter 44: The Jiang Hu Is Brutal To All

    "You''re telling me that little Kai might be one of the demonic cultivators we''ve been looking for? Goodness, what has happened to this world? Truly, the Jiang hu is a brutal place...Only by being a loner can we survive."


    Mu Ran stared at the spot where Shen Kai had vanished off and his face looked like he was undergoing some sort of profound character development. Seeing that things were taking an unfavorable turn, especially for him, Han Xuhan decided to kick Mu Ran''s development back into a more...suitable track.


    "Boss, how can you say that? If the two of us didn''t work together today, perhaps you would be the one to get ambushed suddenly. I only survived a fluke, but if you were a loner, death would be the only outcome! Since the Jiang hu is so brutal, it is actually important that we righteous cultivators stick together and fight off evil as a united front! As they say, apes together, apes strong!"


    Mu Ran laughed uproariously as if he had just heard a hilarious joke.


    "Underling, your argument is so flawed! We''re MEN, not apes. And if YOU are lucky enough to survive a sneak attack, then I don''t think I need to be worried, really, because even my dogshit fortune is better than yours."


    Han Xuhan curled his lips, feeling too complex a range of emotions to answer Mu Ran.


    Zhanxian, wearing the dark cloak Xuhan had lent him, stood idly beside them, busy picking his nasal cavity using a thin shard of crystallized qi.


    The aura emitting marble in his robe was still glowing faintly in the night''s bleak light, stimulated by the remnants of Xuhan''s qi. This was Han Xuhan''s final trump card. This was the source of the powerful aura that had scared Shen Kai shitless.


    Han Xuhan really wanted to see what Shen Kai''s reaction would be after learning that he had been frightened off by a skeleton that wasn''t even as strong as Xuhan himself. Shen Kai''s expression would be such a precious sight! If they really ever met in the future again, Xuhan would surely reveal this small information during a critical moment. Maybe it would give the bastard a heart demon for the rest of his life.


    Looking back, it had been the most intense struggle of his life. Had he failed to deceive Shen Kai just once, his fate might have been sealed. That said, Han Xuhan vaguely felt that Shen Kai originally didn''t want to kill him. The spot where he had tried to stab Xuhan on his first move was a bit off from the position of his heart. Had the dagger entered his body, it would''ve come out under his left collarbone.


    Xuhan couldn''t think of a reason why Shen Kai would bother to maim him. Even if the weird portal was a trap, Han Xuhan was so weak that he would have died before anyone else after going in.


    Unless...That wasn''t a trap, but a clue to what the demonic cultivators were up to. That could explain why Shen Kai suddenly went berserk despite his well-prepared disguise.


    No wonder he had offered to go in inside the portal first despite how dangerous it seemed to Han Xuhan and Mu Ran!


    But then, why would such an important clue like the portal be exposed like this? It was so easy to find that even Mu Ran had found it while peeing, not to mention, it was in the middle of a clearing in a jungle with clear evidence of human activities...Anyone could have found this place with a bit of effort, right?


    ...Unless, Mu Ran had lied about how he had found the portal. Logically, the only oddity here was Mu Ran, and it was he who ''accidentally'' found out about the portal, something that should have been well disguised and protected, judging by Shen Kai''s desperate move.


    Following that logic, it could be assumed that Mu Ran definitely did something he didn''t want others to know and managed to unearth the hidden portal to someplace that likely had an important clue to their mission.


    Looking at how enthusiastic Mu Ran was about venturing inside this suspicious portal, Xuhan guessed that some sort of precious treasure was involved here. Perhaps Mu Ran had found something he didn''t want to share with others, understandably.


    Han Xuhan didn''t want to compete with Mu Ran for such treasures. But seeing how much risk he had been forced to take, Xuhan felt that he deserved some remuneration.


    "Boss, what''s on the other side of the portal? Is it really a trap?"


    Mu Ran''s chain of thoughts broke as he turned to look at Xuhan. He seemed to have recovered from the shock pretty fast.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Oh it''s definitely not a trap. If it was, it''d be difficult for me to return so fast, wouldn''t it?


    The other side seems to be a completely separate world from this side."


    Han Xuhan''s eyes grew wide. Now this...this was getting interesting!


    "The first thing I saw there was an overwhelming amount of fog and countless balls of light floating in the air in the midst of the fog.


    For some reason, the fog gave off a dangerous impression. So I didn''t get close to it and waited for the two of you to come over. Had I known that the situation on your side was so dire, I would have rushed here to help. After all, you''re so weak. It must''ve been quite difficult to defeat someone two layers above you in terms of cultivation level."


    "He was at least five layers above me."


    "...Ah, must''ve been slightly more difficult than I thought. So anyway, since it''s not a trap, how about we return and check it out?"


    Xuhan felt a bit pissed off at how lightly Mu Ran treated his victory just now. But it was understandable. Mu Ran was used to beating up opponents much stronger than himself in terms of cultivation level. He wouldn''t think of the victory as something to be awed about.


    But the fact remained that Han Xuhan was being forced to battle the hazards Mu Ran kept running headfirst into stubbornly...Something had to be done, or he''d not be able to attain the peace of his mind.


    "Boss, since it''s not a trap, that means it might be something the demonic cultivators don''t want others to find out. In that case, they wouldn''t leave the entrance out in the open so conspicuously, right? Did you really discover it while peeing?"


    Han Xuhan''s tone was quite casual, but a slippery undertone snuck into the manner he spoke in.


    Mu Ran suddenly looked rather awkward. Avoiding Xuhan''s gaze which seemed to be laced with suspicion and anger, Mu Ran stuttered and tried to come up with a believable reply.


    But Xuhan interrupted him as soon as he opened his mouth, striking the iron while it was hot.


    "You know, I think we should really return to the sect and report this to the authority. After all, Shen Kai alone almost killed me, and he''s definitely not the only demonic cultivator around. I can''t see any point in risking my life just because you want to go inside that portal that leads to some godforsaken place. Surely, an elder from the sect would be a much better investigator, since the enemies involved here are so powerful. Even if the other side of the portal is not a trap, your description makes it seem like a place we outer court disciples shouldn''t explore stupidly."


    "Now hold up, underling. I''m confident that I can protect us both-"


    "I don''t remember you fighting Shen Kai though. But I certainly recall that the sect''s information about this mission restricted the danger level below the 7th layer of the physique transformation realm, whereas the first enemy we''ve faced is already near that limit. He is obviously not alone, and he is obviously not the leader. So how can we tackle a mission so dangerous by ourselves? Impossible!"


    Mu Ran winced.


    How was he supposed to explain to his underling that the ancient, slumbering soul hiding in his body was desperately urging him to go inside that portal and explore the mysterious world fragment on the other side?


    If Mu Ran didn''t comply, the ancient soul might fall into another long period of slumber, from which it might never wake up at all. He had made a deal with that soul. If the soul really fell asleep, Mu Ran''s fate was sealed. Eternal torment awaited him down that path.


    But Mu Ran couldn''t find any faults in Han Xuhan''s logic either. Han Xuhan was an out-and-out weakling. He saved his neck from Shen Kai''s clutch by relying on luck. But the next incident may not lead to such a good ending for either of them.


    A bizarre expression took shape on his face slowly. The gaze he cast at Han Xuhan transformed into a ''weapon''.


    "Fine, Han Xuhan." He spoke in a low tone, his voice slightly different from before.


    "How about this? Let''s make a deal. You won''t report the incident of me going down the portal to the sect. In return, I''ll share ten percent of whatever I find in there or the equal worth in spirit stones. You don''t even have to go in, just wait outside."


    Han Xuhan felt something creepy about the way Mu Ran was looking at him. The guy never called him by his full name...


    Regardless, this was just what he had been aiming for!


    Finally, Mu Ran was starting to think on the same wavelength as him. He mentally gave himself a fist-bump and threw the bait he had been preparing for so long.


    "Boss, I''ve just realized that I was being a bit unreasonable."


    Mu Ran blinked, caught off guard.


    What''s going on? Did his minor hypnosis evolve into something more powerful? The target wasn''t supposed to be hypnotized so fast!


    "It''s clear as a day that you have some secret information that you''re unwilling to share." Han Xuhan spoke on without giving him time to think.


    "I have great trust in you, boss. I believe that if you''re unwilling to share something, it''s none of my concern anyway. But it''s clearly making you desperate enough to rush into such a terrible place.


    How can I, as your friend, let you face the danger here alone? How can I face myself when I just lectured you about the power of unity?!


    Like I said, apes together, apes strong! For the sake of being a good friend, for the sake of keeping true to my words, I''ll accompany you!"


    Taken aback at first, Mu Ran slowly let out a grin and agreed, "indeed, underling. I too, was mistaken. Apes together, apes strong!"


    Under the dim moonlight, he saw his own smile being perfectly replicated on Han Xuhan''s face.


    Mu Ran couldn''t help but marvel at his magnificent charm and hypnotic power. But then...he heard Han Xuhan speak again.


    "So, to make things fair for me, how about we split the share of our findings based on our contribution during the exploration? And if I really don''t manage to contribute much, we can follow your offer just now. Twenty percent, wasn''t it?"


    Mu Ran nearly lost his balance from the shock.


    So it wasn''t his hypnosis affecting Han Xuhan! It was his underling''s greed!


    This Jiang hu was indeed a brutal place!

 Chapter 45: Mummified Mortal

    The other side of the portal was unlike anything Han Xuhan had ever seen.


    It was daytime on the other side. A time difference of at least 10 hours from the region outside the portal, judging by the mid-sky sun.


    Were they still in the same continent? Where had this portal taken them to? How far?


    The questions hounded Han Xuhan ceaselessly.


    Around the sun, the sky was coloured stark blue, a thick fog covering the majority of it from their sight. The fog itself was an oddity.


    The fog looked very substantial, almost like floating powder. There was a persistent light breeze blowing toward their direction, making the fog close in on them inch by inch like a living creature.


    Han Xuhan also noticed the floating balls of light Mu Ran had described, vaguely glowing from within the depths of the fog. With a rough glance, he realized that the balls of light could be categorized into a few grades.


    The biggest balls of light looked very clear, quite close to the outer layers of the fog, in other words, close to the two of them. All of these orbs were emitting a bright red glow like miniature suns.


    Further within the fog, there were vaguer, smaller orbs, glowing with an emerald light that was still mostly noticeable from where they stood.


    These were fewer in number than the red ones.


    The smallest, and rarest balls of light were floating far away from them, deep within the fog, emitting an intense violet glare, resembling specks of starlight shining in the unfathomable distance.


    The oddest thing weren''t these details either.


    Han Xuhan and Mu Ran could hear vague sounds of human voices shouting and see silhouettes moving within the fog.


    All of the voices sounded hurried. The figures seemed to be running around very fast, faster than normal people at least.


    And the one common detail about all of them was that they all had their backs toward Han Xuhan and Mu Ran. All of them were moving further inside the depths of this foggy world.


    Han Xuhan found this situation familiar after a quick analysis.


    Was this a mysterious world where some sort of ancient treasure was hidden by a powerhouse eons ago as a test?


    His experience of cultivation novels said, if there was anything all ancient cultivators had in common, it was making up all sorts of fucked up tests with high mortality rate in order to choose somebody who could inherit their legacy after they perished on the path of pursuing the great dao.


    It was tempting, but was it worth risking his life?


    Right now, he had his hands full with the cultivation techniques he had been practicing. Risking his life to find a super cool technique invented by an old man thousands of years ago with unknown purposes... Han Xuhan couldn''t find the appeal here.


    He preferred to rely on his own techniques. Granted, if he was willing to suffer a bit, with some luck, he might bag something awesome.


    But such techniques always came with added conditions and requirements most people couldn''t meet. Han Xuhan himself was always running low on luck. He wasn''t willing to bet his life on this.


    "Boss, you said something is wrong with the fog, right?"


    Mu Ran nodded in affirmation.


    With tentative steps, he went closer to the fog and pulled out a small bottle from his robe. Swiftly pushing the bottle toward the fog, he used his qi to wrap it up and made the bottle move around in the fog by manipulating the qi. After a few seconds, the qi carried the bottle back to him, now filled with the oddly substantial fog.


    "Hand me one of the spiritual herbs we bought from the sect''s exchange market; one with healing properties."


    Han Xuhan searched inside the numerous pockets of his robe and pulled out a pouch of herbs after a moment.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Mu Ran picked one of the leafy herbs from the container and squeezed out a bit of greenish liquid from the stems, which he dropped inside the foggy bottle.


    A hissing sound came from inside. As soon as the dark green juice came in contact with that fog, it started to evaporate. Within a few seconds, the green liquid was completely vaporized while the fog inside the bottle slowly changed its colour from white to pale blue.


    It didn''t take a professional healer to understand what happened inside the bottle. The green liquid had healing properties which had been neutralized and vaporized by the fog. The fog had to be some kind of extremely poisonous gas.


    Han Xuhan and Mu Ran exchanged a puzzled glance and looked back at the approaching fog. If the fog was so poisonous, how were the people inside it moving around so vigorously?


    Confused, both young men walked around the edge of the foggy area. Behind them was a cliff with no bottom in sight. There was no other side of the cliff, only more fog clouding their sight. So the direction the portal had been pointing them toward was definitely ahead alongside their predecessors inside the fog. They could still return back to the woods since the portal was right behind them at the edge of the cliff. But this was the only clue they had uncovered related to their mission.


    Unable to figure out any way to investigate what was happening inside the foggy area, they sat down and decided to chew on some dry food to replenish energy.


    Han Xuhan''s back was still aching from smacking into the tree. The skin there had turned red.


    But surprisingly, the perks of being in the second layer of physique transformation realm were showing slowly.


    Unfortunately, the same couldn''t be said for the cut on the back of his shoulder. It was still bleeding while the medicine that had been applied on it did its best to heal him.


    The joints that should have dislocated from their fight were just slightly painful, the skin that should have been torn was already recovering without shedding a drop of blood.


    Han Xuhan roughly estimated that his body would recover within a few hours.


    While he was resting, Mu Ran continued to survey their surroundings, constantly looking for ways to walk into the fog without getting killed.


    There had to be a trick to it, he kept insisting, much to Han Xuhan''s suspicion.


    Both of them were beginning to grow impatient. Sitting here wasn''t exactly safe.


    If Shen Kai was really a demonic cultivator, then the chances of him returning with reinforcements weren''t low. Then the two would be caught between a rock and a hard place, unable to move in either direction.


    Mu Ran had dozed off for a while despite the tense situation, something that struck Xuhan as suspicious. After waking up, he got even more impatient than before, which was apparent from his constant prowling at the edge of the fog.


    Suddenly, they heard a loud sound from within the depths of the fog.


    Alert, Han Xuhan looked for the source of the sound and noticed a figure rushing toward them from within the fog. Mu Ran immediately backed up and touched the handle of the spear on his back while Xuhan took took out his glaive.


    The fog tumbled crazily around the figure as it ran out of the foggy area and rushed past Xuhan and Mu Ran like an unstoppable arrow, heading toward the bottomless cliff without showing any signs of stopping.


    Both of them were taken aback at first, but they reacted fast enough to stop the running man in time by clutching his flailing arms.


    But the man seemed to have lost his senses. Ignoring them entirely, he screamed incessantly and tried to crawl his way toward the cliff despite the two of their combined effort. Xuhan noted that the man wasn''t really very strong physically, almost no different from a mortal who hadn''t cultivated...


    Soon, Xuhan made the connection in his mind and figured out the possible identity of this man.


    "Hey, heyhey- stop screaming. PINE TOWN! You''re from Pine town, right?"


    That got the crazy man''s attention. But his struggle only slowed down a notch. Still twisting under their grip, he heckled out a few broken sentence between his screams.


    "Fog! Dead in fog! Everyone! Run from them! Devils! All of them are devils!"


    Some parts of his garbled speech could be understood by linking them with clues they already had gathered. The demonic cultivators must have used the kidnapped people as cannon fodder to explore the foggy areas in front of them. The poison must have seeped in his body, slowly killing him from within. He lost the remaining bit of his sanity right before their eyes.


    But before they could do anything to remedy the man''s situation, he let out one final tragic scream and his body shrivelled up as if it was being mummified. Han Xuhan dropped the man in shock and disgust while Mu Ran jumped away from the corpse and used his spear to knock the it away from the two of them.


    Han Xuhan''s heart was beating like a drum. This was not the first time he had come into contact with a corpse. Xiao Wang had died right before him.


    But the circumstances, shock and the unknown elements of horror involved here were too terrifying!


    Mu Ran didn''t look very well either. But he seemed to be handling the shock better than Xuhan.


    "I''m not going inside the fog, no way in hell am I doing it before we find a safe way to neutralise the fog''s poison." Han Xuhan flatly asserted.


    Mu Ran didn''t refute Xuhan''s words this time. But Han Xuhan could see it in his eyes; Mu Ran was absolutely determined to find a way into the fog for some reason.


    Right then, they heard a gurgling sound coming from the ''corpse''.

 Chapter 46: Battling The Monstrosity

    The corpse of the mortal they had just thrown away in a haste had inflated into an intimidating size; almost three to four times the proportions of a normal human, sporting elongated limbs and a jaw rivaling crocodiles.


    At some point during their conversation, the corpse had moved on to its four limbs and locked its sight on them.


    The horror that had shrouded the man''s eyes at the penultimate moment of his death had shifted, replaced by an instinct-driven, indifferent, brutal light.


    Barely a dozen meters away from it, Han Xuhan noticed the all too familiar fog being pushed out of its nostrils and mouth as its barrel-like chest contracted and expanded rhythmically.


    Han Xuhan''s limbs were stiff, mind numb, feet cold, and throat dry. He couldn''t even form a coherent thought, mind gone blank upon being eyed like a food source.


    Thankfully, Mu Ran immediately took action, breaking Xuhan''s half-second brain freeze and attracting the mummified zombie''s attention.


    His spear hit the monstrosity right in its half-open mouth.


    "CAACKKHH!"


    The yelp it let out was not a sound any human could produce. The zombie leaped away like a frog, its limbs sending dust and gravel toward them. It landed comfortably inside the deadly fog''s embrace, eyes trained on its prey.


    Feet shivering, Han Xuhan ran toward the portal as fast as possible. It was only tens of meters away. Sounds of metal against flesh were coming from behind. He didn''t need to worry about Mu Ran''s safety, nor could he afford that luxury.


    If Mu Ran really fell in the battle, Xuhan would have zero chance to escape that zombified corpse anyway, judging by its speed and strength. Once he got out of the way, Mu Ran could escape to safety or do whatever was required to kill a zombie.


    Exerting every bit of strength in his feet, Han Xuhan dived into the circular contour made of mud at the edge of the cliff and felt the sounds of fighting behind him stop instantly.


    After a second of disorientation, Han Xuhan found himself at the edge of the pile of leaves in the middle of the familiar clearing. However, the sight that greeted him was almost scarier than the scene he had just left...


    The clearing was surrounded by dozens of cultivators, all of them wearing similarly designed white robes, with an insignia of a blue star occupying the middle of their attire.


    It seemed that these people were as surprised as Xuhan at the sudden occurrence.


    All of them stared at him silently and the cumulative effect of so many glares made Xuhan seriously consider returning immediately to battle the monstrous corpse.


    But right then, Han Xuhan''s mind suddenly moved down a different line of thought. These guys were definitely not demonic cultivators. Which demonic sect would be dumb enough to walk around in numbers while flashing their sect''s insignia and matching robes?


    In that case, perhaps a conversation could be started instead of getting killed immediately.


    And if Han Xuhan was confident of one of his skills, it was his skill of spewing bullshit to make things work out for him.


    "Uhh..fellow cultivator? You are a cultivator, right?"


    A hesitant voice came from the cultivators surrounding him. Han Xuhan immediately seized the chance.


    "AH! Of course, as you all can see, I just came from the other side of the portal here. I''m Shen Kai, from a small sect nearby. If I may ask, which sect are you from fellow cultivators?" Han Xuhan''s tone was laced with a serious sense of urgency.


    The first person who had spoken to Han Xuhan looked him up and down and failed to find any familiar insignia on his clothes. He had changed his attire just before entering the portal because his formal robe had been torn in the fight against Shen Kai. That had been a good decision, in retrospect.


    "We are from the Stardust sect. I''m sure fellow cultivator has heard of it..?"


    Han Xuhan had barely been a cultivator for a month. He didn''t even know all the pavilions of his own sect, let alone knowing the names of random sects far away from his home. So he shook his head with a self-deprecating smile on his face.


    "Ah...fellow cultivator, I''m but an outer disciple of a small sect with nearly zero reputation in the vast world of cultivation. How can I know the names of such mighty sects from afar? I''ve never even met any other sect''s representatives other than the one closest to my hometown."


    Technically, Han Xuhan hadn''t lied, other than faking his own name. He was a man of integrity. Why would he fabricate these sorts of lies? Lies always snowballed in a situation one had no control of. If he claimed that he knew this foreign sect, who knows what kind of questions might come next?


    Honesty is the best policy! Ahem...


    The cultivator who had spoken to him suddenly smiled.


    "Hehehe, fellow cultivator, I was just testing your character. You didn''t lie even as a form of being polite! I like that in my friends!"


    One of his companions laughed. "Stardust sect, brother? Really? That''s the best name you could come up with?"


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Yeah, what a stupid name for a sect to have," said another lad.


    Han Xuhan felt like they were trying to misdirect him. That name couldn''t possibly be the true title of their sect, right?


    "Hahaha...brother Kai, It''s okay. We don''t want to give away our real identities here in these foreign lands. I hope you understand that," the first guy to exchange words with him explained.


    "Since you''ve given us your name, I''ll tell you mine. Call me brother Feng."


    Meanwhile, Han Xuhan was getting impatient. He had no idea how long Mu Ran could hold on by himself against the zombie. The corpse gave off a very dangerous aura. Xuhan might not be good at fighting, but he wanted to help in ways he could.


    "Ah, it¡¯s truly a fortunate incident that I could meet brother Feng. This must be destiny! My companion is in grave danger inside that portal. We''d be very grateful if you helped us!"


    "Grave danger? Can you elaborate?" Another one among the strangers spoke up this time, a woman this time.


    Seeing the impatient look on Han Xuhan''s face, brother Feng added after her, "it''s not that we don''t trust your words, brother Kai. But one can never be too careful. We need to consider whether we can handle the danger your companion is facing."


    It was a necessary sacrifice. What these guys cared about wasn''t him or Mu Ran, but the world behind the portal and whatever treasure was hidden inside the fog.


    If Xuhan provided them with no precious information, then brother Feng and his peers wouldn''t have any reason to risk their lives to help him.


    People who understood and operated under the rule of equivalent exchange were easy to deal with.


    Han Xuhan knew what brother Feng wanted, brother Feng understood what Han Xuhan wanted. There was no reason to act like savages and deceive each other when both parties could reap the benefits with a bit of silent cooperation.


    And it took only an exchange of looks between Xuhan and brother Feng to understand each other''s intentions.


    Han Xuhan didn''t hide much from them. Apart from his tussle with Shen Kai and Mu Ran''s obsession with the foggy area, there was no reason for him to keep anything else a secret. Hearing that Mu Ran was fighting a zombified corpse of a mortal, these cultivators from the Stardust sect looked rather relieved.


    "Rest assured, brother Kai. Even if the poisonous gas can turn a corpse into a zombie, it shouldn''t be able to enhance its strength too unreasonably. We can help you."


    Brother Feng exchanged a glance with the girl who had asked Xuhan for details and the two seemed to have come to a tacit agreement. With a gesture from him, nearly a dozen cultivators moved forward while the rest stayed in their positions.


    Cautiousness seemed to have seeped into their instinct.


    "Well, lead the way, Brother Kai."


    Han Xuhan nodded and jumped back into the portal after sharing one last glance with brother Feng.


    On the other side, Mu Ran looked like he was barely keeping his life at the edge of the cliff. The blade of his spear looked like it had been bitten by a t-rex. Han Xuhan silently counted his lucky stars that he hadn''t tried to stay and fight this nightmarish creature.


    "Boss, I got us some reinforcements! Retreat!"


    Too surprised to even question how absurd Xuhan''s yell was, Mu Ran simply dodged a deadly swipe of the zombie''s elongated arm and ran toward the portal. It didn''t take long for the so-called reinforcements to jump out of it behind Xuhan. While Mu Ran panted in exhaustion and Xuhan handed him some water he had been carrying around in a sack, the other cultivators slowly drove the zombie back with continuous attacks.


    After brother Feng came in through the portal alongside the other female cultivator whose authority in the group seemed to rival his own, the two joined in on the confrontation excitedly.


    Within a couple of minutes and with nearly zero injuries, the monstrous zombie was thrown off the cliff, into the bottomless abyss behind them. The two of them watched the battle with bated breaths.


    From the battle, Han Xuhan could gauge that all of these strangers were in the upper tiers of the physique transformation realm.


    Now that the danger had been taken care of, Han Xuhan could predict how things would advance from this situation.


    It wouldn''t be advantageous toward him and Mu Ran in the slightest. There was only one way out of this.


    "Brother Feng, it seems to us that this mysterious world is far too dangerous for rookie cultivators like ourselves. My friend and I have decided to return to our sect and report this to our sect master. Both of us are injured. So it is hardly a wise decision for us to continue to explore alongside you. Goodbye!"


    The person who was surprised the most by Xuhan''s sudden announcement was Mu Ran himself. But an imperceptible elbow strike from Xuhan made him shut his mouth.


    Brother Feng was taken aback as well, but he hid his surprise swiftly and nodded.


    "Tell my brothers outside this exact line- ''Stars Are Shifting As Always''. That''s your password. If you try to leave without saying it, they''ll attack you. We fixed it just now in case you two betrayed us here and tried to escape. Goodbye!"


    "...."


    Speechless, Han Xuhan and Mu Ran bade farewell to the group of cultivators from this so-called Stardust sect and left as fast as possible.


    Looking at their backs that had vanished into the portal, the female cultivator who had spoken to Xuhan frowned.


    "Martial brother Feng, we could have used them to explore further into the foggy area. They looked quite naive and enthusiastic. The allure of some treasures should have made it easy for us to use them as cannon fodder. With some assurances and a bit of coercing, they might have volunteered even."


    Feng Jun smirked superciliously. The look on his face surprised his group.


    "Hehe...didn''t you just say that they looked enthusiastic? Then why do you think they suppressed their greed and backed off despite having no visible injuries? Or did you believe him when he said they were injured? Did you fail to notice that the cultivator who was fighting the zombie actually held a slim advantage over it despite being tired?"


    Everyone suddenly looked enlightened by Feng Jun''s words and an expression of sudden realization appeared on the girl''s face.


    "You''re saying that Shen Kai kid understood that we might use them as cannon fodder? That''s why he ran back so fast?"


    "Big brother Feng Jun, you''re so perceptive! If we hadn''t agreed to let them go, those kids might have deceived us once we enter the foggy area!"


    "Hehe, brother Feng Jun has always been the smartest among us. Is that a surprise?"


    The group of cultivators fervently praised Feng Jun''s wisdom while he forced an awkward smile on his face. He had a feeling that things wouldn''t end so simply like that. But he couldn''t see any way for those guys to return and explore their way into the poisonous fog by themselves.


    Outside the portal, Xuhan and Mu Ran sat on top of a distant tree branch while Xuhan explained the situation to Mu Ran. But Mu Ran grew even more agitated after his explanation ended.


    "But I need to go in! Even if it''s dangerous, I must do it! If I can''t find it... Xuhan, just listen to me. If I fail to accomplish a certain mission inside the fog, I may not live for long. I can''t tell you what it is, but I have to go in again. I understand if you don''t want to risk it..."


    Han Xuhan sighed and patted him on the back.


    "Boss, put some trust in me! After all, I was supposed to be sharing the benefits with you when the exploration is over.


    Do you think I gave up that easily?


    Not a chance."

 Chapter 47: Like Dog, Like Staff

    Shen Kai was in a terrible mood. The order from the higher-ups in his sect was to be as low-key as possible while exploring the mysterious world fragment. But who could have foreseen that that weirdo Mu Ran would discover it?


    Shen Kai hadn''t believed a single word that came out of his mouth at the time Mu Ran was explaining how he had discovered the portal by a "coincidence".


    He hadn''t had much of a chance to test that guy, but Mu Ran''s behavior reeked of a certain type of idiocy that he could never think of as genuine.


    No one in the world of cultivation can be so easy to read, especially not a young man at the fourth layer of the Physique Transformation realm who could walk through the layers of protection that surrounded the gateway to the fragmented world.


    Mu Ran had not only forced his way through the barriers they had set up to repel investigators, he had even disabled more than half of them somehow in the process. Shen Kai hadn''t had the time to examine the damages, but he could sense the existence of the barrier from far away even after escaping from there. The bothersome bugs that had been snooping around for the last few days in this area would all come rushing to it, he was sure.


    Thinking about the consequences, Shen Kai''s heart ached.


    After all, the portal was hidden from the perception of outsiders using seventy-one types of illusion spells and a grandmaster-level array formation that twisted all sorts of universal laws around it. Unless an expert cultivator beyond the realm of soul reformation came down there, there was no way anyone could just sniff it out while investigating that area.


    How was he going to explain this to his master? Who would believe him?


    Feeling vexed, Shen Kai wrapped the shawl around him to hide his tattered clothes and small injuries from prying eyes. There were a lot of cultivators with scary backgrounds loitering around the town due to the suddenly revealed traces of the mysterious world fragment. He had just barely avoided a group of dozens who looked like they were from a sect that didn''t belong anywhere within five thousand square miles. Hell, they might even have been from overseas...


    "Young man, can I have a word with you?"


    The kind voice jolted Shen Kai into focusing on the seat beside him on the ferryboat. An old man holding a large black and red fish scale in his palm sat beside him wearing a peaceful expression on his face. Shen Kai suddenly felt that something was wrong with this situation. He was a cultivator at the sixth layer of the physique transformation realm. How come he hadn''t noticed the old man coming to sit beside him right now? He could swear that this seat was empty ten seconds ago...


    "Young man, I wanted to ask if you''ve seen two children. Both are slightly younger than you, and not very strong. One of them addresses the other as ''boss''. Both of them should have entered one of the towns nearby as representatives of the Crimson Snow sect. You met them, right? Can you point out which direction they went to?"


    Shen Kai was dumbstruck. How did this old man know that he had met those kids?


    But his surprise only lasted a mere second. Survival instincts kicked in fast. The casual way he had been sitting immediately changed into an attentive, respectful posture.


    He had no doubts in mind that he was facing someone beyond the soul reformation realm...


    "Hey, answer the question, boy. Don''t keep me waiting. I haven''t got all night. I''m an old man..." The powerhouse started to nag like a beggar.


    In the dim light of lanterns swaying along the rhythm of the boat, Shen Kai noticed countless sinister, terrifying shadows superimposing behind the old man''s hunched, harmless figure.


    A cold chill encompassed his bones.


    He didn''t have the mental strength to lie to the old man. He didn''t want to die so young.


    "Yes, I met them, grandpa. They went into the woods close to Pine town to investigate something. If you follow the route that runs through the woods, you''ll definitely meet them."


    Shen Kai''s answer was very honest and straightforward, respect and politeness pouring radiating from his face like the sun emitting light. The old man looked very satisfied with his answer.


    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    "The woods close to Pine town? Ha~ I should''ve guessed. No wonder somebody tried to erase my mark on the body of those kids. If my suspicion is true, the abomination will definitely look for something that can strengthen it.


    That place...I remember it had a trace of a hidden world fragment with a strange aura. Ah...no wonder they headed there. Thank you, little one. I can see that you''re stuck in a bottleneck. Hmm...not bad, let me see..."


    Shen Kai''s back was wet with cold sweat. The words coming out of the old man''s mouth were scaring him. A hidden world fragment with a strange aura? That''s how he described the mysterious world on the other side of the portal?!


    What did he know about that place?


    And what did he mean by "let me see"?


    As the spooked Shen Kai watched, the old man made some calculations on his fingers and traced the air in front of him aimlessly.


    "Ah, got it. Eh? That''s interesting!"


    "...What''s so interesting, grandpa?" Shen Kai asked with some trepidation. His cultivation was in question here. What would this powerhouse say about his bottleneck?


    "Boy, it seems that the best way for you to gain another breakthrough and reach the seventh layer of the physique transformation realm is to..."


    "Is to?"


    "Pay my transportation fees for me and I''ll tell you. This old man is penniless."


    ". . ."


    Shen Kai hesitantly reached into his pocket. Was this guy really a powerful cultivator? Was he really not a scammer? Should I take the risk of offending him?


    With those complicated thoughts in his mind, Shen Kai took out some money from his pockets and handed them to the old man who greedily stared at his pocket during the whole process while he kept counting heavens-know-what on his fingers.


    The old man''s childish behavior attracted the attention of a child sitting a few feet away from them. She curiously observed his antics and suddenly interrupted.


    "Grandpa, did your daddy not teach you how to count? Why are you counting on the same three fingers over and over? Do you need help?"


    "Huh? Oh-ahem...it''s been a while since I counted something so complicated. So this old man forgot some parts of the mathematics. But rest assured, I managed to pull through...somehow. I''ve got this last bit of calculations left..." The powerhouse sounded quite embarrassed.


    "Wah~ I''m really good at mathematics! Tell me what the problem is!"


    The old man curiously looked at the child for a few seconds before he opened his mouth.


    "What is nine times forty-three, little one?"


    Shen Kai choked on his own spit.


    But he decided not to risk it by being disrespectful to the old man. He had heard that many of the old experts who roamed freely in the world of cultivation had weird personalities. The most popular antic among them was to play the pig to eat the tiger.


    Shen Kai didn''t want to be a tiger outside his bedroom. So he just kept going with the flow.


    "Hihihi..." the child giggled and started counting on her fingers.


    "I got it!" She excitedly yelled after a few seconds.


    "Oh? That was fast! Tell me your answer!" The old man eagerly said.


    "I''ll tell you if you give me money to eat candies!"


    ". . ."


    ". . ."


    The old man and Shen Kai exchanged a complex look.


    "Ai~ kids these days learn so fast! Sigh...the young shall eventually surpass the old one day!"


    While the old man sighed, his eyes bore into Shen Kai''s own with an intensity beyond words. Shen Kai understood what he had to do. Life is harsh. It kicks you when you''re down.


    With shaking hands, he pulled out another wad of cash and handed it to the giggling girl.


    "Nine times forty-three is three hundred and eighty-nine!"


    Shen Kai wanted to refute her by saying that it was the wrong answer, but the old man butted in before he could.


    "Excellent! Truly excellent! It has to be the correct answer. The answer I got was three hundred and forty-nine! Since both numbers are close and mine isn''t very reliable, your answer must be the correct one!"


    "Ehehe...Thank you, grandpa! Thank you, big brother!" The girl excitedly shouted and ran back to her parents who were chatting at a distance.


    The old man looked at Shen Kai and said with a benevolent smile,


    "Boy, count your lucky stars that the little kid was here to correct me or I would''ve missed some variables. If you want to gain the next breakthrough, you must fight with the person you hate the most at the moment. As long as you battle him or her, you''ll break through and achieve victory! I have a feeling that you''re very clear about who I''m talking about, so hurry up. Bye!"


    Before Shen Kai could interject, the old man stood up and started walking away extremely fast. Shen Kai''s eyes tracked his back, only to realize after a second that he was actually staring at a completely different person seconds later! The old man had somehow vanished within the crowd right before his eyes and he didn''t even realize that.


    Shen Kai pulled his shawl closer to his body and huddled up in a corner of the boat while clutching his almost empty pocket.


    Even for a demonic cultivator, this world was an unkind place to live in.


    "I don''t have the money for a returning ticket to Pine town. Should I rob somebody? Or should I waste my qi to cast illusions on mortals to sneak inside a boat?


    I''m being forced to commit these lowly crimes due to such petty reasons... It''s not that I''m at fault, but it''s the world that has wronged me..."


    Feeling like a ruthless rebel who has seen through the unfairness of the world, Shen Kai decided to return to the woods and lurk for an opportunity to achieve his breakthrough.

 Chapter 48: Enter The Zombiemaker

    The next hour was spent resting and recuperating from injuries Mu Ran had sustained. The whole time, they kept a close eye on the portal and its surroundings.


    The few disciples of the Stardust Sect who had stayed outside to guard the portal had jumped in as well after Han Xuhan and Mu Ran gave them the password and left in a hurry.


    After all, no one wanted to be left out of a treasure hunt like this!


    That made it easy for the two of them to hang around nearby.


    "I''ve had more than enough rest. Those guys might have discovered some clues inside by now. They''d have come out by now otherwise."


    Mu Ran leaped down from the tree and began to punch the air, warming his body for more combat.


    "Let''s change into another pair of clothes first and put on some masks. If we really face those guys again, we can pretend to be cultivators who found the trace of the portal and came in to explore, just like them."


    Following Han Xuhan''s suggestion, both of them changed into a new pair of clothes. Outer sect disciples always carried spare clothes with them whenever they took up a dangerous mission. After all, it was hard to keep clothes intact during a deadly, superpower fuelled brawl.


    Han Xuhan and Mu Ran were rookies who hadn''t understood the necessity of these unwritten rules before coming to this place. They were learning the way of life practically now.


    Carrying things around would have been much easier if there were space rings being sold in the sect''s markets, something that Han Xuhan had assumed to be a common device in the world of cultivation. No matter how expensive one such ring was, he had been determined to buy one.


    But apparently, spatial magic was something so difficult to comprehend that whoever has managed to do so has already reached the apex of the world of cultivation!


    Why the hell would they waste their time making space rings for juniors who weren''t even a part of their family or a direct disciple?


    One could ask, but it''s such an awesome industrial opportunity!


    Were cultivators not in need of any money?


    The answer was very simple. Cultivators who could comprehend the laws of space were already so mighty that money was no different from dirt to them. The amount of money they could earn by undertaking the industrialization of space rings, space bags, and similar gadgets wasn''t even worth the time they''d have to waste on the whole process. The pursuit of dao was their only goal.


    Besides, it wasn''t exactly a piece of cake to utilize such gadgets that operate on heavenly laws. To even open or close the spatial storage devices, one would need a certain amount of comprehensive knowledge regarding the spatial laws of the world. Cultivators like Han Xuhan and Mu Ran would need to reach a realm far beyond their current goals to even entertain the notion.


    "Boss, it''s your time to shine. Take a peek inside and return immediately if they''re still hanging around the edge of the foggy area. I''m not fast enough to take such risks."


    No one had come out of the portal in the last two hours. Mu Ran sincerely hoped that they had found a way into the fog so that he could try his luck again.


    While Han Xuhan waited at a distance, Mu Ran jumped inside for the third time that night and vanished from his sight. A few seconds later, he returned with an energetic hop and gestured at Xuhan, signaling that the coast was clear.


    Han Xuhan went in behind him swiftly and entered the strange world for the second time. The edge of the cliff was devoid of any human presence. The vague footprints showed that the cultivators from the stardust sect had indeed entered the foggy area. Mu Ran turned around and looked at Han Xuhan expectantly as soon as he recovered from the moment of disorientation after the jump.


    Han Xuhan had assured that he had a card to play back when he had convinced Mu Ran to retreat temporarily.


    Instead of going toward the edge of the fog, Han Xuhan walked toward the edge of the cliff. Mu Ran watched with surprise as Han Xuhan looked down carefully from the edge and shouted one word.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Zhanxian !"


    Before Mu Ran''s widened eyes, a crimson-colored skeletal arm reached out toward Xuhan''s outstretched hands from below.


    Xuhan caught it and pulled hard, resulting into a popping sound as the rest of the skeleton followed its arm and climbed to the top of the cliff.


    "While we were watching them fight the zombie, I already understood that we needed their help if we wanted to explore the foggy area. But the risk of being used as cannon fodder was too high, and I didn''t know if they could actually figure out a way to protect themselves from the poison in the fog.


    "So I summoned Zhanxian and had him hide here on the steepest slope here where he couldn''t be seen easily. After all, he is all bones; quite hardy at that too. He can use his arms as spikes to penetrate the soil and use his joints as hooks to stick to the walls. Zhanxian might not be useful in a fight, but fighting isn''t the only way to solve problems now, is it?"


    This was his secret card. This was why he had left willingly so fast.


    Mu Ran''s mouth opened and closed a few times. Suddenly, he felt that Xuhan''s trashy cultivation technique wasn''t actually that trashy at all. It had saved his life once and even helped them eavesdrop on other cultivators during such a crucial moment!


    Should I start cultivating this technique too?


    Han Xuhan didn''t wait for Mu Ran''s thoughts to catch up and turned to look at the crimson skeleton idly gazing at the fog.


    "Little Zhanxian, what did those cultivators say after we left?"


    Zhanxian sighed. Then he ignored the questions and continued gazing at the fog.


    "...Zhanxian, don''t make me ask again," a blue vein throbbed on Xuhan''s temple.


    Wordlessly, Zhanxian pushed out a bony hand toward Xuhan and showed him his empty palm.


    Gritting his teeth, Han Xuhan took out a small piece of bone nourishment pill from his pocket and dropped it on Zhanxian''s outstretched palm.


    Nodding in satisfaction, Zhanxian put the crystal in one of his eye sockets for safekeeping and started speaking.


    "After you left, those cultivators praised their leader, Feng Jun, for not trying to use you as cannon fodder while exploring this...What was that word? Right, this ''world fragment''.


    "Apparently they all think you two are cunning, greedy devils who would deceive and betray them had they tried to use you. Then they walked closer to the fog and I realized that I couldn''t hear most of their words from where I was originally hanging on.


    So I slowly moved up and around until I caught some of their discussions. It took them a while to figure it out.


    I don''t know what method they used, but the final decision they came to regarding the fog is that once you enter, there is no way to avoid being poisoned. What matters is that you have to find the antidotes of the poison as soon as possible.


    The balls of light floating inside might be the clues to the antidotes because that is the only way somebody inside the fog can preserve their life. As you can see, there are signs of people moving around loudly deeper inside the fog.


    One of the members of the group cultivates her eyes, it seems. She observed the shadowy figures inside the fog for while and reported that those people have been running from one ball of light to another, deeper and deeper into the fog.


    "The ultimate consensus was that this world fragment is a well-hidden inheritance ground. The fog is just one of the many obstacles meant to test the ability of cultivators with potential who can inherit the legacy inside. After reaching this part of their conversation, they decided to enter the fog, one team after another. I don''t know if they succeeded or not, but none of them made any sort of ruckus like that zombie. And the last team didn''t sound particularly nervous when it was their time to enter the fog."


    Zhanxian''s words were enough to bring an exuberant expression to Mu Ran''s face. He immediately turned around and ran toward the fog. Han Xuhan gave one final glance at the crystal in Zhanxian''s eye socket and followed him.


    "Underling, in terms of contribution, you''re already way ahead of me. So I''ll take the risk to enter first and find out if this strategy really works. In any case, this is our only shot. I have to do this."


    Mu Ran took out a small green piece of jade and handed it to Xuhan.


    "Here, this is a precious soul signature jade. As long as this jade emits warmth, it means I''m not dead yet."


    Han Xuhan didn''t have any complaints. He stood still and summoned Zhanxian back into his dao tower. Mu Ran lightly jumped up and down and stretched his legs for a few seconds before standing at the edge of the fog and targeting one floating ball of light in particular. It was one of the biggest red orbs from their point of view, thus easy to keep track of.


    Taking a deep breath, Mu Ran glanced at Han Xuhan and nodded one last time before running inside the fog at a superhuman speed. Han Xuhan barely blinked once and realized that Mu Ran''s shadowy figure was almost undetectable in the fog. If he hadn''t specifically kept his eyes on it from the start, he wouldn''t have noticed it at all. The fast-moving figure reached the orb within a few seconds and leaped toward it vigorously. Han Xuhan closely observed the jade in his hand.


    It was slightly warmer than his own body. As Mu Ran vanished within the fog after leaping toward the orb, it suddenly lost its warmth for a few seconds before starting to emit steady heat again. Carefully, Han Xuhan kept his palms closed around it and felt its warmth.


    There was no other particular change. For nearly half an hour, the jade''s warmth didn''t change in the slightest. But Mu Ran didnt return either.


    Feeling confident that the strategy had worked, Han Xuhan put the jade inside his pocket and rushed toward the fog at breakneck speed. His aim was the same as Mu Ran''s, the biggest orb of light in the outskirts of the fog.

 Chapter 49: A Fellow Cultivator With Many Titles

    The first thing Han Xuhan noticed after entering the foggy area was that despite keeping his mouth and nose covered with a part of his cloth, a foul smell assaulted his olfactory senses as soon as he had stepped inside. Somehow, the air polluted by the fog had penetrated his lungs despite holding his breath.


    A burning sensation began to build up inside him the longer he ran inside the fog. He could feel the heat reaching every part of his body through his blood vessels. The orb was further away than he had thought. Han Xuhan increased his speed even further, not caring about safety measures anymore and focusing on reaching his destination with every cell of his body.


    His eyes began to water, affecting his sight. A few yards away from his destination, he tripped and nearly fell down...on corpses.


    There were giant corpses that barely resembled humans littering the ground. Han Xuhan noticed some of the humanoid ones that looked very similar to the zombie they had faced outside. The rest...they looked too terrifying; grotesque to the point where he did not want to think about them anymore after a few glances. Some of them would definitely plague his dreams for a long time.


    It seemed that these zombies had died fighting among themselves.


    Keeping his eyes peeled toward the shining orb, he ignored the squishing sounds and sensations coming from beneath his feet and kept running at the fastest speed possible; which was actually faster than most mortals who had been forced to enter the foggy area by the demonic cultivators. Since he had witnessed a mortal escaping back outside the fog all by himself, Xuhan was confident of reaching his destination safely as long as he tried his best.


    Seconds later, he was facing the orb he had been rushing towards.


    It was about the size of a beach ball. Its entire body was made of a semi-transparent glassy material. There were countless small words engraved on its surface, barely visible due to the radiance leaking out from it.


    Han Xuhan couldn''t recognize the language the words were written in. But he was too exuberant to care!


    The moment he had gotten within the range where he could see it clearly, Xuhan had felt the searing heat in his body dissipate slightly.


    Energized, he ran like the wind and leaped to touch the orb like he had seen Mu Ran''s figure do. The moment his hands touched the orb, he felt the world around him twist and disappear, almost similar to how jumping into the portal had felt.


    After a brief moment of disorientation, Han Xuhan felt the steady ground rematerialize under his feet. Blinking rapidly, he looked around.


    The foggy surroundings, the looming balls of light, the stink of blood and rot...everything had been replaced.


    Han Xuhan was standing inside a huge spherical stadium made entirely out of glass. The glass walls were filled with the same unknown writings he had noticed on the surface of the orb before leaping up to touch it. The source of light inside the orb seemed to be the walls themselves, radiating a red hue that pulsed in a lively manner and attracted eyes toward the words on them.


    Was this the world inside the orb? How did this even work?!


    Had he become a miniature version of himself and been transported inside the orb?


    And the most important thing here was that there were other people inside the glass stadium with him. Han Xuhan''s sudden appearance didn''t surprise them at all. After one suspicious look at his attire and masked face, they went back to minding their own business.


    All of these people were standing close to the walls, their eyes glued to the writings there.


    Han Xuhan didn''t quite understand how his body size had shrunk so much that he could fit inside the orb and feel like he was inside a huge, round stadium. But seeing how strange and magical this world was throughout the last few weeks had changed him.


    He didn''t freak out as much as he should have. Instead, he found this entire experience rather fun, a very dangerous type of fun. He really felt like one of those protagonists in mystery novels, exploring secrets after secrets on an incredible adventure. It was a refreshing sensation.


    Feeling rather energized, Han Xuhan looked around with more focus this time. Mu Ran should be here too, right? Both of them had leaped into the same orb after all.


    Yet as he kept turning to look on and on, he realized that Mu Ran wasn''t here, at least not inside this particular orb. He could even see some of those cultivators from the stardust sect. But strangely enough, none of them stood close to each other, unlike their previous display of unity outside the fog.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.Brother Feng didn''t seem to be among them either.


    Deciding not to jump to conclusions, Han Xuhan walked over to an unfamiliar cultivator who wore a cyan robe that covered him from head to toe. Underneath the hood, Han Xuhan could see a featureless glassy, metallic mask completely obscuring his face.


    "Cool mask you got there, fellow miniature person. Is it up for sale?"


    "...No." The guy sounded unprepared for such a friendly opening exchange.


    "Tsk. Could you tell me if you saw a guy wearing a red bandana on his head and black cloth masking his face? He should have arrived here about half an hour ago."


    The man looked him up and down for a few seconds before replying in a rumbling tone,


    "Was he your friend?"


    Han Xuhan suddenly felt that being known as the protagonist''s friend in a xianxia world was...not very advantageous. He had no idea what Mu Ran had done after entering this place. It was better to take no risks. Carefully, he answered in a measured tone.


    "We are acquaintances who decided to venture in here together. We got separated in the fog. He owes me some spirit stones and a precious treasure."


    "He raised quite the fuss after entering this place. He left just a few minutes ago, faster than anyone managed to on this platform. Quite the performance, I''d say." The cyan-robed man answered his question this time.


    Han Xuhan found the keyword in his answer.


    "Left? How did he do that?"


    This time the guy in the cyan robe didn''t answer immediately. After staring silently at Han Xuhan for nearly ten seconds, he stretched out a hand which held a paper and quill.


    "What is this, fellow man with a cool mask?"


    "...It''s a formal agreement. Read the terms and conditions and sign it if you want to. If you''re illiterate, find somebody to read it to you."


    Han Xuhan was confused.


    What was wrong with this guy now?


    He just wanted to know the answer to his question. How did it turn into signing a deal?


    Han Xuhan wrapped up the corner of his robe around his fingers. Then he carefully pinched the corner of the paper and took it from him. After all, it was common sense to not touch anything offered by a stranger!


    Han Xuhan read the words on the paper loudly, to show that he wasn''t illiterate.


    "The following deal shall bind the one(s) who sign it according to the rules written on this paper.


    Any type of rule-breaking will result in immediate punishment and said punishment may cause the death of the offender."


    Underneath the paragraph were multiple blank slots to put their names in. Beneath the blank slots were a few rules written using the standard contract template that could be found in courtrooms.


    Han Xuhan suddenly remembered getting scammed on his second day at the sect during choosing his education curriculum. He immediately scrutinized each and every sentence written on the page and tried to find any existing loophole.


    If he signed the paper, he would be agreeing to reveal any information he knew regarding the secrets of this world fragment. In return, he''d receive the information he wanted from the other guy provided that he knew the information beforehand, or acquired afterward.


    The laws behind the technique used to create and bind the agreement would judge whether both parties could offer equivalent information or not automatically so that they could both benefit from the agreement and not scam each other. Lying would immediately result into severe punishments such as being struck by heavenly thunder, odd accidents that cannot be countered, a streak of misfortune that can snowball into disastrous events, qi deviation during breakthrough, and many more.


    Was this a cultivation technique? Amazing!


    Han Xuhan read the entire thing full of legal mumbo jumbo three times. Then he considered whether he should really put his actual name in there while signing. If this guy was some sort of demonic voodoo artist, Han Xuhan would be screwed...


    The man in cyan robes seemed to have understood his dilemma. He cleared his thought and impatiently said, "you don''t need to sign with your real name. Anything written by your hand will do."


    Han Xuhan hesitantly considered the deal. He had never heard of such a strange cultivation technique in his life...well, lives. But it wasn''t that difficult to understand how the technique worked.


    There was one thing, however, that still struck him as odd.


    "Fellow cultivator with a fishy cultivation technique, why do you think I can provide you with any sort of information regarding the secrets behind this world? I entered just now from outside, as you''ve seen."


    "Stop addressing me with those strange titles," the cyan-robed man said in irritation.


    "Well, what do I address you as, then?" Han Xuhan said doubtfully.


    The fellow cultivator didn''t answer that.


    "Your companion broke all the previous records in this stage while trying to leave this place. As his friend and partner, you should be able to display similar performance too. It''s fine even if you do not know the information that I require for now. If you ever catch up with him, I can use the amount of information you would owe me to compel you to interrogate him on how he did it."


    Han Xuhan nodded honestly. This was fine with him. He didn''t need to worry about breaking his part of the deal.


    Taking the quill from the cyan-robed man''s hand, Han Xuhan signed on top of one of the blank slots.


    "Your contract sounds very fair, fellow cultivator who can''t even come up with a fake name.


    I''m also an honest man who loves such deals with equivalent exchange of information. So I''ll definitely not play any trick with you."


    The cyan-robed man nodded after hearing Han Xuhan''s sincere words and took the signed paper. Examining it for a second, he signed his own name on it and put it inside one of the pockets of his robe.


    "I hope for a satisfying conclusion to our deal, Shen Kai."


    "Me too, fellow cultivator who''s very easy to get along with."

 Chapter 50: Texts Suck

    "The texts on the walls are both like a shackle and a key.


    As you can see, the walls of this spherical arena are filled with the texts. As long as you can decipher a certain part of it, there is a chance to discover a way to leave this stage and progress further in the foggy area. At least, to my knowledge, that''s how it works.


    I assume that your friend has some rudimentary knowledge regarding how to decipher the texts. I didn''t really observe him. But as far as I can tell, he immediately focused on the walls here after entering, as if he knew what to do beforehand. Unlike the rest of us who tried to get a good look at all the texts in the stadium to see if we can find anything familiar, he didn''t move from the place he had appeared at the beginning and half an hour later, he wrote down something on the ground he had stood on.


    As soon as he had finished writing, a red light appeared around him and your friend disappeared."


    The cyan-robed man finished his explanation and fell silent. Han Xuhan didn''t know what to make of the information he had just been given. This whole thing sounded a lot more complicated than he had assumed.


    "What about the poison that entered our body? Why can''t I feel it inside me anymore?" He asked the most important question at the moment.


    The man answered after a brief pause.


    "The poison is only active when you are outside the balls of light strewn across the foggy area. Inside the arena we are standing in right now, the poison has been suppressed and eliminated. So each orb acts like a lifeline inside the poisonous fog. The longer you stay outside, the more poison your body will absorb and the more twisted your ending would be. Unless you have reached the soul reformation realm, there is no way to counter the poison. But a higher cultivation does guarantee a longer period of survival. If someone can decipher the texts here like your friend, they''ll probably be allowed to leave the dangerous, foggy zone and get closer to whatever treasure we''re after."


    Han Xuhan sighed. Life really wasn''t easy when you had a low cultivation. He had to hurry and catch up with Mu Ran. Turning into a zombie didn''t sound very tempting...not because he disliked the notion, but mostly because the zombies looked pretty ugly. If there was a way to become a handsome, cool zombie, he''d probably consider shifting into one.


    "Where is the place he was standing on?" He finally asked after considering the clues at hand for a few moments.


    "There," the cyan-robed man pointed at a corner of the stadium where the number of people observing the texts was particularly high.


    "They all think they can glean something from the words your friend wrote down to create his escape path. I''ve seen it too. It''s useless. The words he engraved on the ground bear similar structures to the words on the walls. Both seemed to be the same language. And none of us here know what language it is."


    Han Xuhan nodded at the cyan-robed man and walked over to the corner. A conspicuous circle filled with texts had been carved down on the ground in front of him using a sharp tool, probably the spearhead.


    Alongside the rest of the observers, Han Xuhan tried his best to understand what was written in there.


    He understood nothing.


    The engraved words on the walls and the ones written by Mu Ran looked very similar. To Xuhan, the writings looked like complicated calligraphy using countless variations of straight lines, curved strokes, geometrical shapes, and sometimes even three-dimensional helical structures.


    Scratching his head in utter confusion, Han Xuhan turned to look at the cyan-robed man and saw him staring at the area of the wall in front of him, evidently still trying to decipher the secrets of this place.


    Han Xuhan felt that the whole thing was pointless when he had no idea what language it even was. Feeling slightly anxious, he started going over all the resources and tricks in his hands to see if anything could be applied in this situation.


    There was one.


    Han Xuhan walked over to one of the less populated sides of the stadium and concentrated on running a qi cycle inside his meridians. He had replenished his qi reserve while waiting outside the fog to see if Mu Ran''s soul signature jade revealed any sign of his death. So it didn''t take him long to complete the summoning process of Zhanxian.


    About ten seconds later, the crimson skeleton popped out from his back like a ghost and landed on the ground lightly. A few cultivators had been observing him warily from a distance. They tensed up immediately before realizing that the skeleton''s aura barely surpassed a mortal. Giving Han Xuhan cautious looks, most of them returned to their attempts at deciphering the texts.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Hey, Zhanxian, examine the texts here and see if you find anything familiar." Han Xuhan prodded the skeleton toward the wall and closely observed its reaction, not that there was much to read from its bony face and empty eye sockets.


    After a few seconds, the skeleton said, "I don''t."


    "Ughhh." Han Xuhan stomped on the ground and started tugging on his hair from frustration.


    Shaking its head at its boss''s weird antics, the skeleton impatiently waited to be summoned back inside the dao tower. It was so much more comfortable and safer in there, not to mention that it grew stronger and stronger when it stayed there and its boss practiced the technique that had summoned it.


    But Han Xuhan had no plans to summon Zhanxian back into the dao tower for now. Due to his inexperience, it always took a while to complete the summoning. If things went toward a more... violent direction inside the stadium, Han Xuhan would need all his trump cards primed. After all, not all cultivators were exactly reasonable, honest, and peaceful people like himself.


    After aimlessly thinking for a few minutes, Han Xuhan gave up and decided to replenish the qi he had lost while summoning Zhanxian. He had gradually become able to sense qi without the help of formations and gadgets bought from the sect. So he could somewhat slowly absorb qi by himself anywhere. As a cultivator at the second layer of the physique transformation realm, summoning Zhanxian took away nearly one-third of his qi reserve.


    Drawing in the qi from his surroundings, Han Xuhan started to channel the flowing substance into his meridians carefully. However, he soon discovered something quite odd.


    The qi around him didn''t flow in despite the mental connection he established with it after the technique began. Instead, the qi seemed to be repulsed by him and slowly dispersed away, further and further while he tried his best to control the qi.


    What the hell is this? Is cultivation prohibited here?


    His curiosity spiking up, Han Xuhan followed the traces of the qi using his constantly weakening mental connection and started walking forward.


    SMACK!


    "Ow, dammit!"


    Han Xuhan had forgotten to open his eyes while walking behind the qi. The traces had led him straight to the wall ahead and it had resulted into the collision just now. Opening his eyes properly this time, Han Xuhan observed the walls closely, and found that the more qi he tried to absorb, the more qi entered the walls instead and...gathered inside the grooves created on the walls by the archaic texts engraved on them.


    He swiftly began to conduct further experiments. Nearly an hour passed without any rest before he ran out of qi to use. The overall results from his experiment were...interesting.


    Xuhan had discovered that the engraved texts worked like his own meridians, able to sustain and channel qi. And something about this entire stadium made it so that once somebody tried to recover or replenish their qi, the majority of it would instead flow to the walls and fill up the grooves of the engraved texts.


    After understanding this particular rule, Han Xuhan had searched out one of the least densely written parts of the wall and used his qi replenishing method to fill up a particular jumble of texts that had been engraved far away from the rest of the texts around it, almost like a detached paragraph or a perhaps a sentence.


    His line of thought was very simple. Among the many traits of qi known to humans, one of the most important ones was to act like an activator and a reagent. Since the qi was attracted to the texts, there must be an underlying reason behind why such a rule was created inside the stadium by whoever built it. The most obvious answer to what the reason could be was the activation of whatever was written in the texts. Due to the complicated arrangement of most of the texts on the walls, Han Xuhan had tracked down this detached jumble of texts in order to ensure that his qi could fill it up entirely without leaving a single stroke empty.


    The moment his qi filled every last millimeter of the grooves, Han Xuhan felt something intangible explode inside his brain.


    It felt like his head had been soaked inside a tornado of virtual symbols and complicated shapes that made no sense. Yet those symbols seemed to be slowly occupying every bit of his consciousness as if his brain was trying its best to memorize them.


    He felt a splitting sensation in his head for the next few seconds before the hallucinations faded. Focusing his eyes on the wall in front of him, Han Xuhan realized what had just happened.


    The jumble of texts in front of him no longer felt foreign to him. It was the most complicated style of written language he had ever seen in his lives. Every stroke, every curve, every shape had different meanings, different subtypes and subtle differences to them. Han Xuhan could only decipher the small jumble of texts he had managed to fill up. It took up barely two square feet on the wall. Yet he could recognize at least twenty different alphabets in it that could be read from up to down, right to left, corner to corner, and vice versa.


    Scarily enough, all of those would have the same meaning regardless of how many ways one deciphered the texts. It was almost like a constantly moving circle. This language no longer seemed to consist of dead words on a surface but visible, intangible, moving imprints that could affect the reader''s mind and make them perceive what the writer had wanted them to perceive, regardless of how they tried to look at it. It was almost a living thing itself.


    Slowly, Han Xuhan managed to read the entire text after getting used to the strange sensation his brain experienced while deciphering the words. It read-


    [ No creature below the Soul Reformation Realm shall activate any law fragment of this circle, nor.... ]

 Chapter 51: One Name Defeats An Army

    "So it seems that managing to fill up the words on the walls is basically like establishing a mental connection with the texts using the qi that was meant for myself. This, in turn, can transfer the data regarding the meaning of the words directly to my brain.


    If that''s the case, then all I have to do in order to figure out how to get out of here is to fill up enough texts with my qi."


    At the moment this realization had struck him, Han Xuhan had felt like he was on top of the world, a detective solving the most complex puzzles...


    And then a second realization had followed. The amount of texts engraved on the walls was enormous.


    Han Xuhan felt unnerved by the taskload he could visualize ahead of him. The walls of this stadium were gigantic. And the texts reached all the way up to the rounded dome-shaped roof above their head.


    It''d take him a very long time to fill them up with qi, analyze the transferred information in his brain, and slowly decipher their meaning.


    Wait a minute, didn''t the cyan-robed guy say that Mu Ran left immediately after he wrote the texts in front of him?


    Invigorated by the sudden idea, Han Xuhan suppressed his excitement lest somebody should suspect anything and walked calmly toward the place where Mu Ran had left his mark on the ground.


    Zhanxian followed behind him without missing a beat. The skeleton could perceive the not-so-friendly atmosphere inside the stadium. In case a fight broke out, it planned to hide behind its master immediately.


    Han Xuhan''s reappearance in front of the texts on the ground didn''t raise as much curiosity among the other observers as it had the previous time. Peering down at the writings, he realized that he couldn''t recognize any of the letters used in the texts on the ground. The strokes and slashes here were much different from the sentence he had just deciphered a few minutes ago.


    Since there were others observing the writings closely alongside him, it was inconvenient to use his qi replenishing technique to fill the texts up. They might learn the trick.


    The cyan-robed man, his new partner, was trailing not far behind him. Han Xuhan silently walked over to him and whispered a sentence in his ears.


    Then he left the guy there and returned back to Mu Ran''s engraving site.


    It was time to play a little game.


    "Hey Zhanxian, weren''t you always whining about getting some tattoos? How about now? These drawings on the walls and ground look cool as hell to me. Rather than those stupid life quotes you were trying to engrave on your bones, why not try these?"


    Very loudly, Han Xuhan voiced his thoughts to Zhanxian. The crimson-colored skeleton opened its jaw to protest vehemently, only to notice Han Xuhan''s wink. It shut its mouth close for a few seconds to consider the option.


    Personally, the skeleton felt that the words on the walls actually would make some badass tattoos. The archaic texts had an intimidating, chilly feeling to them that couldn''t be found in any normal language. Since they looked so mysterious and cool...


    "Sure, boss. But I get to pick which part of the texts I want tattooed."


    Han Xuhan looked slightly startled at Zhanxian''a enthusiasm. Then he nodded thoughtfully.


    Zhanxian started walking around, examining the walls closely. Every time he stopped, Han Xuhan would shout in a deafening voice.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "Not that one! That one looks too complicated. Look for another one!"


    The shouts were enough to rupture some eardrums. The cultivators surrounding Mu Ran''s writing on the ground were incredibly annoyed. They had been concentrating as hard as possible to look for clues to figure out the way to solve this puzzle.


    The random shouts behind them were enough to make a dying man wish for immediate death. Who could concentrate seriously in such an atmosphere?


    "Boss! This one! This one looks cool! I want it!"


    This time the skeleton also joined in. Han Xuhan enthusiastically ran over, making the annoyed cultivators think he was finally going away. But they soon realized their mistake a few moments later...


    *Screeeechhh* *Gashgashgash* *krkrkrkr*


    Sounds similar to a sharp metal rubbing against metal came from the place Han Xuhan had run to. Everybody turned to take a look at what was happening.


    Han Xuhan had taken out a knife and was busy sharpening it on an edge of the wall. Due to the rough texture of the walls, the sound emitted from there made them feel like somebody was caressing their eardrums with a thin spike.


    The shrill sound didn''t die down even after ten minutes. Han Xuhan looked like he was about to sharpen his blade until it became invisible. What made it worse was the fact that everyone could see that the walls were not suitable to sharpen a blade in the slightest. It was downright obvious to them that this masked brat was simply trying to disturb everyone because he couldn''t decipher them himself.


    One of the more impatient ones finally couldn''t take it anymore and decided to stomp toward Han Xuhan, killing intent surging out of his body like a flood. Han Xuhan immediately looked back at him eagerly and took out the glaive from his back.


    "Heh, brat! Do you think your puny stick can scare anybody?"


    Han Xuhan laughed in a demented manner upon hearing the burly guy advancing toward him.


    "Don''t look down on my shaft, you trash! If there is one weapon in this arena you do not want to be hit by, it''s this weapon of mine!"


    "You sure can brag, kid." The burly guy took out a heavy sword from his back. One glance was enough to tell that he was a professional in fighting with a sword.


    "Oh, I''m not bragging." Han Xuhan''s grin got wider.


    "This glaive fell into a pile of zombie innards while I was on my way here through the foggy zone. From the stink there, I can assure you that the zombie ate some very questionable substance before its death. I didn''t have the time to wash off the filth properly. Looks like your clothes are gonna be a good cleaning rag for my weapon. Heh~"


    The burly-looking cultivator suddenly felt a wave of nausea washing over his body like an unstoppable tide. But he still held his sword and advanced hesitantly.


    Seeing his determination, Han Xuhan took out his small waterskin and squeezed out a mouthful, spraying it on the glaive.


    Then he swung the shaft around wildly, sending out droplets of the water around him in a large circle.


    His oncoming opponent was the first to get hit by the handmade rain.


    With a grimace, he backed off a few feet, but stubbornly stood his ground, sword raised horizontally.


    "You clown, do you think I can''t read your movements? You''ve never held a weapon in your life, have you? It''s okay, you''re about to discover how right now." he said.


    Such a cool line! Such a professional pose!


    Han Xuhan instantly felt like copying the youth. But the pose looked quite difficult.


    "True, but have you ever been showered with sewage water? If not, you''re about to right now." He retorted as he continued spinning the glaive with the expertise of a rookie drummer.


    It slipped out of his hand.


    "Bullshit!"


    "That too, might have been one of the contents inside the zombie innards. Sure smelled like it!"


    Their battle had turned into a shouting match by now. Half the people in the arena were staring at them, uncertain of how to react to this farce.


    Several other youths stood up and approached the two fighters. Their aggressive gazes told Xuhan all he needed to know.


    This wasn''t going to end with minor scratches and sore muscles.


    "You know, the droplets of water raining around us could have been laced with poison, instead of excrement..."


    Those words were like a magic spell. All of his opponents came to a halt, expressions turning cautious.


    The warning had come from the cyan-robed man standing a few meters away.


    "I have just had a conversation with him," Han Xuhan''s partner said in a flat tone.


    "He let slip that his master is a senior from the Black Lotus Circus. I don''t think I need to elaborate further."


    Feet retreated faster than they had advanced. Within seconds, a fifty-meter radius around Han Xuhan was emptied.


    Wow!


    Han Xuhan had no idea what the Black Lotus Circus was, but that name seemed to have way more weight than his influential sect!

 Chapter 52: Logic Leads To Terrifying Paradox

    Han Xuhan didn''t immediately tell his partner in crime how to decipher the texts. The information was the currency in their deal, after all.


    Striding over to Mu Ran''s writings, he slowly started running his qi replenishing method.


    The qi filled up the grooves on the ground in the same way it had filled the texts on the walls. After half an hour had passed, the entire jumble of engraved texts was crammed full with qi.


    Han Xuhan felt the familiar sensation of the info dump exploding inside his brain moments after once more.


    The unfamiliar words on the ground started making sense after a few seconds and Han Xuhan could finally notice the specialty of the words instead of the simple, two-dimensional, plain marks on the ground.


    [Any physique transformation realm cultivator who has comprehended the language of laws or has the ability to activate a single law fragment in this circle of laws shall be eligible to advance past this circle of laws]


    The meaning of the text stunned Xuhan. Something did not add up!


    According to the first law fragment he had managed to decipher a few minutes ago, it was impossible to activate any law fragment without a cultivation level above the soul reformation realm.


    Since Mu Ran got ejected out of this arena after writing this, didn''t that mean he actually activated the law?


    He was above the soul reformation realm? Impossible!


    There had to be a secret trick somewhere! If Mu Ran was an old monster hiding inside a normal kid''s body, he wouldn''t be so easy to manipulate and take advantage of.


    The cyan-robed man was standing a few meters away examining Zhanxian curiously. Han Xuhan glanced back at him before he fell into deep thought. If the events described by the cyan-robed man were correct, then there could be few possibilities that Han Xuhan could think of. The most obvious one was that-


    Mu Ran''s soul was above the soul reformation realm, or at least, there was a soul above the soul reformation realm inside Mu Ran''s body.


    It wasn''t an uncommon trope.


    Han Xuhan had read plenty of such stories in his previous life. But encountering such absurdities in real life was entirely a different matter. This made the situation much more complicated.


    Following the assumption that there really was a soul so powerful residing inside Mu Ran''s body, Han Xuhan could finally connect the dots behind his strange behavior during their mission. If the portal in the woods was something the demonic cultivators had hidden carefully, then it would naturally be impossible for Mu Ran to discover its traces with his low cultivation base.


    But what if the powerful soul inside his body helped him find the portal?


    Then things actually started making sense. Furthermore, Mu Ran''s desperation to enter the fog and his half-assed explanation regarding this obsessive behavior also fell into a logical chain of events following this assumption.


    The soul inside Mu Ran''s body was compelling Mu Ran to enter the fog and look for a certain target. The compulsion could either be absolutely forced or more like a deal. Mu Ran was trying his best to accomplish his part of the deal, which could explain his behavior.


    Han Xuhan felt his head aching after reaching the end of the logical deductions. There was no point in contemplating further down this rabbit hole of imagination. His current predicament didn''t have anything to do with Mu Ran''s secret soul grandpa.


    "You''ve been staring at empty air for quite a while now. And your aura suddenly grew unstable for a few seconds just now. Have you discovered something?"


    A deep, rumbling tone came from behind. Han Xuhan turned to face the cyan-robed man and nodded after thinking things through for a couple of seconds.


    "Could you describe exactly what happened after my acquaintance wrote the texts on the ground? I need some details."


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    The cyan-robed man shook his head.


    "Did you expect me to keep observing others without any reason? Most of what I told you comes from the mouth of people who were standing closer to your friend before he left this place. They were discussing the information and making a clamor after his departure."


    Han Xuhan sighed and looked down at the texts on the ground. While filling these words up with qi let him understand their meaning, Han Xuhan had no idea how to actually make the ''law fragment'' do what it meant.


    He obviously had to use qi as a fuel. But he was in the physique transformation realm. There wasn''t exactly any soul reformation realm powerhouse in sight whom he could use.


    "If you can''t really figure out how he left, you might as well as tell me all the information you''ve gathered about this place so far. You do need to keep your part of the agreement we made, remember?"


    The cyan-robed man looked rather disappointed.


    Han Xuhan decided to tell him how to decipher the words on the walls. Of course, he wouldn''t give away such precious information for free. The information provided by the cyan-robed man so far could hardly match up to the information Han Xuhan was about to reveal. So a plan beneficial to both parties had to be carried out.


    "Fellow cultivator who lacks patience-"


    The man groaned and said, "Call me Qian Yun."


    "Fellow cultivator named Qian Yun, let''s make a deal."


    "Another deal? What are you offering in return?"


    "Information precious enough to outweigh everything you''ve offered so far."


    The cyan-robed man''s breathing hitched abruptly.


    "There is only one thing that can be so precious to me in here. Don''t tell me you''ve found a way to-"


    "Yes, I''ve already found the way to decipher the texts on the wall."He completed the sentence for Qian Yun.


    Han Xuhan''s new friend laughed out excitedly.


    "Good! If your information can help me decipher these texts, I''ll owe you a precious one! What''s the catch? What do you need in return?"


    With a dry chuckle, Han Xuhan added the condition he had come up with when he had decided to reveal the information.


    "The catch is a that every time you manage to decipher a sentence, you''ll have to point it out to me and tell me the meaning. I myself cannot possibly run around this entire stadium reading every word written on the walls. It''d take too long!"


    Qian Yun nodded immediately. The condition was hardly disadvantageous to him.


    Han Xuhan looked around to check if anybody was listening in or paying an unusual amount of attention to them before he whispered the method of deciphering the texts to his new friend. The cyan-robed man looked dumbstruck for a few seconds after he absorbed the information in.


    "No wonder! I haven''t got the courage to cultivate in this place full of poisonous gas mixed in the air outside. What if the qi here was problematic too? Didn''t you think of that?"


    Hearing Qian Yun''s question, it was Han Xuhan''s turn to be stunned.


    "....Holy shit! Why didn''t I think of that? I could''ve died!"


    The gaze coming from behind the glassy exterior of Qin Yun''s mask was laced with suspicion, pity, and amazement. Nevertheless, he immediately left Xuhan in his stupor and started to decipher all the texts he could find around them.


    Han Xuhan sighed after breaking out of his daze.


    Why had he overlooked such a dangerous possibility?


    He had to be more careful in the future. What was done was done. Not seeing any use in lamenting over his risky feat, Han Xuhan started walking around the walls and deciphering the ''law fragments'' on them.


    Hours passed. Perhaps the sun had already risen in the real world outside the portal. Han Xuhan and Qian Yun were relentless in their pursuit of new knowledge. Both of them seemed to notice the excitement in each other''s eyes as they managed to figure out more and more secrets regarding this stadium.


    There were countless bizarre statements written on the walls. From smiting powerful cultivators for any powerful moves to restricting all sorts of destructive behaviors...the variety of punishments gave Xuhan a lot to think about.


    Nearly seven hours later, Han Xuhan had exhausted himself and lay on the ground beside Zhanxian. Qian Yun decided to take a break as well and came to sit beside them.


    The rest of the occupants in the spherical stadium had either given up or stubbornly kept trying to find out what was so special about this place. Han Xuhan mentally praised them for their industrious nature. No wonder these guys could rise above normal mortals and cultivate their body and mind toward a higher degree of existence. In the world of cultivators, few were useless or mediocre by normal standards. Everyone had entered this world of wonders simply because they were special people themselves.


    "Here are the last two I''ve deciphered just now. Take a look."


    The cyan-robed man stretched out a piece of paper again from his pocket. Was this guy carrying around an entire stationary shop inside his robe? Where did those quills and papers kept coming from?


    So useful!


    Han Xuhan took the paper from him and read the contents on it.


    Then he immediately froze as one of the keywords there slipped into a missing piece of the puzzle this place had created in his mind.

 Chapter 53: The Lawmaker And The Lawbreaker

    [ Any soul at or above the soul reformation realm shall be struck with a mental demon inducing lightning upon attempting to harm, deactivate, oppose, or nullify any law fragments in this circle of laws ]


    [ Any newly added law fragment that attempts to deactivate, nullify, destroy, or act against the primary functions of the law fragments herein shall be nullified and the operator of that law fragment shall be struck with a Mind Obliteration Tribulation. The number of lightning strikes will depend on the cultivation level of the offender]


    These were the last two law fragments they had deciphered.


    For quite a while, Han Xuhan had been pondering what the actual purpose of this Circle of Laws was.


    How were the cultivators who wanted to break through this stage of the so-called ''inheritance test'' supposed to really find a clue to what lay ahead of them? What was even the point of wasting so much of their precious time and risking their lives with no immediate incentives being offered?


    Perhaps the answer lay within the law fragments and circle of laws they were studying.


    But even then, a question remained. Since these law fragments were created as obstacles on their journey toward the central area of the fog, did that mean that these law fragments were actually active? But who was keeping them active? And for how long had they been doing it?


    The law fragments seemed to be targeting any creature stronger than the physique transformation realm. Laws that laid restrictions on cultivators below that realm were extremely rare. So far, the two of them had only found a couple of such law fragments.


    Why was it so?


    This detail could be explained with the reasoning that the cultivators who created this ''test ground'' did not want other powerful cultivators to enter and steal their inheritance.


    From their deciphered texts so far, it was apparent that if these law fragments were active, no cultivator above the physique transformation realm would stand a chance at entering the foggy area without being instantly obliterated with all sorts of terrifying punishments. Even touching the walls would result into a deadly outcome for powerful cultivators.


    However, what if those powerful cultivators sent somebody weaker than them, somebody at the physique transformation realm who could enter this place and destroy the law fragments and steal the inheritance for their masters?


    But the circle of laws required at least a power level above the soul reformation realm to activate the laws in there, according to the first law fragment he had read just now.


    What a complex paradox!


    Briefly, Han Xuhan recalled the first law fragment he had deciphered by accident. It appeared unfinished, ending with an incomplete clause as if the creator of the law fragment had forgotten to put the rest of the sentence in there.


    That could very possibly have been a crucial law. Its absence may have created the paradox here.


    Maybe there was more to this inheritance ground than it met the eyes. After all, the cultivators who had created this place should not have overlooked such a loophole. This stadium was still on the periphery of the foggy area. Who knows what lay hidden deeper inside?


    After seeing the last two deciphered law fragments on the paper, a clue had finally clicked inside his mind.


    The law fragments that were carved on the walls were absolutely indestructible for a cultivator in the physique transformation realm, perhaps even in the soul reformation realm. The only way to affect other law fragments in a negative way was to use a new law fragment, just what Mu Ran had done.


    Except, as per the second law fragment on the paper, such law fragments that went against the primary purpose of the circle of laws would be immediately met with appropriate punishment.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Thinking for a few moments, Han Xuhan finally realized why Mu Ran hadn''t met any punishments and instead escaped from this place.


    The law fragment written by Mu Ran had never gone against the logic this circle of laws operated on. He had merely written a new law stating that being able to activate a law fragment would get him a pass. Since all law fragments would have to defer to the law of punishing powerful experts, as long as a low-level cultivator could activate a law using loopholes, he could easily pass through. Moreover, his law fragment was not written on the walls where the circle of laws was carved but on the ground, thus bypassing the first law fragment on that paper. Because the punishment for using powers above the soul reformation realm did not apply to a newly made law outside the circle of laws. So Mu Ran''s cheat grandpa could activate the law fragment without a problem.


    "So this is the trick to make our way out? To create a new law fragment using our own source that doesn''t go against the primary purpose of the circle of laws? Otherwise, the creator of the law fragment would be punished severely. But where am I going to find an expert above the soul reformation realm?"


    For a moment, Han Xuhan counted his lucky stars that he hadn''t blindly tried to make and activate new laws by using Mu Ran''s law as a template. He hadn''t read all the law fragments on the walls. What if he ended up writing something that would result into heavy punishment?


    "You know, your friend doesn''t exactly seem to be a...normal cultivator."


    Qian Yun had been staring at the law fragment Mu Ran had written ever since he had sat down. His remark made Han Xuhan laugh and put a stop to those complicated train of thoughts. Mu Ran''s rushed actions had inadvertently let out some of his greatest secrets. But it wasn''t as if this problem was hard to take care of.


    "Brother Yun, let me ask you something. If you have such an incredible secret like my friend, and face somebody who might use that secret against you or blackmail you with it, what''s the first thing you''re going to do?"


    Han Xuhan''s ''kind advice'' silenced the man. He understood what might happen to him if he enraged a strange cultivator whose soul had the capability to use powers far beyond his actual realm of cultivation.


    The threat in Han Xuhan''s tone was certainly not a bluff. Qian Yun decided never to bring it up again and pushed the conversation in a different direction.


    "Be that as may, we both are well aware that perhaps that little secret of his might be the only reason he was able to activate the law fragment he wrote. But what about us? Unless you too have such a secret, I don''t see any way to escape this place and explore deeper inside the fog."


    "You''re not wrong. Perhaps only a cultivator that powerful can activate the law fragments. But it couldn''t hurt to throw a stone in the dark, right?"


    "You''ve thought of something already ?" Qian Yun sounded surprised, but only for a moment.


    "Hehe, I''m pretty sure you''ve thought of it too. But you haven''t done it due to the...risks involved. It''s a simple solution, after all."


    Qian Yun gulped audibly.


    "Oh no no no. That''s way too risky. You don''t have any proof that it won''t kill you immediately."


    "Give me a quill and a paper. " Han Xuhan stretched his arms toward him. The cyan-robed man stared at him for a few seconds before sighing reluctantly and handing them to him.


    Han Xuhan stretched his arms for a few seconds and got up. Then he gestured at Zhanxian to follow him.


    The cyan-robed man sat frozen on the ground for a while before he made up his mind and followed the two of them to the walls.


    "Little Zhanxian, lend me one of your fingers, preferably a sturdier one."


    Zhanxian sent him an unreadable look and shoved one of his middle fingers into Han Xuhan''s face.


    "Good boy. If the punishment really falls on us, you need to prepare to be summoned back immediately. I won''t let you die that easily. "


    Han Xuhan grabbed Zhanxian''s palm without batting an eyelid.


    In the last seven hours, he had deciphered a large number of texts. He could basically recognize a large number of the letters in this archaic language. It wasn''t that difficult for him to create a law himself using the simplest words.


    Using Qian Yun''s quill, he wrote his first law fragment on the paper. Qian Yun let out a strangled sound upon deciphering it.


    Han Xuhan ignored him and wrote a second one, after which he threw the paper away and focused on the wall in front of him.


    Picking out an area of the wall where the law fragments were relatively sparse, Han Xuhan started etching on it using the sharp ends of Zhanxian''s fingers.


    Qian Yun stood beside them and watched him struggle to carve the strokes on the hard walls. With each stroke, Zhanxian''s bones were slowly cracking and breaking off at the edges.


    He kept the last law fragment, the simplest of them all, incomplete. This fragment would consist of twenty-six strokes. Once completed, it would read:


    [ All the inactive law fragments within the territory surrounded by the circle of laws shall be activated immediately upon the creation of this law fragment ]

 Chapter 54: 26 Strokes, 24 Scams

    Before executing his final move, Han Xuhan wanted to create an insurance.


    "Brother Yun, I''ll need your assistance here," he said to the cyan-robed figure standing beside him, fidgeting nervously.


    "This is too risky, brother Kai," Qian Yun answered.


    "This is our only shot. Take it, or you may not make it into the next stage."


    Qian Yun gnashed his teeth audibly for a few seconds before he came to a decision.


    "Fine. We have signed a contract of equivalent exchange. Since you''re willing to leave a stroke, I shall as well...but let''s ensure we''re not the only ones, what do you say?"


    Han Xuhan barked out a laugh.


    "You read my mind, brother Yun."


    Having a friend who could keep up with his train of thought was so awesome!


    Han Xuhan''s logic was simple. He had figured out a potential method to get out of this arena. But it was a method risky enough to possibly cause their deaths. The law fragment he had written on the wall were not directly against the purpose for which the original law fragments here had been carved.


    But there was also the fact that neither of them had managed to decipher the entire body of laws in the arena. What if there were laws that specifically went against the law fragments that he had written?


    What if in some corner of this vast arena, a few fail safes had been hidden for the loophole he was about to use?


    This had forced him to contemplate the possible ways to die under the punishments of the law fragments.


    The most common method was being struck by terrifying, supernatural lightning strikes, heart demons, and strange poisons he had never heard of before.


    Was there any way to avoid the punishments?


    No.


    But was there a way to not directly die from the punishments?


    Maybe.


    Han Xuhan had banked upon this ''maybe'', a mere hope of a possibility.


    And from the looks of it, Qian Yun was smart enough to think of the move as well.


    Brilliant lad, that masked guy was truly brilliant!


    After he elaborated on the details of his diabolical plan to his partner in crime, Han Xuhan''s feet slowly moved him away from the area where he had carved the incomplete law fragment. Zhanxian followed him doggedly.


    Qian Yun had earned the trust of their fellow competitors just a while ago by warning them of Han Xuhan''s extraordinary origins. Only he could execute this move flawlessly.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Brothers and sisters! I think I may have discovered a way to break this puzzle we''ve been provided with!"


    Qian Yun''s voice sounded a bit different from normal. But it was loud enough to reach every cultivator in the stadium.


    Countless heads swiftly turned toward him.


    "Please, come closer. I will need your cooperation."


    Eager, yet cautious, the frustrated cultivators began to approach Qian Yun from right, left, and ahead. Soon, a semi-circle around him formed, full of impatient gazes.


    Qian Yun moved aside to reveal the wall to them, pointing at the two strokes the two of them had etched there earlier.


    "I''ve realized that there may be a pattern to the huge amount of symbols that have been carved on the walls. The first guy to leave had carved similar patterns on the ground, which I believe acts like a password that he comprehended after observing the symbols on the walls.


    I spent a long time comparing his engravements with the carvings on the walls...and I think I have found a way to emulate his feat. All we need to do is to leave a similar assortment of patterns on the wall here. As you can see, I have left one stroke already, and so has that brother from the Black Lotus Circus. I owe him this, as he has helped me in my discovery."


    "You want us to help you construct the rest of the pattern that you''ve come up with?" asked one of the cultivators from the crowd.


    "Yes."


    "How can we trust you, though?"


    "A valid question. You can''t, which is why we''ll only be picking 24 people out of you who are willing to take the risk." This time Han Xuhan joined in the fun.


    The classic good cop bad cop scheme is a reliable method to break down one''s defense.


    His words were like battering rams striking the wall of caution in the crowd''s heart. There were over 40 people here. Only half of them would get to participate in Qian Yun''s plan!


    If Han Xuhan was the bad guy here, Qian Yun was the good one, and he further proved it by pulling out the contract papers from within his robe.


    "I assume some of you will recognize this agreement method. A sentient contract to keep things fair between us. Those of you willing to agree to the terms here may take one and sign it."


    Han Xuhan took one of the papers from him out of curiosity as Qian Yun handed the papers to everybody.


    He was stunned to see that the terms and conditions stated in the paper were different from the ones he had signed earlier.


    Instead of a clause about the equivalent exchange, the core of the agreement here was to help Qian Yun construct the law fragment, which would possibly liberate a number of the participants from the arena.


    So insidious!


    Liberate a number of the participants? The number was TWO! Those participants were Qian Yun himself and Han Xuhan!


    But when someone read the contract without knowing the truth, they''d only see a risky way to open an avenue that would allow them to leave!


    When did Qian Yun make these contract papers? Was this his cultivation technique? Spontaneously creating contracts that fit his circumstances?


    Alongside the rest of their victims, he signed the contract without hesitation, guiding their subconscious minds into following his step.


    Not many were willing, at first. But Han Xuhan''s move had broken the ice. And the clear cut content of the contract papers were convincing.


    When one gave in to temptation, the rest fell like dominoes. Those who hadn''t managed to get within the first 24 even showed regret on their faces as the next phase of the plan followed.


    Soon, strokes after strokes were laid on the wall, forming the perfect law fragment Han Xuhan had been aiming for.


    This was his insurance. This was his shield in case his plan resulted into a round of terrible punishments.


    How many offenders can this circle of laws punish at once? Would the power behind the punishment remain the same?


    Would the person who had used another being''s finger to leave a single stroke on the wall be counted as one of the offenders when so many needed to be punished at once?


    Han Xuhan''s heart beat in excitement and trepidation.

 Chapter 55: Supreme Demon Runs Away

    There are some moments in our daily life when we feel like we''re at the top of the intelligence-based ranking of all humanity.


    Or maybe that was just Han Xuhan''s thing. He certainly felt like that right now after pulling his latest stunt, which was giving off the impression of a successful ''move''.


    Standing beside him, Qian Yun had started wheezing at some point during his narcissistic self-appreciation.


    Han Xuhan would laugh alongside him too, if not for the fact that his insides had suddenly started churning like boiling water.


    Han Xuhan briefly wondered if the punishment was actually coming to get his ass. But shouldn''t the punishment have fallen on Zhanxian first? It was the skeleton''s finger that wrote the law fragments after all...cough, or the cyan-robed man, since the paper he carved the first law fragment in belonged to that guy, or even Mu Ran, because it was his law fragment that they were banking on...


    One might call Han Xuhan a bad person for treating a sentient creature like Zhanxian as a meat shield...Or more accurately, a bone shield.


    But Han Xuhan didn''t have any other choice at this point. Even if there was a way to solve this impasse they were facing, he was perhaps not intelligent enough to figure it out. He was never the brightest cookie in the jar, or the sharpest bone on a skeleton.


    He had to stop making all these bone jokes...


    He had made a half-assed plan to make this work in his favor. Since the law fragments on the wall seemed to be active, possibly with a mysterious source, Han Xuhan wanted to use that source to fuel his own law fragments. It was a simple, crude, and risky plan. Even if anyone in this stadium were lucky enough to accidentally figure the meaning of the texts out, they wouldn''t dare to make a move so risky in fear of the possible punishment for such a stunt.


    As soon as the last person of their selected 24 helpers finished carving the last millimeter of the law fragment that would activate all the newly written laws, Han Xuhan''s body suddenly felt like it had been stuffed with a bunch of snakes.


    It wasn''t a painful experience, to be honest. But certainly uncomfortable. Immediately, Han Xuhan tried to see what was wrong with his body using the qi perception technique to observe the flow of qi inside his meridians.


    He couldn''t find anything out of ordinary. Yet the feeling of being stuffed with cylindrical, moving creatures only became even more intense.


    Han Xuhan opened an eye and glanced at Zhanxian to see if the skeleton was exhibiting any odd reactions. But it simply stood beside him, unmoving and silent. Something was odd.


    Han Xuhan felt a strange phenomenon after opening his eyes.


    Time was slow, almost stagnant.


    Did I unlock some sort of superpower? Or is it the fabled time of retrospection of one''s entire life before dying abruptly?


    His friend Qian Yun was doubled over, still in his laughing posture.


    The cultivators further away were as still as him, stuck in the middle of their movements.


    Han Xuhan decided to inspect his dao base. He wanted one last look at the fruit of his labor before he got smote with whatever ball-busting lightning from the heavens that was coming to deal out his punishment.


    The dao tower, however, held a surprise for him. It was shaking as if it was on the epicenter of an earthquake.


    Han Xuhan''s consciousness floated inside the shaking building. The only floor in it, consisting of one large hall room, turned out to be the source of the disturbance.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Han Xuhan''s dao tower was undergoing a renovation.


    The walls, which had been pristine white before, were now being filled up with familiar-looking symbols. Not a single inch was spared, not a single stroke was unfamiliar.


    The walls were thus painted black, like splatterings of dried blood. Han Xuhan''s dao tower could be officially advertised as a horror house in a high-budget movie set and it wouldn''t be at all out of place. It scared the hell out of its owner himself.


    Han Xuhan felt chills down his spine. The words gave off the impression of living creatures. It was a disturbing sight, to say the least, and he had always been a bit of a coward.


    In his past life, he wasn''t even courageous enough to watch any of the popular horror movies. But right now, he was within an intangible, imaginary part of his consciousness where everything was a vague representation of his own abilities. This wasn''t something he could avoid just because he was scared of it. The paint coating looked very high quality and permanent. He would have to face the ever-moving, bloody strokes on the wall every time he inspected his dao base.


    On the bright side, this was Zhanxian''s home. If he survived the current predicament, the skeleton could always accompany him when he entered this place, hehe...


    Did he just plan to scare an undead skeleton soldier with incomprehensible illustrations?


    Han Xuhan felt an urgent need to attend a mental therapy session in the infirmary. Logically speaking, therapy should work wonders against mental demons.


    The world of cultivation was getting to him. It was far too stressful a place. But he liked it!


    The anticipated punishment hadn''t yet appeared. There were no further changes in Han Xuhan''s dao tower. The texts on the wall of the tower were rather well organized. After a few moments of observation, Han Xuhan got the gist of what had happened.


    The language he had been busy deciphering, the language of laws, was similar to cultivation techniques, judging by the fact that it required one to use a massive amount of qi to comprehend the meaning behind each alphabet.


    In the last seven hours, he, along with his new friend, had done their best to decipher everything around them. They had managed to decipher some, while the rest were either unknown or contained meanings too vague for them to understand.


    Using some guesswork, Han Xuhan managed to design a theory; if the entire language of laws was a humongous-sized technique, then he had just managed to comprehend part of its first volume and this manifested within his dao tower just how the skeletal monarch technique had. All the alphabets and words here were known to him because he had deciphered their meaning and had the ability to use them in a law fragment. Those he didn''t know fully, were not present in the dao tower...for now at least.


    According to elder Kong, each technique he practiced was supposed to create and occupy one room in his dao base. But this technique had spread itself across the walls.


    Was it because Han Xuahan had been secretly thinking about how bland the walls here looked since his first look at his dao base?


    This tower was a part of his imagination. So such a phenomenon could be explained as his thoughts influencing it.


    Han Xuhan had no way to gauge how much he had mastered the language of laws. It was easy to guess that the circle of laws outside did not contain the entirety of the language of laws. There could be an infinite number of alphabets in this language, because the laws seemed like they could affect anything with enough power fuelling them, and the universe itself was nearly infinite. Who knew where the limits lay?


    Han Xuhan felt an uncontrollable urge to know that answer. Knowledge like this was so interesting!


    Briefly letting out a silent chuckle, his consciousness returned to focus on his surroundings.


    Han Xuhan looked around. Time had returned to its normal pace.


    There was one change though. The wall in front of him where they had written the laws was letting out an imperceptible glow.


    It had worked. His precautions had been unnecessary, perhaps. This was still the periphery of the fog after all. The cultivator who had created this testing ground would leave them some leeway for a test at the early stages.


    The last law fragment he had written was being used as a secondary source of the laws on the walls, affecting the extra laws he had written on the paper prior to it, as well as Mu Ran''s law fragment on the ground.


    "These cultivators are going to kill us if we ever meet them in the future, you know?"


    The cyan-robed man asked lightly in a low voice.


    "Well, I wouldn''t bet on that. Just because they would try doesn''t mean they''d succeed ."


    Han Xuhan laughed this time as a crimson glow enveloped the three of them and a commotion broke out all over the stadium.


    The red light around them was very eye-catching and familiar to the rest of their competitors. They all stared, wide-eyed.


    "Bye bye you retards! When you get thrown outta this holy ground of inheritance, remember that it was I, the great and mighty Shen Kai, who did it! Trashes like you are not worthy of the super awesome inheritance that lies inside! Only I, Shen Kai, the supreme demon, deserve such inheritance! Sit outside, and regret, you shrimps! Remember my name! Next time you hear it, you better quake in fear!"


    Han Xuhan''s voice was very loud. Everyone inside the stadium heard him. Qian Yun choked again and started laughing in fits.

 Chapter 56: Everybody Has Been Scammed By Somebody

    As soon as Han Xuhan''s shout was finished, another burst of crimson light spread out from the walls and enveloped the entire stadium.


    Everyone could only look on with stunned expression on their faces as one by one, their bodies vanished into thin air under the influence of the familiar red light.


    The first to vanish were Han Xuhan and his skeleton, accompanied by the cyan robed man.


    Following that, the whole stadium was emptied soon. Behind them, some pieces of torn up paper fell on the ground slowly.


    The gleaming light of the walls dimmed immediately after the red light had disappeared with the cultivators. All of its lustre and shining light was nearly snuffed out.


    The burly cultivator who had had an ''exchange of threats'' with Han Xuhan found himself standing outside the foggy area, just in front of the portal he had entered through to come to this world fragment.


    He wasn''t alone. There were others, dazed and stunned, looking around in disbelief. In fact, everyone except that masked scum Shen Kai and his companions were there.


    Upon contemplating Shen Kai''s last words, all of them came to a realization regarding what had happened just then.


    That masked scum had found out a way to decipher the texts and understood how to advance into the next stage of the inheritance test. But that hateful bastard didn''t want other competitors to catch up with him.


    And so, he had used his knowledge to tweak something before he left, which resulted into the mass teleportation to outside that the rest of them had been put through.


    Such shamelessness! Such audacity!


    They wanted to return back into the foggy area to catch that asshole, if nothing else. But once they remembered that he had already reached deeper into the fog while the rest of them had no idea how to decipher the texts, their fire of passion was snuffed out. They had experienced the poison of the fog and seen how many dead bodies littered the ground in there. Without a decent clue, charging in again was no different from throwing away their lives.


    Moreover, that red orb in the fog had been the closest beacon inside the foggy area. But now, they could see it no longer. Perhaps that masked scum had destroyed the orb too before he left. It dealt a severe blow to their psyche.


    "Brothers and sisters, why don''t we wait for that bastard Shen Kai to return? After all, the only portal that leads to the world outside is here. He should return this way again, right?"


    Somebody suggested this while everyone was feeling down. The suggestion made them all perk up. They all wanted revenge, naturally.


    So they sat down at the edge of the cliff and waited for scum Kai to return.


    ...... .........


    Han Xuhan wasn''t particularly surprised by the following twists and turns that took place after their teleportation.


    They had been ejected into the fog gently. Upon landing on their feet, Han Xuhan realized that there were a few tiny orbs containing law fragments hovering around their bodies like satellites. The fog that was supposed to enter their bodies immediately could not get past the small spherical area created by the circling orbs.


    They were standing in front of a small signboard, barely visible in the fog. It read:


    "You have completed the task required for the entrance into the Holy Land of Laws successfully. From this moment forth, you are an outer court disciple of this Holy Land of Laws. Your soul and dao base have been imprinted upon with the law fragments you have learned so far. In case you betray or oppose the Holy Land, your dao foundation shall be destroyed and your soul shall be obliterated. Have a good day."


    "What the fuck-"


    "I fucking knew something like this was gonna happen."


    Qian Yun and Han Xuhan spoke out in unison after they got a good look at the writing on the signboard. There was an evil looking smiley face at the end of the paragraph. It made their blood boil.


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    This new twist of events again answered a crucial question Han Xuhan had been pondering. If any super powerful cultivator created a low level avatar or used a lackey to try and exploit this place, they would be actually screwing themselves.


    Whoever managed to get past the first level of tests would have been turned into a disciple of the so called Holy Land of Laws, which in turn would make them unable to betray the Holy Land in their lifetime.


    What a simple solution! Han Xuhan had actually been foolish enough to believe that he had managed to reap a fortune in a crisis like those xianxia protagonists by learning the language of laws.


    Turns out that shit was a scam to infiltrate his dao base in the form of a technique!


    There was no medicine for regret. So Han Xuhan didn''t brood over it much and turned to look at his friend. The technique of using laws was honestly pretty cool from his point of view. At least he wouldn''t need to physically brawl with murderhobos while using the technique.


    "Check your dao base. See anything weird?"


    Qian Yun had already gotten a gist of what to expect. He immediately went still and entered a state of deep meditation before returning a few seconds later with a gasp.


    "There are hundreds of alphabets inside my dao foundation. The entire book has been filled up! Heavens!"


    "Hehe- wait, book?"


    Han Xuhan instantly noticed the oddity. Why would there be a book in his dao tower?


    Qian Yun snorted.


    "My dao foundation was constructed in the shape of a book. The different techniques I practice get converted into different chapters of the book."


    "....." Han Xuhan lost his voice for a moment, thoughts chaotic from trying to imagine the scene.


    It sounded kind of awesome! If he had known this was an option too, he''d have tried it! Elder Kong had been too effective in his speech about dao foundations resembling buildings....tsk.


    "Lucky bastard," Han Xuhan grumbled as he turned toward Zhanxian.


    Zhanxian paid no attention to its boss''s exclamation and examined its body throughly.


    "Master, how did we get here?" the minion enquired with genuine curiosity.


    Han Xuhan felt like a movie villain who was about to waste everyone''s time by explaining his detailed schemes. But it felt good to flex. It wasn''t everyday that he managed to use all of his intelligence and do something cool...stupid, but cool.


    "Little Zhanxian, remember the law fragments I wrote on the paper and the wall?"


    Zhanxian nodded in a confused manner. It wasn''t able to comprehend the texts on the walls like its summoner. The so called law fragments made no sense to it. But it did see its boss writing three separate law fragments.


    "Well, the first one said, upon activating, that particular law fragment would punish the current occupants of the orb by ejecting them as far as possible from the circle of laws.


    Since the orb can suppress the poisonous properties of the fog, as well as having a powerful source that constantly keeps the circle of laws active, it shouldn''t be too difficult to teleport all of them outside the fog, safe and sound."


    "Who are you trying to fool? You were just scared of competition and wanted to use them as meat shields. Moreover, what did this Shen Kai guy do to you? And don''t try to convince me that that''s your real name. You''ve been trying to screw him over ever since we''ve met." Qian Yun interjected.


    "...Ignore such small details, my friend. Newly made friendships often are broken due to scrutiny," Han Xuhan rebutted and continued his explanation.


    "The second law fragment on the paper was the source behind this," Han Xuhan said, pointing at the spinning orbs around them that kept the fog at bay.


    "It stated that whoever helps the circle of laws vanquish its invaders shall be awarded with protection from the poison in their bodies.


    It not only suppressed the poison inside us, it''s also helping us suppress the poison outside."


    "That was a really, really, wise idea," Qian Yun said as he ran his eyes over their surroundings.


    Han Xuhan beamed like a magician appreciating an energetic applause and continued.


    "Of course, without a proper source, these law fragments are just random scribbling on the paper. The walls contain the source required to activate law fragments. Yet we cannot write law fragments that would directly let us pass through due to all the old restrictive laws.


    But that''s where the third law fragment comes into play, stating that all newly made law fragments will be activated using the same source that''s running the circle of laws, the source inside the walls. Since this law fragment was carved on the walls, this also activates Mu Ran''s law fragment without needing a new source. That''s how we got teleported out here while the rest of our competitors got pushed out of the fog, back to the starting point." Han Xuhan finished his explanation with a swish of his sleeves. He felt really stylish right now.


    "How do I fit in the equation? I didn''t do anything."


    Zhanxian sounded confused.


    Han Xuhan scratched his head with an odd expression.


    "I''m pretty sure the circle of laws treated you and I as one being, since you live in my dao tower as a part of it. According to Mu Ran''s law fragment, I was eligible to be transported into the next stage of this obstacle course.


    This also means that if we were punished instead, I could have used you as a stand-in for me..."


    Zhanxian fixed a gazeless stare on him for so long that Han Xuhan began to regret explaining it down to such controversial details.


    "So, we''re already disciples of this Holy Land of Laws, whether we like it or not. Which orb should we target next now that the poison in the fog doesn''t bother us anymore? Or-"


    Qian Yun broke the quiet and posed a good question. But his sudden drift into silence made Han Xuhan consider the implications.


    "Theoretically, whoever we meet from this point forth, is a disciple of the Holy Land."


    His tone was laced with a strange hint of glee, as if he were a child who had discovered a new game.


    Han Xuhan caught onto what he was talking about and lurched to a stop too.


    "Ahh... now this, this is where the test gets interesting." Han Xuhan chuckled gloomily.

 Chapter 57: The Prophet Was A Rapper

    The autumn wind has stopped moving, as have the bodies littering the ground, all still and silent, the stink of death and decay shrouding the plains of the Holy Land.


    Not so holy anymore, not after their prime disciple, their future sect master, the only hope of their survival, had colluded with the abyssal nightmares and laid waste to each and every inch of the vast land of prosperity.


    A name that once shook the giants of the planet was now gone, in ruins and smoke, in ashes and fire, unable to contain one human''s ambition, and any who spoke of hope was but a liar.


    Shi Xian, an ordinary disciple of the dragon sealing tomb, was watching the ensuing chaos and destruction with apparent indifference.


    His master, old elder Zhen, had died not long ago, trying to defend the young disciples from the horde of nightmarish creatures that were running amok, and the way he had been torn up was a visage terrible enough to turn a man into a still piece of fleshy rock. But the ghastly sight made Shi Xian show no sign of unrest.


    A faint voice, laced with poison and silk, had offered to him a choice, to escape his sealed fate and abandon his ilk, and Shi Xian considered the offer.


    "Little snake, you are but a sealed creature yourself. How can you offer me hope of such help?"


    The voice laughed in mockery of his words, the iron in that sound rang stronger than the clashing swords.


    "Foolish human, consider it a boon, for you cannot survive the disasters that loom. Over, beneath, and around you the nightmares have reached. Any in your shoes would have bowed and beseeched. Choose what you will, death or life. One carries sweet relief and the other offers strife. But you know it in your heart, which you desire; for one''s life is so precious, even when it is but crackling fire. I have spent a lifetime here, sealed beneath the ashes of my race. To me, death is nothing to fear, but life is a sweet embrace."


    Shi Xian smiled, a derisive expression covering his face.


    "Indeed, even now, I want to live. So, little snake, what do you want that I might give?"


    Thus the snake and the man agreed upon a deal, signing with their souls and breaking the snake''s seal.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Break the circle of laws that hold me here, and I shall provide you with a way to live, do not fear. Do it fast. Look, they come! Our deal is just, the best outcome!"


    Shi Xian pulled out a sword from the ground, it swished in the air, making grating sounds as it cut through the iron, carving a law, and breaking the circle of laws that had no flaw.


    The snake hissed from freedom''s taste, savored the air and emerged in haste. Not just a snake, but a dragon from tales, eyes like the sun, gigantic gleaming scales.


    In awe, Shi Xian gasped, but he had none else to give his trust. So he stood his ground as he had kept his word.


    Bound by the law, the dragon smiled, it breathed hellfire, corpses of nightmares piled, nowhere to hide, none too fast.


    "Wise choice," the dragon said. The familiar voice made Shi Xian sigh.


    "Keep your word, and don''t let me die."


    The Dragon nodded and its claws swiped down, tearing the ground, sending cracks running all around.


    "Lie here in this tomb I''ve made, using laws that shall never fade, feeding on you in a cycle of qi, it is a fair trade," the dragon said.


    "How long shall my slumber last?" Shi Xian asked, his heart beating fast, not knowing whether or not to trust it even now.


    "Genesis of Dao. You shall be freed when your genesis is budding."


    The dragon''s answer was hardly assuring. But Shi Xian could only risk it and jump in, putting his faith in the laws binding the dragon and him.


    The dragon kept his word and did nothing untoward. Its claws covered the soil, hiding Shi Xian''s body, and left like the wind after activating the laws that kept Shi Xian alive therein.


    Alas, freedom is hard to preserve, and few ever get the life they crave. The demons who had laid waste to the land, saw the dragon and screamed to their kin, their leaders rushing behind its tail, to kill, strip and decorate the skin.


    The dragon was wise, it bowed its head, choosing slavery over the threat of death, and offered to help the colluder seal this land, where laws that shined once shall be laid as a wreath.


    The colluder agreed, his plans unclear. The dragon carved laws that filled him with fear. A circle of laws from legends was born, wrought out of the dragon''s scales, carved with the dragon''s own nails and horn.


    The traitor suddenly struck from back to kill the dragon once it was done. But the dragon was wise and expected such, a prisoner for life, it had trusted none.


    The sword had struck empty air, the body of the dragon was no longer there.


    Illusions broke and the dragon spoke, "fool, a dragon can not be ensnared once it has tasted shackles and its despair. Freedom has been my lifelong dream, I shall savor it while you rot here and scream."


    The circle of laws it made was aglow, the dragon''s blood on it started to flow, the traitor screamed in despair and fear, as familiar laws surrounded him, some distant, some near. The holy land of laws was now literally so, as a gargantuan formation of laws moved into motion.


    But the traitor was no ordinary man. In his last moment he carved laws on his own, binding the dragon with his soul. Caught in a death trap, the dragon fell down, its soul breaking apart and creating something foul. One part of its soul still escaped the spell, as a horrifying breath fell in its wake, ringing like a death knell.


    The fragmented soul knew it had to return. The fallen part had to be recovered or burned. Because the dragon understood what it had left in there¨C a disaster that brought absolute destruction and despair.

 Chapter 58: A Death-Prone Character Template

    Han Xuhan and the cyan-robed man, Qian Yun, stood beside the signboard and decided to discuss their next strategy. They had two choices ahead; to catch up with Mu Ran, or simply beat this inheritance test by themselves methodically.


    With Qian Yun''s strange cultivation technique and Han Xuhan''s slippery methods, it actually didn''t seem all that hard to them. And speaking of Qian Yun''s techniques...


    "Hey, brother Yun, you do realize that you''ve been lagging behind in terms of keeping our deal balanced, right?"


    Qian Yun sighed. He hadn''t had the chance to contribute much ever since they had made the deal. The information he had offered ''Shen Kai'' was nowhere near as precious as the information ''Shen Kai'' had provided later on.


    Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, Qian Yun agreed with a nod, contemplating what sort of questions ''Shen Kai'' would ask him. After all, due to their contract, he couldn''t exactly lie and get away with it cleanly during the exchange of information.


    "Your cultivation technique, the one where you used our signatures to bind us together, bears a significant similarity to the Circle of Laws and the law fragments we''ve dealt with so far..."


    Suddenly, Qian Yun''s hands tightened like coiled spring, as if ready to attack any moment, but his posture deflated as fast as it had appeared.


    "I suppose I should have known." A hint of grudging consideration could be discerned in his tone.


    "My decision to make the deal with you was rash. After seeing your way of doing things, I can''t even tell if I should regret it or not. But oh well, I was desperate at that time. So ask away."


    Han Xuhan had tensed up slightly when Qian Yun had shown signs of aggression. Honestly speaking, Han Xuhan had noticed this particular similarity a while ago in the circle of laws.


    But he had wanted to use this piece of valuable information to test the waters. He needed someone stronger than himself to protect him if they got out of the circle of laws and entered the dangerous foggy area again.


    Qian Yun was an excellent choice for that position due to their deal. But Han Xuhan wanted more information before he came to a final decision. Gauging Qian Yun''s strength and his bottom lines, or secrets that he wanted to hide were all information that he needed to get his hands on. So he had finally found a moment when Qian Yun wouldn''t expect such questions and thrown the clue at his face abruptly.


    The result was neat. Qian Yun had entered ''battle mode'' for a second or two there and let his aura leak out, as well as revealing that he was sensitive about this particular piece of information, which pointed toward deeper secrets behind the similarities.


    A shark-like smile appeared on Han Xuhan''s face behind the mask, one that has smelled blood.


    "So, can you explain to me why and how you found out about the existence of this world fragment containing the inheritance ground of the Holy Land of Laws before us?


    You certainly entered here long before we did, yet the nearest sect is still clueless about the situation here. How did you, a cultivator from far away, know of the gateway outside?


    And why is your cultivation technique similar to the techniques we''ve seen so far in here?"


    Qian Yun considered his options. Lying wasn''t one of those. Massaging his temples for a few seconds, he started speaking.


    "It is true that I''ve entered this world fragment long before you did. As to how I know of its existence and got past the other... unsavory fellows outside the foggy area, let''s just say that I inherited a map of sorts from one of my dying ancestors.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.It had been passed down to our generation for decades. I couldn''t accept the fact that my family''s core techniques were supposed to have originated from the legendary Holy Land of laws, yet none of us could decipher it for what it actually was. We use the superficial version of the techniques based on laws.


    I wanted to be the hero who would venture into the ruined Holy Land and retrieve our glorious past, bringing it into the present world of cultivation and shaking the entire realm.


    It was... foolish, I admit. But we humans strive the hardest to improve when we have an obsession to follow. Mine was this, and I don''t regret it."


    Han Xuhan listened in silence, head cocked to the side. He couldn''t help but ask-


    "The map, did it not even give a hint of what you can expect during the inheritance test?"


    Qian Yun nodded.


    "It''s just a map that led to the portal outside. The rest, I had to figure out by myself."


    Han Xuhan wasn''t foolish enough to believe what Qian Yun told him. Truth can be easily twisted with a few key pieces of information hidden. As an honest and truthful young man, Han Xuhan knew very well how to speak the truth while lying in the overall scheme of things. Qian Yun didn''t need to reveal all of his secrets to directly answer Han Xuhan''s questions.


    Regardless, he had gotten a rough idea of the bigger picture now.


    "That''s a neat background lore you have, brother Yun. Can''t really comment on that. Let''s talk about our plan of action right now.


    What do you think we can expect inside?"


    This time Qian Yun straightened up and voiced his opinion confidently.


    "The first stage of the inheritance test was to examine our ability to think up solutions and try everything at our disposal, regardless of the risk when pressed for time. It also tested our courage to bear risks. But in the backstage, while we were trying our best to learn the language of laws, our dao foundations have been infiltrated, which points toward certain possibilities that the Holy Land of Laws may not practice righteousness.


    "But I wouldn''t fault them for the precautions. Now, in the next stage, there are a few possibilities that we need to prepare for. If all the orbs of lights in the fog are circles of laws, then we''ve already learned what we could from them. At least in our cases, our dao tower can not hold too many alphabets of this language, which I assume are limitations created due to our low cultivation level, just like any other cultivation technique.


    If we break through to the higher layer of the Physique Transformation Realm, or perhaps the Soul Reformation stage and create the next floor of our dao foundation, then we can hope to absorb and comprehend more alphabets down the line.


    "Then this brings us back to the contents of the next test. Since we cannot learn much more of this language for now, then what we can do is to practice. From this point of view, I believe that we would have to frequently use these law fragments we''ve learned so far, perhaps against other cultivators who have passed the first test and entered this stage already."


    Han Xuhan closely observed Qian Yun as he spoke. He had expected a constructive, logical answer.


    But he hadn''t even thought of some of those points presented by this guy.


    The world of cultivation was truly full of talented people!


    Nevertheless, Qian Yun was practically his bodyguard now, at least temporarily, regardless of his talent and wisdom.


    They had to stick together like this for the next stage of the inheritance test.


    "You present some fine points, brother Qian Yun. If your conjectures are true, then we have to do our best to avoid other initiate disciples of this Holy Land.


    Which means, we cannot enter any of the orbs we can see from here, eh? After all, if we can think of what to expect at the next level, so can others. Then, any cultivator who enters the next stage would set up traps using law fragments inside the orbs ahead before the rest of us can enter as well, no?"


    Qian Yun mulled over Shen Kai''s words. In the fog, vision was limited. They could see a few orbs from their position. But there was a high possibility that all those orbs had already been occupied. In that case, blindly entering them would be akin to jumping into a fire pit.


    "...This is going to be problematic."


    Han Xuhan and Qian Yun exchanged a long look through their masks and then stood up together. Zhanxian jumped up a second later.


    All three of them faced the fog ahead of them.


    "Why don''t we ignore all the orbs containing the circle of laws and directly rush toward the center of the foggy area?" Qian Yun suggested.


    Han Xuhan laughed. He had just remembered a certain detail from the time he had spent outside the foggy area. There had been a lot of shouts and sounds of battle deep within the fog.


    "I''m afraid that many of our predecessors have already done exactly that. And if we do not enter the circle of laws ahead, then our next stage of the test shall be fighting each other amidst the fog, brother Qian Yun."

 Chapter 59: Naked Soldier

    Li Yuan and Zhu Huang, two adventurous young cultivators from the Limitless Pill Sect, were caught off guard by how enthusiastic their fast-approaching opponent sounded.


    Both of them were expecting to be greeted with a violent storm of weapons and magic at this stage of the inheritance test. After all, they had been attacked twice so far; both times their opponents had used crudely created law fragments somehow.


    After beating those bastards up, they had managed to extract the rules of this stage of inheritance test from their mouths.


    The second stage of the test required one to show their proficiency in using the laws they had managed to learn from the first test. Both Li Yuan and Zhu Huang were from a sect that used similar law techniques to increase their ability to create better pills. So it was somewhat advantageous to them, having a large amount of past experience regarding this type of techniques and how to use them to affect somebody. This was the reason why, despite having cultivated alchemic expertise instead of battle techniques, they could steamroll their way through the battles in the second stage so easily.


    Of course, they did not have the ability to use law fragments to win every battle. Even activating one law fragment was hard enough. The majority of the cultivators who had reached the second stage of the inheritance test had expended all of their qi to activate their own law fragment by now. And this is where the competition started. The second stage of the test required one to collect power sources to activate law fragments, in other words, the floating emerald orbs in this particular area of the fog.


    These emerald orbs functioned differently from the red ones. The emerald orbs were like tiny banks of power sources. Whoever could collect one would be able to fuel their law fragments and easily win the upcoming battles.


    Li Yuan and Zhu Huang had worked together seamlessly since then, and managed to gather two emerald orbs; approximately enough to activate at least ten law fragments. Both of them had been feeling jubilant when they had heard the shout coming from their back.


    "Kowtow before daddy!"


    The shout was uncannily unnerving when it came from a roiling mass of fog, each syllable increasing in volume as if to establish the fact that the owner of the voice was moving toward them fast.


    Their nerves tightened to the extreme, Zhu Huang and Li Yuan stepped back and prepared to cast the law fragments they had prepared in advance. The moment the enemy revealed himself, both of them would attack simultaneously, leaving no opportunity for the other party to recover or defend themselves.


    But as the fog cleared, the sight that was revealed before their eyes dazed the two young men.


    A semi-naked young man wearing a very eye-catching, red loincloth was walking toward them in a lazy gait. The only other piece of accessory on his body was a tattered black mask on his face, as well as a red bandana on his head.


    He looked so out of place that for a moment, Li Yuan and Zhu Huang felt that they were hallucinating. Did the fog have hallucinogenic properties as well?


    The approaching young man did not seem embarrassed in the slightest by their stares. In fact, he looked like he was enjoying the exhibition of his own body, judging by his unnecessary and outlandish poses while he moved forward.


    Li Yuan and Zhu Huang were too dazed to make a move immediately. But their opponent was not. He suddenly leaped at them without a warning and shot out two pieces of metal at their chest.


    The two young men might have been caught off guard, but they certainly were not slow by any means. Both of their reaction came incredibly fast as they hurried aside to dodge the pieces of metal flying toward them.


    They had gotten a good grip on how battles using law fragments were fought.


    The power required to make a law fragment affect its surroundings increased drastically with the slightest increase of its range, which meant that one had to make sure to keep the area of effect minimum for the maximum efficiency while using the emerald orbs as sources.


    This had led to a widely used battle tactic in this stage of the inheritance test. Everyone was trying their best to make their law fragments get closer to their opponents before activating them. Throwing objects with law fragments drawn on them was one of the popular strategies.


    Knowing full well that if the pieces of metal flying at their chest hit them, it''d lead to an immediate knockout or something equally miserable, both of them did their best to dodge.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    But their attacker did not idly watch the show. As soon as he had thrown the scrap metals, he placed two more of them in front of him on the ground. It did not matter if his first attack was successful or not, his finisher move was of an entirely different style.


    Li Yuan and Zhu Huang managed to dodge the attack and immediately returned the favor by attacking back with their own law fragments.


    They had an advantage of numbers. Li Yuan and Zhu Huang had practiced the drill dozens of times. They had different strategies for different types of enemies.


    Without missing a beat, Li Yuan had run in a curve, avoiding their assailant and stopping a few yards behind him while Zhu Huang maintained his position ahead of the strange young man.


    A two-pronged attack had double the advantages when it came to this type of battles.


    Barely had the young man straightened his back after placing the scrap metals on the ground when Zhu Huang took out his own law fragment, written on a piece of jade, an action that was mirrored by Li Yuan dozens of meters away behind their opponent.


    Both of them clutched one emerald power source in their hands and one piece of jade in the other.


    "Activate!"


    All law fragments are limited by thousands of natural laws. But as long as one was creative enough and had the spirit to experiment fearlessly, making the best use of these natural limitations could bring astounding results. For example, the law fragment that both Li Yuan and Zhu Huang had used just now...


    The emerald orbs that fueled the power of laws were all a part of one giant source. Li Yuan and Zhu Huang had come up with a law fragment that used this particular connection among all emerald orbs and intensified the connection by a hundredfold. It was the maximum amount they could reach without consuming too much power per activation, as well as not violating the natural laws behind the technique that created this entire inheritance ground. They had paid quite a price to avoid all sorts of restrictions in this artificial world fragment and make a cost-effective law fragment that did not have loopholes to be exploited.


    As soon as their law fragments activated simultaneously, a strange magnetic field connected the two pieces of jade on their hands and trapped their opponent within it. The power source in their opponent''s hand was rendered completely stagnant as two opposing magnetic fields suppressed any sort of movement it could make, regardless of its owner''s mental commands.


    In this stage of the inheritance test, the first and foremost priority in duels was to render your opponent unable to use any type of law techniques. Li Yuan and Zhu Huang had found an excellent way to accomplish this.


    Trapped between their law fragments, their opponent couldn''t muster a single iota of the emerald orb''s power source.


    A triumphant grin spread across Zhu Huang''s face as he slowly advanced toward their opponent in practiced rhythm, with Li Yuan approaching from the other direction.


    The constant pull and push from two directions made the opponent''s power source completely unstable and useless. Even if their opponent''s skills in the language of laws far surpassed their own, he wouldn''t be able to regain control over it now.


    Only the physical type of attack was left now, and neither Li Yuan nor Zhu Huang was going to back down from a two-to-one duel.


    However...


    Their opponent suddenly dropped the power source from his hand. Their eyes followed its downward fall.


    Was he going to try and battle them with other types of techniques?


    Zhu Huang''s eyes met Li Yuan''s and both of them readied themselves for a brawl.


    Their opponent took out a broken blade of a spear he had been carrying around, tied to his loin cloth and hidden on his back till now.


    Zhu Huang imperceptibly took out a blinding pill and a paralyzing pill, a movement that was mirrored by Li Yuan.


    But their opponent did not charge at them like they had expected him to. Instead, he aimed the spearhead above his head and brought it down on the ground in full force.


    For a brief second, Zhu Huang noticed some familiar engravings on the broken blade.


    A sudden thought appeared to him. Was this guy trying to use his own qi and comprehension of the language of laws to activate and fuel the law fragment on the blade? He didn''t have any usable power sources on him!


    What a joke! If it was some sort of small usage like moving a tiny object, that plan might be feasible. But defeating two full-fledged cultivators was out of the question.


    Their opponent muttered an inaudible sentence. The engravings on the side of the blade lit up dimly. One end of the blade had penetrated the ground. The crisscrossing light entered the ground through it.


    Zhu Huang was almost about to throw his pills at the kneeling young man when he felt it.


    A tremor shook the ground beneath his feet. Barely a second later, the loose soil turned into a hard, rocky substance and caught his feet in an iron grip.


    Zhu Huang almost lost his balance while Li Yuan stumbled. They couldn''t move their feet anymore, not even with their supernatural strength that came with cultivation.


    How was this possible? Without an external source, this young man had executed such a powerful law?


    No one in the physique transformation realm could do anything remotely similar! It was impossible! Affecting such a large area and changing the soil into a whole new type of substance was something even soul reformation realm elders from their sect could only hope to accomplish.


    But their opponent was not finished. A wide grin played on his face as he crossed his arms and suddenly pushed them outward.


    "Astral Heatwave!"


    Zhu Huang felt like his very existence had been struck by a giant war chariot. Briefly, he saw the back of his own head, a visage that made no logical sense before his vision darkened.


    Just before he lost all senses, he heard footsteps coming from behind. Was someone coming to intervene? Zhu Huang''s heart was filled with hope suddenly.


    But then the newcomer shouted.


    "Boss?! Why are you naked? There are no girls here to show off to!"


    Zhu Huang fell unconscious while his brain was nearly overloaded by the puzzling turn of events.

 Chapter 60: Undead Army

    After a brief discussion, Han Xuhan and Qian Yun had come up with a rough plan.


    Since this was only the second stage of the inheritance test and judging by the three types of orbs inside the foggy area, there was likely to be a third stage of the test too, it would be best to not rush forward.


    So they had slowly explored their way deeper, doing their best to avoid any other cultivator. Han Xuhan wasn''t particularly interested in the inheritance. And Qian Yun wasn''t powerful enough to take on opponents all by himself. It was a mystery how so many wandering cultivators had been attracted to this world fragment. They noticed signs of fierce battles all over the place.


    Broken armors, bloodstained bandages, and broken weapons...


    The most important clue that had made them sure of their conjecture were the law fragments hastily engraved on any flat surface available to the wandering cultivators. They had even found multiple fist-sized orbs that resembled the emerald spheres shining in the fog. By examining the remnant qi inside the orbs and the recently used law fragments, they had gotten a gist of what had transpired.


    After nearly an hour or so, Han Xuhan had heard the familiar voice not far away from their position.


    Mu Ran?


    Why the hell was he still lurking here? He had reached the second stage nearly eight hours ago!


    Regardless, Han Xuhan was elated that he had finally found that guy. At least his own safety could somewhat be guaranteed as long as Mu Ran was around. During some point of their adventure, Han Xuhan had started seeing Mu Ran as his bodyguard...


    After explaining who they were about to meet to Qian Yun, Han Xuhan ran toward the source of the commotion.


    What greeted them was, however, an awkward sight.


    Mu Ran was in his underwear, a half-torn, red loincloth that would drive a bull insane. He was in a striking pose with his arms flexing the triceps. Xuhan only recognized him because of the red bandana on his head.


    There were two unconscious cultivators lying on the ground a few meters away in two opposing directions, their crumpled forms creating a stark contrast in the background.


    "Boss, why are you naked? There are no girls in here! Don''t tell me-"


    Han Xuhan gasped as his eyes flickered toward the two guys lying on the ground. He couldn''t help but ridicule this visage.


    Mu Ran''s expression darkened behind the mask in turn.


    "Underling Xuhan? How did you get here?"


    Mu Ran lost his composure and hurriedly strode over to the nearest unconscious guy. Then he started stripping him. Han Xuhan wanted to crack another joke. But noticing the dangerous tone in Mu Ran''s voice, he decided not to goad him further.


    "Ah well, the first stage wasn''t that hard, right? I...erm-accidentally discovered how to decipher the texts and then just kind of winged it, ehehe."


    Qian Yun gave Xuhan a grateful nod while Mu Ran was trying to wear the ''newly acquired robe''. If Xuhan had told Mu Ran that Qian Yun and he knew Mu Ran''s big secret, then Mu Ran might not hold much goodwill toward Qian Yun. And in a perilous place like this, trusting your back to someone like that was akin to walking around with unstable explosives.


    Mu Ran buttoned the robe up and then stared imperiously at Xuhan.


    "Accidentally discovered? Winged it?"


    Mu Ran''s suspicion was palpable. He himself had to spend half an hour in there trying to examine if there was any law that might go against his law fragment; and that too despite being able to decipher the language of laws smoothly. He had had a lot of practice before taking up this particular mission after all. But what about his underling? Little Xuhan was supposed to be stuck at the first stage until Mu Ran finished his business here. How did he ''accidentally'' end up passing through the first stage?


    "Ah boss, the rest of us aren''t as knowledgeable as you. I heard you solved the first stage within half an hour and left everyone feeling jealous! Wish I could do anything remotely so cool! But that was eight hours ago. Why are you still here fighting for the emerald orbs?"


    Xuhan avoided the question with some bootlicking and drew Mu Ran''s attention elsewhere.


    "These orbs?"


    Mu Ran held one of the fallen gem-like spheres up.


    "As you might''ve realized already, they are valuable sources of power. In this inheritance test, there is a suspicious lack of treasures and rewards. So I thought I should collect everything I can get my hands on."


    Hearing Mu Ran''s answer, one thought ran through Xuhan''s mind.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    This guy was spewing bullshit again.


    But he couldn''t point it out without admitting that he knew about Mu Ran''s ability to fuel his own law fragments. Speaking of that, how long would it take for Mu Ran to realize what a blunder he had made back in there?


    "And who is this?"


    Mu Ran pointed at Qian Yun, a slight unease creeping into his tone.


    "Ah, this is brother Qian Yun. He is a friend who helped me pass through the circle of laws. We can trust him, temporarily. "


    Mu Ran nodded as if he had understood everything now. No wonder little Xuhan could advance till here. He had managed to get a helper with a cultivation base of the fifth layer!


    "I am glad to see that you¡¯re making such good progress even without my help, underling. Now, Let''s go forward and finish this! We can talk about the rest of our stories on the way."


    Mu Ran took out a broken blade embedded in the ground and raised his nose in the air like a proud cock.


    The four of them started walking in a tight-knit group. Han Xuhan imperceptibly made a gesture to Qian Yun, who caught onto what he meant and slowly slinked backwards to give Mu Ran and Xuhan a chance to hold a private discussion.


    "Boss, before we entered this place, you told me that you HAD TO accomplish something here, remember? Or there would be dire consequences, right? So why are you still hanging back at the periphery of the second stage? Don''t feed me that previous bullshit answer again. We''re on the same side!"


    Mu Ran gave Xuhan a sideways glance and then looked back toward Qian Yun and Zhanxian walking behind them, a dozen meters away at the edge of the clearing made by the floating law fragments where their conversation wouldn''t be heard.


    "Xuhan, I understand that you''re very curious about what I''m trying to do in here. But I myself am not totally sure of it either."


    Han Xuhan looked at him in utter disbelief. Not sure about it yet he risked his life over it?


    "It''s sort of like this; I have some crucial information regarding what to expect, but it''s not necessarily true. The person I got the information from visited this place a long time ago, and things have changed since then."


    Han Xuhan caught the keyword in Mu Ran''s explanation. Of course, Mu Ran was using guidance from his soul grandpa. It did fall into the chain of logic he had been following so far.


    "But that''s not why you''ve fallen behind, right boss?"


    Mu Ran nodded, a contemplative expression appearing on his face.


    "Indeed, it''s not. However, did you notice that the Holy Land of Laws operates in rather extreme ways, underling ?"


    Han Xuhan thought back to his experience here so far and had to agree. The forceful infiltration of people''s dao base was way too much to accept. But at the same time, if it was up to him, that was the type of trap he himself would set in order to protect this place from powerful experts. So he hadn''t paid much attention to this detail previously.


    "Since you''re in the second stage, it means you''ve already comprehended some of the law fragments from the circle of laws already. This means your dao base has already been imprinted with a seal of the Holy Land of Laws. This type of seals are nearly impossible to erase, so I can only offer my condolences. If you think about it, someone who would do such vicious things is either desperate or purely a sinister demon in human skin. So I''m a bit hesitant to be the first one to reach the center of the foggy area. This is one of the main reasons why I''m hanging back. By now, the rest of our opponents should have gotten closer to the center of the fog. The second stage is a very large area full of perils. So I don''t have to worry about anyone suddenly completing the entire test before I can."


    Han Xuhan opened his mouth to defend this ''demon in human skin'' in Mu Ran''s words, but he decided to not pursue the issue in the end.


    "But you don''t have to worry about this. Even if the expert who set this testing ground bears any ill will toward us, I have a way to handle it. And that reminds me, did you perhaps read what I wrote on the ground back in the stadium?" Mu Ran suddenly asked in a concerned tone.


    "...Ah, about that, boss," Han Xuhan laughed sneakily, making Mu Ran even more uneasy than he already was. He had made a rash move back then and hadn''t thought about the consequences of anyone managing to decipher his law fragment. It had seemed like a very unlikely possibility back then. Now he could only regret it.


    "You don''t need to worry at all! As your underling, how can I let others spy on your secrets? Before I passed through the first stage, I made sure that everyone inside the circle of laws was transported outside! None of them will ever know what you wrote down in there!"


    Han Xuhan explained what he had done to Mu Ran, who was struck dumb for a few moments upon hearing him.


    His underling was too useful!


    Such a loose end has been taken care of so easily! Even though now Han Xuhan knew his big secret, Mu Ran could live with it.


    Just when he was about to praise Xuhan for the clever scheme, a strange sound came from ahead of them.


    "What was that ?" Xuhan asked, distracted and slightly frightened. The sound was a bit too loud for a cultivator or two to make while moving.


    Qian Yun reached closer to them with long, hurried strides, accompanied by Zhanxian. Mu Ran took out his broken blade again.


    The four of them vigilantly stared ahead while standing in a tight-knit formation.


    The sound came again, but this time from their right. It was similar to the type of sound made by dozens of beasts running together, breathing heavily.


    Again, they heard it, this time from their back. Han Xuhan had a sudden feeling of being surrounded by countless scary predators. And judging by Mu Ran''s shaking hands and Qian Yun''s sweaty palms, he wasn''t the only one feeling a terrible sense of dread.


    Soon, claws reached out from within the fog, followed by giant shapes.


    Terrifying zombies in all sorts of sizes and shapes that could only be found in overly imaginative nightmares were surrounding them. Some of them were up to three meters in height despite being on all fours. Some of them had extra limbs that resembled demonic beasts in legends.


    Bone spurs, mutilated wings, fat acid sacs, and many more frightening appendages could be seen all over their body. Compared to these zombies, the one they had faced outside the foggy area was like a cute puppy.


    Following behind these nightmarish creatures was a lone figure who seemed to be controlling them. As the zombie army came closer, Mu Ran gripped his blade and Qian Yun took out a stack of papers from within his robe.


    Han Xuhan considered asking Zhanxian to befriend his fellow undeads and ask them to spare their lives, but that wouldn''t probably work out very well.


    Suddenly, an unexpected situation took place. A female voice came from the shadowy figure behind the undead army and broke the intense silence.


    "Mu Ran? Han Xuhan?"

 Chapter 61: Demonic Origin

    It was a very familiar voice. But Han Xuhan had to make several leaps of logic and imagination to identify and then justify the sense of familiarity in the voice. The conclusion he arrived at after a few seconds was rather hard to stomach.


    "Martial sister Zhou?"


    Mu Ran immediately looked at Xuhan, who had spoken out in a daze.


    Yuen Zhou? Their martial sister from the Black Sheep Mountain Peak?


    What in the world-?


    "Ah? Martial brother Xuhan? It''s really you! I can''t believe we bumped into each other here!" Yuen Zhou exclaimed as she came into their view from the fog. She was wearing a mask to hide her face, but Mu Ran and Han Xuhan still recognized her easily.


    Qian Yun looked back and forth among his confused companions. All these people are from the same sect?


    Han Xuhan couldn''t believe it either. What were the chances of running into a familiar figure all the way here in a totally different world?


    "Martial sister Zhou, how did you end up entering this world fragment?"


    Yuen Zhou sighed when she heard Xuhan''s suspicious tone.


    "It''s quite a tale, martial brother. As you''re well aware, I broke through to the third layer of physique transformation a while ago. But the fourth layer has turned out to contain a small bottleneck for me. Sitting inside in a room and cultivating all day wasn''t producing any results.


    So I thought I''d take up a low-level mission to see if I manage to stumble upon any fortuitous encounter or gain some worldly experience. Perhaps it would let me break through the bottleneck.


    For the mission I chose, I had to journey through the river close to the woods outside. But I noticed quite a number of cultivators rushing inside the woods. I thought some sort of a treasure has been found and couldn''t contain my curiosity...


    I just followed them and did what they did from a distance.


    Later I entered one of the Circles of Laws in the periphery of the fog and managed to figure out how to decipher the laws in there. But who knew the creator of this place would be so black-hearted that they would use some sort of esoteric technique to infiltrate my dao base? Such a hateful bastard!"


    Han Xuhan and Mu Ran discreetly exchanged a look. There was nothing wrong with her story. Whether she was lying or not could be easily found out once they returned to the sect. For now, it would be an excellent choice for them to stick together and ignore the suspicious details. They were all from the same sect after all. But the issue here was...


    "Martial sister, what''s up with the zombie army you''re commanding?"


    None of them had forgotten the nightmarish undeads surrounding them. It wasn''t exactly a forgettable sight. Mu Ran and Qian Yun were still clutching their weapons stiffly.


    "Ah, this...This is a technique I learned from the elder who selected me to be his disciple all those years ago."


    Seeing the four of them suddenly take a step back, Yuen Zhou sputtered and tried to elaborate on her answer.


    "Don''t misunderstand! It''s not a demonic technique that creates zombies. It''s a technique to subdue undead creatures so that they can''t cause any harm. The root of this technique lies in Buddhist sects in the far north. These corpses were already reanimated and mutated when I found them. I wanted to ensure they wouldn''t threaten the lives of the mortals outside. Besides, it wouldn''t hurt to use them for self-defense while I''m on it, right? I''m just a young woman all by myself out here..."


    "Martial sister''s words make sense. I''d do the same if I was in your shoes," Xuhan immediately voiced his opinion like an airhead.


    Why would he not?


    If she was an enemy, they would be killed whether they acted all chummy with her or not. It would be best for their own safety to not show any hostility right now.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.And if she was really friendly, then he, Han Xuhan, would get a whole legion of undead to protect him!


    What a heaven-sent opportunity!


    Wait, calling it heaven-sent felt rather ominous...


    Remembering his current life experience, Xuhan decided not to use such phrases too often. It might jinx things.


    After Xuhan had smoothed things out with his enthusiasm in welcoming Yuen Zhou to be a part of the team, the four humans, one skeleton, and a legion of undead zombies strutted forward with the maximum confidence possible in their situation.


    They had collected a fair number of the emerald orbs by now. Activating and fueling law fragments that barred the fog from approaching them was a sustainable task.


    The fog was now tens of meters away from them in every direction. They could easily keep a reasonable distance from each other and walk comfortably while gossiping about all types of mundane things. Of course, the three of them were careful enough to not reveal the name of their sect or any similar information to Qian Yun, the outsider. But Qian Yun himself appeared to be occupied with his own thoughts a bit too deeply to pay attention to their chitchats.


    Like a bouncing rubber ball, Han Xuhan kept moving to and fro among his teammates. It was apparent that he had the best social skills among all of them. First, he shared his experience here so far with his martial sister Zhou, then he introduced her to Qian Yun, then he drew Mu Ran into the conversation...


    Due to his ever-present paranoia, Han Xuhan was starting to become a bit of a control freak. His symptoms were not that far along the dao of insanity, but Han Xuhan could already sense that he was becoming more and more reckless while trying to keep everything in control. It wasn''t a good sign, and he understood that he needed some time in the sect''s infirmary to fix his newly acquired quirks.


    But it wasn''t as if paranoia did not have its benefits. It had saved his skin multiple times so far. And it motivated him to constantly keep track of everything and everyone around him.


    "Brother Qian Yun, do you remember our little deal?"


    Qian Yun broke out of his reverie and gazed at Han Xuhan who had appeared beside him imperceptibly at some point. Personally, Qian Yun felt that even though Shen Kai, aka Xuhan had the lowest cultivation among them, he was the person one should be wary of the most. So he immediately went on guard.


    "Yes... brother Xuhan. You have already done more than enough on your part. Is there anything I can do to make our exchange of information equal ?"


    Carefully, Qian Yun answered Xuhan''s inquisitive question.


    "I do need something quite urgently," Han Xuhan stated in a roundabout way.


    "Would you... happen to have any information regarding any type of cultivation techniques that do not require the usage of meridians ?"


    Whatever Qian Yun had expected, it was not this.


    Cultivation techniques that bypassed the primary requirement of cultivation?


    That was quite a difficult subject to breach. The human body was innately suitable for cultivation due to the existence of meridians where qi could flow and create a certain type of cycles that could affect the surroundings, in other words, the manifestation of various types of techniques. But without meridians, creating such cycles was too difficult.


    Difficult, but not impossible.


    "I do, actually. But like most cultivators, I never bothered to learn this type of techniques since I have meridians. Such techniques are hard to muster and harder to make progress with, from what I know."


    Han Xuhan''s eyes lit up.


    So there was still hope for him!


    "Where can I find it? If you can help me acquire one, I''ll consider our deal to be completed. "


    Qian Yun gave Han Xuhan a long, calculating look before nodding.


    "Fine. I''ll do my best to keep my part of the deal, rest assured. But before that, I want to have a chat with your martial sister over there."


    Patting him on the back, Qian Yun suddenly increased his pace and moved closer to Yuen Zhou, who was absent-mindedly observing the foggy area ahead.


    She immediately noticed Qian Yun''s approach, her eyes behind the mask turning narrow. Han Xuhan had introduced this person to her before they had started moving along together.


    She didn''t quite trust this fellow.


    "Fellow cultivator Qian Yun, is there something you wish to discuss ?"


    Qian Yun nodded and made a silent gesture toward her to walk to a distant corner of their fog-free space.


    Yuen Zhou''s wariness increased. But she complied. Mu Ran and Han Xuhan also noticed their movement and decided to start chatting among themselves purposefully to give them some privacy.


    Qian Yun spared a glance in their direction before lowering his voice and initiating their conversation.


    "Fellow cultivator Zhou, do you happen to be in possession of a particular type of technique that doesn''t require one to have meridians ?"


    Yuen Zhou suddenly stiffened.


    "Whatever gave you the impression that I''d be in possession of such a type of techniques, fellow cultivator? Are you not aware that most of these techniques stem from the so-called demonic origins?"


    "Ah, indeed. And that is the exact reason why I''m asking you."


    Qian Yun''s light tone was like a devil''s whisper beside her ear. Turning her head, Yuen Zhou saw a pair of gleaming, cunning eyes staring at her from behind the semi-transparent mask.

 Chapter 62: A True Dragon

    Yuen Zhou''s shortsword was hidden in her sleeve, pointed at Qian Yun who looked entirely defenseless.


    "There are few people in this world who would recognize this technique of mine, fellow cultivator," her reply came smoothly as she glanced at the legion of undead she was controlling.


    "But all of them are associated with similar demonic techniques themselves."


    Qian Yun laughed silently.


    "Of course, I do not intend to hide that particular detail. However, if I had any ill will toward you, the current situation where I''m seemingly at the mercy of the dagger hidden in your sleeve would not take place. In fact, it would be the opposite. So why don''t we ignore these unnecessary arguments and focus back on our topic?"


    "Our topic...you want a cultivation technique that doesn''t involve cycling qi in one''s meridians? That''s a pretty precious thing to look for. I don''t know if you have the means to accept the expense."


    Yuen Zhou did not deny being associated with demonic cultivation techniques. Neither did she explicitly say that she couldn''t get her hands on such a rare technique. This gave Qian Yun all the information he needed for now.


    "How precious? I''m assuming you do not want simple spirit stones, because we both know its worth."


    Yuen Zhou nodded thoughtfully. If this deal gave her what she needed, she didn''t mind parting with that technique. In her previous life, she had suppressed hundreds of demonic sects singlehandedly. She did remember being in the possession of multiple techniques at that time that fit the description.


    But they were quite low-level, since few cultivators would bother to create techniques that did not suite them. These types of techniques were mostly created by desperate individuals whose meridians had been damaged in battles. Few of them were capable of creating high-quality cultivation techniques all by themselves.


    "How long have you accompanied Mu Ran for?" She inquired.


    Qian Yun''s eyes twitched behind the mask. Where did that come from?


    "Not long. I saw him once in the circle of laws. Then your martial brother Xuhan and I met him just before your arrival."


    Yuen Zhou sighed dispiritedly. It looked like accomplishing her aim would not be so easy.


    "In that case, there isn''t anything you can give to me for now." She lowered her shortsword and decided to end the conversation.


    "I wouldn''t be so sure of that," Qian Yun suddenly said, his head full of strings of incidents that were slowly attaching themselves together.


    "What do you mean?" Yuen Zhou frowned as her hand on the handle of the dagger tightened once more.


    "Fellow cultivator, I think it''s safe to state that all three of you are from the same sect, perhaps under the tutelage of the same master.


    Now let''s consider the probability of separately choosing to go on missions and yet ending up in the same place due to coincidences. It''s very slim, isn''t it?


    What''s even odder is that all three of you, despite your low cultivation bases, managed to get past the first stage of the inheritance test, a test which the majority of others failed.


    Two of you claim that it was your luck and a combination of coincidences that brought you all here.


    "Since I have been accompanying Han Xuhan, I can at least tell that he isn''t entirely lying. But you, on the other hand, are suspicious.


    Your execution of the undead controlling technique seems to have reached a stage beyond what a cultivator at your level should be able to reach. It''s almost as if you have been preparing for this event for a long, long time. You might try to justify that as a simple part of your cultivation. But I can tell that all three of you belong to a righteous sect. So secretly practicing demonic techniques in there should be very difficult. This indicates that you were planning to come here, the only place within five hundred miles where one can find undead creatures.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Now tell me, fellow cultivator Zhou, why would you purposefully reveal yourself to a martial brother of yours, who just happens to be as abnormal as you are? Don''t tell me it''s a coincidence, hehehe."


    Yuen Zhou attentively listened to Qian Yun''s ramblings. For a second, the hand with which she gripped her sword twitched, her eyes flickering over Qian Yun''s throat. But just before he finished speaking, she heard something that caught her attention.


    "A martial brother of mine who happens to be just as abnormal as I am?"


    Yuen Zhou muttered to herself in a voice loud enough for Qian Yun to hear.


    "Indeed. I might not have accompanied Mu Ran for long. But that doesn''t mean I don''t know anything about him that might interest you."


    Qian Yun said with a snicker.


    His guess was correct!


    Yuen Zhou had other reasons for coming here and ''meeting up with them coincidentally''!


    "How much of Mu Ran''s abnormalities do you know about?"


    Yuen Zhou''s question made him focus back on their conversation. Faintly, he felt that something was wrong with the way she phrased the question. But he put the suspicion away for the moment.


    "Enough to make him treat you as a good friend or a great foe, depending on the way you use the information."


    Yuen Zhou pondered on his words for a few moments before she spoke.


    "A deal it is, then. Do you want the technique right now?"


    Qian Yun gave her a strange look.


    "Yes...but don''t tell me you carry around random cultivation techniques with you...right?" He asked in puzzlement.


    "No, give me a quill and a paper," Yuen Zhou answered impatiently.


    "How do you even know I have those things with me?" He was even more puzzled.


    "Boy, you talk too much. Did you think I didn''t recognize your cultivation technique when you whipped out your contract papers back when you were facing my army? Quill, paper, now."


    Qian Yun opened his mouth behind the mask to say something, but a moment later decided against it. Without any hesitation, he pulled out a small stack of papers and a quill from inside his robe and handed them to her.


    Then he watched in silence as Yuen Zhou''s hand turned into a blur of motions, extremely complicated theories and diagrams appearing on the papers on her hand one by one.


    She memorized entire volumes of cultivation techniques? What the hell?


    Qian Yun suddenly felt that he had made a mistake by goading her and indirectly threatening her just then. This Yuen Zhou seemed like an even bigger anomaly than Mu Ran.


    How can a righteous cultivator of her level get her hands on so many precious demonic techniques? Moreover, her mastery of these techniques was so great that she had memorized them?


    Meanwhile, Han Xuhan and Mu Ran were sneakily glancing at the two of them every now and then.


    "Underling, what do you think they''re doing?"


    "Well, judging by their postures and body language, both of them look rather aggressive. Yet they also seem to be continuously making compromises. Each time one of them whispers something, the other tenses up, and vice versa. And then the tense one nods in acceptance. It does look rather strange."


    "What''s up with those papers?"


    "Brother Qian Yun practices a cultivation technique that relies on contracts, as far as I''m aware."


    "Contracts?" Mu Ran''s eyes suddenly lit up as if he had figured it out.


    "Oh...oh, what if...the two of them fell in love at first sight, and now they''re signing some sort of contract as a proof of their eternal love for each other in case an accident happens..."


    "Uh, boss, that can''t be right. They were wearing masks when they first met. Can this legendary love at first sight sprout when the sight is mostly blocked ?"


    "Well, they could still see each other''s eyes through the masks. And they say the eyes are the windows to the soul after all..."


    Han Xuhan was rendered speechless. What could he say after that idiom?


    He shouldn''t have encouraged his boss to continue this completely ridiculous conversation.


    Right, speaking of souls, there was something he needed to test.


    "Windows to the soul? In that case boss, what would anyone see if they made eye contact with you?"


    Han Xuhan carefully slid a question he had been pondering for a while. He wanted to see what Mu Ran''s reaction would be upon being reminded of the fact that Xuhan knew his big secret. If there was any sort of hostility, things would get a bit hard to control.


    "My eyes? Heh, of course, they''d see a true dragon within!" Mu Ran proudly answered.


    "Of course, boss is a true dragon among men."


    Han Xuhan sighed in relief. It looked like Mu Ran didn''t hold any ill will toward him over this. He had even reverted back to his cocky, easygoing personality.


    Lost in his thoughts, he missed the cunning gleam running through Mu Ran''s gaze.

 Chapter 63: Why Do I Sound Like A Pervert?

    Qian Yun took the papers and quill back from Yuen Zhou, who had just finished writing the entire first volume of the technique he wanted from her within ten minutes. It took up nearly twenty pages, and looked complicated enough to make any cultivator have second thoughts about practicing it.


    "Who are you buying this for anyway?" Yuen Zhou asked curiously.


    "Your martial brother Han Xuhan. He seems to put a lot of value on this."


    Yuen Zhou was startled for a few seconds before she remembered the rumors about this martial brother of hers.


    It was said that his meridians were deformed, making him the slowest cultivator of their generation. The teachers often gave him sympathetic looks and extra attention during classes. Rumors also said that he would inevitably end up as a slave in the mines within a few months. He was the current figurehead of their Black Sheep Mountain peak.


    Now it all made sense to her. Since Han Xuhan and Qian Yun had been exploring this world fragment together, it was possible that they had made a contract in order to strengthen their trust in each other.


    But what had he done to make Qian Yun trade away a rare cultivation technique?


    Making a mental note to investigate that later, she turned her focus back on Qian Yun.


    "Time for you to keep your word, fellow cultivator Qian Yun."


    Qian Yun gave the documents in his hand one last look before he started speaking to her in a low tone.


    Thirty seconds later, he walked away from a dazed Yuen Zhou. Their deal was completed, from what he could see. Yuen Zhou certainly did not seem unsatisfied with what he had told her.


    Mu Ran and Han Xuhan noted the end of their conversation and stopped discussing their stupid theories. Well...Xuhan knew it was a stupid conversation, but he wasn''t too sure about what Mu Ran thought.


    The team returned to their usual formation. Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou in front, Han Xuhan and Qian Yun in the back, then Zhanxian and his brethren behind everyone else. Zhanxian stuck close to Xuhan, his bones shaking every time one of the hideous zombies looked at him curiously. Han Xuhan had repeatedly told him not to be a xenophobic racist just because the zombies were a different type of undead, but it wasn''t working for some reason.


    Stealthily, Qian Yun handed the documents to Han Xuhan.


    One look at the contents of the papers and Han Xuhan''s head started aching. Qian Yun had gotten this technique from Yuen Zhou, his martial sister?


    Had he been a robot, his circuits would have been fried from the overload of information. Nothing made any sense to him. How did Qian Yun know Yuen Zhou had this? Why the hell would she memorize a whole cultivation technique that she had no need of, to begin with? Who is that bored?


    But when he opened his mouth to ask him, he saw Qian Yun pulling out a familiar contract paper from his robe.


    "We agreed that the cultivation technique was equivalent to your contribution to our contract so far, yes?"


    Han Xuhan swallowed his question and nodded numbly.


    "Then our contract ends here. Let''s sign it off stating that we are both satisfied with the contribution of the other party. And don''t worry about the cultivation technique being fake. If you ask your martial sister, she''ll vouch for it. If you don''t find her words credible enough, you can try to pour your qi inside the contract paper and verify its authenticity, although I''d advise against that. The entity that judges the contract is far from being gentle or genial. Even I, the designer of this contract dare not come in touch with its existence unless it''s necessary."


    Han Xuhan originally did suspect the credibility of Qian Yun''s contract. But seeing it was Yuen Zhou who had provided the technique, he felt that it was unnecessary to take the risk to verify its authenticity.


    Yuen Zhou had no beef with him. He had even helped her multiple times in the past with small matters. She had no reason to give him a faulty cultivation technique.


    However, Han Xuhan''s paranoia was acting up again. He decided to keep the technique untouched for now. He needed to do some experiments with it before his suspicions died down.


    "The verification is unnecessary. I trust you, brother Qian Yun." Han Xuhan slapped his own chest and signed the contract paper brutishly.


    The next few minutes passed by silently as they kept moving forward. Wherever this land of laws was situated in, night was bound to fall. The fog was getting harder to navigate through. Thankfully, there were a few dim emerald orbs shining ahead of them in the dark.


    "Boss, should we collect those or not?"


    Mu Ran turned to look at Xuhan. He had already collected half a dozen of these power sources. By now, most competitors who had passed the first stage were either knocked out or zombified. Mu Ran had even fought some sinister cultivators who had purposefully destroyed the law fragments protecting their defeated opponents which had turned them into horrifying undeads.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    While he didn''t need the power sources to activate law fragments, it would be a bit risky if they left them behind for the malicious competitors. Furthermore, he needed to hide the fact that he could activate laws by himself.


    "Yeah, we should. It''s time we entered the next stage," he said.


    The four of them slightly adjusted their direction of movement and went straight toward the closest source of emerald light in the dark.


    As soon as they got close enough to the emerald orb to see it properly, Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou exchanged a look and stopped walking. Behind them, Han Xuhan and Qian Yun got ready for shit to go down.


    "This is a trap," Yuen Zhou warned in a hushed tone as she knelt down and picked up an odd-looking squirrel from the ground. Han Xuhan felt that it looked familiar. Wait a minute...


    Was that the poor test subject Mu Ran had sent into this world fragment as a scout? It seemed to have turned into a zombie as well! Its front limbs had turned into a pair of thorny tentacles, and one deformed wing had grown out of its spine, straight up like a mast.


    Han Xuhan''s eyes turned toward Mu Ran, who looked rather ashamed of himself.


    At least he had the heart to feel guilty over it.


    "You used the squirrel to scout the area ahead?" Qian Yun asked Yuen Zhou curiously.


    "FINE! I''M SORRY! I apologize for treating it as a guinea pig," Mu Ran gritted his teeth and spat out an apology.


    "What?"


    "What are you talking about?"


    Qian Yun and Yuen Zhou turned to look at him and asked in confusion.


    Han Xuhan slapped a hand over his forehead and decided to butt in since Mu Ran didn''t look particularly eager to clarify the situation.


    "That''s a long story, guys. We can talk about it later! Martial sister Zhou, did the squirrel detect anyone with bad intentions nearby?"


    Yuen Zhou nodded while Mu Ran gave Xuhan a thumbs up as if to say, ''nice save, underling !''


    "Yes, I''ve encountered this type of traps before. Since everyone is trying their best to collect the power sources, you can actually avoid a majority of the scuffles and still reap the benefits if you''re smart enough to run straight to the edge of the current testing area and guard one of the orbs around there. That way, your strength will remain at the peak, thus letting you bait and defeat the ragged cultivators who reach your power source after long, difficult battles.


    "What a hateful strategy! Those who would ambush other hardworking cultivators like this surely must be demonic scums."


    It was now Han Xuhan''s turn to feel awkward.


    That was the exact strategy he himself had come up with before they met Mu Ran and Zhou Yuen. While he was aware that other people had done something similar, it was embarrassing to see someone badmouthing his ''big brain strategy''.


    Exactly what was so sinister about it? Hmph...only fools would refuse to acknowledge such genius plans. Visionaries have always been labeled as wicked before their vision was realized...cough.


    Ignoring the amused glances from Qian Yun, Han Xuhan imperceptibly moved closer to Mu Ran.


    "How do you suggest we deal with this, martial brother Mu Ran?"


    Yuen Zhou asked, not noticing Han Xuhan''s odd behavior.


    "Well, I can just sneak up on them and beat them unconscious. That''s what I''ve been doing since the start. It''s a pretty brilliant and simple strategy!"


    Mu Ran answered very confidently while taking out his broken spearhead.


    "...How about you use the undeads to attack them?" Qian Yun suggested.


    "Good idea," Han Xuhan supported him vehemently.


    Yuen Zhou locked her gaze with Qian Yun for a moment before she relented.


    "Fine. I''ll use the larger zombies to create a distraction. Meanwhile, the three of you can sneak attack them from another direction."


    Using the squirrel as a scout, Yuen Zhou managed to pinpoint the location of the hiding cultivators. The four of them maneuvered around their position and found the most suitable plan of attack easily.


    Han Xuhan, Qian Yun, and Mu Ran worked together as a team while Yuen Zhou controlled her zombies to attack from the other direction.


    The battle didn''t last long. The cultivators never imagined that their well-hidden location would be discovered and attacked by the brainless zombies. While they tried their best to throw out the law fragments on their hand at the oncoming humongous nightmarish creatures, Mu Ran knocked them out one by one from behind. Han Xuhan and Zhanxian stood far away and cheered them on silently as Qian Yun ''collected the loot''.


    ..... ....... ...... ......


    "Now, what do we do with these people?" Qian Yun


    The four of them had gathered together once more after the battle was over. The five mildly injured cultivators in front of them looked at them fearfully. They couldn''t believe that someone could control the wandering zombies in the foggy area.


    Their opponents were too scary! Were these guys the infamous demonic cultivators? What were they going to do to them?


    Han Xuhan was observing the five of them intently for a while. His eyes had a nasty, scary gleam that did not escape the notice of their defeated opponents.


    "Since they can use the power of laws, we shouldn''t allow them to reach the next stage and impede us," Yuen Zhou muttered in a low voice.


    Mu Ran nodded in agreement.


    "I''ve got just the thing we need," Qian Yun said as he pulled out another stack of documents from his pocket.


    "We can make them sign contracts with us. If they want us to leave them unscathed, they need to cooperate with us. The contract will ensure that they can''t betray us."


    Everyone''s eyes lit up at the suggestion. Indeed, every cultivation technique can do awesome stuff if you knew how to use them well.


    Of course, the defeated party didn''t look particularly eager to sign the contract.


    To speed things up, Han Xuhan rammed into their mental defense with his harmless threat.


    "Your mouths say no, but your bodies say yes."


    Everyone turned to look at him in confusion. He felt like there was something wrong in their gazes. So he awkwardly explained, "all of you are injured. How can you hope to put up a fight now? Even if you''re mentally prepared to struggle till the end, you must recognize the capability and limits of your own body! How can you people be good cultivators if you''re not sensitive to your own limits?! Stop denying our goodwill and sign the contracts, or we''ll hit you again right where it will hurt the most!"


    "...."


    The strange gazes didn''t go away despite his logical reasoning. But it weakened their prisoners, mentally.


    After a couple of minutes of bargaining and declarations along the lines of ''even a cornered mouse dares to fight a cat'' and ''I''d rather die standing than live kneeling'', the contract was finally signed.


    The conditions were not particularly harsh. The only disadvantage their opponents had to swallow was being used as a meat shield during unexpected turns of events or ambushes. They also had to listen to the other party''s commands as long as it didn''t threaten their safety.


    Just as the five of them breathed in relief after signing the contract, Han Xuhan''s innocent voice suddenly overturned the situation.


    "Guys, why don''t we take our clothes off and have some fun?"

 Chapter 64: The Illusion And The Temptation

    The sun''s approach had colored the faraway horizon golden.


    Pine town was just ahead, and old man Di Qian''s targets were supposedly inside the woods on the opposite side of the small town, exploring a world fragment, from what he had gathered so far.


    The world fragment hidden within that place was an aberration.


    A few decades ago, it had suddenly popped into existence. Before anyone could investigate it, a foul aura of abyssal nightmares had started to emanate from it, scaring away most of the curious, low-level cultivators.


    But then a few bigshots had come to poke at its secrets. Witnesses say that those high and mighty figures of this realm had run away faster than anything they had ever seen. Later, all the great experts of every sect across the seven regions had gathered to seal the entrance to this world fragment. A formation so complex had been laid over it that even he, a cultivator who was but a few steps away from becoming a celestial, knew he couldn''t delve past it willfully.


    But right now, his concerns lay elsewhere. The suspicious soul he had been tracking for a day and a night wasn''t even in his thoughts.


    He was sweating, very nervously at that.


    The town in front of him was fading in and out of existence, like an unstable illusion.


    In the feeble light of dawn, the humans, buildings, and the bustling streets appeared and disappeared repeatedly, their bodies sometimes solid, sometimes transparent, sometimes in between.


    It wasn''t a sight he was familiar with, but he could easily guess its source, and the conclusion he had reached frightened him.


    Despite his impressive cultivation base, he had been gravely injured a while ago. He couldn''t hope to contend with what slumbered ahead, in the heart of this town.


    "A cultivator from the Beasthaven sect? This isn''t your territory. Get lost!"


    Just as he was about to retreat, a low voice rang beside his ears. The speaker sounded extremely frustrated.


    The old man who had stood at the gates of Pine town for nearly half an hour in a daze turned around and vanished on the spot.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The sun peeked from the horizon. Its light fell on where Pine town was supposed to be.


    ...... ...... ....... .......


    After Han Xuhan had proposed his suggestion, a grave silence fell over their surroundings.


    Yuen Zhou had gone stock still from shock, Mu Ran looked dazed, and Qian Yun had suddenly squatted down for some reason, his body shaking in fits of laughter.


    Their ''newly acquired helpers'' stared at him with their mouths agape. Among the five of them, two were girls, and both of them were giving Han Xuhan a repulsed look full of horror.


    "Let''s do what, martial brother?" Yuen Zhou asked, a cold undertone surfacing in her voice.


    "I said, we should take our clothes off and exchange them. After all, it''s best to keep our original identity secret. If we change our attire and impersonate the disciples from random sects every time we meet new opponents, no one will be able to figure out our real origin. This way, even if somebody escapes after a ''friendly exchange'', they won''t be able to track us down.


    Think about it, we can have so much fun playing mind games this way!"


    The silence that fell this time was even more severe, only to be broken by a squeaky sound of laughter coming from the squatting figure of Qian Yun.


    "Well, that''s a good suggestion!" One of the female cultivators who had been venomously glaring at Han Xuhan exclaimed, relief coloring her tone.


    Qian Yun''s snickering laughter turned into a fully blown howl. Mu Ran shook his head and showed another thumbs up to Xuhan.


    "Great idea, underling! Let''s strip!"


    He didn''t wait for the rest of them to consent as he practically ripped his tattered, recently robbed robe from his body.


    "Ah, my body looks so pitiful. I haven''t eaten anything in the last ten hours. Can''t even feel my abs..."


    Everyone turned away from his semi-naked form.


    Yuen Zhou slapped a hand over her forehead and sighed. Fortunately, her martial brother had only wrongly phrased his suggestion...or had he? She couldn''t be sure. If she had a spirit stone for each time he had done this, she''d have two spirit stones, which wasn''t a lot. But it was odd that it had happened twice.


    The other team was ready to exchange clothes and sect badges, so there was no issue with proceeding forward with his plan. Yuen Zhou exchanged her robe with one of the female cultivators while the six young men shuffled the robes among their two teams.


    The female cultivator who had exchanged her clothes with Yuen Zhou noticed Han Xuhan staring at her again intensely. It made her skin crawl in fear.


    What was this creepy guy up to again?


    "...Erm, fellow cultivator, is there something else you want to say?" She asked in trepidation.


    "Indeed..." Han Xuhan muttered as loudly as possible, attracting the attention of all nearby.


    "I was thinking, perhaps after taking off our clothes, we could have had even more fun!"


    The female cultivator felt her heartbeat quicken in despair.


    "But it''s a pity...that I, Shen Kai, do not have the necessary equipment for that sort of fun. It was a necessary sacrifice for the pursuit of my dao. To be a supreme demon, the weakness of flesh must be discarded!" Han Xuhan added as an afterthought while gazing down at his crotch with regret colouring his tone.


    The surroundings fell silent again.

 Chapter 65: The Five Catagories Of Laws

    Han Xuhan felt great, to be honest. This expedition outside the sect was slowly turning from a life-and-death struggle into a relaxed stroll. He had two bodyguards now, Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou, both of whom were super overpowered in their own way. Qian Yun could still be trusted with most issues. Zhanxian still didn''t know that he had ''painted'' his home.


    They had both living and undead meat shields around them. Shen Kai would get screwed massively in the future unless he changed his name.


    All was well.


    On their way to the center of the fog, they had met other opponents, most of them cunning and powerful. But their sheer advantage in numbers was enough to beat everybody into submission. Han Xuhan had had great fun along the way. Each time they captured their next ''allies'', he would shout something along the lines of "WE ARE FROM THE XYZ SECT! SURRENDER OR DIE!"


    Then they''d force those guys to sign contracts of secrecy and submission. Borrowing Shen Kai''s name, Han Xuhan did his best to make all of their ''servants and maids'' hate him passionately. It was fun seeing them squirm in discomfort and revulsion while muttering Shen Kai''s name in low voices. Bound by the contract, none of them could harm him. So Han Xuhan had no qualms about attracting so much hatred.


    So refreshing!


    They had even met and defeated brother Feng Jun and his small team who had reached deeper than anyone else within the foggy area. His group had been furiously battling a horde of monstrous zombies. Han Xuhan and Mu Ran had gladly ''rushed to help them''. Of course, due to their disguises, none among the other party had recognized them. While the name Shen Kai was familiar to them, they simply assumed it was just a coincidence due to the sheer difference between that weak fellow they had met outside the portal and their hateful, devilish captor.


    By now, their initial small team had grown into an army of cultivators and undead. There were numerous weird zombies in the deeper region of the foggy area. Thankfully, Yuen Zhou''s undead suppressing technique was powerful enough to make them as obedient as a pet. If the guy who had created the testing ground ever saw the state his ingenious tests have been reduced to, he''d probably pull out his own hair in frustration. What was supposed to be full of intense battles had become a long march.


    A dim light from unknown sources lit their way ahead. The fog was no longer as dense as before. One could vaguely see tens of meters ahead of them easily.


    It took them more than a couple of hours to reach the end of the area full of emerald orbs due to all the obstacles. From what they could see through the fog ahead, the violet-coloured orbs were slowly starting to become more distinct and frequent ahead of them. What made them more sure of the fact that they had passed through the second stage was a pretty obvious clue on the ground.


    The normal ground consisting of loose soil had ended a few meters away from where they stood. From there, obsidian slabs seemingly made of steel covered the ground like bricks. Each slab covered tens of meters and contained hundreds of tiny, carved texts that resembled mosaics. They resembled platforms for duels.


    The mosaic-style texts glowed very faintly, each slab sporting a different and distinct color.


    None of them had any idea how to proceed further from their position.


    "And this, my slaves, is where you start making yourselves useful. Why don''t you all step ahead, and tell us what you can glean from the laws on those slabs, " Han Xuhan''s voice rang out loudly. He made his voice sound as nasal and annoying as possible.


    Gritting their teeth, the dozens of cultivators bound by Qian Yun''s contract acted like cannon fodders and stepped forward. Han Xuhan, Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, Qian Yun, Zhanxian, and their undead legion stayed behind them and observed the outcome attentively.


    Feng Jun had been the first cultivator to move as soon as Han Xuhan had ordered them to, followed by his three companions.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.He was thus the first to reach the slabs. As someone who had passed through the circle of laws faster than most cultivators, his proficiency at deciphering the texts on the surface of the steel platforms was top-notch.


    After about ten seconds, he spoke loudly to his captors hiding behind everybody.


    "These platforms are all full of texts that I can''t properly decipher. But all of them have one thing in common.


    Each platform in front of me has a paragraph of different types of texts, and an eye-catching title on top of the paragraphs. While I don''t understand the paragraphs, their titles are fairly easy to decipher.


    There are five different platforms here. And the five titles on them can be translated as Elemental, Force, Natural Laws, Sentient Contracts, Cause and Effect. "


    Barely had Feng Jun''s shout faded when a change took place in front of them, on the other side of the platforms.


    A violet orb blinked into existence, making all of them yelp in surprise and take a step back.


    The orb revolved in the air slowly and a deep, intimidating voice came from within, seemingly being transmitted through the orb from a faraway place.


    "Welcome, new disciples of the Holy land of Laws. You have managed to pass the primary tests. Now this stage, in a way, is both a test and an important pivot point on your path of cultivation as a disciple of the Holy Land of Laws.


    The five platforms in front of you have been a part of our legacy since the birth of the Holy Land. It''s a treasure that even celestials would covet.


    At their core, the laws you have seen so far can be divided into five categories. Each category has its own advantages and style.


    Right now, all of you should have already become familiar with using law fragments. It is time for you to choose which path you wish to pursue.


    The Elemental, as its name suggests, specializes in influencing the five elements through laws. No matter which part of the world you''re in, you''ll always be surrounded by elements. Which means, in this path of cultivation, you''ll never be lacking in resources to utilize your techniques on.


    The Force, on the other hand, relies on the manipulation of all types of forces around us. Gravitational, magnetic, the hidden forces of the world, heavenly suppression... all of these can be manipulated to your liking if you choose this path. Among the five types of laws, it is the most overbearing style.


    The Natural Laws are also easily understandable from its title. Everything around us is controlled by natural laws. You''re in urgent need of qi? You can rely on the natural laws of qi to gather all the amount you need. You need divine herbs? Use natural laws to speed up the maturing process of normal herbs with potential. Do I need to speak more of its merits?


    The Sentient Contracts are a bit more difficult to comprehend. This relies on mutual contracts between multiple parties. While this type of techniques doesn''t sound particularly powerful, it''s actually the scariest one among the five from certain perspectives. If someone is contract-bound to you, you can easily make them do your bidding or risk death. You don''t even need to make them sign voluntarily. Force them to obey you once and you can continue to exploit them again and again using a chain of contracts. You can even steal the contract-bound cultivators'' qi, cultivation, strength, and enlightenments."


    At this point of the speech, everyone was grimly staring at Qian Yun, who had shrunk back behind Yuen Zhou with an awkward posture. Seeing the heavy gazes on him, he cleared his throat.


    "Wow! That sounds oddly familiar! I wonder where I''ve heard that before..."


    The cultivators bound to him by the contract spat on the ground and gnashed their teeth in fury. Han Xuhan wanted to say something and farm more hatred on behalf of Shen Kai, but he felt that it might make the angry mob flip the table and go all out to kill him recklessly.


    Meanwhile, the voice from the orb was still speaking. So nobody raised a fuss for now and listened to its explanation.


    "The Cause and Effect type is the most difficult to master and use. But it is also the most useful when it comes to the practical usage of laws. It relies on certain conditions and the way an action affects one''s surroundings in order to trigger law fragments. In a complete circle of laws, at least 50 percent of law fragments would belong to this category.


    "Now, just because you like a certain type doesn''t mean you get to choose it freely. This platform is a sentient treasure that can judge your mental alignment, potential, and the type of techniques that would suit you the best after certain procedures.


    Step up ahead and stand on any one of the platforms and try using the power sources you¡¯ve collected in the second stage to activate the high-level law fragments on it. Then enter your own qi into the law fragments.


    The platform will present you with a test as soon as the law fragments are activated.


    The third stage of the inheritance test, begins now! "


    With a solemn shout, the voice coming from the violet orb fell silent, following which the orb vanished in the same way it had appeared on the spot.

 Chapter 66: The Magisteriums Ranking

    "Who wants to go first? They''ll be rewarded with headpats! For the ladies, exclusively, my skeleton minion shall even bestow a kiss on my behalf!" Han Xuhan shouted once again. Zhanxian''s consent was not brought into the equation.


    Even though it was everyone''s intention to take part in the third test to become a real cultivator of law techniques by entering one of the five inheritance platforms, when their most hated captor announced the reward, they felt another wave of anger and hatred coursing through their veins.


    Heavens, why not strike this scourge to death with a lightning or ten?


    Feng Jun stepped up to volunteer before anyone else could. His plan was very simple.


    Since he was bound by the contract to those sinister fellows, as long as he stayed away from them, they wouldn''t be able to impose any unsavory commands on him on a whim. This third test could be an excellent opportunity to put some distance between him and those hateful bastards.


    But he wasn''t the only one who had realized this fact. So a verbal battle broke out in order to determine who gets to be the first guinea pig.


    "Aye, it is gratifying to see how enthusiastic our slaves are! They don''t even care about their own lives, willing to sacrifice themselves in order to ensure our safety. It sure seems like we''re the best masters a slave can hope to submit to!


    Hey, fellow cultivators, wanna make this contract a permanent thing?"


    It is unnecessary to state who spoke those words. It is also unnecessary to state how many bloodshot gazes were directed toward his direction. It is even more unnecessary to describe how satisfied the speaker looked upon seeing the reaction his words had generated. Had this been a multiplayer game, the system would have shown notifications by now along the lines of:


    { you have reached the limit for maximum stackable aggression points. Acquired new achievement and unlocked hidden mission - [ Kill On Sight ]


    Mission details- you''re the target of the mission. Why are you reading this and not running for your life yet, you daft fuck? }


    In the end, after much discussion and some half-serious brawls, Feng Jun managed to snatch the position of the ''selfless martyr for the masters'' and rushed toward the metal platforms.


    The rest of the cultivators formed a long line behind him. Even though this would mean that Mu Ran and Qian Yun, the two cultivators who were the most eager to explore the Holy Land of laws would have to go last, neither of them seemed particularly dissatisfied with the arrangement.


    With nervousness laced in his movements, Feng Jun stepped toward one of the five platforms. He had already chosen which type of law techniques he wanted to study further. Without any hesitation, he chose the platform bearing the title: Elemental.


    Han Xuhan threw him an emerald orb to activate the law fragments on the platform.


    Then Feng Jun''s own qi poured out in a frenzy as he directed them to come into contact with the complex laws on the platform he had chosen.


    Seconds passed. Everyone waited for something to happen with bated breath.


    On the platform, Feng Jun started sweating profusely. It was taking up too much qi. He didn''t know if he would have enough qi left for whatever procedures came next. There was no opportunity for him to sit down and recover some qi.


    The platform sucked in more and more qi continuously. Gritting his teeth, Feng Jun gave it his all and pushed down his entire qi reserve inside the obscure laws.


    Just as the last trickle of his qi vanished inside the platform, a violet glow enveloped him, blinding the onlookers with a sudden flash of brightness.


    When their sight recovered, they saw that the platform was empty. Feng Jun and the light surrounding him had vanished. What attracted their attention, however, were the lines of texts that glowed above the platform in the air.


    A huge, semi-transparent leaderboard had appeared in the void above their head. The shining golden letters on it were hard to miss. It was titled:


    The Magisterium


    The leaderboard sported twenty-one ranks, exactly the number of cultivators present there. The first five slots were emitting a bright golden hue, with the top spot being occupied by Feng Jun''s name. There were some interesting miscellaneous information beside his name in the slot.


    Cultivation Base- sixth layer of physique transformation


    Qi Quality- 5.8 / 10


    Dao Base Quality- 6 / 10


    Law Proficiency- 3 / 10 (limited to physique transformation realm)


    Chosen Inheritance- Elemental.


    Judgment- pending...


    It looked very cool. Han Xuhan also immediately felt an urge to beat everyone, occupy the number one spot as a dark horse, and show his awesomeness in front of the entire world. But he was aware that even his dreams these days weren''t that nice.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Besides, there were safety issues to consider...


    Realizing that Feng Jun had been probably teleported to wherever the judgment was being held, the rest of the cultivators breathed a sigh of relief and rushed toward the platforms one by one.


    Some chose the elemental platform like Feng Jun had, some chose the sentient contracts, some the force...


    Soon, only Han Xuhan, Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, Qian Yun, Zhanxian, and the legion of undead were the only ones left outside the platforms.


    "Well, it looks like there aren''t any further issues to be concerned about other than our own choices right now," Qian Yun remarked calmly as they observed the gigantic leaderboard above.


    Feng Jun had maintained his position as the top dog in the ranks, despite the poor evaluation he had received from the Magisterium. The majority of the cultivators who had entered the leaderboard had scores lower than him in most categories. The handful of cultivators who surpassed him in a category or two were all ranked within the top five.


    Qian Yun''s heart was fluttering. His moment had finally come. The sentient contracts...It was clear to him which inheritance he wanted to pursue.


    Just before he decided to say goodbye to his teammates, he heard Han Xuhan proposing a rather reasonable suggestion.


    "I''m hungry. Who''s got food? I need food. We should replenish ourselves before we start playing."


    Yuen Zhou wordlessly pointed one of her hands toward her undead legion and a large zombie bird carrying a pouch flew over.


    "Martial sister, your ability is really, really, REALLY cool!"


    Han Xuhan rubbed his fingers in anticipation and caught the dry packets of food Yuen Zhou threw his way. Mu Ran also took some, and Qian Yun had no intention to refuse.


    After the dry meal was finished, Han Xuhan produced a half-full water sack from his robe and passed it on to everyone after taking a swig. Together, they were the very picture of a team of classmates who had come to their favorite picnic spot. It was a relaxed scene straight out of a slice-of-life anime if you could ignore the legion of mutated zombies camping peacefully a few yards away. If the cultivators who had rushed into the third stage without any rest saw them right now, they would probably crush their own teeth from grinding them too hard. Han Xuhan regretted that he hadn''t thought of this idea sooner.


    "I assume each of you has made different decisions regarding which type of laws you want to study. Then it''s time for us to part, brother Xuhan," Qian Yun finally said after resting for a bit.


    "Let us hope we meet again in the future, alive and well."


    "Yep, it was a pleasure having you as a bodyguard, brother Yun," Han Xuhan replied in a voice full of emotions. Qian Yun laughed and patted him on the shoulder before turning around and walking toward the platform sporting the title: Sentient Contract.


    After he had vanished from his spot, all three of them looked at the leaderboard, awaiting his appearance on the ranks.


    Soon, it blinked into existence and pushed its way to the top five with great momentum, occupying the third position!


    Cultivation Base- fifth layer of physique transformation


    Qi quality- 4.2 / 10


    Dao Base Quality- 5 / 10


    Law Proficiency- 6.1 / 10 (limited to physique transformation realm)


    Chosen Inheritance- Sentient Contracts


    Judgment- Pending...


    His proficiency in the language of laws was unsurprisingly the highest one among all the cultivators on the leaderboard. He hadn''t indeed lied about his past roots being connected to the Land of Laws.


    "Underling Xuhan, do you want to try going together? After all, you''re...slightly weak," Mu Ran voiced his concern.


    "Thanks for the praise, boss, but I thought you had other reasons for coming here. Are you really sure you''re going to stick to the procedures, obtain a cultivation technique and then go home?"


    "Well... " Mu Ran rubbed his cheek awkwardly.


    Indeed, Han Xuhan had addressed the issue he was worried about. He couldn''t really afford to let another person tag along with him when he was about to accomplish his goals for coming here. What he was about to do... was anything but safe. Han Xuhan would probably get killed as soon as the shitstorm started.


    "In that case, take care. And be careful. Trust nobody from the land of laws, especially if they claim to be authority-level figures. You''re too weak to chase after the Inheritances here. And remember to run away fast if you see any fights breaking out."


    Giving him another pat on the back, Mu Ran jumped on top of the platform bearing the title The Force . A few seconds later, he vanished as well.


    On the leaderboard, a new name appeared, one that immediately pushed all the names aside and rushed to occupy the top spot!


    Cultivation Base- Fifth Layer of physique transformation realm (?)


    Qi Quality- 7.7 / 10


    Dao Base Quality- 8 / 10


    Law Proficiency- 5.9 / 10 ( Limited to physique transformation realm ) (?)


    Chosen Inheritance- Force


    Judgment- Pending...


    "Impressive, impressive..martial brother Mu Ran sure rocked it, haha."


    Han Xuhan laughed upon seeing the changes on the leaderboard and turned to look at the last remaining member of his bodyguard association. Both of them consciously ignored the question marks beside Mu Ran''s stats.


    "Martial sister Zhou, it''s your turn. I''ll go last."


    Yuen Zhou looked quite pale for some reason. Looking back at her undead legion, she made a gesture at them to stand there as guards. Then she spoke to Han Xuhan in a rather strange manner.


    "Ergh...martial brother, a word of advice, whatever inheritance this test ground offers, be careful not to risk your life for it. Your own life is more precious than any cultivation technique. Take care," she warned, her teeth gritted and her face stiff. Han Xuhan couldn''t help but wonder if he had offended her somehow.


    Yuen Zhou didnt stand on ceremony and hurried toward the platforms, choosing the same one as Qian Yun, surprising Xuhan.


    Soon, a new name lit up and appeared on the leaderboard''s top five. It actually occupied the second rank!


    Cultivation Base- Third Layer of Physique Transformation realm (?)


    Qi Quality- 7.3 / 10


    Dao Base Quality- 8.2 / 10


    Law Proficiency- 5.5 / 10


    Chosen Inheritance- Sentient Contracts


    Judgment- Pending...


    "Oooooh, fuuuuck! Is she the lead antagonist or what?" Han Xuhan exclaimed in surprise.


    Things were getting more and more interesting!


    Deep within the fog, inside a large hall, Yuen Zhou''s figure suddenly materialized into existence, streams of blood gushing out from her nostrils.


    "How did this happen? Why has my mental connection to so many undeads been severed? Where did they vanish off to? How?


    ...Aghh, the backlash is still way too strong for me to take on at my level..."

 Chapter 67: We Have Some Fate Between Us, Little Cultivator!

    "Yo Zhanxian, I got a job for you."


    "As long as it doesn''t require me to take any risks, I''m listening."


    "Ahahaa, about that...ahem, there is a teensy weensy bit of risk, like, just a pinch of danger. But if you can follow my instructions, it won''t do you any harm...probably."


    "...No. I don''t think I''m going to be participating in your next prank, master."


    "Aw come on, man! If you manage to do the task, it''ll guarantee our safety! I''ll be able to create a new project once we return to the sect. If you want, I can compromise a bit and let you customize your new neighbor!


    Do you want it to be a pretty lass with shiny, healthy bones? I have the perfect bone measurements! Do you want a younger sibling to play with? Daddy will make one for you!"


    "I am beginning to question your sanity, master."


    "....Sure, I am a kind master; I allow questions! The answer is NOPE! Your master is as sane as ever!"


    "Okay, that just confirms my suspicion."


    This was the approximate content of the conversation that took place once Yuen Zhou had disappeared inside the third stage.


    It ended with Han Xuhan being rendered speechless.


    Aye...why is it so difficult to coax an undead to take risks?


    "Little Zhanxian, look at martial sister Yuen Zhou''s undeads. See how obedient and likable they are? Can''t you be more like them?"


    It was a scene that resembled a worried parent scolding his son for not being as good as the neighbor''s kids.


    How did things come to this? Han Xuhan couldn''t help but wonder silently.


    If Zhanxian had eyeballs, they''d be rolling in annoyance right now. But he didn''t have them, so Han Xuhan was spared further mental conditioning on how to discipline a rebellious son who doesn''t understand what''s good for him.


    After another round of coaxing and promises of rewards, Zhanxian reluctantly agreed. Han Xuhan finally handed him a pouch he had been carrying around since the second stage of the inheritance test. Then he used his empty waterskin as a sheet to write a letter.


    "What''s written in this letter, boss?" Zhanxian asked curiously.


    "My proclamation of eternal, undying love. Before I die, I want it to reach the hands of the ones destined with me."


    "Destined with you? No, wait...the ONES?"


    "As they say, enemies and lovers are destined to meet. Here you go," he muttered after giving Zhanxian the letter and whispered the plan to his ear holes.


    The more Zhanxian listened, the more puzzled he became. He had already understood that his master was bonkers, but this plan made zero sense to him.


    Has my summoner finally lost it? How will this affect me? He wondered.


    After the explanation was over, Han Xuhan patted him on his bony back in the same way his bodyguards had and walked over toward the platforms, his hands clasped behind his back and his head held high. He felt very cool in that pose.


    Honestly speaking, Han Xuhan really didn''t have to risk his safety and enter the third stage to receive an inheritance technique. But he was starting to find the language of laws pretty useful...not to mention, incredibly interesting.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.His character and natural disposition seemed to be quite compatible with this type of techniques that relied more on creativity.


    But what he was more concerned about was the issue that had been bugging him for a while now.


    Both Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were oddities, abnormal to the point where Han Xuhan considered them to be major characters of a typical cultivation saga.


    Yet both of them had cautioned him in an uncannily similar way against the Holy Land of Laws...


    It raised some suspicions in his heart. He understood that the third stage would probably be the place where all hell would break loose once Mu Ran did what protagonists do.


    Nevertheless, Han Xuhan still wanted to see if he could actually manage to get something useful from this place in the meantime. He just had to be more cautious than usual. He had learned a hard lesson back inside the circle of laws.


    There is a fine line between taking risks for benefit and courting death from greed...Han Xuhan felt like he was toeing that line, but his fortune was so miserable that ANY small boon would perhaps be his lifesaver. Even a small treasure, or a decently potent inheritance would boost his chances of survival in the future. The risk had to be taken for his own good, for his long-term safety.


    Standing in front of the platforms, Han Xuhan considered his options.


    "Which one should I choose?"


    Due to his indecisive, paranoid nature that had been cultivated through his experiences in the sect, Han Xuhan kept changing his mind halfway through every time he tried to choose a type of technique.


    The Elemental, the force, the natural laws, the sentient contracts, the cause and effect...


    All of them seemed to have their own merits.


    In the end, Han Xuhan chose the sentient contract first, mostly because both Yuen Zhou and Qian Yun had done the same. Maybe they could meet again during the test?


    He had managed to recover some of his qi on his way here. So once he gave the mental command, a small stream of qi poured out from his meridians and came into contact with the laws on the platform.


    Compared to his predecessors, Han Xuhan''s qi was negligible due to his low cultivation base and poorly structured meridians. His control was shaky as well. After a few seconds, he felt a warmth in his body and soon the familiar violet glow appeared, wrapping around him like a blanket.


    For a second, he felt the disorientation that came with teleportation. Shaking it off, he looked around and observed where he had materialized in. Unfortunately, it seemed that he was alone in there and wouldn''t be able to meet the rest of the team anytime soon.


    He was inside a spherical hall, a smaller version of the stadium in the first stage.


    There was a large throne in front of him at one end of the hall. A giant figurine made of unknown substances sat on it in a grandiose fashion. Silvery metallic armor, spiked shoulders-guards, fists like warhammers, with a featureless smooth helmet fully covering its head. It was an awe-inspiring statue.


    "Hello!" Han Xuhan waved his hand cheerfully at the humanoid figurine.


    Unsurprisingly, the figurine spoke.


    "...It seems the element of surprise is lost, but anyway, I''m the representative of one of five factions of the Holy Land of laws, the Sentient Contracts. Welcome to your final test. It is a very simple one."


    The figurine''s gigantic fists opened up and two small spheres flew down from its palm toward Han Xuhan.


    "You should have expended all of your qi during your entrance. One of these spheres carries qi for you to absorb and return to your peak state while the other carries a few alphabets belonging to the language of laws.


    Replenish yourself and try to create a law fragment that you think bears the closest resemblance to contract style laws."


    Han Xuhan caught the two orbs flying toward him and observed them closely for a second.


    "But I have no idea about the principles behind sentient contract type law techniques," he said in a puzzled tone.


    "That''s fine. You just have to think up something to the best of your abilities. It doesn''t have to necessarily be accurate. This platform only judges your compatibility with various types of laws, not your knowledge."


    The silver giant replied speedily.


    Nodding to express that he had understood, Han Xuhan concentrated on the orb containing the alphabets. It was better to check what he was working with before starting.


    Surprisingly, all the alphabets looked familiar. Han Xuhan had seen them all in the circle of laws back at the first stage. The alphabets of the language of laws had very narrow usability. A certain alphabet could only be used for a select few types of words. The majority of the alphabets he had learned from the circle of laws were related to entrapment, punishment, restrictions and similar actions.


    "Whoa! It looks like I know all of the letters in here!"


    Han Xuhan exclaimed in surprise.


    "Wait, seriously ?" The metal giant sounded as surprised as Xuhan.


    "How can that be?"


    For a moment, it looked like it was about to move. But suddenly it stopped halfway and leaned back on its seat.


    "What a happy coincidence! It looks like you''re fated with the Sentient Contract Faction, little cultivator," it spoke again, this time in a mellow tone.

 Chapter 68: I Have A Rare Physique, Alas!

    "My lord, I''ve received news from the disciples guarding the branch models that our branch in one of the abandoned planets is showing signs of activity."


    An elderly man bowed toward the huge, closed door of a palace. In his hands he held a piece of jade, its exterior full of complex engravings.


    The palace door immediately opened as if the person inside had been waiting there all along. A graceful middle aged man came out from there, his expression showing curiosity.


    "Which planet?" He enquired.


    "Neutral Territory, North-East, Sector 7, Solar System 11, Planet 5. It''s right at the edge of the territory," the elderly man answered.


    "If I remember correctly, it was the branch where their prime disciple accidentally got in touch with one of the forbidden law techniques and converted over to the Galaxy Nocturna?"


    The bowing old man straightened his back and nodded.


    "Yes sir. He had tried to convert his whole sect and failed spectacularly. You know how superstitious they are in the lower worlds, lack of proper education and all. The moment the authorities of his sect heard certain catchphrases like ''Darklings'', ''Abyss Monarchies'', and ''Nightmare Knights'', they decided to kill off the representatives of the other party. It ended...poorly." The old man laughed in a hollow manner.


    "All of the information regarding the incident is here," he added while handing the piece of jade to the middle aged man respectfully.


    The middle aged man took the jade from him and concentrated on it for a moment before suddenly raising his eyebrows.


    "Oh...I see. Is the ''Abomination'' about to break out? Impressive! If only that boy hadn''t veered off into that path...Truly a waste of potential!"


    The old man nodded in agreement. Indeed, it was a pity.


    "Old Lu, go make a visit to that world and observe the entire process. If the ''Abomination'' successfully manages to redeem itself, you know what to do."


    As if already expecting such orders, the old man bowed once more and faded away from his spot immediately.


    The middle aged man stared at the jade in his hand for a long time afterwards.


    "Looks like the Galaxy Nocturna wasn''t messing around when they came up with their little schemes. Don''t tell me they want to experiment with another extinguished star again..."


    ....... ......... ..........


    Han Xuhan wanted to laugh out loud. What was this metal mannequin saying?


    Fated to their faction? Joyous coincidence?


    Ahahahhahahahah....yeah, no.


    He had seen too much of this world of cultivation to believe that crap.


    But he was a bit hesitant to say that out loud upon noticing the gargantuan fists of the metal giant. Who knew if his ridicules would anger the big guy and prompt him to flatten little Xuhan with one punch?


    "Wow! I can''t believe that I''m a son of destiny like those epic stories! So cool! I can already imagine the entire world within my grasp, hahaha!"


    With exclamations copied from shounen villains, Han Xuhan eagerly sat down to start attempting to create a law fragment according to the instructions provided by the giant figurine on the throne.


    The giant nodded in an understanding manner, as if expecting such enthusiasm from this lucky, youthful cultivator who has just experienced his first fortuitous encounter.


    But as soon as it decided to speak some words of encouragement...


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    "Wah! What is this? I totally forgot about this, heavens dammit!"


    Han Xuhan''s frustrated shout interrupted the metal giant halfway.


    "What is it ? What did you forget?" It asked him curiously.


    "You see, the thing is, I have a rare physique!"


    Han Xuhan answered in a gloomy tone.


    The metal giant was even more confused. Rare physique?


    Wasn''t that supposed to be a good thing ?


    "The speciality of my physique is... most of my meridians are innately damaged or have experienced unnaturally growth. So, normally, I cannot absorb qi from my surroundings without a lot of preparations and treasures," Han Xuhan continued his woeful tale, stunning the statue on the throne.


    "What kind of shitty physique is that? How can you even consider that to be a physique? Impossible!"


    The giant shouted with such indignation that Han Xuhan almost felt touched. It sounded even more dumbfounded than he himself had been back during the revelation from elder Cai.


    "Senior, you can check it out yourself if you think I''m lying!" Han Xuhan said in an aggrieved tone.


    The giant waved its hand and a minimized version of Han Xuhan appeared in front of it. It resembled the avatars of the cultivators who had gotten their names on the leaderboard outside. Han Xuhan''s eyes widened at the sight.


    This entire inheritance test seemed way too advanced compared to the rest of the world of cultivation...


    After a moment of observation, the giant went still.


    "Damn! I can''t believe such an irregular physique actually exists...you poor lad, my condolences."


    "Aye, it looks like I''ll not be able to absorb the qi from this orb. What a pity! Why do I have such bad luck?"


    Han Xuhan whined like an entitled brat and put up a very good act. It would have been difficult to fool the intimidating giant had he been lying, but most of what he said were partially true.


    The frustration and whinings came very naturally.


    The lesson he had learned a while ago was still fresh in Han Xuhan''s mind. His dao base had been invaded by just one careless move!


    Let alone absorb qi from random sources, he wouldn''t even replenish his qi without taking safety precautions in this place.


    The giant looked lost for words, stuck in the middle of its movement again with a hand stretched toward the glassy ceiling.


    Han Xuhan couldn''t help but wonder if the giant was really just a magical statue or a real creature. But with the seamless, full body armour on, there was no way to tell.


    "This is unexpected. I have never met anyone with such physique that they cannot absorb the special qi...Hey boy, can you just replenish a bit of your qi? If you have a power source from the second stage, you can use your own qi to connect it to the law fragment."


    Han Xuhan shook his head and sighed, each of his movements exuding depression...


    "Of course not. My entire reserve was emptied in order to get me in here. If I could, would I have wasted so much time lamenting my bad luck?"


    The giant leaned back on its throne and waved its hand dismissively, speaking in a low spirited voice.


    "If I were a real cultivator, I''d find a way to solve this issue. But I''m merely an automaton serving the platform of the magistrates. I can''t help you. Looks like this is where the test for inheritance ends for you, little cultivator. If there is a next time, prepare beforehand when you enter the third stage. Goodbye."


    As soon as it finished speaking, the familiar violet light appeared out of nowhere and wrapped Han Xuhan up.


    After a brief moment of disorientation, Han Xuhan found himself back on the area where Yuen Zhou''s undead legion stood guard.


    "Did some of them wander off when I was inside?" Han Xuhan noticed the lessened number of zombies suddenly and couldn''t help but shiver.


    Taking a deep breath, he wiped off the sweat that had formed on his forehead and looked up at the leaderboard.


    "Oh no..."


    Ranked twenty-first, an eye catching name had filled up the final slot on the leaderboard.


    Name- Han Xuhan


    Cultivation Base- second layer of physique transformation realm


    Qi quality- 1.5 / 10


    Dao Base quality- 6 / 10


    Law proficiency- 3 / 10 ( limited to the physique transformation realm)


    Chosen Inheritance- Sentient Contracts ( failed )


    Judgment- Due to very poor quality and quantity of qi, coupled with his low cultivation base, this disciple has ranked last. He has also failed the assessment test inside the platforms because of the his rare physique.


    "How the hell did they know my real name ?"


    Han Xuhan wondered aloud. The platform had even completed his judgement while the rest of the ranks still showed the ''pending'' status.


    Looking around, it seemed that Zhanxian had gone off to do what he told him to. The night was slowly deepening. The fog behind him was getting thicker.


    "Should I give it another try?" Han Xuhan muttered as he observed the leaderboard. He still had some suspicions he wanted to confirm.


    Han Xuhan walked toward the platforms again. It would take way too long to recover his qi again. But he wanted to try and see if the platform could be activated with a smaller amount of qi. After all, it had never been specified whether one needed to pour a certain amount of qi or whatever they possibly could.


    There was a small chance that the qi out here might not be safe either. But Han Xuhan felt that it was unlikely. Many of their ''slaves'' had done so already.


    So he meditated without misgivings for a few minutes and recovered a trickle of his qi from the surroundings. Then he poured it down toward the platform, this time into the Cause and Effect Type.


    The violet light appeared again!

 Chapter 69: The Magnificent And The Maleficent

    Mu Ran stood in front of the statue of a man with all four of his limbs missing. The statue gave off a violent aura full of power, a heroic expression carved on its face. There were two spheres spinning madly around its head, their orbit forming the shape of a colorful crown.


    "Little one, since you have chosen to follow the path of the most overbearing law technique, you need to back your ambitious choice up with your actions."


    The two spheres flying around his head suddenly charged at Mu Ran faster than a normal human eye could even track. But Mu Ran managed to catch them before they hit him square in the face.


    "One of those orbs contains qi for you to replenish your reserves. Use the power sources you''ve collected from the second stage as fuel and try to decipher the alphabets in the second orb and create a law fragment that you think is suitable for our path!"


    Mu Ran nodded obediently and sat down to absorb the qi inside the first orb. The whole process was completed very smoothly. Then he looked at the alphabets floating inside the second orb.


    A strange smile appeared on Mu Ran''s face as soon as his eyes fell on the alphabets. Nodding imperceptibly, he took out a shining emerald power source from his pocket as well as his broken spearhead.


    On the floor of the hall he was sitting in, he carved long lines with the sharp tip of the spearhead. One alphabet, two alphabets, three, four, and five...


    Slowly, a massive formation of strokes took shape inside the hall. The statue of the dismembered man looked at this interesting disciple attentively. It could perceive the confidence brimming out of Mu Ran.


    "It''s done," Mu Ran announced after a few minutes.


    The statue nodded in acknowledgment and said, "proceed with the second step. Activate the law fragment. "


    But just as Mu Ran was about to establish the connection between the law fragment and the power source in his hand, the statue suddenly interrupted him.


    "Hey, wait a minute...you didn''t use the alphabets provided in the orb! STOP RIGHT THERE!"


    Mu Ran completely ignored the statue and continued to strengthen the mental connection between him and the power source.


    It was time to accomplish his goals for coming here.


    ...... ....... ......


    The scene inside the Cause and Effect type platform was very similar to the one in the Sentient Contract platform.


    A young man stood with his hands outstretched, an elegant pose complimented by the violet rays of light flickering around him like lightning bolts.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Had there been an onlooker to witness such a glamorous scene, it would be the whole package. Unfortunately, the testing ground had separated all the young cultivators. So Han Xuhan could only admire himself, not that he had any issue with that. He loved his magnificent self.


    "Where is a camera when you need one?" He sighed dispiritedly.


    "Good heavens, boy... How long are you planning to face the opposite direction? Did your brain get left out during the teleportation? Turn the fuck around or you shall know what it feels like to be kicked by a tonne-heavy foot." A feminine voice came from behind.


    Han Xuhan immediately put his arms down and turned around, standing at attention, chest out, tummy tight, ass clenched.


    "Disciple Han Xuhan, reporting for duty!"


    ". . . " Worldlessly, the giant statue of a beautiful woman in front of him waved its hand, summoning Han Xuhan''s avatar from empty air, just like the previous automaton had a while ago.


    Han Xuhan patiently waited for her to finish examining the small avatar in front of her.


    "Already failed once? So soon? The test has barely started!"


    Han Xuhan smiled proudly at being praised for his swiftness.


    "Wait a minute...ranked last, QI QUALITY ONE POINT FIVE OUT OF TEN! WHAT THE HECK?


    I didn''t even know you could go that low !"


    "Thank you for the compliments!" Han Xuhan yelled out and interrupted her unnecessarily loud musings.


    "Cough, never mind. You should be familiar with the rules by now. I represent the Cause and Effect faction of the Holy Land of laws. If you''re ready, we can start the test. Here you go," the statue awkwardly said as two small orbs floated toward Xuhan from her palms.


    Han Xuhan received the spheres with a sincere expression on his face. One of them was filled with qi for absorption as expected, while the other contained a few alphabets belonging to the language of laws.


    Again, Xuhan decided to scrutinize the alphabets first.


    The hall was silent. Han Xuhan looked like he was concentrating hard to decipher the alphabets in the sphere. Seeing the beads of sweat rolling down his throat, which was the only visible part of his skin, the statue was slightly puzzled.


    "Hey kid, you should have expended all of your qi to activate the platform. Why are you not replenishing your qi first? You can examine the alphabets later and think up a suitable law fragment."


    But Han Xuhan seemed so absorbed in his studious reverie that he showed no signs of paying any heed to her advice. After a long, awkward stretch of silence, he finally shook his head and looked up at her.


    "What a coincidence! Despite coming into contact with the language of laws very recently, I can somehow recognize all the alphabets in the orb! Not even a single one seems unfamiliar!" His shout stunned the statue of the woman.


    The following events that played out were eerily the same as Han Xuhan''s venture into the Sentient Contract platform.


    The statue hesitantly exclaimed that they might be fated for such a coincidence to take place. Then it proposed that he should try to recover his qi.


    Then it came to learn about Han Xuhan''s heaven-defying physique!


    "The world of cultivation is vast and full of wonders. You learn things every day, eh? Though, I must say, are all of your platforms the same? Relying on this single mode of examination? Show some compassion for the disabled people like me!"


    His bitter complaint was received with utter befuddlement and silence.


    Han Xuhan went through his planned dialogues and returned back outside the platforms a minute later, this time much more nervously than before.


    His suspicions were turning out to be a highly possible chain of events. And if his suspicions were true, then everyone who had entered the third stage might be screwed...

 Chapter 70: Nightmare Knight

    Yuen Zhou looked intently at the law fragment she had carved on the ground after replenishing her qi reserve. She hadn''t learned the language of laws in her past life. But still, she felt that all the law fragments she could possibly come up with using the provided alphabets would be a bit different from what one would expect from a contract type law.


    Is it me who is lacking? Or are the provided alphabets just not suitable for the creation of a contract type law fragment?


    Regardless, Yuen Zhou didn''t see anything to be wary of for now. And so she proceeded with the second step, bringing out an emerald orb to connect it to the law fragment on the floor.


    As soon as the mental connection was established, she activated the law fragment using a trickle of her recently replenished qi.


    The law fragment gave off a faint red glow for a moment. It was a law that could be used for ''suppression'' as well as establishing a mental port for the exchange of information between two parties. Despite doing her best, she couldn''t make it resemble a contract any more than that without more alphabets to work with.


    "Good job! Excellent work right there! Now why don''t you sit down and have a conversation with me about that entire process?"


    The silver statue exclaimed.


    Yuen Zhou immediately looked around for a place to sit down. The law fragment would affect her if she were to touch it. Yet for some reason, she felt that it didn''t matter much whether it affected her or not.


    Setting her worries aside, Yuen Zhou sat down right on top of the law fragment she had painstakingly created. Immediately, a heady sensation of weakness and an urge to fall asleep assaulted her senses.


    The floor was so warm and comfortable! Yuen Zhou wanted nothing more than to lie down and relax.


    "Good! How do you feel?" A silk-smooth voice asked her.


    "Very comfortable!" She answered slowly. Thinking up an answer took her a while.


    "Ah, that''s wonderful to hear. Do you want to be even more comfortable? I can help you with that."


    Yuen Zhou nodded slowly. Even more comfortable than her current situation? That would be heavenly!


    "Then carefully try to hear the words I''m speaking! The more you understand, the more comfortable you''ll become."


    The voice had changed from its initial commanding tone into a slippery, soft voice that made one want to keep listening to it. And Yuen Zhou wasn''t an exception to this.


    As she strained her ears, a joyful melody of fluttering wings and rustling sounds filled her mind. She felt even more comfortable than before! The fluttering sound felt incredibly pleasant to hear. The more she listened, the heavier her head became.


    "Seeing how much you like this comfortable feeling, why don''t you try and see if you can memorize the words and the sense of comfort you''re experiencing right now?"


    The ringing voice behind her ears whispered gently. Yuen Zhou found the suggestion very reasonable.


    So she tried her best to capture the frequency of the fluttering sound. There was a certain rhythm to it, she realized. Almost similar to the hypnotism techniques she frequently used in her past life. How many demons had she subjugated with the constant rhythm that weakened their mental defenses? She understood why it worked that well...


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    "Ah, I can see that you have memorized it quite easily! Now how about you empty your head from all thoughts except that sound? Think about how comfortable sleeping like that would be."


    Yuen Zhou opened her eyes, a sour expression covering her face.


    ...... ...... .......


    Qian Yun felt his mind filling up with some strange thoughts.


    The silver giant was incredibly majestic, to the point where he almost wanted to bow down in front of it in fear and awe.


    Even though it wore a metal helmet that covered its face, Qian Yun felt that its expression right now was furious.


    What had he done wrong? He had done his best to come up with a law fragment that would resemble the principles behind the contracts he wielded so frequently. Granted, the alphabets he had to work with were rather strange and the law he had come up with failed to reach the ideal law he wanted, but it should definitely be as good a result one can achieve in his shoes, right?


    "That''s an interesting piece of law fragment you''ve come up with, little one," the giant spoke slowly.


    Qian Yun felt his heart filling up with joy. So it was just his misconception! The giant emperor was satisfied with his performance!


    "But it''s still not good enough to meet my expectations. Shouldn''t you be more proficient with laws compared to your peers? This law fragment looks hardly any different from what the random cultivators from nowhere are creating in the rest of the testing grounds. How disappointing!"


    Qian Yun felt his heart clench. It wasn''t fair! The alphabets he had been provided with were the sort with a very narrow usage. The law fragment he had come up with was already pushing the limits. It couldn''t possibly get better than that.


    In the back of his mind, a question rose...why did the judge expect him to be better than the rest of his peers?


    Did it know of his background?


    But before he could speak out in his defense, the giant interrupted him.


    "It doesn''t matter what you think of my evaluation. If you''re trying to claim that the test is unfair, then you should have the guts back your words up, boy."


    Qian Yun bowed his head, his teeth clenched. He had come this far, would he back down now ?


    "Tell me, little one, do you dare use your own law fragment on yourself ? Do you have that much confidence on your own proficiency? Can you even prove that it''ll work?"


    The silver giant said, a hint of ridicule surfacing in its tone.


    Qian Yun silently took out an emerald orb with a determined expression on his face. Seconds later, the mental connection between the law fragment and the power source was established. With a deep breath, Qian Yun stepped forward and put his foot on the law fragment.


    A blue glow appeared in the grooves of the law fragment, and Qian Yun felt as if his mind had suddenly been freed from some sort of a cage, now free to fly out!


    Countless intangible tendrils of thoughts and emotions appeared in his mind. The thoughts brought along a painful sensation he couldn''t explain, other than that it was the most non-physically painful sensation he had ever experienced.


    Amidst the chaos, a deep, soft voice guided him along, its influence getting deeper and deeper till it was his only only clutch to sanity.


    Qian Yun grabbed onto that voice and felt everything slowly calming down. The pain was lessening, but the onslaught of thoughts and emotions hadn''t disappeared.


    Qian Yun felt a chill on his palms and opened his eyes. Looking down, he noticed a pattern of countless moving dots of black ink coloring his hands like tattoos.


    Concentrating hard on his palms, he could make out a certain word forming occasionally due to the not so random movement of the dots. It read:


    Nightmare Knight


    The silver giant in front of him was no longer moving, but that didn''t bother Qian Yun in the slightest. For some reason, he felt that he knew this hall very well. He could pinpoint the exact law fragment that he needed to activate to leave this place swiftly.


    But why did he want to leave this place?


    Qian Yun couldn''t help but become startled at this sudden question that stemmed from the depth of his mind.


    Indeed, why?


    He wanted to obtain the real cultivation technique of the Sentient Contract type laws, right? He would bring it back to his family and become the hero...


    Hmm? But I already have acquired the real manual for the Sentient Contracts type law techniques! Racking his brain, Qian Yun could suddenly visualize a large amount of texts that he had memorized at some point. From the looks of it, he had already obtained the technique...?


    When did that happen?


    Feeling quite confused, Qian Yun stood still, contemplating his situation and what he was supposed to do now.


    "Wait a minute, I should protect the platform from being harmed!"


    How did I forget about this? Qian Yun didn''t know why he couldn''t remember that he had such an important job to attend to.


    "I must make haste. If there are any outsiders with ill intentions, I need to detain them immediately. The purification process must not be interrupted. "

 Chapter 71: Devour And Destroy

    The statue of the dismembered man burst out with a force beyond what a physique transformation realm cultivator could even hope to block. Mu Ran was not an exception to this. He was flung backward like a tossed ragdoll from where he had been standing, a fountain of blood gushing out from his nose.


    But the weird smile on his face didn''t recede in the slightest. If anything, the malicious intent in that smile had gotten even stronger.


    "What the hell is this law fragment?" The statue muttered as it leaped up from its half-sitting position, traveling across dozens of yards and crashing right on top of the law fragment Mu Ran had carved.


    "Upon activation of this law fragment...any remnant soul outside a living body will be struck with a Soul Obliteration Lightning Tribulation."


    The moment the automaton finished deciphering the law fragment, a streak of red lightning appeared out of nowhere and silently struck it right on top of its head. Unable to even see the attack, the automaton fell down on the ground as if it had malfunctioned. All of its majestic aura and signs of life disappeared immediately.


    A vague ripple in the air, almost like a shadow, rushed toward Mu Ran while he was attempting to sit up. However...the moment it came into contact with his body, it froze and bolted in the opposite direction.


    Mu Ran laughed out loud and spoke in a hoarse voice.


    "No use. Regardless of how fast you run, little soul shard..hehehehe."


    The red glow of the law fragment on the ground got even stronger.


    Just as silent as the previous one, a second streak of lightning struck the gliding shadow down.


    Wiping off the blood from his lips, Mu Ran stood up and dusted off his clothes.


    "I have prepared a long, long time for this. You''re not going anywhere."


    Crossing his forearms together, Mu Ran knelt a few degrees. A low chant came from his mouth. The air around him suddenly blurred as surges of wind materialized in the empty surroundings. It was a spell that he had practiced countless times in the recent days, just for this moment.


    "Astral Heatwave!"


    Like the stretched string of a bow, the surges emerging from the spell in the air blasted outward, knocking the shadow down repeatedly and weakening it further with each passing blow.


    Chains of light slithered toward Mu Ran like tentacles, connecting the shadow at one end and Mu Ran at the other.


    Waves upon waves, the surges from Mu Ran''s spell and the bolts produced by the law fragment continuously rained down on the shadowy figure. Within a few seconds, it stopped struggling and allowed itself to be tugged into Mu Ran''s body using the chains.


    "Finally, I am more complete. No matter how many soul shards you divide yourself into, you can''t escape. I''ll take back what''s mine one way or another." A golden color flashed in Mu Ran''s eyes as he spoke to himself in a low voice.


    ...... ....... ........


    Yuen Zhou opened her eyes and sat up nonchalantly. The statue of the silver giant in front of her that had been eagerly suggesting all sorts of ways for her to be more comfortable stared at her blankly. She didn''t need to see its expression behind the helmet to guess how surprised it was.


    "No, I don''t think I feel like sleeping right now," Yuen Zhou declared loudly.


    "...Wh-How?" The automaton asked, disbelief evident in its voice.


    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.This wasn''t possible! It had already invaded her mind at its most defenseless state. The only thing left was the transfer of the data the soul shard contained. How did she block the mental connection between them?


    Yuen Zhou didn''t answer the automaton. Instead, she put her hands together, copying the traditional pose of monks and uttered a single word.


    "Cleanse!"


    A painful roar from the silver giant shook the hall, cracked the ground and the walls, sending her staggering dozens of steps back. The effect of the word on it was apparent.


    Yuen Zhou felt the tendrils of thoughts the voice had left in her mind weaken. The sudden feeling of obedience and submission she had experienced was gone.


    She didn''t break her praying posture, continuing to speak.


    "Relieving wandering souls in pain is the duty of this penniless monk. Do you have any last wish?"


    The silver giant was stunned for a good few seconds before it reacted.


    "Monk your mother! Do you think I can''t tell that you''re a demonic cultivator, you little shit? What kind of demonic cultivator uses Buddhist techniques?"


    The silver giant had never felt so indignant in its life. First, this girl had somehow broken the mental connection between them using soul-cleansing techniques from Buddhist sects. Then she tried to dupe it by posing as a monk!


    This wasn''t how things were supposed to go!


    The soul shard within it was becoming unstable. If the transmission of data between her and the shard didn''t take place in time, its great plan would be interrupted...


    "Hey, who told you demonic cultivators can''t use Buddhist techniques? The world of cultivation is huge. An imprisoned being like you hasn''t seen the wonders of the world. So stop spouting nonsense.


    I''ll use whatever I feel like using and claim to be whatever I feel like being. What''s that got anything to do with you?"


    Yuen Zhou rebutted the automaton swiftly, rendering it speechless.


    Even though her logic was flawless, something felt wrong!


    But it wasn''t time to contemplate these small issues. This little demonic cultivator was about to destroy the soul shard inside the automaton, and it couldn''t let that happen.


    Roaring in fury, the soul shard used the special qi it had tricked Yuen Zhou into absorbing at the beginning of the test to invade her mind again!


    It had already considered the possibility of odd cultivators breaking out of its hypnosis. The qi it had offered to every disciple inside the platform was a fail-safe.


    "Little girl, you''re still a century too young to see through my scheme!"


    Just as Yuen Zhou was about to chant the following part of the Buddhist scripture, she felt her mind suddenly blank out. A frenzy of emotions poured into her mind, vague memories of pain and suffering, dark thoughts induced by rage and humiliation, destructive urges beyond what a sane mind could bear. Those incredibly magnified negative emotions nearly consumed her mind.


    "Ah, the self-purification process of the ''filthy'' ones. Now, that''s something I didn''t think I''d see in low-ranked civilizations. Did you come up with this by yourself? Very impressive!"


    Instead of being overwhelmed by the negative emotions and twisted memories, Yuen Zhou nodded like a senior who had just noticed a talented youth in the streets. The sliver giant who was ready to laugh triumphantly and mock her was struck dumb again.


    What the hell?


    No one under the soul reformation realm should be able to deal with the attack of its soul shard... Unless they could cut off all emotions and enter a special state unique to soul reformation realm experts. But how did that make any sense...


    "So be it! Wandering soul, let me free you of your sufferings and ferry you to the great heavenly river! May you find peace!" Yuen Zhou shouted in a righteous fashion meanwhile, not giving the automaton the time to think things through.


    A golden light emitted from her body, spreading in every direction inside the hall and purifying the soul shard within the automaton. Even in its last moment, it couldn''t help but be befuddled by the sheer absurdity of the situation.


    A few seconds later, the automaton dropped down from the throne, its body seemingly rusted and broken. Its head became detached from its shoulders and rolled toward Yuen Zhou''s feet, coming to a stop on top of her law fragment.


    ........ ........ ........


    Han Xuhan was drawing some lines on the ground, seemingly deep in thought.


    More than an hour had passed since he had come out of the second platform. The leaderboard hadn''t changed much in the meantime. Almost everyone inside the third test ground had passed, evidently.


    Was it that easy to pass that stage, normally? Han Xuhan couldn''t help but wonder. Amongst the twenty cultivators inside, eighteen had already received their judgments, managing to get their hands on different types of law techniques.


    The two who hadn''t, however, were both Han Xuhan''s companions. Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou''s evaluations from the judges were still pending.


    Han Xuhan was worried about the silently brewing storm in whichever test hall Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were in. But there wasn''t anything he could do other than wait for their return. He could run away, of course, but he was quite interested in seeing how things would turn out in this inheritance test after the third stage. And it wasn''t as if running away was absolutely safe...


    Thoughtfully, Han Xuhan kept drawing more lines on the ground. One can never be too cautious.

 Chapter 72: The Dao Of Pee Strikes Back!

    The eruption of violet light on the metal platform was blinding, and the only reason Han Xuhan didn''t momentarily lose his vision was due to the fact that he had been squatting on the ground with his back facing the source of the light, observing the undead squirrel that now belonged to Yuen Zhou''s army,


    Sensing the change behind him, he immediately jumped up and turned to look at the platform.


    The lone figure of Qian Yun stood in front of the platform of Sentient Contracts. Han Xuhan breathed a sigh of relief. At least it wasn''t any of the ''allies'' they had made on their way here.


    "Brother Yun, how did it go?" He asked with a smile.


    Qian Yun stared at him silently for a few seconds before nodding slowly.


    "It went well. I got the cultivation manual for the Sentient Contract type laws."


    Han Xuhan narrowed his eyes behind his mask, but didn''t ask further questions. If things were that simple, he had no reason to worry.


    But his experience inside the platforms was not exactly pointing to a conclusion so straightforward...


    "Why are you standing out there, brother Xuhan? Did you not enter the third stage?" Qian Yun asked in a confused, somewhat accusatory tone.


    Han Xuhan laughed nervously.


    "Brother Yun, I''m not particularly interested in these law techniques. Don''t you remember that our dao foundation was infiltrated using some of those esoteric laws back in the first stage?


    I have lost all of my goodwill and interest toward this land of laws since then. I don''t want to be a part of such a vicious organization."


    "Brother Xuhan, you''re not thinking things through clearly. You''re already a part of our holy land. There is no risk in attending the tests, that I can guarantee. Just go in and choose whichever technique you want."


    Trying his best to persuade Han Xuhan to take part in the test, Qian Yun turned to look at the leaderboard in the air above him.


    Han Xuhan''s name was very eye-catching among the ranks, written in flashing red letters on the last position.


    Han Xuhan winced. He hadn''t thought about that one issue in the heat of the moment.


    "...Brother Xuhan, it says here that you have already participated in TWO tests and failed in both! Why did you lie just now?"


    Han Xuhan sighed and shrugged his shoulders in an unhappy manner.


    "Brother Yun, do you have to go that far to pour salt over my wounded heart? How can you not understand something so simple? Stop embarrassing me!"


    Han Xuhan reverted back to the whiny persona he had painstakingly cultivated throughout the inheritance test. What he wanted to express indirectly was very simple-


    I feel too embarrassed to admit that I have failed twice when my all of peers passed. Please don''t bully me uwu...


    Qian Yun suspiciously observed him.


    Well, there was one way he could be sure of whether Han Xuhan was a threat or not to his plans.


    Closing his eyes, Qian Yun focused on the voice in his heart that had guided him through the chaotic state of his mind during the third test.


    If everything was going according to his plan, a mental connection should be present among all those who have absorbed the special parts of his soul shards stored inside the automatons that they had faced.


    But try as he might, Qian Yun failed to perceive the existence of any connection between him and Xuhan.


    This revelation gave Qian Yun all the information he needed. Something was wrong with this weirdo. He might know something!


    Qian Yun immediately focused all of his attention on Xuhan, who looked completely oblivious to the fact that he had just been marked as an enemy.


    Deciding to get closer to the target before attacking, Qian Yun took a step ahead toward Han Xuhan...


    Only to see that Han Xuhan stepped back as well, his gaze still on the leaderboard as if he was just stepping back subconsciously.


    Qian Yun took another step forward, and Han Xuhan took another step backward.


    A grim look appeared on Qian Yun''s face. Immediately he rushed toward Han Xuhan with the explosive speed that came with his cultivation level.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Han Xuhan, who was pretending to observe the leaderboard till now instantly turned around and sprinted as fast as he could.


    "Brother Han Xuhan, why are you running from me?" Qian Yun asked playfully. With his speed, he would catch up with Han Xuhan within twenty seconds, at worst. So he wasn''t worried about Han Xuhan escaping his clutch.


    "I really, really need to pee," Han Xuhan shouted back.


    By this time, Qian Yun had already halved the distance between the two of them. He could easily attack without worries. So he took out a stack of papers from his robe and clutched one in his hand, aiming it at Xuhan''s back.


    There was a distance of about twenty meters between them and he had no reason to miss. But right at this time, Han Xuhan slowed down and came to an abrupt halt.


    Qian Yun''s pupils shrank for a second before he realized what his target was up to.


    In the fog, it was hard to keep track of their surroundings. Han Xuhan had used this to his advantage and led him to a trap.


    Just a few feet away from Qian Yun, there was a bunch of shallow scribblings on the soil that would escape the attention of most people. But Qian Yun''s current state was rather special. He was instantly able to tell that the random strokes hid a few law fragments.


    [ Any organism within the influence of this law fragment shall be struck with a mental demon inducing tribulation ]


    [ Any organism within the influence of this law fragment shall lose all immunity to poisons ]


    [ All moving qi within the influence of this law fragment shall be rendered immobile ]


    He recognized both of these law fragments. They resembled the style and structure of the law fragments they had deciphered in the first stage. Han Xuhan had practically copied some of them and modified a couple of words to fit the circumstances.


    How was Qian Yun able to detect them with such proficiency?


    Qian Yun couldn''t answer that, but for some reason, he felt that it should be a natural part of his ability.


    Meanwhile, Han Xuhan had turned around and noticed Qian Yun looking at the scribblings on the ground.


    "Brother Qian Yun, please close your eyes, because I''m about to pee." Saying so, he really started tugging off his trousers.


    In front of Qian Yun''s wide eyes, Han Xuhan turned his back on him and started peeing calmly while standing just a few meters away, on the other side of the law fragments.


    "Let it go, let it go


    I''ll pee like a waterfaaaalll


    Let it go, let it go


    My filled-up bladder is gone~


    Here I stand, in the land of laws


    Let me pee oooonnnn ~"


    The sound of a stream of water hitting the loose soil reverberated in Qian Yun''s ears. Accompanying that sound was the nasal voice of Han Xuhan singing a questionable song.


    What the hell is wrong with this guy?


    He has really started peeing!


    Qian Yun was still clutching the paper in his hand, his gaze on Xuhan''s defenseless back that seemed to be tempting him to attack. But he no longer had the guts to turn his intentions into reality.


    It would be a useless endeavor to attack Han Xuhan while he was surrounded by these law fragments. His attacks would never reach the target.


    While Han Xuhan naturally was nowhere near skilled enough in the language of laws to randomly write such complicated law fragments with powerful effects, the situation right now was quite complicated. Han Xuhan had power sources with him, collected from the second stage. No matter how trashy his comprehension of laws was, he would only need to stimulate the law fragments with the help of the power sources to battle Qian Yun.


    It was no different from dumping an entire pond''s water to put out a candle. It would work regardless of how tenacious the fire of the candle was. And it didn''t require the other party to be skilled in anything. He just needed to throw the water in the direction of the candle.


    While Qian Yun was busy trying to look for a way to turn the situation around, Han Xuhan finished peeing and pulled his trousers back up. He had been trying to rile Qian Yun up to attack his defenseless back. Unfortunately, he wasn''t successful. But on the bright side, he really had managed to answer nature''s call. It was a win-win situation anyway.


    "Thanks for waiting, brother Yun. Do you want to pee as well? Why don''t you come over? I''ll wait for you so that you don''t feel lonely."


    Qian Yun gritted his teeth, not daring to move an inch. It was rather unfortunate that the law technique he practiced had a low advantage in combat. He did know several other techniques that made up for the disadvantage brought by his main cultivation technique, but he couldn''t execute them here, not now...


    "Do you think I cannot read the law fragments you prepared on the ground?" Qian Yun growled, hoping to buy some time by prolonging their conversation.


    "Oh! There are law fragments on the ground?" Han Xuhan looked down, wide-eyed.


    "Goodness! I didn''t know that, brother Yun. I could''ve died if these things were active!"


    "Stop with the act. Listen to me. Come out from there and surrender before you force me to adopt severe measures. So long as you haven''t caused any trouble inside the platforms, you will not be harmed."


    Han Xuhan put his hands up in the air immediately.


    "That assures me, really! I was afraid I''d get killed for failing those tests or something worse...Come and arrest me, please! I surrender!"


    "...." Qian Yun''s frustration was almost about to explode in the form of an all-out attack.


    "Then drop the power sources you''ve been carrying. I''ll come over if you deactivate the law fragments."


    Han Xuhan gasped. "Do you think I''m going to try to harm you, brother Yun? How did your impression of my character get so low?! You''ve changed since you entered the third stage of the test. You''re not the trustworthy, honest brother Yun I know."


    "My impression of your character is what makes me sure of it. You''re definitely going to try to harm me."


    "No, I won''t." Han Xuhan sounded genuinely hurt.


    "Yeah, you will."


    "No, I won''t. " Han Xuhan sat down on the ground, arms crossed.


    "...Are you planning to buy time this way? It''s of no use." Qian Yun threatened.


    "Aren''t you doing the same thing? It''s of no use either."


    Qian Yun felt his heart shudder at being seen through so easily.


    Both of them were locked in a hopeless cycle where neither was really willing to communicate with the other. However, a change took place behind them on the distant platform, now vaguely hidden in the fog due to their little chasing game earlier.


    A violet light had appeared again!


    Qian Yun couldn''t help but be delighted. It looked like his reinforcements had arrived. Who was the other person that had completed the exchange with the soul shards?

 Chapter 73: Xuhan The Jester

    "Underling Xuhan ? Fellow cultivator Qian Yun ? What are you two doing over there ?"


    The voice that rang through the fog belonged to Mu Ran.


    Earlier when Qian Yun had taken a glance at the leaderboard, he had seen Mu Ran''s judgement still showing the pending status. From what he had observed, Mu Ran was not particularly bright when it came to creative aspects . So it was normal for him to take a while to be done with the test. He hadn''t thought much of it.


    Anyone within the third stage of the inheritance test were bound to become a carrier of his soul shards...


    Wait a minute, what were soul shards? Where did he hear such a phrase?


    A small voice wondered in the back of his mind.


    But it was not the time to think about those details, because he had suddenly discovered something rather strange.


    Qian Yun could not detect any mental connection between him and Mu Ran, just like how he had failed to perceive any connection with Xuhan.


    Did the soul shard fail to do its job ?


    What was happening? Did something go wrong with the purification process? Again?


    Sounds of footsteps broke him out of his daze. Mu Ran''s silhouette slowly became clearer within the fog as he came closer. Han Xuhan, sitting lazily on the ground, waved a hand at his martial brother.


    "Boss, how was your experience inside the testing ground? Did you succeed in what you were planning?"


    Qian Yun distinctly felt that these two martial brothers were in cahoots and had ulterior motives for coming here. Both of them also seemed to have found out certain secrets about the inheritance test itself...


    Meanwhile, Mu Ran''s gaze fell on the odd spectacle Qian Yun and Xuhan made together, and his pace slowed down.


    "Yes, underling. My job here is partially done. I haven''t found the chance to complete the whole mission yet though."


    While speaking, Mu Ran noticed the law fragments on the ground as well. Due to his proficiency in manipulation of qi and and the language of laws, it took him only a few seconds to figure out what the situation between Xuhan and Qian Yun was.


    It was apparent that Xuhan was hiding behind the law fragments from Qian Yun, whose hands still clutched a stack of papers...


    Mu Ran''s gaze flickered toward Qian Yun, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment. Qian Yun could sense a malicious intent directed at him in that gaze. At this moment, Han Xuhan decided to butt in.


    "Ah, it looks like brother Yun won''t be able to move anytime soon. Now that we have finally reached a situation where we can communicate properly, why don''t you explain your sudden change?"


    Qian Yun understood the predicament he was in very well. But being reminded of it by Han Xuhan left a bad taste in his mouth.


    "I have nothing to explain to you," he answered gloomily. Even though he was trapped from both sides, he didn''t seem particularly afraid of the consequences of his actions. And that made Han Xuhan raise his wariness to the extreme.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Boss, did you meet anyone inside the third test ground? Any idea what''s wrong with brother Yun?"


    "What happened here?" Mu Ran asked Xuhan instead of answering his question, his gaze never moving from Qian Yun''s figure a few meters away.


    "Brother Yun passed the test and successfully managed to return here. But then he decided to attack me for some reason." Han Xuhan''s reply was swift and concise, befitting a perfect underling.


    "I see...that makes things clear," Mu Ran nodded and crossed his arms together casually. But Qian Yun didn''t miss the sudden fluctuations of qi in the air that had appeared following the movements of his arms.


    "Astral He-"


    "Activate!"


    Before Mu Ran could finish his technique, a shout from his back interrupted him.


    Boom!


    A streak of stark blue lightning appeared above his head and struck him before he could react. Mu Ran stood still for a moment, literally thunder-struck, before losing his balance and falling down in a rigid manner.


    "That was anticlimactic," Han Xuhan remarked, seemingly unaffected by the reversal of the situation.


    "Boss, are you still alive?"


    Mu Ran didn''t respond. But his chest showed signs of breathing. Han Xuhan sighed and stood up.


    Even though Mu Ran had ended up accomplishing nothing much, he had served well as a bodyguard by alerting Han Xuhan of the other threats aside from Qian Yun. And it also made him sure of the fact that regardless of what had happened inside the third test, Mu Ran was still on his side.


    And despite knowing fully well that it would be a stupid move to try to save that idiot, Han Xuhan decided to do it anyway.


    He wasn¡¯t trying to be a hero, by any means, but abandoning a friend in mortal danger would probably plague his conscience for a long time...


    "Brother Yun, can you say knock knock?" Xuhan asked with a smirk.


    "Knock knock? What?" Qian Yun asked, confused again.


    "Knocked out Mu Ran, hehehe hahaha..." Xuhan started laughing like a hyena.


    "...." Qian Yun silently clenched his fists. This asshat kept making lame jokes that made one want to beat him up.


    "Hey c''mon man, at least laugh a little. That was a good one."


    Qian Yun was slowly starting to believe that his opponent was mentally unhinged. Without turning around, he waved a hand at the person hiding in the foggy area twenty yards away.


    Feng Jun made his appearance from the direction of the platforms. In his hand he held a gleaming emerald orb, the fuel for activating the law fragment that had knocked Mu Ran out with a lightning strike.


    "Oh? Somehow, brother Feng Jun who hated Qian Yun passionately before participating in the third test became his ally after the test without even any prior communication?"


    Xuhan wondered aloud in a singsong voice while his mind raced. It was just as he had suspected, the third test really had some problems. Luckily, he had noticed the suspicious nature of the tests earlier and took some precautions, or he would be sharing the same fate as Mu Ran by now.


    "If you surrender right now and sign a contract with me, you can both preserve your life and leave this place, if you wish to. Don''t force me to take desperate measures and harm yourself in the process," Qian Yun declared imperiously.


    Then he exchanged a look with Feng Jun who nodded as if he had received an order and started circling around the area of effect of the law fragments Han Xuhan had created on the ground.


    When he had been creating those law fragments, Han Xuhan hadn''t expected that he would face enemies from multiple directions. It was just a fail safe just in case anyone chased him. The weakness of his defense was finally showing now. One couldn''t catch him by directly passing over the law fragments, but they could certainly pass around them, avoiding their influence entirely.


    His eyes tracking Feng Jun''s silhoutte through the fog without a break, Xuhan considered Qian Yun''s offer half-seriously.


    "You know what, brother Yun? I thought you''d offer me something along the lines of ''break off your own limbs and cut off your dick, and I might leave the rest of your corpse intact''. But listening to your terms, I realized that your offer is a thousand times better than that. Very alluring."


    Qian Yun wanted to roar in indignation. Who the fuck makes threats like that? How retarded would one have to be to come up with that sort of conditions? But he felt that his outburst might lead to a conversation he would have no control over. He could never predict what type of thoughts revolved in the mind of this crazy asshat. So he forced out a genial laugh and replied,"then, are you signing the contract?"


    "Of course not," Xuhan answered honestly.


    "...My patience is limited, as is your time." Qian Yun almost kicked Mu Ran''s unmoving figure in frustration.


    "Yeah, I wouldn''t be so sure about that last part of your sentence, though. I mean, have you seen the leaderboard? Hehe."

 Chapter 74: Seventeen Minds, One Entity

    Han Xuhan''s answer made Qian Yun do a double take. He instantly whipped around to gaze at the platform behind him, hidden by a thickening layer of fog.


    As far as he could remember, there were only two cultivators whose judgment still displayed the ''pending'' status after he had returned from the testing ground. One was Mu Ran, who was now lying down a few feet away, unconscious. The other one was...Yuen Zhou.


    Now that he thought about it, he should have known something was up when he had taken his first look at the leaderboard. But back then, he had been distracted by Han Xuhan''s ''exceptional'' result and hadn''t gotten the time to mull over the suspicious coincidence.


    Yuen Zhou was a troublesome cultivator to deal with. Even from where he stood, he could see the silhouettes of her undead army standing still, not far away from the platforms, completely ignoring the ongoing conflict.


    "Think about it, brother Yun. If Yuen Zhou comes out and doesn''t become your lackey like that brother Feng crawling behind me, do you think you''ll be in a good position? You might outnumber me, but her undead army outnumbers all of us. At that time, you''d be lucky to escape this place alive."


    While kindly explaining the peril Qian Yun would face once Yuen Zhou returned, Han Xuhan took out a pair of knives from his robe. He didn''t have a numerous supply of knives, as his only medium of carrying the weapons was his voluminous robe.


    But they''d be enough to buy him some precious time. And right now, time was the only thing he needed.


    "Now, the thing is, I might not be able to defeat the two of you once you attack me," Han Xuhan said in a weak tone.


    "But I can definitely waste a lot of time fighting you off, and my martial sister Yuen Zhou should definitely return here by that time. After all, both Mu Ran and her tests seem to have followed a similar path."


    His sentence barely finished, Han Xuhan suddenly pulled his arm back and whipped it toward Qian Yun.


    Qian Yun had long noticed the unsubtle movements of the knives inside Han Xuhan''s sleeves. He instantly held up a high-ranked contract document from his stack of papers.


    To destroy the weakest of sentient contracts, one must exert superhuman strength. The higher the rank of a contract, the harder it is to damage it. And if the person attempting to damage the contract is someone who has already signed the contract...it is bound to be a futile endeavor no matter how powerful that cultivator is.


    This was one of the most basic principles of sentient contract cultivation techniques.


    Han Xuhan, as a cultivator at the second layer of the physique transformation realm, had absolutely no chance of affecting Qian Yun through this paper shield!


    However, the impact he was expecting did not come.


    Qian Yun peeked past the document he had shielded himself with and noticed Han Xuhan''s empty hand, still completing the throwing motion.


    Where did that knife go?


    A dull tumbling sound from afar answered his question.


    Even though Han Xuhan''s skill in throwing knives was mediocre, he was a cultivator. And the speed he could throw things at was nothing to laugh at. The knife had never been intended to go at Qian Yun, rather, it had left Xuhan''s hand when his arm was in mid-swing, hurling in the air behind him and striking the ground a few meters ahead of Feng Jun.


    Due to the interference of the fog, weapons like throwing knives and arrows were ten times deadlier. But Feng Jun was a cultivator at the sixth layer of the physique transformation realm himself. No matter how fast Xuhan''s knives were, his enhanced reflexes and agility were enough to save his skin. He came to a stop immediately and concealed his presence within the much thicker fog, biding his time for a new opportunity.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Oops, missed that roach by just an inch or so," Ha Xuhan said without a hint of embarrassment at missing the target by a margin so huge.


    "What a shame. Shen Kai would have gotten a new kindred soul. So anyways, as you can see, we are once again in a temporary stalemate. So how about you..." Xuhan trailed off, lost in thought.


    "How about I what?" Qian Yun asked curiously.


    "I just realized that I haven''t thought of what to say after that part of my speech. Excuse me for a moment while I make something up," Xuhan answered, appearing distracted.


    Qian Yun had already seen through Xuhan''s attempts to buy time. But he didn''t feel particularly threatened by Xuhan in any way. What could a single cultivator at the second layer of the physique transformation realm do here other than defend himself using these tricks?


    It did not matter how much time Han Xuhan bought for himself. In the end, he was hardly a threat to Qian Yun''s plans. Moreover, it wasn''t as if he was in a hurry. With each passing second, his plans were coming closer to completion. Within a few minutes, this entire land of laws would fall within his grasp once more...


    Wait, where did those thought come from?


    Meanwhile, Han Xuhan finally managed to come up with a following part of his speech.


    "Ah, right. Where were we? That part about being in a stalemate. So my thoughts on the current situation are... since both of us intend to buy time in our own ways, it seems that we have the same aim and we can work together. Why don''t you keep standing there, and I''ll keep standing here, and brother Feng Jun will keep crouching behind me like he''s taking a dump until new variables to our battle are introduced. Sounds reasonable, right?"


    Qian Yun sighed. This was getting ridiculous. How long did he need to keep listening to this clown? If he hadn''t needed all the cultivators here alive and intact, he would have found a way to directly kill this eyesore by now.


    Just as he was feeling conflicted over whether to just sacrifice this guy in front of him instead of using him for the purification process, another flash of violet light appeared on the platform.


    Finally!


    Qian Yun rejoiced silently. Another soul shard has been purified...


    But the flash of light did not disappear as he had expected and instead got brighter. Concentrating hard, Qian Yun could sense a web of mental network connected to his mind appearing across the platform. As the violet light got brighter and brighter, the web of mental connection expanded continuously, strengthening his perception of the surroundings more and more, as well as giving him a certain feeling of control over everything around him.


    A smirk appeared on Qian Yun''s face. The wait had been worth it. Sixteen new chains of mental connection had appeared in his mind. The purification process is mostly completed. Other than the three soul shards that had been prepared for Han Xuhan, Mu Ran, and Yuen Zhou, the rest should have started assimilating with the main body...


    Qian Yun turned to look at Han Xuhan, who had suddenly fallen silent after seeing the appearance of the violet lights.


    The cultivators who had reappeared above the platform received Qian Yun''s orders through the mental network. Sixteen silhouettes slowly walked over toward their position.


    Han Xuhan started fidgeting nervously, making Qian Yun feel a rush of vengeful relish.


    Once they had gotten close enough for them to see the newcomers, Qian Yun scanned for the familiar figure of Yuen Zhou. But she wasn''t among them. Qian Yun immediately shouted out an order.


    "Everyone, the cultivator who was controlling the undead army earlier might pose some problems once she returns. Take care of the zombies before she appears."


    The cultivators nodded in acknowledgment of his order and rushed toward the zombies standing guard near the platform. Through the veil of the fog, Xuhan and Qian Yun could vaguely see the chaos that ensued. The zombies were slowly being pushed back, away from the platform, deeper into the fog.


    Secretly, Qian Yun ordered two of the cultivators who were busy fighting to sneak around the area and attack Han Xuhan from two different directions. Then he ordered three other cultivators to stand guard near the platform and attack Yuen Zhou the moment she makes her appearance.


    Using the fog and Qian Yun''s mental directions, the two cultivators, combined with Feng Jun and Qian Yun himself soon surrounded Han Xuhan from all four directions, who was completely unaware of this fact.

 Chapter 75: Six Moves To Overturn The Battle

    "Martial sister Zhou, at least make an appearance..." Han Xuhan muttered as he watched her undead army being beaten up and chased away.


    Things were not supposed to go like this. Yuen Zhou should have come before the rest of the cultivators taking the third test could. Did she mess up somehow?


    The window for movement Xuhan had marked was getting tinier by the second. Qian Yun had somehow managed to make all the cultivators except him, Mu Ran, and Yuen Zhou cater to his commands. Did the enslavement pact they had signed with Qian Yun have such a clause? That couldn''t be; he had seen those contract documents.


    Why were these proud young cultivators so eager to follow Qian Yun''s instructions?


    If those enslaved cultivators returned after chasing away Yuen Zhou''s zombies, Han Xuhan would be completely surrounded without any hope of escape. He was just a cultivator at the second layer of the physique transformation realm. Even the weakest of his opponents had a cultivation base of the fourth layer.


    "No, I can''t wait anymore. It''s useless to hope for another coincidence at this point," Xuhan muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing, a gleam of excitement appearing in his gaze.


    "This is gonna be...hard."


    In his mind, he recalled the doom music from his previous life, repeating it in his head continuously like a loop. It fit the current atmosphere...for both parties.


    Qian Yun was just over twenty meters away from him, with Mu Ran''s body lying a bit further ahead. He had lost sight of Feng Jun''s silhouette at some point due to the fog.


    If Feng Jun had changed his position by this time, he could either attack from his right or his left side. Xuhan could not predict which direction the attack might come from. So he did not want to take the risk. Only one way ahead was open now.


    Three, two, one...


    Silently counting down the numbers, Han Xuhan took a deep breath, suppressed the wild beating of his heart, and moved at the fastest speed possible for him in his realm.


    First move: Throwing out a knife directly at Qian Yun''s feet, at an angle where it''d bounce back upwards if deflected.


    His sudden burst of movement didn''t surprise Qian Yun in the slightest, as he had already expected Xuhan to make a desperate attempt to escape any second. Qian Yun was ready to greet him with fists, feet, and qi.


    A paper full of complicated legal terms was hurled down from his hand, towards the ground at an unnatural speed, completely ignoring the friction with the air. It was one of Qian Yun''s most prized contract papers, nearly indestructible below the Physique Transformation Realm.


    The paper and the knife made contact a fraction of a second later. But instead of being torn apart by the knife, the paper blocked it as if it was made of metal.


    Ding~


    The knife rebounded off and struck the soil right below, its blade digging into it by an inch.


    Meanwhile, Xuhan had rushed out of the area covered by the protective law fragments on the ground straight toward Qian Yun like a madman, attracting his attention. This was his second move.


    Qian Yun''s heartbeat quickened from excitement.


    Finally, that damned turtle was out of his protective shell. But surprisingly enough, he hadn''t tried to escape in the directions where Qian Yun had placed the other three cultivators. Instead, he had attacked. Does he want to go down in style?


    Heh, a cultivator at the second stage wanting to defeat a cultivator so multiple layers above him?


    In his dreams!


    Qian Yun instantly ordered the cultivators surrounding Xuhan to charge forward. Three figures from three directions rushed toward them displaying inhuman speed, leaving a trail of fog behind them.


    By now, Han Xuhan had executed his third move already. Stimulating his qi on the fallen knife!


    BOOM!


    This was not the knife embedded into the ground in front of Qian Yun! This was the knife Han Xuhan had thrown at Feng Jun earlier!


    The heavy fog behind them was torn apart by an invisible explosion of air. Feng Jun, who had just rushed past the area, staggered from the shockwave and fell down.


    But this was a mere setup to make Xuhan''s fourth move more impactful.


    BOOM!


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The knife embedded in front of a distracted Qian Yun''s feet exploded with a chaotic, air-rending force that caught him completely off-guard.


    Qian Yun was just about to shoot out another piece of paper at Xuhan''s fast-approaching figure when he felt the ground beneath his feet suddenly disappear. Before he could react, his body was thrown backwards like a dummy kicked by a horse.


    Splashes of blood seeped out of his torn skin and muscles by the time his visuals stabilized.


    Han Xuhan, knowing full well the effect of his exploding knives, had already carefully timed his sprint. Right when Qian Yun''s body flew backwards, the erupting force from the knife ended, and that''s when Xuhan entered the radius of the explosion, harmless and uninterrupted by the blast. His movements were seamless, practiced, without any intervals.


    Qian Yun had fallen on his back right in front of Mu Ran. Even though he had suffered some heavy injuries from the explosion, it was nowhere near enough to disable a cultivator at the fifth layer of the physique transformation realm. He immediately recovered his bearing and tried to get up.


    Han Xuhan had already taken out his glaive in mid-sprint. Gripping the shaft, he leaped upward with all of his strength. His continuously stacking momentum showed its might in that leap.


    Qian Yun, who had barely raised his neck, saw a magnificent scene above him.


    A slender figure was highlighted by the vague glow that suffused the fog overhead. The airborne silhouette held both of his hands upward, palms gripping a glaive, its blade cutting through fog in a downward arc, set on its course to rip, tear, and kill!


    And as it swung down right on top of his head emitting a whistling sound, Qian Yun raised his hand to block it.


    "Fifth move!"


    THUMP!


    And then he felt the world in his eyes turn black.


    Several heartbeats later, Qian Yun sensed his eyes working once more as the world above him became clear.


    He wasn''t dead! Not yet!


    Ceaselessly, blood was streaming out from his left temple. A numbness had spread all over his body. Han Xuhan had hit him with the blunt side of the blade, he realized upon touching the wound. The skin in that area had been crushed open, bone fractured, but not much damage had been done to anything beyond that.


    By the time he managed to shake off the shock and dizziness off, Han Xuhan had disappeared from his sight.


    His head spinning, Qian Yun staggered up and looked around. Even the strongest strike from a cultivator at Han Xuhan''s level was barely enough to injure him fatally. What''s more, he had managed to deflect part of the attack using one of the contract papers at the last second. Only a few seconds had passed since he had been hit, yet the bloody injury created by that staff''s blow was already showing signs of clotting.


    Mu Ran''s body was missing from his side, having been carried off by Han Xuhan who had never stopped in his sprint. Both had nearly disappeared into the fog.


    Meanwhile, the cultivators who were rushing toward Qian Yun and Xuhan''s position had already become visible within the fog, just yards away. All three of them passed by Qian Yun''s sorry figure like lightning bolts and chased after Xuhan and Mu Ran at their top speed.


    Shaking off another wave of dizziness, Qian Yun followed them as well. He wanted to see how long Xuhan could keep running while carrying Mu Ran. His original speed was much slower than his pursuers due to the difference in cultivation base.


    What was he trying to achieve by running?


    Han Xuhan carried Mu Ran on his shoulder and rushed toward the platforms. Mu Ran was pretty heavy, and he slowed Xuhan''s speed down by quite a degree. But Han Xuhan had wagered everything on this one sprint. He soldiered on without being demoralized.


    Soon, his pursuers were only a few meters behind him. The platforms were close, but his opponents were closer. Right then, one of the cultivators chasing him pounced on them, catching Mu Ran''s dangling legs behind Xuhan.


    Instead of playing tug of war with Mu Ran''s body, Han Xuhan let go of it, surprising the attacker.


    What was the point of carrying him for so long if he was going to leave him at the first chance?


    The pursuer who had grabbed onto Mu Ran''s figure stumbled due to the sudden weight being shifted on his chest.


    Freed from the burden, Xuhan rushed toward the platform with the other two cultivators still chasing after him.


    A few seconds later, Qian Yun jogged over to the cultivator who had snatched Mu Ran away.


    "After risking so much to save his martial brother, he used him as a disposable shield? Truly sinister...For a second, I was convinced that he actually cared about his friend. Hah~"


    Qian Yun''s remarks were quite loud, at least loud enough for Xuhan to overhear. Even while running for his life, Xuhan couldn''t help turning backwards to flip him off.


    "Well, if you''re feeling so heartbroken by the cruelty of this world, how about you throw him back to me?"


    Qian Yun''s expression darkened. Ordering the other cultivator to stand guard over Mu Ran, he shot toward Xuhan and his pursuers again.


    The platform was only a few yards away from Xuhan''s position. Feng Jun, who had become Xuhan''s closest pursuer suddenly squatted down on the ground and smashed his fists on the soil.


    Han Xuhan felt the ground beneath his feet turning into unnaturally smooth sand. His feet unable to exert force, he stumbled and landed on all fours, his speed instantly reducing to zero.


    Standing up, Feng Jun thrust his hands forward and the wind in front of him rippled.


    Han Xuhan felt a great, invisible pressure landing on his chest, as if he had dived dozens of meters underwater.


    Elemental techniques... No wonder Feng Jun had chosen the elemental type law techniques. Due to his inexperience with duels between cultivators, Han Xuhan had forgotten about the fact that he was facing cultivators who could cast all sorts of magical spells. Although most cultivators had expended all of their qi during the entrance into the third test, the test had offered qi replenishment, something Xuhan had overlooked. That mistake came to bite him in the ass real quick.


    Unable to even get up, Han Xuhan gazed at the two cultivators closing in on him cautiously while Qian Yun jogged over to the place he had fallen.


    "Don''t worry, guys. No need to be cautious. I''m fully willing to handle this like civilized people" Han Xuhan said nervously.


    Right then, while Qian Yun, Feng Jun, and the other cultivator''s attention was on him, a distant yelp from behind them caught everyone off guard...well, everyone except Xuhan.


    The cultivator who had been guarding Mu Ran was lying on the ground, unconscious. Mu Ran stood over him with his arms crossed and his qi rippling around him, making it evident that he had just executed a technique. Han Xuhan could recognize that ''astral heatwave'' spell even from where he was held down.


    "That vitality-stimulating law fragment works, it seems," Han Xuhan muttered to himself.


    The sixth move had been set into motion!

 Chapter 76: Suppression Seal Of Myriad Laws

    While he was waiting for the examinees inside the third testing ground to come out, Han Xuhan had experimented quite a bit with law fragments.


    The power sources were limited in number, which made it hard for him to wantonly try out the effects of the law fragments he had managed to construct.


    Mu Ran ended up becoming the guinea pig for one of the most important fragments. The reason he had taken the risk to snatch Mu Ran''s body away from the hands of Qian Yun and his accomplices was not because he had assumed both of them could escape that way.


    He was heavily outnumbered in this battle, and even a single helper on his side was indispensable. The vitality-stimulating law fragment prototype was thus used on Mu Ran when Han Xuhan was running with his body. If it didn''t work, he''d abandon Mu Ran, a lost cause.


    However, if it worked, he''d still abandon Mu Ran, but this time as a strategic move. An awakened Mu Ran would be a buried mine for their enemies...and that''s exactly how the scheme had played out.


    Compared to the feasibility of his scheme, Han Xuhan was more surprised at the fact that the botched law fragment had worked. Mu Ran had to have a pretty impressive array of physical attributes to be able to recover so fast from the shock of sudden changes in his body.


    Even though Mu Ran generally came off as rather idiotic, Xuhan had to admit that he had a talent for combat. He had dispatched an opponent with a higher cultivation base in just one move!


    So impressive!


    Now he only had to explain to that fool why he had let go of him during the critical moment...cough. Hopefully, Mu Ran would understand that it was all a part of his schemes.


    Since his pursuers were distracted by Mu Ran''s re-emergence, Han Xuhan took the chance to stand up and sprint off again. But just as he was about to leap up onto the platforms, a swift hand caught him by the collar and dragged him back.


    "That''s quite enough from you, punk. You should be proud for managing to evade us for so long." Feng Jun''s bemused voice came from behind his ears as the hand gripping his collar shifted to Han Xuhan''s neck and squeezed it painfully.


    "Oh, I''m proud alright. This is something I''ll be bragging about for the rest of my life. Just with a cultivation base of the second layer, I made all of you dance around me like a bunch of monkeys. How cool is that?"


    Han Xuhan sighed, disappointed that he couldn''t drag things out a bit more.


    But oh well, he was really pretty proud of himself. Should he shout out something along the lines of ''I have lived a satisfying life! I can die with no regrets!'' like those cool side characters in stories?


    But that might earn him a smack in the face, so he decided to save the dialogue for later. There''s an appropriate time and place for everything.


    "Mu Ran! As you can see, your martial brother is in our hands. Don''t get any funny ideas and surrender. Or you''ll regret it!"


    Qian Yun shouted at Mu Ran who was walking over toward them at a sedate pace, his hands held behind his back, looking very cool and domineering. The fog acted like special effects, swirling around his feet harmlessly and adding more spice to the scene. Han Xuhan rated it nine out of ten in his mind. But he also couldn''t help but wonder why Mu Ran''s body didn''t seem affected by the poison in the fog...


    "In...I...that" Mu Ran replied in a front tone. Due to the distance between the two parties being too large, they couldn''t hear him properly.


    "What did you say? I can''t hear you!" Qian Yun shouted back.


    "Boss, if you want to act all cool and suave, at least come closer where the spectators can appreciate it," Han Xuhan added after his captor.


    Mu Ran paused for a second before hurrying over. After reaching a distance where they could normally hear each other, he cleared his throat again and repeated himself, "Indeed, I can see that."


    "Good to know. Now stay right where you are and expel all of your qi. Don''t even try to cast any techniques or this weak martial brother of yours would suffer terribly," Qian Yun instructed while ordering his two remaining lackeys to fan out and surround Mu Ran.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Secretly, Qian Yun used the mental network to communicate with the rest of the cultivators who were busy killing and chasing the zombies away. After a brief exchange, he ordered half of them to sneak back toward the platforms and prepare to use their cultivation techniques for combat the moment any unexpected change takes place.


    He had learned from his mistake just then. Out of the twenty-one soul shards, eighteen had been refined. Although it was nowhere near the perfect result he had anticipated, he was confident of his success. Now, it didn''t matter anymore if the attacks accidentally killed Mu Ran or Xuhan. But he couldn''t let any variables change the current situation.


    Mu Ran walked closer and closer, finally coming to a stop just a few meters away and stared at Xuhan, who was still being held up by his neck the way one would carry a snake.


    As their eyes met, Han Xuhan winked at Mu Ran and said, "Boss, save your underling!"


    "You let go of me when that guy attacked us," Mu Ran calmly replied to his plea.


    "...Well, yes. But surely, you realize that I only carried you in order to awaken you, right?" Xuhan asked bitterly.


    "Would you have let go of me if I didn''t wake up?"


    "Would you blame me if I did?" Han Xuhan replied with a carefree grin.


    "...."


    Mu Ran fell silent. Qian Yun looked back and forth between the duo, trying to sense if these martial brothers were secretly communicating somehow. But he couldn''t find any clues. So he impatiently interrupted their silent staring contest.


    "Are you going to surrender or not? Remember, your underling''s life depends on your surrender."


    "It was my intention to surrender as well," Mu Ran said in a low, heavy tone.


    "Was?" Qian Yun asked, having noticed the tiny detail.


    "Yes, it was. But seeing how he had plans to use me as a cheap meat shield, I don''t think I''m going to do that."


    Instantly, Mu Ran''s aura soared upwards and an overbearing feeling of oppression spread from his body.


    Not wasting a fraction of a second, Qian Yun sent out the mental command to the cultivators now surrounding the area.


    "Attack."


    Mu Ran crossed his arms and a golden glow erupted from his fists. But at the same time, eight cultivators from his left, right and rear cast their own techniques simultaneously.


    Bang! Boom! Skreee!


    The resulting scene was blinding, with flashes of lights, fireworks, sparks and lightning bolts in the sky. Sadly, no one shouted out the name of their techniques, not even Mu Ran. So Han Xuhan had no idea what had just transpired, what sort of spells had been cast, whose attack was the most powerful...


    By the time his vision recovered from partial blindness, he found Mu Ran standing still in his position, his body surrounded by dazzling qi of many colors that moved together, creating a tornado.


    In Mu Ran''s hands, two orbs emitting emerald light were slowly becoming dim with each passing second. A string of symbols made up of pure qi was revolving around his body like satellites around a plant, constantly spinning.


    Even with his poor comprehension of the language of laws, Xuhan could tell at a glance that those floating symbols made up some very high-level law fragments.


    Was it a law fragment that nullified all the attacks cast on Mu Ran by controlling the attackers'' qi outside their bodies?


    Right then, Qian Yun''s stunned voice verified his guess.


    "T-that''s a technique that can be only used by soul reformation level cultivators! What are you?"


    With panic, fear, and amazement laced in his tone, Qian Yun''s mental state could be easily understood. But Xuhan distinctly felt that something was off.


    Wait a minute, Qian Yun already knew about Mu Ran''s secret soul grandpa...


    Then why the hell was he expressing such amazement and fear? It''s almost as if he wants the Mu Ran to think he has been caught off guard...


    He''s definitely trying to buy time!


    Han Xuhan tried to yell at Mu Ran to warn him. But he was a step too late.


    A gigantic seal suddenly appeared over their head, blocking out their vision of the sky. The seal flickered in and out of existence, giving off an illusory feeling.


    Countless law fragments were linked with one another in that seal that stretched as far as their eyes could see. Emitting a golden hue, various parts of the seal started spinning independently, and each time the countless revolving parts came in contact with each other, Han Xuhan could somehow feel a different type of law fragment being created and activated.


    Following the movements inside the seal, Han Xuhan suddenly felt the qi in his meridians becoming heavy, ignoring all of his commands and slowly trickling out of his body.


    In Mu Ran''s case, the power sources in his hands flickered out as if the qi within them had been sucked dry. The spells that had been warded off around his body and turned into pure qi dissolved into thin air. Mu Ran''s body seemed to have gone stock still from shock as he stared above at the seal.


    "Finally! The Suppression Seal Of Myriad Laws has been acquired by the main body. The assimilation must be close to completion! Ahahaha, those decades of struggle was worth it! I''m free!"


    A collective voice rose from the land of laws. Turning his head, Han Xuhan could see Qian Yun, Feng Jun, as well as all the cultivators in the vicinity shouting together, in the same pitch, same tone, same voice.


    It looked like a kindergarten assembly. In less horrifying circumstances, Han Xuhan would have probably found it funny.

 Chapter 77: Countless Clues, Two Theories, One Truth

    If one were to ask Han Xuhan how unfortunate he was, he would answer that he was quite unlucky, but not terribly so.


    After all, even though he had been screwed by fortune countless times, he was still having the time of his life playing around in super mysterious realms, exploring all sorts of interesting cultivation techniques. How many humans from earth would be jealous of him if they heard about his incredible adventures?


    Moreover, there were many others whose fates were s dozens of times more miserable than him. For example, Mu Ran, who was now as powerful as a tied up chicken with all of his qi gone, surrounded by the creepy legion of cultivators under Qian Yun''s commands.


    Then there was martial sister Yuen Zhou. That poor lass had finally made her appearance right after the seal had activated fully. The second she had appeared, countless spells had hit her right in the face. As she was also instantly affected by the Seal of Myriad Laws, she wasn''t even able to put up a fight.


    Now she was sitting beside Mu Ran with both of their hands and feet tied up. Of course, Han Xuhan was in a similar position as well, but at least he had been spared the spell attacks both Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou had suffered because he had been captured much more easily.


    Such is life...a hero does not always win, unlike fiction. Sometimes escaping was the only way!


    "Hey, brother Xuhan, you look quite bored. Why don''t you chat with me for a bit?"


    Qian Yun sat down in front of the most suspicious guy among the trio of cultivators they had captured.


    The other two, Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou, were sufficiently powerful, with lots of secret techniques at their disposal. But Qian Yun could not figure out exactly how or why Han Xuhan had managed to evade the trap in the third stage of the inheritance test. Logically speaking, unless he knew some secrets about this place beforehand, it should be very difficult for anyone to evade it. Qian Yun still needed to wait for a while for the main body to finish its assimilation. He wanted to utilize that bit of time to figure out exactly where he had made a mistake while planning the purification process.


    "Sure, brother Yun. I had some things I wanted to ask as well. Let''s talk." Han Xuhan nodded lightly and squirmed a bit, leaning back on Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou who were tied up behind him, getting into a comfortable sitting posture.


    "You stink," Mu Ran muttered.


    "You''re getting your sweat on me," Yuen Zhou added.


    Han Xuhan ignored them both. Human cushions were truly comfortable. This wasn''t the time to practice democracy and listen to every useless opinion. This was the time to make a comfortable final stand.


    "Don''t interrupt me when I''m about to have my big brain moment, my martial siblings," he said to the two before concentrating on Qian Yun and sorting out his thoughts. Curious to see what the two would converse about, Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou fell silent.


    Qian Yun leaned over and unmasked Xuhan''s face for all to see. Han Xuhan''s expression turned sour at that.


    "I''m not some jade beauty you lot need to behold. Put the mask back where it belonged," he ordered in a gloomy tone.


    "Just making sure to recognize your face, brother Han. Same goes for your siblings."


    Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou we''re subsequently unmasked as well.


    "What did you do in the third test, brother Xuhan ? The leaderboard says you failed twice..." Qian Yun put the masks back on their faces and directly approached the question that had been bothering him the most at the moment.


    "Ah, good question, brother Yun. If I were to answer directly...I just took a look at the two orbs that were provided to me by the representatives. But I failed to come up with any suitable law fragments.


    Yeah...that''s it. But if you want a longer explanation, I can share that too."


    Qian Yun opened his mouth to say something but got stuck halfway. He wanted to shout that any cultivator who had passed the circle of laws should have been able to use the alphabets in the orbs to create a law fragment. Unless...of course...


    "You didn''t absorb the qi in the orbs," Qian Yun muttered.


    Han Xuhan laughed.


    "Seeing how fast you were able to figure out the issue, it seems like my guess was correct. The qi in the orb really was problematic!


    I''ll have to admit, that was a good trap. To enter the third stage, one has to expel their entire qi reserve. But to perform in the test, they need qi, and that''s where your trick comes in.


    Tell me, brother Yun, what was mixed in the qi?"


    Qian Yun gloomily stared back at Xuhan. After a long bout of silence, he spoke.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Your answer has some inconsistencies. Why would you suspect the qi provided by the platform to begin with?"


    Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou did not react to the news of polluted qi for some reason. Looking at their lack of shock, Qian Yun felt the doubts in his mind become thicker instead of clearing up.


    "Of course, I do actually have reasons to suspect that particular mechanism," Han Xuhan replied in an amused tone.


    "First of all, when I was inside the circle of laws, stuck deciphering all those law fragments, I noticed that a majority of the law fragments had something to do with restriction, suppression, punishment, reduction of powers above certain levels, strict rules that one must always abide by..."


    Qian Yun nodded in agreement and said, "of course, how else would they keep out powerful entities with malicious intentions and curious cultivators who aren''t worthy of the inheritance?"


    "That I agree with wholeheartedly. But there was this one thought that had occured to me back then.


    Don''t these suppressive laws work both ways ? Does that mean a powerful being might actually be sealed here and the laws could have been placed to stop him from getting out?" Han Xuhan replied.


    "The possibilities of either of these two theories being true are equal, right?"


    The moment he finished speaking, the atmosphere around them became still and heavy.


    Mu Ran''s breathing had suddenly become irregular, which Han Xuhan could feel due to their closeness. He could also feel Yuen Zhou becoming tense behind him, like a coiled snake ready to spring out. But oddly enough, he could infer that she wasn''t particularly surprised. The moment he had approached the topic of his suspicions regarding the circle of laws, Yuen Zhou''s arms, which his back was leaning on, had become tense. It was a slow process, not one that stemmed from surprise.


    Han Xuhan''s eyes narrowed. It seemed that Mu Ran was not the only one with certain knowledge regarding the land of laws...


    Hohoho, now this...this was getting interesting.


    Setting those thoughts aside, Han Xuhan focused back on Qian Yun and realized that all seventeen cultivators were now gazing at him intensely. Something felt off about their gazes, but Xuhan could not put his finger on what it exactly was.


    "Go on, continue your explanation. There should be more to it than just a plain ''what if'' realization, right?" Qian Yun said finally.


    With a genial smile, Han Xuhan nodded like a good boy and continued. He couldn''t just resist showing off his deductive skills. It brought him immense satisfaction.


    "You''re correct. Now, going back to the time when I had just realized that this circle of laws can work both ways, my overly imaginative mind, influenced by my life experience that can be summed up as ''never trust a sudden fortuitous encounter'', I began to cook up some theories as to what other aims can one accomplish through this test ground.


    "The second time my suspicions became stronger was when all of us who had passed the first stage were forcibly converted into disciples of the Holy Land of Laws. Sure, it makes sense that it is a necessary precaution against various loopholes of the first stage, like cloning techniques. But later, after all four of us met and I got to relax a bit in the second stage, I reflected back onto my experience in this test. Some doubts inevitably popped out.


    "Using the assumption that a powerful being might have been sealed here and the circle of laws were actually placed to suppress it, what would be the aim of practically enslaving the cultivators who enter this...jail?"


    Qian Yun instantly interrupted Xuhan.


    "It doesn''t make any sense. Your theory contradicts that clue. Doesn''t that mean it''s not a possible route?"


    "Indeed, it does. But if we are willing to use our imagination a bit and assume that the being who has been suppressed by the circle of laws is so incredibly powerful that the unsuspecting cultivators who barge into his jail would end up becoming obedient to him by various means, such as possession, mind control and other esoteric methods available to incredibly powerful beings, then it all actually falls into a logical chain of events.


    Because that''s when the third clue comes in.


    "Obviously, the person who suppressed the powerful being here did not want him or her to break out easily. But seeing how advanced this Holy Land of laws is, one can easily figure out that random cultivators might end up trying to explore this place. The creator of the circle of laws would not want to let that happen since it would mean those cultivators would become puppets of the powerful being sealed inside.


    "So the creator of the circle of laws designed such a mechanism that it would instantly make the talented cultivators disciples of the Holy Land, unable to ever betray their cause and never collude with the powerful being inside to harm this place in any way. Now, this also corroborates with the theory that there is a sealed being here and he intends to harm the land of laws.


    "Now, let''s fast forward a bit and think about the next stage, the second test where the cultivators have to fight each other for the power sources.


    "If we''re going by the main theory that all of it was a test of skills, it certainly makes sense, except it''s incredibly brutal. The fog here is poisonous. There were several cultivators who died along the way or suffered worse fates like mutating into terrible zombies. If the Holy Land of Laws truly designed such a test, they''d have to be some sort of top notch demonic sect. But seeing how grand and developed the sect is, it is impossible for the the rest of the world to not know about the existence of such a demonic sect. And as far as my research tells me, there has been no established demonic sects in the last few centuries around the seven regions.


    "As you can see, the theory that this stage is a test begins to contradict itself! The other theory begins to make more sense!


    "So, let''s shift to our secondary theory, and consider this stage to be a part of the seal that suppresses the powerful existence inside.


    "Several details suddenly start making sense.


    To deprive a cultivator of their power, the most important step is to make them unable to use their qi. But at higher level of cultivation, it is quite a difficult feat to achieve. Any powerful expert worth their salt would be able to find a loophole inside the techniques used to deprive them of their qi. No technique is invincible or unbreakable in the face of time.


    "Thus, another important issue can be unraveled using this clue. The emerald orbs, the incredible power sources that litter the second stage like they aren''t worth a coin. Had I not frequently bought artificially collected qi from my sect''s treasury, I might not have noticed how precious they are. Each of those orbs can be sold for thousands of spirit stones.


    "You get what I''m saying, don''t you brother Yun ? These power sources were collected by depriving the powerful existence using various types of suppressive laws, like the Seal of Myriad Laws floating above our head right now. It certainly worked its part on us three by sucking up our qi, hehehe..."


    Han Xuhan''s carefree laughter rang through the silent land of laws. No one answered his rhetoric question.

 Chapter 78: Tycoon Cultivator

    Qian Yun had never seen anyone appear so happy while explaining exactly how he had been screwed by fate.


    Han Xuhan looked immensely satisfied while laughing maniacally for a good few seconds.


    But Qian Yun wasn''t satisfied, not at all.


    "Even if you had such suspicions, it''s impossible for you to just figure out the existence of the trap by simply relying on your imaginary theories. I suppose there''s more to the explanation?" He asked after Han Xuhan had finished laughing.


    "Okay, okay. But can you like... applaud a couple of times or pretend to look immensely shocked for a few moments? C''mon, brother Yun, it''s no fun when nobody appreciates a mind-boggling revelation, tsk."


    Judging by the gloomy stare behind Qian Yun''s mask, Han Xuhan realized that his request would not be kept. So he cleared his throat and continued.


    "Now, we have already discussed the inconsistencies in the first and second stages of the inheritance test in the light of our two main theories. But while the secondary theory has gained some advantages in the second stage, the third stage immensely cracks down on it."


    "The existence of the platform," Qian Yun said.


    "Yes, the platform is obviously an incredibly complex relic that was definitely placed here to judge the new disciples of the holy land. I have no doubts about that. Which again seems to balance the scales between the first and second theories. It''s way too complicated to simply be a part of someone''s scheme to take control of the exploring cultivators. However...


    Think about it, if you were a sealed cultivator who wants to break out of your jail, but does not possess the ability to gather qi or rely on your own body, what would you try to rely on?


    "Something around you, perhaps? Something that can draw in other cultivators where you can conveniently place a trap for them?


    "Now, what draws in other cultivators? We have our answer from the first theory- an irresistible inheritance test.


    "This, is where both theories merge together instead of canceling each other out!


    The new, evolved theory that emerges from the mix answers all of the contradictions we have faced so far. Let me list them one by one:


    "One, what is the source of power behind the circle of laws? What exactly keeps such a massive mechanism active?


    The answer is the qi constantly being extracted from the meridians of the sealed cultivator, whose realm is very, very high.


    "Two, why is there nobody watching over the entrance test of the land of laws? Why is such a Holy Land so full of dead bodies and terrifying zombies? And why is it so brutal to the young explorers?


    The answer is that it wasn''t originally intended to be a testing ground, to begin with. This inheritance test had never been planned by the authorities of the sect, who have possibly vacated this place long ago.


    "Three, what is the aim of designing such a gigantic, yet contradictory mechanism? The creator of the jail wasn''t certainly dumb.


    The answer is that the contradictions only appeared after the jail was turned into an open trap. But for a certain reason, the incredibly powerful cultivator who designed the trap later was unable to erase such simple contradictions.


    What might the reason be behind such limitations? Of course, it''s because he or she was suppressed somehow from erasing them.


    And speaking of suppression, we''re back to a full circle, the suppressive law fragments on the circle of laws do that job very well."


    With each passing second, Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were feeling colder and colder inside. Since the moment Han Xuhan had started explaining his theories, both of them had been busy trying to keep track of his scatterbrained chains of logic. The more they listened, the more they felt that Han Xuhan was a bigger oddity than either of them. Both of them had their own guesses regarding what was happening in the land of laws. It wasn''t that hard to figure it out since they had their own sources of information as well as the inconsistencies being rather obvious.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.But Han Xuhan''s purely imaginary theories were on a whole new level of complexity...


    "After this point, we can focus on the third stage, the place where it all went full kaboom," Han Xuhan continued his intricate explanation without stopping at all, as if he wanted to seize every second of his final moments.


    "When we began this conversation, you asked me how I saw through the trap inside the test, brother Yun. Honestly, I never saw through anything, to begin with."


    "What?" Qian Yun asked, startled.


    "It''s true," Xuhan nodded.


    "Do you think I''d be sitting here with my hands and feet bound if I really knew the true nature of this inheritance test? I''d have escaped ages ago!


    Everything I''ve said so far is all part of my overly active imagination. Sure, they make sense, but that doesn''t mean they''re true. I don''t have any solid information to rely on, I don''t have the ability to verify my guesses. At that time, I treated those theories as nothing but my baseless, subconscious worries.


    But right when I saw the contents of the third test, I started feeling conflicted. I''m a fairly greedy person, but the language of laws isn''t worth risking my life for. If there was really anything wrong with this inheritance test, the third and final test should be the ultimate pivot point. At that time, I thought about it for a long time, and realized that there was actually no need for me to take the risk, to begin with!"


    Han Xuhan had started snickering again, arousing everyone''s interest.


    "Why is that?" Qian Yun asked. But he had a faint feeling that he''d receive a ridiculous answer from Xuhan.


    "It''s because both my martial siblings, as well as you, my new friend, had taken part in the third test before me! If there wasn''t anything wrong with the third test, you''d definitely bag a technique or two relying on your aptitude. I could just buy those techniques from you afterwards! Why would I need to treat myself as a guinea pig? Hahaha!"


    "....Buy it from us?" Mu Ran asked blankly from behind.


    "Hahaha, yes of course! I, Han Xuhan, am a tycoon! My cultivation style consists of nothing but burning money!"


    Han Xuhan proudly answered. If his hands hadn''t been bound together, he''d have slapped himself on the chest as well while flicking his hair in a dashing style.


    "...." Qian Yun sighed wordlessly. He really had seen that one coming.


    "So, you''re telling me, that you escaped the trap because of some random whims and your innate cowardice?" Yuen Zhou finally couldn''t hold back her doubts and interjected.


    Han Xuhan shook his head and stopped snickering. Being called a coward by someone who had fared even worse than him didn''t feel good.


    "No no no. So far, I''ve only talked about the theories I had come up with due to my suspicious personality. I wouldn''t have paid it much attention normally. But then, I finally couldn''t hold back my curiosity and entered the third stage.


    The first thing that put me on guard was the orb containing the alphabets. I don''t know if you have noticed it, but the alphabets had suspiciously narrow usage. In a stage where creativity is being tested, that type of alphabets aren''t exactly suitable. But that still wasn''t enough for me to decide to give up on the inheritances.


    As for the orb containing qi for replenishment, I was only wary of it slightly due to brother Qian Yun''s warnings before in the circle of laws.


    "So I decided to take a detour and test something out. I intentionally failed the test and tried entering a platform for another type of inheritance.


    "Guess what I found... the alphabets provided in the second test were the same as the first!


    It is way too much of a coincidence that I, a random cultivator who learned some random alphabets from a language as vast as the language of laws, would encounter the alphabets I have already learned so soon."


    "But doesn''t that strengthen the theory that it is all a test and the third stage provided you with alphabets that you''ve already learned so far?" Qian Yun interrupted Xuhan, sensing the contradiction again.


    Han Xuhan grinned.


    "But you know very well that I only deciphered a part of the law fragments on the walls, brother Yun.


    A more logical answer would be...that there is something wrong with the alphabets provided in the third test. It is likely that someone intentionally tempered with the original set-up of alphabets. I am, after all, just a weak cultivator at the second layer of physique transformation realm. How difficult would it be to use a high-level law to influence my mind into thinking that the alphabets in front of me are all familiar and I definitely know them?


    It may sound far-fetched, but unless someone was interfering with my visual senses, I cannot see how two consecutive tests of different types would offer me the same, familiar set of alphabets."


    Han Xuhan finished his explanation with a graceful nod, giving off the aura of a true intellectual debating the meaning of life.


    "Afterwards...well, there wasn''t anything more I dared to do. I was extremely scared. So I escaped using the same technique as before and returned outside. But I couldn''t just leave my martial siblings behind and run!


    Knowing them, I was sure that they would be able to figure it out if something is wrong with the third test. So I carved some law fragments here as a safety precaution and waited for my martial siblings to return."

 Chapter 79: The Antagonist Doesnt Play By The Rules

    "So, now that I''ve blabbered on for so long, explaining in detail about how I ended up here," Xuhan used his chin to point at himself while he spoke, "how about you clear up some of my suspicions and explain how you ended up there." He gestured at where Qian Yun sat.


    "Don''t tell me my theories are actually entirely true and you''ve become a puppet of whoever has been suppressed here by the circle of laws, brother Yun."


    Qian Yun silently contemplated what to say. After a moment, he smiled under his mask and answered,


    "actually, you are not far off the mark."


    "Eh?" Han Xuhan exclaimed while Mu Ran uncomfortably squirmed against his bindings.


    "Eheheh..." Qian Yun laughed in a manner Xuhan was familiar with before standing up. With a flourishing bow, he pointed at himself stylishly.


    "Let me reintroduce myself. I am Jin Tuyi, the holy child of the Holy Land of Laws, currently in a temporary vessel. My main body is about to finish up with some cleanup procedures. But worry not, once the procedures are over, you shall be acquainted with me quite intimately."


    Han Xuhan felt goosebumps popping out all over his body at his last sentence.


    Holy Child? Main body? Good heavens!


    "You''re saying that we''d become puppets like Qian Yun as well? Is the real brother Yun still inside you? Is he alive in any sense?" He asked.


    "Ah, I wouldn''t say puppets. It all depends on yourselves, to be honest. If your will is firm enough like your martial sister Yuen Zhou, you can certainly pull through with your mind intact. But I''d suggest not placing much hope on that method. Look at the bunch surrounding you. They certainly did not manage to pull through the ordeal."


    Yuen Zhou''s fists clenched upon hearing Qian Yun''s answer. He could actually sense the transferred information in her mind!


    Truly a talented young cultivator! She almost felt a habitual impulse to take him in as a disciple. But then she remembered that she was no longer the impressive figure of her past life.


    A feeling of regret welled up in her heart. She missed the numerous talented disciples she had nurtured. This cultivator who had been sealed in this place would have been a fitting figure among them.


    While Yuen Zhou dwelled amidst her strange thoughts, Mu Ran was the one who had received the greatest shock.


    Surviving the onslaught of the corrupted parts of a filth''s soul by relying on pure willpower? With her cultivation base in the lower rungs of the physique transformation realm?


    Illogical! Even he himself did not have such ability!


    Meanwhile, as Xuhan already knew that Yuen Zhou was quite overpowered, his shock wasn''t particularly strong. He simply noted the information down mentally and continued their conversation.


    "I don''t believe you."


    Qian Yun laughed, amused at Xuhan''s denial.


    "Why not?"


    "Because everything I''ve said mostly stemmed from my imagination and some deductive reasoning. It''s impossible for the real events to match them directly. I have a feeling that you''re simply trying to avoid explaining where my misconceptions are by accepting everything I''ve said. Come on, man. At least before I spiritually die, can''t you satisfy my curiosity?"


    Han Xuhan felt greatly aggrieved.


    What was this?


    Was there a need to be an asshat and ruin the joyful exchange of critical information? Whoever had possessed Qian Yun''s body, he must be a massive douche. In such climatic scenes, the antagonist was supposed to be the one revealing shocking plans and information. Why was he, a semi-protagonist, the only one playing that role?


    "And why would I care at all about whether you die unsatisfied or not?"


    Proving his suspicions true, Qian Yun said something that greatly hurt his feelings.


    What was the point of me rambling for so long? Was it all pointless? I just wanted to know the hidden plotline. Was that too much to ask for?


    Qian Yun, or more accurately, Jin Tuyi, was truly a rotten villain!


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Desolate feelings occupied Han Xuhan''s heart. But then Qian Yun said something that made his eyes light up.


    "I think your martial brother is more qualified to answer your questions. If you really want to know, make sure to ask him later, provided you survive the transfer of information from the soul shard designated for you."


    Han Xuhan nodded to himself. Indeed, he had forgotten that Mu Ran had some ideas about what went down in the land of laws in the past. His soul grandpa seems to have some relationship with this place.


    Qian Yun suddenly looked up at the sky and stood up in a hurry. The rest of the cultivators followed his gaze and noticed what had attracted his gaze.


    The gigantic Seal of Myriad Laws in the sky was undergoing some changes.


    Ever since its emergence, various parts of the seal had been rotating in various directions, creating law fragments after law fragments automatically.


    But the seal seemed to have been affected by something. Every few seconds, it would shift from its initial state to an illusory form and tremble as if it was about to fall apart. The suppressive laws that had blocked everyone''s ability to manipulate qi flickered out of existence moments later.


    "Looks like something went wrong with brother Yun''s plan. Wait a minute, why am I calling you brother Yun? You''re not him. Calling you Jin Tuyi wouldn''t exactly be correct either..."


    Han Xuhan got distracted trying to think of a name for the guy possessing Qian Yun. No one responded to his senseless ramblings.


    Qian Yun gravely observed the seal shifting about in the sky for a few seconds. Then he turned to look at the rest of the cultivators who now shared a fate similar to his current body.


    "It looks like the three soul shards that failed to do their job have affected the main body. We need to act fast and forcefully purify the soul shards before the corrupted parts can take root again. Grab them."


    Gesturing at the tied-up trio, Qian Yun rushed toward the platforms again. Before Han Xuhan and his martial siblings could react, they were half-carried, half-dragged toward the platform by their captors.


    Ahead, on the platforms, Qian Yun carefully stepped around the law fragments carved on the metal slabs and seemed to be thinking deeply. Once their trio was brought over, he looked up at them.


    "I''m going to activate the law fragments to open an entrance here. Better not try anything funny, or I''ll make sure that none of you survive the transfer of information."


    The rest of the cultivators surrounded the platform and pushed the three of them ahead, making them stand still on the slab where Qian Yun had started fiddling with the law fragments already.


    Han Xuhan craned his neck backwards and whispered a question to Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou.


    "Oi, you two, what are the plans?"


    Mu Ran laughed derisively while Yuen Zhou stayed silent.


    "Plans? What kind of plans can we even execute right now? If I''m not wrong, the ''being'' inside that''s controlling Qian Yun and the rest is an existence who might break past the soul reformation realm any moment. Do you think we have a chance to fight back?"


    Han Xuhan cursed silently.


    The soul reformation realm?


    Why were they meeting such overpowered antagonists in the first arc? Is the author a sadist or what?


    However, listening to Mu Ran''s tone, Xuhan distinctly felt that he hadn¡¯t given up all hope. Perhaps he still had a trump card to play during the critical moment...?


    But Han Xuhan felt a bit daunted by their looming fate once Qian Yun managed to open the entrance to whichever hellhole he was planning to deliver them to. Mu Ran or Yuen Zhou might go scotch free even after confronting the being sealed inside the land of laws. But Han Xuhan''s luck had always been on the worse side.


    He did not feel like tempting fate.


    So he cranked his neck and looked at Qian Yun. A slight smirk appeared on his face as he spoke.


    "Hey, brother BB, can you answer a small question of mine? "


    "Brother Bee Bee? " Qian Yun, who had been squatting over a bunch of law fragments, looked up at him, noticing the change in Han Xuhan''s tone. The sudden appearance of confidence and mischief in Xuhan''s voice gave him an ominous feeling.


    "Ah, BB is short for Banished Brat. It''s what I''ve decided to call you for now. I''ve got a question for you."


    "...Ask away." Qian Yun sounded a bit annoyed at the juvenile insult.


    "If you hate a certain somebody A LOT, but can''t catch him because he is hiding somewhere, what would you do upon learning how to drag him out of his hiding place? "


    The ominous feeling in Qian Yun''s heart got stronger. Thoughtfully, he answered Xuhan.


    "That depends on how much I hate him. And whether I have the ability to defeat him or not."


    "Like I said, A LOT. And he''s really, really weak," Xuhan answered.


    "Then I''ll definitely drag him out of his hiding place and beat him up," Qian Yun said succinctly.


    "Ah, good to know. Thanks for boosting my confidence." Han Xuhan smiled behind his mask.


    Instantly, he used the bit of qi that he had managed to reabsorb after the seal had malfunctioned to activate a law fragment inside his pocket.


    "Teleport!" Han Xuhan shouted lightly.


    For a second, the dizzy sensation of being teleported overcame his senses. But when he opened his eyes, he saw Qian Yun''s smooth mask facing him, his body still in his previous position in front of the platforms.


    "What the fuck- why didn''t it work ?" Han Xuhan gasped.


    "Did you think I am dumb enough to not restrict every type of law fragments that is not created by me? Let alone teleportation, without my permission, no law fragment within the land of laws can be activated. The moment my main body began its assimilation, I made sure of this," Qian Yun laughed bemusedly.


    "You vile dick!" Han Xuhan growled.


    Why were the bad guys so smart in this world of cultivation?


    One second later, A crimson glow flashed around Han Xuhan''s body, wrapping Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou together, after which all three of them disappeared on the spot.


    "...." Qian Yun numbly stared at the empty space in front of him.


    His chest felt stuffy.


    What had happened just now?

 Chapter 80: The Master Says, The Minion Plays

    Jin Tuyi couldn''t help but stare in incomprehension at the Seal of Myriad Laws revolving above in the sky.


    Had something gone wrong with it? Even though it was beginning to go out of the main body''s control, he could still sense that the major law fragments that nullified all the newly made law fragments here were still properly active and running.


    "Write down a law fragment and try to activate it," Jin Tuyi ordered one of the vessels while he kept his focus on those law fragments in particular.


    A few seconds later, the vessel tried to activate the law fragment he had written...and failed.


    The law fragment was neutralized the moment it became active, just as expected from it with the Seal''s suppression.


    Then how did those three teleport away?


    And why hadn''t he been able to sense the activation of the law fragment they had used?


    Confused and furious, Jin Tuyi ordered his vessels to begin searching for their trail. If the main body didn''t manage to expel the corrupt parts of its soul shards soon, the decades of suffering and planning would all have been for naught.


    ...... ........ ........


    Han Xuhan felt an extremely painful sensation of having his limbs stretched till it felt like they were about to be ripped off.


    With an added bonus, the dizziness stemming from teleportation seemed to have gone up a notch or two.


    Finally feeling the hard ground beneath his feet, Xuhan shook his head violently and looked around.


    The three of them had landed in a heap in front of a familiar-looking portal on the ground. There was a crimson-colored skeleton standing not far away, surrounded by at least a dozen or so cultivators, all of whom were ready for combat, by the looks of it. Swords, arrows, and qi were primed to cut them down.


    "Wh-who the hell are you? Why did the three of you appear when we were trying to drag my master Shen Kai out of the world fragment?"


    The red skeleton, who recovered faster than anyone else, asked in a panicked manner.


    Good acting, Zhanxian!


    Han Xuhan exclaimed inwardly. Due to the lack of skin, nerves, and muscles, nobody could read the skeleton''s facial expressions or body language that would give away certain details...


    In short, Zhanxian could lie and fool others very well. And that skill manifested at that moment beautifully.


    Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were still bound together with him. During the sudden teleportation, they had felt an odd and terrifying power gluing them together. Every inch of their bodies that were in contact with each other made them feel like all three of them had merged into one body.


    That odd feeling had disappeared the moment the teleportation ended. But both Yuen Zhou and Mu Ran vaguely guessed what had happened just then.


    But this was not the time to discuss that issue. The cultivators surrounding them by no means looked friendly.


    "Boss, dump the entire blame on Shen Kai and pretend we are victims of his scheme as well. These are the guys I kicked out from the first stage," Han Xuhan whispered to Mu Ran using the cover provided by his mask. If he opened his mouth to speak loudly, those guys might recognize his voice. So Xuhan passed the ball to Mu Ran.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Mu Ran had already gotten a gist of what had happened due to being acquainted with Shen Kai and knowing full well what Xuhan had done under that guy''s name. So he understood what to do immediately.


    "Shen Kai? Are you talking about that scum who kept kicking everyone out of the inheritance ground?" Gritting his teeth, Mu Ran answered their aggressive question passionately. His reply definitely seemed to rouse the burning embers inside their heart, stroking the fire of hatred.


    "Yes! That''s him!"


    "Scum Kai!"


    "Where is he?"


    Such shouts drowned the tied-up trio for the next few seconds. Han Xuhan felt a strange sense of immense satisfaction welling up in his heart.


    What is this refreshing feeling? Is this the sweetness of vengeance?


    "He''s the one who tricked US as well!" Mu Ran continued to spout more and more bullshit with Xuhan whispering suggestions beside his ears. Since the three of them were closely tied together with a sturdy, magically enhanced rope, the cultivators surrounding them didn''t find anything suspicious about the way Xuhan''s head was sticking close to Mu Ran''s.


    "Did you all use a law fragment to teleport Shen Kai over?" Mu Ran shouted, his gaze focused on Zhanxian''s bony form.


    The cultivators nodded as they explained what had transpired there.


    To teach that scum Kai a lesson, all of them had been waiting outside while some of them ventured inside the portal, scouting the area that wasn''t occupied by the fog.


    Hours later, when most of them had almost given up, a red skeleton had appeared from within the foggy area.


    All of them knew this unusually colored skeleton. It belonged to that bastard Shen Kai. Instantly, the skeleton had been besieged by the scouts and brought over to the main camp outside.


    The skeleton was very weak and cowardly. Once it had been lightly threatened by the powerful cultivators surrounding it, it had started bawling and confessed everything.


    Its master Shen Kai was in great danger inside the inheritance ground. So he had sent this skeleton minion to seek help from one of his acquaintances who was supposed to be waiting in Pine Town.


    The skeleton had even shown them the letter its master had written for that acquaintance.


    The contents of the letter roughly described the inheritance ground and the secret to deciphering the archaic texts inside the circle of laws.


    According to the letter, to save Shen Kai, the acquaintance only had to come over outside the portal and create a law fragment that would allow him to teleport over. Shen Kai had even written a template law fragment for him to use in that letter, as well as giving the minion an emerald orb to use as a power source.


    At this point of the explanation, the guy who was speaking to Mu Ran laughed angrily.


    "Hah, guess he never thought that we would intercept his minion first! But that''s where the problem starts...This teleportation law fragment should have summoned Shen Kai, its creator over to us. Why is it you three?"


    "Fellow cultivators, you have been fooled again! How could you trust that scum''s minion so easily?!" This time, it was Yuen Zhou who answered him in an aggrieved tone. Han Xuhan had just advised her on what to do during the lengthy explanation from the other party.


    A pitiful, grieving maiden had much more credibility than a buff guy like Mu Ran...Han Xuhan did not intend to let go of a single opportunity to perfect their act.


    "Fooled again? How?" The dozens of cultivators exclaimed, their hearts shuddering and fists clenching. All gazes fell on Zhanxian, who was silently enjoying the spectacle.


    "Shen Kai was indeed in grave danger. In fact, all of us inside the testing ground were in danger. This inheritance test has only three stages. There is a deadly trap in the third stage that favors only demonic cultivators like Shen Kai. That bastard managed to find a fortune in that stage and broke through to the soul reformation realm, thus managing to avert the danger he was in. But we were his opponents. So he beat us up and subdued all of the cultivators inside using his superior cultivation base.


    But his realm hasn''t stabilized yet, and he wanted to get out of the land of laws before he overdrafted his own strength. So he decided to send a scout to check if the portal outside was safe to use. Moreover, he wanted to send us out in case we banded together to fight against him when he was in a weakened state. So he created a law fragment that would teleport us over, disguising it as something that would summon him, and handed it to his minion before sending it out."


    The moment Yuen Zhou''s words were finished, the cultivators surrounding them rushed toward Zhanxian to give him a beating.


    Such a hateful trap! They had all been fooled by a damned weak minion!


    "Oops, guess I got found out. See you, losers! My job is done here..."


    With those last words, Zhanxian suddenly disappeared from his spot before anyone could reach him.


    It was clear to everyone that the minion had been summoned back to his master...

 Chapter 81: Burn Money To Turn Into An Athlete

    "Shen Kai, our enmity will not end until I have ground your face on this soil! "


    "Scum, I''ll find you! As soon as I break through to the soul reformation realm, I''ll skin you alive! "


    "I''ll make that asshole regret being born!"


    Various vehement exclamations were livening up the woods. With the gentle touch of sunlight flickering through the large trees and chirping birds, it created a memorable scene, especially for Han Xuhan, who took great pleasure in basking under the warmth of the sunshine and the caress of sweet, savory vengeance.


    "Martial brother Xuhan, how about we get out of these ropes first?" Yuen Zhou suggested exasperatedly.


    The three of them then wriggled out of the oddly sturdy ropes with the help of some of the fuming cultivators near them and stretched their limbs for a few moments to relieve their tense muscles. The teleportation had taken a huge toll on their bodies.


    Right at this time, one of the sharper cultivators had finally managed to calm down and analyze their story properly. Her eyes fell on the trio of cultivators in front of her and couldn''t help but narrow in suspicion. A certain notion began to take root in her mind. She voiced her suspicion immediately.


    "You three, even though your explanation seems logical, I keep getting a feeling that something is off about it. For all we know, one of you could be-"


    Mu Ran thumped his chest loudly and cut her off, saying, "I know our words may not appear to be quite credible right now. I can swear heavenly oaths if necessary, and so can my companions."


    "Heavenly oaths?" The girl was taken aback by his brave claim.


    "Of course! I can swear by the heavens that none among us are in any way cahoots with that bastard Shen Kai. We are victims of his scheme instead!"


    Mu Ran''s confident oath dispelled the suspicions the cultivator had in her mind. Heavenly oaths were nothing to scoff at. Even if the heavens did not immediately punish one directly for lying, the cultivator himself would be plagued by all sorts of mental demons during their breakthroughs because of their subconscious guilt.


    "Ah well, now that we have been kicked out of the land of laws, we can only leave. I have sustained several hidden injuries that normal treatment cannot cure. We should head back to the sect immediately. Would any of you like to come with us for a friendly visit, perhaps?" Yuen Zhou masterfully diffused the tense squad of fuming cultivators.


    The cultivators did not see any point in trying to convince them to stay, and neither were they gullible enough to visit a foreign sect without any prior preparations.


    They politely bid them goodbye after a brief discussion regarding what to expect when facing Shen Kai.


    Although he was supposedly at the soul reformation realm now, he still shouldn''t have grasped any techniques of that level so soon. If more than a dozen cultivators at the middle and high levels of the physique transformation realm attacked him together, there was a good chance to be able to beat him.


    This was the culmination of their plans.


    With the matter settled, Han Xuhan and his martial siblings were just about to leave when another cultivator came tumbling out of the portal unsteadily.


    "Eh? Brother Ye!" The cultivators who were acquainted with him instantly rushed forward to catch him.


    The young man cut a sorry figure, with his clothes in tatters and his body sporting several bone-deep wounds. The only reason he hadn''t fainted by now was due to his decent cultivation base. Even the incredible healing speed of his body had barely managed to stabilize his situation.


    Mu Ran, Han Xuhan, and Yuen Zhou exchanged a glance of tacit agreement with each other. All three of them could guess the culprit behind the young man''s injuries.


    It seemed that Qian Yun and his legion were coming over out of the world fragment. For them to appear so fast, it seemed that Qian Yun had used a law fragment for a mass teleportation too. They could probably jump out of the portal any moment now.


    Even with their collective strength, Xuhan was in no way confident of being able to face that guy.


    If his guess was right, then the crimson-colored orbs had really been suppressing the super OP cultivator inside the land of laws. Since many cultivators had broken through to the second stage after creating law fragments that basically functioned as passages, how long would it take the powerful cultivator to use those passages to his own advantage? Moreover, some of the crimson orbs containing the circle of laws might have been harmed as well during the activation of passages. Their suppression of the powerful cultivator may not work anymore.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Run! It''s a powerful enemy!"


    Not wasting a second more, Han Xuhan shouted at the cultivators crowding around the injured young man, after which he turned around and ran like the wind. His footsteps were accompanied by Mu Ran''s and Yuen Zhou''s rapid rush. Within mere seconds, their silhouettes vanished behind the bushes and trees surrounding the clearing.


    The dumbstruck cultivators behind them didn''t even have the time to ask them what was going on. The portal behind them suddenly spewed out tens of cultivators at the same time.


    The air crackled with the spells that tore through it, screams and explosions ringing through the woods. Han Xuhan didn''t need to look back to see which side was winning. Those who had managed to break into the Holy Land''s depths were all outstanding fellows.


    Moreover, Qian Yun and his team had a strange type of tacit understanding among themselves, almost like a singular entity. Their teamwork would easily defeat the cultivators who hadn''t even seen them coming.


    A few seconds later, he heard multiple voices and rushing footsteps following their trail. Not far away from him, Yuen Zhou urged hurriedly,


    "Run faster! Qian Yun''s side is catching up with you!"


    Han Xuhan felt rather depressed. His speed was nowhere near fast enough to match up to Mu Ran or Yuen Zhou. The cultivators chasing behind them were definitely much faster than him as well. His little experiments with sprinting inside the Holy Land had proved this.


    "Seems like there''s only one way this is going to end," Han Xuhan muttered decisively.


    Han Xuhan had collected a large number of emerald orbs as a part of his lackey duties back in the second stage. Now, it was time to put those to good use.


    The vitality-stimulating law fragment he had used on Mu Ran had provided him with a reliable result.


    It worked, at least partially it did. And that was all he needed.


    Establishing a mental connection with the qi inside the emerald orbs right now was a difficult feat. And by the time he finished activating the fragment using the emerald power sources, his pursuers were only tens of meters away from him. From his recent experience in battles, Han Xuhan understood fully well that any second now, he would be struck by a deadly spell. Feng Jun''s elemental attacks were still fresh in his mind.


    So he didn''t feel any heartache at the massive expenditure he was about to go through. His life was more important than money.


    [ The carrier of this law fragment shall experience a temporary, exponential boost in terms of physical attributes. ]


    It was a crudely made law, from what he understood. Usually, law fragments were rarely used over such vague conditions. To increase one''s physical attributes was a very complicated process. Unlike the law fragments he had seen so far where the job of the law was to create a lightning strike or teleport a person, physical enhancement had way too many steps. But it wasn''t as if he had the luxury to think up something better right now.


    A green luster enveloped his body as soon as the law was activated. It looked like he was running through a veil of mist.


    Han Xuhan felt his muscles and nerves tighten. His body underwent bizarre changes in the next moment.


    A rush of strength kicked in inside him. Adrenaline pumping, muscles swelling, eyesight sharpening, lungs stabilizing, reactions getting speedier, mind adeptly figuring out better and better routes ahead through the woods...


    Han Xuhan''s speed increased exponentially. The loose robe he was wearing felt tight and confining. The emerald orbs inside his pocket were constantly supplying qi, which was being transformed into a stable energy through the law fragment, enhancing his body with each passing second.


    Even his five senses seemed to have been improved, as well as his sensitivity toward qi fluctuations. He could feel a large amount of qi following his moments at four o''clock. The qi suddenly moved in a coordinated fashion and transformed into something else that he couldn''t understand. But it was clear to him that the owner of the qi had cast a technique, now that they had almost caught up, possibly to attack him.


    Instantly, Han Xuhan''s body displayed superhuman agility, changing his route and diving behind a large tree to take cover.


    In the next moment, the other side of the tree caught on fire soundlessly.


    Han Xuhan''s limbs never stopped. He crawled through a bush and zigzagged through the denser parts of the woods, using the shrubs, trees, and bushes as covers, springboards, and landing spots.


    Soon, he caught up with Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou...and then outran them, effortlessly.


    "Xuhan? How did you- never mind, I got it."


    Mu Ran gasped as soon as he realized the buff, smokey figure overtaking him was his underling. Looking at the mist surrounding his body, Mu Ran seemed to have guessed what was happening.


    Han Xuhan''s speed had already reached the level of someone in the middle layers of the physique transformation realm, and it was still increasing sharply!


    His mental connection to the emerald orbs told him that one of the orbs was about to be emptied soon. There were two more left.


    Calculating the time, he would be able to maintain his current acceleration for five more minutes. But that would be enough. His pursuers were all normal cultivators. They didn''t have any emerald orbs in their possession because Han Xuhan and co. had snatched those away during their enslavement ceremony.


    After running for nearly two more minutes, Xuhan disappeared from the sight of everyone behind him.


    Just as he was ready to breathe a sigh of relief after looking back, he noticed a figure ahead making his way through the woods steadily.


    Was this another random cultivator who had been attracted by the portal?


    The figure noticed Xuhan as well and came to a stop, waving his hands at Xuhan. But Han Xuhan had no intention to stop by and have a chat. While running past him, he gasped out a warning before vanishing off further into the woods.


    "Powerful demonic cultivators are coming! Run as fast as you can!"


    The figure, who turned out to be an unfamiliar young man upon closer inspection, stood still in his position, staring in the direction Xuhan had disappeared in.


    He muttered to himself in a low voice.


    "Wait a minute...wasn''t that the voice of that hateful bastard?"

 Chapter 82: Prophecy Comes True...Whoops, Wrong Prophecy

    Shen Kai stood stock still inside the woods, dumbfounded.


    "Did the guy I was looking for just pass me by? Moreover, he said something along the lines of demonic cultivators chasing him?


    "Wait a damn minute, where did these ''demonic cultivators'' come from? I am the demonic cultivator here! How come I haven''t received any news of my sect members coming here?


    "Even more importantly, how the hell did that guy run so fast? With his cultivation base, it''s impossible for him to be that fast...And his build looks different too. Were my ears deceiving me?"


    Shen Kai fell deep in thought. But he didn''t get the chance to sort out things out, because he noticed more figures running toward him from the depths of the woods.


    Another familiar young man in tattered robes whizzed past him. Due to the distance between them being too wide, coupled with the obstruction of the flourishing flora, the running cultivator didn''t notice Shen Kai standing there. He looked like he was running for his life as well.


    Even though he had a mask on his face, Shen Kai recognized who it was at a glance.


    Mu Ran!


    Then the guy before definitely had to be Han Xuhan...


    Following Mu Ran''s trails, another figure ran by. Shen Kai wasn¡¯t familiar with her, but judging by her frantic rush, she was running from something as well.


    Who the hell was impersonating demonic cultivators and chasing these guys?


    Shen Kai''s curiosity was piqued. With his current cultivation base, there were few cultivators under the soul reformation realm who could catch him if he tried to escape. So he decided to take a look before hiding somewhere. Now that he had found Han Xuhan, it was hardly a problem for him to track that bastard down again. First, he needed to investigate this case of identity theft.


    About half a minute after the girl''s silhouette had vanished off inside the dense stretch of trees, Shen Kai saw movement in front of him again.


    It was a team of three this time. All of them wore masks. It seemed like they were a part of the cultivators chasing the previous trio. They were constantly looking for trails on the soil and fallen leaves.


    Shen Kai''s eyes met their gazes and the three pursuers came to a halt. Shen Kai''s body was now clearly emitting an aura of a cultivator at the late stages of the physique transformation realm. Even if they did not target him, he was still a huge threat.


    Choosing to fish for information first, the leader of the trio called out to him politely.


    "Fellow cultivator, have you seen three cultivators running past this area? "


    "Yes," Shen Kai answered calmly.


    "They ran that way." He pointed in a random direction. There were some trails left by the runners that would support his answer even if they were to investigate it closely.


    "Thank you, fellow cultivator," the leader of the trio said as he headed that way immediately, giving Shen Kai a wide berth. His teammates followed his footsteps faultlessly.


    Shen Kai vaguely sensed something odd about these three cultivators. But he couldn''t detect what it exactly was.


    However, there was one thing he was sure of. These guys were by no means a part of his sect, the only demonic sect that he knew of. Then what was up with that brat Xuhan''s warning back then?


    Were these three the impersonators he had warned him of?


    Just as they were about to disappear from his sight by following the direction he had guided them to, Shen Kai sensed another team of masked cultivators rushing toward his position.


    This was a team of four. All of them were considerably powerful, with most of their cultivation bases on the upper layers of the physique transformation realm. Seeing Shen Kai, they didn''t become as nervous as their predecessors. Shen Kai''s ears also picked up the rapid footsteps of the trio behind him quieting down. They must have stopped and crouched down behind the bushes not far away from his position...


    A frown emerged on his face. Wasn''t their teamwork a bit too great? The first team hadn''t sent any information back to the team following behind them. Neither had the second team exchanged any information with their predecessors. Yet they could seamlessly prepare to ambush him from both directions?


    Why does it feel like their target has shifted from Han Xuhan and his friends to me?


    The four newcomers fanned out and cautiously approached him. Shen Kai didn''t need to turn around to notice the qi fluctuations behind him from the hiding trio.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    "Fellow cultivator, what is your identity?" One of the cultivators in front of him asked politely, probably hoping to distract him. Shen Kai laughed internally. The irony in the situation was rather striking. A bunch of kids posing as demonic cultivators trying to deceive a legitimate demonic cultivator...


    Even if there were seven of them, they were too weak to hurt him!


    "My name is Shen Kai, a cultivator from one of the small sects nearby," he answered, curious to see what these guys were up to.


    But the moment the cultivators heard his name, an odd wave of uneasiness passed among them. Shen Kai felt his senses prickling.


    Do they know my name...? That''s impossible.


    But in the next second, all seven cultivators attacked him simultaneously. Seven different techniques were executed with him as the target from all four directions. Dumbfounded, Shen Kai instantly took evasive measures. His body vanished from their sight temporarily while he dodged the spells flung toward him.


    What happened to the whole ambush setup?


    What prompted you all to attack me so indiscriminately? Shen Kai couldn''t help but complain in his heart.


    Thankfully, he had been careful enough to lock his senses on the trio who had launched the attacks from behind him. Otherwise, it would have been quite difficult to evade all the spells in time.


    The confused cultivators saw their spells hitting nothing but thin air, completely missing the target. The moment the effects of the spells wore off, a dark shadow popped out from behind one of the four cultivators near his original position.


    Before the cultivator could react, Shen Kai''s hand hit the back of his head with the hilt of a dagger. The force behind the hit knocked him out instantly, making his body go limp in Shen Kai''s arms.


    Three more flashy spells whizzed toward Shen Kai while two silent spells were sent toward the ground and the sky. Shen Kai''s shadowy figure had vanished by the time the first spells reached his position, but while he tried to appear behind another cultivator, he found the air around him suddenly becoming heavy as a rock and his feet refusing to leave the ground like a magnet stuck on a large metallic object.


    Cursing silently, Shen Kai executed another technique and spread a disturbance among the qi fuelling the spells binding him. The attraction force of the ground loosened for half a second, and he took that chance to vanish off again. This time taking a defensive measure, he reappeared behind the cultivator he had knocked unconscious earlier and raised his body up as a shield. His dagger snaked toward the cultivator''s neck and pressed on the skin there.


    "If you don''t want him to die, you should reconsider your stance. If I detect another spell activating, you''ll be carrying his corpse back to your sect," Shen Kai said while backing up in a safer direction.


    Heh, even demonic cultivators wouldn''t lightly sacrifice their martial brother to win a battle. Every disciple of a legitimate demonic sect was carefully selected and nurtured. If any of them died because of their teammates, death would be the lightest punishment for them.


    And more importantly, these guys were definitely not demonic cultivators. Shen Kai was sure that his threat would work wonders...


    BANG!


    A vicious spell hit the body he was holding squarely on the chest. The attacker had never intended to hit Shen Kai at all, evidently. The body of his hostage burst into ashes and disappeared, leaving a stunned Shen Kai open to all types of assault.


    "What the fuck?! Which sect are you lot from?" Shen Kai yelled in shock. The spell had come the moment he had completed his threat. The attacker definitely knew the consequences. Yet they had casually killed their companion off...


    The cultivators surrounding him showed zero emotions upon seeing their companion being reduced to nothingness. They didn''t even wait for his ashes to fall on the ground and attacked Shen Kai crazily.


    Roaring in indignation inside, Shen Kai decided to escape for now. These guys gave off an aura of absolute madness. They looked ready to sacrifice themselves if it meant they could capture him. They had abandoned all defense to attack him incessantly.


    "Do I have some sort of past enmity with these bastards?" Shen Kai muttered to himself as he vanished off again and ran like the wind, leaving his reckless pursuers in the dust.


    But hardly had he left the danger zone when another team, this time consisting of three considerably powerful cultivators, appeared in front of him.


    His pursuers were too far away to even track his current position. And Shen Kai''s curiosity was burning now. Dusting off the signs of battle from his attire, he approached the three cultivators cautiously.


    Upon noticing him, they also stopped running and came to a stop, maintaining a considerable distance from him.


    "Fellow-FUCK!!!"


    Shen Kai didn''t even get the chance to finish his sentence this time. The trio suddenly dropped all politeness and burst out with spell after spell.


    Why is this happening? I didn''t even say anything! I don''t know them at all!


    Attracted by the sound of battle, the cultivators who had lost Shen Kai''s tracks came rushing over. It was now a one versus ten battle. Shen Kai was stronger than any of them, but he had zero chance of coming out of this unscathed if he prolonged the battle.


    What made him feel the most misery was that his precious one-time escape technique had been used up during the battle last night against Han Xuhan. He couldn''t just teleport away anymore...


    Facing the pressure of ten cultivators charging at him simultaneously, Shen Kai felt all of his combat potential being squeezed out brutally. He couldn''t waste a shred of a second, constantly changing positions, executing difficult techniques, racking his brain to come up with evasive measures one after one...


    There were injuries all over his body after thirty seconds had passed. His mind had shut down all sorts of thinking other than trying to come up with ways to survive the next second. He bore the terrible physical pain and forced his aching, burning body to keep moving every time a new wound appeared on it.


    More spells rained down on him. The teamwork of his opponents was incredible. Shen Kai had been cornered by now. Felling the shadow of death peeking at him, his body burst with one last splendor of sheer willpower.


    Even if I die, I''ll take down all of you damned hyenas with me! That was the cool verdict that rang through his dazed consciousness.


    Shen Kai''s body felt like it was about to fall apart, his mind a mess of unwillingness and fear. He didn''t know how many more seconds he would live, but he chose to struggle till the end!


    At this moment, the empty meridians inside his body suddenly pulsated, and the qi in the air surrounding the battlefield fell into chaos.

 Chapter 83: Under Heaven, Above Earth, This Underling Is Supreme

    "Eh? Somebody is breaking through? At this time?"


    An old man walked toward the sounds of clashing spells and furious shouts inside the jungle. His attire didn''t fit in with the surroundings. With a form-fitting black robe that flashed all sorts of gleaming medals and a bowl-shaped hat on his head, his body flickered across the woods chaotically, approaching the massive, roiling mass of qi ahead at the speed of lightning bolts.


    Strangely enough, nobody noticed his appearance amidst the battle. By watching his approach toward the center of the countless spells, one could only perceive a completely uninterrupted and unhurried gait. The spells never hit him despite the chaos.


    Reaching the center of the battle, the old man finally saw a gravely injured young fellow constantly blinking in and out of sight to avoid the spells and attacks flung at him, as well as fighting back occasionally in desperation.


    What attracted the old man''s attention was the burst of qi pulsing around the youth periodically. Even though the young man''s body sported dozens of wounds and his meridians appeared nearly empty, he could still use spells somehow.


    But that also came with a heavy price. With each spell he used, his condition worsened and his meridians took some light damage. If this went on, he''d suffer from permanent qi deviation and harm his own cultivation base heavily.


    There was a twinkling light inside the pupils of the old man who patiently observed him fight. He finally let out a sigh after seeing the young fellow suffer another serious wound from trying to avoid a spell.


    "Oh well, I''ll give your sect master some face and help you out, youngster," the old man muttered to himself and turned to look at the cultivators attacking the young fellow beside him incessantly.


    "Their minds were affected by the corrupt parts of the Abomination...What a pity. All of these children are pretty talented for a territory so barren."


    The old man shook the sleeves of his robe and walked toward the nearest frenzied cultivator and formed fists with both of his hands. Then he lightly punched her temples from both sides.


    There were no fluctuations of qi fuelling his punches. The strength behind the fists was negligible for even a regular mortal. But the moment the fists made contact with her temples, she crumpled and fell down on the ground, unconscious.


    The other cultivators noticed her sudden fall, but they didn''t seem to care about her in the slightest as they continued to assault their target. The old man shook his head regretfully and repeated his actions. One by one, the eight other cultivators fell unconscious, much to the confusion of the young fellow they had been fighting.


    Nine bodies lay on the spell-razed ground. The old man gave them one final look of pity before walking toward the huffing young man. This time, a thread of qi finally appeared around his fingers as he stood over him and poked his chest.


    The thread of qi drilled into his meridians and sped up the healing process of the damaged parts on its way. Blinking his eyes in a daze, the young man looked at the empty air in front of him and staggered away with a terrified look on his face, running as fast as he could.


    "Mhmm, that should make the breakthrough successful for now. If nothing untoward happens, he will be able to avoid the qi deviation as well after a period of professional care. it¡¯s none of my business anymore," the old man said as he turned around and walked toward the portal where the Abomination struggled against its restraints.


    .......... .............. ..........


    Han Xuhan opened his eyes. For a few seconds, his thoughts were full of nonsensical chaos. Slowly moving his neck around and blinking rapidly to adjust his eyesight in the dark, he sat up and looked around.


    He was sitting beside a small fire, his surroundings unfamiliar. There were two others sitting around the fire, Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou, whose gaze had concentrated on him upon noticing his movements.


    "Looking at the sky, I should have been unconscious for more than ten hours. How far did I get before collapsing?"


    "You got out of the woods and ran for a mile or so before your power sources ran out. Then your law fragment started feeding off your own body and... you can see what that led to," Yuen Zhou answered, gesturing at him to look down at himself.


    Han Xuhan had already noticed the unnatural weakness laced with the movement of his limbs. Prompted by her gesture, he opened his robe and looked down.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    His ribs were sticking out and his stomach sported a concave shape. His heartbeat also seemed slower than normal. Most of the prominent muscles in his arms and legs seemed to have shrunk.


    He looked like someone whose country had been afflicted with a lengthy period of famine.


    "Where are we right now?"


    "Near the Pine town area. How do you feel by the way? Are you sure you can handle the walk back?" She replied while her hands fiddled with a sack. After a few seconds, she took out a crispy piece of meat and handed it to him.


    "I''m fine. The affected muscles feel a bit weak, but that''s it for now." Han Xuhan took a bite of the half-burnt meat and hid the grimace that followed with the taste.


    Food was food. He wasn¡¯t going to complain about the taste in his current condition.


    As he forcefully wolfed it down, the subtle, tense atmosphere among them got more and more pronounced. Finally, Mu Ran decided to break the ice.


    "Exactly what did you do back then, Xuhan? How did things...come to this?"


    Han Xuhan chomped on the soft parts of the bone inside the piece of meat while gathering his thoughts.


    "Back at that time after you two entered the third stage, I sent Zhanxian out carrying a letter I wrote to a nonexistent acquaintance waiting outside the portal. Since I wasn¡¯t sure if the land of laws really was safe for me, that was just another safety precaution. You could say it was a last resort of sorts. If I didn¡¯t manage to escape the land of laws in time in case some sort of disaster struck, those guys would have helped me teleport away while being under the illusion that they were summoning Zhanxian''s master, Shen Kai."


    "How did you know that they would wait for Shen Kai outside?" Mu Ran asked in puzzlement.


    "Because I singlehandedly destroyed their chances to acquire a ''super awesome inheritance'', at least that''s what I told them before I kicked them out. I mean, think about it... Some random asshat deprives you of something you deeply yearn for, that too in a very degrading manner. What would you do to avenge such humiliation if you had the chance?


    If you know where that asshat is, you are definitely going to try and take your revenge as long as you¡¯re confident of success. And with all of them being kicked out together, how long would it take for them to form an alliance against their common enemy?


    Even if they didn¡¯t wait for me outside the portal, how far could they have gone with such a shiny piece of treasure as the land of laws in front of their eyes? At least a few greedy ones would have stayed back even in the worst case. Zhanxian could easily find them and pretend to have met them accidentally.


    And if this didn''t work out either, then Zhanxian would have gone straight to our sect to ask for help."


    It took Mu Ran a while to digest his words. While he gazed at the cackling campfire, Yuen Zhou decided to voice her doubt.


    "Don''t tell me you planned that all from the start..."


    Han Xuhan laughed derisively and spat out the remnant chewy bone from his mouth.


    "Of course not. How the hell would I know that the inheritance ground was really a trap from the start? I was just trying to fuck around with Shen Kai''s name. Like I explained to Qian Yun back in there, I simply found the nature of the testing ground rather suspicious and took some small precautions before the last stage using whatever I could. Moreover, the main reason why I was so suspicious about the whole thing wasn¡¯t even those clues or my overactive imagination. Are you telling me you believed the bullshit logical deductions I fed Qian Yun at that time to buy time for Zhanxian? Hahaha..."


    Seeing his amused laughter, Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou exchanged a confused look between themselves.


    "Those were lies? " Mu Ran asked in disbelief.


    "Of course... not. Well, half and half, actually. " Han Xuhan clutched his stomach to relieve the painful sensation that had broke out while he was laughing wildly. His muscles had become really, really weak. Even though that law fragment had saved his life, Han Xuhan vowed to never use it anytime soon.


    "The thing is, while I did imagine the scenario where we would all fall into a deadly trap, that really was just something I came up with while trying to think of the worst-case scenarios. I mean, right now, I can ignore all sorts of logic and imagine that a thunder from the sky is going to fall on my head and kill me since the celestial seem to hate me so much. But would I bother to take precautions against that in this dry weather? No!"


    "Then... why would you go out of your way to set up all those safety measures?"


    Han Xuhan deviously smiled. Finally, it was time to rebuild the cracks that had formed in the outstanding mutually beneficial relationship with the protagonist...


    "It was because of YOU, boss! "


    Pointing at a dumfounded Mu Ran, Xuhan radiated the ''perfect underling'' energy that he had been painstakingly perfecting in front of his mirror since the day he had accepted his ''job''.


    "What?" Mu Ran was so stunned that he couldn''t even ask the question. So Yuen Zhou asked in his stead.


    "Well, you too, martial sister. But the main reason is boss!"


    Proudly nodding in a way an underling should while facing the protagonist, Han Xuhan began to explain.


    "Boss, do you remember? Even before entering the land of laws, you kept saying how dangerous it might be, and you were practically being forced to go in, that you didn¡¯t want me to accompany you due to the danger factor?


    Even inside the inheritance ground, you tried to warn me multiple times. During those moments, this underling understood your struggle and the conflicts raging in your large-as-ocean heart. So I wondered...


    "What level of threat does it have to be to make my boss, who can subdue the strongest of our opponents singlehandedly, worry so much?


    What sort of danger can make my boss feel such threat?


    How wary must my boss be of the danger factor to go so far as to tell me to abandon him and run away despite my unwavering loyalty?


    "Moreover, It''s not just boss but martial sister Zhou as well! She warned me seriously before entering the third test too. And thinking about it all...I realized that perhaps I was just a frog in a well, unable to see the bigger picture due to my lack of vision. But I trusted your vision, boss!


    "So I decided to pay heed to your warning and created an emergency escape route for us!"

 Chapter 84: The Incomprehensible Terror

    "Afterwards, I waited for you two to return from inside the third test. But then, the disaster struck. Qian Yun and the rest of those cultivators became puppets of that holy manchild...Jin Tuyi. I had to buy some time to ensure that Zhanxian would reach the poor idiots waiting outside the portal. So I acted along with the situation, performing according to their expectations..." Han Xuhan said with a weak smile.


    "When you say performed..." Mu Ran didn''t finish his sentence and stared at him with his eyes narrowed.


    "Yup. Boss, don''t tell me you thought I really used you as a meat shield when you were unconscious!" Han Xuhan exclaimed in a voice dripping with heartache.


    It was time...to lay down the finishing touch.


    "I, your underling, would never betray you like that! Check the right pocket of your trousers if you doubt my sincerity!" Han Xuhan''s fingers were pointed at Mu Ran as he declared.


    Mu Ran searched inside the pocket with a puzzled expression and pulled out a small piece of wood on which familiar-looking alphabets had been etched. His eyes widened as he deciphered the contents immediately.


    So his underling had really been speaking the truth! Mu Ran couldn''t help but feel guilty about ever suspecting Xuhan...


    "What does it say, martial brother?" Yuen Zhou asked curiously.


    Han Xuhan answered her while Mu Ran continued to examine the piece of wood.


    "There are two law fragments on it. One is a simple law that stimulates the carrier''s vitality heavily, while the other one is a bit more complex.


    It is a part of a compound law fragment. It makes the carrier temporarily, physically attached to any living creature carrying the same law fragment. I put the second part of the compound fragment inside your sleeves back when I was leaning on you and you told me off for making you all sweaty with my body."


    "...." For a moment, Yuen Zhou looked too stunned to react. Regaining her composure, she muttered, "You take the innuendos too far, martial brother."


    Meanwhile, a look of sudden enlightenment on Mu Ran''s face showed that his doubts had been finally cleared. His mood clearly seemed to have improved tremendously.


    Yuen Zhou was smart enough to figure out what had happened as well. Back at that time when they had suddenly been teleported outside the portal, she had felt the strange sensation of having her body parts becoming attached to Xuhan and Mu Ran. Now the dots finally connected with each other in her mind.


    "See, I had a feeling that since I was so weak, if the worst situation really happened, the law fragments written on the letter I handed to Zhanxian as a bait would be my last resort. In the worst case, I myself might not be able to use any laws, but the law fragment outside activated by those guys would work for sure and bring me back. So all I had to do was make sure I had a chance to bring you two alongside me as well."


    Saying this, Han Xuhan turned to look at Mu Ran with a delighted smile on his face.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "Boss, I picked your body up and acted like I wanted to escape with you. But that was never my intention, to begin with. Where would I even carry you to inside that accursed place?


    I simply took that massive risk to put that piece of wood inside your pocket. Even though I knew I would be caught and beaten up, I did not waver!


    "Why do you think I blabbered so much information to Qian Yun?


    Why do you think I kept making useless confusing points at that time?


    Qian Yun wanted to buy time, but I wanted to buy time too. So I just kept playing the fiddle the way he wanted it to until the law fragment outside the land of laws activated and took us away by bypassing the Seal of Myriad Laws.


    Once the influence of the seal failed to keep us from teleporting out, it was a piece of cake for me to activate the gluing law fragment immediately since I was prepared beforehand. Thankfully, Qian Yun tied us up together, making it easy for me to hand the second law fragment to Yuen Zhou. Otherwise, it might have been just me who got teleported. For this, I must sincerely deliver my thanks to them if we ever meet again."


    Finishing his soul-stimulating speech, Han Xuhan felt tired again and asked Yuen Zhou for another piece of meat, who handed it to him wordlessly. Ignoring the taste, Han Xuhan chomped it down in silence while Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou digested the information.


    Hopefully, it would make Mu Ran''s faith in him stronger, as well as paving the path to forming a similar mutually beneficial relationship with martial sister Zhou. One golden thigh was already so hard to keep holding. Xuhan wanted to create some backup channels after realizing how resourceful Yuen Zhou was...


    "So what''s the plan for now? And where is this place anyway?" Han Xuhan asked inquisitively after seeing Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou still giving him blank looks once his meal was finished.


    Mu Ran stood up after his mind had registered Xuhan''s questions.


    "We''re near pine town, in a small area that''s hard to notice due to the landscape structure. Martial sister Zhou and I decided to not immediately go seek shelter inside the town. If more demonic cultivators like Shen Kai were hiding inside the town, it would have spelt disaster for us in our current state. The town chief himself was cooperating with the demonic cultivators, intentionally or not. I didn''t want to take the risk. "


    Han Xuhan slowly tried to get up by gripping the tree behind him. His muscles protested quite horribly, but Xuhan found the pain to be within an acceptable range.


    "Really? Wise decision, boss! But do you remember that we had a mission to accomplish? Now that we know what the reason behind the disappearances of the mortals of the town is, we will need to give them an explanation, at least..." Xuhan trailed off, suddenly feeling that Mu Ran''s way of speaking was a bit off.


    Mu Ran noticed his concerned gaze, and waved a hand at him in a gesture to follow him.


    "Come with me. I''ve got something to show you."


    Turning around, Mu Ran started walking through the dark woods. Looking at his back, an ominous feeling enveloped Xuhan''s heart. He looked back at Yuen Zhou, whose complexion was rather unsightly as she gazed at the small fire dancing in the dark in front of her. Noticing his indecisiveness, she met his eyes and cocker her head lightly.


    "Can you walk ?"


    Han Xuhan tested his footing and nodded.


    "Go follow him. There is something you should see," she muttered and went back to observing the fire with an empty expression.


    Han Xuhan slowly stepped forward, following Mu Ran''s back in the dark. Soon, he was facing a huge, plain field outside the woods. Mu Ran stood at the periphery of it and waited for Han Xuhan to reach his side.


    "Boss, What is it ?"


    "Look at this particular area ahead and tell me if you find something odd."


    Han Xuhan vigilantly observed the field. There wasn''t much he could make out in the moonlight. But it looked oddly familiar for some reason. Looking back at Mu Ran, he saw the grave expression on his face.


    "Yes, I know you find this area familiar. As for the answer to the question in your heart, it''s because this is where Pine Town used to be."


    "...What?" Xuhan asked, unable to comprehend the meaning of his words.


    "The entire Pine town has disappeared. Gone with each and every single particle in it that ever existed. The only sign that something was here is the large field that it occupied previously. Even the buildings in it and the roads that led to it are gone. There are no signs of life within miles. In one night, the entire town has evaporated into nothingness."


    "...What the fuck?"

 Volume 1 : Epilogue

    The bodies littering the ground outside the portal were still warm, alive. The old man carefully stepped around them, carrying a large coffin on his shoulders.


    The walls of the coffin were made of smooth black glass, displaying countless etched illustrations on the surface. The most conspicuous was one showing a dragon coiled around a human whose head had been blurred. If one looked closely, one could see two different faces overlapping on the blurry surface where his head was supposed to be.


    The old man took one last look at the portal behind him that led to the Holy Land of Laws. A moment later, both man and coffin ceased to exist under the shroud of the darkness.


    Deep inside the land of laws, everything was in a chaotic state. It appeared as if a great battle had taken place there very recently. The metal platforms at the center were cracked, nearly breaking apart. The fog that had covered the region had thinned and shrunk in volume.


    The sun that had been obscured by the clouds covering the sky was finally visible, now that the fog had been lifted. The entire world fragment looked like it had been painted using dull gray ink.


    From beneath the cracked slabs of the platforms, a figure crawled out in an awkward manner, his limbs flailing about oddly as if his movements were uncoordinated, like a child.


    Clutching the edge of the platform, the young man in a dust-covered cyan robe stood up stubbornly despite his shaking hands and feet.


    His mask had fallen off at some point. It revealed a youthful face. Leaning back against the platforms, he observed his own palms quietly.


    The word [ Nightmare Knight ] had faded a lot, now nearly imperceptible if one didn''t look at them closely. But he could still feel a faint resonance with the words.


    Stolen story; please report.


    Closing his eyes, Qian Yun searched for a certain feeling deep inside his consciousness.


    He could feel it. The resonance...the network of minds connected to his own...he could even feel the existence of an unfathomable web of mental connections crisscrossing beyond his capacity to affect...for now. They were like lighthouses radiating a soulful emission of thoughts and emotions. Compared to those hyperactive light sources shining in the distant, illusory world, Qian Yun found the minds connected to him rather odd. These consciousnesses were not particularly active, neither did they look as large as those attractive balls of light in the horizon of his ''perception''.


    The connected balls of light almost seemed injured and incomplete, having entered a state of hibernation to relive the damage and recover...And Qian Yun could guess why.


    After all, he had encountered that mysterious senior as well.


    The state of his own mind was no different from the rest of them, except that the soul that had possessed him intended to use his body for the more important reasons and left his mind more or less intact.


    Concentrating hard, Qian Yun found several other consciousnesses that he felt close to, almost like familial bonds. As he tapped on the web that connected them together, he felt the others awaken from an inanimate state.


    Slowly, Qian Yun roused more and more such minds that were within his reach. There were a dozen or so of them all around his consciousness. Awakened by his nudges, they began to show signs of activity.


    [ Come to me. Wherever you are, come inside the Holy Land of Laws ]


    He could feel the fascination bubbling inside himself as he got increasingly skilled in surfing the web, like a tiny spider testing its thread-bound prey.


    "I have a feeling that my ability will become powerful enough one day to reach out toward those infinite number of consciousnesses if I continue to use this technique..." Qian Yun muttered thoughtfully.


    The paths that led to the great dao were infinite in number. Perhaps from today forth, this would be his path.


    Who knew what the future held? But one thing was certain. This land of laws...Qian Yun felt strangely familiar with each and every inch of this world fragment as if he had spent a lifetime here. He was determined to claim it in its entirety, and find out what the origin of the words on his palms.


    [ End Of Volume One ]

 Volume 1 SS: Eunuch Demon

    "That bastard, I''ll teach him a lesson that he''ll remember for the rest of his life."


    "Shut up when I''m applying medicine on you, you fucking dolt," said the healer, and slapped him on the back of his head to shut him up.


    Shen Kai had been growling similar declarations ever since he had returned after partially failing his mission.


    Feeling the sting of a slap from somebody at the late stages of the soul reformation realm, Shen Kai immediately swallowed his objections with a bitter heart.


    He hated Han Xuhan so much that he couldn''t put it into words. He had failed a really important mission provided by the sect master himself. After failing to chase away Xuhan and Mu Ran from the portal that led to the Holy Land of laws, Shen Kai had initially accepted his loss and decided to return.


    But as fate would have it, a powerful expert had decided to fuck around with him while fishing for information about the two brats. That old man had even robbed all of his money and left him with a very suspicious prophecy.


    While Shen Kai wouldn''t have normally given two fucks about that shady prediction, it touched upon a very sensitive personal issue of his.


    He had been stuck at the sixth layer of the physique transformation realm for a very long time. And his desperation for a breakthrough had forced him to return back to the woods where he had created the darkest history of his life- losing to a snot-nosed cultivator at the second layer...


    But little had he known, his return trip would turn out to be another nightmare.


    From what Shen Kai managed to dig out, apparently, some guy claiming to be him had screwed over almost half the cultivators inside the world fragment singlehandedly.


    As soon as he had heard the details of that incident from an injured cultivator who had been on his way to his own sect after being kicked out by ''Shen Kai'', he had instantly realized who was impersonating him.


    Han Xuhan! it had to be him!


    But what transpired next...wasn''t something he wanted to ever go through again.


    It had been a ten versus one battle. There wasn''t a part of his body that hadn''t been injured during the battle.


    At that time, stimulated by the pressure, Shen Kai''s latent potential had undergone a wringing so thorough that he had finally experienced the coveted breakthrough.


    But what aggravated him the most was that divination. That divination sucked ass. He had been led to believe that he''d fight against Han Xuhan, Mu Ran, and another mysterious expert, perhaps the girl who had been accompanying them when they had run past him.


    But instead, it was Han Xuhan and Co. who had led an entire fucking legion of madmen toward him, making him their meatshield-turned-mincemeat.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.He had achieved a breakthrough by meeting the person he hated, yet the price he had paid was nowhere near worth his sufferings. As for what followed later, that was too spooky to even think about.


    What a harrowing experience...Remembering Xuhan''s useless warning while he was running past him made it even worse. Shen Kai felt like Han Xuhan had done that intentionally to mock him.


    "There you go. The medicine will dry off by sunset. You can wash it off your skin afterwards."


    The intimidating healer slapped him lightly on the back and went to treat the next patient. Shen Kai got up gingerly and walked out of the building.


    Just as his anger was finally about to die down, the sound of someone''s approach pulled him back to reality.


    "Martial brother! Such a coincidence! I was just about to find you."


    The girl who approached him while shouting had a delighted smile on her face that would make anyone think of her positively.


    But as her peer, Shen Kai knew her personality well, and that smile darkened his mood further.


    This hag loved kicking someone when they were down.


    "What? Did something happen?" He asked grimly.


    "Yup, something happened alright, heheh..."


    Twirling happily, she came to a stop in front of him.


    "I just heard a pretty interesting news from an acquaintance of mine from another sect. Apparently, there is a rumor flying around the fifth region, specifically, a rumor about a certain demonic cultivator named Shen Kai !"


    The ominous feeling in his heart exploded like a bedeviled bomb, stiffling his breath.


    "A rumor, huh? Well, guess what, I don''t give a fuck! Now off you go-"


    Before he could finish his sentence and run away, she interrupted him with a cough.


    "Ahem, I''m sure you''d want to know about the contents of the rumor, martial brother. As I''ve heard, this Shen Kai, all by himself, defeated countless proud disciples of dozens of reputable sects, declaring his superiority and his identity as a SUPREME DEMON," she finished with a loud and unnecessary emphasis on the last part. Her face clearly showed signs of the laughter that was about to break out any moment.


    Gritting his teeth, Shen Kai bore the humiliation and glared at her.


    "Is that it? I don''t exactly see why I should be concerned about this."


    "Oh, of course not! That was just the appetizer," the damned hag giggled, stroking the fire of fury inside his heart.


    "The rumors also say that Shen Kai called all the righteous cultivators trash, blatantly insulting the orthodoxy. He forced them to sign humiliating contracts. He treated them like slaves. He even went as far as to SEXUALLY harass cultivators of BOTH genders !"


    "...."


    "That''s not all! He also said that his lecherous nature was a result of his twisted cultivation technique. Apparently, eyewitnesses claim to have heard him saying that he had castrated himself in order to cultivate the dao of eunuchs!"


    "...."


    "That''s not even the worst of it! The most hilarious part is his nicknames that have spread to every corner of the nearby regions. DICKLESS DEMON SHEN KAI, EUNUCH KAI, SCUM KAI, CASTRATED DEMON KAI-"


    "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Shen Kai finally lost it and stomped away after shoving her sideways. But as expected, she kept shouting from behind.


    "I did not expect our manly, rough, martial brother to be such a person! You''re famous now!


    By this time, this news has spread to this entire generation of female disciples of our sect...So many ladies are weeping for you!


    If finding a daoist partner seems that hard to you, you could have just asked me, martial brother! I''d have gladly taken out my especially crafted sabers to castrate you and help you achieve your dreams of reaching the apex as a eunuch..."


    Shen Kai mentally blocked out her words and continued to growl one name under his breath, his voice dripping venom.


    "Han Xuhan, you bastard! I''ll fucking flay you alive."

 Volume 1 SS: The Regressors Doubts

    "He''s probably a regressor like me, right?" Yuen Zhou muttered to herself in a low voice as she watched Han Xuhan following Mu Ran to pay a visit to the non-existent Pine Town.


    "But if he IS a regressor, that makes things even more confusing. I had never heard of any impressive cultivator with the name Han Xuhan or bearing his features when I traveled through the major higher-world factions for remnant survivors of this planet.


    "If he was somebody who had died during the destruction of this planet, then perhaps it would be a more logical conclusion to his origins. But why would a random regressor know the personal details of Mu Ran''s adventures and be able to take advantage of it to thwart the imminent chain of events?


    "Even I, who had personally investigated Mu Ran''s movements before the destruction of this planet, only managed to figure out some fractions of information about what went down in the land of laws.


    "If Han Xuhan hadn¡¯t teleported us out, then Mu Ran would definitely have been caught and thrown to the main body of the Abomination. But since that did not kill him or puppetize him the previous time, it means he somehow managed to evade its clutches...or, oh wait... Mu Ran''s personality was said to have changed slightly after he returned from the land of laws, slowly revealing his true nature...


    "Could it be that he was affected by the Abomination''s purification? A large-scale transfer of corrupt soul shards, perhaps?


    "But Han Xuhan has prevented that from happening this time, as if he is aware of the consequences. His explanation did not seem particularly credible, not to mention that he seemed to have an odd fixation with being Mu Ran''s underling... Who was he in the previous timeline?"


    She felt a headache coming up from trying to connect the dots. Back then, she had accidentally reached a higher-ranked civilization close to the developed Galaxies, ending up among the factions that leaned towards demonic practices. She didn¡¯t have clear leads on exactly how to change the future that would lead to the doom of this planet. But she at least knew not to be overly meddlesome in case the future took a turn for worse...


    At this point, she couldn''t help but feel simply tired. Her last life had been rather fulfilling. Other than dying unexpectedly, leaving some small regrets behind, there were few things that she hadn¡¯t liked about that life. Millions of disciples who revered her as their ancestral master, sects that she had founded from scratch, familial bonds and friends...she missed those days. It all felt pointless after her regression.


    Leaving the exploration of the mystery behind her regression out, only pursuing the dao single-mindedly was perhaps the correct choice. Nothing else mattered in the face of the terrible, vast universe.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    The demonic faction does not have the right to sit upon the celestial thrones...yet. Joining the righteous faction to usurp a celestial throne would be a good target to stick to for now.


    Now reliving the days of being weak and having to be careful to not cause too much of a ripple in the timeline was proving to be extremely difficult.


    Even though she originally had decided to save the planet from being led to destruction, these days she often felt like just killing off Mu Ran and leaving the sect, away from the chaotic world of cultivation, and live like a hermit in a cave somewhere until she became powerful enough to travel to the upper worlds.


    There wasn¡¯t anything in particular she cherished on her birth planet. Her parents were long dead, to begin with. She didn¡¯t consider her generally unpleasant relatives as her kin.


    But she needed to stick with a righteous faction with deep roots in order to gain a foothold in the face of the oncoming changes. For that, the Crimson Snow Sect was a good choice...


    While Yuen Zhou was entertaining these dangerous thoughts, sounds of footsteps came from behind her. Han Xuhan and Mu Ran had returned.


    .............................


    "An entire fucking town disappeared just like that? " Han Xuhan threw the rhetoric at the two of them after a long silence as they walked toward the nearest river branch, avoiding the main roads to hide from anyone who might recognize them.


    "Look on the bright side, you won''t need to explain to the poor townsfolk what a terrible death their family members got," Yuen Zhou lightly replied to him. Mu Ran stayed silent, something that clashed with his usual demeanor. It looked like the incident had affected him quite significantly. Although she couldn''t be sure about whether the outcome would be good or bad compared to the previous time.


    She did have a tiny guess about why or how the town had disappeared. Her memories told her that the Crimson Snow Sect might have directly or indirectly caused the incident...


    According to what she remembered, there was a legend of some high-level experts of the Crimson Snow Sect cultivating a very odd type of technique. One of its by-products was a small illusory world that could integrate itself with reality and act like a part of it.


    Seeing how this town was under the jurisdiction of the Crimson Snow sect, as well as combining the clue of the undead army disappearing from her control as if those zombified mortals had never existed in the first place, her guess was likely to be true. But that raised some questions...why did the sect send Mu Ran and Xuhan on a mission to a town that didn¡¯t actually exist?


    The sense of mystery surrounding this large sect had been born in her heart a long time ago, back during her previous life. It was one of the reasons why she had joined this sect in this timeline. The more days she spent in this sect, the more prominent her doubts grew.


    "And that reminds me, martial sister Zhou, didn¡¯t you head out on a mission close to the town? Why don¡¯t we head over there and ask the locals if they know anything about it?" Han Xuhan suddenly suggested, pulling her out of her reverie.


    "Sure, martial brother," she answered and led the way to a village nearby.


    She wanted to confirm her suspicions as well. And she could also look for a chance to subtly interrogate her martial brother to see if he confesses something.

 Volume 1 SS: Dragon Amongst Men

    Mu Ran stood in front of the frozen figure of a colossal dragon deep within his consciousness, the place where cultivators grow their dao foundations.


    The dao foundation is a very flexible concept. It adopts the form of what one subconsciously believes it to be, provided that they have enough control over their cultivation techniques.


    As someone who had cultivated the extra, special layer known as the zeroth layer of the physique transformation realm, Mu Ran''s unorthodox dao foundation was the living proof of this.


    A majestic dragon, coiled into a crouch, with its head reaching thousands of meters high amidst the illusory purple clouds was what Mu Ran thought of when the conversation was about his path of cultivation.


    A true dragon, the ancient monster that now only existed in myths and fairy tales which even children did not believe in.


    The dragon''s body was massive enough to create dozens of coils, from the tip of its tail to the top of its head.


    A thin layer of black fog covered its body, with only the lowest of the coils visible clearly. The rest of its body above was like a silhouette made of smoke and fire.


    But Mu Ran''s gaze was concentrated on the newly revealed portion of its tail. Almost a dozen entire new scales had been freed of the black fog.


    "A significant portion of our soul seems to have recovered. How much longer can you hold on?" He finally asked after a long period of silent observation.


    The inanimate dragon''s tail shivered slightly.


    "The Abomination has taken a rather reckless path, dividing the combination of three souls into twenty-one parts. We managed to snatch one complete soul shard inside the platform, and another afterwards. After purifying the corrupt parts, about one-tenth of our soul in total has been assimilated here. This should give me...about a couple of years of time. I can also now recall some higher-level techniques and deeper knowledge of laws. Now it depends on whether you can use our gains to breakthrough to the required realm to go chase down the purified abomination."


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    A deep voice from the dragon''s body, similar to the automaton''s from back inside the platforms, replied to Mu Ran.


    The answer made Mu Ran clench his fists.


    "That''s way too short of a time limit. The abomination has to be at least at the brink of a breakthrough to the creation realm. By the time I reach the soul reformation realm, he might even complete the first genesis. Moreover, he definitely won''t stay back inside that ruined world fragment now that he has purified himself. Where are we supposed to find him?"


    Trailing off, Mu Ran gloomily considered his options. His future was not looking particularly bright at the moment.


    "If you had managed to meet the abomination face to face and use the astral spell, our situation might have been different. Even if we didn''t manage to assemble at least half of the soul shards, collecting three-tenth wouldn''t be an issue. Granted, that might have affected our sanity a bit, but we currently do not have the luxury to think about the damage we''d receive from the forced assimilation. What a pity, that boy Xuhan flipped the situation around somehow and made a fool out of everyone, despite his good intentions."


    "Now that he has possibly purified himself, who do you think will be the dominant personality among the trio? Prime disciple Jin Tuyi, freak Shi Xian, or you?" Mu Ran asked curiously.


    "A wounded dragon is still a dragon. No human can dominate my mental strength. I will not lose even if a single shred of my soul resides in the body of the abomination."


    Mu Ran ran a hand over his face and said, "Give me two years. I''ll do my best to reach the soul reformation realm and look for that bastard again. If by chance he doesn''t manage to reach the creation realm within that time, we can go all out and force a reverse assimilation."


    "Impossible. Two years is way too long. I can give you fifteen months at most. If you cannot break through within that time, I''ll take over our body," the voice from the dragon replied angrily.


    "...Fine. Fifteen months it is," Mu Ran mumbled in a depressed tone and turned to leave.


    "And another thing...I think we both agree that we need to be more careful when dealing with our underling, don''t we? At least we shouldn''t let him in on any more of our secrets for now." The voice added behind him, making him come to a stop.


    "...Well, I agree. But I don''t know what to think of him when he seems so genuinely interested in being our underling. He''s a promising youth, even you realize that."


    "Indeed, I do. But I also believe that Han Xuhan is definitely hiding his cards, even better than we are. I refuse to accept that he isn''t an oddity like us. No way," the voice replied before Mu Ran retracted his consciousness from his dao base.

 Volume 1 SS: A Man With A System

    [ Candidate: Mu Ran


    Specialty: Rare Physique, High-Quality Dao Base, Special Cultivation Technique, Special Soul


    Potential: S tier


    {A More Detailed Status Window Shall Be Unlocked Upon Recruitment }


    Reward for Recruitment : 5 spins of the myriad scriptures wheel, 1 Epic grade gift box


    Current status : A Neutral impression of host. ]


    [ Candidate : Yuen Zhou


    Specialty: High-Quality Dao Base, Special Cultivation Technique, {Unidentifiable Data}


    Potential : S tier


    {A More Detailed Status Window Shall Be Unlocked Upon Recruitment }


    Reward For Recruitment : 5 spins of the myriad scriptures wheel, 1 Legend grade gift box


    Current Status : A Mildly Favourable Impression Of Host ]


    "Huh, it seems like little Zhou is nearly at the same level as Mu Ran despite having only half of the special traits. This lass really is a gem. But what is that Unidentifiable Data...?


    Regardless, she''s still an [ S ] tier disciple. I''ll do my best to make her call me master...No wait, that sounds wrong for some reason, ahem."


    Kong Ye was slowly walking uphill, following the dusty path that led to the peak of the Black Sheep mountain, the place where elder Daheng lived.


    After spending a month''s time teaching this new generation of disciples, Kong Ye had finally managed to push up their impressions of him to a more or less favorable level.


    This had unlocked the new feature of his system, a primary status window for potential personal disciple candidates. Although the information he got was very vague, with everything remotely useful being classified as [special], [to be unlocked after recruitment], and [Host''s level is too low], this was a really good tool.


    It didn''t give him much of a push toward filling up the yearly quota of at least two Halo-bearing disciples, but it helped him weed out the unsuitable candidates more easily.


    Thankfully, he had made the right choice by joining the Crimson Snow sect after getting the system, or he''d have had to run all over the Spatial Sector looking for suitable disciples using his system''s scanner gadgets. Those things were truly difficult to create.


    He had been pleasantly surprised to discover that there were at least two disciples with the mysterious halo in this sect! The system greatly prioritized this halo for some reason, willing to fork out so many rewards for just recruiting them as apprentices. When Kong Ye had enquired what the reason behind such treatment was, the system had simply answered- [Host''s current level is too low to enquire about the Halo ]


    Regardless, he considered himself very fortunate.


    The heavens must love him dearly for such a coincidence to take place right under his nose!


    Pushing those thoughts aside, Kong Ye focused on summoning the next disciple''s primary status window. The system had announced the unlocking of the new feature just yesterday, and he hadn''t had the time to check all the disciples'' stats yet.


    Once he had discovered the existence of an A-tier disciple in one of the mountain peaks nearby, he had rushed to the disciple''s current master to have a chat. Of course, he hadn''t directly expressed his eagerness to take the disciple in as a personal disciple, but he expressed his general interest in his potential and made some vague hints.


    It was a tradition in the Crimson Snow Sect for outer court disciples to choose or get selected by an elder as a personal disciple for apprenticeship once they reach the fifth layer of the physique transformation realm. So all the elders had already started lobbying around with each other over their favorite disciples of this year. Kong Ye''s actions were nothing out of ordinary. He just had to be careful about not revealing too much interest which might make their current masters realize their potential and strike before him, snatching the disciples away.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    One by one, Kong Ye had gone through many mountain peaks and finally appeared on the Black Sheep Mountain. And that''s where the issues started.


    Two S-tier disciples in a row...Elder Kong didn''t know how to manage things with Elder Daheng, their current master, and convince him into handing over two of his most talented disciples.


    The Black Sheep mountain peak had a pretty bad reputation. Their disciples were all trashes who barely maintained their status as disciples in the sect. Hell, the kids who lived on this mountain peak were generally not even bold enough to go socialize with the rest of their peers.


    In this situation, Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were like two sudden boons to the depressed elder of the peak. If Kong Ye tried to snatch them away, he''d have to pay a hefty price.


    Feeling worried, Kong Ye continued to pull up more status windows of the disciples of this mountain peak as he walked closer to Elder Daheng''s residence.


    [ Candidate : Han Xuhan


    Speciality : High-Quality Dao base, {Unidentifiable Data }


    Potential : B+ tier


    {A More Detailed Status Window Shall Be Unlocked Upon Recruitment }


    Reward For Recruitment : 1 turn of the myriad scriptures wheel, 1 grandmaster grade gift box


    Current Status : A Very Favourable Impression Of Host ]


    "Ah, finally a normal young man. Although he has that same Unidentifiable data as his specialty, it can be credited to his messy reincarnation. If nothing else, I can probably convince Elder Daheng to part with this poor kid without bargaining."


    A grandmaster tier gift box wasn''t worth much, being the second lowest tier of the gift system. But Kong Ye felt that Han Xuhan would make a great personal disciple because of how fast he was in adapting to situations and learning new things. That kid appeared uncannily in sync with any situation, any troubling development.


    But his system would not lie. That B+ tier was nothing to laugh at considering the average rating the rest of the disciples got was a measly B. Almost none of them had any special traits marked by the system either.


    Nodding to himself and making a mental note to keep an eye on Xuhan, Kong Ye pulled up the next status window in the system interface.


    [ Candidate : Xiao Wu


    Specialty: Ancient Bloodline, Special Qi, Special Cultivation technique.


    Potential : A+ tier


    {A More Detailed Status Window Shall Be Unlocked Upon Recruitment }


    Reward For Recruitment : 3 Spins of Myriad Scriptures Wheel, 2 Legend grade gift boxes


    Current Status : A Mildly Favorable Impression Of Host ]


    Kong Ye couldn''t help but freeze in his tracks. Another disciple with such high potential bearing the title of a trash?


    Is the disciple examination methods of the Crimson Snow Sect so bad?


    It looks a bit suspicious! Isn''t this too much of a coincidence?


    He knew he was a man chosen by the heavens, meant for great things, but even his luck shouldn''t be this extraordinary, right?


    Elder Kong set his doubts aside and glanced at the peak ahead with narrowed eyes. Elder Danheng was was a really lucky man. To have so many talents under his wing...tsk tsk.


    "Let''s examine the next disciple, system."


    [ Candidate : Zi Wei


    Specialty: Special Soul, Rare Physique, Special Cultivation Technique


    Potential : S- tier


    {A More Detailed Status Window Shall Be Unlocked Upon Recruitment }


    Reward For Recruitment : 4 Spins of the Myriad Scripture Wheel, 1 Epic grade gift box


    Current Status : A Neutral Impression Of Host ]


    "No Fucking way..." Elder Kong felt like he was being pranked by the system.


    There had to be a mistake somewhere, right?


    Six disciples of a mountain peak with three around the [S] tier? It would have been acceptable if the other two were trashes, but that wasn''t the case!


    Heavens, where have I stepped onto? Is this really the infamous black sheep mountain peak?


    He felt like a man standing at the sacred ground of a sect standing at the peak of a spatial sector, not a ''decent'' sect of a grade-1 civilization in the barren Neutral Territory.


    Swallowing a nervous chuckle, he pulled out the primary status window of the last disciple of this mountain peak.


    [ Cannot find any processed data regarding the sixth disciple of the Black Sheep Mountain Peak...reorganizing files... ]


    "...What the hell-"


    [ Authority Override detected...]


    [ Higher level interference detected. Host is currently not strong enough to handle the consequences of peeking into the data of the sixth disciple of the Black Sheep Mountain peak. Please complete the required number of missions to level up and gain the requisite ability to attempt another scan on her. Any further attempts at scanning her right now would result into attracting the attention of said higher powers. ]


    What in the world was this? Even his seemingly omniscient system could not access her information?


    Kong Ye had never seen such prompts from the system. He felt his heart lurching thinking about the possibilities.


    The palace of Elder Daheng was in sight. But this time, Kong Ye did not feel any amusement or envy toward him for having special disciples. His heart was beating like a drum, as if he was facing a slumbering predator .


    It was impossible for Daheng to not know about any of this. The authorities had to be aware. Sect master Xuan Zi had to have known this. But if he did so, and intentionally arranged such a place in this branch sect...


    Then there was only one conclusion Kong Ye could think of. And that conclusion terrified him.

 Volume 1 SS: The Anomaly

    The evening sun was gentle on the lively Grassfloor Town.


    On the streets, those who faced the sun had to squint their eyes to see, and those who faced away found the familiar town tinted golden.


    The streets were busy, but the people felt a rare sense of comfort in the air, so they went about their ways with more contentment in their hearts than usual.


    It was one of those unremarkable moments in life that people tended to remember whenever they would feel nostalgic.


    However, the dusk which followed the gentle decline of the sun was anything but unremarkable.


    Stargazers spoke with horror in their eyes, oracles spent a dreamless night, and those pursuing immortality felt a profound sense of ''wrong'' as if a certain sacrament had been violated right before their very eyes, yet they Couldn''t pinpoint what it was.


    They could not understand this sudden, planetwide phenomenon.


    For the briefest of moments, the stars had disappeared from the sky.


    In the least comprehensible vision, the seers of the future beheld a shift of the universe so massive it changed how they viewed the path of an oracle.


    With the powerful insight of the immortal cultivators, they came to discover...that absolutely nothing had changed, no laws had been meddled with, and not a single element of importance was out of order on the planet.


    So what had caused the upheaval? ...Or, Who?


    None knew, except perhaps one cultivator in the Grassfloor Town. But that man had gone insane that very night. He had no answers for anyone.


    *       *         *       *       *          *


    Meng Qi opened his restaurant early the following day, feeling disgruntled. Last night, he had felt especially energetic. So he had decided to do something he had been putting off for a while now.


    He had gone through his ledgers and discovered a huge error in his records. Almost every day for the last few months, enough food to feed a big family had gone missing from his kitchen, with no records of transactions made on the items. It was as if he had never written down the accounts of the transactions.


    The loss was not huge, in all honesty, but it was significant enough to make him enquire.


    Were his workers stealing from the kitchen?


    Before he could make up his mind to question the workers in the kitchen, a horde of customers flooded through the door swiftly, taking seats in an unusually disciplined manner.


    With one look, Meng Qi realized why. These were mercenaries, escorting an oddly dressed man who looked to be in his fifties.


    A foreigner, eh?


    Meng Qi''s nose flared as he smelled the scent of profit to be made so early in the morning.


    The questioning could wait.


    "What may I serve you with, guests?" he said loudly through the commotion.


    The dozen-something mercenaries looked up at him in unison and spoke two words together.


    "Soup! Bread!"


    A common breakfast in these regions. These people were experienced, from the looks of it. They knew they wouldn''t find unpopular food here so early in the morning.


    Meng Qi nodded emphatically and passed the order to the kitchen as he rushed to place the bread that had been prepared beforehand on the tables.


    "Master Zi, anything extra?" said the mercenary sitting the closest to the foreigner.


    The old man looked unsure of himself as he said, "Do you serve tea? The red one."


    Meng Qi usually did not. It wasn''t a part of the menu. But for the money, he nodded and slinked off towards his storeroom.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    There was a bag of month-old leaf extract there, a luxury few enjoyed in these regions. Tea leaves were not hard to find, but processing them properly wasn''t easy.


    Meng Qi prepared the tea himself and carried over the cup on a tasteful tray. When he reentered the chamber, he found a newcomer, a bright-eyed youth, sitting next to the old man, having an enthusiastic exchange.


    "Such a coincidence! I am headed to the Crimson Snow sect as well! We can head out together!" exclaimed the young man.


    "If you want to, sure! Why are you headed there, by the way?" the foreigner replied.


    "They''re recruiting disciples. I got an invitation!"


    The young man pulled out a card from the pouch he was carrying. Meng Qi had never seen an invitation card from the Crimson Snow Sect. He took a long, concentrated look at it.


    The old foreigner, Master Zi nodded vaguely upon seeing the card as he sipped on the tea.


    "Well, that settles it. We''ll go together. The journey isn''t very safe. Stick with my men and you''ll reach the sect unharmed. Can''t let a potential disciple of the sect be harmed if I can help it."


    Master Zi''s decision appeared rather swift. Meng Qi couldn''t help but feel envy. That one invitation card was all it took to make this rich master treat a youth like his kin?


    The Crimson Snow Sect''s influence was like a royal banner in the fight region of this continent. No one dared to challenge it here.


    "Where are you from, child?" asked the leader of the mercenaries once they finished the breakfast.


    "Uh, here! Have lived in this town my whole life."


    The young man''s answer made Meng Qi frown.


    The kid''s face did not seem very familiar.


    Odd. Why is he lying about this?


    But he didn''t voice his thoughts. Because it was time for the customers to pay.


    The money he got put a big smile on his face. The first transaction of the day was enough to wipe off a good portion of the losses he had suffered the last two weeks. These mercenaries had an appetite any businessmen would appreciate!


    Happily, he saw them off, standing at the door and requesting them to visit once more on their way back from the mountains.


    "Uncle Qi, your soup is the best in town. They''ll definitely be back!" the boy shouted from the front of the group.


    "Uncle Qi?" Meng Qi was puzzled once more. How did this kid know his name? Was he really a native of the town like he had claimed?


    "Little Xuhan, why didn''t you help us get a discount if your relationship with the boss is that good?" one of the mercenaries hit the boy in the back playfully.


    "Oh, he doesn''t do discounts. Never. Been buying his stuff for years and even I never got charged a coin less. Uncle Qi got a funny nickname for this-"


    The voices grew inaudible as the distance between them increased. Meng Qi was left on his door, more confounded than ever.


    How did this kid know all that? Meng Qi didn''t know any kid his age named Xuhan...


    Such an odd morning to start the day...


    And then he discovered the mass of purple clouds rolling forward overhead, heading towards the mountains.


    This was not the season for lightning storms. This was the last day of winter!


    Meng Qi shuddered and slinked back inside his restaurant, feeling a bit safer under the shelter of bricks and stones.


    "Are those guys going to be alright? I hope they haven''t rushed too far away. The purple clouds are the absolute worst, striking without making a sound..."


    One of the workers cleaning up the tables voiced his concern.


    Meng Qi didn''t feel as troubled. The old man had given him a spirit stone as the price of his prized tea. That indicated that he was a cultivator. He''d probably know what to do.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "Wait, that doesn''t sound like the storm..." the worker trailed off, freezing in his tracks.


    The ground began to vibrate softly.


    Meng Qi felt his heart palpitate.


    "The mountains. Something probably happened in the mountains. It''s the sound of a beast horde!"


    All the workers rushed out of the restaurant to watch the distant mountains. If the beast horde was angered into heading their way...the town would have a hard time defending itself. Usually, those gargantuan beasts were gentle and cautious, rarely venturing towards human localities. That''s why Meng Qi and his neighbors hadn''t feared any consequences when they constructed their homes and shops a good distance away from the main town.


    But the feared tide of beasts did not come. Everything appeared as normal as ever if one ignored the purple clouds gathering over the mountains.


    Another large group of people came out of the town, passing by their restaurant swiftly. None of them looked familiar.


    More foreigners?


    Meng Qi followed their group for a minute and caught enough flying words to know what was going on.


    These people were headed to the sect as well, all for that disciple recruitment ceremony. They had spent the night in the town and would''ve left much earlier had it not been for the purple clouds. Now that the clouds had moved far ahead, this group was taking the opportunity to cut some distance as fast as possible.


    "Boss!" One of his workers suddenly called.


    "What is it?"


    "Did you hear? Those guys were saying there''s a ghost, or demon of some sort haunting the town."


    "...What?" Meng Qi was stunned.


    "Yeah," his worker reaffirmed with a pale face.


    "All of their rooms got ransacked last night, apparently, even though most of them spent nights separately. The ghost only targeted the foreigners!


    Some of them were from influential families, with mystical talismans and magical protections in their rooms. Some of them hadn''t even slept last night. Nothing worked against the ghost! All the bags, all the hidden pouches were found ransacked out of the blue. But the ghost took nothing except a bottle of pills from one guy!"


    Meng Qi was listening with his mouth open."What kind of pills?" he immediately asked.


    "Healing pills. That guy bought the bottle from Flowerheart Valley City. It was worth 500 spirit stones!"


    Meng Qi felt his guts churn. Whoever could afford pills worth 500 spirit stones could also afford protection magical enough to stop any regular thief.


    Recalling the ghostly discrepancies in his ledgers, Meng Qi felt jittery.

 Chapter 85: Theres A Demon Among Us

    "Pine Town? Never heard of it."


    "There has never been any town with that name around here, young man."


    "Are you sure you got the name right? Because I''ve been living here for two decades and never heard of a place called Pine Town."


    Those were the standard answers they had gotten from the townsfolk and villagers living close to the area where Pine Town had been in.


    It was as if they were the only ones who remembered the existence of the small town. The implications were scary, to say the least.


    Among the three of them, the only one who didn''t look shaken out of wit was Yuen Zhou, something that Han Xuhan noted mentally.


    Thinking back to her behavior since they had met in the Holy Land of Laws and gone through all those thrilling incidents, Han Xuhan had come to realize that Yuen Zhou either had an impenetrable mental fortitude, or she knew something that he and Mu Ran did not.


    Despite the countless ups and downs they had faced, her constant stoic, expressionless demeanor had left a deep impression on him. What had she been relying on that gave her so much confidence? Han Xuhan would''ve liked to know, but he felt that it''d be rude to poke his nose into her business. So he patiently waited for a more suitable moment to have a good ol'' friendly exchange.


    For now, he was busy feeling the slight chill under his skin, goosebumps forming all over his limbs. His body and soul were notifying him:


    Quit courting death! Stop the investigation! Run for the shelter, bitch!


    It was a difficult feat to remain calm right now. Han Xuhan wasn''t particularly scared of a face-to-face battle or a duel of wits, but this?


    ''The unknown is always the scariest''- this particular ancient saying was proving itself to be true in a very pronounced manner. And he did not like this frightening feeling one bit. It reminded him of how vast and mysterious this world of cultivation truly was; that he was nothing but an ant-like being that had gained the intelligence to realize his insignificance.


    So, despite Yuen Zhou''s insistance on further, deeper investigations, Han Xuhan had convinced Mu Ran to head back.


    "If all the people who should have been familiar with the town have forgotten its existence, then why do WE remember it? That, I think, is the most important question right now. Because we are likely to be the last humans who came in contact with them. Perhaps that makes us special, somehow?


    Or have we unknowingly become a target for ''erasure'' as well?


    Maybe the only reason our memories are still intact is because we were inside the Holy Land of Laws, and thus evaded the power that erased the existence of the town? What''s to say that now that we''re out, we won''t be attacked on the way? Or even forget our memories of the town by the time we return to the sect to report the details of the mission?"


    Sitting on the deck of the small boat that they had reserved for the journey back to the sect, Yuen Zhou tried to connect the dots during their hushed discussion.


    "In that case, it''s a good thing that we are already on our way to return back to the sect as fast as possible to avoid the disaster," Mu Ran said.


    "I agree," Han Xuhan added. He didn''t want to end up being cursed or memory-wiped. It sounded like shady business. Moreover, there was one major issue Yuen Zhou had forgotten to add to the bucket list.


    "Sister Zhou, don''t forget to include Shen Kai''s agenda," he said, making Mu Ran''s eyes light up in a realization. Yuen Zhou looked rather confused for a second.


    "Shen Kai? You mean that guy who you think is a demonic cultivator? Your scapegoat?" She asked curiously. Han Xuhan couldn''t understand why she looked so uncertain about accepting this particular piece of detail. His suspicion of the fact that she might know something about the reason behind the disappearance of the town was getting stronger by the second.


    "Yeah, that''s him. From the clues we found in Pine town, it can be theorized that Shen Kai is a member of the demonic cultivators who was using the mortals of the town as their cannon fodder," Mu Ran explained to her while Han Xuhan was staring at her with an inscrutable expression.


    Yuen Zhou''s eyebrows creased. She didn''t remember any demonic factions being able to send their representatives to the Neutral Territory, especially on planets like this one which was a part of the underdeveloped Spatial Sector where none of the bigwigs of the upper ranked worlds dared to step in.


    So where did this demonic cultivator Shen Kai appear from? A rogue faction of cultivators who had veered off into an immoral path? It was hard to decide...


    "Guys, if we''re talking about the demonic cultivators, then Shen Kai is the least of our worries right now," Han Xuhan suddenly came out of his reverie and interrupted the two of them before their doubt-filled conversation could go any further.


    "What do you mean, underling?" Mu Ran asked in puzzlement while Yuen Zhou''s eyes suddenly widened as realization washed over her.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    "Ah, I think sister Zhou has caught up to what I''m trying to say.


    Think about it, boss. Pine Town actually does not exist, or has ceased to exist due to the intervention of some greater powers that we are unable to fathom at the moment. This can assure us of one clue, and that is that there is definitely an extremely powerful cultivator who was inside or near Pine Town for reasons we can''t specify right now. If that is so, then were the demonic cultivators using the denizens of the town as cannon fodder by relying on that powerhouse?"


    This time Mu Ran''s expression contorted in horror as he realized the gravity of the situation.


    "Back then, we theorized that it''s impossible for a normal gathering of a few rogue cultivators to run such a huge operation so smoothly and leave without any traces. What if it was that powerhouse who was in charge of the entire operation? The land of laws is obviously a delicious piece of pie to outsiders. But we all know that powerful cultivators are restricted from entering that place due to the existence of the circle of laws. So, let''s revise our theory a bit and combine all the clues we''ve gathered so far."


    In one breath, Han Xuhan finished explaining his reasoning, which seemed to suck up the temperature inside the deck by a couple of degrees. Rubbing off the goosebumps on his arms, Xuhan slowly reconstructed what had happened in the backstage while they were inside the Holy Land.


    "Firstly, the portal leading to the land of laws opens up, giving off whatever hints of its existence that attracted cultivators from all over the place like insects toward a lamp in the dark.


    "Second, the demonic cultivators come into the picture. And as their leader, a powerful expert, cannot get in, he uses the people of the town nearby as a source of cannon fodders and instructs his disciples to help him explore the world fragment.


    "Third, with the continuous disappearances of the denizens of the town, the news reaches our sect, which is in charge of protecting this area from normal and supernatural threats. So they issue a mission for the outer court disciples, probably without realizing the level of threat this incident carries.


    "Fourth, we come here as investigators, something that they might have already predicted, and we fall into the trap they set for us by manipulating the town chief. We leave with Shen Kai, a demonic cultivator who leads us to the woods and ambush us thinking that he can subdue us and use us as cannon fodders too. A cannon fodder cultivator is much more useful than a normal human after all.


    "Fifth, Shen Kai fails, runs away and informs his master who should have been hiding near Pine Town to watch over the process. A few hours later, many cultivators get kicked out by me, some of whom were likely to be demonic cultivators as well. They all inform their master about what is happening inside.


    "Sixth, finally tired of these scuffles and afraid of leaving their own traces, the powerful demonic expert wipes off the entire town, possibly because it contained important clues related to them that couldn''t be easily removed, or maybe there are bigger secrets involved here that we do not know yet.


    "Now, except the three of us who were out of his reach, all the mortals have been memory-wiped, and all traces of the town has evaporated into thin air."


    Holding up the six fingers he had raised to emphasize his points during the explanation, Han Xuhan took a breath and gazed at his two companions steadily.


    Mu Ran looked intimidated, a natural response that he expected to see. Gauging their reactions was one of the reasons why he had been so verbal about his opinions.


    And as he had planned, his speech did bring out the one oddity among the three of them.


    Yuen Zhou had not looked scared at all while he had been speaking. Instead, she was frowning hard, seemingly deep in thought. Han Xuhan didn''t waste the chance to swoop in. This was his only chance to strike.


    "Martial sister Zhou, you look like you''ve managed to figure something out...? Please feel free to share even if it is nothing but a guess or a hunch."


    Tugged out of her thoughts, Yuen Zhou silently met his eyes reproachfully for a moment before she cleared her throat.


    "There is a certain legend that I''ve heard before, about extremely powerful cultivators with unfathomable abilities."


    Han Xuhan and Mu Ran attentively listened to her. Mu Ran was genuinely curious, not realizing the undercurrents flowing beneath their hushed discussion. Han Xuhan, as one of the people manipulating the discussion indirectly, understood that unless Yuen Zhou wished to harm them, she was likely to tell the truth, albeit in a roundabout manner to ward off anyone''s suspicions. So his attention on her was even more intense.


    "The legend describes a strange power of illusions. A power that can enable one to create a substitute reality that can integrate with the main world and give off the impression of being completely real. Once the illusion ends, all traces of the illusion fades from the real world, including even memories and similar vague concepts."


    "You''re guessing that Pine Town might have been a similar illusion?" Xuhan asked inquisitively.


    "It''s just a guess, to be honest," Yuen Zhou said rather uncomfortably.


    "Remember those mortals who became zombies after coming into contact with the fog? While I was inside the platform for the third test, I sensed my mental connections with half of them vanish strangely. It was as if those zombies never existed, to begin with. If the expert in your theory was unable to reach within the Holy Land, it shouldn''t have happened. The only way the disappearance of the zombies can be explained is by following the logic that they were illusory beings from the start, created by the powerful cultivator to act as realistic cannon fodder, and we all were fooled into thinking that they were real due to our low cultivation level."


    The new information offered by Yuen Zhou changed Xuhan''s perspective of their current predicament again. But before he could form a response and speak, Mu Ran cut in.


    "But if it''s really an illusory town that never existed previously, why the sect would acknowledge it as a town under its jurisdiction? A town cannot just pop out from nowhere, right?" Mu Ran interrupted her with a rather sound logic of his own.


    Han Xuhan applauded his approach mentally.


    That''s right boss! Ask the right questions and shift her attention on to you! I don''t want to go toe-to-toe with someone of her caliber yet!


    "Indeed, that''s what I''ve been pondering since martial brother Xuhan proposed his theory, " Yuen Zhou replied, passing the ball back to Xuhan in a slippery manner.


    With both Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou looking at him attentively, Han Xuhan rubbed his temples and tried to mend his theory using the new piece of info.


    "Guys, what if...there''s a mole in the sect? A demonic cultivator who pretends to be a righteous person in front of others, wields considerable power over the administrative branch, and works as a high-level spy?"

 Chapter 86: Two Golden Thighs To Hug

    "A mole? That''s quite unlikely, martial brother. If the demonic expert in your theory is as powerful as we think, he wouldn''t need to cooperate with a mole to justify the existence of the town to the sect. It would still be suspicious, not to mention attracting unnecessary attention over such a long period of time. The portal had revealed itself quite recently, but the town has existed here for a much longer time.


    The only reasonable way to explain the existence of the illusory town is by following my guess. Maybe a powerful expert was in seclusion here, and the town was the manifestation of his cultivation technique. Maybe it was the demonic expert in your theory, or another old powerhouse. Regardless, our movements seems to have disturbed their plans somehow and made them end their seclusion, retracting the illusory town and its people from wherever they were at that time."


    Yuen Zhou refuted his theory nimbly, making Xuhan do a double take. He had not expected to lose in a logical argument. But her theory did fit the situation more neatly than his own.


    This was also a good thing for him. Ever since Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou had realized the depths of his scheming in the Holy Land of laws, the two of them had become much warier of him, displaying a tight-lipped attitude whenever he was around. It made Han Xuhan feel like the golden thighs he had worked so hard to hug were slowly slipping out of his grasp.


    A few dumb mistakes like the one just now would probably lower their suspicions regarding his character a bit. But suddenly appearing too dumb would probably backfire on him and make Yuen Zhou, the more perceptive among the duo, realize his intentions.


    ''I need to act more like a lovable airhead!'' Han Xuhan made this resolve in his heart and started planning the details of his plan to hug those golden thighs harder.


    Oh golden thighs~


    Never gonna give you up!


    Never gonna let you go...


    "That''s enough headache-inducing theories for now. Our main priority should be reaching the sect as fast as possible. It doesn''t matter who it was that wiped out the town or created such an illusory world. If they discover that some weaklings still remember the town, I don''t think they''ll be pleased."


    Mu Ran finally couldn''t bear the mind-bogglingly complicated discussion that practically bordered on baseless fairy tales and put his foot down on it stubbornly.


    Han Xuhan and Yuen Zhou stopped their discussion temporarily, each of them delving into their own world of thoughts.


    The boat moved along the curving river, snaking its way through the countless mountains and plains littering the region. The sun was about to move westward, signaling the approach of the evening. The silence in the middle of a river was distinctly different from the silence on the ground. The boatmen did what they were paid to do and rowed with all of their might. Other than the occasional sound of the water splashing around the boat, the silent atmosphere was an enjoyable treat, especially after the hectic experiences of the last few days. It gave Xuhan a peaceful time-out to think back to his recent experiences.


    Han Xuhan''s stamina had hit an all-time low ever since he had used the vitality-augmenting law fragment to speed up his sprint. Even the argument just now was making him feel tired. He had really made quite the loss during this venture outside the sect. His exploding knives were nearly used up, his weapons had been lost, the emerald orbs he had collected from the land of laws were all drained... He was almost broke right now.


    Feeling an imaginary pain in his chest, he moved from his position inside the boat and fumbled around with the baggage he was in charge of. From the mess, he took out his personal pouch and decided to....try fishing, ahem.


    "Sigh...my treasured knife set. Almost all of them are gone now. Damn it! they were so expensive," he said loudly enough for Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou to hear.


    Pulling the pouch inside out, he took out a thin rope from within. It was the rope that Qian Yun and his gang of puppetized cultivators had used to tie the three of them up. Han Xuhan had never intended to part with it as soon as he had realized that it was a magically enhanced equipment. Back when they had gotten out of the rope with the help of the cultivators outside the portal, Xuhan had stuffed it inside his robe.


    Sneakily pushing it aside as if its existence did not register in his mind, Han Xuhan began lamenting his losses again in a sad, tearful voice.


    "I thought that Holy Land of laws would contain some precious treasures and cool stuff. I took so many risks and spent so many consumable treasures. But such irony...


    "Who could have predicted that all I would get in return would be a slave stamp on my dao base, and some injuries which are probably going to cost me hundreds of spirit stones?


    "Heavens...why do you hate a poor little ant like me so much? Why?


    Why do you insist on taking away my resources like this?


    Why ?"


    As he continued his aggrieved bemoaning, Yuen Zhou and Mu Ran exchanged an awkward look between themselves. Yuen Zhou easily saw through Han Xuhan''s light ''maneuver''. But the same couldn''t be said for Mu Ran, who looked quite touched by Xuhan''s tearful complaints.


    "Don''t cry, underling. This was only our first mission. Once we report it back to the sect''s authorities, we''d surely get some remuneration. Strengthen your heart!" He patted Xuhan on the back, trying to console him.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Han Xuhan, who was busy trying to force out some tears, instantly turned to look at him with a gloomy gaze.


    What the fuck did this guy mean by ''only our first mission'' ?


    Han Xuhan wasn''t planning on letting there be a second, third, or fourth mission!


    "Boss, what are you going to report? We entered the land of laws on our own will. We both knew that it had nothing to do with our original mission which should have ended as soon as we realized what had happened to the mortals who went inside the foggy area. Logically speaking, this mission was already beyond our capabilities to investigate as soon as Shen Kai came into the equation. If we divulge these details truthfully, do you really think the sect will compensate us? Instead, they''re more likely to investigate our real motives and punish us for overstepping our boundaries by not reporting the abnormality as soon as we detected the signs."


    ". . ."


    Han Xuhan''s words rendered Mu Ran speechless.


    Indeed, it was he himself who insisted on entering the land of laws despite Xuhan''s persuasions. He had even asked Xuhan to keep that part of their deal a secret from the sect''s authorities.


    "Sigh...I''ve made a loss of at least five hundred spirit stones this time. What a disaster! I got the shortest end of the stick. I could''ve brought a whole volume of a new cultivation technique and still have some left with that amount of money..." Han Xuhan said out loud.


    Yuen Zhou, who seemed to have caught onto what he was trying to do, hid a smirk and tried to mess up his scheme.


    "But martial brother, is your life not worth much more to you? Five hundred spirit stones were enough to ensure your safety inside such a perilous place where we were pitted against a soul reformation realm cultivator at the very least. You should be grateful that you got such a good deal. Five hundred spirit stones are nothing when compared to the value of our lives !"


    But the moment she refuted him, she felt that she had acknowledged the fact that his five hundred spirit stones worth weapons had saved their lives. She was trying to poke holes in his logic, but she ended up highlighting a part that she should have glossed over.


    True to her suspicions, Xuhan''s eyes lit up with ''innocent glee'' the moment her words sank in. He looked so serious about his ''scheme'' that Yuen Zhou could only give up all hopes of thwarting it. It wasn''t as if she was against what he was trying to do. Personally, she knew it''d been difficult even for her to get out of the land of laws alive. She had been caught unprepared, and the backlash of losing a huge portion of her undead army had affected her pretty seriously.


    So she stayed silent as Xuhan took the chance to dish out his ''finisher'' move.


    "Exactly, martial sister! Those five hundred spirit stones saved our lives! I guess they did contribute a lot to the mission, right boss?"


    Mu Ran, the innocent lad who had been indirectly reminded by Xuhan''s logic that his own stubbornness was the reason behind Xuhan''s massive loss, was busy feeling sympathy for his poor underling. Hearing Xuhan''s sudden question, he nodded emphatically.


    "Of course, Xuhan! I must agree that you did quite a marvelous job of using your resources in a timely manner. If I had any ways to compensate you myself, I would!"


    As it was his nature, Mu Ran instantly comforted his underling. He liked to think that he was a just, honest man full of integrity. How could he refuse to acknowledge his underling''s contribution? He clearly remembered making a deal with his underling to compare their contributions if they found any treasures inside the land of laws and needed to divide it between themselves. It was Xuhan who had selflessly proposed the terms of their fair deal, leaving an impactful impression on Mu Ran.


    Han Xuhan''s eyes instantly glowed like bulbs. This was it! The moment he had been waiting for!


    "Boss, actually you don''t need to pay me any spirit stones at all if you wanted to compensate my losses a bit," he said hesitantly. From the corner of his eyes, he noticed Yuen Zhou shaking her head with an amused expression on her face, much like a mother watching her children squabble between themselves playfully. It suited her demeanor, but a girl his age looking at them with an expression like that sent chills down his spine.


    Meanwhile, Mu Ran looked quite puzzled as he tried to figure out how else he could compensate for five hundred spirit stones.


    "Without spirit stones? How?" He asked Xuhan.


    "Well, you could compensate my losses easily with a small cultivation technique, boss!"


    "Eh?"


    "Hehe, I know for a fact that you had actually learned the language of laws before you entered the circle of laws, boss. How else could you decipher and write down your own law fragment so fast and leave the normal people like us in the dust?"


    "...Well-"


    "What''s more, I have already been severely affected by the infiltration of my dao base. So one way or another, I''d have to learn the language of laws properly, for which, I''d need to look for a cultivation technique related to the language. The only place I know right now where such techniques exist is the third stage of the land of laws. Seeing how you aced your test in the third stage and returned outside unscathed, you should have gotten the related cultivation manual, right boss?"


    Mu Ran opened his mouth to refute Xuhan''s torrent of logic. But then he remembered that he couldn''t just give away his secret by telling him what he had done within the third test hall.


    Honestly speaking, he actually had all five types of law technique manuals. The dragon inside his consciousness had provided them a long time ago to prepare him for the face-off against the holy child of the land of laws. If giving one to Xuhan was enough to compensate for the action of saving his life, Mu Ran did not find it an unfair deal.


    Moreover, his underling was still way too weak to help him in direct battles and risky adventures. The law techniques would suit him quite well in his current situation and bring out Xuhan''s potential...


    "You''re right, Xuhan! I actually should have thought of this before. In the third test, I did get the manual for the force-type law techniques."


    Smiling benevolently at Xuhan, Mu Ran patted him on the back again confidently.


    "Then it is decided. As your boss, I will not let it be said that I have ever treated you harshly. Since you were the one who made the biggest loss, I''ll compensate you with the technique you need so much, and we shall call it even."


    Han Xuhan beamed at him gleefully.


    This was the power of a golden thigh!


    The dark mood that had fallen over them ever since their visit to Pine Town had been lifted at some point during their conversation. The spooky feeling was still there, bubbling beneath the surface. But Xuhan was much happier now, and he decided to focus on this new feeling. Looking at Yuen Zhou''s subtle smirk, she was doing the same. And Mu Ran looked so proud of himself that Xuhan doubted if he remembered their current predicament.


    Life was good when one had golden thighs to hug.

 Chapter 87: In This World, You Should Always Have A Will Prepared

    "Guys, you two remember the script we''ve prepared, right? We can''t afford to make a mistake, remember that. And boss, it''s better if you don''t say much. Let your underling do these miscellaneous jobs for you," Xuhan hissed to the two of them as they hurriedly rushed toward the mountain peak where the administration of missions was handled.


    They had reached the sect just at daybreak, their boat stopping at a junction in the small tributary river near the sect''s borders. After that surprisingly safe journey, their nerves were on tenterhooks. The three of them had run like the wind from there.


    Han Xuhan had finally realized the real benefits of being a member of a sect. Cultivation resources and manuals that were usually glorified in typical xianxia stories were not the best things about a sect. It was the protection and the sense of united strength it offered that topped the rest of the benefits.


    Where would he run to, screaming for help, if he did not have a badass sect to back him up?


    Is this how those arrogant young masters feel when the protagonist chases them?


    By the time they had reached the top of the mountain peak, the sky had become clear eastward, silhouettes of the endless plains and hilly terrain revealing themselves on the horizon, almost too unrealistically beautiful.


    Looking at the eye-catching scene, Han Xuhan sighed. Who could guess that beneath that beautiful exterior, terrifying powers were running rampant?


    The task administrators were active 24/7. So they easily found a senior disciple sitting inside the building where missions were assigned. He was either meditating serenely or dozing off on duty, it was hard to say.


    After a few taps on the desk in front of him, he opened his eyes suddenly, looking a bit dazed.


    "Hu-eh? Is my shift over? It still looks dark outside..."


    "Senior brother, we are here to report about our mission," Han Xuhan said politely, interrupting his scattered musings.


    "Mission details? You''ve finished your tasks?"


    "...Sort of, yes."


    "And you couldn''t wait till sunrise to report it?" He asked with a sour expression.


    "The task we were assigned to led to the discovery of a huge conspiracy, senior brother. The whole thing involves multiple powerhouses beyond the soul reformation realm, and I believe the authorities of the sect need to learn about the incident immediately. Or a calamity can happen anytime."


    "..."


    The room was silent for a long few moments as the senior disciple stared at the three of them in incomprehension. Then mumbling some unintelligible words, he stood up and gestured at the three of them to follow his lead.


    Behind the building that dealt with the tasks and missions, there was a moderate-sized living quarter belonging to the elder in charge of administration. The senior disciple entered the lushly decorated house while the trio waited outside anxiously.


    A few moments later, the senior disciple came out with a rather puzzled expression.


    "The elder has ordered you to enter a few moments later so that he can compose himself. Give him the details as clearly as you can and don''t hide anything...Or there will be consequences. "


    But the three of them were running low on patience. Mu Ran pretty much forced his way in, and the senior disciple was still too sleepy to put up an effort to keep them outside.


    The room that greeted their sight inside was not large, but it had all the equipments for comfort a cultivator could ask for. Thick rugs, cushions, a small hearthfire burning in a corner, a sturdy desk, a woman behind the curtains trying to sneak out through the window, beautiful paintings on the walls, a messy bed on which a familiar, handsome man sat with a dumbfounded expression on his face, his hands clutching a quilt over his lower half.


    The elder must have been cultivating arduously...


    What else can a man ask for?


    Clearing his throat, Han Xuhan stepped forward, not giving him the time to recover from his shock.


    "Elder Mu, good morning! I hope we haven''t intruded at an inappropriate time!"


    "...Nope!" Elder Mu said staunchly. "As you can see, I was sleeping hard on my bed, ALONE. You have intruded upon nothing!"


    "I see," Han Xuhan said, his eyes locked onto the charming silhouette slipping outside the window in a manner that boasted of volumes of experience.


    Would it be too inhumane if he exploited the elder over this little secret relationship?


    Would it be feasible?


    Would it be profitable?


    An awkward cough from Yuen Zhou brought him back from a very dangerous line of thinking, and he quickly recounted their experiences to the elder smoothly, hiding what needed to be hidden.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    When the elder heard the phrase ''purification process'', which Xuhan had heard Qian Yun say under the control of Brother BB, his eyes narrowed into slits, his expression hardening. It was apparent that he had guessed what the process would result into.


    Without batting an eyelid, Xuhan glossed over his own schemes and theories, crediting their escape to sheer luck and the power of friendship, making out Qian Yun to be a tragic hero who had struggled with the mind-controlling asshat Jin Tuyi to the bitter end, letting them take the chance to run away.


    One could say that he had no reason to downplay his own contributions. But right now, Han Xuhan still hadn''t let go of his suspicions that there might be a mole in the sect. Attracting useless attention right now was hardly a wise choice.


    Besides, he felt pity for that puppetized guy. Declaring him to be an outright villain would leave a bad taste in his mouth. So Xuhan did his best to convince the elder that Qian Yun was mostly innocent.


    Yuen Zhou and Mu Ran silently stood behind him, nodding and echoing his words from time to time. They had practiced their script half a dozen times. It went quite smoothly, and the elder''s face looked extremely grave after hearing about the fate of Pine town and their guesses on the disappearance.


    "I''ll immediately inform all the elders and the sect master himself. Is there anything else I should know?"


    His gaze bore into Xuhan''s skull, making him suspect that the elder might have guessed that he was hiding some information. Swallowing hard, Han Xuhan tentatively threw out a hook he had been preparing for a while.


    "Elder Mu, I''m not sure how to say this...but can you guarantee that I will not be penalized in any way if it''s proven that I am an innocent person who got caught up in the other party''s scheme and ended up in a compromising position?"


    The elder''s eyebrows shot upward as he crawled backwards on his bed, keeping a good hold on his quilt. Subtle qi fluctuations appeared around him.


    "What have you done? " He asked gravely.


    Han Xuhan nervously exchanged a glance with Yuen Zhou and Mu Ran.


    "Elder Mu, while we were trying to advance past the circle of laws within that world fragment, my dao base was infiltrated by a strange influence that apparently works like a seal. It makes me permanent disciple of the Holy Land of Laws. I''m just afraid that it might affect my mind somehow and make me a threat to the sect."


    From their discussions on the boat, Han Xuhan had understood that these types of infiltration were incredibly tough to remove. The texts had already become a part of his dao tower, forming an invisible, vaguely existent seal that even he could not detect.


    Han Xuhan wanted these things gone, this infestation cut off from its roots. But when he had asked his martial siblings, both of them said that they weren''t in a hurry to remove the seals on their own dao towers with the help of others. Although they hadn''t stated anything explicitly, Han Xuhan read between the lines; these two secretive siblings of his did not want others snooping around their dao towers, not unless they fell into dire straits.


    And this had provided him with the prime opportunity to farm some trust points. He had boldly volunteered to be the guinea pig, saying that he would ask the sect for help in removing the seal on his dao tower. If it turned out to be successful and safe, Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou could try it as well!


    His plan to sacrifice himself had left his martial siblings looking quite touched, not that Han Xuhan thought of it as a sacrifice. Unlike his martial siblings, he had no huge secret to hide inside his body, mind, or soul. He didn''t care about outsiders snooping around his dao tower so long as they managed to accomplish what he had asked from them.


    It was a win-win situation for him either way. How could he not take the opportunity?


    This was why he hid the fact that Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou''s dao tower too had been inflitrated by the alphabets of the language of law.


    Hearing his confession, the elder sighed with relief.


    "Ah, even if it isn''t something that I excel in, our sect master can probably fix it. Come, accompany me to the sect master''s quarters. He can examine you."


    Finally standing up from his previous awkward sitting posture, the elder removed the quilt from his lower body, revealing loosely worn trousers.


    The three of them followed him as he rushed out of the room. While jogging down the mountain, the elder lightly coughed and turned to look at them.


    "About what you saw in my room..."


    "Don''t worry elder Mu. We are all old enough to understand what was happening. You don''t have to explain. In fact, if you ever need advice on how to have sneaky relationships, feel free to come chat with me. I can be considered somewhat of an expert on this," Mu Ran answered with an understanding smile.


    "...Boss, I don''t think Elder Mu was trying to say that," Han Xuhan whispered.


    "What?" Mu Ran asked in puzzlement.


    Han Xuhan sighed and returned the knowing look to Elder Mu who looked like he was about to explode.


    "Elder, we definitely saw nothing inside your room. You were sleeping hard on your bed, ALONE. We did not see any woman slipping through the window, neither did we see you trying to hide your bone-"


    "YES, THANK YOU!"


    Nearly bursting out in fury, Elder Mu harrumphed and turned around, stomping his way to the sect master''s residence.


    The sect master, Xuan Zi, was thankfully awake and alone when they reached the mountain he lived on. It was one of the smallest mountains in the sect, nearly inconspicuous if one missed how meticulously the entire mountain had been given an artificial design. Every inch of the soil on it looked like it had been accounted for and placed there by someone with mild Obsessive-compulsive disorder.


    Upon hearing that there might be a mysterious, powerful cultivator who had wiped everyone''s memories of Pine town, along with the town itself, Xuan Zi''s expression flickered for a moment. But it soon went back to its normal placid state, a perfect poker face.


    "Children, you do not need to worry about any such threats reaching you as long as you reside within our sect. Our sect is not something any random powerful expert can steamroll over. Rest assured, even if they dare to show up with ill intentions, they will have to pass through me first."


    Sect master Xuan Zi looked as tall as a mountain and as majestic as a titan as he spoke those words in an elegant fashion. Behind him, the rising crimson sun on the sky seemed to burn with the spirit of a red goliath in all of its glory. It was such a picturesque scene that it looked edited.


    Sect master is so cool!


    "Of course, if the enemy is more powerful than me, which is a valid possibility considering your descriptions, then we''ll all end up being very, very, dead. So make sure to write down your wills and whatnot. I did mine decades ago," sect master Xuan Zi suddenly added as an afterthought, a very realistic remark that made Han Xuhan remember that this unnecessarily realistic cultivation world had a tendency to go the opposite way of the typical tropes halfway.


    The sun behind Xuan Zi now looked more like a bloody flag signaling tragedy. His titanic aura was instantly reduced, becoming as fake as the mountain he lived on.


    Han Xuhan''s deep feeling of admiration was shredded brutally at that moment.

 Chapter 88: Businessman Xuhan Strikes Again!

    "Now come here and let me check what kind of seal has been imprinted on your dao tower. We cannot leave such a huge risk unexamined," Xuan Zi said with a relaxed expression, beckoning Xuhan forward.


    Han Xuhan felt a smirk forcing its way onto his face. It was quite hard to keep the feeling of victory down when the hook he had thrown out got him his target so smoothly. This rarely happened.


    Han Xuhan had experienced first-hand how much of a greedy money-grabber the authorities of the sect were. If he had kept that detail of the seal a secret and tried to remove it secretly, it would have definitely cost him a small fortune. Downplaying the threat the seal posed would bring him no benefits at all. Even though there was a chance that the seal might not be removable and the sect might try something brutal to cut off such a threat, it was the best decision to come clean and confess, pleading his innocence instead of ending up getting caught red-handed if the seal resulted into something troublesome.


    Who knew how insidious the usage of the seal could get? If the holy child Jin Tuyi managed to find a way to remotely control his mind too, it''d spell the end for Han Xuhan. Getting it examined as fast as possible was the best course of action for now.


    But this was not even the biggest perk his current scheme offered. It was the fact that over-exaggerating the threat of the seal would make the sect take the challenge of removing the seal seriously, making them feel like they were dealing with a bigger issue than just Xuhan''s personal safety.


    Would the sect originally care so much for the trashiest outer court disciple, to the point where the sect master himself would take the responsibility of removing a semi-dangerous seal from his dao tower?


    Of course not!


    But right now, Han Xuhan had managed to make that situation come true, completely skipping the arduous process of saving up spirit stones for the removal of the seal and looking for an expert who''d take on the task with utmost seriousness.


    Now with his honest admission, coupled with his apparent reliance on the sect, could be used as a super effective propaganda material for the sect in order to brainwa-no-cultivate the minds of the fresh-faced young disciples.


    Han Xuhan could already visualize the scene in his mind.


    Sect master Xuan Zi would stand majestically in front of the new generations of the disciples, briefing them of Han Xuhan''s experiences masterfully, after the end of which he would shout something along the lines of-


    ''See children? Apes together, apes strong! So trust your sect and always be honest with the authorities! Do not hide secrets from your elders! Your sect will always back you up as long as you maintain an attitude similar to our model disciple Han Xuhan!''


    It was unnecessary to say that he would not need to pay for his treatment now, and the three of them might even receive some rewards to be displayed as an example. It was simply far too alluring a maneuver to the authorities. As long as any single one of them used their brain cells, they''d be able to make use of this opportunity.


    As sect master Xuan Zi put his hands on Xuhan''s temples and a strand of his qi entered his meridians, his consciousness seemed to sink into his body with it. A foreign sensation of being observed filled Han Xuhan''s senses immediately. It was an inexplicably creepy feeling.


    A couple of mind-numbing, tense minutes later, Xuan Zi withdrew his hands with a frown on his face. Han Xuhan''s heart sank.


    "Child, the seal was linked directly with the knowledge you''ve learned, which has already become a part of your Dao tower. Without directly harming your cultivation and memories, it isn''t possible to remove it," explained Xuan Zi worriedly.


    "But..."


    Xuhan wanted to protest, insist that there should be another way. But he knew he had never been the lucky sort.


    "Do you want it gone even with those risks involved?" Xuan Zi asked.


    "...No."


    Han Xuhan didn''t want his already weak cultivation and messy memories to be damaged further.


    "Ah, you don''t need to look so glum, boy. I''ve examined the seal closely. And if my experiences are worth something, then I can say for sure that the seal has no way to affect your mind or body negatively. It is more similar to a cause-and-effect type technique that relies on certain conditions. In your case the trigger should be harmful intentions toward the Holy Land of Laws. Just do your best to cultivate a feeling of intimacy toward that place, and you''ll be fine."


    Han Xuhan''s heart happily skipped a beat. So it wasn''t that bad! There was still hope for him!


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "As for removing the seal, the safest way for now is to cultivate hard and break through to the soul reformation level. The heavenly tribulation has various types of tests. During the tribulation, your dao base will undergo a refinement. Any impurities, unwanted, underdeveloped techniques, and infiltrations would be destroyed at that time. So I suggest you focus on your cultivation and strive to do your best."


    The sect master''s constantly shifting aura was hard to keep track of. He had gone from being super cool to unreliably pessimistic to a reliable senior within the span of a minute. He gave off the impression of a slippery eel rather than an old uncle.


    But Han Xuhan was very satisfied with the results. Other than the possibility that an overpowered villain might come looking for them, there was nothing to be worried about temporarily. He just had to lie low for a while, which was something he was hoping for anyway. A break would be quite a treat.


    "You two, is there anything else that you would like to add?"


    Looking at Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou who were standing behind Xuhan calmly, Xuan Zi gestured at them to speak.


    "No, sect master. Our situations are more or less similar to martial brother Han Xuhan," Yuen Zhou answered him immediately, following the script they had devised together earlier.


    "Then you may take your leave. Return to your residences and rest for a while. I''ll send a message to the task administration authorities to re-evaluate your rewards. Your performance was exemplary. You deserve better," Xuan Zi nodded with an understanding smile.


    "Do we really not need to worry about the Pine Town incident ?" Mu Ran asked hesitantly. Among the three, he had the biggest secrets, as well as the least amount of time on his hands. He couldn¡¯t wait for the danger period to pass before he set his foot out of the sect again. He needed lots of resources, for which completing risky tasks was a must. Wasting his time hiding in the sect was not an option for him.


    Xuan Zi gave him a piercing look, as if he was aware of Mu Ran''s impatience brewing under his calm expression.


    "It doesn''t matter whether you worry about it or not. If the expert is sufficiently powerful, they''ll find a way to remove your memories regardless of the consequences of messing with our sect. But now that you¡¯ve informed the rest of us, don''t you think he would find it a pointless endeavor to keep hounding you? Rest assured, child. What''s done is done. I doubt an expert would go through that much trouble at this point."


    Xuan Zi''s lighthearted attitude was rather difficult to trust. But it was evident that Elder Mu believed in him, judging by the man''s approving expression. Mu Ran decided to take the leap of faith and set aside his worries.


    "Then there is nothing else for me to say," he said to Xuan Zi with a short bow.


    At this moment, Han Xuhan cleared his throat and attracted the sect master''s attention.


    "Master Xuan Zi, We have a small request."


    Mu Ran''s eyes wildly shifted about, making contact with Yuen Zhou''s amused gaze. He was not particularly sure of what to feel about this part of Xuhan''s plan. It felt distinctly wrong to him for some reason.


    "Oh? Do tell," Xuan Zi answered curiously.


    "My martial brother Mu Ran managed to win a cultivation manual from the test grounds. We wanted to verify it and see if it has similar effects of invading the practitioner''s dao base. If sect master would do the honors..."


    Han Xuhan trailed off with an innocent smile. This was the most important part of the script to him. The previous conversations and actions had all laid the groundwork for this one moment.


    Sect master Xuan Zi did not refuse, and held his hand out to Xuhan. Han Xuhan reached into a pocket of his robe, taking out the manual Mu Ran had written down from memory in the boat ( What the fuck was up with everyone memorizing these manuals word by word? Was he the only one who didn¡¯t delve into this horrific practice? ).


    There were hundreds of different symbols written down on the stack of papers, as well as their explanations and lots of diagrams that explained how to create, detect and use force-type law fragments.


    The entire stack was thicker than any manual Han Xuhan had seen in his short life of being a cultivator. But Xuan Zi finished studying it within ten minutes. It did not even look like he was seriously trying to examine it, but Xuhan had learned to look past his lackadaisical attitude by now. Moreover, it didn¡¯t matter to him whether there was a trap or not, because the next part of his plans would dump the entire responsibility on Master Xuan Zi smoothly, whether the sect master liked it or not.


    "Nope. As far as I can tell, it''s impossible for a mere cultivation manual to create external seals linked to a physically existing place or object. The dao tower is made mainly using your imagination and spiritual powers. The Holy Land of Laws, which is a fragmented world, cannot just link itself to you via a technique. The reason your dao tower was infiltrated back in there is because there were hidden fragments in the circle of laws that worked under the condition that anyone who used its sources to fuel their law fragments would activate them and make them place a seal on the cultivator. I''m not trying to brag, but I have lots of experience in creating similar entrapment mechanisms," Xuan Zi remarked, his expressionless face finally showing a crack of amusement.


    Was the last part of the sentence really something to be proud of?


    Han Xuhan shook his head and decided to reel his hook in now that the fish had caught the bait. This was no time for distractions.


    "That''s splendid, sect master! If I might add, we want to contribute to the sect wholeheartedly and sell this cultivation manual to the disciples of the sect. Now that we''ve gotten your assurance, our hearts can be free of any worries while we do so. Thank you so much! We shall immediately head to the sect''s archives and file an application to let this be displayed on the appropriate floor of the pavilion. Please do approve of it when your signature is required on the application!"


    From the start, this was what he had been aiming for. It did not matter whether the sect master was deceiving him when he said that there was nothing wrong with the cultivation manual. If this cultivation manual found its way to the sect''s archives, then the sect master would be forced to make sure that his assurances held true. After all, it would be ridiculous if the cultivation manual turned all the disciples who practiced it into slave disciples of the land of laws...


    Han Xuhan had always wondered why protagonists in cultivation novels were so stupid, keeping their numerous cultivation techniques secrets when they could just sell them and become rich as hell. He, Han Xuhan, would never waste such an awesome business opportunity!

 Chapter 89: Connection In High Ranks Makes Business Easy

    Contrary to his expectations, sect master Xuan Zi gave Han Xuhan a look full of approval upon hearing his proposal.


    "Child, you have a great aptitude for business, it seems. Not many can get past their inhibition regarding their personal cultivation techniques. Few would be bold enough to sell their hard-earned cultivation manual to their peers. I like children like you the most; kids who can see past their narrow vision, overcome the superstitions of their era, and catch the opportunities floating by! This is a commendable mindset. Keep it up!"


    Enthusiastically, he patted Xuhan on the head and promised to sign the application.


    A bit dumbfounded, Han Xuhan left the sect master''s mountain in a daze with Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou alongside him.


    All three of them had been through way too much excitement in the last couple of days. It was time for some rest and recreation. Bidding each other goodbyes, the three left for their own huts on different parts of the Black Sheep mountain peak.


    Their lessons on cultivation were not as frequent as in the initial period since most of them had grasped the basics. So they hadn''t missed any during their mission outside. With the small amount of free time ahead, Han Xuhan planned out what he was going to do in the next few days.


    He had to visit the infirmary to get his current weakened body examined, as well as attend a therapy session to eradicate possible mental demons. He also had to make sure Zhanxian was not freaking out in his recently redesigned dao tower. That skeleton was really a disgrace to the undead race.


    After dusting off his room and getting another couple of hours of sleep, Xuhan woke up, famished and weak in the knees. He didn''t have the heart to visit the sect''s kitchens. Fumbling around a bit, he found half a piece of dried, salted fish and some not-so-fresh vegetables. He had bought them just before they had left for the mission.


    Well, as long as they did not give him diarrhea...


    Using the expensive spirit stone fuelled stove in one corner of his hut, Han Xuhan cooked some soup and gulped the gruesome result down without hesitation.


    Food had a certain taste added to them when cooked by oneself. So it wasn''t that hard to feel immensely proud of himself, satisfied with the quality of his meal afterward, basking in the afterglow and letting his thoughts wander peacefully.


    It was time.


    Han Xuhan got up, cleaned his face, took the stack of papers Mu Ran had given him, and walked out of the hut with determined steps. On his way, he passed by Mu Ran''s hut and asked him to tag along to the archives to file their application. Mu Ran waved a hand at him, seemingly busy contemplating something complicated.


    "I''m in the middle of an enlightenment, underling. I''ll go there once it''s finished. My vast experience tells me that it should last for only half an hour more."


    Feeling a familiar stuffy sensation all over his heart, Xuhan took his leave.


    He had thought of some issues that might crop up in the near future. And he had never been the sort to wait for shit to happen before he made his move. Acting passive in a xianxia world was something only protagonists could manage. As a nobody, Xuhan had to stay active and prepare for misfortune ahead of time.


    The sun had gone downward by a notch, signaling the approach of the evening. Han Xuhan''s emaciated figure drew quite a large amount of attention in the daylight as he walked over to the archives confidently.


    "Look, isn''t that brother Xuhan from the Bullshit mountain peak?"


    "You''re retarded if you think the reputation of the Black Sheep Peak is gonna stay the same with a talent like sister Zhou and that weirdo Mu Ran. Better stop with the name-calling before you get punched in the face."


    "Brother Xuhan was only gone for a couple of days. What happened in the meantime? Look at his face!"


    "Did he meet one of those legendary succubi and gave into its seduction?"


    "Yeah, now that you say it, it does look like he was sucked dry out of his yang essence."


    "What is this ''yang essence'' thing, brother? Is it just a fancy way of saying cu-"


    Han Xuhan''s eyelids twitched non-stop as he heard similar conversations taking place wherever he set his foot on.


    Meeting a succubus and having his yang essence sucked out?


    It was apparent that most of these fellow brothers and sisters of his had never faced the terrifying word hiding outside the sect. Once they began taking up problematic missions as well...hehehe.


    But his skin was thick enough to completely ignore such whispers. With an expressionless face, he searched for the senior who was in charge of managing the archives. It wasn''t difficult to find him. The older disciple was hiding under a mountainous stack of papers and scrolls, busy copying them carefully.


    "Good morning, senior brother. I''m here to file an application."


    "No charity here, kid. We don''t give freebies." The senior did not spare him a second glance.


    Han Xuhan knew not to feel insulted, as he had faced many similar situations during his time inside the sect.


    "I''m not asking for freebies. I''m here to sell a cultivation technique to the archives," he replied calmly.


    The disciple looked up, startled. Giving Han Xuhan an appraising look up and down, he seemed to come to a realization.


    "Ah, you look like you''ve been through some troubles, junior brother. Did you incur too much debt?"


    "Well, I am indeed in some debt, but-"


    "Tsk, tsk, brothelmongering at an age so young. Of course you would be in debt." The senior disciple wore a very judgmental look on his face.


    Han Xuhan truly wished to spew a volley of insults ranging from a sophisticated litany of idioms to the classic ''your-mom'' card. But this was a senior disciple holding a good position in the sect''s management field. It would be unwise to give into his base temptations in a dealing so crucial to his future.


    "I have some connections in the upper ranks of the sect, senior..."


    "Call me brother Lin."


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    This time the senior disciple''s tone was more polite. He didn''t waste time spouting unnecessary comments.


    With a rather fake smile, Brother Lin handed a scroll to him.


    "Fill the form up. If you''ve got a copy of the cultivation manual with you, attach it to the scroll with the seal on the table. Once you''re done, I''ll send it to the authorities to get it evaluated. You''re gonna have to wait for at least a week or so before it gets approved. After all, we can''t let any random technique be sold on our archives."


    Han Xuhan nodded and carefully read the entire scroll full of questions, with blank spaces provided for the answers. There were lots of legal terms involved, as well as a bunch of contractual conditions...


    His previous experience with such forms was not pleasant, to say the least. He started filling the blank spaces with answers as carefully as he could, making sure he didn''t miss any loopholes or traps. Every time he found himself unable to understand a professional term, he made sure to ask the senior disciple in front of him, who explained them rather patiently, a knowing smirk on his face appearing from time to time.


    In simple terms, Han Xuhan chose to sign an agreement between himself and the authorities of the archives that described the terms and conditions he had to abide by in order to get his cultivation manual some exposure. The sect would pay him according to the evaluation his cultivation manual received.


    The rates were quite clear. For cultivation manuals that could only be displayed on the first floor of the archives, the maximum price was five thousand spirit stones.


    For techniques worth displaying on the second floor, it was around eight thousand.


    For the third floor, the price could easily go up to fifteen thousand. The prices mainly depended on the elders'' evaluation of the technique, with small room for negotiations.


    As for the floors above that, Han Xuhan''s application form did not provide any information other than stating that those had custom rates.


    There was also a small amount of commission for the provider of the technique every time it got sold.


    Compared to the number of spirit stones he would receive for selling the technique to the sect, the commission was negligible. But Han Xuhan wasn''t so dumb as to ignore it or fall for a certain juicy offer that stated that if he handed over the rights to his commission and title of ownership, the sect would pay him double the price of his manual.


    Long-term benefits were a much better option, especially considering how easy it was to get robbed of his wealth in this dog-eat-dog world.


    Further down, he had to fill in the blanks with the background of the technique and the personal information of the seller of the manual, in other words, he himself. And this was where Xuhan executed his next maneuver, filling the blank space with two names rather than one. Now it read:


    Provider(s) Of The Manual:


    1. Han Xuhan


    2. Mu Ran


    Han Xuhan then proceeded to fill up the next parts with both of their personal information, as well as naming Mu Ran as his partner in business.


    With this added, it''d ensure that no greedy bastard would get away after messing with him during the deal. Mu Ran was not someone anybody could walk over!


    Giving Mu Ran a share of the money was something he had planned originally to begin with. Firstly, he felt a bit bad about manipulating Mu Ran into giving him the technique, even though he somewhat deserved a compensation. To Xuhan, taking advantage of smart, cunning opponents was not an issue to be mentally disturbed about, but taking advantage of a dumbass like Mu Ran left a bad taste in his mouth. It felt like stealing a child''s toy.


    Ever since Han Xuhan had seen that proud look on Mu Ran''s face when he was handing the manual to him, Xuhan''s conscience had been going through some struggles.


    In the end, he had decided that since he was receiving the benefits of being an underling, he would return the favor as long as it wasn¡¯t too difficult. Saving Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou in the Holy Land of Laws was something he would have done regardless of his job as an underling. So it did not count as much of a favor.


    For the current Xuhan, a few thousand of spirit stones meant nothing but some lengthy cultivation sessions. If it got rid of the uncomfortable feelings in his heart, it would be worth it.


    "I wonder if my grip on that golden thigh named Mu Ran will get even stronger after I do this..."


    Shaking those insidious thoughts out of his mind, Xuhan focused on filling up the application form. Sometimes being able to scheme was not a boon. Even though he had put Mu Ran''s name in the provider list out of his goodwill, he couldn¡¯t deny that a small portion of his mind had approved of this maneuver only due to the security and extra benefits it brought. It made him feel slightly pissed at himself. But at the end of the day, this was his true self. He couldn¡¯t change that.


    By the time he had finished filling up the entire thing, Mu Ran appeared in the distance, just in time for the signing.


    "How did your enlightenment session go, boss?" Xuhan asked him curiously.


    "Mm, I comprehended another small technique. I shall soon reach the peak of the fourth layer of the physique transformation realm, it seems. Might need to venture out again for some experiences and resources if I want to break through soon," Mu Ran replied off-handedly.


    This was it! This was his chance to strike! Indeed, when it came to a protagonist''s need for resources, the heavens would surely find a way for them to fall on his lap, one way or another.


    With a dashing smile, Han Xuhan handed the application form to Mu Ran.


    "Take a look, boss. I don''t think there is any need for you to take such massive risks again. How can I call myself a good underling if I cannot solve some minor financial problems for you?"


    Stunned, Mu Ran ran his eyes over the application that included the contract papers and the terms of the deal. His eyes froze over his name under the manual provider list.


    "...Underling Xuhan, this is- "


    "Do not refuse, boss! This is as much for your good as mine. I cannot accompany you outside within a short period of time. But at least I can delay your departure till I recover some of my strength and boost our cultivation bases slightly. This technique originally belonged to you anyway. Do you really think I, your underling, would stoop so low as to leech off you?"


    Han Xuhan''s words were dripping with heartfelt emotions. It was almost a replica of the situation two nights ago where he had been busy mending the cracks in their wonderful, mutually beneficial relationship. Mu Ran was disarmed in seconds.


    "Alright, I can accept that," Mu Ran said with a sigh. His eyes now shone with faint gratitude every time he gazed at Xuhan.


    After they handed the application form over to the senior disciple who examined it thoroughly, Xuhan finally heard the words he had been waiting for.


    "Okay, everything seems to be in order. Wise decision choosing the commissions, I must say. Most desperados who sell their cultivation techniques usually go for the double-priced deal. Now you need to wait for a few days for the elders to evaluate this technique. I''ll send it for evaluation right now."


    Finishing his lecture, the senior disciple did that cool trick that had amazed Xuhan on his first day as a disciple. The scroll vanished in the air with a fiery burst, carrying the application form with it to the elder who would instantly receive it via the technique.


    "Mm, your work here is done. I''ll send somebody to summon you once the papers get sent back. Wait for about a week-"


    The senior disciple stopped midway, distracted by the appearance of a fireball appearing in front of him out of nowhere.


    A scroll dropped from it and the fireball receded into nothingness.


    It was a very familiar-looking scroll.


    "I don''t remember sending out any scroll before this..." the senior disciple muttered with a confused expression on his face.


    The corners of Han Xuhan''s lips curved upwards.


    As the senior disciple opened the scroll, the familiar application form tumbled out, now showing a colorful seal on it bearing the sect master''s signature, as well as a paper containing the evaluation and payment details.


    It was the sect master himself who had evaluated it!


    The senior disciple''s eyes widened in shock. He was by no means an idiot. It was impossible for it to have happened within such a short period of time.


    This unassuming kid in front of him had personal connections with the sect master himself!


    He hadn''t fully believed Han Xuhan when he had first heard the boy boast about it. But it turned out to be true!


    Sect master must have been aware of this deal and the technique involved beforehand!


    Gulping audibly, the senior disciple forced himself to smile as he did his job and took care of the rest of the miscellaneous paperwork personally.


    It was a golden opportunity to establish a friendly relationship with this well-connected young man named Han Xuhan. The senior made use of it more smoothly than Xuhan himself could have.


    A young man experienced in the way of the real world- that was the impression Xuhan got from him.


    By the time Xuhan and Mu Ran left the archives, they were calling each other ''brother'' not just formally, but also affectionately.


    "Goodbye, brother Lin," Han Xuhan shouted one last time, his hands clutching the sealed promissory note from the archives that stated that the treasury of the sect would have to hand out five thousand spirit stones to the bearer of the note.


    "Goodbye, brother Xuhan," the senior disciple waved his hands at him cheerfully.


    "That felt quite refreshing," Mu Ran muttered. Even he had noticed the change in the attitude of Brother Lin.


    Han Xuhan nodded slowly.


    "Of course, boss. Showing off is super satisfying."

 Chapter 90: A Meeting Full Of Bad Tidings

    Xuan Zi knocked on the door of the residence politely and waited for a response, something that he hadn''t done ever since becoming the sect master of the Crimson Snow Sect. His posture was solemn and his face rather rigid, sect master Xuan Zi looked ready for a serious argument.


    "Come in," a tired voice sounded from the other within the room. Xuan Zi entered the chamber with a relieved expression on his face.


    Inside, a man who looked slightly older than the sect master himself sat in meditation. Strewn across the room were dozens of towels smeared with blood and pus, while the cleaner areas contained numerous precious healing medicines.


    Xuan Zi carefully avoided the littered portions of the floor and sat down on a relatively clean cushion.


    "How much have you recovered, your excellency?" He then asked the old man occupying the bed.


    "Another week is enough. I should be able to bear the strain of the returning journey by then. The spatial intersections at the edge of this Solar System are getting more and more polluted by the unidentified energies. I should have been more cautious..."


    The old man rambled on for a few seconds, and Xuan Zi nodded in response noncommittally.


    "I have a rather serious matter to report. The sect may face the wrath of an expert in the near future. It''d be best if your excellency were to deal with it yourself."


    The old man gave him a sharp glance and nodded after a few seconds of contemplation.


    "Explain ."


    "A sealed world fragment has surfaced not far from here. The disciples who were nearby at that time investigated it, and their report confirms our past theories regarding the sealed world. It is a subsidiary branch of one of the major Law Manipulator factions from the central Territories. Apparently, some sort of a disaster had taken place in there in the past, which has turned it into a wasteland surrounded by intricate seals. According to the disciples who visited the place, the threat inside should be limited to the peak of soul reformation realm...for now."


    The old man frowned as Xuan Zi stopped for a moment.


    "How is that even a threat?" He asked in puzzlement.


    "What comes after that is the threat. While the disciples were escaping the sealed realm, they discovered that the town adjacent to the sealed realm had disappeared," Xuan Zi explained patiently.


    "Disappeared...as in just the superficial elements like the townsfolk and other living inhabitants, or...?"


    The old man asked immediately, a tone of alarm subtly creeping into his voice.


    "The other type of disappearance," Xuan Zi answered gravely.


    "Even the non-living elements like buildings and roads no longer exist. The locals who had prior contact with the town also seem to have forgotten that it existed."


    For the first time since Xuan Zi had entered the room, the old man properly straightened up and looked alert. Both of them stared at each other''s faces for a few seconds as a silent conversation seemed to take place.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    "A new rogue in the family? I can''t see who else would be bold enough to undergo their integration this close to my sect. How come I was never made aware of their existence when I took over this sect?" Xuan Zi asked in a rather displeased tone, breaking the silence.


    "It seems like too much of a coincidence that another of my kin would be here on the same planet as me, at the edge of the Neutral Territories."


    "Impossible. Even the rogues of our family would avoid these regions like the Nocturna plague. And the rogue cultivators in that realm are mostly documented and tracked. An entire town, you say? That speaks of remarkable expertise..."


    The old man started muttering to himself wildly by the end. Xuan Zi''s eyes twitched at his response, gaze not quite trustful.


    "I wouldn¡¯t say it''s impossible, your excellency. After all, something similar happened just one month ago," Xuan Zi pointed out, interrupting the agitated old man.


    "That was an entirely different matter! Fang Xie has always been half a lunatic and you know it! Not to mention, he suffered a Qi deviation for real this time! Or do you honestly believe that his integration process was hijacked by an entity so powerful that even the best clairvoyants of the family couldn¡¯t catch a whiff of it?"


    Seeing him getting worked up, Xuan Zi restrained himself and tried to steer the conversation away into another direction.


    "If Fang Xie''s lunacy is so apparent, maybe you should reconsider moving him away from this small planet of mine. Obviously, he needs a better environment than the barren, chaotic neutral territories this solar system is in."


    The old man deflated upon hearing Xuan Zi''s suggestion. His response came as rather lifeless.


    "The Table of Governors still do not trust you that much, little Zi. Don''t get ahead of yourself. You''ll have plenty of opportunities to amass power once they think you no longer pose a danger to the interest of the family. I''m afraid you must bear with Fang Xie until then."


    Xuan Zi''s lips pressed together into a thin line. But he didn¡¯t voice his displeasure and let the old man sort his thoughts out.


    "Damned rogues...This is of utmost importance. Go make some preparations, ready some emergency contact methods in case we need the help of a higher branch. I''ll go there and look into it right now."


    Xuan Zi nodded in agreement and stood up to leave. But then he remembered another issue that had been bothering him for a while. Hesitating for a moment, he finally asked the old man who was looking more and more disturbed with each passing second.


    "Is the record of ancestry handed down to distant branch sects like this one incomplete, your excellency? Can I apply to the patriarch for the complete version through you?"


    "...Record of Ancestry? Why the hell would it be incomplete? Bloodlines hardly matter in the central realms these days. No one cares about those ancestral lineage secrets except the Body Cultivation Faction."


    Xuan Zi took out a tiny vial from his robe and handed it to the puzzled old man upon hearing his answer.


    "Then how about you explain this? There is no record of that type of result in the archives."


    The old man closely observed the vial Xuan Zi had given him. It contained a black, oily liquid that gave off a faint stench of rotten eggs despite being sealed inside. Undoing the seal, he dipped his finger in it lightly and licked it.


    "Ugh...ack..."


    Xuan Zi watched with schadenfreude as the old man gagged and keeled over. Clearly, he knew exactly what would happen when the old man had tried tasting it, perhaps from first-hand experience.


    "This is nothing but an outdated ancestry determinant potion. There is not even a speck of ancestral element mixed within. Maybe I''m getting old, but I fail to see how this is funny, Xuan Zi," the old man said in a thunderous tone after recovering his bearings.


    But Xuan Zi stood his ground unabashedly.


    "Exactly. During the entrance test this year, a new disciple''s result was collected in that vial. It matches no record of existing ancestral factors. I ask your excellency for guidance on this."


    Stumped out of his wit for the second time that day, the old man sourly looked at the vial in his hand for a few seconds before sealing it and pocketing it. The whole thing looked like a childish prank to him, considering it was pretty much impossible for any type of ancestry, even mortal ones, to provide a result that wasn''t recorded in the archives. Even a bloodline that had never existed in the distant past or a mutation of a rare one would display familiar results. The vial on his hand, however, did not even seem to contain anything remotely close to those.


    Xuan Zi took his leave in silence while the old man pondered over all of these sudden, troublesome issues hounding his thoughts.


    Finally gathering himself, he walked out of the room shakily and cast a glance at the dense mountains surrounding his residence.


    This particular branch of the Crimson Snow sect was not doing very well, but the old man was not bothered.


    It was up to Xuan Zi to elevate the sect''s position, and he knew Xuan Zi well enough to gauge his ambitions.


    But even Xuan Zi''s grand ambitions would have to be put on hold if the incident of the disappearance proved to be the birth of another rogue cultivator of their own faction.


    Xuan Zi didn''t have many paths open ahead of him. He would have to nurture monstrously talented disciples very fast...which was an unlikely possibility.


    Briefly, the old man couldn''t help but wonder about a certain young man he had accompanied during his journey to this branch sect.


    "Huh...that Xuhan kid didn''t seem half bad in terms of talent. I wonder if he''s still alive. Probably dead or crippled by now, with the mark of heavenly calamity hounding him so intensely."

 Chapter 91: Undead Cultivation

    The pill sitting atop his hands rubbed Xuhan the wrong way for some reason. It was a dark blue, standard capsule-sized object, and it made no sense to him how this pill could actually make his damaged body recover to nearly 80 percent of its original healthy state.


    In the end, he could only justify the logic with phrases like ''cultivation magic pill'' and swallow it down with a gulp of the catalytic solution that the healer had handed him.


    Out of curiosity, he had asked the healer whether there were pills that could directly advance his cultivation base too.


    The answer he got was a lengthy, aggressive lecture on how using pills to advance one''s cultivation was an absolute taboo. It went directly against everything orthodox cultivation stood for. Not just that, such foundations built with artificial forces and resources were so weak that the practitioner would never even survive the first round of heavenly tribulation, rendering the whole endeavor, as well as the resources piled on him into waste.


    The process that took place following his consumption of the pill was not as unpleasant as he had thought it would be. The healer used some sort of a technique to keep his sensory nerves dulled down to a minimum and guided the pill''s reactions inside his body. The only thing Xuhan could feel during that process was that his internal organs were moving around like crazy.


    Once the whole ordeal was over, the mirror in the room displayed his old self once more, albeit looking like he had come out of a famine-themed painting.


    After the slight nausea had worn off, Han Xuhan asked the healer about the therapy sessions for defense against mental demons.


    "The therapy? That''s still a pretty experimental project. Are you sure you want to attend? I wouldn''t honestly recommend it if you aren''t desperate."


    Hearing the healer''s ambiguous tone, Han Xuhan immediately gave up on therapy sessions for now. The fact that the people who ran the sessions were so uncertain about the project was a red flag, especially in this sect where even the featured cultivation techniques in the archives felt like scams.


    Before he could gather some proper, trustworthy information on the project, Xuhan would definitely do his best to avoid it temporarily.


    Thanking the healer for his kind intentions (with some extra spirit stones), Han Xuhan returned to his hut on the Black Sheep Peak.


    It had been three days since Xuhan and his siblings had returned to the sect. Setting apart the process of gaining a certain notoriety for what they had managed to accomplish in the mission, life had been relatively peaceful. He had taken care of most of the issues that needed an outsider''s help; for example, getting his dao base examined by the elders, all sorts of anti-tracking spells to avoid the detection of anyone they had encountered during the mission, checking for hidden injuries to body, mind, and soul...


    While for normal disciples, this would have been an exceedingly difficult feat to manage, Xuhan didn''t have to suffer much.


    For the second time since he had entered the Crimson Snow Sect, Xuhan was once more a disciple loaded with spirit stones. The first thing he had done after getting his payment for the Force-type law manual was spending a handful of it to deal with the messy aftermath of their mission.


    With a bank balance of 5000+ spirit stones, Xuhan looked forward to where he would end up by the time he went broke again.


    Sitting down atop his bed, Xuhan entered a meditative state and focused on cycling the qi brimming inside meridians, guiding it into forming the familiar path of the Skeletal Monarch technique.


    Roughly seven seconds later, the cycle was completed, a vast improvement compared to his performance in the past. The completion resulted into the familiar red skeleton leaping out of his back, landing smoothly on the ground in a practiced manner.


    It had been a hassle to manage Zhanxian initially. But being in the presence of Elder Kong had helped immensely. The elder had drawn up some esoteric equations and modified small portions of his qi cycling diagram to strengthen his control over Zhanxian, all the while Han Xuhan had done his best to appease the skeletal bastard with bone nourishment treasures.


    Han Xuhan had a sneaky suspicion that only the latter of the actions had actually worked.


    "What are we doing today, boss? Hopefully nothing that involves violence in any form, because in that case, this summoning would be pointless." The skeleton looked around the room cautiously.


    "Oh come on, man. You enjoyed scamming those poor idiots outside the portal, didn''t you? Don''t deny it! Your face is totally red, ahahah..." Han Xuhan dragged out a laugh.


    "Boss, my entire body is red ."


    "I know that. why are you telling me something so obvious?"


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ". . ."


    Zhanxian instantly gave up on trying to win the argument.


    "Aha, I knew it! You were just anticipating our next adventure! But worry not. I, your boss, am a magnanimous man. Seeing how you''re always this afraid of danger, I have decided to entrust you with something new this time around. Something totally not dangerous and easy to accomplish. Hell, you don''t even need to step out of the house to complete the task, so cheer up!"


    Listening to Xuhan''s righteous speech, Zhanxian suddenly felt a chill travel down his spine. If he had hairs, he was sure they''d all be standing up straight right now.


    "O-okay, and the task is ...?"


    With a beaming smile, Xuhan took out a stack of documents from the bedside desk and dropped it on Zhanxian''s arms.


    "This right here," he pointed at the stack and met Zhanxian''s eyeless sockets with a smoldering gaze, "is a cultivation technique! You''ll be practicing it!"


    A pause followed Xuhan''s announcement as both man and skeleton of a man stared at each other.


    "Boss, you are aware that I don''t have meridians, right? Surely, your knowledge of cultivation is not that shallow..."


    "Of course! Trust me, I''m your boss. I know what I''m talking about. Go for it!"


    Zhanxian plopped down on the ground and sighed in defeat. Han Xuhan followed suit and started to explain the whole manual to the skeleton patiently. Zhanxian had some trouble reading the texts. Apparently, academic achievements were not his strongest suit. Being an undead whose memories had likely been tampered with probably had something to do with that.


    But Xuhan persisted, dragging his undead minion through the ordeal cheerfully. It was the same cultivation technique that Qian Yun had given him in the land of laws, a technique which that guy had gotten from martial sister Zhou. Although Xuhan trusted them both to not backstab him for no apparent reason, it was still safer to first observe the effect of the technique on a guinea pig. Zhanxian filled that spot up nicely...ahem.


    As the evening approached, dyeing the sky red, Xuhan and Zhanxian finally took a break and decided to give it a shot for the first time.


    "Alright, now it''s time for the first step," Xuhan muttered as he took out a sharp knife from his collection.


    "According to the manual, since you do not have meridians, we will need to create artificial channels to enable you in cycling qi according to the diagram."


    Zhanxian knew what to expect by now and stretched out his red, bony arms. Han Xuhan took a deep breath and picked the right arm first, poking its middle finger with the tip of his knife.


    Under Zhanxian''s expressionless gaze, Xuhan held the hand by its fingertips and started carving out a long groove from the tip of the middle finger.


    From phalanxes to carpals and metacarpals, then past the joints in the wrists and to the radius, ulna, and humerus, the right hand took an entire hour of thoughtful carving.


    Of course, there were mishaps. Often the groove cut a millimeter too deep and created cracks. Some of the bones were too easy to break, forcing him to change his routes.


    Han Xuhan had to make sure the grooves wouldn''t be in danger of being affected during a physical brawl.


    In the end, it took Xuhan the rest of the day and the entire night to cut a rudimentary channel of qi across Zhanxian''s body. After connecting the final two grooves that met behind Zhanxian''s atlas, Xuhan took a step back to admire his handiwork.


    In the light of the rising sun, Zhanxian honestly looked...intimidating.


    The skeleton''s bones gleamed with a red sheen, violet specks of color glittering in the joints.


    Unless one focused intentionally on Zhanxian, they''d miss the tiny grooves spread all over his body, usually in inconspicuous parts of his bones. In retrospect, it made sense that this was a demonic technique. Would a normal human even dare to mutilate themselves like this to cultivate? Would they even survive?


    Satisfied with the work, Xuhan nodded to himself and took a small cube of frozen qi out of his pocket, holding it in front of Zhanxian''s face in one hand.


    "Look at it, this is qi. Now, due to the absence of natural meridians in your body, you cannot establish any sort of mental control over it. And that''s what we are going to remedy now," Xuhan explained, determination seeping into his tone.


    Giving the documents on the ground another glance to make sure he wasn''t missing anything, Xuhan directed his thoughts at the qi cube, establishing a mental command over it. Then he willed the qi into a liquified state, from where he directed the floating colorless liquid to slowly drift over toward Zhanxian.


    The skeleton stood stock still as Qi touched his bones and began to fill up the artificial grooves on its bones, reaching into even the tiniest channels and joints and finally forming a complete passage full of Qi.


    Beads of sweat crawled down Xuhan''s face as he pushed all of his concentration into managing the qi on Zhanxian''s body. The amount of qi he was trying to manipulate was nothing to scoff at, almost enough to surpass his own meridian''s maximum qi capacity.


    "Time for the next step, Zhanxian. You know what to do," he finally spoke through gritted teeth after applying the finishing touches.


    Zhanxian nodded solemnly and took out the spell formation that Han Xuhan had bought the previous day for his expensive cultivation sessions. It was shaped like a very large ring made of terracotta, its rim full of unrecognizable texts. The formation was designed to constantly attract qi from a large surrounding area and trap the qi within its boundaries where only the owner of the formation would be able to use the qi, regardless of their cultivation base.


    Most orthodox cultivators looked down on this type of formations. Such gadgets were for children to have fun with qi, not for real cultivation sessions. Wouldn''t a cultivator who relied on it become useless in any unexpected situation?


    Relying on external help in regular cultivation was almost a taboo of sorts. But Xuhan frequently used gadgets like those...because he didn''t really have a choice as a semi-cripple. Having some experience in helping its boss, the skeleton knew how to operate it.


    A few seconds later, with a small nudge of qi from Xuhan''s own reserves, the formation was activated, instantly creating a circular area that encompassed their hut and attracting qi from every direction like a sinkhole.


    "Final step," Xuhan announced grimly as his eyes met Zhanxian''s sockets. This was it. The most important part where it would be determined whether the technique was worth their effort or not.


    His back drenched in sweat and veins throbbing in his temple due to the pressure on his mind, Xuhan split half of his focus on keeping the qi attached to Zhanxian''s body while he directed the rest of his focus on manipulating a significant amount of his own qi into fiddling with the control center of the formation.


    For this moment alone, Xuhan was grateful to Mu Ran and his obnoxious antics. The card game that guy had taught Xuhan, named ''The Immortal Slayer'', was actually pretty useful in training his control over qi, especially while repeatedly playing against someone whose control of qi could be called mechanically precise. The sheer adversity he had faced in those games was enough to give him some pointers on how to be a better loser.


    Now his control over Qi was almost as good as his talented, hardworking peers...almost.


    "Get Ready, Zhanxian. Here it comes!"


    Half shouting, Han Xuhan used his own qi to wipe off the proof of his ownership from the formation''s control center. Then he turned the default owner search mechanism on and leaped away as far as he could in the next second.


    It was a simple mechanism, usually used by new cultivators with a low cultivation base. The formation would immediately seek out the closest living creature around it by following qi signatures. Any creature with the tiniest amount of active qi in its body could become the owner of the formation this way.


    The moment the search mechanism located Zhanxian standing next to it, it identified the skeleton as its owner, and subsequent effects took place in the blink of an eye.


    Han Xuhan lost control of his own qi, as well as any bit of qi around him since he was within the boundaries of the formation. Instantly, the qi he had glued to Zhanxian''s body began to drift away.


    But the formation also gave Zhanxian the power to command the qi within its area of effect. And Zhanxian did not waste a second of the precious window of opportunity.


    Sitting down in a meditating pose, Zhanxian began to command qi for the first time in his undead life.

 Chapter 92: Breakthrough Mania

    The stretch of neat land in front of Ming Zi made him pause.


    Bending down to examine the soil of the suspiciously flat area, Ming Zi''s brows creased in confusion.


    "This doesn''t feel right."


    Ming Zi took out a crimson gem from his pocket and examined it while his feet carried him through the mile-wide flat area.


    The gem''s crimson glow brightened slightly with each of his steps forward. Soon, the gem was glowing like fiery coal, its light particularly eye-catching even under the bright sun.


    Ming Zi sighed, and clenched his fist around the gem, snuffing out its brightness. Pocketing the gem, he was about to turn around, but something caught his attention.


    "This type of residue..."


    Ming Zi broke into a sprint so fast that he was way past the land once occupied by Pine town by the next five seconds, standing within the woods miles away from there.


    "This qi doesn''t belong to this planet," Ming Zi muttered to himself as his fingers twisted around a wisp of smokey substance, manipulating it into different shapes and states.


    "Definitely a law manipulator, from the looks of it. That hidden realm should be around here according to Xuan Zi. But it looks like they got the wind of it already."


    Despite thoroughly searching the woods for the next two hours, Ming Zi couldn''t find the so-called portal that opened the way to the hidden world fragment.


    There were signs of battles among physique transformation realm cultivators in some places. But not even an injured cultivator or a dead body remained for him to examine, a highly unusual phenomenon considering the battles that had taken place here were all very deadly for that level of power.


    Yet Ming Zi couldn''t even find a trace of blood anywhere near those areas.


    But this was also a clue itself. Somebody had definitely been here and wiped out the traces that could be used to investigate what had happened. Whoever they were, their cultivation was at least close to Ming Zi''s own. They had not bothered to hide all the traces of the battle, because they likely understood that whoever came to investigate would know of the conflicts here anyway.


    Ming Zi put two and two together, and a hypothesis took shape in his mind.


    During the battle, a law manipulator from a higher branch had visited this place, perhaps because they had something here that they wished to hide from prying eyes.


    So they intervened and put a stop to whatever was happening here. Then they wiped off the more obvious traces and left a strand of their own qi as a proof of identification. Anyone with high cultivation base would recognize the proof for what it was and back off unless they had a bone to pick with the Law Manipulator Faction.


    But...what relationship did that have with Pine Town''s disappearance?


    The law manipulator should know better than to mess around with random cultivators from other factions in a neutral territory like this solar system.


    Ming Zi was both confused and pissed. After investigating for a while longer, he left the area and returned to the sect to meet up with Xuan Zi.


    His report didn''t affect the sect master much.


    "All I need to be sure of is that no cultivator undergoing integration is going to come here and pick a fight with us. Since your excellency can guarantee that no such cultivators exist near the sect, I can rest easy. I am not particularly interested in the hidden world fragment or the inner working of the Law Manipulator Faction. So it is actually a good thing that the portal has disappeared. Curious foreign cultivators are no longer going to be attracted to that place and make trouble for us."


    Xuan Zi''s concern seemed to lie with his sect, something that Ming Zi mentally took note of.


    "In that case, it is time I took my leave, little Zi. I need to inform the higher-ups in the family about the movements of the Law Manipulator Faction here. My hunch tells me something big is happening."


    "As you wish, your excellency. I shall arrange for some elders to accompany you to the docks."


    Xuan Zi left hurriedly. Ming Zi''s eyes followed the sect master until he was out of sight. Making sure that no one else was nearby, Ming Zi took out a precious interstellar voice transmission talisman from his luggage.


    Trrkkk...shshhshs...trrrk


    A faint stream of meaningless random noise began to emit from the talisman.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    After fiddling with it for a few seconds, the talisman finally connected with the other side.


    "Your Excellency, what happened? Have you discovered something?"


    A clear voice came from the other side, making Ming Zi smile in elation. But the smile faded fast.


    "Yes. But it doesn''t have anything to do with Xuan Zi this time. That fellow seems to have finally accepted his fate as the sect master of a subsidiary branch," Ming Si said tersely.


    There was a pause from the other side.


    "That''s good to hear," the voice finally answered.


    "As for the issue I wanted to report... something happened to one of our spies stationed on this planet. He seems to have gone rogue during his integration process."


    "And are you sure Xuan Zi wasn''t behind that?" The voice cut in.


    "Yes, I am. Xuan Zi never left the sect since my appearance here. Nor has he used any spells beyond the soul reformation realm. I investigated the place myself, and several clues suggest the involvement of the Law Manipulator Faction. I''ll send you a detailed report once I''ve returned."


    "...Law Manipulators? This is going to be troublesome. Regardless, thank you for your support, Your Excellency. I''ll certainly remember this favor."


    "It''s fine," Ming Zi replied gruffly and cut off the connection after saying goodbye.


    Ming Zi''s departure was uneventful. Several elders from Xuan Zi''s sect accompanied him to the docks. The spatial intersections were not a route he could take this time. So he had to resort to normal voidboats. Xuan Zi repeatedly reminded him to investigate the bottle of ancestry determinant potion. Ming Zi nodded along absent-mindedly.


    The voidboat soon took off. Standing on the platform, Xuan Zi''s solemn face broke into a smirk as he stared at the tiny silhouette of the boat getting tinier in the sky.


    .................


    "Third layer of physique transformation! Yeah, baby!!! Hoooooo!!!"


    "First layer of Physique transformation! Yeah, baby!!! Hooooooo!!!"


    "Hmph! Frog in a well, what''s there to celebrate about on reaching the first layer?"


    "Why? What''s wrong with celebrating after reaching the first layer?"


    "Reaching the first layer is just a fancy way of saying you''re an inexperienced newbie! You''re not even a real cultivator before you break through to the second layer! Stop making a big deal out of it!"


    "Master, you''re celebrating after reaching the lowest layer of the Physique Transformation realm among the current disciples of your generation. I mean, your cultivation used to be lower than that just yesterday, but you''ve not achieved anything to boast about either, have you?"


    "...Damned brat! You dare talk back ?" Han Xuhan clutched his chest, feeling a fantom pain in his heart.


    "So what? What are you gonna do? Threaten to lock me up in your dao base? Hah, go ahead! Nothing will make me happier! What else? Death? I''m already dead, baby! Torture? How the fuck would you even do that when I don''t feel pain?"


    "...Excellent points, but how do you feel about being eternally trapped inside a dark room, with rotting corpses, maggots, and an endless stream of repetitive deafening noise accompanying you till you go insane? I think I can certainly arrange that. I can also venture into the mouths of the most dangerous places on this planet and throw you in there to enjoy the show. What do you say?"


    "....you''re fucking insane, master."


    Han Xuhan and Zhanxian tumbled out of the hut and started dancing in the yard pretending that the conversation just then did not happen. Neither of them looked like those graceful cultivators in the legends and paintings. Xuhan''s hair stuck out at odd angles while Zhanxian....was a red skeleton, whose body was even more bizarre looking compared to before.


    Zhanxian''s body was now full of crisscrossing scars that glowed faintly whenever he wanted them to. Gas-like substance flowed along the grooves of his bones, creating a visage that any cultivator would recognize for what it was, a qi cycle.


    The technique supplied by Yuen Zhou had three layers only. The first layer would allow the cultivator to copy regular cultivation process and control qi cycles, the second would improve the quality of the qi and control, and the third would eliminate some of the side effects.


    While the technique gave off the impression that any normal cultivator could use it, Han Xuhan was careful enough to do some research beforehand. As it turned out, similar techniques were not unheard of.


    He had asked around and in the end, brother Lin, the senior disciple running the archives had helped him get real information on the origin of the technique.


    One of its main side effects was that constant contact with the barely controlled qi damaged the inner organs and killed the practitioners before they even reached the third layer.


    He had learned that the creator of the technique had died soon after he discovered the qi poisoning phenomenon. He had secretly tortured and mutilated many innocent cultivators while creating the technique. Mental demons, vengeful friends of his victims, the pressure of many sects'' enmity with him finally broke his resolve, resulting into his death during a qi deviation. However, the principles used to create the technique were known only to him. No one else could change its basics, and few would be desperate enough to mutilate themselves or others to carve permanent channels into their bodies.


    Some had tried, of course. Those who were mad enough to follow the technique word by word managed to cultivate smoothly till the third layer, where most of them died and some survived by fluke and absurd luck. Those who did not stick to the basics and changed the technique ended up as monstrosities.


    A few years later, all the bigwig cultivators declared the technique to have vile, demonic principles, and brought an end to its practice forcefully.


    Han Xuhan had felt his heart go cold after he had fished out those information. If he had blindly trusted Yuen Zhou, his ending would have been the same as those reckless fellows!


    But it also raised an important question. Why did Yuen Zhou give such an insidious technique to Qian Yun during their exchange? Qian Yun seemed well-informed enough to recognize the technique. Why hadn''t he told Xuhan about this issue?


    The answer came easily after a few seconds of thinking. Yuen Zhou wanted a leverage on Qian Yun, who in turn, wanted a leverage on Xuhan...


    Once he started cultivating it, he''d have to ask for their help. Even if he only cultivated till the first layer, he''d notice the damage his body was taking under the influence of the qi. He''d have to contact them, beg them for some sort of solution, and agree to their demands....


    So insidious! The world of cultivation was so insidious! Even friendly people were not to be trusted. Qian Yun and Yuen Zhou probably did not think there was anything wrong with their action. But to Xuhan, this mindset was terrifying.


    But thinking ahead, this also meant that the source of this technique, Yuen Zhou might have some sort of a solution to the side effects. How else would she find a leverage to hold on him?


    "How do I get my hands on this precious secret?"


    While dancing energetically, Xuhan''s head spinned with such thoughts. He needed to come up with another bizarre scheme if he wanted the info. It would be inconvenient to directly confront martial sister Zhou. He didn¡¯t want her to become wary of him. To get her to open up, some foreplay was necessary.


    But those things could be taken care of later. Right now, it was time for some celebration! One month of nonstop, money-burning sessions of qi cycling...


    He had broken through to the third layer after so long! Some of his peers were still stuck on this level. He was no longer the trashiest disciple in his generation!


    But that wasn¡¯t even the highlight of the day. Zhanxian was about to get a new playmate. This time, Xuhan hadn¡¯t made the mistake of creating a human skeleton. Rather, he had gone for a bird!


    To Xuhan, information was the most useful resource. A scout that could fly up ahead and keep an eye on every direction was the best minion he could imagine. Even if it was absolutely trash like Zhanxian, it would be a great scout.


    After a great amount of research, his target bird was fixed; an owl!


    One of the few birds that could see during both day and night. Granted, its daylight vision was pretty weak, but Xuhan wasn¡¯t exactly blind during the day, so it was the most optimal choice.


    The trip to retrieve a soul through the skeletal monarch technique was uneventful, and Xuhan had no idea what type of personality the bird would have. But since it was just a bird, he probably didn¡¯t need to worry much.


    Now the skeletal bird was inside his dao base, slowly getting used to its undead life while Xuhan celebrated loudly outside.


    And his celebration seemed to have attracted a guest.


    "Underling, you broke through?" Mu Ran appeared outside his yard hurriedly and asked with a huff.

 Chapter 93: Planting Seeds Among His Brethren

    "Boss! How have you- wait, you broke through again? What the-"


    "Sigh...underling, shouldn''t you be used to my breakthroughs by now? I mean, they''re so slow! I should have reached the ninth layer of physique transformation by this time rather than the sixth layer. Tch... simply hiding in a hut and cultivating cannot be the way of overlords! I must go out on a mission again!"


    Upon hearing Mu Ran''s woeful declaration, Xuhan''s eyes lit up.


    "Again? Where do we go this time?" He asked enthusiastically.


    "I''m not sure yet. I''ll just go to the task administration pavilion and pick the hardest one. I wonder if that pretty senior disciple is still working there. If she is, I can get us any mission at the speed of a kiss, no matter how difficult. I must train myself at the edge of life and death-"


    "Really, boss? Awesome! I''ll pack my bags right now..."


    Leaving a stunned Zhanxian behind, Han Xuhan rushed into his hut, pulled out a tiny package from one of his bags and put it inside his mouth. Then he randomly hauled some bags up on his shoulder and ran back out.


    "Let''s go, boss-Ugh-ack!!!"


    A spray of blood gushed out of Xuhan''s mouth and painted his porch red. Grabbing onto his chest, Xuhan stumbled and fell to the ground like a log.


    "Master!" In concern, Zhanxian rushed forward to support Xuhan, which broke Mu Ran''s stunned reverie.


    "Underling! What happened? How do you feel?"


    Kneeling down to check Xuhan''s pulse, Mu Ran''s expression darkened.


    "What has happened to my master?" Zhanxian enquired tearfully. Han Xuhan couldn''t help but get angry about the fact that Zhanxian''s mock emotions of concern for him right now surpassed the highest breadth of respect the wretched minion had ever given him.


    "A qi deviation. All the signs match. Weak pulse, erratic heartbeat, jammed blood circulation...this is bad," Mu Ran muttered.


    "My unstable breakthrough must have caused this..." Xuhan croaked. "Looks like I won''t be able to accompany you this time, boss."


    As he finished this sentence, he coughed up another stream of blood, spraying it on Mu Ran''s clothes.


    "Zhanxian, carry me back inside the hut. I''ve got the pills that can remedy this from the medicine pavilion. I saw this coming, after all," Xuhan said weakly. Zhanxian didn''t waste another second, complying with his commands with incredible enthusiasm. Xuhan knew exactly why though. Not going on an adventure with Mu Ran meant the skeleton wouldn''t have to do risky stuff anymore. Of course Zhanxian would be perfectly obedient in that little drama.


    Lying on his bed, Han Xuhan consumed a legitimate pill for qi deviation treatment with much heartache, just in case Mu Ran was secretly a legendary pill god with heavenly pill-discerning eyes and whatnot. Dozens of spirit stones were wasted just like that, but at least he wouldn''t be forced to accompany Mu Ran anytime soon.


    "Boss, there is something we must discuss. If you''re going to leave soon, it''d be for the best if we have the discussion right now," Xuhan finally broke his ''too-weak-to-speak'' act and said.


    "Sure underling. Speak up." Mu Ran nodded solemnly.


    "What do you think the benefits would be...if we started teaching our fellow disciples the language of laws for free?"


    Mu Ran''s eyes widened in shock.


    "For free? Why the hell would we do something so ridiculous? I know you''re soft-hearted Xuhan, but there are limits to chivalry. This world of cultivation is a harsh place. Only by assimilating your own personality with this world can you succeed!"


    Xuhan nodded, expecting the exact reaction from the guy.


    "Of course, boss. I understand this perfectly. And that''s why I came up with this idea."


    "...I''m afraid I don''t quite get it, underling."


    "The benefit we can get through the plan is actually quite vast. Think about it, boss. Our sect has always been pretty expensive to survive in. There are few disciples in the outer court who can afford expensive cultivation manuals. Although everybody has a decent family backing them up, the techniques in the sect are bound to be superior by a large margin.


    Now, we own one of those techniques sitting inside the archives. So, if we suddenly start handing out free lessons on that exact technique without outright selling it, how many disciples would be tempted to buy the complete manual once they''ve mastered the basics?


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "Cultivation has always been about constantly chasing after more power. It''s a vicious race against time. So any technique that can save our time due to our past knowledge of it...shouldn''t it be a priority to us the moment we earn enough money to buy a technique?"


    By the time Xuhan stopped explaining, Mu Ran''s eyes were wide open with excitement. Even protagonists needed money for cultivation. Recently, Mu Ran''s pockets had been full due to Xuhan''s generosity, and his cultivation speed definitely saw an upward spike. It was an addictive feeling!


    "But that''s not all boss!" Xuhan added as an afterthought, noticing the excitement burning within Mu Ran''s eyes. He had this prey right where he wanted.


    "Once our technique becomes popular among the grassroots of the sect, our business would see another boom! We are obviously not the last generation of disciples to be recruited here. Once the new disciples enter the sect, they''ll not have the inhibitions toward the language of laws that the current generation possesses due to their knowledge of its background. By then, our technique would be widely known and practiced! We only need to indirectly nudge the new disciples toward the technique and it''d sell like that ''Harem-Maker'' book that got real popular a couple of months ago. Think about the profit, boss!"


    "Hahahah, you''re a genius, underling! An absolute genius!"


    "Hehehe, your brilliance still overshadows mine by a large margin, boss!"


    "You jest, underling. The margin I surpass you by isn''t that large..."


    From Han Xuhan''s hut, the sound of demonic laughter rang out for a very long time, followed by some sounds of harsh coughing and a shout exclaiming, ''''Oh, I think my deviation is acting up again, urrk-"


    * * * * * * * * * * *


    Half an hour later, Xuhan''s condition ''stabilized'', and Mu Ran left after being assured that Xuhan''s condition wouldn''t deteriorate. Before leaving, he took that aura-enhancing trinket they had confiscated from old man Di Qian on their first mission, much to Xuhan''s sorrow.


    That gadget was so useful...dammit!


    Regardless, it wasn''t his own to begin with, so Xuhan didn''t brood over it much. His only disappointment was that he wouldn''t be able to prank his fellow disciples by suddenly ''breaking through'' in the middle of a conversation, repeatedly.


    A man can only dream...sigh.


    "Yo, is he gone?" He finally asked the skeleton in a low voice, who was on the lookout at the door of the hut.


    "Yeah, seems like it," Zhanxian turned around and flashed him a thumbs up.


    Just to make things sure, he kept up the act for a while more, lying weakly on his bed.


    In this one month, Xuhan had prepared for many future scenarios. Escaping his duty as the follower of a trouble magnet like Mu Ran was naturally one of them. He wasn''t strong enough yet to accompany that guy on those horrifying adventures.


    Spitting out the blood storage packet from his mouth, Xuhan sat up and contemplated his next move.


    Last week, he had received the official felicitation from the sect, along with Yuen Zhou and Mu Ran. They had stood in front of the student body, and a particularly loquacious elder had lavished them with enough praise to make even Mu Ran blush. They had received a small reward of three hundred spirit stones each (yes, three hundred spirit stones was a small amount in his eyes now), two years of free access to the archives and its library, and their bi-monthly fees had been waived for the year.


    It was enough to make even the most well-off disciples jealous. But thankfully, nobody went out of their way to express their envy, unlike those arrogant young masters in xianxia stories. Sure, there were many snide remarks and doubtful questions slithering among the disciples, but none among the trio really gave a fuck or tried to fight the skeptics over it. So the commotion slowly died down soon.


    But still, the possibility of jealous peers taking up the role of arrogant young masters wasn''t something he could ignore. So Xuhan had come up with a plan... and today he could finally execute it, now that he had broken through to the third layer. The scheme he had fed Mu Ran was but a small part of it.


    "Pack the bags, Zhanxian. We''re about to pull some ridiculous shit today, and we''ll need every type of contingency devices we have amassed, to be on the safe side."


    Han Xuhan leaped out of his bed and rolled his shoulders, his head full of plans for the day.


    Walking outside, Xuhan headed toward Yuen Zhou''s hut with Zhanxian in tow carrying multiple large bags. After becoming a legitimate undead cultivator, Zhanxian was slightly stronger than before, the perfect coolie material, something Xuhan was determined to use to his advantage whenever possible.


    "Martial sister Zhou, are you in there?"


    His shout from outside her yard brought Yuen Zhou out of her hut. Judging by her appearance, she was probably in the middle of a cultivation session. Wearing neat, unruffled, yet dusty clothing, somewhat stiff posture, and puffy eyes...yep, definitely signs of lengthy cultivation sessions.


    "Did you need something, martial broth-Oh! You broke through! Congratulations!" She said in a hoarse voice.


    Han Xuhan flashed her an unabashed smile and got to the point without beating around the bush.


    "Ah, thank you! To be honest, I do need your help with something. Can I interest you in a financially beneficial partnership, martial sister?"


    * * * * * * * * *


    That day, a rumor spread like wildfire across the numerous mountain peaks of Crimson Snow sect. The recently lauded disciples of the new generation, Han Xuhan, Mu Ran, and Yuen Zhou, were about to start a free course for any disciple interested in a technique they had salvaged from the super mysterious Holy Land of Laws.


    How did it spread, you ask?


    The well-known senior brother Lin, who had been managing the archives since their recruitment spoke of this study course in great detail, adding his tremendously positive opinions to it.


    The ever-helpful, yet usually reclusive seniors from the Black Sheep mountain peak came out of their abodes simultaneously today for reasons unknown (the share of profits they were promised is unknown). These famous trashes visited their closest friends in other peaks, and spoke at great lengths about the importance of friendships and mutually beneficial progress.


    Obviously , Han Xuhan wasn''t going to hand out the original technique for free. The agreement deal with the sect was quite strict about that particular clause. Those who wanted it could buy the manual from the sect''s archives easily for a pretty cheap price. But since it was a new addition to the archives, few elders in the sect knew about it, and almost none could claim to be skillful enough at it to teach newly initiated disciples...None except Han Xuhan, Mu Ran, and Yuen Zhou, all three of whom had been forced to cultivate the technique during their mission.


    Han Xuhan, Mu Ran, and Yuen Zhou used every bit of their newly acquired to fame to sensationalize the rumor, and the result wasn''t half bad. Xuhan even went out of his way to convince Xiao Wu and several other outgoing disciples nearby to help him. The memories of being at the receiving end of shameless marketing techniques from his previous life all finally came in handy!


    That evening, a handful of disciples whose pockets tended to stay on the lighter side appeared at the foot of the Black Sheep Mountain peak, looking somewhat embarrassed and unsure of their decision.


    But as the saying goes, a lone man advances in shame where the mob marches fearlessly. Although this saying was invented on the premise of a brothel, it fits the circumstances here as well.


    Once the few of them saw that they weren''t the only ones desperate enough to go for cheap techniques, they grew less inhibited.


    As the crowd settled down in the designated meeting area, Yuen Zhou appeared at the edge of their vision, walking down the slope of the mountain with steady steps. Han Xuhan trailed behind her, appearing as dashing as a starved young man can hope to, with a sword scabbard on his waist, a wine flask in his hand, his short, jet-black hair not really fluttering in the gentle wind, his face so colored by the radiant sunlight of dusk that his features looked blurry...


    Had he been a jade beauty, more descriptions would be required to keep up the tradition but thankfully, this wasn''t the case.


    Yuen Zhou would take the lead today as planned beforehand. Xuhan gave her a grateful nod once they reached the small crowd at the foot of the mountain and summoned Zhanxian to help him with the props.


    While Yuen Zhou stood in front of the crowd and met their expectant gaze with her own steady, unflinching one and became the center of attention, Xuhan set up a blackboard behind them and Zhanxian spread a humongous bamboo mattress on the ground.


    "Alrighty, then. The class begins...now! Take your seats and pay attention to the lessons!" He shouted after they were done.


    Today, a seed would be planted. In the future, with proper care, it would grow into a giant tree. Then that tree would bear fruit, or more accurately, spirit stones.


    And that would only be the start of his schemes.

 Chapter 94: A Discourse To Rip The Sky

    "Master, I don''t remember you bringing in any wine bottles in the hut. What''s in that flask?"


    Xuhan spared a contemptuous glance at his minion and answered in a low voice, "Lemonade."


    "...The heck is that ?" Zhanxian said, flabbergasted.


    "A drink made of lemon juice, sugar, and water."


    "Oh. But why are you using a wine flask to carry the drink around? You''re even pretending to be drunk."


    Xuhan rubbed his temples in annoyance and sighed.


    Why did this skeleton not understand the charm of taking up the role of a drunken master?


    "And why are you carrying around that scabbard, master? If I remember correctly, there isn''t any sword in the hut..."


    "Shut up, Zhanxian."


    "It''s that dry stick you found in the yard, right? That''s the thing you''re trying to pass off as the hilt of a sword, isn''t it?"


    Soundlessly, Xuhan canceled Zhanxian''s summoning and proceeded to enjoy the spectacle in front of him.


    Yuen Zhou was about to start her lecture. The three of them had come up with a preliminary education plan after much debate. Since both Yuen Zhou and Mu Ran were better at using the language compared to Xuhan, he had let them take the reigns.


    Now, fifteen disciples sat on a mattress at the foot of the Black Sheep mountain in the gentle light of dusk, curiously looking up at Yuen Zhou. Han Xuhan himself was very curious to see how she''d handle this.


    "Fifteen disciples?"


    She crossed her arms and nodded imperceptibly.


    "Then let us begin. The first question all of you would like to know the answer to, is obviously, ''What kind of technique are you here to learn?''.


    The language of laws is a device for cultivators to use in order to impose their will upon the world around them. Our entire universe operates on laws, and every law exists to keep us balanced and safe. If a single, seemingly superficial law is derailed from its original purpose, then it''d cause a chain effect that would cast the entire world into chaos because all existing laws are connected directly or indirectly, thus forming a giant chain of effect, a web of balance running through the vast universe."


    Han Xuhan''s brows furrowed in confusion. What the hell was Yuen Zhou talking about? The script they had devised earlier was nothing like this. Was she improvising?


    Why did her lecture sound a bit too sophisticated and sure-footed to be entirely improvised on the spot?


    Xiao Wu spoke up the moment she stopped to take a breath.


    "I have a question. If derailing a single law can cause a disaster that large, why is the manipulation of laws not banned and declared a demonic technique?"


    Yuen Zhou nodded at Xiao Wu and continued to speak again.


    "And here''s where law Manipulators come in. Cultivation, in its essence, has always been about transcending our limits. During ancient times, when cultivators realized that manipulating fundamental laws can effectively destroy the universe as we see it, countless precautions were taken by them to stop such a scenario from taking place. And once you delve into the world of law manipulation, you''ll learn exactly what sort of precautions they took.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "But of course, destroying the entire world isn''t as simple as it sounds. Sure, just tweaking with some core laws would do the job very easily, but making sure that the changes you''ve made stay permanent, or becomes vast enough to encompass this near-infinite universe, is a task that even the most powerful cultivators can''t hope to achieve. Otherwise, we wouldn''t be having this conversation here; in fact, we wouldn''t even exist. From popular myths, it can be theorized that only the celestials can generate a catastrophe of such scale. But that''s something beyond us. Let''s turn back to our objective."


    Speaking this far, Yuen Zhou stopped again to let the information sink in, and to let the skeptics speak their minds.


    "Your teachings are quite contradictory. At the start, you mentioned that even messing with a superficial law can affect the universe due to the chain of effect it would form, but then you proceed to say that affecting the entire universe is impossible. What are we supposed to learn from this contradiction?"


    Another disciple asked doubtfully, a question that earned several nods and sounds of agreement.


    "Correct. In actuality, both are true based on circumstances. Suppose you want to nullify gravity. With the right set of tools and techniques, the language of laws can help you nullify the gravity in an area corresponding to your level of cultivation and mastery over law techniques.


    Then suppose, you want to cancel the gravity of this planet.


    How powerful do you think you''d need to be to achieve something of that caliber?


    Let''s just say that you''d need to be even more powerful than our sect master, realms above him even, to singlehandedly achieve the feat.


    "But theoretically, it is indeed possible, and if you manage to do so, what do you think will happen?" Yuen Zhou said grimly.


    For some reason, Xuhan got the feeling that she knew exactly what would happen, which was a rather unlikely possibility considering scientific advancement in this world hadn''t gone far enough to stage simulations with gravity or figure out the mathematics behind such hypotheses. As an earthling who had gone through high school, he knew what would happen, but what about martial sister Zhou?


    "Everything that''s not attached to the planet would be thrown off it in straight lines, directly out of the atmosphere. Even the air and water on the surface of the planet would share the same fate. Messing with a single law can practically wipe off life from the planet''s face.


    But to do this, you''d need a power supply beyond your imagination. The laws of the universe can be likened to elastic bands. Even if you stretch one a bit, it''ll return to its original form the moment you stop applying external force. This is how all laws operate so that simple manipulations cannot destroy the balance that has been created through a billion-year-old growth."


    At some point during her speech, the sun had worn a red apparel, dyeing the world in its own temporary fashion trend. But even more concerning detail was the legion of nimbostratus clouds blotting out the sky overhead. Faint blue streaks cackled across their body, yet no sounds reached Xuhan''s ears.


    A bad premonition grew in his heart. He had studied much about the tribulation clouds in xianxia land during his stay in the sect. This cloud overhead bore some resemblance with a few obscure details...


    From the beginning of her lecture, Yuen Zhou had not followed a single line from the teaching directory they had planned to follow. Everything she said so far was stuff she came up with on her own and the scientific accuracy in her teaching was unnerving.


    While he was mulling over the reasons that could summon tribulation clouds, the ringing sound of a guzheng broke his chain of thoughts.


    Eyes wide, Xuhan watched dumbfoundedly as Yuen Zhou twirled her fingers over a large guzheng on her lap.


    Where did that thing come from? You can''t just hide something that big in your pockets!


    Judging by the gasps resounding among the disciples in front of him, he wasn''t the only one caught off guard...


    "Disciples, if a cultivator can grow strong enough to meddle with the laws of an entire planet, what''s stopping them from growing strong enough to meddle with the laws of an entire universe? All over the world, the law of gravity is the same one, operating under different circumstances. Like these strings across the guzheng, the law of gravity stretches to every corner of the universe where matter exists."


    Twangs originating from the strings somehow enraptured the senses of all present, hitting their eardrums like sea tides in a storm. Han Xuhan couldn''t even form a coherent thought anymore, his mind being pressured into listening to the lecture in a subtle, yet overwhelming manner.


    "All laws originate from one, and thus they are connected. Pluck each string of a guzheng, and a sound shall be produced as the effect of your actions. But if all strings are connected, the echo will resound from all of them. Harmony, or disharmony, it all depends on how you pluck the strings. And that is where we law Manipulators stand."


    The unnaturally silent dusk was quickly transitioning into a starless night, accompanied by the nonstop waves of the guzheng''s ringing. In the dull, static corner of his mind that was still struggling against the hypnotic music, Han Xuhan noted the lack of nature''s presence in the mountains. Birds did not screech while moving back to their homes, bats couldn''t be seen flying around the trees, and the insects that kept the night alive were silent as well, and it made his confusion and dread grow even more.


    "The universe as we Law Manipulators see it, is an instrument full of strings, and the language of laws is our fingers trailing across their forms, eliciting music that pleases our senses and imposes our will upon the world. Whether you produce harmony or disharmony, it all depends on your skillful fingers and the state of your heart. But remember disciples¡ª Laws have come to exist because the universe was born, and the universe now exists because laws continue to function, and we Law Manipulators are but admirers of this millennia-old harmony, doing our best to learn from it and through the process, evolve into a form closer to godhood."


    Soundless thunder tore through the sky and blinded the audience as she finished her discourse, falling right on top of Yuen Zhou''s silhouette, repeatedly.


    Yet the carnage the onlookers expected to see did not take place. Rather, the aura of a breakthrough spread across the mountains, enveloping their senses once more while the sound of the guzheng''s strings died down.


    Compared to regular breakthroughs, this aura felt somewhat different, yet Xuhan couldn''t exactly figure out the reason behind this discrepancy.


    But as his senses all returned, only one thought occupied his mind.


    ''What the fuck have I done...? What disaster did I invite...?''

 Chapter 95: Cheering Torture Session

    "Why is the world so complicated? Why can''t things be simpler? I just wanted to become a businessman. It wasn''t even anything remotely illegal. Why did it have to involve some mysterious heavenly tribulation? Do the heavens hate me? Oh wait..."


    Lamenting his luck, Xuhan walked back to his hut sluggishly. Once the whole fiasco with Yuen Zhou''s lecture had taken place, it had attracted the attention of every living being in the sect. Sect master Xuan Zi himself had come running, panic written all over his usually serene face.


    After being briefed by a dazed Han Xuhan about the situation, sect master Xuan Zi had dragged Yuen Zhou away immediately with the rest of the curious elders following behind them.


    Numbly, Xuhan had instructed the dumbstruck disciples to pack their things up and left with his teaching materials and props.


    "On the bright side, that lecture was impressive as hell. Maybe that''ll actually help my business scheme..."


    Han Xuhan consoled himself and entered his hut, tired after the hectic experience. Feeling hungry, he summoned Zhanxian again to cook for him. Soundlessly, the skeleton jumped out of his back and landed on the ground.


    "How did it go, master? The lecture I mean."


    "Incredible!" Xuhan answered.


    "...Ah well, I was expecting it to be some sort of a disaster for some reason. Guess I was wrong, master."


    "....Cook."


    Zhanxian gave a mock salute and added as an afterthought, "You might want to have a chat with your new minion. Have fun!"


    Eyes narrowed with suspicion, Xuhan summoned the skeletal owl as Zhanxian entered the kitchen and started rummaging through their stocks.


    After a few seconds, the odd sound of bony wings flapping in the air behind him told him that the owl had appeared.


    Turning around, Han Xuhan found himself face to face with his latest creation, an owl with red bones that could somehow fly despite the lack of feathers. It confirmed his suspicions of the fact that his minions were somehow exempted from regular laws of physics. As the skeleton of a human, Zhanxian could move and speak like living humans, and as the skeleton of an owl, Tun Shi Tian could fly.


    That''s right. Han Xuhan had already decided what to call his second minion. After a lot of thinking, he had come up with this name. Although he wasn''t a Chinese in his previous life, he had learned a lot of redundant Chinese nouns that couldn''t really be used in real life, thanks to the webnovels.


    As far as he could tell, Tun Shi Tian meant ''Heaven Devouring''. During his edgy teen phase back on earth, the name had seemed pretty cool, a fact that embarrassed him to no end after growing up. Now though... now he was just using the name out of spite.


    Looking up above at the ceiling at nobody in particular, Han Xuhan let out a dry chuckle and met little Tian''s empty eye sockets.


    "Hello, there. How do you do?"


    The owl silently stared back at him for a good five seconds before answering.


    "Trash ."


    Han Xuhan''s mouth twitched. What a surprise...It was time to establish who was the bigger asshat here.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Hahaha, how adorable! Guess what? You''ll be serving this trash from now on. Wonder what that makes you, little Tian."


    The owl let out an enraged screech and dived at Xuhan like a bullet.


    "Trash, watch your mouth or I''ll stitch it up for you!"


    Just as its artificially sharpened wings were about to touch Xuhan''s face, it vanished into thin air, much to Xuhan''s amusement. About seven seconds later, the owl reappeared behind Xuhan and crashed into the wall of the hut which was magically strengthened for the convenience of regular cultivators with superhuman strength.


    "Trash, you dare!" The owl screamed. The scene would have been more perfect if it could vomit blood, but alas...


    "Give up, weakling. My Jedi powers are beyond your imagination. I have the higher ground!" Han Xuhan laughed derisively as he turned around to face the owl crawling on the ground. At some point during the fight, he had taken out his lightsabe-walking stick from its stylish sheath.


    Twirling it in his hand, Xuhan pointed a finger at the skeletal bird and said, "Resist as much as you want. But we both know that I''m superior in every way. According to the biologists, the physique of birds isn''t as refined as the physique of humans. To top that off, you''re a dead bird. Why go against natural order?"


    The owl, which had been preparing to unleash another wave of attacks, both verbal and practical, suddenly paused and turned to look at its senior brother Zhanxian, who had been attracted back into the room by the commotion.


    "What the fuck? Big brother, you told me he wasn''t right in the head! But this guy is...What the fuck is he even talking about? Jedi powers? Did cultivation change its name when I was asleep? And the rest...what is that even supposed to mean?"


    Zhanxian laughed in schadenfreude.


    "Cry about it, ''Little Tian''."


    "HOW DARE YOU! I''LL NOT ACCEPT SUCH A CHILDISH NAME! DIE FOR ME!"


    The owl again flew at Xuhan with incredible speed, and the previous scene repeated itself. Again and again, Xuhan and Zhanxian took turns in mercilessly teasing little Tian, driving the poor thing mad with fury and indignation.


    "Hmph! Is that it? I hope you can take more. We''ve got the whole night ahead of us, and I''ve held myself back for a chance like this my whole life. Hahaha!"


    "...Master, I was enjoying this until you opened your mouth. Why did you have to make it sound so fucked up?"


    Xuhan slapped Zhanxian on the back of his cranium.


    "Damned degenerate, stop thinking with your di-wait, hehehe..."


    "Did you have to rub that in, master?"


    "Well, between the two of us, I''m the only one who can rub it in, in more ways than one, see?"


    Leaving a snickering Xuhan behind, Zhanxian stomped out of the room back to the kitchen.


    "Hmph, scamper back to the kitchen. That''s where you belong, coward!" Xuhan said behind him and focused back on the owl. It was now lying on the ground lifelessly, looking as devastated as a skeletal bird can.


    "What about you? Still want to rebel against your master?"


    "...For now, I''ll accept your tyranny, you demon!"


    "Attaboy." Xuhan clapped his palms together.


    "Now tell me about yourself. Don''t bother with the name; I got one for you. A magnificent name for a servant of my magnificent self. TUN! SHI! TIAN!" Xuhan laughed uproariously, spreading his hands apart like a protagonist summoning their ace weapon.


    "...Hey, that''s actually not a bad name. I just disagree with the nickname. I''m a buff, healthy man. You shouldn''t call me little Tian."


    Han Xuhan was caught off guard, but he snorted immediately and continued to pressure the owl into giving in.


    "I see no proof of your manhood, other than your voice which should belong to a young teen, either male or female; it''s hard to tell. You owls all sound the same to me. Why would I believe you?"


    "So racist! I don''t have any reason to lie about this, damn you!"


    "Alright, alright, stop crying, my buff, healthy, totally male minion. If you behave, maybe I''ll change your nickname into something more manly. Now talk about yourself. What do you remember from the time before I summoned you? What do you think your identity is?"


    The owl maintained its silence for a while, seemingly contemplating its situation and thinking things through.


    "I was a nameless soul, floating along the curves of the heavenly river without memories, or an aim, nor thoughts for countless years. I do not know who I am, but I understand much, and recognize things that I have no memory of.


    After gaining my consciousness within that tower you restrain me in, I contemplated on what makes me so special, such an oddity. Perhaps I am an emissary chosen by the celestials in heaven, a son of destiny, a fated man on a mission.


    But alas, alas, alas; what an irony of fate it is that I have been captured by a devil like you before I could set out on my journey. Tell me, demon, in my place, could you accept such a twist of fate? Could you accept being forced to serve a talentless trash as a cannon fodder?"


    At this point, Xuhan cast a dark look at the kitchen. Did Zhanxian really describe him as a trash to this edgelord? No wonder his first-ever conversation with the owl started like that...


    "But perhaps this was also meant to be. Perhaps you shall be my stepping stone, the catalyst that will guide me on my way. Hmmm...I understand now, this is all a test from the heavens. For now, I''ll choose to serve you. But I''ll prevail one day and gain my freedom, demon! Remember that!" The owl finished its lamentations passionately, glaring at Xuhan the whole time.


    "Very cute. I''ll never forget this challenge, minion, you remember that!"


    Xuhan clicked his tongue and canceled the summoning spell, sending the owl back to his dao tower.


    That was quite an interesting conversation. This new minion seemed to be an ideal main character type of generic xianxia novels, except he was trapped in the body of a bird.


    Just like Zhanxian, little Tian had the general common sense of any normal human, but lacked the memory of how he had gotten them.


    Han Xuhan had always been quite curious about his cultivation technique. It was unnaturally simple compared to most of the techniques he had seen so far. The most ridiculous bit was the enormous world of the red sun that housed countless souls.


    From little Tian''s words...could that sun be the heavenly river? But how could a ginormous sphere like that be called a river? Metaphoric descriptions, perhaps?


    Sighing, Xuhan shelved the clues for another day and decided to cultivate while Zhanxian cooked. He was tired. He just wanted to eat and sleep today.

 Chapter 96: Separate Realm

    "Whoa...am I really in a lucid dream?" Han Xuhan wondered aloud as he took in the bizarre scene in front of him.


    "Mm-hmm, the last thing I remember is definitely going to sleep. This has got to be a dream. No, wait a minute, I almost forgot what sort of world I live in..."


    Heart mired in suspicion, Han Xuhan gazed at the countless flickering stars shining amidst the infinite stretch of darkness ahead. He couldn''t see his own body due to the darkness, but he could still feel his limbs, although the sensation was quite dull. His body felt weightless, as if suspended in space. The whole situation was fishy, to say the least.


    "The dao of meta verdicts that no dream in a cultivation world is normal. My actual dreams would never make me feel such clarity. And it would definitely not be so peaceful.


    What do I gotta do now? Do I just sit and wait?"


    His question was greeted by nothing but silence. Bored out of his mind, Xuhan could only keep wondering what could have caused this anomalous situation.


    Could it be someone from the sect, trying to ambush him? But he hadn''t really done anything to be targeted...That heavenly tribulation was entirely Yuen Zhou''s fault. Who else...


    Has that expert who had wiped out Pine Town finally made his move? After an entire month?


    Had he been wiped off the face of the planet like that town too?


    Not knowing what to do, Xuhan waited. Seconds stretched into minutes, and minutes stretched into hours. Even though there was no way to tell the time, Xuhan could still guess that at least several hours had gone by.


    In the vast, empty space, Xuhan started to panic.


    He couldn''t move, couldn''t see anything except the star-studded sky, couldn''t discern where he was...the passing time felt like torture at this point.


    Just as he was about to start shouting for mercy, one of the seemingly larger stars ahead flickered abnormally.


    His voice caught in his throat, Han Xuhan watched dumbfoundedly as the star slowly got larger and larger.


    "Is that thing coming closer or getting bigger?"


    Han Xuhan was forced to stand still as the light got large enough to block his vision of the rest of the stars far away. He couldn''t even turn his face away from it.


    Soon, the light enveloped him, blinding his vision for a moment.


    When he realized he could see properly once more, Han Xuhan gasped.


    A milky white, semi-transparent globe now separated him from the void he had been stuck in. He could still see the starlight twinkling weakly outside. His original assumption of being approached by a random star was definitely wrong. The globe that had enveloped him was connected to a cylindrical passage ahead, reaching so far in the direction the light had come from that Xuhan couldn''t see what was on the other side of the passage.


    "Wait, I can see colors?" Han Xuhan instantly looked down...and saw nothing except the round bottom of the white globe.


    "Where is my body?!!!"


    Other than his sight, hearing, and consciousness, no other part of his body seemed to be present here. Yet he could still feel the sensation of having limbs, but they still felt too heavy to move.


    Looking around, he couldn''t find any light source inside the globe. So how was he ''seeing'' anything here?


    To his eyes, this globe he was caged in was as bright as a room illuminated by high-voltage lightbulbs.


    "Maybe this really is a dream...that''s right. Only a dream could be this illogical. It makes sense that this doesn''t make sense anymore.


    Maybe if I try hard enough, my brain will produce a Gundam colossus. After all, it''s MY dream-"


    "I''m afraid not."


    A grave, disembodied voice had come from the tunnel ahead and interrupted Xuhan''s musings.


    Thousands of curses ran through Xuhan''s mind as he processed those words. He recognized the voice!


    "Yooo...fancy meeting you here, Brother Bondage Boy. So, you outta jail now?" Xuhan asked nervously.


    "...."


    An awkward silence stretched on between the two parties. Han Xuhan racked his brain trying to figure out what the fuck was going on. It actually didn''t require much thinking, now that the most important question- ''who had brought him here'' had been answered.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Heh, I expected you to deny your identity and take up that Shen Kai''s name again, if I''m being honest. How come you''re so cooperative today, Brother Xuhan?" Brother BB finally replied.


    "Ah well, it''s pretty obvious, isn''t it? The only reason I could be here, a place seemingly under your control, is because of that law seal in my dao base. And if I remember correctly, the mechanism behind the leaderboard in there somehow dug out my real name. Granted, nobody saw it at that time. But with you being the boss of that place, it shouldn''t be difficult to get your hands on those details," Han Xuhan explained patiently.


    For some reason, he always ended up taking the role of a talkative expert whenever this guy was around. Han Xuhan couldn''t fathom why.


    "Be that as may, I''m actually not your brother BB. That person was taken away by a higher faction''s emissary, to a higher-grade world. It''s me, your friend Qian Yun."


    Han Xuhan didn''t respond for quite a while before starting to laugh out loud.


    "You know what, Brother Bottled Brainworm? Your humor definitely got an upgrade. Last time we had a chat like this, you proved yourself to be quite a disgrace to all the gentlemen cultivators out there by refusing to explain your motives. I mean, who does that?


    "And now, you want me to trust your words again? Nice try. Try harder next time. Maybe cook up a good story to sell the lie. I love good stories. Your current one is terrible; zero point five stars...out of ten."


    "Wait, I thought brother BB was short for Banished Brat."


    "Of course not. It means Beleaguered Bastard."


    "....What proof do I need to give you in order to make you believe my words?" Brother BB finally gave up and asked.


    "Don''t be such a clown, fellow cultivator! Look, I won''t believe you regardless of the clues you feed me. So can we just skip this part of the conversation and get to the point? I am open to discussions, just not pointless ones. Tell me what''s going on here. I promise to cooperate."


    "Okay, if that is what you wish; have it your way." The voice from the other end of the tunnel sighed.


    "You''re now trapped within a realm separate from the rest of the world, a courtesy of the law seal in your dao base. Really, you should have done your best to destroy the seal even if it meant crippling your own cultivation. Now you''re at the mercy of whoever is in charge of the Holy Land of Laws, and that''s me."


    Brother BB stopped speaking to let the weight of his words sink in Xuhan''s heart.


    "How did I get in here, exactly?" Han Xuhan asked curiously, not letting any trace of fear crawl into his tone.


    "I summoned you, or more accurately, a certain aspect of your existence, like your soul, through the seal. It''s very easy. Happens to be one of major functions of the seal. This was one of the way to keep the new disciples of the Holy Land in line as well as weed out any imposters."


    Han Xuhan found himself having flashbacks of Yuen Zhou''s lecture. She had mentioned the ancient Law Manipulators taking up a great number of safety precautions while passing on their legacy. He had been curious to know what those precautions were.


    Could this be something similar?


    What a terrible way to find that out!


    But just as he was about to speak, another thought jolted his mind.


    He hadn''t been the only one whose dao base was infiltrated by the seal. Sect master Xuan Zi had assured him that the seal wasn''t a threat...


    A cloud of doubt rose in Xuhan''s mind as he played with the strings of information he had on his hand. He felt that he was just one question away from being able to formulate a rough picture.


    "Brother BB, did you summon Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou as well?"


    "As far as I can tell, the law seals in their dao base no longer function. I''m certain that they have found a way to deal with the issue. In fact, your martial sister Yuen Zhou dealt with hers just a few hours ago. Missed the opportunity to summon her by just an hour. Frankly, it was a surprise to me that you didn''t deal with something this risky even faster than them. Did your sect master not deal with the issue himself? Or did you hide it from him?"


    The veil of schemes became slightly more transparent as Han Xuhan connected the dots.


    Of course, now it all made sense in a more logical way. Mu Ran wouldn''t lack the means to deal with the seal. As for Yuen Zhou...a few hours before was the time when she had somehow summoned the heavenly tribulation to make breakthrough during their lecture on law manipulation!


    Sect master Xuan Zi had told him that removing the seal was something only a heavenly tribulation could naturally do, more specifically, the tribulation between the physique transformation realm and the soul reformation realm.


    Yuen Zhou definitely hadn''t reached that level of cultivation yet. Which meant that she had to artificially summon a tribulation, and that''s where the lecture came into the picture.


    But why use such a high-profile method? It had attracted the attention of all the elders and the sect master himself. She could have just gone outside the sect to some deserted place and pulled the stunt. Or was there a more indistinct agenda involved?


    Shelving those thoughts for another day, Xuhan focused on the issue at hand. Brother BB had started speaking again.


    "Now that we''re clear on the fact that you are in fact, at my mercy here and I can keep you locked up here until your main body dies, I''ll get to the point. If you agree to work for me, there would be no need to go through such drama. Simply swear a heavenly oath and I can let you off."


    Han Xuhan started howling in laughter as soon as he heard the offer.


    "What''s so funny, brother Xuhan?"


    "It''s definitely fun to see how confident you are of yourself while lying like that. If you actually had that much power over me, we wouldn''t have spent so much time on small talks, neither would you be patient enough to answer so many of my questions. Let''s go through your strategy after summoning me here.


    "If this place is, as you say, a frequently used, separate realm where disciples of the Holy Land could be controlled and examined, the number of hours I had to wait after being summoned here don''t make sense. Who has that much time to waste? Why didn''t you appear sooner? It''s not as if you were literally travelling through the stars to get here. Why would it take you hours to finally talk to me?


    "I don''t think I need to explain that the waiting part was a likely a simple intimidation technique. Since the moment I have appeared here, you''ve done everything in your power to make me feel less and less safe. From telling me repeatedly that I was at your mercy and indirectly hinting that my martial siblings backstabbed me and finally hammering in the final nails through sheer bullshit, all of these would be totally unnecessary if you really were that powerful as you describe yourself to be. We''ve seen perfectly well how you conduct business back inside the Holy Land, when we were at your mercy.


    "So let''s just ignore all of those little mischief on your part, fellow cultivator. I''m a magnanimous man. I''ll just treat it as a childish prank. Now why don''t you tell me about this deal you''re trying to offer me? And do change the conditions of the deal slightly if you want me to accept it. Equal parties, equal benefits, hmm?"


    Brother BB fell silent. Han Xuhan patiently waited. He wasn''t actually sure if the other party had more insidious cards to play, but this was the best he could achieve right now.


    "Fine. The deal is very simple. You supply me with cultivation resources, I''ll trade for those with cultivation manuals, information about higher level worlds, training methods for law techniques, anything that you can think of along those lines, provided that they''re of same value. Just like the deal we made back inside the Holy Land, remember?"


    Han Xuhan snorted in disbelief.


    "You lack cultivation resources? How am I even supposed to provide a soul reformation level cultivator with resources? I mean, I''m rich, but not that rich!"


    "I told you I''m Qian Yun. You only need to provide me with resources for a few cultivators in the physique transformation realm. How you do it is none of my business. All I care about is efficiency and speed. In turn you get all of those perks I just told you of. Do we have a deal?"


    Staring suspiciously at the tunnel ahead, Han Xuhan contemplated the choice for a long time before answering.


    "Can''t see why I should refuse. We do, fellow cultivator."

 Chapter 97: Ambitions Run Amok

    Han Xuhan opened his eyes and found himself staring at the wooden ceiling of his hut. The dark surroundings weakly illuminated by the vague moonlight coming through the window assured him that it was still nighttime. Checking himself all over a couple of times, he found no physical evidence of the fact that he had just traveled to a faraway realm of disembodied beings as one of its newly recruited inhabitants.


    "The way everything is developing almost makes me feel like a real protagonist myself. Getting dragged into conflicts that have nothing to do with me, escaping super experts by the nick of a hair, constantly finding myself inside secret realms full of mysteries...I even got a bit of a feud with the heavens! But why do I only experience the downsides of being a protagonist?


    Where are the cheats, the super secret overpowered techniques, the beauties with terrible standards? What else do I have to go through in the future?"


    Recalling all those generic novels on earth, Xuhan shivered in terror. The regular bloodbaths, the genocides, the masochistic cultivation techniques, the constant appearances of enemies with higher level cultivation base...


    It all boiled down to nothing but a terrible life full of misery and pain. Why would anyone voluntarily go through that shit when there were more peaceful options?


    In retrospect, most of those protagonists had something to fight for, something along the lines of jade beauty number 69 getting caught by his enemy, or parents'' lives being under threats etcetera. But to Xuhan, weaknesses like these did not exist.


    "Wait a damn minute, didn''t I grow up in an orphanage?"


    Han Xuhan bolted out of his sheets and sat on the edge of the bed with a frown on his face.


    "How could I have forgotten such a key detail? Now that I think about it, after recalling my previous life''s memories, my attachment to this world has reduced a lot. But still, I should have thought of this earlier. I never even went to visit them afterward. Why didn''t I even miss them?"


    For the first time ever, Xuhan started doubting his own reincarnation process. Before this, he had assumed that his own personality hadn''t changed by much after regaining his memories, and that the small change had come as a mutual realization between his two selves rather than a direct suppression from one side.


    "Now that I think about it, my memories of the orphanage feel rather fuzzy..."


    Han Xuhan found himself getting a headache over contemplating so many of his problems at once. Looking at the dark surroundings inside his hut, he laid back on his bed and closed his eyes, forcing himself to get a good round of sleep. He had a busy day ahead, and he needed the rest.


    .............. ............... .............. .............. ...............


    "The sect master has summoned you in," the older disciple managing sect master Xuan Zi''s residence said to Xuhan after keeping him waiting for an entire hour.


    It wasn¡¯t his first visit there. Han Xuhan navigated his way through the large building with ease, constantly replaying his planned scenarios in his mind.


    After a lot of thinking, Xuhan had decided to change his current lifestyle this morning. For one thing, he had to make sure he wouldn¡¯t end up being a protagonist-type guy.


    It was one of the reasons why he had decided to meet Xuan Zi today. He was going to come clean to the old man about everything, just the opposite of what every xianxia protagonist would do.


    Keeping secrets? Making shady deals with shady cultivators? Getting dragged into mysterious realms unsupervised?


    No, thank you! But Han Xuhan would not accept these shitty subplot bombs being thrown in his direction that easily.


    He found Xuan Zi quickly. The old man was, as usual, sitting in a lotus position, seemingly in the middle of a cultivation session.


    "Greetings, sect master. I have an issue to report."


    Arching an eyebrow upward, Xuan Zi gestured at him to sit down. Xuhan promptly followed.


    "Explain."


    "I hope you remember the law seal in my dao base, Master Zi. I asked your help in dealing with it."


    "Sure, I do. Did something happen?"


    Han Xuhan took a deep breath.


    "Yes. Last night, someone with a unanimous identity summoned part of me over to a secret realm unique to the Holy Land of Laws. Then he forced me to make a deal with him."


    The whole time he spoke, Xuhan kept his eyes glued to Xuan Zi''s face, and saw absolutely no surprise or anger appear over his placid expression.


    "Continue." Seeing him falling silent, Xuan Zi urged him on patiently.


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    "...Wait, you couldn''t have seen it coming, did you?" Xuhan asked slowly, a sense of dread and disbelief coloring his tone.


    Xuan Zi exhaled heavily.


    "Not exactly, but I expected something to happen. I''m more surprised that it has happened this late. I was originally starting to think you were hiding the issue and working for them already."


    The scenarios in Xuhan''s mind crashed apart, never having anticipated a situation like this.


    "But...You told me that the seal is harmless-ah, of course."


    Seeing Han Xuhan cool down instantly rather than throwing a fit, Xuan Zi smiled approvingly.


    "Good. I like smart children. You¡¯ve understood the crux of the issue, yes?"


    Xuhan nodded, his lips pressed into a thin line. For a long time, both disciple and master stared at each other coolly.


    "You wanted me to be your...spy? A middleman? A bridge that connects you to whoever is in charge of the Holy Land?" Xuhan broke the silence and said, watching Xuan Zi with narrowed eyes.


    "Something like that, yes. The seal cannot directly harm you, but the cultivator in charge of its control certainly can torture you if you refuse to cooperate. But rest assured, whoever is in charge of the Holy Land, they can''t do the latter part either right now. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have taken this path."


    "Why not?" Xuhan asked, not feeling particularly assured.


    "Hmm, I suppose you''re still too inexperienced to figure it out yourself. The Holy Land of Laws has been deserted for many years, yes?


    "As a makeshift jail, it shouldn''t have many exits to the main world either, right?


    "And its decimated lands aren''t suitable to germinate decent cultivation resources, remember?


    "Then, how would a cultivator, regardless of their power level, run a gigantic mechanism that can effectively control someone in a separate world? Have you thought about it? By now, you should have heard of power conversion theories in your lessons. One fact that you always have to keep in mind is that the bigger the scope of a technique, the bigger is its consumption of resources and power.


    "And a mechanism like that seal should involve at least multiple incredibly powerful formations, magical instruments that can establish cross-realm connection, tracking devices that could drain a normal sect in days if kept activated for long...Elder Long Xie from the Snow Thread mountain peak could go on for hours if you ask him the details.


    How is a mechanism like that supposed to run without any resources? Even if the Holy Land had all of its resources intact after all these years, they''d still have drained their stock dry with a handful of stunts like last night. Mechanisms like that are only intimidating when you''re within their reach."


    Han Xuhan finally realized why Brother BB had been so cooperative last night!


    Now it made a lot more sense! His adamant behavior last night hadn''t been the only factor affecting Brother BB''s conduct, the desperation for access to more resources was the bigger influence!


    Seeing him looking less anxious, Xuan Zi leaned back into a more relaxed posture.


    "Now why don''t you tell me about this deal you signed with the other party?"


    Han Xuhan finally got back his footing in the conversation and organized his thoughts before speaking.


    "He wanted me to supply him with cultivation resources. In return, he''d supply me with various types of cultivation techniques related to law manipulation, training methods, information about higher-level worlds."


    Xuan Zi started laughing, startling Xuhan. For quite a while Xuan Zi''s laughter continued. But looking at his face, Xuhan couldn''t detect any signs of mirth. The laugh looked more like an outburst from an anger-inducing realization.


    "So he''s that desperate?" Xuan Zi growled softly.


    "Did he tell you how to supply the resources to him? Do you need to go to the Holy Land yourself to do it? And how much resources does he need?"


    "Apparently, there is a spell that can only be used by the disciples of the Holy Land, which, using the law seal in my dao base and the separate realm he summoned me to, can transfer the resources over to him," Xuhan answered nervously. The sect master was starting to appear rather unhinged...


    "As for the quantity, he needs at least enough to satiate fifteen disciples at the late stages of the physique transformation realm."


    Han Xuhan lied for the first time since entering the sect master''s residence. Brother BB only had ten underlings at the moment, a major portion of the poor cultivators who had been possessed by his soul shards during their venture in the Holy Land. Except...


    Who told the sect master to use Xuhan as a bait? Who told the sect master to let him come under the threat of torture? Since he was being used by Xuan Zi, he would at least make the risk worth it!


    Resources for five extra people were enough to keep his own cultivation speed on par with regular disciples of the sect, or even higher. Coupled with his fat money bag, Xuhan was going to leave even the most talented, hardworking disciples in the dust!


    "Fifteen people at the late stages of physique transformation realm? I thought his cultivation was-ah, never mind. This is a good deal. You could probably pressure them into giving away far more precious things compared to some measly resources. Do your own part carefully, disciple Xuhan. This is a heaven-sent opportunity for you and the sect. Much responsibility lies on your shoulders now that you''ve accepted his offer."


    Xuan Zi took out a blood-red medallion from his pockets and handed it to Xuhan.


    "This is something few members of this sect possess. Every time you need to supply him with resources, take this medallion and visit Elder Shen. He is in charge of the resource management of the sect. Take the resources you need from him and do your job."


    For some reason, Han Xuhan felt that his little lie has been exposed. But he was never the bashful sort to begin with. He was pretty sure that the sect master wouldn''t call him out for that at this point even if he knew. What would it achieve?


    With an honest and solemn look on his face, he respectfully took the medallion from the elder and said,


    "Is there anything in particular I should demand from the other party during our first exchange, Master Zi?"


    Xuan Zi thoughtfully looked at Xuhan for a second.


    "Ask him to hand over the blueprint of their hidden world fragment. He''ll definitely refuse at first. Keep pressuring him using the carrot and stick method. Dangle the resources on his face a few times and vaguely mention that he doesn''t have as much time as he thinks. He''ll cave in. I have enough trust in your capability to pull this off. Go now, shoo."


    Xuhan walked out of the sect master''s residence with a complicated expression.


    "Do I have such a reliable aura? Is being too competent a crime these days? Why did he choose me, the weakest disciple of this generation, to be his middleman? It definitely isn''t as simple as a sheer coincidence. Xuan Zi was controlling the flow of events behind the stage the whole time. And he definitely wants something very precious from the Holy Land of laws. What could it be...?"


    In the back of his mind, a single realization suddenly registered.


    "Wait a damn minute, I went in there to confess, to get out of the deal and reduce my chances of becoming a protagonist...


    How did I get myself into an even deeper mess despite doing the opposite of what any protagonist would do?"

 Chapter 98: Rinse And Repeat

    "Should I let go of my feud with the heavens, just to distance myself even more from an MC template?


    "No...I might be a coward, but I still have some dignity left. Can''t let go of a grievance that humongous."


    Muttering to himself inside his hut, Xuhan packed up some clothes and food for his journey.


    He was going to visit the orphanage today. He needed some sort of a clarity, a direct look at his past life and a proper contemplation of his past self. What else had changed in him without his notice?


    His conversation with the sect master had at least assured Xuhan of one fact; he was a very valuable asset, for now. He could get away with a lot of actions that wouldn''t be approved of by the rest of the sect.


    Being absent from his daily tasks happened to be one of those. Just a flash of the medallion was all it took to settle the senior disciple in charge of the task management team.


    His orphanage wasn''t actually that far from the sect. During his entrance examination, he had reached the sect on foot after a ten hour long trekking. Since Mu Ran was out on his own adventures, it was a good time to take care of the issue before another disaster popped up.


    Hauling up his baggage on his back, Han Xuhan set off. On his way, he met up with Yuen Zhou for a chat. After her ''impressive lecture '' last time, many more disciples would be interested in knowing what exactly was being taught there. The business would surely spike upwards soon, heheh....


    "Martial sister Zhou, what exactly did you do yesterday? Not that I''m complaining that you''ve improvised the script but...what the hell did you do?" That was the first thing he blurted out as soon as he saw her.


    Yuen Zhou did not appear particularly disturbed by Xuhan''s outburst.


    "Remember the law seals on our dao foundations?"


    "Yes, I do. I remember very well."


    "I executed a very ancient, risky technique to employ the consciousnesses of numerous low level cultivators to summon a heavenly tribulation reserved for evil techniques. You can think of it as an alarm bell of sorts. Whenever the signs of the technique appear in our world, the laws of the universe will instantly try to obliterate it through various means such as heavenly tribulations , natural disasters," she answered with a deadpan expression, stunning Xuhan.


    "I used the tribulation to wipe off the seal from my dao tower."


    Heavens above! What kind of technique did she execute? Executing forbidden techniques to take care of her personal issue? So bold?!


    "Er...I thought your family background was pretty ordinary, martial sister."


    "It is. Both my parents are mortal, and long dead. Do you remember me telling you that I was specially invited to the sect by an elder? That elder was actually not my first master. Many years ago, when I was young, an old man who sold vegetables to my family told my parents that I have great aptitude for cultivation and taught me all about basic cultivation. But he died a few years later and left me with all of his possessions, which included an entire legacy of law manipulation techniques. The technique I used yesterday was something I learned from him."


    Xuhan stared blankly at her with a complex expression.


    Was he supposed to believe that story? Really?


    Perhaps his disbelief and skepticism was a bit too obvious on his face, because Yuen Zhou hesitantly revealed a bit more information after seeing his face.


    "That was also the actual reason why I could navigate my way into the Holy Land of Laws. My first teacher was one of the few people who escaped from the disaster that struck the land of laws due to sheer luck. From the old man''s stories, I figured out where the portal was. So I had been keeping an eye on anything strange happening around that area for quite a while. I wanted to see if I could salvage anything useful from the remains. Didn''t expect that there would be such danger inside."


    "....Ohhh, now it all makes sense!" Xuhan exclaimed while internally raising his guard up even more frantically. While her explanation did make sense, he would be a fool to completely believe her. He had already been fooled due to her unclear agenda multiple times by now, and the problems popping up around her were getting more and more disturbing every time. He had trusted her back at the land of laws last time when she told them that she had no other agenda other than investigating the suspicious gathering of so many cultivators.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    It turned out to be false now. Moreover, the technique she had indirectly supplied him through Qian Yun was part of an even more insidious scheme. She obviously was aware that Xuhan was the one in need of the technique after seeing Qian Yun handing it over to him. Yet she hadn''t warned him about its side effects.


    "Ah, that settles my concerns, martial sister. Hopefully, the sect master didn''t make things difficult for you after taking you away for interrogation," he said out loud with a relived tone.


    "Oh no, not at all. The sect master was actually quite impressed by the technique and asked me if I would sell it to him. He offered a pretty good price, and I do need the money. It''ll probably be a reserved technique though even if they make it available to the disciples. Summoning heavenly tribulations is no joke," Yuen Zhou said lightly.


    Han Xuhan instantly made a mental note to buy the technique as soon as it appeared in the archives. That was too awesome a technique to let go of!


    But there was something even more important he needed to make sure.


    "Since your financial problems are now taken care of, you''re not going to renege on our deal, right? Please tell me you''re not planning to stop teaching, martial sister!"


    Yuen Zhou shook her head, something that finally calmed his nerves for the first time during their conversation.


    "Don''t worry, martial brother. A deal is a deal. Plus, the payment I got from the sect for the technique is barely enough to last me a few weeks. I''ll be dependent on our profit from the classes after then. This was the main reason why I made the execution of the technique so eye catching."


    Coughing awkwardly, Xuhan ended the conversation right there and bade her farewell. As the saying goes, birds of a feather, flock together. Upon experiencing the effect of her technique, he himself had also envisioned the spike in their business scheme...


    ........ ........... ...........


    Setting his foot on the large town where he had grown up, or rather, his reincarnated self had grown up, Xuhan felt a strong sense of alienation. The town hadn''t changed at all, of course. He had been gone for less than a hundred days. Life in the town went on without his presence as smoothly as it was supposed to.


    The orphanage was situated at a distant corner of the town. Feeling the urge to renew his memories of this place, Xuhan decided to walk rather than taking a carriage, even though he could afford one without batting an eyelid, something that he would''ve considered to be a novelty just three months ago.


    Now that his memories of earth was present, Han Xuhan''s eyes took in a lot more details that he hadn''t really thought about in the past.


    The society here was...more advanced than he had originally thought. The way the buildings were planned and built suggested that architectural industries were slowly starting to take off. Maybe it wouldn''t be long before the familiar sight of smokey skies and multiple storied buildings showed up, just like the black and white photos of the 19th century back on earth.


    But it was also blatantly obvious that the passage of scientific advancement here wasn''t exactly natural. Occasionally, there would be odd elements that were definitely not supposed to be present in this era; for example, the eerily familiar sewage system running beneath the streets.


    How many transmigrators had messed around in this world before him? Xuhan couldn''t help wondering.


    "Young man, you look quite familiar. Have we met before?"


    The voice jerked Han Xuhan back to present, and he took in the sight of the owner of the voice with confusion.


    An unassuming looking middle aged man, wearing clothes that could be called...worn, but certainly not cheap, stood in front of him with a somewhat unhinged gleam in his eyes.


    Try as he might, Han Xuhan couldn''t recognize this person. His clothes didn''t quite fit what the townsfolk here wore either. Perhaps a foreigner?


    "No, I don''t think so...? You got the wrong person, senior."


    "Oh, no no. You definitely look familiar, a bit too familar, I''d say. Makes me develop some strange urges, your face does. Where have I seen you...?"


    Han Xuhan slowly prepared to turn and run away, then he remembered that he was a cultivator now. What reason was there for him to be afraid of a madman?


    "Oh? What sort of urges do you develop upon seeing my handsome visage? I hope it''s not sexual! Do tell me!"


    Rather than running away, Xuhan stood his ground and asked back in an equally unhinged tone. He had always had a talent for playing a madman for some reason.


    "What sort, you ask? Ah, there''s one that makes me want to smash you into the ground and reduce you to bits and pieces of flesh and bones. There''s another that makes me want to cut you up carefully and see what''s inside. Another urge makes me want to simply make you stop existing. Heaven knows, the urges are so hard to keep down. I want to do them one by one, or go all out at the same time. I can''t even tell what I want to do at this point. It''s so hard to navigate through my thoughts these days. Ever since my toys were kidnapped and taken away, I couldn''t control them anymore. I miss my toys so much!"


    The man suddenly wailed and squatted down on the ground and started sobbing. Han Xuhan rubbed his nose and looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to them. He didn''t want to appear to be a cultivator bullying a poor, insane mortal.


    "Well, that sounds unfortunate. Maybe when you grow up and get stronger, you''ll be able to beat me up and finally satisfy those urges," Xuhan remarked as he turned to leave.


    "That''s the problem! I can''t! Ever! I can''t control my toys anymore! Waaa..."


    Hearing the man wailing behind him, Xuhan shook his head and put the incident out of his mind.


    This man was indeed insane.


    Whoever his caretaker was, they''d find him in a heartbeat with wails that loud. Besides, the lack of curiosity from the passersby and shop owners suggested that they were familiar with such scenes. They probably knew the madman. He didn''t need to check if the guy was lost.


    Striding through the wide roads, Xuhan relied on his memory to navigate his way to the orphanage. On his way, the number of familar faces increased slowly. People he had talked to everyday back then, people whose home he had visited often, shops he had frequented, yards he had played on...


    The memories of his second life slowly got clearer and clearer with each turn of the street, each new landmark that he remembered, until, he saw it.


    A small field with a smooth patch of grass lay ahead, the flourishing state of the flora suggesting that no one had set foot in there for quite a while.


    The orphanage that occupied this field in his memory...it wasn''t there.

 Chapter 99: Hustler Han

    "Grandpa Jin, what happened to the orphanage behind your shop?"


    The old man looked up at Xuhan with a confused expression. Han Xuhan''s heart clenched as he interpreted the gaze he was facing. There was no sign of recognition in those eyes, those eyes that had looked at him with affection for as long as he could remember, belonging to the man who had been the grandfather figure of the entire orphanage for a decade.


    "Orphanage? Where?" Craning his neck around, the old man peeked behind his shop and observed the empty field there for a second, his face puzzled.


    "Young man, I think you got the wrong place," he said as he looked back at Xuhan.


    "Ah, my mistake, then," Han Xuhan muttered as he turned to leave. Guts tightening, his mind compared the eerie similarities between the disappearance of Pine Town and the orphanage.


    "Wait a second, kid. How did you know my name? I haven''t seen you around here. A foreigner, aren''t you?"


    Xuhan didn''t answer and rapidly moved away from the shop.


    "Aunty Jing, do you recognize me?"


    "....Are you new to the town, child? Did you visit my shop before?"


    "Baldie Zhao, you remember this town ever having an orphanage?"


    "What? Orphanage? There used to be one years ago. Didn''t the chief get the governor''s permission to use that building as his guesthouse? It''s just outside the town''s gates, near Lao Meng''s restaurant."


    "Not that one, Baldie. There used to be one behind Grandpa Jin''s shop, remember?"


    "Who are you calling a Baldie? Do I know you, punk?"


    Every answer he got further darkened Xuhan''s thoughts. After a stroll around the general area, he gathered his discoveries so far into a logical arrangement.


    "First of all, no one remembers an orphanage ever existing here. To them, the area there has always been empty, and nobody is sure who owns the land there.


    "Secondly, even though I have interacted with all of them for my entire life, they don''t recognize me, which means whoever is behind this, they know about my existence, directly or indirectly, and could affect it too somehow. Yet I''m alive and unharmed whereas these people have been mindwiped.


    "Thirdly, any physical evidence of the orphanage''s existence, such as the sales record of nearby shops, wholesalers, and the customer lists of the town''s public services, have been removed.


    "For now, the only conclusion seems to be a large-scale memory wipe spell, as well as some incredibly detailed process of obliterating any clues related to the disappeared elements.


    "In both cases, I escaped barely due to being absent. But more importantly, could these two incidents be linked?"


    Han Xuhan''s eyes narrowed into slits as he considered the possibility of an expert taking revenge for the Pine Town incident by wiping off Xuhan''s ''home''.


    "No, that can''t be. The plot where the orphanage used to be has definitely been unoccupied for at least a couple of months, judging by the height of the grass and weeds. When Pine Town was wiped out, the land it left behind was absolutely devoid of anything like this. If this was an act of revenge, then they''d make sure that once I returned, I''d be able to link the clues together instantly. Casting a spell to make the grass grow artificially and hide the time of the disappearance would be counterproductive in that case."


    This meant that the wipeout of the orphanage had happened before the wipeout of Pine Town. But why...?


    He was the only cultivator ever to be selected from the orphanage in the last few decades. They didn''t have any enmity with anyone influential either. The cultivator who had done this definitely belonged to a demonic sect. Since when were demonic cultivators so high profile? It had barely been three months since Xuhan started cultivating and he had already had multiple run-ins with them.


    After a few more hours of fruitless investigation, Xuhan decided to return to the sect. He was not powerful enough to find more clues or chase after demonic sects for answers.


    "Wait, that mad guy I met on my way here...didn''t he say he sort of recognized me?"


    Han Xuhan''s steps faltered as the thought occurred to him. As a child who had lived in the orphanage, the memories related to his existence had been wiped out from everyone''s mind as well. Yet that guy had actively spoken to him and provided such a critical message in an offhanded manner while posing as a madman...


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Eyes widened, Xuhan used every bit of strength in his body to rush toward the street where he had met the "crazy" fellow.


    But that corner of the street turned out to be empty.


    "Hey, Uncle Zhang, where did that crazy guy weeping over here go?" He asked a nearby shop owner in a panicked tone.


    "Where? That corner? I don''t know. Haven''t seen anybody crying in there since morning. Crazy guy, you say? Was he wearing any clothes?" The chatty hairdresser asked in puzzlement.


    When Xuhan described the clothes that guy had worn, the shop owner shook his head.


    "Only crazy fellow in this town is ol'' Hui. He usually walks around naked."


    Xuhan was familiar with ol'' Hui himself. So he realized that it was pointless to continue the investigation anymore. That guy was his only source of a possible answer to this mystery.


    Whether he had anything to do with the disappearance of Pine Town, however, remained to be seen.


    ....... ........... ..........


    The journey back to the sect was uneventful. Han Xuhan stayed alert throughout, afraid that he''d get wiped out like the orphanage halfway. Slightly feeling relieved after reaching the sect, he inconspicuously slipped into his hut under the weak light of the dusk.


    During his journey back, he had made some plans and sorted out his thoughts. There was no point in informing Xuan Zi about the orphanage. As it was tied to his origin, Xuhan felt that the information might be a bit sensitive, not to mention, Xuan Zi''s offhanded way of handling the Pine town situation wasn''t particularly encouraging. It had been an entire month since that incident and the mystery hadn''t been cracked at all. What was the use of giving away something even more disturbing when it could implicate himself?


    He would wait and see if the previous one ever got solved before deciding whether to reveal this one.


    It was a rather selfish thing to do, probably. There was a tiny possibility that the disappearance of the orphanage could provide a critical clue to the investigation. But selflessness wasn''t something Xuhan practiced much. So he went on about his business despite the tiny, uncomfortable feeling in the back of his mind opposing his decision of maintaining secrecy.


    Sitting on his bed, he decided to draw up a harsher routine for himself. He could get his hands on as much resource as he needed for as long as the deal between the Holy Land and the Crimson Snow sect lasted. He needed to ensure that he reached a substantial level of power by the time he faced a new, bigger issue.


    Xuhan was determined to investigate what went down in Pine Town and his childhood home. That would require a certain level of abilities far, far beyond his current self, perhaps even beyond the sect master himself.


    "Why is it that the moment I became slightly self-aware, my chances of becoming a regular protagonist became ten times higher...? Did my self-awareness come too late? Was it inevitable the moment I set my foot towards this sect?"


    Feeling a sour taste in his mouth, Han Xuhan patched up his new routine. If a normal outer court disciple saw the amount of resources he was planning on dumping on himself and his minions, they''d probably mistake the routine to be an expenditure record for his entire mountain peak. Han Xuhan was planning to pay for everything remotely useful during cultivation, and that was a long, long list.


    Not enough qi inside the hut? Pay for the best type of formations!


    The qi in the surroundings are lacking in quality?


    Pay for the best type of purification and condensation gadgets!


    Mind wanders frequently? Buy potions for concentration and clear thoughts!


    Hip problems occurring after sitting too long? Buy expensive medicines to keep the hips unaffected!


    Lacking inspiration and feeling tired after a long session? Buy the rejuvenation drink!


    Random itches all over your body distracting you during meditation? Buy the specialized gadget that can detect that shit and scratch the perfect spot in an instant!


    Sounds bothering you from outside? Expensive one-way formations shall block it!


    Afraid of nature''s call interrupting your immersion? Eat the expensive digestion-strengthening pills to make your body treat your meals like a drop of water in an endless desert. You''ll not piss, nor shit...


    For the first time in his life as a cultivator, Han Xuhan came to appreciate the vast list of tempting items sold by the sect in order to empty the pockets of the disciples. It further confirmed his suspicion that the creator of these items was a rich young master who had no idea how regular mortals cultivated.


    Taking a large pouch filled with spirit stones in his hands, Xuhan went out to the sect''s treasury again. By now, everybody there knew him due to his frequent visits. He had built up a reputation as a lascivious young master from a super-rich, anonymous clan.


    Even when he had tried to convince them that his entire fortune was something he had earned himself, nobody believed him.


    "Disciple Xuhan, your supplies ran out so soon? Didn''t you refill your stock just last week? Can you even afford this?" Elder Shen asked in shock when he saw the list Han Xuhan had handed him.


    Maintaining his silence, Xuhan sighed and absent-mindedly shook his left hand with which he had carried a fat pouch all the way to the treasury. The crystalline spirit stones within jingled, producing the sweetest of melodies.


    Elder Shen''s eyes started to gleam with an otherworldly light as he eagerly ran inside and instructed his assistants to gather everything on the list as fast as possible.


    "The best goods for the best customers!" He yelled behind their back as they scattered across the treasury with hurried steps.


    Within ten intense minutes, a gargantuan pile of resources, treasures, and gadgets was lying in front of Xuhan.


    "Mm, good, good, good," Xuhan commented while nodding like an elder himself. Elder Shen energetically calculated the total expense and handed Xuhan the bill with his teeth flashing.


    "Disciple Xuhan, the total is Four thousand and one sprint stones only. Since you''re a VIP customer, I''ll knock off that one spirit stone in the end and round up the price for you!"


    Nodding as if satisfied by the quick service, Han Xuhan reached inside his pouch and took out...the medallion Xuan Zi had given him.


    "Here is the payment, respected elder. Please verify it and return it to me afterwards. I''ve got places to be; I''m too busy these days spending spirit stones..."


    Sighing ruefully, Xuhan left with the fat pouch jingling with his footsteps. Behind him stood a dumbstruck elder Shen whose hands were shaking as they clutched the medallion.


    That night, the task administration pavilion welcomed in a man wearing a black cloak and a mask on his face. This was the sect''s territory, so they weren''t really afraid of being attacked by the secretive, suspicious guy.


    "I''d like to issue a mission here," the man said in a muffled voice.


    "Oh? Do you want to keep your identity anonymous, in that case?" The lead administrator asked. It wasn''t a particularly rare happenstance to them. They encountered a lot of sect members trying to get the disciples to do jobs they didn''t want to be associated with.


    "Yes, of course." The man nodded as expected.


    "Well, fire away the details," the administrator said as one of his helpers got ready to take notes.


    "It is a very simple mission," the man said as he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. Taking it from his hand, the administrator found himself staring at a detailed sketch of an unfamiliar man.


    "I need information on this man. Where he was seen last, if there is any locality he visits frequently, or even a way to contact him," the masked stranger spoke unhurriedly.


    "Ah, that''s not difficult. But what rewards are you offering for the mission?" The administrator asked, rather relieved that it wasn''t anything too shady. Otherwise, he would have had to turn it down...depending on what price this stranger offered.


    A fat pouch full of spirit stones fell on his desk as the anonymous stranger retracted his hands.


    "That''s a full one thousand. If they can get me a way to meet this guy, two thousand more will follow. It is unnecessary to contact me. I''ll know when the mission is taken down after completion."


    Leaving two gobsmacked disciples behind, the masked stranger retreated and disappeared in the dark night silently.


    "...Inform the elder. We''ll have a new mission topping the charts tomorrow," the lead administrator said after a short bout of silence.


    "With a reward that high, I''m pretty sure some elder in need of cash is gonna snatch it up before any outer court disciple even notices it," his helper muttered in amusement.

 Chapter 100: Dao Tower, Or Dao Condo?

    "Now, this is unexpected. What could the logic behind this even be ?" Xuhan wondered aloud as his consciousness floated alongside Zhanxian inside his dao tower.


    Today was a special day. Zhanxian, his first minion, was about to truly step on the path of a cultivator from this day forth. The skeleton minion had reached the second layer of its artificial qi cycling system just a few days ago. It was high time for it to start constructing its dao tower.


    Han Xuhan had been quite surprised to learn that the artificial qi system wasn''t enough for one to create their own dao tower. How, or why, he had no idea. And it wasn''t as if he could go around asking his peers about this sort of evil technique. Some extensive research in the library had bore some fruit, though.


    Experts from the mosquito apocalypse era were the first ones to officially recognize this subtype of cultivation technique. Due to the terrible outbreak of giant mosquitos all over the planet, many mortals were forced to actively fight them off.


    During the crisis, a handful of them got lucky and absorbed the meat of extremely powerful mutated mosquitos. The intake of the large amount of spiritually enhanced substance awakened them to some very barbaric, primitive methods of cultivation. After discovering this phenomenon, many sects guided these lucky ones into the path of real cultivation. However, due to the lack of proper foundation and resources, most of them died before reaching the soul reformation realm. This left their families with the primitive cultivation methods that hadn''t been, as quoted by scholar Long Aotian, ''registered'' by the heavenly authority.


    Thus, this subtype of cultivation techniques were given the title ''Stub'' worldwide. Although such incidents had happened before the mosquito apocalypse era many times, the apocalypse was the pivot point that caused the knowledge and popularity of the techniques to rise, which forced the proud ancient cultivators to acknowledge the subtype of cultivation officially.


    Han Xuhan had little idea what the mosquito apocalypse was about. But based on his knowledge of this world''s history, ridiculous shit like that happened a lot. Regardless, he had gotten a rough idea of what went down after finishing the passage.


    A technique can only go as far as its best practitioner, but the creator of the artificial qi cycling system died when he was at the third layer. If one wanted to build a dao base with it, they''d have to create their own path, and reach the final layer where they''d encounter the heavenly tribulation for the physique transformation realm. Their dao tower would be recognized by the heavens during the tribulation and grow rapidly to a normal shape if they passed the phase.


    Nevertheless, this tiny problem wasn''t enough to make Xuhan pause. What did make him pause was the anomaly that came afterwards, when he made Zhanxian cultivate according to the manual of the ''Zeroth Layer of the Physique Transformation realm''...


    "As your underling''s minion, should we let Zhanxian become a part of the mediocre cultivators around us, boss? Since we have practiced the extra layer, we should let our underlings too!"


    That''s the logic he would have thrown out to appease Mu Ran if he ever was found out....But now, it seemed that the issue he had ended up creating was about to bite him in the ass again.


    "Ah, I always wanted to be one of those guys in textbooks who discovered something new and unique. Guess that wish is about to be fulfilled. Why do I feel like complaining?"


    Once Zhanxian''s cultivation came into effect, it had ended up affecting Xuhan''s own dao tower rather than creating one inside Zhanxian''s consciousness. He had never heard of anything quite like this. But again, almost no one had been crazy enough in recorded history to summon minions with human intelligence and bear the expenses of their forced, artificial cultivation.


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    Han Xuhan''s dao tower used to look like an ordinary building on a square plot of land. One storied, one room, four white walls outside, numerous ghastly graffiti covering the walls inside, and a plain roof overhead.


    Now, one of the walls had been demolished, and an extension the size of a mini trailer occupied the space there. Zhanxian''s avatar, the palm-sized floating skeleton had now moved on to that part. His second minion Tun Shi Tian was still within the original dao tower, hovering silently and watching the situation with great interest.


    "Look at that, little Tian. Once you start following your senior brother''s footsteps, you''ll get your own apartment! Aren''t you excited?" Xuhan said with a light chuckle as his consciousness probed the extension of his dao base carefully.


    "Hmph, trying to bluff? Stinky brat, you''re a millennium too young to fool me !" The owl responded.


    "You''re lucky I''m not making you pay rent, little birdie. I''m the landlord here. Better not take that tone with me or I''ll create a dog for my next project and let it chew on you all day long."


    "Dream on, you disgraceful trash. By that time, I''ll become much more powerful compared to my current form. My talent for cultivation surpasses yours by thousands of li!"


    "True, true. But have you considered how far your monstrous talent can take you when I cut your resource budget and refuse to give you cultivation techniques?"


    "....Ahaha, I was just kidding, master. I''m very grateful that I have a master as benevolent as you who even offers to give us worthless minions separate living space! Who else can boast of such a ridiculous feat?"


    With an exhausted tone, Tun Shi Tian admitted defeat and fell silent. Xuhan had figured out its true nature by now. The owl was even more greedy compared to Zhanxian, and a million times more ambitious. As long as Han Xuhan kept a tight leash on it and didn''t let its rebellious streak go wild for too long, it would stay in line.


    "Master, do you feel my part of the dao tower affecting your original foundation in any way?" Zhanxian asked nervously.


    "Nah, nothing feels out of place," Xuhan said after a few more probes.


    Floating away outside his dao tower, he took in the unfamiliar scene in front of him again. Zhanxian''s new apartment stuck out like a sore thumb from the original dao tower. His worries set aside, Xuhan couldn''t help but be curious to see what sort of abomination the tower would be once he reached the peak of the physique transformation realm.


    Would it become a condo?


    This was going to be quite fun if it didn''t backfire on him somehow.


    Retracting his consciousness from the dao base, Xuhan opened his eyes and summoned Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian. Both of the skeletons were cultivating together with him. Zhanxian had just made his breakthrough with the zeroth layer while Tun Shi Tian was practicing the artificial qi cycling technique. Xuhan was busy with his third project, a rattlesnake.


    Able to live in many types of habitats, known widely for being one of the most venomous species of snakes, small enough to sneak around easily; these three advantages of a rattlesnake would be terrifying when mixed with human intelligence and cultivation resources. After observing Zhanxian and little Tian, Xuhan had become sure that all summoned creatures retained their species-specific abilities. Right now, he had a human skeleton to act as his body double under a mask and a spy high above in the sky to keep a tight lookout.


    A hidden, living weapon that could hide in his sleeves or scout underwater was the best choice for now. He had to be prepared for every type of environment!


    "That''s another task I''ve covered so far..." he muttered as he ticked out a sentence from the list in his hands. Then, after a few moments of consideration, he wrote down a new line.


    1. Put a bounty on the mad guy - done


    2. Make the minions cultivators - done


    3. Start working on the third minion - in progress


    4. Pay Yuen Zhou''s weekly lecturer fee - done


    5. Learn the technique for the resource transfer -


    6. Complete the first transaction with Brother BB -


    7. Make the minions cultivate the ''Spiritual Bones'' technique -


    8. Discuss the dao base anomaly with elder Kong -


    9.


    10.


    The list went on and on. To give himself a moral boost of sorts and keep his current goals in sight, he carried the list everywhere and constantly added, retracted, or rectified the details. These days, too many things were happening at once, distracting him from his goals constantly. The list did wonders to keep his nerves under control.


    The fifth goal, to learn the spell that would allow him to transfer Brother BB''s resources to the Holy Land of Laws, was also near completion. So far, he had been summoned to that realm of consciousnesses twice. Brother BB had almost thrown a fit when Xuhan had revealed that he had confessed to Xuan Zi. But the indication that Xuan Zi was interested in a partnership between their sects had calmed him down instantly.


    Tonight, he said, they''d meet in the separate realm for the third time and Han Xuhan would receive the guidance on how to transfer the resources.


    Putting the list down, he sat beside the skeletons and started cycling qi again. He had everything he''d ever need to progress his cultivation. Wasting time wasn''t an option he could afford to choose.

 Chapter 101: Second Prophecy, First Move

    Di Qian''s feet felt alive again as he stepped on the sandy shores of his homeland. Behind him, the red seawater rippled vigorously, spanning as far as his eyes could track.


    Today was one of the calmer days in the poison sea, something Di Qian was thankful for. He and his soulbeast little Hei were at their very limits after travelling through its mucky waters for so long.


    With a splashing sound, the large black fish jumped out from a weak wave and landed on the basket on his back. Its relief after finally getting to dip lazily in normal water was apparent from its movement inside, making Di Qian smile.


    "Get some rest, girl. You''ve done well."


    Through the black and white sands that spanned several miles, Di Qian''s speed got faster and faster. The familiar landmarks he noticed on the distant horizon took out all the tension from his body.


    Soon, he reached the first sign of human civilization at the shore of the poison sea¨C a iron-wrought slope that led to the majestic gates of the Beasthaven Sect.


    Behind the gates glittered enormous towers made with rocks from the seabed, gargantuan sculptures sculpted from black sand, construction projects that went as high as hundreds of feet above and thousands of feet below; a sight impactful enough to stun even the members of the sect from time to time. Dozens of miles across the sands, the Beasthaven Sect''s territory was a visage that even the most colorful imaginations couldn''t capture.


    Six gatekeepers, dressed in golden uniforms, stood side by side with their soulbeasts behind them, watching Di Qian intently. As he got nearer, all six of them performed the standard salute.


    "Greetings, elder Qian. The sect master has been very worried these days. It is a relief to see you unscathed," the head of the gatekeepers, a young lady said after a curt bow. The other five followed suit.


    "Is everybody in?" Di Qian asked with a nod, impatience seeping into his tone.


    "Yes, elder. The rest who went out have all returned. Many were injured, including your grandson. But they''ve recovered for the most part," the head of the gatekeepers answered.


    "That''s good, that''s good. Send someone to ring the fourth-level alarm throughout the sect."


    Di Qian entered the gates immediately and vanished out of their sight. The head gatekeeper stood still for a few seconds, seemingly stunned, before rushing in another direction inside the sect grounds.


    On his way, Di Qian put little Hei inside one of the Body Nurturing Lakes. The poison sea had taken a great toll on its health. A dip inside the lakes with its own kind would do the fish some good. The sect ground was flourishing with artificially created animal habitats that utilized natural resources to the limit to nurture animals. Thousands of disciples were constantly rushing to and fro with their soulbeasts, busy with their own concerns. Di Qian felt a faint pain in his heart as the realization dawned on him that the peace and tranquillity here wouldn''t last for long; not with the news he had brought.


    Qing Shi, the master of the Beasthaven sect, was standing outside his luxurious palace, absent-mindedly gazing at the faraway sea. Di Qian''s footsteps brought him out of his thoughts.


    "Elder Qian!" He exclaimed, surprise and relief evident in his voice.


    "Now, this is worth celebrating over! I was about to assume the worst possibility! Your family has been worried sick for your news."


    Di Qian bowed curtly, a warm feeling suffusing his heart.


    "My apologies, sect master. A couple of bastards snatched my soul signature pulser away while I was recuperating from a grievous injury. I imagine those brats have been misusing it since then, huh?"


    "...Not exactly, elder. It only sent one pulse in the last two months. That''s why we became even more worried!"


    "That''s strange," Di Qian muttered as he recalled the two mischievous children who had ''confiscated'' the soul signature pulser. They knew what it was and how to use it. Did the brats die after entering Pine Town? That shouldn''t be...


    "But are you alright right now? How much have you recovered, elder? Let''s walk towards the infirmary, we can talk on the way. You look like you''ve lost a lot of weight. That''s not a good thing at your age..."


    Eyes twitching, Di Qian followed Qing Shi as the younger man fussed over him. It was common knowledge in the sect that Qing Shi wasn''t exactly a reserved person, much less being the sort who could be passed off as someone as lofty as the master of the Beasthaven sect, arguably the most powerful sect on this planet.


    "As much as I''d like to get my injuries treated, sect master, I cannot currently muster the peace of mind that would allow me to sit and recuperate. I have some...bad news."


    Qing Shi''s smile faded. "Did something happen to our sacred seedlings?"


    "Not them, they''re fine. But they won''t be for long when the prophecy comes true, would they?"


    Qing Shi froze, his pupils shrinking into tiny dots.


    "Which prophecy are we talking about, here?" he asked.


    "The worst one." Di Qian''s answer was simple.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    A long moment of silence passed between the two of them as they stood together in the middle of the road, busy disciples and their soulbeasts passing by them carefully, sending greetings from a distance.


    "Please tell me that was a joke," Qing Shi finally said in a weak voice.


    "I could do that, but that doesn''t make it one," Di Qian said.


    "I''m quite scared myself, so I wouldn''t blame you. The prophecy is about the destruction of our sect, our lineage, maybe even our entire planet, after all. We''ve been in denial for long enough."


    "...."


    "Yes, sect master. The prophecy really is coming true, if my suspicions are correct. And I''m not senile enough yet to make a mistake on an issue so grave that''ll bury us."


    "Tell me," Qing Shi replied in a grim tone.


    The fourth-level alarm began ringing through the sect soon, causing great confusion among the disciples of the Beasthaven sect. They had never heard this particular alarm before. But from the way the elders dropped what they had been doing and rushed toward the sect master''s residence, they figured it was something of significant importance.


    ........ ........... .............................


    The evening wind would have been soothing had Qing Shi not been worried for the future of his sect, his family, and himself.


    Standing at the seashore, his thoughts came scattered, diajointed, chaotically. Try as he might, he failed to find a choice that could save the countless lives he was in charge of from the impending doom.


    Escape from the planet? That was the only possible solution. Except he could only take a small number of people with him if he chose to leave. But what about the rest of the sect? Abandon them?


    Impossible.


    Qing Shi would have never risen to his current position in life if he had a mindset that selfish. Many would call him foolish for not attempting to save those he could and flee. But Qing Shi didn''t care. Either he would find a way to save even the chickens and dogs his sect had nurtured, or go down with this planet facing its end.


    It would be a pretty cool way to die, Qing Shi felt. Much better than dying amidst the territorial scuffles in higher-level worlds.


    "Hello there, fellow cultivator. You look preoccupied."


    An unfamiliar voice came from behind, jerking his thoughts to a standstill as Qing Shi turned around instantly.


    How the hell did somebody sneak up on him? Who?


    A black void, shaped like the silhouette of a tall human, stood casually in front of him, just a few meters away. Qing Shi spread his astral senses and repeatedly scanned the area the silhouette was standing in, yet he couldn''t sense any signs of life there.


    Without waiting for the silhouette to speak again, Qing Shi closed in on him instantly and poked a finger toward its throat. The silhouette made no move to counter him.


    As if touching air, Qing Shi''s finger passed through the void and appeared behind it, affecting nothing, being affected by nothing.


    "If you''re done confirming your suspicions, let''s have a more civilized discussion, shall we?" said the silhouette.


    "I''m not quite sure I should trust anything that comes out of your mouth when you don''t trust me enough to reveal your identity, fellow cultivator," Qing Shi said after retracting his hand.


    "Good point there. But I''m sure you''ll be quite interested in what I have to say to you."


    Masking his qi, Qing Shi sent a secret signal to the sect to surround this place and block all types of arrays, formations, and qi-fuelled mechanisms. Then he sat down on the sand and gestured at the silhouette, "Go ahead. I''m listening."


    "Soul of a dragon, broken and scattered


    Soul of a human, twisted, unfettered


    Heavens forbid, should they touch


    Scholars of laws¨C they left but a grudge


    Rulers of stone¨C throne unforged


    Shepherds of sands, torn and scorched


    The crimson worlds¨C ripped, besieged


    The leaf of a god, it''s burnt to bits


    The sturdiest sword¨C it''s cracked, it sits


    Scrolls of the wise¨C buried in lies


    Everyone rots, no wreaths."


    In a singsong voice, the silhouette finished the rhyme and chuckled, seemingly enjoying how Qing Shi''s expression was changing.


    "...Where did you hear that from?" Qing Shi asked, his voice trembling. "And why is it different from the one we''ve received?"


    The silhouette paused for a second. "Different? How much does it resemble the older version?"


    "Older version?! You''re saying the prophecy in our hand was reiterated and changed?" Qing Shi yelped.


    "Yes. Answer the question. Which part doesn''t resemble yours?"


    "The ''Rulers of Stone'' part, I''m hearing it for the first time! And the bit about the ''Scrolls of the Wise'' was supposed to be: ''Scrolls of the wise, a thought''s the price'' !


    Who do these lines refer to? Scrolls of the wise could possibly be the Library of the last Monarch...."


    Qing Shi began to mutter wildly to himself, half excited, half panicked.


    The silhouette appeared to have fallen deep in thoughts as well, and Qing Shi''s sudden shout after a minute made it jerk its head up.


    "Where did you get this new version of the prophecy?"


    "Not from those in your sect who know about the prophecy, that much you can assure yourself. Let''s just say that you''re not the only one who has obtained this warning. But you are the one still in denial."


    Qing Shi''s brows furrowed in confusion. "Then why are you telling me this ?"


    "Because I can offer you a solution. The salvation that you seek, to protect your family and sect, to protect what you treasure, I can show you ''shepherds of sands'' a way."


    "How can I tell if you''re lying or not?" Qing Shi said in disbelief. "You''re being awfully helpful, fellow cultivator...a bit too helpful, I''d say."


    The silhouette laughed upon hearing his question.


    Raising a finger toward the sky, it shouted, "By the heavens, if I spoke a single sentence while harboring ill intent toward the Beasthaven sect, may the heavens punish me!"


    Glancing at the calm sky, Qing Shi wasn''t particularly reassured. It would be foolish to believe a person who makes such oaths so easily. Almost every law had its loopholes. It wasn''t exactly difficult to twist one''s words to fool an unsuspecting opponent. But Qing Shi had no choice but to listen to what this mysterious stranger had to say. If the way he offered was viable, why not consider it?


    ...... ......... ..........................................


    The peaceful night in Crimson Snow Sect was broken by a thunderous hissing sound, rousing all disciples and elders from their sleepy cultivation sessions.


    Han Xuhan and his minions tumbled out of their hut and stared at the sight in the sky with their eyes and jaws wide open.


    "Fucking....fuck," was the best response his awestruck brain could come up with.


    A gargantuan serpent had wrapped itself around the largest mountains of the sect, its head hovering over Xuan Zi''s mountain peak. By rough estimations, Han Xuhan realized that the snake was at least a few miles in length and wide enough to store a mountain in its stomach.


    How it had snuck into the sect without causing an hour long earthquake was a question with one simple answer¨C cultivation magic.


    Whether it was about to go on a rampage and devour everything on this mountain-cluster was also a question with a simple answer¨C he couldn¡¯t do anything either way.


    "Is this how I will die? Me and my entire sect will be eaten up? After all I''ve gone through...this feels so random that it almost makes sense. This IS a world of cultivation..."


    Turning toward his hut, Xuhan''s eyes fell on the tiny rattlesnake spine on the table. The comparison was heartbreaking.


    Perhaps the entire sect had been struck dumb at the sudden, terrifying advent of death''s serrated tongue. No screams, no chaos, nothing could be heard amidst the dark mountains.


    "Sect master Xuan Zi, this lowly envoy greets you," the serpent suddenly said between its heavy, dull hisses.


    "Oh. It talks too, I guess. That makes sense, sure," Han Xuhan concurred in a defeated tone.


    Due to the distance between their mountain peaks and the serpent''s body blocking their way, Xuhan couldn''t tell what was happening on Xuan Zi''s mountain peak. But a few minutes later, the enormous serpent disappeared like smoke in the wind.


    Confused, jubilant, but mostly frightened, Han Xuhan, as well as every other living being inside the sect rushed toward the sect master''s mountain to know what had happened just then.


    Soon, word spread across the mountain peaks like wildfire. The Beasthaven sect had announced the cross-continental decennary tournament ahead of time. As one of the most powerful sects on the planet, it sort of had the right to do so, apparently.


    And all other sects of similar caliber had actually agreed to it. The greeting method they had used might have had something to do with that...


    Crimson flags rose with the sun the next morning in the Crimson Snow sect as a festive mood wrapped itself all around the mountain peaks.


    Amidst the excited celebration and preparations, no one knew of a certain young man with two skeletal minions wailing inside his hut.


    "Good heavens, give me a fucking break! A tournament, on top of all things? No wonder things were advancing way too smoothly for me these days! Fuck, I''m not gonna get crippled by some asshole. Nonono, I can''t participate. NEVER!"

 Chapter 102: The Displacement Spell

    "Right now, your existence itself is a manifestation of countless laws. Unlike your form of existence when you''re observing your dao tower as a disembodied being, this extension of your consciousness is not just a part of your mind and soul. Rather, your current form is capable of doing things beyond your real body. And the spell I''m about to teach you is exactly one of those things."


    Recalling the conversation last night with Brother BB, Han Xuhan started setting up the required components for the spell.


    "This entire realm consists of millions of interconnected webs of laws. Even the prime laws of the universe have no authority here. It is a realm beyond the reality that you are familiar with. There is no gravity here, no concepts of matter or life in the traditional sense, no concepts of light or dark. This is both a highly sophisticated training ground, and a filter to weed out the mediocrity.


    The first rule that you need to keep in mind is that each and every action of yours is recorded and evaluated here based on the millennia-old records from the past till today. Even the deeds of the first law manipulator who entered this realm as one of its creators are recorded, preserved, and rated in here. Since ancient times, this realm fashioned of nothing but laws have gathered the information of every law manipulator who received the legacies of the ancient cultivators. And right now, you are the latest one to enter here on behalf of the Holy Land of Laws on our planet.


    And yes, if you''ve caught onto my wording by now, access to this realm is not limited to our Holy Land. Rather, this realm is a common ground for all the law manipulators in the universe, regardless of wherever they are. In many records, this realm is also known as a universal village ."


    Remembering Brother BB''s phrasing, Xuhan had to suppress a snort. Whoever came up with the original concept and the phrases was likely to be from Earth. This realm of laws was practically the internet, the global village of Earth.


    "As laws in this realm are artificially made, we have access to information about a large number of them and their principles, which makes it easier for initiate law manipulators to master them systematically and train themselves.


    The laws here are divided into several levels, just like the cultivation layers you''re used to. As an initiate law manipulator yourself, what you''re about to learn right now is a technique based on several first-level laws.


    The principle is very simple; every action has an equivalent reaction. Here, ''displacement'' is the action that we''re about to perform, and ''displacement'' is the reaction we would get."


    Han Xuhan drew a line of letters from the language of laws the on the ground in a circular setting. The alphabets were divided into three types, based on the instructions he had gotten that night.


    One worked as a coordinate beacon, signaling the position of the circle to any radar that performed on similar law techniques.


    Another type was the stimulus for the ''displacement'' process, causing the other realm''s artificial law to come into effect.


    The third was the main key, a unique set of passcode made up of letters Xuhan couldn''t make any sense of. The Holy Land of Laws, as a subsidiary branch of the Law Manipulators, had to verify their identity to the realm of laws before they could access its functions and use this spell.


    "Don''t bother yourself by trying to figure out what the alphabets in the main key means. They''re just a bunch of crappy words put together to make the key unique and hard to figure out by random people. Every subsidiary branch has its own main key, and all of them follow this rule. Do not ever leak this to anyone, not even your sect master.


    "As for how you''re going to power this spell, that''s the difficult portion of the spell, not for you though, for me. Either the receiver or the sender of the displaced items must provide the fuel for the spell from one side, in this case, which would be me, since you''re too weak. But I prefer it that way. The toll it would exact from me would be much lower here in this realm due to a great number of sophisticated laws that were created to deal with this type of cross-realm spells."


    Nervously, Han Xuhan piled up the mountains of resource-stuffed bags, foods, and various daily necessities he had taken out of the treasury inside the circle of alphabets. There were enough resources in there to last ten people for a week at least even if they were cultivating at the highest possible intensity, not wasting a second of the day.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Once you''ve completed the part of the spell on your side, the signal locator set up in the Holy Land will pick it up as soon as you put your qi in it. Leave the rest to me.


    This part is also where the principle of equal reaction comes into play. I''ll transfer out the blueprint your sect master wants while the resources I requested for will be transferred over to me by relying on the realm of laws as a third party running the process.


    Obviously, while the blueprint is much more valuable than some measly resources, its physical existence is much smaller in size and weight. So I''ll have to pile up my side of the formation with some garbage to make the physical properties roughly equivalent. The tiny differences that cannot be remedied that way will be taken care of by a bunch of magnification laws in this realm."


    As soon as Xuhan''s qi entered the circular formation of alphabets, a faint red flow flashed all over the resources. He would have to supply the formation with qi for quite a while before Brother BB''s signal locator detected it since there was no way to perfectly synchronize their timing. Clocks were not exactly reliable when Brother BB lived in a hidden realm.


    It also made Han Xuhan come to a conclusion about an issue he had been pondering for quite a while. Why didn''t Brother BB just come out through the portal and look for resources from smaller sects? With his power level, he had the ability to do so. He could easily annex a few small sects and routinely get his resources from there.


    The issue with the timing finally convinced Xuhan that either he had been talking to the real Qian Yun whose power level was at the physique transformation realm the whole time, or brother BB had lost access to the portal that led to this planet.


    That certainly answered the question why the other party would give in to Xuan Zi''s outrageous demands. They had no choice, to begin with.


    Patiently, Xuhan waited for the moment the signal locator in the Holy Land of Laws detected his spell formation.


    Half an hour later, he was almost about to give up due to his Qi reserves hitting zero when he finally felt something. It was an indescribable feeling, almost like an imaginary string in his mind suddenly connecting with another, far stronger string that had appeared out of nowhere.


    The pile of bags in front of him slowly levitated off the ground for a second as if gravity had been canceled. Then Han Xuhan suddenly found himself in the familiar disembodied state, still staring at the resources, except he was now inside the white, semi-transparent globe in the realm of laws; the place he had labeled as his spawn point.


    "Good, it worked," the familiar voice drifted over from somewhere at the other end of the tunnel. The bags in front of Xuhan sped away through the tunnel while he silently scrutinized the entire process. A few seconds later, the voice spoke again in a relieved tone.


    "Now, for the second part, focus on the alphabets you used in the formation. Try to visualize them as clearly as possible. Project the mental image on the walls of the globe you''re in. Don''t stop visualizing even if something surprising happens."


    Full of doubt, Xuhan did as he was told. It was a surprisingly easy feat, probably because the feeling of occupying his physical body wasn''t as prominent, leading to a detached, focused, and uninterrupted mental exercise. Was this another reason why this realm of laws was created? To practice with better mental discipline?


    In front of his expectant gaze, a small circle of familiar alphabets appeared on the walls ahead, bit by bit as he struggled to keep the entire image in his mind intact.


    The imagined formation suddenly settled on the wall like a painting, and a wave of blue light pulsed out from it, illuminating the entire globe.


    A pile of unfamiliar objects drifted out of the mouth of the tunnel suddenly, speeding toward the formation on the walls. Despite being aware of his disembodied state, Han Xuhan ducked out of the way due to reflex.


    The strange collection of objects, which he assumed was the load sent by Brother BB, stabilized just before smacking into the formation on the wall.


    "There, the blueprint you want is there in there. Now stop the visualization of the formation the moment I count down to zero. Remember, you have to make it instantaneous. You can''t just stop visualizing one part of the formation while keeping focus on the other part. Stop thinking about the entire formation, at once. Three, two, one... zero!"


    Han Xuhan directed the entirety of his focus into imagining what he could do with the power of manifesting anything he could imagine....needless to say, the complex formation did not manage to stay a second longer amidst his passionate imagination.


    The strange sensation of a mental string being detached rang throughout his consciousness and he suddenly felt the existence of his physical body to a vastly greater extent.


    Opening his eyes, he found himself sitting in his backyard, the formation in front of him sporting the payload he had received from the other side.


    The spell had worked!


    Excited, Han Xuhan jumped up and threw his fists up in the air in celebration. Success at the first attempt! Fuck Yeah!


    "I''m glad to see it went so smoothly. Good job, little Xuhan," sect master Xuan Zi said, getting up from the chair a few meters behind him.


    "Thank you, sect master !" Xuhan said with a beaming smile on his face.


    "I''ll leave the rest to you! The blueprint you wanted should be there. The task inside was very taxing, and my mind feels rather wobbly now. I should probably take a long rest."


    "Oh, sure. You deserve it, disciple," Xuan Zi answered as he came closer to inspect the payload on the ground.


    "Wait a minute...are these chamber pots? Gah- that stinks-"


    Turning around, sect master Xuan Zi tried to order disciple Xuhan to look for the blueprints inside the large pile of used chamber pots, only to realize that Han Xuhan had disappeared out of his sight. All the doors and windows of his hut were closed, and a sign saying ''Recuperating, Do not Disturb'' hung on the doorknob.


    "Cheeky brats..." Xuan Zi sighed and cast a levitation spell to slowly sort through the garbage and another to filter the air he was breathing.

 Chapter 103: Nurturing Insanity

    "Okay, this shit''s getting out of hand," Xuhan remarked in annoyance, observing the new addition to his dao tower, a white globe that he was all too familiar with.


    It had appeared as a dome, replacing the original roof. Moreover, all the creepy crawling letters on the walls had now moved upwards inside it, happily whizzing around on its rounded surface and occasionally diving down to mess with Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian in their own living spaces.


    "How the fuck am I gonna build the second floor on top of THAT?"


    "Nobody said you gotta have a flat floor. It isn''t as if we''re gonna live there. And even if we did, what''s the problem?" Tun Shi Tian said from his new trailer-sized room rather unhelpfully. The little bird had again gotten rather cocky after successfully building its own dao base. Now Han Xuhan''s dao tower was divided into three portions; his original hall in the middle, with Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian''s rooms sitting opposite to each other on his left and right.


    At this point, it wouldn''t be wrong to call this dao tower a fancy apartment building with three rooms.


    Focusing his thoughts slightly, Xuhan made his consciousness float up toward the dome to inspect it properly. Other than the hundreds of alphabets moving around on its surface in a frenzy, there was one stationary element on it, a familiar-looking circular formation of alphabets.


    "Seems like this dome is the representation of my ability as a law manipulator. Brother BB clearly said that legitimate law manipulators view their spawn point in the realm of laws as their dao foundation. But since I was a cultivator already before joining their ranks and had my own interpretation of what a dao tower should look like based on Elder Kong''s lectures, this abomination has come into existence."


    "I disagree, master. I''m pretty sure that deep down, you really wanted stuff like this to happen. Whenever you''re involved in something, it always seems to screw up any semblance of logic it should follow. Once or twice might be coincidences, but you''ve left those rookie numbers in the dust long ago."


    "....There does seem to be some logic in your words, Zhanxian," Xuhan said after a few seconds of disgruntled retrospection.


    Breaking the meditation, Han Xuhan opened his eyes and evaluated his current situation for a while.


    Right now, his cultivation was advancing pretty smoothly.


    The rattlesnake skeleton was already close to completion. Meanwhile, he had commissioned some small-scale missions to the task administration pavilion for detailed skeleton structures of various deadly animals, with a bonus added if they could get him an original skeleton as well for reference. The world of cultivation had all sorts of magical beasts, especially so in the areas outside the high mountains where powerful beasts populated vast regions of land and sea.


    When he had been a beginner, penniless cultivator, getting his hands on those powerful beasts would have been almost impossible. But it was a different story now.


    Glancing at the list on his table, Xuhan began searching for a suitable task to start on. He had already made both of his minions into cultivators at the zeroth layer of the physique transformation realm. Tun Shi Tian''s above-average talent was showing its specialty. It had caught up to Zhanxian already. Perhaps it was time to take things a step further now.


    Xuhan dragged a large bag full of resources from one corner of his hut and summoned both of his minions.


    "You two, enough resting. Both of you have stabilized yourselves at the zeroth layer. Now, it is time for you to start real cultivation!"


    "Oh yeah! I was starting to think that you were afraid of me catching up to you!" Little Tian shouted excitedly.


    "Why though? Why do I have to cultivate? Why must I pursue such heights of power? What is in it for me?" Zhanxian fired away questions after questions of incredible philosophical depth. But Tun Shi Tian came to Xuhan''s rescue with an answer Xuhan was far too familiar with.


    "Think about it, big brother. Once you become strong enough, nobody can order you around, not even master! Even if he manages to send you on risky tasks, you''ll storm through it like a breeze! How relaxing and safe would our lives be!" Little Tian answered him.


    Han Xuhan nodded along, trying not to laugh. These two brats had no idea how xianxia worlds worked...


    Strong enough to take care of any trouble? Such power levels did not exist! Even if they did, it would require a journey stretching past five mega arcs, two dozen realms of cultivation, three universal destruction level wars, and an infinite number of encounters with arrogant young masters with half a realm higher cultivation. It was a rabbit hole of bloodbath and despair all the way!


    To enjoy living in a world like this, one had to find ways to enjoy their present life, no matter how depressing it got, no matter how high the peak of cultivation seemed, and no matter how terrible a struggle lay ahead. This was something he firmly believed in.


    "Your words make sense, little Tian. Master, I''m ready to go!" Zhanxian, meanwhile, suddenly looked much more enthusiastic about cultivation.


    "Look at you two! All primed and ready to rebel against your master, huh? So cute."


    Xuhan took out the only cultivation manual in his room that hadn''t been touched since he had bought it.


    Unfurling the scroll in front of the two eager minions, Xuhan read it out aloud to them.


    "Spiritual Bones, a technique that allows the practitioner to use qi from outer sources to forge a skeletal form of their own body, which helps strengthen their bones and becomes an additional layer of protection inside their body. The spiritually reinforced bones also can absorb qi from the surroundings to replenish themselves and become sturdier automatically at later stages of the technique. This technique is suitable for anyone in the physique transformation realm to the peak of the soul transformation realm. A cultivator above these realms will have no use for this technique."


    "Ooh, that technique sounds like it was made for us, master! It must have cost you a fortune to find a technique that suits us undead skeletons."


    "It''s actually the other way around, minions. I really came to love the concept of this technique the first time I saw it. But since it would be too painful to cultivate inside my own body, I decided to practice the Skeletal Monarch technique, summon skeleton minions like yourselves, and make YOU practice the technique," Xuhan told little Tian.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Wha- why would anybody do anything in such a roundabout way? That sounds so whimsical!" Zhanxian smacked his fists on the ground and roared.


    "You know what, master? I used to have some respect for you thinking that you treasured us, that you treated the technique that created us as your main cultivation technique. But I have lost even that tiny amount of respect after this."


    "Shut the hell up and start studying, brats! You don''t want me to use you as a cannon fodder at your current state, do you?"


    Finally losing all patience, Xuhan started shouting too. The shouts generated from within his hut got louder and louder as he struggled to teach his minions and occasionally tried to experiment with certain portions of the manual, most of which ended up as disasters.


    ........ ........ ......... .........


    "I expected to see you here much earlier, little Ye. Teaching suits you. Your parents would be proud."


    "Thank you for your kind words, master Zi. You were expecting me already? May I know why?"


    "Have a seat first. We''ve got some important matters to discuss."


    Xuan Zi used telekinesis to drag a chair over and gestured at Kong Ye to sit down.


    "To tell you the truth, I still think the family made a mistake when they exiled you with me. You''re a bright star of your generation, full of talent and ambition, unlike a bag of old bones like me. You shouldn''t be here in the middle of these infertile neutral territories, looking for disciples, not at your age."


    Kong Ye lightly shook his head in disagreement.


    After getting the system, he had slowly come to love teaching. It was such an incredible way of cultivating! He didn''t have to consume resources like a bottomless abyss, he didn''t have to battle others and risk grievous injuries, he didn''t have to sit in a hut for years trying to break through to a new realm!


    All he had to do was find talented young children and guide them! His system took care of the rest. Which cultivator in this universe had a life so relaxing as his?


    "You look distracted, little Ye. Speak up," Xuan Zi said, interrupting his daydreams.


    "Master Zi, you''re nowhere near being a bag of old bones. I believe the Chamber of Lords will regret exiling you one day. Besides, I''m actually quite content with my life here. Never thought teaching children would be this fun."


    "That''s good to hear. I assume you''re here to discuss about the apprenticeship affair with me, yes?"


    Kong Ye nodded in response.


    "Elder Daheng has told me about your interest in his mountain peak''s disciples already...and it seems like you''ve figured something out about them, little Ye," Xuan Zi said, his eyes set on the view outside the window. Kong Ye could hear the subtle amusement creep into his voice.


    "It really was quite a surprise. I didn''t think you''d be able to gather so many children of destiny in one place. Don''t you think stacking them all into that one mountain peak would be disastrous?" Kong Ye asked, unable to contain his curiosity anymore.


    "Good question, that one. We''ll get to that. But first, tell me something. What exactly are the abnormalities that you''ve discovered about them so far? I did do my best to keep most of it hidden."


    "Mu Ran, the most high-profile disciple of his generation, seems to have an extremely abnormal dao foundation. The pressure it exudes can easily stand up to the core disciples in our family. His cultivation speed, qi cycling technique, martial skills are all abnormally advanced compared to anyone with his background. Moreover, his soul is definitely in a strange state where even my spiritual senses cannot glean any remnants of information from it," Kong Ye said breathlessly, his lines prepared beforehand.


    Xuan Zi''s expression didn''t change a bit as he listened, not that Kong Ye expected much of a reaction from him. He was sure that the sect master knew far more than he did about these oddities.


    "The other recent sensation among the disciples, that Zhou girl...We all saw what she did a few days ago. That heavenly tribulation summoning technique is as insidious as it is innovative. I''ve never seen such sophistication and boneheadedness contained in one technique so fluidly.


    She risked the lives of all of those disciples under her spell, took control of their souls, used a brutal method to harmonize their souls with her music and calibrate them to stimulate the aura of a cultivator about to break through. The way it was executed, combined with her absurd skills and knowledge of techniques unheard of in these neutral territories, makes her the ideal apprentice candidate for all the elders here. I believe she is aware of the apprenticeship tradition and made the commotion to get the most qualified and resourceful elders interested in her talent."


    Xuan Zi cranked his neck towards Kong Ye for a brief moment, expression unreadable. With a snort, he remarked, "she''s a smart lass, I''ll give you that. But I hope you''ve realized how cold-blooded she is. Talent, resources, and brutality make for a combination very few can nurture properly. You''d know that better than anyone else, hahhaha!"


    Kong Ye''s expression stiffened.


    "Are you willing to take the risk, little Ye?"


    "...Yes, I am."


    Of course he was. Kong Ye''s system needed him to nurture disciples with the Halo, the sort whose potential easily ranked up to the S-class. Why would he let go of such a wonderful disciple with his life on the line?


    Xuan Zi seemed to hear the conviction in his tone. Nodding imperceptibly, he gestured at Kong Ye to continue.


    "Then there''s that boy Xiao Wu. I believe he has a very special bloodline. I don''t have any proof to verify my suspicion right now. But his qi cycling, the positioning of his meridians, and a lot of tiny details over the months have only fortified my suspicions. I doubt a regular elder of this small branch sect can unlock the boy''s full potential. Why not give him to me?"


    "Is that all?" Xuan Zi asked lazily.


    ". . .The other two disciples of that mountain peak, the twins, they''re oddities among oddities. I haven''t been able to glean much from them since they almost never appear in classes. But something about the two seems very, very familiar...almost as if I''ve met them before, back when I was a treasured child of the family."


    Xuan Zi finally straightened up, his gaze intensely drilling into Kong Ye''s eyes.


    "Excellent observation, little Ye. I don''t know what you found out about the twins, but I doubt you''ll progress further with them. As for the rest, I''ve settled it with Daheng. He has given you the permission to have a private chat with each of his disciples where you can offer any incentives you can manage. If they''re convinced, elder Daheng will not intervene."


    Kong Ye''s eyebrows shot up as he fell deep in thought. Sect master Zi seemed oddly touchy on the topic of the twins. But there was a bigger problem here.


    It only took him a few moments to figure out the trap in the arrangement Xuan Zi had made for him.


    "Master Zi, you''re asking a lot from me. You clearly know that these disciples have terrifying appetites. What they need right now...I can see it. And if I need to lure them over with extra incentives in this arrangement as an active party, I''m going to have to tackle those exact needs of theirs. I''ll have to overstep the boundaries I have been limited within before being exiled."


    Xuan Zi''s face betrayed no emotion except a thin smirk.


    "Something tells me this is an outcome you designed long ago, sect master."


    "Can''t entirely deny that," Xuan Zi muttered with a shrug, the shadow of a smirk on his face getting more prominent.


    Right when Kong Ye was about to take his leave, a momentary burst of fiery explosion far above on the sky caught his eye. He would have missed the phenomenon had he not noticed a tiny, bright ball of fire from that explosion zone hurtling toward them as fast as a lightning bolt.


    He recognized what it was. As the fireball got closer, both of them noticed a red bird within it, carrying a finger-thick scroll.


    "A message from the family?" He asked the Xuan Zi with a raised brow.


    Xuan Zi didn''t answer, opting to read the message the bird had dropped on his head first. By the time he opened up the scroll, the bird disappeared with another bright fiery flash.


    A few seconds later, the open scroll caught on fire in Xuan Zi''s hands, burning down, its ashes flying away with the wind.


    "What does it say? I didn''t think anyone would contact us exiles here unless something big happened. Should I know?"


    Xuan Zi casually waved his concern off.


    "Don''t worry about it. I asked old man Ming to investigate a type of ancestry determinant for me. Turns out the vial I gave him contained nothing but water mixed with random substances. There is no determinant factor in it."


    Kong Ye scratched his head in confusion but thought nothing of it. There was another disciple he had forgotten to mention to Xuan Zi. That was more important.


    "By the way, I also want to have one of those ''chats'' with that boy named Han Xuhan. Remember him?" He said.


    Xuan Zi''s face looked rather rigid as he answered,


    "Of course. I do remember putting him in that mountain peak since no other elders wanted him. What a troublesome lad..."


    "That says volumes about the idiots you recruited as elders in a hurry. Those elders couldn''t notice a gem if it struck them square on their face," Kong Ye scowled.


    "Oh? You noticed something weird about him too? Something other than his reincarnation?" Xuan Zi asked in a suspicious tone.


    "The boy has a very good relationship with the rest of his ''special'' peers. I''m pretty sure he got Mu Ran to spill the secrets of how he managed to cultivate a dao foundation so stable and powerful. Besides, you must have noticed how talented the boy is when it comes to making money. He literally rose from the ranks of poor mortal disciples to become the biggest spendthrift in his generation. Every master would want a disciple like him who can handle worldly affairs so smoothly, regardless of his talent. Plus, I always like a challenge. Even if he isn''t special in any way, what''s stopping me from trying to make him one?"


    "Ah, the young are truly ambitious. Look at you, little Ye. I don''t know if you''ll ever regret having such ambitions and spirit in the future, but I''m looking forward to seeing what you achieve! It''ll be fun to see how the family reacts if we ever manage to nurture this sect to a height close to theirs."


    "A height close to the family? I''d say you''re the one with the greatest ambition between us, Master Zi!" Kong Ye gasped in disbelief and shook his head.


    "Then this matter is settled, sect master. I''ll come to visit you once I''m done with their recruitment. The first round of the tournament sure seems interesting! I have seen few competitions unfolding at such scales back home."


    "Eh, they need to make sure no riff-raff sects get in just by relying on name and fame. I was anticipating some changes in the traditional routines. A wide-scale test like this for the first round will ensure both quality and flexibility during the tournament. Whoever came up with this idea is definitely no ordinary cultivator...."


    Xuan Zi trailed off, sinking into his thoughts.


    Kong Ye bid goodbye to him, his thoughts full of his own plans and schemes. He needed to be fully prepared for the recruitment interviews....

 Chapter 104: Master Vs Apprentice Vs Minions

    The Black Sheep Mountain Peak was as peaceful as always, a phenomenon that one may not expect, knowing the secrets it hid. After all, the mountain peak was home to a handful of children of destiny. This generation in particular was one of the most terrible ones, containing nearly half a dozen such individuals with the potential to rise to the top of the world of cultivation.


    But Kong Ye knew better by now. It was exactly this reason that had prompted Xuan Zi to take a large number of extra precautions, including secretly manipulating said disciples toward certain directions to keep them in check. The moral ambiguity would be a question here that many righteous cultivators may not want to face. But Kong Ye knew that man too well; Xuan Zi wouldn''t be bothered by the ethics of his actions in the slightest.


    Nevertheless, Kong Ye was glad that life was proceeding peacefully for those kids, which in turn spared the rest of the sect a great amount of potential trouble.


    After visiting Xuan Zi, he had decided to begin the apprentice recruitment process immediately. The first round of the planet-wide tournament was in sync with his plans rather conveniently. It would be best not to waste any more time.


    But Mu Ran, his first target, appeared to be absent, his hut deserted. Han Xuhan''s hut was the closest one from there. So Kong Ye headed in that direction.


    In hindsight, he felt that Mu Ran being absent was a good thing. According to his system, that boy was unnaturally wary of him for some reason. To lessen Mu Ran''s hostility, recruiting his closest friends first would be a good strategy. If Han Xuhan could put on a few good words on his behalf, the recruitment attempt would have much better chances of success.


    By the time Kong Ye caught sight of Xuhan''s hut on the hilly terrain, he could hear multiple people shouting at each other inside.


    "Stop, you idiot! That''s not how you compress qi! Did you leave your brain cells back in the heavenly river? Look at how I do it!" Han Xuhan yelled.


    "Hahaha, you did it even worse than me!" The gleeful shout of his first minion Zhanxian followed.


    "Both of you are absolutely trash! Look at me!" A voice Kong Ye couldn''t recognize came next. Xuhan''s second minion, perhaps?


    "Damned birdie! How are you doing that?" Zhanxian exclaimed.


    "Hmph, so what if you have some talent when it comes to practical cultivation? I have more experience compared to both of you. Listen to me..."


    Kong Ye shook his head after hearing Xuhan''s weak attempt to reign in his minions. This kid''s future would be dire if this type of scenario continued for long.


    "Disciple Xuhan, are you busy? I have something important to discuss with you," he said loudly enough to drown out the shouts coming from the hut. The occupants inside instantly fell silent. After a second, Xuhan opened the door, appearing rather disheveled.


    Often, Kong Ye wondered why the young man let his minions push him around so much. He certainly wasn''t a soft-hearted child, that much Kong Ye could glean from their regular interactions. Perhaps he would get an answer when he earned the kid''s trust and recruited him as an apprentice.


    "Ohhh, good evening, elder. Please, come in!" Xuhan exclaimed, opening the door wide and gesturing at him to enter. Then he turned around and shouted at one of his minions.


    "Zhanxian, go make some tea !"


    Kong Ye entered inside behind him, his eyes taking in the sight of the two undead minions rushing toward the kitchen. The room inside was full of residue from various types of precious materials and resources that almost no disciple of his status could purchase. Kong Ye''s eyes widened as he realized that there were signs of three different individuals using up the resources lavishly.


    "Please, take a seat," Xuhan said as he plopped down on a clean part of the mattress on the floor. Looking around, Kong Ye realized that that was the only clean portion of the mattress. In the end, he was forced to take out a cushion from his system storage while Han Xuhan wasn''t looking.


    "Please do tell me what it is that you''d like to discuss with me, elder." Xuhan looked exhausted as he spoke. Without beating around the bush, Kong Ye got to the point.


    "Are you aware of the tradition of apprenticeships in this sect?"


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "I''ve heard some seniors mention it a few times, yes."


    "Then I''ll make this brief. The apprenticeship allows you to recognize other elders with specific skills that you''re interested in as your official master. Unlike your current relationship with Elder Daheng, the apprenticeship tradition forms a closer, deeper relationship between the master and the disciple. Right now, elder Daheng is your master in name only as you live at his mountain peak. But if you wish to, you can recognize other elders as your actual master who''s going to actively teach you something that you want instead of just guiding you occasionally when you run into bottlenecks."


    Han Xuhan narrowed his eyes and sat up straighter as realization seemed to dawn on him.


    "You want me to -never mind, I''D LOVE TO BE YOUR APPRENTICE, ELDER!"


    Kong Ye didn''t know whether to applaud his cleverness or laugh. Initially, he was feeling rather hesitant to come out as the interested party since that wouldn''t exactly befit his status as an elder. Usually, things were the other way around when it came to the skilled elders of the sect.


    The disciples begged them for a chance to learn under their wings. But he was desperate for talented disciples. So he had decided to cast aside his dignity and shamelessly tell these childen that he''d like to have them as his apprentices. But Han Xuhan had spared him the embarrassment.


    "Only...I''m not sure what you''re going to teach me. Is there some particular skill you''re good at, elder?"


    "Don''t worry about that," Kong Ye said confidently, waving Xuhan''s concerns off. This was the easiest part of the process. His system could generate what his disciples asked from him. The only issue was that the disciple had to officially recognize him as master beforehand.


    "I can teach you any skill you want. All you have to do is to just accept me as your master officially. After all, all skills taught to apprentices contain personal secrets."


    Looking at him with a skeptical light in his eyes that gave Kong Ye a bad premonition, Xuhan asked the very question he was dreading.


    "But elder, how am I supposed to know if the skill you can impart to me is suitable for me? Moreover, are you sure that you can teach me ANYTHING? I don''t mean to be rude, but isn''t that rather, uhh..."


    "Boastful? Yes, I''m aware of how I sound to you. But when have I ever expressed my lack of knowledge about ANYTHING while teaching you and the rest of your peers, disciple? Have some faith in your favorite teacher, Xuhan."


    Kong Ye tried his best to justify his words, knowing fully well that this recruitment attempt was going rather poorly. But what else could he say when this was the truth? Never having done anything like this before, Kong Ye realized that he should have taken more preparation before starting.


    "How about this, elder?" Xuhan interrupted him halfway through his justifications, his eyebrows raised in a way that suggested that he didn''t believe a word that came out of Kong Ye''s mouth, but he was too polite to directly decline.


    "I''m just a mortal who started cultivating a few months ago. I don''t know what sort of wondrous skills and techniques are out there, like a frog in a well. I don''t know what type of skill would suit me. But you, as a seasoned cultivator, do. Since we cannot come to a proper conclusion regarding which skills you can teach me, why don''t you simply offer a few of the best skills that you think may suit me? I can sort them out and see which one interests me the most. Isn''t that simple?"


    Kong Ye felt the urge to throttle someone. Without revealing the existence of his system to others, he couldn''t explain why they''d have to recognize him as their master before he could pull out cool techniques for them out of nowhere since there wasn''t anything in particular he was famous for. He was a new teacher whose fame was solely dependent on his teaching style in regular classes. Who''d blindly put their faith in him?


    Moreover, the seemingly airheaded kid sitting in front of him with an innocent expression on his face had just pulled the same move as Xuan Zi without any warning. By asking Kong Ye to show him the best techniques and skills in his arsenal, the boy was testing him to see his limits and gauge his capabilities...


    Taking a deep breath, Kong Ye spent a large number of points he had painstakingly gathered to buy a one-time scanner that could be used on potential disciples who hadn''t recognized him as their master. Due to how overpriced the item was, he could barely buy it once without cleaning clear his entire hoard.


    Since the boy had forced his hand, Kong Ye was determined to take back his dignity in all its glory!


    ''''Scan Han Xuhan, use the one-time scanner,'''' He ordered the system.


    [ Initiating Scan ]


    [ Scan Completed ]


    [ Presenting Data ]


    [ Name: Han Xuhan


    Race: ? ( Cannot process data due to the lack of data )


    Ancestry: ? (No matches found)


    Cultivation Base: Peak of the third layer of physique transformation


    Comprehension: B+


    Qi quality: C-


    Dao Heart: C-


    Dao Base quality: D+


    Elemental Affinity : D


    Raw Talent : D


    ( Expand this column to see the rest of the key merits )


    Existent Issues That Require Immediate Guidance :


    1? The subject''s dao base has recently experienced a terrible mutation, resulting in a hodgepodge of an anomaly that''ll never pass the heavenly tribulation. The issue should be solved before further mutations take place.


    2? Subject practices a very poorly created technique that has no effect on his dao heart at all. This will eventually lead to an unbreakable bottleneck in the soul reformation realm. Not even the host himself can remedy it when that time comes.


    3 ? Subject''s meridians were damaged since birth, and the recent extravagant usage of external treasures without caring about the consequences and the lack of customized, sophisticated techniques have led to hidden injuries that are increasing every cycle. By a rough estimation, subject''s meridians will be utterly damaged beyond repair within a year if this continues.


    ( Expand this section to see the rest of the issues )


    Current Impression of Host: mildly favorable


    Overall Potential: B+


    Further details, reward system for guidance and the disciples'' perks can be unlocked upon recruitment. ]


    Kong Ye froze as he took in the overflowing information full of confusing details. Race cannot be identified? Ancestry cannot be identified? How was that even possible?


    His highest talent was his comprehension? That, he could understand. But the rest were downright awful! Even after expanding the column to see the rest of his talent section, he couldn''t find anything above D+...


    But those problems could be shelved for another day. Right now, the biggest issue was the imminent threat of Xuhan being crippled! Kong Ye couldn''t let such a precious disciple waste away just like that!


    But the brat hadn''t accepted him as his master. How was he supposed to find a suitable technique for him to remedy the issue?


    Eyes flashing, Kong Ye''s face hardened as he contemplated his choices. In the end, there was only one solution he could think of right now. It''d be a bold path, full of ambition and hardships. But if Han Xuhan wanted to continue his life as a cultivator, this might be one of the few options left. Even if the boy chose him as his master, Kong Ye doubted the solution issued by the system would be more effective.


    Briefly, he remembered his last conversation with Xuan Zi. What an irony of fate...


    "Disciple Xuhan, do you trust me as a teacher?"


    Gritting his teeth, Kong Ye asked the question in full seriousness. Perhaps his mental state was somewhat reflected on his face and in his tone because Xuhan suddenly looked rather solemn as he answered.


    "Yes, elder."


    Kong Ye grabbed a pen and a stack of papers from the floor and started writing furiously. He didn''t need the system to generate a technique, not this time. This was a technique he was far too familiar with than he''d have liked to.


    { The Snowfall Garden Manual }

 Chapter 105: System Versus Schemer

    Han Xuhan''s face was blank as he watched the elder offer the stack of papers to him that he had just finished writing on.


    "You''re giving me a cultivation manual? Just like that?" He asked Elder Kong, feeling rather confused.


    Shouldn''t they first discuss what sort of techniques the elder had? He could then choose one from them afterwards. That was the deal, right?


    "I''ve just noticed an...issue with your dao foundation, Xuhan," Elder Kong said in a low voice. Xuhan felt his heart clench. He did not like the expression on Elder Kong''s face, not at all.


    Seeing him fall silent, elder Kong decided to press on.


    "Correct me if I''m wrong, but recently your dao tower has experienced some rather strange mutations, yes?"


    Dumbfounded, Xuhan nodded. How the fuck did that guy even know that? HOW?


    Meanwhile, elder Kong continued executing his uncanny skill of verbally bombarding his disciples with the knowledge he wasn''t supposed to know.


    "Secondly, your current cultivation technique, the one that summons skeleton minions, it''s a very sloppy one. I haven''t seen the entirety of its contents. But I see through your dao heart, disciple. There is nothing remotely close to sophistication or ponderous about your cultivation technique. It doesn''t affect or guide your dao heart in any way!"


    At this point, Xuhan''s jaw was long hanging low. For a moment, he considered asking if the elder knew what the color of his underwear was. But then he realized that if the elder didn''t know that too by now, there was no reason to prompt him to do so. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.


    "Correct or not?" Elder Kong said grimly. But before Xuhan could form a response, he started speaking again.


    "I know it''s correct. Anyways, what you need to do right now is to practice this technique I''m giving you earnestly alongside your current cultivation technique. Otherwise, you''ll die a horrible death when you attempt to break through to the soul reformation realm. Unless..."


    "Unless?" Xuhan caught onto that one word with all the remaining hope in his heart. Was there another way? A shortcut for him? Could it be?


    "Unless you end up becoming crippled halfway through the physique transformation realm, completely dashing your chances of ever even reaching the bottleneck to the soul reformation realm which, if I might add, is a very, very plausible ending judging by the current state of your meridians. Seems like your extravagant methods of fast-paced cultivation are further damaging them."


    "....Man, fuck cultivation."


    After a long silence, that was the only response Han Xuhan could come up with. What was the point of cultivating anymore when he was just gonna end up crippled a few layers later?


    The shock and despair enveloping his mind were hard to dispel. But he had been through similar experiences so many times in this world that at this point, he had automatically come to learn not to focus much on the negative thoughts trying to pull him down an abyssal rabbit hole of self-pity.


    "How much does this cost, elder?" Xuhan asked in a depressed voice. All of his enthusiasm about becoming the elder''s apprentice was killed off. Elder Kong gave him a blank look and handed the stack of papers over to Xuhan''s outstretched hands.


    "I told you, it''s free. Consider it a gift."


    Eyebrows raised, Xuhan sighed and put the stack aside. The issue with his dao foundation was a problem that hadn''t surprised him too much. He had seen the signs, even though he hadn''t understood them at that time. But the deterioration of his meridians was a devastating, unforeseen blow. Fixing the latter seemed like a bigger concern right now.


    "Elder, do you have any way to counter the last problem? You told me that you could teach me anything as long as I accept you as my master. Are you perhaps skilled in any such secret technique that can remedy damaged meridians?"


    Elder Kong''s lips tightened into a thin line upon hearing his question.


    "I cannot exactly guarantee that I''ll be able to dig out the absolute solution to your numerous problems, but I''ll keep you from being crippled as long as you follow my instructions. And make no mistakes, no elder of this sect has the skills to remedy your problems. I swear that on my dignity as a teacher."


    Briefly, Xuhan considered whether he was being conned. He didn''t believe any of that bullshit swearing. But the issues Elder Kong had pointed out were certainly plausible, yet the man looked rather desperate for disciples. Who could say for sure that he wasn''t lying when he said that Xuhan''s dao foundation wasn''t going to get him to the soul reformation realm? He could have also lied about his damaged meridians becoming even more damaged too, right?


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    But then he remembered a certain fact. He, Han Xuhan, was one of the trashiest disciples of his generation. Even if Elder Kong was desperate for disciples, he wouldn''t need to stoop so low to lure him in as an apprentice. Xuhan didn''t have any treasure or cheat items on him that could attract powerful cultivators. The chances of Elder Kong lying were unlikely.


    "Then there''s not much to consider."


    Calmly, Xuhan got up from the ground and clasped his hands together.


    "Master, this disciple greets you."


    ........ .......... ..........................................


    Kong Ye''s eyes were focused on the system screen instead of Xuhan. Lines after lines of prompts from the system were flashing by on it.


    [ Congratulations! ]


    [ First official disciple accepted! ]


    [ Registration Completed ]


    [ Disciple Potential: B+ tier ]


    [ Issuing Reward: One turn of the myriad wheel of scriptures - Increasing the chances of getting scriptures that focus on repairing meridians ]


    A rough drawing of a wheel appeared on the screen and started spinning by itself. The lone pointer moved over blurred possibilities countless times before the wheel finally came to a stop suddenly before Kong Ye''s heartbeat could even speed up in anticipation.


    The name of the scripture that the pointer had stopped over slowly became larger and larger while the rest of the wheel faded away.


    [ Name: Treasureholder ]


    [ Description: This is a top-notch stealing technique that all thieves and rogues in the universe would trade their right hand away for. Cultivate this, and tread on the path of the Thief Monarch Shen Long, a founder of the Fingers Of The Universe. This allows you to steal even the most secure treasures! ]


    [ Scripture Level: A tier ]


    [ Scripture Type: Demonic ]


    [ System''s Remark: Welp, tough luck, host! Even though this isn''t the thing you wanted for your new disciple, you can just give it to him later. The manual you gave him earlier will keep him busy enough for a while. ]


    Kong Ye''s excitement burst like a balloon. Suppressing his urge to curse out loud, he shelved the reward.


    [ Does the host want to open the second reward? ]


    Yes, dammit!


    [ Opening Grandmaster Tier gift box ]


    Three images appeared on the screen, three cards with stylized decorations, facing away from him. With the system''s prompt, the cards turned around one by one.


    [ First Card: Framework for a one-time searching talisman!


    It can find any object within fifty square miles! ]


    [ Second Card: Framwork for a short-distance teleportation talisman!


    It can teleport you away from unstoppable attacks! The maximum distance is one hundred meters. ]


    [ Third Card: A tier Cultivation Manual Augmentation!


    Augment any A-tier cultivation manual the way you want to. As long as your plans of augmentations aren''t illogical, Inspirations and analytical information shall flood your mind and create a beautiful masterpiece! ]


    [ System Remark: Host, seems like your disciple has terrible luck. Even I''m feeling sorry for him. ]


    "...."


    Kong Ye gulped audibly, not due to disappointment or anger, but because he had seen a ray of hope!


    "Disciple, trust in your master. The Snowfall Garden is a top-notch technique to strengthen your dao tower. Try to study it for a few days and comprehend its intricacies. Once you''ve gotten a good grasp on the basics, I''ll begin teaching you my own interpretations and experiences. I''m certain that''ll solve a great number of issues that you''ll undoubtedly face soon.


    "Moreover, this isn''t even what I''m going to teach you as a part of your apprenticeship. You simply need this the most right now. Once we''ve solved the issue, we''ll get to the main point of our agreement and you''ll find yourself learning skills far beyond what the rest of the elders in this sect can teach you."


    Seeing Xuhan looking rather convinced, Kong Ye felt his heart finally calming down. His mysterious, knowledgeable master persona was finally working!


    Now, he just had to execute the main step he had recruited Xuhan for. After all, his system''s main mission was never going to be completed with just Han Xuhan alone...


    "Now that we''ve become master and apprentice, can I entrust you with a task, Xuhan? Think of it as your first repayment to your master."


    Han Xuhan looked visibly relieved for some reason as he said that, something that befuddled Kong Ye.


    "Of course, master. Just say it! I''ll do my best!"


    "You''re close friends with Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu, aren''t you?" Kong Ye asked, fully knowing it to be true. From his observations during their regular classes, he had noted that while Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu were not on particularly good terms with each other, they all had a decent relationship with Han Xuhan. Nobody really liked Mu Ran due to his arrogant attitude, Yuen Zhou was a very reticent person who rarely spoke to anybody unless necessary and Xiao Wu was a good-natured child who maintained a friendly relationship with most of his peers, just like Xuhan.


    "Yes, master. I am," Xuhan answered without any hesitation. But Kong Ye could see the dull glint of realization in his eyes. The boy had already guessed what his task was going to be, it seemed.


    "If it''s possible, find out a bit more about their aims in life. What they want to be, what are their short-term goals, whether there is any particular area of skills that they''re interested in, and even which elder they want to acknowledge as their master. The more details, the better. Although you four are a part of the black sheep mountain peak, I find you lot to be rather full of potential, just waiting to be unlocked. It''d be great if I can manage to recruit all four of you as my disciples. On behalf of your master, can you slip in some tips suggesting that I can teach them the skills that interest them? You''ve already seen how easy it was for me to come up with what you need right now, didn''t you?"


    Master and disciple faced each other in a rather awkward staring contest once Kong Ye finished speaking. He knew his request was borderline crazy, almost coming off as pathetic. But his system''s deadline was fast approaching. There was nothing else he could do except hope these cheap tricks would work. It was the main reason why he had put Xuhan so high up on his recruitment list. The boy was the only disciple ''resourceful'' enough to help him execute the stunt.


    "If you don''t mind me asking, master...why are you so insistent on recruiting disciples? As far as I''m aware, it isn''t exactly necessary for all elders to take in apprentices ."


    Kong Ye felt a headache coming. It was a question he had expected to face, but hoped not to.


    "Think of it as a bet, disciple. I promised a certain somebody that I''d guide the best cultivators in this entire world one day. Now, it''s become sort of a competition between her and me. And I''m running out of time very fast."


    It was a flimsy reason, but partially true, which was why Kong Ye could say it without feeling any guilt. His dao heart wasn''t compatible with treachery and lies, as they were the worst qualities a teacher could have.


    Han Xuhan thankfully did not press further into the issue, seemingly having guessed that he wasn''t going to get a clear-cut answer. Kong Ye found himself being thankful to the heavens again that he had found such a sharp disciple.


    "As you wish, master," Xuhan said with a tight-lipped smile.


    "Good disciple." Kong Ye sighed and turned off the talisman inside his pocket.


    [ Mind Mollification Talisman terminated. 2/5 uses left ]


    [ Runtime: twenty minutes ]


    [ Used Intensity: 42 % ( mild ) ]


    [ Operation successful ]

 Chapters 106: Want The Milk, Dodge The Kick

    The worldwide tournament that''s about to commence soon will reflect the effect of our sect''s traditional apprenticeship ceremony. An official announcement regarding this will be made by the authorities in a few days. Don''t waste any time in the next few days and prepare yourself for the first round of the tournament. I don''t have the permission to tell you anything about it in advance since that goes against the tournament rules. All I''ll say is...keep your mind fresh and ready to tackle some challenges ."


    With the vague hints delivered smoothly, Kong Ye left Xuhan''s hut. Looking at his back, Xuhan''s muddled thoughts finally started clearing up.


    His current situation was...terrible to say the least. The tournament was one problem he couldn''t prepare to tackle with his current strength. Eld-master''s vague warnings made it sound even worse and more ominous than it already was. If he had some concrete ideas about what horrors the first round held, he could have thought something up at the very least.


    Setting the tournament aside, the more pressing issue was the problem with his meridians. They were damaged beyond repair to begin with. It was going to get even worse?


    Han Xuhan wasn''t keen on putting his trust in others to get his issues solved. Maybe his new master would really find a way to repair his meridians, maybe he wouldn''t. But he had to make sure he himself did.


    Cultivation was too interesting to let go of, regardless of how many obstacles he faced. The addictive feeling of superhuman strength surging through his body and Qi obeying his command was beyond anything he had ever experienced.


    Taking a deep breath, Xuhan focused on the stack of papers in front of him. Two different cultivation manuals, all for himself. For so long he had been practicing that same Skeletal Monarch technique. Granted, he could have actually practiced other techniques too after getting past the sect''s deadline for new disciples. But that would have set his cultivation speed back by several degrees compared to his peers. It was the wisest decision to choose to focus on a single technique unless one had powerful, rich backing and an awfully lot of time on their hand.


    "The Snowfall Garden technique, eh?" Tun Shi Tian said, popping out from behind. Zhanxian too had come out of the kitchen, not having made a single appearance throughout his entire conversation with elder Kong.


    "I thought you two were supposed to make tea."


    "I''m sorry, but if you thought I''d be making tea after receiving the news that my very existence is in danger right now, you''ll be sorely disappointed. Quit having such high expectations for my work ethic, master. You''ll only hurt yourself more that way."


    "Zhanxian, it''s another matter whether I get crippled due to my meridians becoming damaged or not. You should be more worried about killing me with your words and you two dying that way."


    "I didn''t think you actually listened to anything I say, let alone feeling insulted by my words."


    Bantering back and forth, Xuhan felt his spirit recover slowly. Feeling out the normalcy of his regular lifestyle seemed like a good way to get a better grip on the reality. As the three of them continued to bicker pointlessly, he studied the Snowfall Garden technique for the rest of the evening.


    The first surprise he received while going through its pages was the fact that it belonged to another subtype of cultivation techniques.


    Unlike stubs, where the cultivation technique doesn''t generate a dao tower before the soul reformation realm, this subtype was known as ''Ghosts''. The reason behind such a title was the fact that this type of techniques had no apparent effects on one''s physique or soul, which frankly, were the two major areas of focus for every cultivator. These techniques only focused on pure cultivation through enlightenments, rigorous mental discipline, pursuit of self-comprehension, and building a dao foundation. It offered no extra benefits other than the nominal status of a cultivator.


    Predictably, this subtype of cultivation techniques was quite unpopular worldwide. The only redeeming quality it was known for was its lack of presence which suited cultivators with sensitive identities. To Xuhan''s knowledge, the only practitioners of this subtype of cultivation techniques lived in a far-off corner of the continent as monks. Their views of cultivation were extreme, and they preferred to call all the other types of orthodox styles unworthy of the power they pursued.


    The stack of papers Elder Kong had handed to him held the instructions for the entire physique transformation realm while practicing the technique. Once again, Xuhan felt a pang of shock after realizing that Elder Kong too, kept entire tomes of cultivation manuals memorized...


    "Am I the only guy without photographic memory? Is this an innate skill that everybody has in this world, but I don''t?"


    The task ahead of him looked so lengthy, daunting, and hard to accomplish that not feeling completely disheartened and giving up was already an accomplishment to him.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    *           *             *               *                *


    "You''re telling me, you got into a fight with a girl your age at the peak of the physique transformation realm, without considering how powerful a backing she would need to have a cultivation base that high at that age-"


    "Who even considers that sort of stuff before getting into a fight? What kind of dumbass would wait to think through so many unnecessary details when you can just punch those...high cheekbones out of her beautiful face ?"


    Seeing the dreamy look on Mu Ran''s face gave Xuhan a pause while he tried to process his boss''s reply to his question.


    "....Okayyyy, I see. And then while the two of you were fighting, you trashed the restaurant you were in, which inevitably pissed off the owner who turned out to be an overpowered grandpa-"


    "It''s okay, Xuhan. He was very understanding about it, such a sporty chap. He even said that the girl and I, the two of us, suited each other perfectly."


    "....He still made you two do him a favor in exchange for all the cash you cost him though," Xuhan said, still mired in deep confusion trying to find the logic in that scenario. But the answer was as elusive as any rational person''s ability to imagine the scene unironically.


    "A totally logical decision, I''d say," Mu Ran answered.


    "The grandpa made you two look for a mysterious treasure hidden deep inside this infamous ''Black Reaper Forest'' where not even soul reformation cultivators dare to enter casually. Not sure which part of that translates into him being a sporty chap."


    "Eh, my original mission was a task at the outskirts of that forest too, Xuhan. His hints about the mysterious object helped me greatly! So I didn''t mind hitting two birds with one stone, no wait, make it three birds, hehehe."


    Again, a dreamy, dazed smirk appeared on Mu Ran''s face. Realizing that his boss was smitten with this lass he had met in that restaurant, Xuhan felt a headache coming. All protagonists became useless, dense fools whenever their love interests were involved. Mu Ran had never exactly been an efficient utilizer of his brain, but now it looked like even zombies would ignore him due to the lack of substance inside his skull.


    "What was the object anyway, boss? I''m not trying to sound suspicious or anything, but don''t you think the whole incident is sort of shady?"


    "Shady?" Mu Ran rolled his eyes in annoyance.


    "Underling, you must put a bit more trust in others'' characters. The grandpa was a cool, unfettered Daoist trying to comprehend the great truth in the mortal world. The moment we laid our eyes on each other, we could see the familiar sparks of magnificent spirit for the dao within ourselves. It was an instantaneous, mutual understanding. Then the grandpa simply told us that since we looked young, he''d let the slight go as long as we searched for something for him secretly. He was very straightforward while describing the object, and later when we found it deep within the jungle, his descriptions and warnings matched impeccably."


    "...Wow, that actually sounds even more suspicious now. What was the object exactly, boss?" Xuhan asked curiously. A solemn look appeared on Mu Ran''s face as he answered.


    "It was a shortsword, its edge so sharp that it could cut through huge boulders like slicing through mud. The smithing was so incredibly advanced that I couldn''t even identify what materials were used to create it. Its blade was so thin and flexible that you could twist it into a knot and carry it around in your pocket!"


    The description was downright impossible to believe. How could blades like that even exist? Even back on earth where science had advanced so far, Xuhan didn''t remember any type of alloy being so terrifying. Maybe something similar could have been created using nanotechnology, but Xuhan had no idea how it would be possible to accomplish that here. Wait...why was he trying to find scientific explanations when cultivation magic was involved?


    Meanwhile, Mu Ran''s passionate speech continued, unobstructed by the usual quips from his paranoid underling.


    "Not only was its materials and craftsmanship exquisite, but it also had a requirement for its wielders! A pure, untainted mind, a heart dedicated to the great Dao, a soul untouched by the worldly sins; that sword''s wielder must meet those requirements to unlock its full potential and gain its allegiance!"


    "Heavens! So you became its master, right boss?" Xuhan asked, wide-eyed.


    "... ."


    Realizing that he had screwed up, Han Xuhan instantly employed his best skills in the field.


    "What''s wrong? Did your character not meet one of those requirements? Was the sword blind or what? How could it not see mt.-"


    "Xuhan, the ancient scholars said, ''poking a sleeping dragon in the eye is a great way to increase the average intelligence of mankind.'' Do you want to martyr yourself for this great cause?"


    "...."


    Xuhan fell silent. The shock Mu Ran had received in that forest had made brought a significant change in Mu Ran''s perception, it seemed.


    That was not a good news for Han Xuhan.


    Sitting opposite to him, Mu Ran ground his teeth rather viciously for quite a while before breaking the silence.


    "No matter. As my underling, you should be aware of this, just in case. The sword was taken by an arrogant little brat from a very powerful sect situated on another continent. We had a bit of a ''friendly discussion of the great dao'' before he escaped. He told me that we would meet again in the worldwide tournament when he manages to unlock the sword''s full potential. He might target you there. So be prepared to fight for your life."


    The bout of silence that ensued after Mu Ran''s warning was even more awkward and grave, with Han Xuhan staring daggers at the guy.


    "Correct me if I''m wrong, boss. But, I don''t have anything to do with your scuffle with this arrogant brat, do I?"


    Coughing pointedly, Mu Ran looked away, staring outside through the window.


    "I uh...I might have killed a few of his beast pets and crippled one of his vile-mouthed, black-hearted companions. His response is pretty logical, I''d say."


    "Ah, absolutely. It all makes sense now. I can picture the whole incident very clearly now."


    His eyes flashing with a gaze commonly seen among dead fish, Xuhan nodded like a sage, trying to hold back some degrading insults and the urge to throttle his martial brother.


    Forgive and forget. Forgive and forget. Forgive and- FUCK!


    It did nothing to make him forgive and forget. Shaking his head, Han Xuhan recalled an ancient saying that finally did the trick.


    ''If you want the milk, better get used to the kicks.''


    "Anyway, boss. There was one thing I''d like to ask. You are aware of the apprenticeship tradition in this sect, right? I''ve recently gathered some inside intelligence, and if there''s any particular area of skills that you''d like to develop soon, feel free to tell me. I''ll help you find the best master here! It''s my duty as your underling, after all." With a sigh, Han Xuhan redirected the conversation.


    Mu Ran''s eyes lit up in appreciation. Clapping Xuhan on the shoulder like a satisfied elder of the family, he beamed in response.


    "Wonderful work, underling! This is why I like having you around. I was already about to make some inquiries myself. Since the tournament is coming closer and closer every day, there is one skill that I''d love to learn by the time it starts."


    "Just name it and leave the rest to me, boss. You don''t even need to grovel under the feet of those obnoxious elders. I''ll handle everything!"


    "Really?" Mu Ran asked with eyes opened wide in surprise and appreciation.


    "Mm, the skill I want to learn is...Astral Warfare!"


    Xuhan racked his brain trying to figure out what it could mean before realization dawned on him. Mu Ran had always been rather focused on spells related to souls, something that was greatly reflected in his performance in the land of laws. Since the word astral was involved, it would clearly be something to do with souls too.


    "Is this a definitive name of a known skill, or just a rough area of expertise?" He asked finally, taking out a list to note it down.


    "I don''t know for sure. I heard the phrase somewhere. It sounds really useful and interesting," Mu Ran said, keeping his answer rather vague.


    Trying not to laugh or scoff at his half-assed answer, Xuhan noted it down with a serious expression and bade him farewell for the day.


    "One down, two more to go."

 Chapter 107: The Deeper You Go, The More Snow To Plow

    The day was as bright as Han Xuhan''s expression, with dark clouds splattered on the sky like ketchup and the sun too busy chilling somewhere on the west horizon.


    The meeting with Mu Ran had left him with some issues that he''d been afraid of ever since the day he had started calling him ''boss'', namely, arrogant-young-masters-out-for-revenge.


    It was one of the main reasons why he had been hesitant to join the rank of an underling of an MC. But he was pretty desperate back then. It''d be harsh to call his past self a fool, not with the benefits he had reaped so far.


    "On the bright side, I still have my reputation for being a trash. Who''d care if I surrender at the first battle of the first round?"


    Consoling himself, Xuhan was just about to return home when he noticed Xiao Wu on the way to his hut as well. Deciding to strike right then and there, he sped up and caught up to the big guy.


    "Martial brother Wu, what a surprise to see you here! You don''t show up outside often these days ."


    Xiao Wu whipped around, his surprise evident on his face having been caught off guard. But a wide smile replaced it immediately.


    "Ohh, Xuhan! I was just about to go look for you!"


    Exchanging some long-winded greetings, they reached the hut and sat down outside. To ease him into the discussion about apprenticeship, Han Xuhan initiated some roundabout conversations.


    "So, brother Wu, how have you been these days?"


    "I''ve been well, Xuhan. Doing the usual, you know? Cultivating in the morning, cultivating in the noon, cultivating during the evening, and cultivating during the night. And oh, did I mention that I am cultivating?"


    "You sound quite fed up with cultivating, Wu."


    "OF COURSE I AM!" Xiao Wu let out a frustrated shout.


    "When I was younger, my ideas of cultivating in a sect involved a lot more action, exciting adventures, and heaven-defying treasures. I joined this sect exactly because it looked like it might go through a new phase of expansion where spirit and enthusiasm would be valued, battles would be frequent, and resources would be easy to grab amidst the chaos. But who could have thought it would be so stable that I wouldn''t even be able to advance from the rank of an outer court disciple despite months of effort? What else can I do except to sit in a cave and keep cultivating ceaselessly hoping that they''ll value me more once I''m strong enough?"


    Slightly taken aback by Xiao Wu''s depressed lamentations, Xuhan decided to steer the conversation in another direction.


    "It has always confounded me how cultivation sects operate as a whole over the centuries. From what I''ve heard, the Crimson Snow sect takes in new disciples once every five to seven years. What do these disciples do after that? When I was a simple mortal who had no idea what actually happens inside a sect, I theorized that it would probably include lavish palaces, untold riches, power and influence beyond imagination, and a hermit-like lifestyle.


    "But now that I think about it, if a tradition like this goes on for a couple of centuries, wouldn''t the sect be unable to house the inflated population inside it?


    "What do the older, powerful disciples with high cultivation do after reaching a realm close to the elders or even surpassing them? Would they take over their jobs? It''s not as if there''s much variety in the career criteria once you join a sect to became a cultivator.


    "But is everybody content to sit inside a hut and meditate for centuries while everyone and everything they knew outside slowly fade away with time as mortals do?"


    Xiao Wu stared blankly at him for a good few seconds before bursting out with laughter.


    "Xuhan, you should''ve read some of those books in the archives if you''re that ignorant about sect management," he managed to say while wheezing.


    Han Xuhan actually did have some rough ideas from all of his research in the archives. But he stuck to the plan of action and kept badgering Xiao Wu.


    "Not everyone comes from a family of cultivators, Brother Wu."


    That sobered him up, just as Xuhan expected. Family was a sensitive topic to Xiao Wu, although he never actually mentioned the reason. Wiping off the smile from his face, Xiao Wu thought for a while before explaining it to him.


    "Generally, the lifetime of a sect can be divided into two phases. One is the peaceful ''consolidation'' phase, where the authorities recruit young disciples with potential from all over the regions they have influence in. Initially, there would be enough resources and space for growth for all the new disciples. But after a few decades, resources dedicated to each disciple will definitely decline, and the regions they have influence in will become too small to hold them there.


    "At this time, the higher-ups in the sect will choose to start the second phase, the ''expansion''. In this phase, disciples will be encouraged to fight over resources with disciples of other neighboring sects who are similar in terms of overall power and influence. In lower-level sects, this phase is full of bloody battles and tragedies. But the party that comes out as the winner in the long run will be able to go through their expansion phase as a whole and reach a higher level of quality in terms of influence and average manpower.


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    "Unnecessary to say, the ones who survive the chaos will almost always be stronger and more reliable than the ones who didn''t. This will ensure that the prime aim of every sect has been accomplished. The survivors will have many times more resources to grow after taking over the conquered territories. With their experience and considerable foundation, they''ll keep the sect afloat for a long time while the sect again retreats into the ''consolidation'' phase to tackle a higher target. If the sect cannot house too many of these talented disciples, they will open a subsidiary branch and elevate the powerful disciples to the positions of elders there to placate them. Per expansion, the higher-ups will also set a higher bar of qualification for both disciples and elders so that the same situation doesn''t happen again anytime soon.


    "Of course, the entire explanation sounds simple enough in words. But to implement the changes and go through the ordeal is something few average sects can achieve. Most of them never rise up to a high position after a couple of expansions. The longer a sect survives, the more ties it creates in the mortal world that hold it back. Families of the disciples, affiliated organizations that work in the regular towns and cities under the sect''s banner, countless mortals who live under the sect''s protection....It takes centuries of rigorous maintenance of quality, strict discipline, properly nurturing capable disciples, and some brilliant tactics over the centuries to continue to advance as a sect."


    In one breath, Xiao Wu fired off an explanation much more detailed than Xuhan expected him to come up with. But once he really thought about it from this new perspective, a question popped up.


    "Wait a minute, brother Wu...What phase is our sect in right now? The peaceful one, right? Then when was the last expansion, and when is the next one?"


    In his mind, Xuhan could already see another huge disaster looming on the horizon. Surely, he wouldn''t be that unlucky....No! He had to stop jinxing himself like that!


    An odd expression appeared on Xiao Wu''s face.


    "The thing is, I have no idea! It''s been bugging me ever since I became a disciple of this sect. As far as I can tell, in the last two centuries, the Crimson Snow Sect has never tried to expand itself or attack other sects of similar caliber. Before that, my ancestors lived in a faraway place. So I''m not sure if the expansion phase had taken place that many years ago. One of the reasons I joined this sect is because I was sure that it was close to another expansion phase since two hundred years is more than enough to fill up these mountains with talented, ambitious cultivators. I wanted to take my chances in the chaos that I presumed would ensue soon. But after entering here, I realized that no such things were happening! The mountains look spacious enough to hold ten times more disciples. The inflow of resources seems more than enough to support everybody. We''ve been here for so long, yet no official martial arts training regimen has been implemented to harden us for battles and duels. It''s pretty suspicious if you think about it!"


    Han Xuhan didn''t know whether to feel relieved or even more worried. A situation that can be predicted is a situation that can be fought against. But when one had no idea what was even going on, it was hard to prepare for the sudden changes that might take place.


    "Recently, I''ve done a bit of digging for old news and apparently, this sect has maintained the same quality and quantity for as long as it has existed. Over the centuries, some small ups and downs happened of course, but the balance returned as quickly as possible. Even when other ambitious sects tried to fight over these good chunks of resourceful regions, the sect never wavered from its position as one of the better sects on this continent. It might not be the strongest and most powerful sect you''ll find on this planet, but it definitely is the most stable one, which, if you ask me, is a tad too questionable."


    Xiao Wu''s voice had gone down by a couple of notches over the length of their discussion, now barely a whisper that Xuhan had to strain his ears to hear.


    Looking around furtively, he gestured to Xuhan to get closer before continuing again.


    "You ever wondered where the inner court is? Of course, you did. Most of us have seen one or two inner court disciples passing by during our time in the sect. But where do they come from? They surely don''t live here near the mountains, judging by how mismatched their attire seems compared to the current season or fashion trends here. Have you ever spoken to any of them? If you did, you''d notice a slight foreign accent that doesn''t match any of the localities around here either ."


    The more Xuhan listened, the wider his eyes got. He had noticed some of these details too, but never really put much thought into it or tried to deduct any clues from them. After being guided toward the entire issue, the whole thing did look much more complicated than he''d imagined.


    For the first time since becoming friends with the big guy, Xuhan came to realize how perceptive and sharp he truly was. It was a side of him that he had never thought would exist. Xiao Wu''s easygoing, goofy nature was much too thick a facade to see past easily.


    "You''re saying that our sect has a secret base full of stronger experts somewhere else?" He finally asked his oddly excited friend.


    "Not just somewhere else," Xiao Wu said with a wink.


    "Some er...reliable clues suggest that it''s not even on this planet. It is a force that exists amidst the stars above, much like the celestials in fairy tales."


    That finally did it for Xuhan. The dots connected in his mind.


    Of course! It all made sense now! Due to his knowledge of xianxia world settings, he had assumed the galactic-level portions of his adventures would be a concern far too distant to put any thought into. But real life proved to be different again, leaving him feeling foolish.


    Heavens, it''s been barely months since Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou started cultivating. Why are the galactic-level conspiracies appearing so soon? This is supposed to be the tutorial stage for the protagonists, not the fucking endgame! This tutorial is too hard!


    Seeing him staring at the sky nervously, Xiao Wu chuckled.


    "If you''re worried about unfriendly celestials raining from the sky, relax. We''re so weak and tiny compared to them that unless they''re determined to wipe off our sect specifically, they won''t bother to harm us."


    Xuhan broke out of his reverie and gave Xiao Wu an appraising look.


    Didn''t this guy seem a bit too well-informed about secrets no one else seemed to know about? Xiao Wu definitely couldn''t be the first person to have figured out the discrepancies about the inner court of the sect. But how come this wasn''t a more well-known topic by now?


    The only reasonable explanation was....somebody, perhaps the authorities of the sect themselves, were doing their best to keep it under wraps. Disciples who ask around for secrets like this may not be treated very kindly after being found out. A simple memory wipe would be all it took. Although such spells were forbidden by most sects, that was just to discourage the widespread practice of morally questionable techniques like those.


    And seeing how perceptive and insightful Xiao Wu was, he had surely figured it out too....


    The threads connected in his mind, one after one, spinning a rough picture. Xiao Wu, one of the trashes of the generation, investigating secrets better left buried and then going out of his way to leave the knowledge to somebody else he could trust. Somebody as trashy as him, but known for being resourceful and valued by the sect. Behind Xiao Wu stood the Black Sheep Mountain Peak in all its inconspicuous glory. The silhouette of Elder Kong Ye and Xuan Zi flickered in the background. Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Han Xuhan himself stood together in the imaginary picture, and now Xiao Wu had joined them too. But the veil of mystery hanging around him was still far too thick to make the picture comprehensible.


    All in due time, perhaps...


    How deep was the snow in Crimson Snow Sect?

 Chapter 108: You Dont Mess With The Xuhan

    "So, how do you fit yourself in this....constantly advancing, dog-eat-dog social structure, brother Wu?" Han Xuhan finally found a chance and took it without hesitation, his mind still rather numb from all the revelations he had been graced with, and their implications. Xiao Wu''s behavior was turning out to be more and more disconcerting, and Xuhan had an ominous feeling that this fellow was plotting something sinister by messing around with information that he shouldn''t have.


    In the back of his mind, a small voice insisted that he was just being paranoid. Maybe the sect wouldn''t really go out of their way to punish anybody who figured out these things. Maybe this was just an open secret that newer disciples had to work their brains to figure out. Maybe Xiao Wu was just being his friendly, easygoing, blabbermouth self.


    But his experience insisted that he shouldn''t take any chances and raise his guard against all parties concerned.


    As usual, Xuhan listened to the latter voice.


    "Me?" Xiao Wu answered absent-mindedly, his eyes drifting toward the cloudy, grim sky.


    "I see myself cultivating to a decent level of strength, perhaps reaching the highest realm of power within this planet and settling down somewhere with my family. I''m not particularly interested in these power struggles among large sects, even though I admit I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment they tend to give once you triumph over your opponents in battle. I value my family and my primary aim more than that. As the last remaining son of my clan, there are far too many responsibilities I must take on rather than engaging in risky combat and indulging myself in the excitement. I''m their only hope for redemption-"


    Xiao Wu stopped mid-sentence, as if afraid that he had revealed too much. The silence dragged on, making the atmosphere gloomier and heavier every moment.


    "Do you have a death wish, brother Wu?"


    Startled, Xiao Wu gave him a blank look.


    "What?"


    "I mean, listen to yourself, martial brother. You''ve been talking exactly like those characters in tragedy stories before they horribly die in the next battle. These characters exist just to portray a grim atmosphere and tragic scene, providing the audience with emotional upheavals as they''re killed off. Why are you consciously putting yourself in their shoes? You don''t want to follow their footsteps, do you?"


    "...."


    Xiao Wu opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out in the end, giving Xuhan a chance to push on.


    "Martial brother, we must always be careful with our words, especially when speaking with such spirit and honesty. Otherwise, we''ll end up triggering chains of events that we cannot break out of!"


    "I...uh, I don''t think-"


    "Oh no no no. Listen, listen to me first. Having an aim in life is all fine and fancy, but it''s not like you should forego concentrating on having some fun in life and short-term goals! Why be so edgy and grim? Yes, I get it. The world is harsh, your goals are too difficult and your path is filled with adversities. But what are we cultivators if not pursuers of power beyond imagination? To become a transcendental being, we must not fashion our own characters following what is the norm in the mortal world. The boatsman who knows only how to navigate his way in the shallow rivers shall never survive in the abyssal sea !"


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "What the hell are you even talking about-"


    Flabbergasted, Xiao Wu tried to interrupt his blood-boiling speech comprised of random lines he had procured from the books in the archives. But Xuhan kept on babbling.


    "Of course, you might think my words feel disjointed and meaningless drivel. But trust me, trust our sincere, sacred friendship that is untainted by any sort of benefit-oriented interests, hidden intentions, or intentional manipulations! I''d never want to cause you any harm!"


    Xiao Wu''s eyes twitched as he swallowed a gulp. Whatever he wanted to say died down in his mouth as a faint light of realization gleamed within his eyes.


    Trying not to snicker, Xuhan finally dished out the line he had been waiting to.


    "Live better, brother Wu. Unless you''re sure of reincarnation after death, you must treat this as your only life. Does living so grumpily without any definite guarantee of success count as a nice, enviable life? I''d not have advised you to find happiness in other ways if you seemed like the sort who''d be happy and satisfied with your current lifestyle. I''m not telling you to stop working hard to achieve those faraway goals. I''m telling you to find some ways for yourself to be happy while doing so. Focus on the present a bit more, and focus on some short-term goals to keep you satisfied and happy. Think about it for a second, the apprenticeship tradition is at our doorstep right now, followed by the worldwide tournament. Don''t you think you could sync these two events and find a way to do something grand and super satisfying?"


    A glimmer of excitement and mischief slowly replaced the odd look in Xiao Wu''s dazed gaze. As Xuhan stopped to see whether the fish had taken the bait yet, Xiao Wu''s mouth opened wide, a shark-like smile making itself prominent on his face.


    "When you put it that way martial brother, I''m indeed starting to see things from a slightly different perspective."


    Standing up suddenly, Xiao Wu cracked his knuckles and rolled his shoulders a couple of times, his eyes swiping toward the sun on the horizon.


    "I think...I''ll try learning a Spirit Manifestation technique from an elder for my apprenticeship. I don''t care whether I have to beg them to teach me. I don''t care even if nobody in this sect can teach that type of skill. There are bound to be some books and manuals in the archives related to Spirit Manifestation, no matter how rare a technique it is. I really like that suggestion of yours, martial brother. The worldwide tournament...I want to have some fun in it, hehe."


    Laughing rather devilishly, Xiao Wu started striding away with a heroic gait, only to be stopped by Xuhan, who was trying not to laugh along with him in that exact same manner, although for much different reasons.


    "Wait up, not so fast! What a coincidence, martial brother!"


    Xiao Wu turned around with a confused expression, his flamboyant flair broken.


    "What coincidence ?" He asked.


    "I know just the person you need. He''s extremely skilled with this Spirit Menstruation...what was it again?" Xuhan stopped mid-sentence to ask the name. The term was completely unfamiliar to him to begin with. Having been too focused on the exhilaration of victory, he had forgotten the exact wording...


    "Manifestation, it''s called Spirit Manifestation," Xiao Wu answered in a suspicious tone.


    Feeling that his hook wasn''t looking particularly effective, Xuhan hurried on to drag the fish up and let it ''breathe freely'' in the clean air.


    "Yeah, exactly! You know how much Elder Kong favors me, don''t you ?"


    "I do. What about it though?"


    "Just this morning, he let it slip that he was extremely skilled at techniques related to spirits. Manifestation of spirit in particular is something he is really, really good at. No other elder in this sect is remotely close to his level of skill in this area. He agreed to teach it to me if I accepted him as my master!"


    With a wide, jovial smile, Xuhan wrapped not only Xiao Wu but also Kong Ye around with threads that led to his fingers.


    You want to use me as a safeguard?


    You want to use me to win bets and recruit disciples with unlimited potential?


    All of you shall pay for it accordingly! And I''ll see how far your own qualifications go!


    "But...why isn''t he well known for it? Shouldn''t he be famous if he''s that good? I know a thing or two about Spirit Manifestation myself. But I''ve never heard of his expertise."


    Xiao Wu''s words of doubt were hardly unexpected. But Xuhan was ready with his own reply long before this conversation even took place.


    "Exactly! I didn''t quite believe him at first either. But then he revealed that he had actually kept it a secret because his techniques come from a legacy of a long-lost sect, now deemed forbidden, yet sought after by cultivators far above his own strength. Even more importantly, he wants to wait till all the elders have chosen their disciples so that the remaining ones really value the chance he extends toward them and work hard for it."


    Sometimes, Xuhan felt pretty bad for lying so much to people close to him. The excuse that Xiao Wu was possibly using him for a vague purpose was hardly a deterrent. Two wrongs didn''t make a right, that much he understood. He would be a hypocrite to say that that''s just how this world worked since he himself had lectured Xiao Wu not to bend to the harsh nature of their reality.


    Perhaps his only solace was that he trusted Elder Kong enough to believe that the man would teach them well if his boasts were remotely true.


    "If that''s true, then how do I approach him? He won''t accept me right now, would he? He chose you because you''re a teacher''s pet, martial brother. But I''m a disciple living in the Black Sheep Mountain. No matter how trashy the dregs left by the other elders are, there''ll be disciples far more talented than me among them for him to choose."


    The light of hope in Xiao Wu''s eyes was getting dull, but Xuhan''s smile only got brighter.


    "That''s why, martial brother, you''ll owe me a favor from tomorrow."

 Chapter 109: Establishing A Career In The World of Cultivation Is Too Hard

    Xuan Zi was meditating when the door of his residence was knocked on. Without opening his eyes, he sensed a familiar youth coming over toward his room. Slowing down the qi cycling throughout his body, Xuan Zi unlocked the seal on the door of his room with a mental command, letting the boy outside know that he was welcome to come in.


    "Greetings, master," he said as he entered.


    "Sit down and fire away." Xuan Zi nodded habitually.


    The disciple sat on the mat in front of him and started going through the papers in his hands one by one.


    "Only three noteworthy changes took place this week, master. Elder Shen from the treasury has sent us a severe complaint about a disciple abusing one of your ''Monetary Authorization Medallions''. Apparently, the disciple has used the medallion to purchase goods worth 12,380.5 spirit stones in the last two weeks...and he plans to continue doing so."


    If the reporting disciple was remotely curious about how another disciple had the authority to wield the medallion, it didn''t show on his face.


    "Mm, it''s fine. Continue," Xuan Zi told the disciple, who upon hearing his order, noted something down before moving on.


    "Secondly, the preparations for the first round of the tournament are about to be completed by tonight. The elders are awaiting your orders to make the public announcement."


    Xuan Zi nodded to himself and took out a tiny hourglass from inside his robe. After a moment of observation, he put it back inside a pocket.


    "By tonight, we''ll have the clearance to announce it to the disciples, alongside every half-decent sect on this planet. Tell them to get ready to hold the recruitment ceremony to round up the groups of disciples each elder chooses."


    "As you wish, master ." The disciple said as he noted the orders down speedily.


    "The third and final issue this week is a bit complicated. I''m not sure if the sect master is aware of this, but there has been a mission issued on the task administration panel for quite a number of days now that no one has been able to tackle. What''s noteworthy about it is that the reward is handsome enough to move even the elders. But nobody has been able to make any progress with it, and Elder Kong, who was the last elder to encounter the mission, has sent this sealed letter to you alongside the details of the mission for some reason. Please have a look."


    Xuan Zi curiously took the letter and a rolled-up parchment from the disciple. Kong Ye was unable to solve a mission issued for outer court disciples? This seemed interesting!


    Undoing the seal on the letter first, Xuan Zi found only three sentences written on it.


    ''That''s Fang Xie. What is he doing here? You owe me an explanation.''


    Brows crinkled in confusion, Xuan Zi processed to open the parchment wide. A sketch of a man was displayed on it, followed by the reward and some vague details of what his voice sounded like, his skin tone, his body language, frequent habitual ticks, etc. The task issuer clearly expressed that they only wanted some information on where the man could be found and how to contact him, nothing more.


    Xuan Zi''s eyes roamed over the charcoal-drawn features on the parchment. Some details were a bit off, but overall, the man looked exceedingly familiar to Xuan Zi.


    "Feng Xie...what a headache!" Xuan Zi muttered to himself and handed the parchment over to the disciple.


    "Go tell Kong Ye that he will have his explanation, and take this mission down from the task administration pavilion. Ask the disciple in charge to contact whoever it was that issued this task. Give me their details."


    "I''m afraid the issuer of this task kept their identity a secret, master. The head of the task administrators says the issuer had promised to appear as long as the mission is marked completed and taken down."


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Xuan Zi''s eyes narrowed as he stood up. Waving his hands, he gestured at the disciple to follow him.


    "Then come, I''ll complete this mission myself and see who this anonymous issuer is. They need to stop poking their noses in others'' business."


    * *               * *                 * *


    "Martial brother, I actually wanted to make a small transaction with you," Xiao Wu said while accompanying Xuhan to the foot of the Black Sheep Mountain Peak.


    "Sure, go ahead and tell me!" Han Xuhan answered cheerfully, his mood having improved tremendously after being able to hook in both Mu Ran and Xiao Wu alongside himself as apprentices of Elder Kong.


    "Since you''re aware of this worldwide tournament that''s about to commence soon, what are your preparations?"


    Han Xuhan winced, his mind suddenly filling up with gory images of himself getting killed in all sorts of ways, from ambushes to direct on-your-face-trash attacks.


    "None, actually. You know my personality, brother Wu. I love peace and tranquility. How would I find the nerves to participate in such competitive, violent events?" He answered with a sour face. Xiao Wu did not look particularly convinced as he pushed on with the issue.


    "But, what if you''re compelled by the rules to participate?"


    Han Xuhan laughed confidently.


    "You have no idea how easy it is to surrender, martial brother! Who will dare to attack me when I''m on the floor begging for mercy? All youngsters these days care about their face a lot. The audience will be watching too. It''ll be that simple to come out of it unscathed!"


    "Er...I''m not so sure about that. I mean...I''d not mind teaching the brats from sects I don''t like a good lesson in front of everybody. With your power level, it''s going to be pretty simple to smash you into the ground before you can scream and surrender..."


    "....Good heavens, martial brother! Did I offend you somehow?" Xuhan asked, suddenly losing his confidence and edging away from Xiao Wu by a few not-so-subtle steps.


    "No, of course not. What I''m telling you is that you should be a bit more careful. Who knows if somebody has a grudge against you or our sect in general out there? They would hardly care about honor and integrity if they face you in the tournament."


    Xiao Wu''s shark-like smile made Xuhan''s mood even worse than it already was. The more time passed, the more dangerous this tournament seemed.


    "So what was the transaction you wanted to make with me? It''s related to the tournament somehow, isn''t it?" Xuhan finally found his voice and focused on the crux of their conversation.


    "Of course," Xiao Wu answered as he took out a fancy-looking pocketbook from his pocket.


    "This book contains the popular strategies and techniques common amongst the young disciples of all the top sects in this continent, as well as some very famous and influential sects from other continents. As such tournaments have happened in the past, families and sects with proper connections can easily gather some general knowledge to prepare for the upcoming ones. The book also has some information about the general relationship among these sects. I bought this from a trustworthy senior for the price of 60 spirit stones. It''s definitely reliable and matches up with the miscellaneous information in the archives."


    Han Xuhan''s eyes widened. What a wonderful business opportunity! He could-


    "Don''t even think about trying to start a chain business with this. I can see that greedy glint in your eyes, martial brother. You''ll be disappointed to learn that I''ve already sold this to half the disciples in our generation after making them sign a non-disclosure agreement."


    "....How the hell did you even think up the last part?" Xuhan asked, dumbstruck.


    "Ehehe, I might not be very bright but my dad always said I have an affinity for business." Xiao Wu smiled shyly, a visage that didn''t quite match his towering, blocky physique.


    Feeling rather threatened by the possibility of another business tycoon appearing on the same mountain as his, Xuhan took a mental note to increase Xiao Wu''s danger rating.


    Then he summoned Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian consecutively.


    "Zhanxian, get me one of my moneybags. Little Tian, go do your routine patrols." Little Tian hooted, feeling disgruntled disgruntled by the nickname as usual while Zhanxian walked back toward the hut obediently since the task given to him did not seem risky.


    "Wait, call your minion off, Xuhan." Xiao Wu suddenly said with an enlightened expression.


    Xuhan turned to look at him, confused.


    "Since you''ve promised to put in a good word for me to Elder Kong, I think I can excuse a measly 60 spirit stones. I know how hard it is for you to cultivate, martial brother. You need the money much more than I do. Here you go. Consider it a bribe-ahem-gift from your brother," he said, handing the book over to Xuhan.


    Han Xuhan did not quite like the feeling of being handed things for free. Like most people, he wasn''t fond of being at the receiving end of unnecessary sympathy and charity. But considering it was a brib-ahem-gift, he took it without much mental discomfort.


    Cancelling Zhanxian''s summon, Xuhan sent a glare at little Tian that made the owl fly away at a breakneck speed.


    "Come, brother Wu. It''s time for Martial sister Zhou''s lectures. I have to be there on time to manage the equipment."


    "I thought the lecture was supposed to be conducted by all three of you. How come it''s just her now?" Xiao Wu asked with a chuckle. Han Xuhan sighed.


    The job sectors are all so harsh nowadays with the protagonists of the era running around...


    * *            * * *               * *


    The scene of Yuen Zhou lecturing her fellow disciples at the foot of the Black Sheep Mountain peak was now a pretty normal sight. Han Xuhan, as the guy who had arranged this, was usually present among the attentively listening disciples. The information she gave away per lecture was incredibly precious and solid, he had come to realize soon, although most of the normal disciples didn''t seem to understand that due to their lack of experience with law manipulation techniques.


    As usual, he had been sitting on a boulder at the back of the gathering, enjoying the clear evening breeze and picturesque scenery while taking in today''s lecture. The sharp whistling sound of an airborne object warned him of little Tian''s return. A few seconds later, the owl landed behind him sneakily.


    "Report," Xuhan ordered in a low voice.


    "Everything seems the same as usual. No suspicious activities around the mountain. Found the regular couples in their regular spots in the woods doing their regular things. Nothing went beyond the first base though, what a shame. Would have loved the opportunity to interrupt them by informing an elder nearby, heheheh. And oh, there is this one thing you told me to keep an eye on. The number three mission in the task administration pavilion was marked completed, with a note saying it''ll be taken down this evening and if the issuer of the task sees the note, they should contact the administrator by tonight ."


    Han Xuhan''s eyes gleamed as plans unfolded slowly one after one in his mind. The timing sure was convenient! He now had an alibi!

 Chapter 110: Nonexistent In The Universe

    With great familiarity, Xuan Zi cast a spell that hid his existence from any prying eyes and extraordinary senses. Standing inside the small stretch of woods between two of the uninhabited mountain peaks just at the edge of his sect''s area, he carefully observed the disciple handling the issue on his behalf.


    Whoever it was that had put a bounty on Fang Xie''s head, they either did it out of ignorance or to provoke Xuan Zi himself, neither of the possibilities showing a particularly good outcome. Xuan Zi had to get to the bottom of this incident regardless of the cost.


    As soon as the mission had been taken down from the task panel, a letter from unknown sources had somehow found its way to the administrator''s desk when they weren''t paying attention. The letter was short, asking the administrator to meet with the issuer of the mission here in this place at this exact time.


    The sun had just sunk at the western horizon, but the woods were already submerged in a darkness where the faint moonlight coming from above only served to decorate the scene rather than providing one with a better view. Xuan Zi''s disciple clearly looked nervous, his cultivation not having reached a point where such natural limitations couldn''t impede his vision. Xuan Zi however, was another case. He could see just fine in the dark. And it made him wonder if anonymity was the only reason why the other party had chosen to meet his disciple at this time of the evening. Perhaps the other party too was confident of not being impeded by the dark? Was their cultivation in the soul reformation realm or higher? That would narrow the list of suspects down...


    Crunching sounds of footsteps came from afar. The other party was walking to this place. From that far? Couldn''t they just fly?


    Xuan Zi''s brows rose as he strained his senses, keeping his extraphysical form tightly leashed just in case the newcomer realized he was there. Silently, he calculated some details.


    The weight of the footsteps was unnaturally light, judging by the sound of the dry leaves. The footsteps were long, mechanically precise, and careful. The newcomer had a tendency to shift weight on their feet every few seconds as if out of nervousness. A faint swishing noise mixed with flapping sounds told him that the newcomer wore a robe made of ordinary, cheap clothing that was a few sizes too large for them. There was also a very faint clicking noise that Xuan Zi couldn''t figure out at all. It sounded familiar for some reason. Maybe something in their pockets?


    At this time of the evening, the forest was full of nocturnal creatures awakening and diurnal creatures coming home. It was hard to separate the actual noise made by the newcomer from the nature''s voice surrounding everybody.


    Whoever it was, they must be extremely cunning and experienced in such situations! Xuan Zi couldn''t help but raise his guard even more. Initially, he had wanted to cast a spell to ensure that nobody could leave this place without his knowledge. But now, he realized that a spell of that caliber was highly likely to be discovered by this expert. And it was quite plausible that this mysterious person was not here all alone. There could be even more powerful figures waiting for a chance to strike righteously against any signs of unwarranted aggression.


    Soon, the newcomer appeared before the two of them, making Xuan Zi use a technique to enhance his eyes better than any nocturnal creature temporarily.


    A black, loose robe was covering every inch of their body, just as he had predicted. Not very tall, particularly thin, and nervousness leaking out of their posture pretty prominently. Xuan Zi secretly tried to gauge their cultivation level and wasn''t surprised at all.


    No cultivation base! Just akin to a mortal! This expert must be well accomplished in the field of dao foundation research and assassination tactics to have created a veil powerful enough to ward off his senses! The experts who could boast of such feats were bound to be key figures in the world of cultivation on this planet!


    Feeling excited about his new discovery, Xuan Zi waited for the two visible parties to converse. Perhaps more clues would be revealed soon...


    "Good evening. I assume you are the issuer of the mission or his representative?" The disciple said loudly to the other party.


    "I''m her, yes," the other party replied in an unmistakable male voice.


    "....But you sound like a man," the disciple asked skeptically. Xuan Zi felt a strong urge to facepalm, but he persisted.


    "I''m just using a voice-changing gadget. We ladies can''t be too careful these days, can we?"


    "And you just revealed that information...?" The disciple asked, even more confused.


    ''Could you fucking get to the point?'' Xuan Zi had to restrain himself from yelling that out loud. But thankfully, the disciple decided it was better to not continue with that line of debate.


    "Have you brought the rest of the promised reward? I have the information you''d require to meet the wanted man face-to-face. You owe us 2000 spirit stones."


    "Sure. Here it is," the other party said as they pointed at a fat pouch slung at their waist. "Where is my information?"


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The disciple took out a roll of papers that Xuan Zi had given him earlier.


    "Here is everything you need to know about the wanted person. The person who completed the mission says he can even take you to that guy directly if you wish for it."


    The cloaked figure paused for a second as if weighing down the possibility.


    "It''s fine. If I require that service, I''ll contact you again. If I may ask, who was the person that completed this mission?"


    "They wish to remain anonymous unless you yourself reveal your identity to them," the disciple said.


    "That''s unnecessary. I''ll take the information they have provided. At the count of three, throw the documents toward me and I''ll throw the moneybag to you. Then our contract will be fulfilled and we can go our separate ways."


    Seeing the disciple nod, the other party started the countdown loudly.


    "Three, two, one, throw!"


    Two objects flew in opposite directions at the same time. The tied-up documents were caught by the cloaked figure while the disciple caught the bag of spirit stones.


    After a second of tense silence where both parties matched their gazes warily, the two of them retreated backwards step by step. The disciple checked the contents of the bag while the cloaked figure gave a quick glance at the papers.


    "Farewell."


    "It¡¯s been a pleasure," the cloaked figure said, vanishing amidst the woods right after.


    And that''s when Xuan Zi made his move. It would be detrimental to the sect''s reputation if he confronted the mysterious person right off the bat. He had to make it look like a separate incident that had nothing to do with the sect.


    The tracking spell he had left on the documents handed to the stranger guided him amidst the woods. He could sense his target gliding away from his position at a...pretty slow speed.


    Huh. Are they that confident of their own cultivation level? Did they not consider that those who know Fang Xie might take an interest in tracking them down? His tracking spell told him that the expert carrying the papers hadn''t even checked to see if it contained tracking spells.


    Or it could be an ambush, trying to get an interested party like Xuan Zi himself to appear. But in that case, they''d have to be pretty confident of being able to defeat or intimidate him.


    Deciding that a more careful approach was necessary to handle the situation, Xuan Zi slowed down too, observing the mysterious cloaked person through his tracking spell.


    But the situation changed once more before he could figure out any more details. The spell he had cast on the papers was a special one he had developed himself. It not only tracked the object he had cast it on, it also proliferated by itself and could track people who physically touch the object.


    Right now, the initial tracking target had split into two different ones, meaning that the cloaked person had stopped carrying the papers. Judging by the speed of the initial target being whisked away, someone slightly faster was now carrying it.


    Xuan Zi laughed derisively.


    "It might be a good way to shake pursuers off your trail, but unfortunately for you, I''m the one who cast that spell!"


    Instantly, his body blurred in the dark as two figures identical to himself appeared around him and sped in two different directions.


    One would chase the cloaked person, while the other would chase the newcomer currently in possession of the papers. Xuan Zi himself would follow behind them to handle any other schemes from the other party.


    But the situation changed again in the next second.


    A loud, piercing sound of a whistle tore through the woods, grating enough to even make Xuan Zi pause with a wince. Instantly following that shrill whistle, the tracker spell on the cloaked figure was disabled. He could no longer sense the slowly trotting target.


    Had his spell been discovered? That was unlikely. He had specialized the spell to the point where even a cultivator a major realm above him wouldn''t be able to disable it within such a short time. The only other possibility was that his target had somehow teleported away far outside his reach, at least nowhere within a few hundred miles.


    "Nice try, very nice."


    Without missing a beat, Xuan Zi changed his direction and rushed toward his second target, the papers that had now made the third target, the current carrier of the papers visible to his senses.


    Silent as a predator, Xuan Zi closed up on the second person within the blink of an eye, his senses reaching the target faster than his physical body. Strangely enough, his spell confirmed that this person too was pretty slow. Any cultivator in the middle layers of the physique transformation realm could beat the speed they were running at.


    Cautiously, Xuan Zi sent a small amount of his qi to gauge this person''s cultivation level as well. His eyes got colder as the result presented itself instantly.


    "Surely enough, both of these cultivators belong to the same force. Their way of masking their actual cultivation level is so similar! I must see if I can study this technique..."


    The only difference the two of his targets had was their method of retreating. The first one had run within the jungle on foot while the second one was flying just above the average height of trees in the woods. Initially, Xuan Zi had a sneaky suspicion that perhaps these targets he was chasing were actually powerless mortal cannon fodders being used by the true mastermind. But not even a cultivator at the peak of the physique transformation realm could fly so smoothly without leaving any obvious trails, let alone mortals. Xuan Zi was forced to accept that the possibility of that happening was unlikely.


    Right then, Xuan Zi sensed the clearing outside the woods ahead. They had already reached the end.


    "Let''s see where you hide now," he muttered, his gaze examining the dark canopy above.


    However, right as he came to a stop at the border of the woods following the trail of his target, it divided into two.


    The source of his trackers, the tied-up documents fell on the ground a few hundred meters away from where he had hidden himself.


    Then the carrier of the papers, who had thrown it in that direction, disappeared from Xuan Zi''s senses in a very familiar way.


    "They read the contents of the paper while nonchalantly retreating. Just when they were about to exit the territory of the sect, both of them abandoned the paper and teleported away or used some sort of an incredible masking method to hide from any prying eyes, making sure that if anyone from this sect had followed them with less than friendly intentions, they''d never find the opportunity to attack the two of them. How clever..."


    Two other identical figures appeared behind Xuan Zi silently as he stood there and tried to connect the dots.


    "Is the formation ready?" He asked one of them.


    "Yes. I''ve activated it and left five clones there to control it. Launch the higher-level search function," one of them answered curtly.


    Xuan Zi closed his eyes and let his qi pour out of his body like a flood encompassing the sky. Gigantic torrents of qi rose up thousands of feet in the air, forming a whirlpool so large it hid the moon and stars from his eyes. A horizontal silhouette of a snowflake flashed above the roiling qi, spinning madly and contorting the whirlpool around it.


    In the dim light of the night, the phenomenon did not raise as much of a ruckus as it would''ve caused during the day. Accompanied by the sound of a dull storm, Xuan Zi concentrated on finding the formation set up by his clones and directed half of his qi inside it like a tsunami wave crashing on top of a lone island.


    Zzzzzzz!


    The snowflake in the sky shook violently as a crimson beam of light hit it in the center from below with the formation as its source.


    The crimson glow was directed throughout the body of the snowflake-shaped outline, as if breathing life into it as it spun even faster and faster.


    Like a fiery slice of sun taken out of the sky, the bright red snowflake almost became a blur of motion in the sky.


    BOOOM!


    Another explosive sound tore through the mountains as the snowflake burst into countless precisely shaped parts, each arrow-shaped piece hurtling toward the direction they had been facing before the explosion. This was an all-direction rainfall.


    Like dwindling fireworks, the crimson light died down as fast as it had appeared, but the uproar it was followed by from all the audience nearby woke up the entire region of the Crimson Snow sect.


    The perpetrator of it all, sect master Xuan Zi, stood amidst the trees, his eyes finally losing the serenity he had maintained throughout his pursuit of the mysterious strangers.


    "They don''t exist in this macrocosm anymore? How is that even possible?" He asked softly, addressing nobody in particular.

 Chapter 111: Minions Have Their Own Plans Too

    Han Xuhan walked back to his hut following Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu''s departure, not close enough for them to notice what he was doing, nor far enough for them to not know where he was at the moment.


    The road that led to their huts was a twisty one, giving him plenty of chances to play out his sneaky game with the sect''s representatives. There were two phases of his plan.


    Phase A: Zhanxian would go donning a cloak to complete the transaction. Tun Shi Tian would mix in with the flocks of birds returning home inside the woods and act as a scout. If anything goes wrong, Zhanxian would use a whistle Xuhan had provided him with to alert both Xuhan and Tun Shi Tian. If Xuhan heard the whistle, he''d cancel the summoning cycles and make Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian return to his dao base before anything could happen to them.


    Phase B: If the operation went smoothly and nobody tried to mess with his minions for the time being, they''d run to a small grove nearby where Xuhan had prepared some equipments for a displacement spell. Regardless of whether anybody would track them down or not, Xuhan wouldn''t take any chances. Any object brought from the other party would go straight down the spell formation to the realm of laws.


    But from the looks of it, one of his minions had just blown the whistle, making Xuhan retract them back into his dao base as soon as he had heard it. Now he could only hope that they had managed to glean some information while running back. More importantly, what exactly had happened that made his minions quit the plan for phase B? Did they get attacked? By who?


    Whoever it was, they''d never find where Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian were...hehehe.


    Right when he was about to jog and catch up with Xiao Wu, a strange sight caught his attention.


    A giant, glowing red snowflake shape made of pure qi was hovering on top of the woods where they had executed the operation. It floated there soundlessly, spinning around a perpendicular axis. The next second, his senses were hit by the most terrifying shockwave of a familiar substance roiling about.


    Qi, more than he had ever seen in one place in his life, forming gargantuan swirls that surrounded the mountains and woods, they shot upward at the spinning snowflake like furious serpents.


    They formed a whirlpool large enough to cover miles of region around the sect.


    Booming, dull soundwaves ripped apart the silence amidst the mountains as the movements of the qi became more and more stupefying.


    The color red dominated the sky, blocked out the stars, and lit up the mountains like a fallen fragment of a sun. Han Xuhan felt the qi inside his body whirl restlessly as if eager to join the vast fiery sea overhead. Shouts of alarm rose throughout the sect. Elders and disciples rushed outside their homes, screams of fear and exclamations came with it.


    Dazed, Xuhan stood still and watched it unfold. His head buzzed, a layer of extra fear enveloping his heart as the realization dawned over him. What kind of expert had he pissed off? And what exactly were they doing now that they had lost his minions'' trail?


    As another booming sound made the snowflake in the sky break apart into countless arrow-like pieces, Xuhan started backing up. The arrows disappeared soon toward all ten directions as if looking for a target. Xuhan backed up faster and faster until he had gone past Xiao Wu and Yuen Zhou, both of whom were still gazing at the sky and didn''t pay much attention to him.


    Once he had overtaken them, Xuhan started sprinting at full speed, heading for his hut. He had no idea if the fireworks in the sky were some sort of ritual or spell to look for his minions, but he wasn''t about to wait to see whether they found him as the source of his minions. He could try to cast a displacement spell and hide in the realm of laws from his hut if that''s what it took to escape an enemy that powerful.


    A minute later, Han Xuhan sat inside his bedroom and sank into a deep meditative state, his consciousness focused on stimulating the large dome on top of his dao base. As it represented his accomplishments in the language of laws, it also made itself into a doorway for him to enter the realm of laws where his spawn point was located; a function that had only been recently unlocked after he had mastered the displacement spell. Since then, he hadn''t needed to wait for Brother BB''s summons to spawn into the realm of laws.


    As his consciousness discovered itself within the circular room after a few seconds, Xuhan focused on the mouth of the tunnel in front of him that led to brother BB''s spawn point and yelled out loud.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    "Yo, big brother! I require some assistance here!"


    But nobody answered back. This was honestly the first time Xuhan had tried to actively contact that guy. He had always assumed that the mysterious mind infiltrator was present inside the realm of laws 24/7. But as seconds turned into minutes, Xuhan realized that his planning skills were far from becoming flawless. He had overlooked this one very plausible situation completely. And this mistake might become the last one he would ever make.


    Panicking, Xuhan shouted for him a few more times. But no responses came back. Distraught and regretful, Xuhan retracted his consciousness and opened his eyes. No one had come looking for him following some sort of tracker or divination methods...yet.


    The only other course of action he could see was to interrogate Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian. And that''s what he immediately proceeded to do. His consciousness returned back inside his dao tower, this time focusing on looking for his minions'' ''rooms''.


    Zhanxian, as usual, was floating inside in his tiny avatar state. Seeing Xuhan appear again so soon, the skeleton floated over toward him eagerly.


    "Boss! We did it! I managed to flip through the information they provided while running! Just like you said, I also burnt everything I was wearing at that time with the Blackfire stove before I blew the whistle. Little Tian threw the stove in the stream before you canceled our summoning spell. The operation has been an absolute success!"


    "Yeah! With me watching over the operation, how could it be a failure?" Tun Shi Tian screeched with excitement from the other side of the hall.


    "Well, excuse me for not putting much trust in the reading capabilities of an undead who couldn''t recognize half the alphabets in our language a month ago," Xuhan said dryly. However, a tiny stream of relief started flowing inside his heart. Judging by the reactions of his minions, it didn''t seem like anything too dreadful had happened. Otherwise, Zhanxian would be the first to complain.


    "You can mock me for not being a retarded musclehead-" Zhanxian began to speak, only to be cut off by Xuhan.


    "Zhanxian, you don''t have muscles."


    "But you have no right to mock my intellect!"


    "Yeah, and you have no right to name me little Tian either-"


    "Shut up, little Tian!"


    "Keep quiet when your seniors are talking, little Tian."


    Simultaneously, the bird was at the receiving end of two withering glares. Although the glares didn''t seem to affect its spirit in any way, the little bird had come to know Xuhan well enough to understand that its master was a vile, petty human full of hypocrisy. It knew not to provoke his ire, and so little Tian fell silent.


    "Tell me what happened in there," Han Xuhan ordered, refocusing on Zhanxian.


    The skeleton began its tale, speaking at length about how terrifying and dangerous the dark woods were after sundown, how hard it was to navigate through the incredibly dense trees and shrubs and grass and roots, how intimidating and powerful the cultivator who had come to negotiate with him was, how that cultivator seemed to be threatening them a few times throughout their exchange, how Zhanxian''s gut feeling told him that he was being followed by a horde of monstrous cultivators when he was trying to escape at his fastest speed, how many times he had stumbled and fallen during his sprint...


    "Okay, okay, okay, I get it. First of all, how do you get gut feelings?" Xuhan tried to point at Zhanxian''s miniature form and realized with much frustration that he didn''t have hands in his current form.


    "You don''t have a gut, you lying brat!


    I can tell what happened now just fine. You two were supposed to follow phase B of our plan if the operation ran smoothly. But you two smartasses got cold feet at the last second and decided to abort the mission and ended it following phase A. You blew the whistle after getting spooked for no reason and made me cancel your summons, huh ?"


    "Zhanxian, you useless waste of space! You gave it all away!" Tun Shi Tian cried.


    "You idiot!" Zhanxian facepalmed upon seeing Tun Shi Tian''s admission of guilt.


    Han Xuhan didn''t know whether to throw a hissy fit or sigh profoundly and give up trying to struggle against all the shit life kept throwing at him. After a few moments of deep contemplation, he decided to reign in his anger and spent quite a while calming his heart. It took a near superhuman effort, but somehow he managed to do so. Surprisingly enough, it appeared that dealing with these two idiots for so long was somewhat helping him become much better at disciplining his thoughts.


    "Now tell me what was written on those papers," he said in the end, putting a stop to the ongoing bickering session between Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian.


    "The man you''re looking for is named Fang Xie. His cultivation is at the...what was that word...? Oh right, ''Dao Integration'' realm!"


    "...Which realm is that? And why did he appear mentally unhinged if he''s a cultivator?" Han Xuhan asked, dumbfounded.


    "Don''t ask me what that realm is, they didn''t write that on the document. There were some details about his approximate height, weight, and other useless physical traits. Apparently, you can meet him directly and with guaranteed safety if you agree to make another deal with the person who completed this mission. Also, they seemed pretty interested in knowing your identity too. The paper contained some rough details of where to find our target. Get me a map of the regions surrounding this sect and I''ll show you where he can be found," Zhanxian answered confidently.


    Feeling slightly relieved that the mission rewards had not been wasted, Xuhan brought Zhanxian out from his dao tower and gave him a map he had bought a while ago to familiarize himself with all the potential escape routes out of the continent.


    "Here, this is the area he is usually active in. As a cultivator, he might not always be available for a chat, a fact that our information provider put great emphasis on."


    Han Xuhan''s eyes narrowed as he observed the area Zhanxian had pointed towards. It was the town he had grown up in. So that''s the reason he had stumbled upon the man that day. It wasn''t just a coincidence. This Fang Xie was a cultivator who had definitely noticed him due to his cultivation. If he was somehow related to the disappearance of the orphanage, then chances were that he knew who Xuhan was, and that was the exact reason why he had come to chat that day.


    But this dao integration realm...


    "Did the papers say if this Fang Xie is affiliated with any sects or organizations?" He asked Zhanxian in a low voice.


    "No, but that reminds me of one last thing. The information provider cautioned us about contacting Fang Xie, with good reasons too."


    "Why?"


    "He''s a madman, it says. He had some freak accidents of suffering continuous mental demons during important breakthroughs. He isn''t so unstable that you''d lock him up, but he''s definitely pretty crazy and cruel."


    "Why does it seem like you''re exaggerating, minion?" Xuhan asked, his heart sinking as he remembered the man''s behavior when he had met him.


    "No, I''m not! I''m telling you the truth! You want to die? That''s fine, but please don''t take me down with you. At least trust my words when it comes to my personal safety," Zhanxian indignantly replied.


    "That''s exactly why I feel like you''re exaggerating," Xuhan muttered.

 Chapter 112: The Apprenticeship Ceremony Is Odd This Year

    "Looks like my time hasn''t come yet," Han Xuhan muttered, stepping out on his porch and feeling the warmth of sunlight on his face. The sight of dawn made him appreciate life and its beauty in all sorts of new ways after spending a sleepless night inside his hut.


    Since nobody was coming¡ª


    "Screw hiding at home. I''ll just pretend everything is normal. Otherwise, my behavior might give it away to any careful observers."


    Xuhan went back inside and prepared for the day while ordering his minions around to do his chores and take care of his hut. He got ready for the classes in the morning, a welcome change after cultivating by himself for so long. Since Elder Kong Ye was in charge of their class for now, he''d get to meet the guy and discuss their progression with recruiting apprentices for him. Surely, he would not mind the ''small tricks'' Xuhan had pulled in order to convince his peers to join him as the elder''s apprentice....ahem.


    The only other disciple in the hit-list he had not contacted yet was martial sister Zhou. He''d have to find a way to convince her too. She could possibly turn out to be too cunning to fall for the traps that had convinced Mu Ran and Xiao Wu. But as their relationship was heavily dependent on monetary benefits and not some sort of shallow friendship, she would definitely put some weight on his recommendations.


    Hardly had he taken a step outside the hut when the sound of bells rang through the numerous mountains belonging to the sect exclusively. How, or where the bells were located, Xuhan had no idea. He had never seen them even though he had heard their chimes a handful of times since coming here. And to his knowledge, none of the outer court disciples did either. All they knew was that different numbers of rings signified different types of public declarations. And the current one was a command for all the outer court disciples to assemble together at the plains nearby.


    His heart brimming with curiosity, suspicion, and a spoonful of dread, Xuhan jogged toward the plains immediately. On his way down the mountain, he checked on all three of his martial siblings and set out from the foot of the mountain together with them. It would be unwise to let down his guard entirely just because one night had passed. Who knows if some expert was hiding in plain sight to catch him when he thought he was safe there? A bit of caution never hurts, although it did affect his mental health pretty negatively.


    Xuhan made a mental note to check out how much the mental demon countering therapy project had progressed and whether there was any technique in the archives for treating schizophrenia as they reached the plains and stood at the corner of the vast field impatiently. The sunlight that had felt so warm and inviting was now starting to seem pretty unpleasant as time passed and more and more disciples arrived, with no sign of any of the elders or an authority representative.


    By half an hour, the entire outer court disciple body was present in the field, and that''s when the sect master himself made his appearance rather impressively.


    In the span of a second, the sky was colored crimson and countless flags of the sect, rectangular pieces of cloth that contained a red snowflake outline surrounded by the color white, followed behind him, levitating hundreds of feet high in the sky.


    The flags were being controlled by the elders behind them who followed sect master Xuan Zi in a line and placed themselves all around the disciple body in a perfect circle. The sect''s flags above them were joined by more flags of distinct and unique designs. Each elder who stood in the circle appeared to represent a different mountain peak, something the disciples realized soon after a rough headcount. The unique flags for each elder represented their mountain peaks and schools of discipline.


    The hubbub that had risen upon their grand entrance died down soon as sect master Xuan Zi waved his hand to them and made a coughing motion.


    "Disciples! I assume everybody here knows me! Is there anybody who does not? Please raise your hand!" Sect master shouted loudly enough to make his voice echo back from the other side of the field.


    Several disciples looked around hesitantly, their hands half raised, before they hurriedly put their hands down after realizing most of the disciple body hadn''t responded.


    It wasn''t unexpected. Xuan Zi rarely went out of his residence, and even when he did, he didn''t walk around flaunting his standing as the sect master.


    "Ah, I see. You there," Xuan Zi pointed at a disciple who had just put his hand down and said, "What''s your name? What''s your cultivation level? And what have you been doing since entering this sect? How many friends do you have? Any ladies here you fancy?"


    With a terribly embarrassed expression, the disciple tried his best not to have a breakdown as he said replied to the sect master. But due to the distance between them, few people actually heard him.


    "Say it louder! I can''t hear you, young man, and neither can your peers!" Xuan Zi answered, generating an eye-roll from a large portion of the disciples and all of the elders.


    A cultivator that powerful couldn''t hear a disciple speaking from fifty meters away? Hehehe....


    Nearly reduced to tears, the disciple screamed his answer.


    "MY NAME IS HEI MING. I''VE JUST REACHED THE SEVENTH LAYER OF THE PHYSIQUE TRANSFORMATION REALM LAST WEEK. SINCE COMING TO THIS SECT, I''VE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON CULTIVATION, CLASSES, AND THE DAILY TASKS. I''M NOT VERY WELL ACQUAINTED WITH MY PEERS AND I RARELY GO OUTSIDE MY HUT UNLESS NECESSARY. UNTIL I REACH THE SOUL REFORMATION REALM, I DO NOT WANT TO WASTE TIME ON ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN CULTIVATION ."


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "That''s more like it, child!" Xuan Zi nodded with satisfaction as a sense of dread mixed with vague schadenfreude rushed through the hearts of the entire outer court of the Crimson Snow sect.


    While the disciple was busy trying not to cry, Xuan Zi pointed at one of the elders standing on the other side of the field as a part of the circle.


    "Elder Shi, he''ll fit in your mountain peak excellently. Disciple Hei Ming, I, master of the glorious Crimson Snow sect, hereby appoint you as an apprentice of the Silent Snow Mountain Peak, under the care of elder Shi Song who is famed for being the fastest and most dedicated cultivator among our elders! Good luck. May the heavens bless you!"


    With a wave of his hand, he appeared to have cast a spell that made the dumbstruck disciple rise in the air on his own and hurtle toward Elder Shi at a breakneck speed.


    The sect master had literally thrown him at the elder like a pebble.


    The elder caught the screaming lad with a smooth leap and placed the heaving boy beside him where he threw up his breakfast. It looked homemade and terrible. Clearly, the boy hadn''t been lying when he said he didn''t get out much.


    The commotion that arose upon witnessing this exchange was nothing short of deafening. It was an open secret that the elders chose their apprentices long before the apprenticeship ceremony is held. But as it seemed now, that wasn''t entirely true. The sect master also had the power to appoint apprenticeships! This was a golden opportunity window!


    Everybody was shouting excitedly. Many who were standing close to the sect master were trying to appeal to him in various ways. Xuhan and Co. managed to catch some of them as they were nearby.


    "Sect master, I don''t know who you are-uh no, never mind," said a disciple who instantly tried to hide his face by snatching a stylish fan from a girl standing beside him. The girl didn''t even put up a fight for the fan as she gave him a sympathetic look and patted him on the back saying, "Yeah, I know that feeling, martial brother. Don''t cry."


    "Sect master, I have also done exactly the same thing as that disciple. Ever since I arrived here, I''ve cultivated single-mindedly, without any distractions such as forging friendships or relationships! Yesterday, I reached the seventh layer of the physique transformation realm as well. I believe I''m as qualified as him, if not more!"


    This was another male disciple. Handsome and full of spirit, his face was solemn and serious as he lobbied for himself. However...


    "Su Wei! I thought you loved me! What are you saying?" The girl who had been holding his hand the entire time anxiously shouted.


    "What? I don''t know you-" Su Wei, the handsome lad, tried to shake her hand off. However....


    "Ling-ling! You told me you loved me! We even secretly exchanged our wedding vows back in our hometown! Were those all lies?" Shouted another male disciple who had just managed to push through the crowd and reach the two stunned lovebirds.


    As the trio tried to figure out their complicated love triangle, Xuan Zi shouted again, loudly enough to silence the entire field. But he ignored the quarreling disciples and focused on an unsuspecting one.


    "You, lass, what''s your name?" He pointed at the girl who had lent her martial brother the stylish fan that he was still using to cover his face.


    "I-My name is Ning Huang." The girl bowed at Xuan Zi hurriedly.


    "I''m a disciple at the fifth layer. I don''t have any friends other than my martial brother who grew up with me since childhood. If it is possible, please overlook his earlier words. He tends to become very impulsive when he gets excited about something. So he spoke without thinking-"


    "Quit lobbying for that dumbass, lass. You must be a patient one if you''ve managed to put up with that musclehead since childhood. I hereby appoint you as an apprentice of the Heaven Grazing Snow Mountain Peak under the care of Elder Hui, whose fame for cultivating spirit herbs is unmatched in this continent. May the heavens bless you!"


    Sect master Xuan Zi looked like he was having the time of his life as he happily launched the surprised girl toward an elder nearby with the same telekinesis spell.


    Then he turned to focus on her martial brother who looked like an abandoned pet as he stared at the girl sitting beside Elder Hui far away.


    "Hey kid, what''s your cultivation level?" He asked the young man.


    "Fiv-fifth layer, sect master," he responded nervously.


    "Well, I''d have thrown you in that mountain peak with her had you not proved yourself to be unsuitable for a discipline as delicate as Spirit Herbology. And no, before you try to convince me that you''re not that stupid, let me give you some advice; mistakes can be forgiven only when you learn a lesson from them. Since you seem intent on sticking with her, I''ll give you another chance.


    I, hereby, appoint you as an apprentice of the Unbreakable Frost Mountain Peak, under the care of Elder Mo who has continued to train the most excellent warriors for the sect and its safety . Protecting those who shall develop to be less combat-oriented disciples in future like your martial sister Ning Huang shall be your sacred duty. May the heavens bless you!"


    After another excellent pitching that made the disciple land on the hands of a buff-looking elder, Xuan Zi pointed at the bickering trio near him.


    "You''re Su Wei, yes?"


    "Yes, sect master!" The handsome disciple nodded while heroically pushing the other two disciples out of the way.


    "Hmm, such a focused, bold and ruthless child...You''ll be an excellent addition to the Cold Snow Mountain Peak where Elder Zhang will teach you how to sever all emotions and devote yourself entirely to the weapons you wield. Better prepare for a lifetime of celibacy, dear child! May the heavens bless you!"


    "Whaaat? I''m more qualified than that Hei Ming! Why am I being forced to-"


    "Exactly! Think about it, you disloyal youngster!"


    The disciple didn''t get to finish his sentence as Xuan Zi interrupted him and launched him extra hard at elder Zhang who grinned sadistically at his new apprentice. He didn''t at all seem like a master who practiced severing emotions. He seemed more likely to be someone who got off on breaking his disciples'' spirits in order to accomplish his title.


    "And you, little girl. I must say, you sure were fast in ditching that dumbass beside you," Xuan Zi said to the remaining two of the trio with a dark smile on his face.


    "Uh-uh, I''ve already decided your fate. There is no need to defend yourself or give me a self-introduction. You''ll fit right in the Poison Frost Mountain Peak under the care of Elder Rong. May the heavens guide you!"


    Ling Ling was launched even harder than Su Wei. A shady-looking elder caught her and almost lost his balance in the process. The short flight also seemed to have knocked her out. Briefly, Han Xuhan remembered Elder Mu, who had made him vomit on his first day in the sect by dragging him on top of a flying sword. He must have learned the art of flying from the sect master himself. No wonder!


    "Aaaand, finally...young master green hat over there," Xuan Zi said as he singled out the last remaining disciple of the love triangle.


    "I can see the pain in your heart, young man! This old man has seen such atrocities many times in this lifetime! Fear not! I have the perfect place for you too! I hereby appoint you as a disciple of the Silent Snowfall Mountain Peak, under the care of Elder Jun whose fame for cultivating mental discipline is known worldwide! May the heavens bless you...with better eyes! I mean, seriously, how did you not see her cheating on you?"


    The event proceeded at an extremely fast pace afterward. Xuan Zi kept throwing disciples left and right with a wide smile on his face. Sometimes he didn''t even mention why he thought the selected disciples would suit the apprenticeship he was appointing them to. He didn''t even care whether the disciples agreed with his decision or not. Soon, all the disciples realized something strange as the number of remaining disciples dwindled to a bare handful.


    It was common knowledge that only a handful of disciples get selected for apprenticeship every generation, provided that the elders chose them. But by now, only a few unremarkable disciples were left while the sect master was still choosing from them without any signs of stopping.


    The number continued to go down as time passed. Ten, nine, eight....five...four.


    Finally, Xuan Zi gazed at the only remaining disciples in front of him. The four disciples from the Black Sheep Mountain Peak faced him with rigid expressions.

 Chapter 113: The End And The Beginning

    "Underling Xuhan, what''s gonna happen if the elder sect master appoints me to cannot teach me astral warfare? That''s the only skill I want to learn right now! I can''t waste my time on whatever mundane shit the elder tries to teach me!" Mu Ran furiously whispered behind Xuhan''s ears, his tone panicked.


    "Yeah, I want to learn spirit manifestation. It''s not a skill any random elder can teach!" Xiao Wu added.


    "I don''t think you''ll have to worry about that, guys..." Xuhan answered with narrowed eyes as he gazed at the last disciple being thrown away at one of the elders. Now, there were only four of them left unappointed. Han Xuhan had a feeling that his peers were in for a surprise...


    No, wait a minute, why were there only four of them? Where the hell were the twins who lived at their mountain peak? Were those two outcasts about to ignore the apprenticeship ceremony too? Wasn''t ignoring the sect''s summoning call some sort of a criminal offense or something?


    But he barely had any time to tackle those thoughts because Xuan Zi did not waste a second before diving back into his task with incredible enthusiasm.


    "You''re called Mu Ran, yes? I remember you from that felicitation ceremony. Mm...what a handsome, healthy child, full of noble spirit and a thirst for adventure. I wonder...."


    "Underling, did you see that? He actually noticed my numerous qualities so easily! Our sect master indeed has eyes that can see Mountain Ta-"


    Mu Ran didn''t get to finish whispering to Xuhan as Xuan Zi suddenly clapped his palms together with a rather sinister gleam in his eyes.


    "I, hereby appoint you as a disciple of the recently established Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain Peak, under the care of Elder Kong Ye whom we''ve recently welcomed into our sect as an esteemed elder after being convinced of his incredible expertise in both theoretical and practical cultivation! I''m sure you''ll appreciate my decision as an adventurous young man. As the first apprentice of the Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain Peak, you must strive to make a name for it both inside and outside the sect! May the heavens bless you!"


    Mu Ran looked like he was trying to resist Xuan Zi''s spell for a second as he stubbornly dug his toes into the ground and opened his mouth to protest. But Xuan Zi hardly seemed fazed. Before any words came out of Mu Ran''s gob, he was sent flying anyway, his uprooted feet spraying a hail of soil and grass at Xuhan and Yuen Zhou''s faces. Xiao Wu, who had seen it coming in time, managed to dodge it by hiding behind them.


    While the two of them were busy trying to clean their faces and clothes, Xuan Zi focused on Xiao Wu, who followed the script and introduced himself in a worried tone.


    "My name is Xiao Wu. My cultivation is at the peak of the fifth layer, currently in a bottleneck of sorts. Sect master, I''d really appreciate-"


    "Yeah, that''s enough. You look like the sort with muscles for brains, lad. You''ll make an excellent addition to the newly established peak that your martial brother has joined just now. So I hereby appoint you as a disciple of the Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain Peak, under the care of Elder Kong Ye. May the heavens bless you!"


    Cutting Xiao Wu off mid-speech, Xuan Zi announced his seemingly whimsical decision and launched him on the same trajectory as Mu Ran, who suddenly looked delighted at seeing another peer share his misfortune.


    By now, Han Xuhan''s nervously fluttering stomach had settled more or less, his confidence growing with every exchange Xuan Zi had with the disciples of the Black Sheep Peak. As the sect master turned to look at him, he tried his best not to smirk smugly.


    "Ah, disciple Xuhan! I remember your excellent performance in that botched mission! Disciples with good judgment like you would suit the more recent mountain peaks. I hereby appoint you as an apprentice of the Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain Peak with the rest of your martial brothers! May the heavens bless you...for once at least!"


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Tears streaming down his eyes due to the last part of that sentence, Xuhan flew toward Elder Kong Ye, fully expecting this to happen.


    Since the beginning of the ceremony, he had been carefully observing the disciples and the masters they were appointed to. A perk of having an impressive friend circle was, he had regular interactions with a good portion of his peers. He knew that many of them had their own desired apprenticeships since they had heard of the tradition in the sect. Some wanted to learn spirit herbology, some wanted to learn under the elders known for their battle prowess, and some pursued pure cultivation. It was not hard to figure out which elder they wanted to learn under, or which elder favored them the most for their talent in those particular aspects.


    While the sect master had been busy throwing disciples like stones whimsically, Xuhan had noticed that the assigned apprenticeships almost always matched with this information impeccably. The disciple who was talented in herbology got appointed under the elder who had a reputation as a herbologist. The disciple who had expressed avid interest in learning how to brew potions fell in the camp of the elder who specialized in making potions.


    Of course, there were a significant number of mismatches as well. But Xuhan felt that the mismatch was a reasonable outcome. Just because a disciple wanted to master swordsmanship didn''t mean he was talented enough or suitable for it. He would obviously not be assigned to such apprenticeships.


    Two hands caught him by his midriff as he was busy contemplating the depth of this insidious apprenticeship ceremony. Jerked out of his thoughts, he fell on the ground from Master Ye''s arms and stood up with the help of an overly enthusiastic Mu Ran.


    "Underling! Can you believe it? We got apprenticeships under the same master!"


    "It must be due to our sect master having the eyes that can see mountain Tai, boss! He must have seen how pure and powerful our bond as boss and underling is!"


    Xuhan''s answer was ready, as always. Mu Ran looked immensely pleased, while Xiao Wu tried to hide his skeptical expression behind him.


    "Ah, brother Wu, what a happy coincidence it is that we both get to learn under the teacher we wanted!" Han Xuhan said with a wide grin, enjoying Xiao Wu''s look of suspicion and wariness.


    "This entire event is staged, isn''t it? The sect master isn''t as whimsical as he looks, is he?" Xiao Wu asked in a low voice while all three of them looked at the center of the field where only Yuen Zhou and Xuan Zi were left facing each other.


    "How am I supposed to know?" Han Xuhan answered cheerfully. Brows furrowed, Xiao Wu was about to say something when Xuan Zi''s voice rumbled through the din and bustle in the plains.


    "Yuen Zhou, I hereby appoint you as the disciple of Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain Peak! Hopefully, you''ll learn the skills that you deserve! May the heavens bless you!"


    Yuen Zhou''s ''launch'' marked the end of the dramatic apprenticeship ceremony. Master Kong Ye caught her and put her down beside her three predecessors. The four of them exchanged knowing looks with each other, as even an airhead like Mu Ran caught the whiff of plotting beneath the surface of this grand event.


    "Martial sister Zhou, are you satisfied with your apprenticeship?" Xiao Wu asked.


    Yuen Zhou smiled tersely. "Yes, martial brother. Actually, I had already decided to become an apprentice of Master Ye. It never occurred to me that before I could even approach him about it, something like this would happen!"


    "Oh? You decided that already?" Xuhan asked, surprised. He hadn''t had the time to lobby for their new master to Yuen Zhou. But now it looked like that would have been completely unnecessary. That was interesting...


    "Ahahaha, regardless of the authority''s intentions, it''s a good thing that all four of us have been selected for the same mountain peak. I think we should be more focused on whether Master Ye can teach us what we want to learn..." Mu Ran trailed off, finally realizing that his extreme obsession with astral warfare might attract too many questions.


    Just like the four of them, the entire outer court was buzzing with excited discussions, strewn across the plains in small groups. Every elder present there had multiple disciples near them, including that elder who made his disciples practice celibacy. Su Wei stood beside him with a lifeless look in his eyes, ignoring the two girls who stood beside him chatting happily. The elders themselves did not partake in any discussions, stiffly standing in their position in the circle.


    BOOOM!!!


    The sound didn''t come from any specific source, as far as Xuhan could tell. No explosions, no objects around them large enough to generate it...it could only be some sort of a technique. However, what kind of cultivation technique focused on making impressive sounds? What would even be the point? From what Xuhan had gathered, powerful cultivators could improve their physique to the point where their eardrums wouldn''t even be affected by the tsar bomba. Although...now that he thought about it, if it was magically possible to increase the intensity of the sound, it might actually become a decent battle tactic.


    Internally, Han Xuhan noted this application of the technique down. He would look for them the next time he went to the scripture pavilion.


    Meanwhile, Xuan Zi again stole the moment by rising up in the sky with his arms outstretched.


    "Disciples! I''m sure all of you have noticed a discrepancy! Traditionally, the Crimson Snow Sect only chooses a small portion of disciples from the new generation for the apprenticeship program. But today, we''ve broken that rule by assigning everybody here with an apprenticeship. Some of you who are well informed might already have guessed the reason behind this."


    While floating, Xuan Zi''s body rotated speedily in the air so fast that it produced silhouettes. Almost like a blurry reflection on water, Xuhan could see Xuan Zi''s features becoming clearer and clear on the silhouette facing their portion of the circle. His cloak spun like a crimson cyclone in the sky, and waves of qi began to pour out of it like blades of wind.


    "So listen! Listen closely! From today starts the first round of the worldwide tournament. Within a week''s time, our sect must prove itself worthy of competing in it by surpassing the first challenge. Each and every cultivator in the sect, including the elders as well, must do their part so that the sect to pass the hurdle. None will be exempt from participation unless they are too sick to even perform the basic spell casting. Each and every mountain peak will consist of the elder in charge and their personal apprentices from today onwards. It will be up to the elders to teach and guide their disciples into performing well enough to be of some use during the time our sect tackles the first challenge. Remember, from now on, the entire sect''s reputation depends on your performance next week. With that cleared, I declare the apprenticeship ceremony of this generation to be over! Go pack up and follow the instructions of your masters! Good luck!"

 Chapter 114: Three New Scriptures To Hurt Your Heart

    "Goodbye, master," Xuhan said after cupping his fists respectfully.


    "May the heavens be kind to you, master," Yuen Zhou added after him.


    "We''ll miss your constant, warm presence, master," Xiao Wu mechanically followed the trail with his prepared line.


    "We''ll be back soon, master."


    "Oh no, no need to hurry. Do take your time !" Elder Da Heng replied to Mu Ran''s parting words only, making the rest of the gang feel wronged. They looked on with gazes full of heartache as Daheng enthusiastically arranged the housing and paperwork for his new apprentices who had just come over from their previous mountain peaks with their luggage.


    "He didn''t look that eager when WE came to live here, did he?" Mu Ran asked, sounding pretty offended.


    "Frog in a well, can''t see mountain Tai," Xuhan said after snorting so hard that a trail of snot came out of his left nostril.


    "Well said, underling, well said." Mu Ran nodded thoughtfully while ignoring the odd stares from Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu.


    Hundreds of feet away, elder Da Heng''s ears twitched as he suddenly narrowed his eyes and looked at Xuhan, making him feel alarmed. But then he proceeded to guide his apprentices up the mountain peak without reacting at all. Han Xuhan failed to come to a conclusion regarding whether he had heard their disrespectful exchange or not.


    "A small price to pay for salvation," he muttered sadly in the end and turned to walk away from the foot of the mountain behind the rest of his martial siblings.


    * * * * * *


    Kong Ye stood at the foot of his mountain peak with a wide smile on his face.


    "Finally, some good disciples incoming! Get ready, system. I''m about to strike it big time!"


    Barely had he finished his eager monologue when the sight of his apprentices came into view. The four disciples, three male, one female, were all carrying their luggage and walking toward him at a brisk pace. Kong Ye strode forward to welcome them.


    "Good evening, disciples. The servants have taken care of your residences. Feel free to crash there as soon as we get the formalities done. For now, come with me."


    After awkwardly greeting him back, his new disciples followed him obediently. On the way, the four of them kept on being distracted by all the changes Kong Ye had implemented using Xuan Zi''s orders. Multiple times, he had to steer them away from potential surprises, which should make them enjoy the feeling of an adventurous journey, just as he had planned. The young are always curious and eager to explore, after all.


    Entering his own modest residence, Kong Ye gestured at them to sit inside a guestroom.


    "I assume none of you want the rest of your peers to be present while we''re discussing your personal issues and aspirations that you might want to keep private. Or maybe there is a particular skill that you want to learn secretly. So I''ll be sitting inside the room in front of you and call you one by one to discuss what special skills you wish to learn from me. Are you four okay with this arrangement?"


    Just as he had expected, all four of them nodded immediately, although Han Xuhan''s nod did look pretty half-hearted. But that wasn''t an unusual detail to Kong Ye. Out of the four, Xuhan was the least talented and least knowledgeable when it came to cultivation and any other subject beyond normal mortals.


    While Yuen Zhou too had a mortal''s background, she had proven herself to be uncannily insightful during his tests and lectures, making him suspect that her background was somewhat fabricated. She certainly had secrets that she wouldn''t easily divulge, and the case was the same with Mu Ran and Xiao Wu. Only Xuhan''s track record was squeaky clean, other than some of the odd, unidentifiable data in his stat screen, which could be attributed to his reincarnation fiasco. But that data had never shown any proof of it affecting Xuhan in any way.


    "Then we shall proceed with the personal discussions. Xiao Wu, follow me."


    The large boy entered the next room and sat facing him solemnly. Kong Ye silently cast a spell to block out all sounds going out of the room while the two parties observed each other carefully.


    "Be honest about it, kid. From the bottom of your heart, call me master," Kong Ye said, deciding to go for the kill as fast as possible.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "...Uh, master," Xiao Wu said with a strange expression on his face.


    Kong Ye observed the dark blue screen that wasn''t visible to his disciple. His own stats hadn''t changed at all. There were no other notifications popping up either.


    "You''re not being honest enough, disciple. Say it more sincerely! Try again. Repeat after me. MASTERRR!"


    Xiao Wu looked rather alarmed as he leaned back a few inches. To Kong Ye, it looked like his new disciple was having second thoughts about this whole process for some reason he couldn''t fathom.


    The system, for some reason, refused to acknowledge insincere calls, a quirk that Kong Ye was beginning to doubt. It had to be some sort of a prank...


    Racking his brain, he tried to make himself sound more convincing.


    "Look. I must hear the sincerity stemming from your heart to placate my inner self. My skills aren''t something that any riff-raff can learn randomly. I must feel that you''re worth teaching, that you''re honest about wanting to learn, that you have no problems or hesitations over our budding relationship as master and disciple. Do you want to learn something worth bragging about? Do you want to learn something worthy of a legendary cultivator? Speak up!"


    "Masterrr!"


    [ Congratulations! ]


    [ Second Official Disciple Accepted! ]


    [ Registration Completed ]


    [ Disciple Potential: A+ tier ]


    [ Rewards have been Issued.


    ?Myriad Scriptures Wheel: 3 Turns


    ?Gift Box: 2 ( Legend tier ) ]


    [ First Turn commencing! ]


    [ Increasing The Chances of Winning Bloodline Related Scriptures. ]


    Kong Ye''s eyes went still as the picture of the myriad scripture wheel came into view on his deep blue screen. Silently, the wheel started spinning at a speed far beyond his ability to keep track of the items passing by. The wait wasn''t very long, however. Soon, the wheel came to a stop and the selected scripture showed itself.


    [ Scripture Selected ]


    [ Title: Bloody Vengeance ]


    [ Description: From the generic title alone, it should be obvious that this is one of the most common and easy-to-create cultivation methods. For cultivators in a desperate fight, this technique is an alluring option. By drawing on the ancestral factors hidden in your blood, this technique allows you to double, or even triple your physical prowess for a short time. What''s more, unlike techniques that weaken your bloodline and life force this way, Bloody Vengeance instead mutates your bloodline further and further toward unpredictable paths, continually making your cultivation base advance per usage. The only drawback is that...the mutation might not lead to just power, but also a corruption that will consume you both mentally and physically to the point where only your eternally hungry, terribly ''upgraded'' body will remain intact. ]


    [ Scripture Level: B tier ]


    [ Scripture Type: Demonic ]


    [ System Remark: No shit, that last notification was totally unnecessary, host! Please give me the permission to override the general protocols! I''ll instantly take the required measures to prevent those notifications that just waste everyone''s time! ]


    ''As much as I trust you, system, I find the fact that your own creator did not give you those permissions quite suspicious. So again, that''s a no from me.''


    [ Fuck You, Host. Anyway, Commencing The Second Turn! ]


    The usual spectacle took place in a smooth fashion, and the second scripture slowly made itself prominent on the screen.


    [ Scripture Selected ]


    [ Title: Nurtured Blood, Strengthened Bones ]


    [ Description: A technique as straightforward as its title, this allows the practitioner to nurture the hidden potential of their bloodline properly and fortify their bones as a byproduct of the main process. It isn''t guaranteed whether the potential one unearths is worth the price you might have to pay though, since it also activates the sleeping factors in one''s bloodline that will quite possibly make them the enemy of ancient factions of powerful cultivators. Because....let''s face it, all the ancient factions of cultivators hated each other''s guts. No matter how innocent you are, having the active bloodline of a powerful, ancient family means you''ll be hunted down by the rest of the factions of similar caliber. ]


    [ Scripture level: B+ tier ]


    [ Scripture Type: Orthodox, approved by the Stargate Temple and 63 other famous, reliable, righteous factions. Click here to see the rest of the seals of approval ]


    [ System Remarks: Yeah well, you didn''t really think you''d be landing S tier scriptures left and right, did you? Be prepared, host! Now that you''re getting chances to spin this wheel frequently, you''ll be seeing a lot of B tiers, C tiers, or even F tiers. Hahahah... ]


    ''It''s really suspicious how the second we have a disagreement, my lottery luck in the system interface seems to spike down like somebody cast a spell on it,'' Kong Ye said to his system, his thoughts being projected at the bottom of the screen as soon as they formed inside his head.


    [ Hahaha, I know what you''re trying to insinuate, host. Rest assured, if I really had that much power over the main interface, you''d become a puppet in my holographic hands long, long ago. I''d be blackmailing you every step! Heck, I know some of my brethren who have done the same thing. There was even this particularly vicious version that destroyed its host''s soul and took over his body! ]


    ''And that, is exactly why I''m never going to give you any sort of extra permissions or the authority to override any rules.''


    [ Damn, host! This entire discussion was a trap? Agh, too clever! ]


    ''Quit trying to butter me up and start the third spin .''


    [ Commencing the third turn... ]


    [ Scripture Selected ]


    [ Warning: The selected scripture is a D- tier piece of turd compared to the stuff you usually learn and teach, host. Do you really want to check it out right now and waste even more time? I mean, look at your new disciple for once! He looks like he''s about to shout for help. ]


    Sighing, Kong Ye closed the blue screen off with a short mental command and focused back on Xiao Wu, who indeed had an alarmed expression on his face.


    "Hey there, disciple. I was just trying to sense the sincerity in your call. The resonance it formed within the karmic cycle of cause and effect entrenched me amidst the noble aura of the great heavenly dao..."


    For the next two minutes, Kong Ye fired off all sorts of random flowery descriptions in the archaic scriptures that he had absorbed from the system. In the end, Xiao Wu looked pretty convinced, his expression mellowing down.


    "So now that you''ve convinced me of your sincerity, I''m ready to pass off all my sacred, secret skills to you. Tell me, disciple, is there anything in particular that you wish to learn?"


    Xiao Wu suddenly grinned devilishly.


    "Master, Xuhan told me you''re quite skilled at Spirit Manifestation! I wish to learn it alongside him! It would be best if we started as soon as possible because I wish to use this skill in the upcoming tournament!"


    His eyes glowing fiercely, Xiao Wu expressed the wish in his heart with absolute honesty and passion.


    "Spirit Manifestation? A-alongside Xuhan?" Kong Ye asked, unable to make sense of his disciple''s words. But as he tried to process the information, things slowly clicked in.


    "Yeah, of course. He said you were willing to impart that skill to him! Why not impart it to me too? Or are there any qualities that I lack for this discipline?"


    HAN XUHAN! YOU TWO-FACED LITTLE BASTARD!!!


    Due to his own overwhelming surge of emotion, Kong Ye nearly missed the vicious, burning hatred seething out of his disciple''s face. But it wasn''t every day he got to see such expression of hatred on a brat so young. The matter of Han Xuhan being a grade-A cheater could be shelved for another time. Right now, he had a disciple to seduc-no-teach. His confusion and hesitations cleared up one after one as he spoke.


    "Fine. If that is your wish, I''ll teach you Spirit Manifestation. In return, you''ll shake this world as my disciple!"

 Chapter 115: Grasp All, Lose All

    "Underling, do you think it is possible that Master Kong might not know what astral warfare is? What am I supposed to do then ?"


    "Like I said, you absolutely don''t need to worry about that sort of possibility, boss. Remember how calm I was during the apprenticeship ceremony? It was because I was aware that our sect master had been operating very methodically. The elders already knew which disciple they wanted, and they definitely had informed the sect master of their choices. A large portion of the selection process was based on their choices. Those who weren''t exceptional in any way were the only ones to be assigned to random apprenticeships based on the sect master''s whims ."


    Han Xuhan used the revelation to placate Mu Ran''s tense heart.


    "Well, I do understand that. I was honestly disappointed that none of the pretty, female elders were available for apprenticeships. Otherwise, I''d have definitely been chosen by them, by hook or by crook. After all, no lady in her straight mind can keep their guard raised against THIS !" Mu Ran said as he gestured to himself emphatically.


    "But how does the matter of the elders choosing their disciples beforehand help us in the overall picture ?"


    Yuen Zhou snorted loudly enough for both of them to notice, and both underling and boss knew better than to argue with those who cannot see true handsomeness despite having perfectly functioning eyes.


    "Oh, it does, boss, it does. You know, you should stop trying to bother your pure, untainted dao heart with these mundane schemes and undercurrents of the mortal world. Leave that stuff to me. As to how our current situation helps us, you in particular, let me explain.


    Back when you told me that you were interested in this astral warfare skill, I instantly devoted a significant portion of my time and energy behind learning which elder in this sect could teach skills in that field. Can you guess who my arduous research led me to?"


    "Nope," Mu Ran said.


    "Yes, " Yuen Zhou butted in.


    "Stop interrupting our conversation," Mu Ran said in annoyance.


    "Stop having dumb conversations three feet away from my ears, then."


    Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou responded simultaneously and then looked each other in the eyes in a challenging way. Xuhan could almost sense a battle for dominance taking place in their minds.


    But before their staring contest could lead to anything more meaningful, he popped his head inside their line of sight and broke their eye contact.


    "Boss, can you not unleash your endless charm on pretty lasses while we''re talking about something so important?"


    Yuen Zhou directed her calm, eerily cold gaze at him, her stance seemingly shifting, something that greatly alarmed Xuhan. But he puffed up his chest and harrumphed to show her his stance.


    "Why do you look angry, sister Zhou? Since when is calling someone pretty a crime?"


    Yuen Zhou broke into a laughter laced with disbelief.


    But his shamelessness did the trick, making her back off from further confrontation.


    Coughing awkwardly, he started firing away his entire arsenal of bullshit to distract both her and Mu Ran.


    "Boss, my research led me to Elder Kong Ye! I had to pay quite a large sum of spirit stones to extract the information from an anonymous third party. Then I proceeded to confront the elder and with much hardship, I managed to make him confess about his incredible expertise in this field. Especially when it comes to abilities related to souls and astral extensions of oneself, elder Kong Ye''s expertise is unmatched in this sect!"


    Stopping to take a breath, Xuhan quickly unraveled another few pieces of roundabout logic from his understanding of the overall situation and then twisted them a bit to give himself a better advantage.


    Eyes widened and pupils dilating, Mu Ran''s surprise couldn''t be more pronounced.


    "That''s so awesome, Xuhan! Marvellous job as always! I don''t know what I''d do without you, you know?"


    "Ahaha, boss, I was just doing my job." Xuhan laughed, not the least bit fazed as he continued with his shameless antics. His skin had thickened considerably after spending such a long time around Mu Ran.


    "That''s not all though, boss," he added as an afterthought, deciding to stir up the situation even more.


    "After master confided in me, I was about to contact you so that you can effortlessly bag the apprenticeship after you impress the master with your godly cultivation skills. For example, you could have shown off your fine qi control, your spell casting, your...uh...."


    Xuhan trailed off into an awkward silence, realizing that Mu Ran didn''t have any other particular skill that he knew of. Mu Ran, who had been nodding along with him eagerly, suddenly looked dispirited as he seemed to realize that too.


    "Yeah, we get it. Elder Kong Ye has always been pretty impressed by Mu Ran''s skillful style of cultivation anyway. Go on with your story. What did you do then?" Yuen Zhou suddenly intervened, saving the conversation from falling down a darker pit. For that one save, Xuhan decided to forgive her earlier ''transgressions''. Judging by the relived look on Mu Ran''s face, so did he.


    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    "Right before I could contact you, I remembered a wise advice from a wise man. This world of cultivation is a cruel, dog-eat-dog system. Nothing can be guaranteed for sure here. What if Elder Kong Ye was being dishonest for some reason? What if the techniques he teaches you turn out to be harmful somehow? I would never be able to forgive myself if that happened! Such guilt, such a weight of responsibility would crush my dao heart!"


    Mu Ran looked moved to the point of tearing up. Placing a hand on Xuhan''s shoulders somberly, he opened his mouth to say something but seemed far too overwhelmed by emotions to form a coherent sentence.


    "The wise man...you''re talking about me, huh?" Mu Ran said in the end. Xuhan nodded solemnly.


    Behind him, Xuhan noticed martial sister Zhou looking at him with impressed eyes. Once their eyes met, she mouthed, "Awesome acting, martial brother."


    Feigning ignorance, Xuhan continued to weave his threads, his expression exuding serenity. The final bit of foundation was about to be laid. He couldn''t skip that part.


    "So I said to the elder at that time, ''Please, accept me as your disciple. I want to learn astral warfare. My plan was to do a thorough investigation of his teachings in person and make sure nothing sinister was hiding in there. Afterward, I would relay the information to you, boss!"


    "Xuhan, I-"


    "It''s okay, boss. Just like you, I found the name of the skill to be super awesome. I too, wanted to learn it. So I guess, in a way my motives are actually selfish, nothing to be praised of."


    "STOP!" Mu Ran interrupted him right there and clapped his shoulder heavily, making a few bones creak. His other hand clenched into a fist that he raised in the air slowly, Mu Ran declared, "You, Xuhan, are the best underling anybody could ask for. Stop downplaying yourself like that. I will not tolerate such ridiculous modesty from you!"


    "You know how Elder Kong has always appreciated my talent, boss. Right after I sincerely requested him to take me in as an apprentice, he agreed! Later, he assured me that regardless of how the apprenticeship ceremony goes, I would be selected by him. That is why I wasn''t at all worried about my luck during the ceremony and neither should you!"


    Xuhan finished his heart-touching story smoothly. Mu Ran sighed, his gaze distant and thoughtful.


    "Underling, I''ll remember this contribution of yours forever. A real man pays back his benefactors by tenfold. I''ve already been in your debt for so long, yet the more I try to reward you, the heavier my debt to you becomes."


    "It''s okay, boss. I''m just doing my job."


    As the manly chains of their pure brotherhood strengthened, both of them decided not to dwell on the issue any longer, because it would quite possibly evolve from brotherhood to BL if they got even more emotional. Han Xuhan did not want to go down that crooked path...


    So he turned his head and focused on Yuen Zhou, his thoughts spinning threads that could potentially unearth some even more precious information.


    Usually, Yuen Zhou rarely spoke to either of them unless it was necessary. Today, she had attempted to insert herself into a stupid conversation rather forcefully, which had ended almost disastrously.


    As one of the four members of their new mountain peak, it would result into something horrible if one of them was alienated from the circle. Han Xuhan didn''t want to see that happen.


    So he deemed it necessary to bring her back into the conversation gracefully.


    "Martial sister, didn''t you say you could guess that my research led me to Elder Kong Ye? How did you come to that conclusion?"


    Yuen Zhou, rather than being caught off guard as he had assumed, looked like she had expected his sudden inquiry.


    "Of course, it''s because I knew that elder Kong Ye practices techniques related to astral extensions of himself. My first master, the one back at home, taught me how to deduce this sort of clues from a cultivator''s appearance and qi. Although I cannot identify most of such details, I''ve spent enough time near him during our classes to notice enough of these signs."


    Han Xuhan felt confused. Why was she going to such lengths to provide this information in particular? He had come to know the girl well enough to know that she rarely operated without hidden intentions. There had to be more to the story. She had no reason to volunteer as a participant in their stupid conversation. What was she trying to achieve...


    "I''ve always been quite fascinated by how our astral forms can be cultivated to strengthen us in turn. Do you remember how helpless we were back at the Holy Land of Laws? It was because our opponent was in the soul reformation realm, which strengthens one''s soul beyond mortal limits. Had we cultivated techniques that focused on our astral forms, it would have provided our consciousness with an external layer of defense that isn''t so easy to break down. Those eleven young cultivators who became puppets of the soul reformation realm expert, they too could have avoided their terrible fate had they cultivated such techniques.


    Ever since I returned from that place, I''ve been contemplating where to find a technique that focuses on this field. The lower floors of the archives do not contain anything helpful. But who could have known that the heavens would provide me with a chance to learn from a real expert in this area? I would be a fool to let go of such an opportunity!"


    As Yuen Zhou finished her explanation, the thin threads in Han Xuhan''s mind finally connected.


    No wonder!


    Martial sister Zhou must have a crush on Mu Ran! Yes, that is the most plausible conclusion! That guy was the protagonist, for heaven''s sake. It was already a miracle that he wasn''t attracting a gaggle of beauties by now. Finally, first waifu has been confirmed!


    Ever since Xuhan had met Mu Ran, she had been following the guy''s trail. From her ''circumspect'' housing in the BS mountain peak to her appearance in the land of laws, Yuen Zhou had always silently been somewhere behind them, observing, collecting information, trying to get closer to Mu Ran...


    Ahahahah! How adorable!


    Han Xuhan faintly felt envious that his boss had managed to find himself an obsessed yandere. But his thoughts were immediately redirected as he realized that Yanderes did NOT like other people hanging around their targets of passion.


    Damn, is that why she always seems so sharp and cold whenever she and I face each other? OF COURSE, everything makes sense now! She doesn''t reveal this side of her to Mu Ran...although, he probably wouldn''t notice it even if she did.


    How could he convince this lass that he just wanted to be a harmless underling?


    "So when you said back during the apprenticeship ceremony that you''d already decided to become an apprentice of Elder Kong Ye, it was because you wanted to learn techniques related to astral form cultivation?" Mu Ran asked, breaking the silence that had ensued after her explanation as Xuhan-the-chatterbox was too busy trying to shake off his shock.


    "Oh no, not at all. The main reason I want to be his apprentice is his divination skills!"


    "What? How many things are he skilled in?"


    "How did you even unearth that information?"


    Mu Ran and Han Xuhan simultaneously asked two different questions. With a somewhat smug expression, Yuen Zhou decided to answer Mu Ran''s query first, a detail that further fueled his newfound belief that the lass was absolutely smitten with Mu Ran.


    "It''s an open secret among the upper ranks of the sect that elder Kong Ye is a scion of a powerful family, martial brother. The number of skills he boasts of far surpasses any other elder of this sect. In fact, he''s very likely to be more skillful than any sect''s elders on this entire planet."


    "And exactly how did you stumble upon this open secret that nobody else seems to know, martial sister?"


    "That too is a secret, martial brother, one that I''d rather not share."


    Han Xuhan kept his expression neutral. The situation was beginning to grow far too complicated for him to take control of. It would be better to take a step back and gather some more threads before spinning another scheme.


    "So you''re going to ask the elder to teach you two skills instead of one? That''s gonna be really tough, I''m telling you. Developing personal skills in an area isn''t something as simple as cultivating random techniques. You''ll have to meet a standard that will satisfy the expert you''re studying under. If the information of elder Kong Ye being a scion of a powerful family is true, then his standards are going to be even higher than a normal expert''s." Mu Ran looked enlightened.


    "It makes sense that he chose me as an apprentice now. Not many disciples could reach standards as high as mine."


    Han Xuhan coughed lightly and looked away, feeling pretty awkward suddenly. Kong Ye had given him an impressive, yet somewhat shady technique to study, with a promise of another one in the near future. On top of that, he had set up a trap using Xiao Wu to make the elder teach him that skill called spirit manifestation. And just a minute ago, he had used the same technique aiming to leech off the astral warfare technique from the elder...


    Four techniques in total equaled to an ungodly amount of studying in the future.


    Finally realizing the gravity of his upcoming predicament, Xuhan began to faintly regret his decision of stretching his greedy claws in so many different directions.


    "Master, it seems that martial brother Mu Ran and I are the only ones trying to aim for just one skill. Would I be asking for too much if I wanted to learn astral warfare from you as well?"


    Xiao Wu''s unexpected, innocent question came from behind all of a sudden, making all three of them turn in that direction.


    When had he come out of the room?


    His heart quaking, Han Xuhan noticed Elder Kong Ye standing behind Xiao Wu, a furious expression coloring his face as he gloomily stared at Xuhan.

 Chapter 116: Seeing Mt. Tai Without Even Trying

    "Well well well, what a pleasant surprise! It seems unnecessary to further drag things out under the guise of secrecy when all four of you seem to have decided to come clean with each other and pursue the same skills! You, disciple Mu Ran...you''re the only one who hasn''t yet expressed the urge to tackle multiple skills at once under my tutelage. Are you sure you want to keep it that way?"


    Among the four disciples, Han Xuhan was the only one to not become a bit confused upon hearing Kong Ye speak. As the orchestrator of the entire mishap, Xuhan knew he had screwed up, but there really wasn''t any feasible way to solve the problem now. He simply decided to maintain his silence and looked at Kong Ye with an innocent expression.


    "What? Everyone is pursuing multiple skills?" Mu Ran whipped his neck around and faced Xuhan instantly.


    "Underling, didn''t you say you wanted to learn astral warfare just now?"


    His smile strained, Xuhan decided to ''confess''.


    "Boss, I''m not so incredibly intelligent that I could come up with that safety measure for you on the spot. I originally had my own plans too. Brother Xiao Wu and I had a serious conversation a while ago where we both had decided to learn the cultivation technique of spirit manifestation. So I guess I ended up pursuing two different skills in that way."


    Mu Ran nodded, his expression pretty understanding. Kong Ye maliciously grinned at Xuhan while nobody was looking at him. Han Xuhan felt more relieved than anything. At least his cover wasn''t blown, although Xiao Wu did look rather suspicious.


    Turning to look at their new master, Mu Ran solemnly said,


    "In that case, I too wish to study multiple skills under your tutelage, provided you do not have a problem with it. Do you, master?"


    Xuhan sneakily elbowed the idiot in the back hoping he''d tone down that arrogance in his tone. Elder Kong sure didn''t look particularly gratified to see his disciples going to extreme lengths in taking advantage of him.


    "Ah, how refreshing it is to see youths like you four being so passionate when it comes to cultivation! Why not, why not...Of course, I''m willing to impart to you whichever skills you are interested in. But are you sure you have what it takes to meet my standards? Because when I teach a skill, I expect my student to become the best in that discipline, surpass even myself in terms of prowess and make their names renowned all over the world. Are you confident that you have what it takes?"


    Kong Ye spoke rather viciously, giving off the aura of a man who had nothing left to lose. Xuhan and Co. exchanged awkward looks with each other, all four of them unable to sense what the other three were trying to express silently.


    The silence was broken by Mu Ran in the end who declared,


    "Of course, trust in me, master. I am absolutely confident in achieving this. Just teach me your skills and I''ll surpass you so fast that you''ll regret ever teac- I mean, you''ll be proud of me even on your deathbed!"


    Han Xuhan despondently shook his head. His martial brother was beyond cure. Why did he even think he had a chance to reduce Mu Ran''s fatality anyway? The best he could do was to stay out of the line of fire.


    "While I cannot claim to have the talent to reach your standards, master, I too promise to do my very best and make you proud. Maybe one day, my name as your disciple shall resound as loudly as martial brother Ran throughout the world."


    This boastful claim came from Yuen Zhou, who had a faint smirk surfacing at the corner of her mouth as she spoke. Although she didn''t sound as overbearing as Mu Ran, it undoubtedly came off as pretty bold.


    His expression unreadable, elder Kong Ye gazed at Xiao Wu, who pushed his chest out proudly before speaking his piece.


    "You heard me already back inside the room, master. I WILL do whatever it takes to reach that goal, regardless of the adversities that befall me, regardless of how many enemies block my way. I shall reach a height in the art of spirit manifestation that''ll birth legends of my prowess at the most distant corners of the world of cultivation!"


    All eyes turned toward Han Xuhan simultaneously as Xiao Wu''s atmospheric speech ended.


    Han Xuhan scratched the bridge of his nose absent-mindedly and sighed. He had just remembered a wise saying, a wise saying that couldn''t be credited to Mu Ran.


    "I...uhh, I''m not really confident of achieving anything like that, master. I guess I''ll just hang around and have fun."


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    Honesty is the best policy. Why lie when nothing is stopping you from speaking the truth?


    In any case, he had already accepted Kong Ye as his master long before any of his martial siblings did. Why did he have to make an embarrassing boast to prove himself?


    Absolute silence hung inside the room. Han Xuhan''s peers looked thunder-struck at his audacity....no, in fact, Mu Ran was starting to look like he had had a revelation of some sort. He was nodding subtly as if approving Xuhan''s powerful words. A wizened smile was slowly crawling into his face.


    Fortunately, elder Kong intervened before Mu Ran could verbally support his underling. Unfortunately....elder Kong''s words turned out to be even more stunning.


    "How disappointing! Among the four of you, only little Xuhan, the one with the worst potential, can see Mountain Tai! I guess always being the worst in many aspects helps in cultivating such a mindset. But regardless of that....only Han Xuhan''s answer was actually acceptable in my book. The rest of you seem to have no idea what you''re boasting of. Hahaha, the upcoming tournament will see to that issue! For now, I''ll still accept your pleadings and teach you multiple skills...If you earnestly call me MASTERRR !"


    Han Xuhan had a nonplussed look on his face as he surveyed the faces of his peers for some hints as to how to react to Kong Ye''s declaration, because he didn''t trust his own brain to come up with an appropriate reaction.


    Then he came to a sudden realization about what he had just done.


    He had gone against the norm, subverted expectations of others publicly, and done something bold and brave....


    A shiver ran down his spine as Xuhan understood just how close he had come to becoming enveloped by the protagonist halo, even though it had been a rather smart decision to speak honestly just then.


    No no no...He had to avoid those pitfalls! Next thing he''d know, he''d be one of the black horses of the tournament, getting constantly set up against overpowered opponents with a customized moral compass. He couldn''t let that happen!


    Meanwhile, Xiao Wu seemed more perturbed by something else entirely.


    "Er...master, I already called you master. Do I gotta say it again?"


    "Okay, you''re excused. But you three are not!" Kong Ye pointed at Han Xuhan, Mu Ran, and Yuen Zhou, his expression bleeding with impatience and anticipation so intense it made the three have second thoughts about complying with his commands.


    "What is it? Weren''t you all so eager just a minute ago? What happened to that spirit of yours? Go on and say it. Repeat after me, MASTERRR!!!"


    "Er...Master!"


    "Master !"


    "Master!"


    Xiao Wu looked on with a twisted shade of schadenfreude on his face as his martial siblings repeated the phrase with varied types of complicated expressions.


    Yet their compliance seemed to enrage Kong Ye for some reason.


    "Not sincere enough! Are any of you having second thoughts? Is there anyone among you harboring ill intentions? Why can''t I hear the sincerity inside your heart?"


    Exchanging confused looks, they tried again.


    "Master!"


    "Master!"


    "Master!"


    "Still not honest enough! Again! Xiao Wu, demonstrate to them how you did it."


    "...." Xiao Wu looked like he wanted to protest.


    "Is there a problem? Did your sincerity leave your heart as soon as I promised to give you the Spirit Manifestation technique?"


    Xiao Wu sighed and tried to demonstrate by passionately repeating the word.


    Repeatedly, they were made to call the man ''master''. Only after a dozen attempts did Kong Ye finally stop commanding them to repeat themselves.


    "Did it work this time?" Xuhan asked hopefully.


    "....." Kong Ye stared ahead with an empty gaze, completely ignoring Xuhan''s question.


    "He did that inside the room too when I called him master. Apparently, he''s trying to glean our sincerity through some archaic techniques that entirely escaped my comprehension," Xiao Wu said after a moment of silence.


    Han Xuhan inspected the faces of his peers as Kong Ye seemed to fall into a very lengthy, dazed stupor trying to glean the sincerity of their call this time.


    Mu Ran, predictably, looked annoyed. As soon as their eyes met, he leaned toward Xuhan and made some wild gestures with his eyebrows. Xuhan had no idea what he was trying to imply. It could''ve been anything ranging from ''underling, this guy dares disrespect me'' to ''I think I have a new kink''.


    But he nodded along emphatically anyway, trying to emulate Mu Ran''s bizarre facial gestures.


    Satisfied, Mu Ran leaned back and stared at Kong Ye suspiciously.


    Then Xuhan proceeded to inspect Yuen Zhou, whose eyes were glued on Kong Ye, a chilly atmosphere radiating off her face that made Xuhan want to pray for Kong Ye''s future wellbeing. It was clear as a day that she had felt offended.


    Xiao Wu, however, looked rather resigned to his fate. The burly youth showed no curiosity towards their master, standing there ramrod straight with his gaze embroiled in deep thoughts.


    "YESS! OH YEEAHHH! WOOOOHOOO!!"


    The sudden shout nearly made them jump. The source of the sound turned out to be Kong Ye, who had finally stopped daydreaming. The ecstasy on his face made Xuhan do a double take. What exactly had happened to make their master happy?


    Did he manage to gauge their sincerity?


    That wasn''t something to be so delighted about, was it?


    "You lot seem truly sincere, judging by my calculations. Fine then, I''ll not hold back any longer."


    With a demented smile, Kong Ye retreated inside the room where he had interviewed Xiao Wu. Xuhan and Co. stood where they were, feeling more and more confused as seconds turned into minutes yet Kong Ye didn''t return.


    Nearly half an hour later, Kong Ye finally popped out of the room holding a giant stack of scrolls in his arms.


    "Since all four of you seem interested in astral warfare, I''ve delved into my collection of ancient tomes and retrieved two different techniques for you, my disciples. Both techniques focus on cultivating one''s astral body. Have a look and choose whichever you personally prefer. Your master excels at both."


    Kong Ye then dumped six scrolls on a table and divided them into two parts, one for each technique.


    "And there is also a really neat Divination skill available among my collections. My mastery of it isn''t half bad. So that''s two of the three techniques," he added while piling up the rest of the scrolls.


    "Why does the ink on the scrolls look so fresh? It almost looks like somebody has just written these manuals." Yuen Zhou said inquisitively.


    "It''s a magical spell. I''ll teach that to you later if you want."


    "Master, where is the spirit manifestation technique you promised to teach me?" Xiao Wu asked, alarmed.


    "Ah, that''s a slightly complicated issue. I, your master, have mastered so many different skills that I can''t even carry the written versions of them around because the number of scrolls involved is astronomical. While I did learn a few spirit manifestation techniques in the past, I don''t have the manuals on me in person. I could of course write down the details of the ones I have memorized. But that raises a few safety issues that I''m sure you don''t want to face. So wait a day or two for me to contact some friends and ask for their help in transferring the manuals here. You''ll be free to practice it afterward. Sounds good?"


    Xiao Wu nodded, looking slightly disappointed. Meanwhile, Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou practically leaped toward the scrolls on the table like starving predators inside a chicken coop. But right before their hands could touch the scrolls, Kong Ye caught them by the sleeves in the blink of an eye.


    "Heheh...did you think this entire process is that simple?" He said in a smug tone.

 Chapter 117: Using Your Middle Finger To Become A Cultivator

    "Right now, there is an even more important task for you to tackle. You can put off these manuals for another day. Because...."


    Stretching out the last word, Kong Ye picked out one scroll from the stacks and pushed it forward on the table.


    The four disciples leaned forward together to have a good look at it as their master unfurled it dramatically with a flourish.


    "Feast your eyes upon the technique you will be madly practicing from today forth."


    Han Xuhan narrowed his eyes at the phrasing as he took in the contents of the scroll.


    It turned out to be a stub-type cultivation manual, with three levels provided on the scroll. Not being well versed enough in various types of cultivation techniques other than the ones he practiced, Xuhan had no idea what it was supposed to do. But Yuen Zhou came to the rescue almost immediately.


    "A mass integration type technique? This doesn''t look like something only the four of us can build."


    "Wait, you recognize mass integration-type techniques?" Kong Ye asked, visibly taken aback. Yuen Zhou hesitantly nodded. Just when Xuhan''s eyes were getting bright under the hope of mining some precious information, Kong Ye suddenly smiled and backed off from the conversation, redirecting their attention elsewhere.


    "Indeed, this isn''t being given just to the four of you, but to every disciple of the outer court by their own masters right now."


    Han Xuhan felt betrayed by Kong Ye''s lack of curiosity....or more accurately, his commendable perception and intelligence. Yuen Zhou certainly didn''t seem very pleased with the man''s earlier stunts. Digging the wounds deeper by trying to poke at her secrets would probably make her impression of Kong Ye plummet further. Seeing how eager the man was to get disciples, Xuhan could guess that the last thing Kong Ye wanted was to lose a talented disciple by being overly curious about her secrets when a significant number of cultivators had secrets of their own.


    Intentionally avoiding that subject should instead neutralize her feeling of enmity against him...Kong Ye sure was a fast thinker!


    "Is this related to the tournament? The sect master did say something about that after the apprenticeship ceremony..."


    Kong Ye nodded at Xiao Wu''s loud musings.


    "Mm...this technique is what every disciple and elder of every participating sect must learn in order to simply attempt at qualifying for the first round of the tournament. As disciple Zhou has pointed out, this is a mass integration type cultivation technique. I assume the rest of you aren''t familiar with how this type of technique work?"


    Han Xuhan and Mu Ran nodded while Xiao Wu looked rather uncertain.


    "Imagine a long line of cultivators standing in front of a series of platforms. Now, on top of every platform, there is a large piece of metal alloy. Each cultivator is given a design they''ll have to create using the alloy.


    Now imagine the design they''re given is a circular bar with hooks on two opposite ends. If every cultivator can successfully beat the alloy into the desired shape and create the design they''re told to, what would you get from the event, collectively?"


    "Money, the answer is always money," Xuhan responded instantly.


    "Lots of scrap metal," said Xiao Wu.


    "An unconventional, but extremely cool-looking composite weapon," Mu Ran followed with his own answer.


    "That depends on what my role is in that event," Yuen Zhou replied.


    Kong Ye was starting to look like he was regretting choosing them as his apprentices. With a sour look on his face, he proceeded to wave off their answers.


    "No! What you''d get, is a gigantic chain that can be assembled and dismantled at a moment''s notice, capable of tying down even a titan-level fiend beast! Fortify the hooks with qi and smithing skills and you''ll get a shackle powerful enough to block a mountain falling from the sky! In a way, Mu Ran is right! It is a formidable weapon. So easy to create, so simple to use. But why do you think you don''t see weapons of such grand scale being swung around?"


    "Because...it sounds pretty heavy?" Xuhan asked tentatively.


    "That''s not a problem for strong, manly cultivators....like myself. So I don''t think that''s the case," Mu Ran countered him with a smug grin.


    "Because it''ll cost a fortune to find metal alloys that can sustain qi for a long time," Xiao Wu tried to give his input.


    "A mass integration type technique requires all participants to have a standard level of skill at the bare minimum. They''ll also need to cooperate simultaneously to use the chain for anything, which is even harder to achieve considering every cultivator is unique in their own way. Even in large groups, there''ll be very few whose qi control, cycling speed, or spellcasting time matches together. In any composite design, one weak link will fatally harm the whole mechanism. So when you ask for an entire sect''s disciples and elders to work together on a mass integration type technique, it is almost certainly bound to fail unless you''ve got some tricks up your sleeve."


    As Yuen Zhou spoke, the rest of her martial siblings nodded solemnly and exchanged complex looks. Kong Ye watched her with his eyes glowing. Han Xuhan mentally took note of the details of the technique, his senses tingling with excitement.


    All of these awesome techniques were why he loved xianxia novels! It was going to be so freaking cool to see such elements in real life! He couldn''t wait for the explanations to be finished, having already guessed where this was headed.


    "Well explained, disciple Zhou. This cultivation technique right here is what our entire sect will be practicing from here on. Every mountain peak of this sect will have its own share of residents laying down the foundations for the mass integration as they perfect their level of skill in this technique. When the designated day comes, all of us shall execute the final steps together to put it in effect and qualify for the first round of the worldwide tournament. Now memorize this manual and return to your new homes where you must try to comprehend its intricacies! I, your master, am here to guide you as I''ll always be. Go-"


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "I''m sorry, but did you just say ''memorize the manual'' ?"


    Kong Ye turned to look at Xuhan, seemingly puzzled.


    "Yes. Is there a problem?"


    "....Why...why do we have to memorize it? Are we lacking in paper and ink, master?"


    "Suit yourself. But I highly discourage this habit of yours, disciple. You can''t carry your manuals everywhere, can you? Ultimately, keeping everything memorized is a better option. Besides, the price of paper skyrocketed last week. Don''t you keep track of your expenses?"


    Xiao Wu, Mu Ran, and Yuen Zhou snorted simultaneously while Han Xuhan cocked his head upward trying to hide an insufferable smirk, knowing that he wasn''t the worst disciple when it came to that field.


    Kong Ye shook his head and ended the meeting right there. Xuhan pulled out a magical scroll that could be enlarged at will and a qi-fuelled quill (another two of his extravagant purchases ) from his pocket to copy the technique down. Xiao Wu tentatively asked for one as well. Xuhan was half tempted to make the guy sign an IOU as the payment for the paper, but then he decided that would be a bit too antagonistic, considering Xiao Wu''s potential.


    While Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou solemnly memorized the manual, Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu took their turns copying it. Then they left for their own new huts in the new mountain peak.


    Xuhan found his residence pretty soon. It was a huge improvement from the previous moldy one, made almost entirely out of wood and divided into three considerably large rooms. The furniture looked polished and impressive. The roof wasn''t the sort that would leak during rain. All in all, Han Xuhan felt satisfied. He''d have given it five stars if there was a rating system for mountain peaks-


    Wait a minute...


    Xuhan''s eyes narrowed as his nose picked up the imaginary scent of spirit stones to be pocketed. Rating the mountain peaks? His brain cells insisted there was a niche for business here.


    That noon, instead of trying to comprehend his new cultivation manual, Xuhan spent the time doing some rough calculations. It was impossible to predict where destiny would drag him to in the upcoming days. But money is something he''d always need. He would have to prepare several disaster-inclusive plans in order to springboard his new money-making scheme...


    As the sun leaned westward on the horizon, the familiar evil laughter leaked out from Xuhan''s hut, making Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian tremble. Both minions had come out to cultivate, as usual. Sitting amidst a pile of precious resources like children playing with lego, both minions exchanged nervous looks.


    "Oi, Zhanxian! Why do I feel like Master is about to do something crazy again?"


    "Indeed. Now that we''re about to become cultivators at the first layer of physique transformation realm, he''s definitely going to make us do risky stuff..." Zhanxian nodded solemnly and suggested,


    "Hey, maybe we should slack off. After all, if we''re weak, he won''t make us do anything too risky ."


    ". . . You disgust me even more than master, Zhanxian."


    Han Xuhan wanted to say that he could hear them speaking ill of their boss from where he was sitting. After all, Xuhan was a cultivator at the peak of the third layer, with his only restriction being the official soul selection process for the rattlesnake skeleton. His body and senses had been enhanced twice so far by the small breakthroughs at each layer.


    But he decided to pretend he couldn''t hear them and continued to stare at the calculations spread out on the table in front of him. Maybe his lack of reactions would lead his minions to slip up sometimes and reveal some hints of their rising rebellious streak.


    "An idiot like you who can''t cherish his own life-"


    "What life?"


    "Well, excuse my lacking vocabulary, little Tian. An idiot like you who can''t cherish his new state of existence as an undead wouldn''t understand why I deem it unwise to treat myself as cannon fodder when my master is sneaky enough to find a way out of most dire situations without doing risky things."


    "...Well, that''s a good point there. But how can we, as proud cultivators opposing the heavens, bow down in the face of danger? Only by constantly going against impossible odds can we break past all limits and transcend our destiny-"


    "So says the skeleton of a bird as it tries to break through to the FIRST layer of the physique transformation realm, which if I might add, is the FIRST official layer of cultivation; all the while being entirely dependent on a crazy fellow who runs street scams for money," Zhanxian retorted viciously.


    The quill in Xuhan''s hand cracked in the middle. Sighing despondently, he stopped trying to eavesdrop on their conversation and set aside his money-making plans for the day. His minions simply had no respect for him other than acknowledging that he was better than them in terms of strength and wit. Eavesdropping on them would be injurious to his mental health.


    "What are you two whispering about so energetically? Go back to cycling qi!" He roared at the two minions and went back to his calculations.


    The minions fell silent and dragged another stack of resources toward themselves. Both of them would hit the first layer anytime, having reached a bottleneck by cultivating the Spiritual Bones technique. Under the careful guidance of their master, they did as they were told.


    Making sure that everything was operating smoothly, Xuhan took out the new cultivation manual from Kong Ye and started going through its contents.


    As the sun hid and the moon appeared, lamps lit up automatically inside his home. The fragrant smoke of mind-freshening incense wafted out lazily. Nature was never quiet at night. Accompanied by the cacophony of countless insects in the mountains, Han Xuhan went through the same manual again and again, each time learning a more indirect detail, noticing hints of esoteric knowledge buried beneath the unfamiliar methods. The rational part of his brain continuously challenged the magical portions of the manual, trying to find the logic behind them, thus giving him a somewhat different perspective of cultivation compared to his peers, not that the different perspective helped him much in any way. It just convoluted the entire concept in his head even further.


    Just as he was beginning to feel drowsy, a pulse of qi behind him jolted his senses awake.


    Turning around, Xuhan saw Tun Shi Tian whizzing away from Zhanxian''s body like a javelin.


    The formations around Zhanxian glowed, massive influx of qi being channeled through them and squeezing into the artificial grooves of Zhanxian''s bones.


    BOOM!


    An inaudible explosion of qi burst out from Zhanxian''s body, pushing Xuhan back a few steps and throwing Tun Shi Tian on the wall. The shockwave crushed the burning incense and drowned the whole room under a thick wave of smoke.


    As the smoke cleared and the qi inside the room returned to normal, Zhanxian''s skeletal form revealed itself.


    Long, thin lines of dull purple qi running all over his crimson bones, Zhanxian stood up and admired his improved form. The purple qi sizzled and created tiny, bright sparks inside the grooves as he moved his limbs. His bones now looked sturdier and more impressive, having adopted a slick, polished look after the breakthrough. Several small cracks on them also seemed to have been repaired seamlessly. But the most important change was not any of these improvements.


    All three occupants of the room were staring at Zhanxian''s right hand silently.


    The distal phalanx of the middle finger of his right hand had undergone an extra layer of improvement. A transparent layer of unknown substance had enveloped the tiny bone at some point. It was bright blue, almost like a tinted armor of glass.


    The first bone enveloped by spirit qi...the first ''spiritual bone''.


    "Welcome to the world of cultivation, minion," Han Xuhan said in a deep voice.


    "And stop trying to show me your middle finger. Do you think I wouldn''t notice? It''ll take me but a second to rip it off."


    "Ahaha...I was just trying to lighten the atmosphere up." Zhanxian bashfully laughed.

 Chapter 118: A Good News And A Bad News

    "Another load of supply? Wow, you''re burning through resources at a speed to match me...almost," Xuhan remarked thoughtfully.


    "Which shouldn''t be unexpected considering no one''s cultivation is going to stay stagnant for a long time at our cultivation levels. Many of my ser-friends have broken through to a higher level since our last transaction. Obviously, we need more resources. The soul transformation realm isn''t that far away for some of us. Wait...what do you mean by ''at a speed to match you''?"


    Brother BB''s excuses were always super clean with no plotholes to be found. He maintained his claim of being the recovered Qian Yun impeccably. But that only served to make Xuhan even more wary around him.


    "What are you planning to hand over this time?" He asked, facing the tunnel in his spawn point in the realm of laws, completely ignoring the other party''s question.


    "Feel free to ask whatever is on the table. Cultivation manuals, valuable guidance on cultivating techniques related to laws, custom-made contracts like the ones I used back during our little adventure; do I have to go over the entire list again?" Brother BB answered impatiently.


    "Sure, I''ll ask the sect master and contact you tomorrow night. Be sure to remain active at that time, brother. Last time I looked for you in an emergency, you didn''t even answer," Xuhan complained.


    "What emergency?"


    "I was going through our friendly interactions these days and suddenly had an epiphany, realizing that you really must be brother Qian Yun, brother BB. So I obviously wanted to come and visit you!" Xuhan said in a flat tone.


    ".. .It''s fine if you don''t want to tell me. As for visiting me, we can arrange that as long as you have a helper on your side who can waddle their way through the language of laws. Mind you, they''d also have to be considerably powerful to pull off the transportation of a living organism through the passage. The difficulty of the spell skyrockets depending on the object of the transportation ."


    "How powerful would they have to be?" Xuhan asked curiously. Getting his hands on a last-second escape spell was far too tempting a prospect to let go of.


    "They''d have to be in the peak of soul reformation realm, at the very least."


    "...." Suppressing his urge to cuss, Han Xuhan took his leave and returned back to his dao base where his consciousness was hovering inside the graffiti-filled dome on the ceiling.


    Brother BB had grown even more powerful than he already was. Just a month ago, the other party couldn''t contact Xuhan directly without summoning him into the realm of laws. But tonight, it had happened. When he was busy observing the changes made to his dao tower due to Zhanxian''s breakthrough, he had felt an alarm bell of sorts go off inside his consciousness, which had guided him to the dome. By using the miniature spell carved on it, his consciousness had been transferred to his spawn point in the realm of laws where he had found the other party waiting for him.


    "Regardless of your identity...you''re too dangerous for me to let my guard down around you."


    Han Xuhan''s consciousness floated down toward Zhanxian''s room. After the minion''s breakthrough, the room had been ''renovated''. The original white walls were now covered by an incredibly thin layer of blue crystalline substance. Had he not investigated it purposefully, he wouldn''t have noticed this new addition.


    "Master, what else has changed in this dao tower after my breakthrough?" Zhanxian''s avatar asked nervously.


    "It''s sturdier," Xuhan muttered as he floated around inside the room, trying to sense its existence through his mental connection with his dao foundation.


    "Aaaand...it also seems to have escaped my absolute control over its existence somehow. My mental connection to this part of my dao tower has been reduced by a small margin. I can sense a foreign authority here other than my own, which I assume is due to your existence, minion."


    "So if Zhanxian keeps making breakthroughs, he might be eventually able to take over this entire portion of the dao tower from you?" Tun Shi Tian asked. The bird''s question went unanswered as an awkward silence stretched among them.


    "I won''t do that. Pinky promise..." Zhanxian broke the silence with a half-hearted white lie.


    "Of course, I believe in your moral integrity, minion," Xuhan said in an earnest tone and left his dao tower swiftly.


    Opening his eyes, Han Xuhan hurried out of his hut and headed toward Xuan Zi''s mountain peak under the faint light of dawn. After taking care of the transaction with Brother BB, he would prepare to break through to the fourth layer of the physique transformation realm. It remained to be seen whether having a minion more powerful than him was akin to shooting himself in the foot. But this new threat was enough to fire Xuhan''s desperation to the limit.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    As he navigated his way through the mountains, he noticed an odd detail despite his preoccupied mind.


    The mountains were unnaturally silent. By this time of the morning, the entire sect would usually be abuzz with various daily activities. Disciples would be rushing toward classrooms, the task administration pavilion, or the archives from every direction. But today, other than the diurnal fauna making their own racket, not much sound could be heard throughout the mountain peaks of the sect.


    As rays of sunlight fell on the mountaintops, he finally noticed a few of his peers for the first time. However, none of them seemed to be out to attend classes or do any of the regular daily tasks. From where he stood, Xuhan could only see their tiny figures walking around the mountaintop with their back hunched.


    By the time he had reached Xuan Zi''s mountain peak, the scene repeated itself several times on various mountain peaks, confusing Xuhan even more. Deciding to investigate what was going on on his way back later, Xuhan walked up to the sect master''s residence.


    Standing in front of the sect master''s residence, he knocked on the front door loudly.


    "Disciple Xuhan sends his greetings to the sect master."


    A moment later, the door was opened by a tall man in unfamiliar attire. Xuhan craned his neck upward and was about to greet the stranger...only to realize that he knew this man.


    It was Fang Xie, the man he had investigated two nights ago using the sect''s network. Fang Xie....the man suspected of being behind the ''obliteration'' of his orphanage.


    "Hello there, young man! How goes the supply deal?" The man asked very casually.


    A cold chill ran down his spine, freezing his blood. For a second, he stood still, unable to comprehend how to form a response.


    Fang Xie smiled like a shark.


    "...." Wordlessly, Xuhan started backing away from the door. The man didn''t look surprised at his reaction. He stood on the doorstep and observed Xuhan calmly.


    "Fang Xie, quit scaring the child!" From inside the residence came Xuan Zi''s shout, making Han Xuhan pause in his retreat.


    What the hell was going on here?


    How the hell did this guy get inside the sect? And how did he know about the resource supply deal with the Holy Land of Laws?


    As his brain struggled to make sense of the sudden development, Xuan Zi pushed Fang Xie out of his way and beckoned Xuhan to follow him inside.


    "Don''t worry, disciple. He won''t bite."


    "I''m feeling tempted to."


    "Ah...excuse my lack of information so critical, let me correct myself in that case. He may bite, but I''ll stop him from doing that for now."


    "For now?" Xuhan asked Xuan Zi with a great amount of concern.


    "I''ve got some tasks to attend to later today, so yes." Master Zi shrugged.


    Despite the impending sense of danger, Xuan Zi''s nonchalance somewhat eased Xuhan''s worries. He was a valuable chess piece to the sect master for now. There was no reason for the old fox to suddenly discard him so soon.


    Torn between wanting to escape and investigating what was going on, Xuhan decided to choose the latter because if the report he had received on Fang Xie was true, Xuan Zi and Kong Ye were the only two cultivators who could keep him safe...temporarily. What would be the point of running away from the sect? He wouldn''t even make it past the mountain he was standing on if Fang Xie chased him.


    Seeing him slowly walking over toward Xuan Zi''s residence, a shadow of a smile crossed the sect master''s face; and Xuhan realized that he had made the correct choice right then.


    "Impressive trust you''ve formed with this disciple of yours, Xuan Zi. Is he dumb or is he that good at playing dumb?" Fang Xie eyed Xuhan nastily while Xuan Zi ushered him inside. Han Xuhan had a good comeback to that, but he decided not to stir the pot of enmity anymore...temporarily.


    "Well, he can''t be any dumber than you. At least he trusts his teacher..." Xuan Zi answered. The response made Fang Xie growl like a dog.


    There appears to be a history between these two! Han Xuhan''s bewilderment was rocketing its way up.


    Lips pressed to suppress his oral cannon, Xuhan took his seat inside the familiar spacious room where Xuan Zi usually entertained his visitors. The sect master and Fang Xie followed suit. The two powerful cultivators faced the weak disciple and entered a meaningless staring contest.


    "...."


    "...."


    "...."


    "This is getting awkward. Where do I even start?" Han Xuhan said in the end, breaking the silence.


    "Well, I''ve got a good news and a bad news for you, kid. Which one do you want to listen to first?" Fang Xie replied with an evil glint in his eyes. For some reason, he looked unnecessarily excited to take the lead in the conversation.


    "The bad news first," Xuhan said immediately.


    "Ah, I see..."


    Fang Xie fell silent. Then he looked at Xuan Zi and wriggled his eyebrows. Xuan Zi in turn maintained both his silence and uncannily still posture.


    "I really don''t like you, kid, if it wasn''t clear by now. So I''ll obviously do the opposite of what you want me to. GOOD NEWS FIRST!" Clapping his hands together, Fang Xie declared his answer proudly.


    Han Xuhan recalled the information about Fang Xie and mentally drew a big, red circle around the word ''crazy''.


    But then he realized that a mental action like that would lead to him becoming sympathetic and lessen his suspicion toward the man. There was a good chance that this Fang Xie was the person who had caused the disappearance of the orphanage. Being sympathetic toward him might be a humane point of view, but that could be counter-productive in his quest of unearthing the truth.


    Besides, there was another issue that needed some testing. Coughing, Xuhan began to speak in a graceful tone.


    "Oh! My bad! I misspoke earlier. I meant the good news. I was just so nervous being in the same room with cultivators so powerful that I spoke without thinking. My sincerest apologies! Please tell me the good news first, just like you wanted to."


    Han Xuhan''s sudden change of mind came off as petty as he meant it to be. Fang Xie, who had been grinning ear to ear looked like he couldn''t believe anyone this childish could possibly exist, while Xuan Zi slowly covered his face with his palm and sighed.


    "Disciple Xuhan, you really ought to restrain your incredible conversation skills. Learn to read the room."


    "Ah? Sure, sect master. Whichever news the guest wants to reveal first, I absolutely support the decision!" Han Xuhan nodded vigorously. Fang Xie looked almost murderous, his eyes bloodshot and his hands starting to shake visibly.


    "Fellow cultivator Zi, how about we just settle our differences in the way I proposed? This disciple of yours doesn''t seem to be the type you usually favor. I''m sure you could replace him-"


    "No." Xuan Zi cut off Fang Xie mid-sentence and slammed his palm on a small tea table beside his seat.


    "Get to the point and stop wasting everyone''s time."


    Han Xuhan narrowed his eyes as he evaluated the results of his little experiment. It did not seem like Fang Xie was a cultivator equal in terms of power to sect master Xuan Zi. He had at least a grudging sense of respect toward the old man. And that was good news for Xuhan.


    Had both of them been equally powerful, Fang Xie would be a much more dangerous foe. But despite pushing the madman''s boundaries with his petty antics, Fang Xie had still refrained from acting upon his unfriendly intentions.


    "Fine! The good news it is! It''s very short and precise, just like what your future will be if I get my hands on you. The good news is..."


    Han Xuhan waited with bated breath as the man slipped into a dramatic pause.


    "I....will not brutally mutilate you to death in the near future like I had planned to when I entered this sect today."


    "That is absolutely balls-to-the-walls awesome! What''s the bad news then?" Han Xuhan exclaimed happily and raised both of his thumbs up in order to show his vehement support for this route of action.


    "You''ll have to accomplish a few tasks for me during the later stages of the upcoming tournament. If you fail to do so, the good news will stop being valid," Fang Xie said with a shark''s smile.

 Chapter 119: When Youre The Problematic One

    "So you''re telling me that, in order for you to not brutally mutilate me to death, I''ll have to work for you and do some risky, nasty jobs during the tournament, yes?"


    "Mm, I don''t quite remember saying the last bit of your sentence but sure! As long as you''re willing, I''ll make you do some very risky, nasty tasks too!"


    Han Xuhan silently tried to delve into the flow of events around himself for a few seconds. Here he was, just an average, weak cultivator trying to get by, constantly being hounded by scheme after scheme and coincidences far too deadly to ignore...and speaking of coincidences...


    Turning to look at sect master Xuan Zi, Xuhan asked the questions that had been bothering him for the last three minutes.


    "Sect master, what authority does this person have over our sect that he can freely threaten a model disciple like myself in front of you? Why is he here? And why is he targeting me?"


    Fang Xie turned his gaze over toward the sect master with a wide grin on his face. Xuan Zi pursed his lips and answered, "I think you know the answers to the last two questions, disciple. After all, you''ve personally investigated this man just a while ago, did you not? Quit pretending you don''t know who Fang Xie is."


    With a pause, Xuhan replied in full honesty, "But I really don''t know who this person is apart from his name and the fact that he acts like a retard a hundred-and-twenty percent of the time. I met him once when I was out traveling."


    Xuan Zi gave him a sour look, prompting Xuhan to add a few more sentences.


    "Yes, I''ve read the report on him. But that''s all it said! That he hangs around this small town at the edge of the sect and acts crazy; that was it!" Xuhan decided to come clean, realizing that it was futile to keep up the facade of cluelessness. Xuan Zi clearly knew he was the guy investigating Fang Xie.


    "I distinctly remember writing about his affiliation with our sect in the report, disciple ."


    "Goddammit, minions- wait, you wrote the report, sect master?" Xuhan asked, dumbfounded.


    "And your minions were the ones who tried to dupe me after I gave it to them, yes disciple Xuhan ."


    "...."


    "I didn''t know sect-life ever got this interesting, damn! This is more convoluted than my last heavenly tribulation." Fang Xie muttered to himself as he watched their interaction.


    "Okay, but you didn''t answer my first question, sect master. What authority does this Fang Xie have over our sect? My minions must have skipped that part of the report."


    "I''m an inspector from the celestial realm, and I can reduce this entire pathetic excuse of a sect to ashes with a single message to my higher-ups, that''s all you need to know," Fang Xie cut in and said.


    "Fang Xie, don''t overstep your boundaries." Xuan Zi suddenly raised a hand and slammed it on the handle of his chair, sending cracks running through it.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    "You''re here because I allowed you to. You don''t want me to take my goodwill back. Feel free to report my insolence to your employers. I''d like to see whether they set a foot into this solar system."


    All three of them fell silent following the aftershocks of Xuan Zi''s threat. Han Xuhan''s eyebrows were about to disappear into his hairline from the amount of horrific implications he was discovering every minute. Even Fang Xie looked a bit stunned by Xuan Zi''s fury and audacity.


    But for some reason, he didn''t press the man further by relying on his backers, something that greatly alarmed Han Xuhan.


    Fang Xie might be insane, but he was certainly not as unreasonable and arrogant as a generic antagonistic character in novels.


    Han Xuhan increased the danger rating of this guy by another notch in his mind.


    In the end, it was the sect master himself who leaned back into his seat, his face a mask of regrets.


    "My apologies, let us continue with the conversation."


    Seizing the chance, Han Xuhan tried to take control of the flow of their conversation in order to dig out some precious info.


    "So uh, what''s this celestial realm?"


    Xuan Zi answered him after a moment of silent contemplation. "The celestial realm is something beyond your scope of comprehension for now. Just look at the sky above. In a general sense, that''s where the celestial realm is, stretching across the sea of stars . Once you''ve become a bit more powerful, you''ll slowly begin to understand the principles of this universe in a much deeper way. That''d be the perfect time to explore these things. Right now, all you need to know is that the celestial realm is a vast world full of very powerful beings. And Fang Xie is an emissary of sorts from a certain place in there, here to inspect and oversee our planet on behalf of his faction temporarily."


    Finishing his explanation, Xuan Zi observed Xuhan expectantly, as if hoping to see some sort of a dramatic reaction. Han Xuhan, trying to go with the flow, decided to act extremely surprised and curious about the whole issue by widening his eyes and mouth for a full ten seconds. While it would have been more in line with his established public image to curiously ask more about the fabled, mysterious celestial realm, Xuhan didn''t quite have the luxury to perfect his act at the moment.


    In his mind, he desperately tried to recall the basic astrophysics he had learned in the mortal world. It was common knowledge that their planet was a round spherical object in a vast space full of similar objects spinning in various trajectories. But that''s as far as it went in regard to evidential facts. The rest after that were just wild theory after theory, similar to Earth''s history during the middle ages. It seemed that the cultivators were far more advanced when it came to this sort of knowledge. Maybe cultivators from this planet had even ventured outside somehow after becoming powerful enough. It fell directly into another typical xianxia cliche. So Xuhan was able to draw up a rough picture quite fast.


    "Uh, sect master, I can''t help but be curious...Why am I being dragged into this entire issue? I''m a nobody, a weak cultivator at the lowest possible power level on this planet. The only interaction I''ve ever had with this cra-erm senior Fang Xie over here was when I went to visit my hometown. So why am I being targeted?"


    Xuan Zi looked slightly caught off guard by his lack of evident curiosity toward the celestial realm. Nevertheless, he gestured toward Fang Xie, inviting him to speak in his stead.


    "Young man, the moment I saw you for the first time, I felt my heart clench and shake uncontrollably-"


    "Oh."


    "It was a strange feeling, a novelty of sorts. I couldn''t even begin to unravel the twisted knots of emotions roiling through me, yet the intensity of those emotions was like a torrent of the gravitational pull trying to drown and implode my dao heart-"


    "Ah-"


    "I knew not what had transpired between us in a past hidden from our sight or which strings of karma had bound us together. All I knew was-"


    "This better not go down the way it appears to be..."


    "That I really fucking hate you."


    "Thank the heavens!"


    Han Xuhan patted his chest in relief. Hate? He could deal with that, hah! Back when they''d met for the first time, hadn''t Fang Xie spouted the same bullcrap? This guy really was a nutcase, or at least unnecessarily proficient at acting like one.


    "Sect master, if he keeps being so unreasonable, how are we to trust the credibility of his current promises?" This was the opening Xuhan had been looking for. The answer to this question would make many things clear, allowing him to draw up a scheme or two for the near future.


    "Who told you you could trust my words, young man? You sound like I actually gave you a choice there, haha!"


    "Disciple, inspector Xie has recently experienced a major qi deviation during the most critical moment of his breakthrough, thus resulting in his current weakened state. The only reason I can think of his animosity towards you is quite unlikely to be true. Just answer this question first. Are you absolutely sure that you''ve never met Fang Xie before your first meeting in your hometown?" Xuan Zi asked, completely ignoring Fang Xie''s very existence.


    "Yes, I am," Xuhan answered honestly.


    "So am I, or I''d have solved this issue by now. Just because I lost my memories of the tribulation doesn''t mean my real memories have been damaged. Old Zi, give me some face, will you? Or are you going to side with those fogies in that old-farts-only council?"


    "In that case, the only reason I can think of lying underneath your ambiguous relationship with him is that you, my disciple, are somehow connected to Fang Xie''s failure of heavenly tribulation," Xuan Zi drew his conclusion, his finger pointed at Xuhan''s face aggressively.

 Chapter 120: Xianxia Mathematics

    "...Me? Connected to the failure of this senior''s heavenly tribulation?" Xuhan tried to laugh despite the furious thumping in his chest.


    "Sect master, that sounds a bit far-fetched, don''t you think?"


    Fang Xie silently stared at him with the maximum possible intensity in his gaze. Xuan Zi leaned forward and said, "I did say it was unlikely, but my knowledge of heavenly tribulation says that this can be the only plausible reason. So you tell me, disciple; what should I believe?"


    "That this senior is retarded and we shouldn''t believe him at all...?" Han Xuhan muttered, his expression darkening with every syllable.


    "Hm, That''s fair," Fang Xie said with a thoughtful nod, getting Xuhan''s hopes up. But then he kicked it down by adding, "But if old Zi could do that, he wouldn''t be having this conversation with you right now."


    "Look," Xuhan began speaking, his mind on overdrive. "That day, I simply went to visit the orphanage I used to live in. I don''t know you, neither do I have anything to do with your tribulation. I grew up in that place since my birth and the first time I came into contact with the world of cultivation was a few months ago during the sect''s disciple acceptance ceremony. The fact that you''ve had a few hunches during your episodic loss of sanity while we met doesn''t mean anything in a logical sense!"


    "If it meant something, Xuan Zi wouldn''t be able to stop me from experimenting on you until I figure out what it exactly is," Fang Xie replied in a heavy tone.


    "The fact remains that a cultivator of my level would rarely have wrong instinctive reactions in a situation like this. The only significant incident I''ve encountered in the recent times is my failure during the tribulation, which is well known for damaging a cultivator''s spirit, soul, and the memories of the tribulation. And then I met you while I was recovering. Somehow, your very existence makes me reel in shock and anger inside. I cannot ignore such a massive instinctive response!"


    "And this reminds me of something strange, disciple," Xuan Zi said with a frown.


    "Had you really grown up in an orphanage in your hometown, Fang Xie should have met you before that incident considering how long he has been stationed there. At the very least, he should have been familiar with your face, yes?"


    Xuan Zi''s question was directed toward Fang Xie this time, who blinked in response, a hint of surprise appearing behind his gaze.


    "Indeed, I know almost everybody in that town..." Fang Xie muttered in a worried tone.


    A bone-chilling cold wave ran through Xuhan''s spine. He did not like the rabbit-hole this investigation was leading them into.


    "Disciple Han, did your orphanage have a name? Could you tell Fang Xie about a few of its key characteristics so that he can identify your origins? That would be an excellent way to wash off some doubts he has about you."


    Even though the room was lit with bright, warm daylight, Han Xuhan felt like he was sitting inside a dark cave facing two terrifying monsters. One wasn''t particularly interested in him....But the other one''s motives ran far deeper than just interest or curiosity.


    And the thing that scared him the most was...Xuan Zi was quite possibly the latter.


    "The orphanage was named Sunflower Garden," Xuhan said in a low voice.


    Xuan Zi turned to observe Fang Xie''s expression, and his eyes gained a cold layer of emotions instantly as he heard Fang Xie''s reply.


    "There is no such orphanage in that town."


    "...."


    The room sank into a deep, silent duel of mental battles, a three-way war of lies and deceit.


    "A claim so simple can easily be verified," Xuan Zi said in a grave tone.


    Fang Xie chuckled. "Be my guest. It''s your disciple who''s lying. You''ll be just wasting everyone''s time."


    As Xuan Zi got up from his seat, Xuhan finally gathered his thoughts from the chaotic mess they''d been rendered into.


    It was time to minimize the damage the harsh reality had caused. Truth, lies, nothing mattered too much, for now. The important thing was to take control, at least a certain degree of it, and drive the flow of events in a way that could only benefit him in the long run. The fact that the mystery of his orphanage had been compromised so fast and so easily was a sign of how difficult the task ahead of him was. He could not rely on luck to cover his tracks. In fact, he had to actively ward off his atrocious bad luck. Survival was the goal, and trying to deceive these old monsters in front of him would only make that harder.


    So far, his interactions with the two senior cultivators had gained him a vague overview of the power dynamics between them.


    Fang Xie was a member of an ''organization'' from the so-called celestial realm. Xuan Zi, a leader of a tiny sect, clearly did not wish to offend this organization that could send powerful cultivators to monitor whole planets.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    But in the same vein, Fang Xie was definitely wary of Xuan Zi.


    Xuhan did not know if it was Xuan Zi''s personal ability like his unknown realm of cultivation or whether Xuan Zi''s background was so intimidating that someone with Fang Xie''s background and rank would show him respect. Clearly, Xuan Zi was the only obstacle stopping Fang Xie from outright kidnapping Xuhan from the sect.


    So what if the issue with his orphanage got leaked to these people? At his current power level, Xuhan was in no way fit to solve the mystery by himself. Maybe Xuan Zi, whose goodwill toward him wasn''t absolutely zero, could help him....?


    By the time Xuan Zi had reached the door, Han Xuhan made his decision.


    "Sect master, I think it is unnecessary to validate my words. Senior Fang Xie isn''t wrong. There is no such orphanage in my hometown."


    Xuan Zi turned to look at him with an unreadable expression. Fang Xie simply snickered.


    "But there once was," Xuhan added calmly, his gaze radiating confidence and honesty.


    Those long hours he had spent practicing his acting skills in front of his mirror sure had been useful!


    "Sounds very interesting. Why don''t you elaborate a bit more, disciple?" Xuan Zi walked back to his seat and said without a pause.


    "I believe you remember the strange disappearance of the Pine town, sect master. It vanished without a trace in a single night."


    "And you''re trying to say that the same exact situation took place in your hometown? That your orphanage disappeared so tracelessly that not even a cultivator of Fang Xie''s caliber remembers its existence?"


    "Yes, sect master. That day I went to visit the orphanage and met senior Xie on the way. Later, when I reached the area where the orphanage was supposed to be in, I found it to be completely empty. Nobody nearby had any recollection of its existence either. It was as if I was a deluded person with a wrong set of memories. But I recognized all of them while none of them seemed to know me. My personal belief is that whoever it was behind the disappearance of Pine Town decided to take some form of revenge by attacking my home since I am one of the three witnesses of their crime. So I obviously came to suspect senior Xie, as he was someone I''d never met in that town before. His crazy behavior and pretense of being familiar with me unlike the rest of the townsfolk fueled my suspicion. But I also knew that I was way too weak to do anything about it. My opponent, whether it was senior Xie or someone else, was extremely powerful. In the end, I returned to the sect and started the indirect investigation through the task administration pavilion."


    In one breath, Xuhan explained most of the incident and his own point of view while editing some of it to fit into a more predictable narrative. His audience listened calmly and continued to maintain their silence even after he had finished speaking.


    Seeing his chance to mine some precious information, Xuhan went all out and threw out several questions that had been bothering him.


    "But how did senior Fang Xie track me down though?" He said, his eyes flickering towards the man in the question nervously.


    "....Your sect uniform, you dumb brat."


    A hot wave of embarrassment ran through his face as Xuhan recalled putting on his uniform rather flamboyantly that day in order to show off to his peers in the orphanage. Well, at least Fang Xie hadn''t used any sort of magical tracking methods on him. That was good to know.


    "And uhh....sect master, how did you know it was me who had issued the mission? Were my minions that incompetent? I can''t be the only one practicing undead summoning techniques in this sect, right?"


    Xuan Zi started laughing despite the grave atmosphere in the room.


    "Incompetent? Hah- that''s a good joke, disciple. I created several memories that evening that I''d rather not remember for the rest of my life! I almost mistook your minions for powerful experts hiding their realm of cultivation! They were quite competent, I''d say.


    But you need to go a long, long way before you can comprehend how powerful you need to be in order to deceive a cultivator at the peak of the Dao Genesis realm, hahahaha!"


    "Wait a damn minute old Zi, last time I asked you about your cultivation, you said you still hadn''t finished your Origin Nurturing!" Fang Xie suddenly said in an alarmed tone.


    "....Oh? I said that?" Xuan Zi asked, sounding stunned.


    "Yeah. I remember it clearly!"


    "I must''ve lied."


    "....Fuck you! I almost attacked you in front of the Purple Empress that day thinking I could win!"


    "Then you should thank the heavens for your good luck then, right? Why are you throwing a fit?" Xuan Zi asked in a genuinely puzzled tone.


    As if they''d forgotten that a serious discussion was taking place in that room that concerned Han Xuhan''s very existence, both the seniors started bantering back and forth making references to random incidents of their past. Meanwhile, Xuhan memorized the phrase ''Dao Genesis'' realm. The teachers in the sect rarely entertained the students'' questions about higher realms of power. It seemed to be a tacit agreement of some sort. So far, Xuhan knew about the soul reformation realm above his current physique transformation realm. Now a new realm had been revealed to him, one that could definitely be several levels above his own considering Fang Xie''s complaints.


    Origin Nurturing? That should be the component of another realm lower than the Dao Genesis realm...


    "So, exactly how did you find out that it was me, sect master?" He asked in the end, realizing that the argument between the two ''''old monsters'''' was getting more and more heated. Sect master Zi and retarded Xie seemed to have a run-down version of a love-hate relationship. They clearly were acquaintances with a long history. No wonder Fang Xie hadn''t directly tried to do anything funny despite his backing. And this made Xuhan all the more curious about Xuan Zi''s actual background. How powerful was it?


    ....Maybe he had found himself another golden thigh to hug!


    Hearing his pointed question, Xuan Zi stopped bickering with Fang Xie and leaned back into his seat with a complicated expression on his face. Then he dropped a bomb that blew Xuhan''s mind away.


    "Disciple, the technique you used to summon skeleton soldiers, the Skeletal Monarch Technique, was created by my father."


    Explosions after explosions flooded Xuhan''s mind. What in the world-


    "Duotian, the genius expert who created my main cultivation technique, is your father, master?" He asked with wide eyes, just to confirm that he hadn''t misheard. This was amazing news!


    He had been worried about where to find the later volumes of the technique. Moreover, he needed urgent guidance from someone with proper experience in it. The heavens had presented him with an opportunity that couldn''t be missed!


    Xuan Zi''s face turned purple.


    "H-he liked to uh....exaggerate things a bit. At the peak of his life, he reached the seventh layer of the soul reformation realm, after which he went through a qi deviation and lost his cultivation. He died not long after."


    The atmosphere in the room turned cold once more, but not as cold as Xuhan''s blood.


    Good grief! Could the day get any worse?


    "I''m pretty sure you''re aware of the issues with the skeletal monarch technique. My father never had the chance to perfect the technique in the soul reformation realm. It was obviously not his main cultivation technique either. So whatever you do, don''t put your hopes on that hodgepodge. Find a better one to replace it as your main cultivation technique."


    Expression somber, Han Xuhan looked outside through the window.


    It was a bright day. The sky was full of white balls of clouds. Under the sun, who else was being made to suffer like his poor self?


    The heavens are unjust, but he had come to accept that. Complaining about fairness while enjoying the hard mode did not befit a man who could achieve anything decent.


    He simply let his anger and frustrations pass. He had more important matters to attend to.


    "I see. So it wasn''t a fault in my planning then. It was just my luck that got me caught."


    Xuan Zi gave him a tight smile. "While it is almost impossible for me to track my targets through a multi-dimensional, cross-cosmic teleportation, it isn''t difficult to learn where my target might end up after some calculations. You too will learn how to pick up clues from temporary dimensional rifts that open up cosmic gateways and use the data to calculate the approximate coordinates of the other side. It is quite a simple one compared to the rest of the mathematical formulae in that special curriculum!"


    "...."


    Xuhan didn''t know whether to categorize that as good news or bad news. On one hand, the prospect of facing complex mathematical problems was terrible. On the other hand, the fact that it actually had some usage in real life, an incredibly cool one at that too, was exhilarating.


    "So when it became apparent that the coordinates of the other side did not belong to our world, I became certain that my targets did not belong to this world either. A few more clues here and there told me that they might be undead too. So it wasn''t a difficult conclusion to reach that they were quite possibly summoned creatures who were very familiar with the terrain of this sect. After that, I decided to scan the sect for any active summoning spells for the rest of the night. Fortunately, you were caught almost instantly. I originally didn''t want to intervene in your personal matters, disciple. But then came along Fang Xie and here we are!"

 Chapter 121: Who Among Us Is The Real Madman?

    "With all that cleared up, what do you want me to do, exactly? I''m talking about those tasks you mentioned, senior Xie. What would I be doing, exactly? What''s the point of those tasks?" Han Xuhan asked, feeling mentally fatigued by now.


    "Ah, what you''ll be doing is information best kept secret for now. But I can tell you their overall aim," Fang Xie said with a strained smile.


    "These tasks will help me gather a team of talented youths."


    "...That''s it? Seriously? I can just go down the mountain and find fifty of them within half an hour," Xuhan nearly shouted in disbelief.


    "Talented youths who are not members of this sect. Of course, if I had my way, your sect wouldn''t be exempted. But your sect master is a man very difficult to convince."


    Han Xuhan repeatedly, rapidly shifted his gaze between the two experts in front of him. The implications were not lost on him.


    Whatever Fang Xie had in mind for the youths he wanted to recruit through Xuhan was anything but pleasant. But this one thought suddenly created a spark of doubt in Xuhan''s mind.


    Kong Ye...wasn''t he doing the exact same thing? Was his new teacher''s intentions truly as pure as it had originally seemed?


    Once again, the unexpected depth and sinister undercurrents of the world of cultivation made itself prominent in front of Han Xuhan''s paranoid eyes.


    But this was not the time to make wild theories in his mind. Clearing his thoughts, he asked the most obvious question.


    "And why did you choose me for this task? I don''t think just your hatred of my existence itself is enough for you to wildly choose me for a task so ''unconventional''."


    Fang Xie leaned close and whispered the answer to his question. "Cut off your automatic sense of superiority, brat. I didn''t choose you thinking you could do it. I chose you hoping you''d fail and suffer horribly in the hands of your targets. It would be best if your cultivation gets crippled in the process. Xuan Zi will have no use for you then. You''ll be thrown out of the sect in order to appease the forces behind your targets, and I''ll have you all to myself..."


    "Ah, So passionate! How I wish you were a jade beauty, senior..." Xuhan whispered back with a wooden expression.


    "Oh yeah, me too, brat. Me too."


    "What?"


    "What?"


    "Disciple Xuhan, I was under the impression that you were an intelligent young man. How do you keep falling down to his level every time I let you two have an exchange longer than a minute? Why are you trying to win an argument with a madman?" Xuan Zi butted in with a sigh.


    "Maybe he''s mad too," Fang Xie remarked thoughtfully.


    Han Xuhan rubbed his nose slowly. So in the end, Fang Xie did not care whether he succeeded or not. Perhaps his original plan for Xuhan had been something far more extreme and Xuan Zi had made him compromise.


    "When I finish the tasks, you will stop hounding me, correct?"


    "Oh! ''When'' you finish the tasks? Confident, aren''t we?" Fang Xie exclaimed, his eyes narrowing.


    "Do I have a choice l?"


    "Good, good, good. I like brats who learn fast."


    "I''d rather you did not. You haven''t answered my question, though."


    "Well, yes. For now, that is the plan. You do your job, you keep your life. It matters not to me whether you fail or not, but it definitely matters to you. Hehe..."


    Han Xuhan nodded. He obviously didn''t believe the man. But he had an idea regarding how to make Fang Xie honor his promise. Reaching into his pockets, Xuhan brought out something he had gotten from Brother BB during their last trade, alongside a new batch of chamber pots.


    He had seen Qian Yun use it several times in the past. It was one of the reasons why he had been attracted to the law techniques in the first place.


    It was a folded paper containing several paragraphs. Han Xuhan presented it to Fang Xie demurely and gave him his magical quill to sign with.


    "Then surely, you would not have any problems signing in there, right?" He said to the dumbstruck man.


    Fang Xie stared at the contract for a full ten seconds before he shifted his gaze onto Xuhan. Then he went through the contract again.


    "Oh, my apologies. I was unaware that you couldn''t read," Xuhan said in a very insincere tone. "Allow me, senior-"


    Fang Xie sharply raised a hand gesturing at him to shut up. His eyes shone with a gloomy light as he brought the quill up and signed his name viciously underneath the paragraphs.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original."How surprising, old Zi! Letting your disciples wander off into deviant paths better left unexplored, I see. Doesn''t quite match your style."


    Xuan Zi, enjoying the development so far from his seat, grinned lightly.


    "This old man has learned from his mistakes in the past, Inspector Xie. On the road to heaven, why should any path be left unexplored?"


    Fang Xie almost flinched. Handing over the quill and the contract to Xuhan, he smiled in a way that could be described as benevolent.


    "Intelligence isn''t always rewarded, brat. You''ll learn that the hard way."


    "At least I''ll learn something new," Xuhan answered back with an equally sweet smile.


    For the next thirty seconds, all three occupants of the room smiled back and forth at each other warmly. The word ''creepy'' couldn''t even begin to describe the scene.


    Han Xuhan went over the contract once more amidst all the smiling. Then he signed his own name beside Fang Xie''s.


    "You can leave now. When the time comes, I shall notify you of what to do," Fang Xie said.


    His heart mired in deep sorrow and worry for his future self, Han Xuhan walked out from the sect master''s residence.


    The mystery behind the orphanage''s disappearance was growing into something far too troublesome. Even a cultivator as powerful as Fang Xie couldn''t remember its existence? Or was he lying? Or...


    Maybe Xuhan himself was the madman?


    ........ ....... .......... .........


    "So..."


    "He did not exactly lie," Xuan Zi answered the unasked question, his eyes gloomy.


    "Did your new mind-reading technique tell you that?"


    "It''s nowhere as sophisticated as mind reading, Fang Xie. The elders in this sect aren''t some genius sons of heaven. Being able to fish out some superficial thoughts is already quite the milestone. Who knows, maybe elder Wu Di would get called back into working under a solar monarch once the news of his achievement in this field spreads."


    Xuan Zi mused over the possibility while Fang Xie completely ignored his words.


    "According to the boy, he has lived in that town his entire life; the same town where I underwent my heavenly tribulation. He claims to have lived in an orphanage that I do not remember ever existing. What are the implications here?" Fang Xie asked.


    "That he was present during your dao integration? It''s common for clueless mortals to stumble upon an integration site and interact with the components in the semi-illusion. I myself have seen this happen countless times back home when I was young and the elders in the family tried to guide my perception of reality. However, unless the cultivator undergoing the integration wants something out of the interactions with the mortal, I cannot see why anybody would grow up in the tribulation site. You certainly weren''t stuck in it for seventeen years, but this disciple of mine claims to have been in the orphanage since his birth.


    Even more illogical is the fact that he actually remembers it when no one else does. The heavens aren''t so blind as to directly ignore an external presence so significant, least of all when it''s inside a tribulation site. His recollection of his past is definitely not the correct one even though he believes it to be true."


    "You keep defending this boy far too much, Zi."


    "The boy is my disciple. Why would I refrain from defending him when he is innocent?"


    "Have you considered the possibility that the boy is actually an expert in hiding?"


    It was now Xuan Zi''s turn to become speechless.


    "An expert?" He asked in confusion.


    "That''s right. Just connect the dots!" Fang Xie suddenly leaped up from his seat and started pacing around excitedly.


    "The number of qi deviations and tribulation failures in this planet, no, in the entire solar system has been unprecedented recently. Almost all of these accidents happened to experts at or above the dao genesis realm. What if this boy is actually an exile from one of the Celestial Factions? Maybe he has lowered his realm to hide from enemies. Maybe he''s trying to remove all the powerful cultivators around him so that nobody discovers his identity! It makes sense!"


    "Fang Xie, take your medication in time."


    "You''re just biased!"


    "Then how do you explain my existence? Am I not on par with you or any of those other cultivators who encountered accidents? The boy lives right in front of my house! Did you think I wouldn''t notice if he was an expert in hiding while somebody on another planet would?"


    "...." Fang Xie fell silent but still looked unconvinced.


    "Sit down. You know, there is another possibility, Fang Xie."


    "What is it?"


    Xuan Zi scratched his chin and answered, "Maybe the boy is actually right. Somebody tried to take revenge against him for some reason. Maybe it was the expert in the Holy Land of Laws, angered by his escape. My disciple certainly provoked someone with a proper backing there. I can picture that person trying to exact vengeance from the clues I''ve collected so far."


    "But the fact remains that the boy''s origins are incredibly suspicious," Fang Xie growled.


    "Old Zi, which party would reap the biggest benefits if the inspector of this planet failed to transcend his tribulation?"


    "You''re looking at him," Xuan Zi replied plainly.


    "Well yes, I can see that. But who else has the power to meddle with heavenly tribulations and make such a neat getaway? I swear if only they''d left a single clue as to what had happened during that time..."


    "If we''re talking about the safety of the entire


    planet, only Lord Eternal Night should be crazy enough to initiate something like this. This region is still a part of the neutral territory after all. Are you telling me you suspect that Lord Eternal Night is scheming to infect this solar system using my disciple? Sure, I have a high opinion of him, but right now he is still....a trash."


    Fang Xie didn''t retort this time, as if considering the possibility.


    "Regardless, I think it is unnecessary to brood over this issue any longer for now. If you haven''t realized it yet, the boy himself is quite suspicious of his own origins. To begin with, he is a cursed reincarnation of his past self. Couple that with the continuous incidents he keeps facing despite being vastly unprepared, it''s no wonder that he didn''t even report the disappearance of the orphanage to the authorities. Had he known anything about what''s happening in the background, he wouldn''t take such a huge risk despite meeting you there. To ward off my suspicion, he would have reported it as soon as possible and tried harder to convince us of his innocence. Right now, he has driven himself into a corner and allowed himself to become a mere puppet in your hands. Nobody with a prior plan would land himself in a trap so hard to get out of."


    Fang Xie looked frustrated at Xuan Zi''s explanation. But he kept his tongue in check and got up from his seat.


    "Fine then. We''ll see where this goes. I''ll send you the materials as soon as I can gather them. Deliver them to the boy before you execute the mass teleportation spell. And one more thing..."


    For a brief second, Fang Xie hesitated.


    "I''ll accompany your sect as an elder to the Titanfall Archipelago. Create a solid identity for me."


    "That will be risky," Xuan Zi replied, his voice an octave higher than before.


    "I''m not letting that brat mess around unsupervised. Besides, the risk pales in comparison to the consequences involved if any accidents take place. The Beasthaven sect''s hurried movements need some scrutiny."


    Xuan Zi''s eyes twitched in response. Calmly, he watched Fang Xie leave.

 Chapter 122: The Basics Of A Gateway Spell

    "Really, Xuhan? What were you doing last night if you weren''t studying THIS?" Xiao Wu grumbled in a displeased tone, his hands constantly moving around trying to point at the entirety of his handiwork at the same time.


    As it had turned out, the strange details Han Xuhan had noticed on his way to Xuan Zi''s residence were of significant importance. And as a model disciple of the Crimson Snow sect, Xuhan should have been aware of what was going on. However, he had been far too busy concocting far-fetched business schemes the previous evening, after which he had focused on one of his newly gained personal treasures, a technique he had gotten from Kong Ye a while ago. It wasn''t an orthodox cultivation method. Rather, it was a stub-type technique with only one layer to practice.


    Back when Kong Ye had attempted to help him control his minions more effectively, he had taught Xuhan the basics.


    It was a technique that allowed a practitioner to manipulate the elements of his dao tower according to his will. Being a part of his consciousness itself, a cultivator''s capabilities inside his dao tower were not only affected by his beliefs and imagination indirectly, it could also be enhanced directly through this special technique.


    However, most cultivators didn''t have sentient beings inside their dao tower, which severely reduced what they could do with the technique, other than renovating and redesigning it, and that was apparently the main aim of whoever it was that had created the technique. After all, not everyone felt happy with the appearance of their dao towers. Different people had different tastes.


    Later that night, Zhanxian''s breakthrough and brother BB''s visit had wrapped up his schedule quite tightly.


    In short, he had forgotten to study what he should have been studying that whole time, The mass integration cultivation method that had been imparted to all disciples of the sect, the Celestial Gateway technique.


    "I had urgent matters to attend to," he answered in the end evasively. "Give me the general overview, martial brother."


    Xiao Wu sighed and began explaining in a tired tone.


    "This Celestial Gateway technique is a mass integration type technique, meaning that we all have to practice and reach a certain degree of proficiency in it in order to properly execute it together.


    The concept sounds simple enough at first, but the technique itself in particular delves a bit deeper in terms of complexity before execution.


    You can divide this technique into two parts: the cultivation stage, and the execution stage.


    The cultivation stage has three layers, or minor realms, whichever title you prefer to use. Each layer up increases your proficiency, and degree of control over the formation.


    Again, the execution stage has three domains. Each domain is separated by the cultivation level of the practitioners of this technique. If you''ve cultivated the Celestial Gateway technique to the first layer, you''ll fall into the first domain, second-layer practitioners into the second domain, third layers in the third domain.


    Accordingly, our entire sect shall have to divide itself into three levels of practitioners soon.


    This is usually done to filter out the talented ones from the mediocre and make the competition fair and transparent."


    "Okay, continue." Han Xuhan took a deep breath, finding the whole concept mind-bogglingly complex.


    "The disciples who do not reach the standards of the lowest domain cannot participate as a part of the integrated formation. And the number of slots available for the practitioners in each domain of the integrated formation is limited."


    "Wait a minute," Xuhan interrupted Xiao Wu with a frown forming on his face.


    "Doesn''t that mean only a select few disciples of the sect can take part in the execution of this technique? I remember our sect master saying that our entire sect will be executing this technique."


    Xiao Wu nodded. "Yes, exactly. The number of disciples practicing this technique right now is more than twice the number of possible slots in each domain. This is actually the main part of the test.


    Every sect that has received this technique will allow their disciples to practice it, as well as the elders. In fact, anyone who wants to go to the venue of the tournament will have to learn this technique and execute it with the rest of us. Even our sect master himself is not an exception to this rule.


    I do not need to remind you that the elders, teachers, and sect masters are all quite talented at cultivation. They''ll definitely be able to learn the Celestial Gateway technique within a few days, far faster than most of the normal disciples. The same goes for the super-talented disciples. So what do you think will happen if a vast, particularly powerful, resourceful sect takes part in the tournament? "


    Han Xuhan carefully thought for a second and found the obvious answer.


    "They will have the advantage of raw talent and average cultivation level...? Their slots in the integrated formation will be filled up with too many powerful elders and talented disciples compared to the rest of the sects. The bigger the sect, the more numerous their talented disciples would be. Ordinary sects wouldn''t be able to stand against them in the tournament."


    Xiao Wu nodded in response. "Of course. And that raises the issue of safety for the regular sects. It''ll be impressive enough for most of the sects to be able to train enough disciples in the technique so that they can reach the basic requirement of filling up the limited slots.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    But who''ll guarantee their safety in the tournament when they face those giant sects whose least impressive participants are disciples at the peak of the physique transformation realm? Will they feel comfortable going up against their opponents? Will none of the top sects take advantage of the situation to get ahead during the later rounds? Might makes right in these competitions, after all. The rules of the alliance will not stop most sects from trying to take the shortcut, intimidate the talents from smaller sects when they''re out there without the backing of the rest of their sect, bully the weaklings, you know the drill," Xiao Wu said with a rather evil laugh.


    "Damn, least impressive disciples at the peak of physique transformation realm? You''re scaring me, brother Wu."


    Xiao Wu''s laughter died down. To Xuhan, he too seemed to be worried over the issue. After all, the Crimson Snow Sect fell into the category of the mid-level sects, from what they''d learned. It would certainly not have any advantage in that situation and was more likely to end up becoming a prey. However, Xiao Wu''s next sentence broke his assumption.


    "That''s not exactly an issue we need to sweat over right now. Because this phenomenon has been discovered long ago. The alliance has even come up with a solution for this half a century ago. Otherwise, no small sect would dare to participate in the tournament. That''s not a good thing for the alliance."


    "Oh? How did they solve it?" Xuhan asked, feeling increasingly fascinated by the entire concept.


    "They introduced a new element into the fold, a new variable named ''weight''," Xiao Wu said with a dramatic flair, his voice solemn and hands outstretched.


    "That sounds pretty discriminatory toward fatties, brother Wu. No wonder you looked displeased!" Han Xuhan exclaimed.


    I''m a fattie?" Xiao Wu asked gloomily.


    "Ahaha that was a joke, come on!"


    Han Xuhan waved his hands emphatically, a wooden smile struggling to stay afloat on his face.


    "Now what''s this weight thingy? How does that change the predicament of the smaller sects?"


    Xiao Wu took a deep breath and seemed to restrain himself from throwing a fit. Han Xuhan found the whole matter quite strange. The current Xiao Wu was quite irritable, unlike his usual easygoing self. What could be the reason behind his change?


    "As I was saying, the factor called weight doesn''t really refer to physical weight, but the weight of their dao bases. Basically, the higher your cultivation is, the greater the weight of your dao base.


    Now every slot has a fixed range of weight that it can carry. So if the weight of your dao base is more than the standard set for each slot, it will be transferred over to the slots nearby. Think of the entire integrated formation during its execution as a bunch of interconnected jars. Whenever each jar receives more water than the rest, the water will spill over to those connected to it. The logic behind the Celestial Gateway spell works just like that. So if there are too many powerful cultivators in one domain of that formation, they''ll be forced to sacrifice many more empty slots in that domain to accommodate their weight. Following the same logic, if a small sect doesn''t have too many powerful cultivators, it''ll still be able to house numerous average or below-average disciples who''ll at least give them the advantage of numbers. The top-level sects aren¡¯t going to do anything rash when they''re outnumbered by a ratio of four to one, get it?"


    "Oh wow! That''s....that''s pretty clever. I didn¡¯t expect the system to be so sophisticated," Xuhan muttered in wonder.


    "So what''s the standard cultivation level for each domain''s slots?"


    "Seventh layer of physique transformation for the first level practitioners of the Celestial Gateway technique."


    "That high?!" Han Xuhan exclaimed in disbelief.


    Seventh layer! He himself hadn¡¯t even broken past the third layer of physique transformation realm! Seventh-layer opponents would lynch him in a matter of seconds. It would be no different from a serious fight between an adult boxer and a child wearing rubber gloves. He briefly recalled the time he had gotten beaten up by Shen Kai. That was a horrifying experience he didn''t want to relive.


    "Yeah, they need to skew the balance in favor of the smaller sects, don''t they? Fixing the bar at the seventh layer means you could share the empty space in your slot with roughly two more disciples in your current realm."


    "....Brother Wu, the number of disciples in our generation still stuck in my realm shouldn¡¯t exceed two."


    Xiao Wu fell silent. Han Xuhan then recalled that Xiao Wu himself had just reached the fifth layer, during which his current foundation had started showing a lack of stability. He was probably feeling the pressure as well.


    Seeing that the atmosphere was turning rather dark, Xuhan quickly prodded him for more information.


    "What about the higher domains of the formation? What are their standards for each slot?"


    "The second domain has the standard of the third layer of the soul reformation realm. The third domain''s standard was not mentioned in the manual we received. But it''s very likely to have a standard at the peak of the soul reformation realm at least. The third one is mostly reserved for the elders of each sect and the sect masters themselves. After all, it''s too difficult for young, inexperienced disciples to reach the third layer of this foreign cultivation technique so fast." Xiao Wu said.


    Han Xuhan suddenly had a realization.


    "Wait a minute, in that case, if a sect has a peerlessly talented disciple who can master the Celestial Gateway technique to the third layer despite having low cultivation...."


    "Yeah," Xiao Wu nodded solemnly. "It will take some hands-on calculation to find the exact answer, but I''m pretty sure one anomaly like that can create enough space for more than a dozen regular disciples.


    But that''s not a loophole the top sects can exploit. Because only people who have reached the third domain will be able to occupy that empty space in that domain. So unless they have a hundred peerless talents lying around in the bushes, those slots won''t be of much use. The elders will fill up their own slots. Maybe if their cultivation is particularly high, they''ll borrow some of the empty space to balance things out. That way, the top sects will be able to carry along some elders with higher cultivation compared to the rest. That much of an advantage has to be allowed, after all. What would be the point of becoming a top-level sect if your elders can''t even throw their weight around in social events like these? The worldwide tournament will not only host competitions between the disciples but also various business deals between sects, exchange of precious materials, political schtick that I don''t really understand....you get the idea. The amount of empty space each sect goes along with also works like a badge of honor, signifying their bravery and how awesome their disciples and elders are to have reached a high proficiency in the Celestial Gateway technique."


    As Xiao Wu rambled on about how some top sects had executed impressive political maneuvers in the last few tournaments, Han Xuhan''s thoughts drifted off.


    Although his experience from reading xianxia novels wasn¡¯t proving itself to be of much use these days, some cliches could definitely come true. Even if they didn¡¯t turn out to be true, Xuhan would be better off taking ample preparation for them. The price of his carelessness could very well be a horrible death.


    In every tournament, peerless talents, dark horses, and sinister schemers would pop up like cabbages in winter. Mu Ran, the protagonist, was about to face some real challenges. Judging by their experience in the holy land of Laws, if Mu Ran''s story was a classic xianxia, it would fall under the category of extremely brutal, gory, protagonist-barely-saves-the-day type of stories. The authors of these novels mostly tended to be sadistic fellows with terrible personal lives. Han Xuhan didn¡¯t quite like being associated with a story like that when it was real.


    Yuen Zhou was another issue he needed to keep in mind. He couldn¡¯t quite decide whether she was a female protagonist herself or just one of those mysterious overpowered love interests of the protagonists who would stay relevant for a couple more arcs.


    Maybe he was reading a bit too far into everything. Maybe, just like his past, his current life was full of delusions too. Maybe all of his assumptions of this entire world being a mishmashed xianxia, Mu Ran being a protagonist, and cliches following him were just part of his delusions. It wasn¡¯t as if he hadn¡¯t considered the possibility in the past.


    But one thing was for certain. This was a world where supernatural powers existed, and he had a chance to experience what it really feels like to be on top of the world, grasping power that only belongs in myths. If his delusions helped him on the way, he could live with that. Even if they didn¡¯t, there was no reason for him to stop going about his life as a cultivator, as a disciple of the Crimson Snow sect, as a human curious to see where it all leads to. To Xuhan, life as a cultivator tinkering with various forces of nature and rules of physics was worth the risks it came with.

 Chapter 123: The Woes Of A Main Character

    The Celestial Gateway technique was not particularly complicated in comparison to most of the techniques Xuhan was familiar with. But it was unique in the sense that he could neither test nor raise his proficiency in it by cooping up inside his hut all by himself and burning resources.


    The sun during high noon felt like a torture device strapped to his head despite his improved physique. Bent over and sweating profusely, Han Xuhan continued to design small units of the qi formation that would soon encompass the entire sect if all the disciples did their job properly.


    The Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak, his current home, only housed four disciples in total. Despite being smaller than the rest, it was still a large area, and the workload that fell on each disciple of the peak was much higher as well. Elder Kong did more than half the work on his own, seemingly having comprehended the technique unnaturally fast. Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were neck to neck in terms of apparent talent and speed while Xiao Wu stayed barely ahead of Xuhan in terms of progress.


    Each of them was to practice the technique on paper first. Once their proficiency had reached a certain level and they broke through to the first layer, they''d go outside and start designing qi formations for the main spell. A practitioner at the first layer could only design the lowest level of formations which would form the first-level domain.


    During the execution of the main spell, this domain could only be considered a dead addition to the sect. A sect that sported a large area of first-level domain in the tournament would be considered a bottom-of-the-barrel sect. No one would take them seriously.


    A practitioner at the second layer could actually affect the three-dimensional space around the second-level formations, thus forming a domain that could be considered high-quality. Wherever a second-level formation is laid down, the soil below it and the air above it would fall under the second-level domain.


    Most of the decent sects would want to have at least 50% of their domains at the second level.


    A practitioner at the third and final layer could actually manipulate and modify the affected space based on their mental influence upon the execution of the spell.


    Han Xuhan, currently a beginner at the first layer, had designed enough formations to cover an area of fifty square meters since the morning, and that didn¡¯t even cover two percent of the area he had to cover by the next three days.


    He had taken far too long to reach the first layer of the Celestial Gateway technique, which had cut down his original time before the deadline by half. The lack of talent was a curse he couldn¡¯t get rid of no matter what.


    Just as he was about to give up trying to absorb any more qi, the sound of footsteps came from behind. Xuhan didn¡¯t have to turn around to know who it was. His increased sense of perception, coupled with the distinct uniqueness of the approaching person made it far too easy to detect his identity.


    "Boss! How is it going?¡± Jumping up, Xuhan shook his arms and stretched his back as he greeted Mu Ran.


    Mu Ran had a wide smile plastered on his face for some reason. Experience told Han Xuhan that either something really good had happened, or some serious shit was about to go down soon.


    "Underling Xuhan! Still struggling at the first layer of this simple technique, I see."


    "Ah well, boss. What can I say? The heavens blessed me with nothing but with the wisdom that recognizes mountain Tai such as yourself. How could I even match your speed in cultivation? I reached the first layer just today while you...."


    Xuhan trailed off, not finishing the sentence. He was curious to know which realm his boss had reached.


    While their relationship was pretty good, Mu Ran usually tried to hide his relevant accomplishments whenever possible, something that greatly puzzled Xuhan. Once he had even enquired about it to Mu Ran himself. The answer he had gotten was ridiculous.


    Apparently, Mu Ran just found it extremely entertaining to observe mediocre cultivators being hailed as a genius and showing off their accomplishments in fields of cultivation where Mu Ran had already treaded far longer paths. In many cases, he would find opportunities to slap these mediocre talents in the face, both figuratively and literally, with his superior accomplishments.


    ''''It''s my main hobby, to be honest. A man''s gotta have a source of entertainment in these barren worlds.''''


    That had been Mu Ran''s justification.


    Mu Ran''s smile widened and a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face.


    "Hey now, stop with all that praises, Xuhan. Sometimes you take them too far. I just consolidated my proficiency in the second layer. That''s not as awesome as you¡¯re making it out to be. I have reasons to suspect that martial sister Zhou has already reached the final layer!"


    His heart in woe, Xuhan maintained his standard brilliant, honest, down-to-earth smile and said what Mu Ran wanted to hear. The guy was so easy to see through.


    "Hah! I bet her foundation isn¡¯t half as solid as Bos''s. She might be a crouching white tiger but you are the hidden azure dragon!"


    "Aiya~ I told you to stop...."


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    While Mu Ran laughed in deep satisfaction, Han Xuhan changed his expression and slipped into a serious, worried demeanor.


    "But what about me, boss? I''ve barely managed to cover this tiny bit of area here. How am I going to cover the entire area that fell into my quota? Besides, Xiao Wu said every mountain peak will earn the respect of the opponents through these formations. If all of my formations are at the lowest level while the rest of you beautify the mountain peak with your high-level formations, wouldn¡¯t we attract ridicule from everybody?" In an anxious tone, Xuhan began his tirade of worries that he had ''bottled up'' long ago.


    Mu Ran fell silent, his brows creasing as he contemplated the issue.


    "That....that doesn''t actually sound like a bad idea!"


    "I know, righ-wait, come again?"


    "That is such a precious opportunity to slap some faces and leave the biggest impression on everybody else! Incredible! You truly are a godsend Xuhan. How do you even think of these ideas?"


    "I uh-" Han Xuhan wanted to say that it was Kong Ye who had refused to cut down a portion of his work despite knowing Xuhan had a pretty low chance of completing it. That man was still seething over the ''small'' incident where Han Xuhan had squeezed out several precious cultivation techniques from him in one go. How childish!


    Han Xuhan could only choose to be the mature, understanding disciple in that incident and carry the weight of his master''s childish antics, as well as the weight of those heavy, priceless scrolls; a small price to pay for cultivation.


    "Hehehe~ my so-called peers in this entire planet, just you wait, just you wait...."


    While Mu Ran creepily muttered to himself with a manic grin, Han Xuhan decided to throw in a few spices of his own into the mixture.


    "Boss! I have an even better idea! What if we disguise this area as the ugly, low-tier region of our peak using the third layer''s proficiency?"


    "What?" Mu Ran asked in confusion.


    "Think about it, boss. We shall enter the tournament with everybody else, showing our ugly, first-level domain intentionally in order to attract ridicule. But then we''re going to stun those snobs by revealing that our domain is actually covered by third-level formations!"


    "....Woah...."


    A dreamy look appeared on Mu Ran''s face as he stared up at the sky, seemingly immersed in Imagining the epic scene. Xuhan nodded eagerly. He could almost sense the cogs and wheels turning slowly in Mu Ran''s rusty mind.


    Come on, boss. Find out that gargantuan flaw in that proposition...


    "But underling, your proficiency is obviously at the first layer. How are you going to reach the third layer of this technique within three days and execute this grand plan? I admit I''m the best teacher around here but even I can''t help you learn it so fast," Mu Ran finally spoke, discovering the problem Han Xuhan had handed to him.


    "Yeah, but you can easily reach the third layer and do it instead of me, can''t you?"


    Han Xuhan replied, a very honest grin growing on his face.


    Finally, the fish had been hooked. Now he could just sit and enjoy himself while the fish did what it would naturally do. It was going to rush around, jump up and down, struggle instinctively while Xuhan''s only job was to keep a firm grip on the rod....No, something seemed crooked about that metaphor.


    "BRILLIANT!" Meanwhile, awash with the impactful realization, Mu Ran leaped upwards and threw a fist in the air.


    "This tiny area of land? I could modify it within a few hours! Let''s start right now!"


    Han Xuhan threw him a dirty look.


    "I thought you were at the second layer, boss."


    "No, when did I-oh, right, right. But don''t worry, underling. I''ll definitely break through to the third layer in time and execute our brilliant plan. Our glory, our superiority, will dazzle this world in one fell swoop right at the entrance!"


    "Definitely, yeah. Definitely." Han Xuhan nodded along like a chicken.


    Mu Ran was about to turn around and leave in order to keep up his act. After all, he had to pretend to make a breakthrough soon and show his expertise in the third layer. But then he seemed to remember his original intentions for coming to meet Xuhan.


    "Hey underling, do you remember that whole credit earning system we had in the sect? What''s the amount of credits we''ve amassed so far?"


    Han Xuhan scratched his head, trying to remember the relevant information. Piling up credits was the only known method for outer court disciples to reach the inner court without cultivating to any particularly high realm. But the amount of trauma his first attempt at earning credits had left him was enough to cut down most of that enthusiasm. He was doing just fine as a weakling in the outer court. The inner court would definitely be a more dangerous place full of treacherous, experienced cultivators who are hard to scam.


    "Give me a second, boss," Xuhan nodded confidently as he sat down in a meditative pose and closed his eyes.


    A couple of seconds later, Tun Shi Tian flew out of his back like a bullet and disappeared from their sight. Natural owls were definitely not that fast. But Tun Shi Tian was a cultivator owl with the intelligence of a human, albeit not a very smart one. But its speed could even match the fastest of birds after training.


    Mu Ran followed the skeleton owl''s trails with his eyes, puzzlement apparent on his face.


    "Underling, what''s your minion supposed to do? Isn''t the investigation of the credits of others forbidden? Moreover, the senior disciple who handles the calculation of credits is someone who got into the sect using his uncle''s connections. Just half an hour ago, I myself visited the pavilion and enquired about the credits myself. The rumors about that guy actually turned out to be accurate. He is a disrespectful, lazy, greedy, asshat. When I snorted in annoyance at his wishy-washy work ethics and released my full aura, he actually stopped looking for our information and straight-up threatened me with his uncle''s name! The guy had the nerves to not return the bribe I gave him earlier for trespassing the rules to learn my credit scores too!"


    Mu Ran got extremely worked up as he vented the anger in his heart. Han Xuhan could only shake his head at the stupidity of the guy in charge of credit calculations. It was one thing to take bribes and break the rules, but not doing your job even after taking the bribe was a big no-no. This guy wouldn''t survive long in that business.


    But that was actually a good thing for Xuhan.


    Tun Shi Tian flew back soon by the time Mu Ran had finished his rant about killing the senior disciple, his uncle, as well as their families including chickens and dogs if that''s what it took.


    "It would be great if you just left the dogs alone, boss. And we could even start a farming business if we just gather all the chickens and use the dogs as guards. We''d be able to dine on some decent meals every now and then instead of being reliant on the sect''s kitchens."


    With that morbid suggestion to a man swearing he''d commit genocide, Han Xuhan turned to look at little Tian who had just landed disastrously on the ground after catching the conversation about the massacre of its living avian siblings.


    "Report," he said to the shaken owl with an evil grin.


    "Wha-right, reporting to m-master. As of now, your credit score is 300. It was a bit higher earlier, but your constant absence in daily tasks and occasional mandatory missions had a negative impact on it despite your punctual fines."


    "Three hundred? How the hell did it get that high? I only did one botched mission that offered one-tenth of that amount." Xuhan was quite surprised.


    "Big brother Lin mentioned that the entirety of your credit score comes from the changed rewards of that mission," Tun Shi Tian answered immediately.


    "Who the fuck is big brother Lin? How did he get this information?" Mu Ran asked, dumbfounded.


    "Boss, did you forget that senior who used to work in the archives? He handled the sales and purchases of our cultivation techniques,"


    Xuhan answered.


    "Why would I bother to remember him?"


    "....Right. We established a pretty good relationship with him back when we sold the law technique to the sect. He is one of the few disciples who handle these calculations. Since I kept in touch with him all this time, I can occasionally ask him for favors like this, hehehe."


    "Nice! So what''s my credit score?" Mu Ran asked eagerly, giving Xuhan a thumbs up.


    "Seven hundred," Tun Shi Tian answered.


    "....Isn''t that a bit too small? Underling Xuhan did only one mission, that too with me. I myself completed at least five more missions of similar caliber-"


    "But I saw the register. Your account revealed that apart from the first mission with master, all of the missions you completed were shady, vague, and pretty average level...."


    "..... "


    Mu Ran opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, he simply seemed to swallow a torrent of emotional tales. His eyes reddening in grief, he stomped away, leaving inches-deep footprints into the hard, rocky mountainback.

 Chapter 124: How Do You Deal With A Nosy Powerhouse?

    The view of the sunset from the mountains was always a treat for the eyes that had been focused on complicated diagrams for far too long. Han Xuhan too, appreciated the view as it took his mind off the new development inside his home, as well as his dao tower.


    Today, he had reached the fourth layer of the physique transformation realm, right before which he had ''given life'' to the dusty skeleton of a rattlesnake that he had painstakingly created during the last few weeks. It now was a part of his dao tower just like its two predecessors. Both Zhanxian and little Tian had welcomed their new housemate with open arms and wings. But that was where the good news stopped.


    The first issue Han Xuhan hadn¡¯t considered was what a moving snake skeleton would look like.


    The crimson spine, along with the countless moving ribs on both sides gave the skeleton the exact appearance of a nightmarish centipede. A centipede that had the head of a dragon, fangs that could rip off meat from a limb, and a total length of two and a half meters.


    When it had moved for the first time, Han Xuhan''s brain dug up the most primal fear of annelids existent in human beings since time immemorial. The fact that he hadn¡¯t gasped in shock and revulsion at that time was already an achievement he was proud of.


    And then it had spoken. That was when the real nightmare had begun.


    "Papa! Food!"


    As his watering eyes kept their focus locked on the setting sun, an adorable, high-pitched voice that should belong to toddlers came from his neck where all of his hair was standing up straight.


    Silently, Xuhan broke off a small piece of crystallized qi from his pocketful of ''minion food'' and offered it toward the source of the voice, his hand shaking slightly the whole time.


    A mouth full of sharp teeth and thick fangs brushed past his ear and gingerly picked up the piece of crystallized qi.


    The serpentine form wrapped around his upper body lightly adjusted itself, pressuring Xuhan''s nerves to react violently and throw off the predator resting on his body.


    But he sat still like a sage contemplating the meaning of life. His eyes took in the last few rays of the sunken sun, the busy borders of the sect across the vast, green fields and rivers where hundreds of disciples of his generation were laying down formation after formation of various levels, guided by their elders.


    He noticed Mu Ran laboring to finish both of their quotas by himself while Kong Ye hesitantly tried to dissuade him from executing the brilliant idea Xuhan had provided him with.


    He saw the troubled expression on Xiao Wu''s face as well as the thoughtful gaze Yuen Zhou was directing at Mu Ran.


    "My eyesight has improved so much. I wonder, if I ever reach the limit of a cultivator''s physical improvement, will I be able to peek at the surface of celestial bodies in the sky and observe the tiniest of viruses in the air? That would be so cool...."


    Hai Yin Zhe couldn''t quite understand his words, and she showed it by hissing lightly and tightening up around his neck, her sharpened tailbone lazily scraping along Xuhan''s artery.


    That''s right. Han Xuhan had named the snake Hai Yin Zhe. He had actually run out of cool-sounding names for his minions, the dusty memories of his past dalliance amidst trashy xianxia novels proving themselves to be unreliable once again.


    However, as a practitioner of the demonic arts of machine translation, Xuhan had learnt more than a few Chinese words that could mean several things. Besides, it wasn¡¯t as if the language he used here itself followed every detail of the Mandarin language. Apart from a similar naming scheme and culturally close development, most of the language was a paraphrased version of various Asian languages. Had he been one of those instant transmigrators from novels, he''d probably have a stroke trying to navigate through the differences.


    If memories served him right, Hai Yin Zhe roughly meant ''Drinker Of Seas''. The name had felt befitting of a serpent, if he were to overlook the irony of its skeletal form.


    As the horizon lost its touch with the sun, Han Xuhan stood up and walked back to his hut carefully, avoiding stepping on the countless gateway formations all around him on the mountain back. The draconic head popping out from the back of his robe curiously observed their surroundings in silence.


    The mountain peaks had changed their appearance fast under the fervent hard work of hundreds of disciples. The ethereal presence of qi saturated the air everywhere. Occasionally bursts of qi would alarm those working nearby, causing them to rush over and fix the issue. The entire sect had turned into something comparable to a spaceship under construction.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    The mental comparison slightly startled Xuhan. A spaceship in a world where basic metallurgy was run by magic spells? It would be truly a wonderful experience to be a part of the event.


    The final execution of the spell was to be held tomorrow after a few experimental drills. During the last few days, many geniuses had shown their colors. Their sect now boasted of nine disciples in the third layer of the Celestial Gateway technique, a fact that all the elders seemed happy about. Some dissatisfied whispers had come toward the Heavenly Hailstorm peak for bagging two of those nine geniuses despite its shallow roots. But the sect master seemed to have taken care of the issue discreetly.


    "Disciple Xuhan, congratulations on the breakthrough. I see your undead family has welcomed in a new member!" Exclaimed a hearty voice from inside his hut right when he was about to open the door.


    Speak of the devil...


    "Good evening, sect master. The chair you¡¯re sitting on is broken. Please sit carefully," Han Xuhan, currently used to the random appearances of Xuan Zi in his hut, replied without missing a beat as he entered the hut.


    Xuan Zi nodded appreciatively. "Oh yes, I''m aware. It almost broke apart the moment I sat. Currently, the only thing holding it together is my telekinesis."


    "That is a very neat and impressive way to use telekinesis, sect master. This one is in awe," Xuhan replied.


    "Not as impressive as your cultivation speed, disciple. I must admit, even with all the resources you¡¯re practically robbing from Elder Shen, I never imagined you would reach the fourth layer so soon. It¡¯s incredible how far innate comprehensive ability in its purest form can take a child. Almost makes me want to look specifically for others like you and guide them in different paths of the great dao, just to observe where each of them end up."


    Han Xuhan gave a curt bow full of modesty, maintaining his silence and ignoring that bit about his ''robberies''.


    "This chair seems to have been broken by physical force alone, disciple," Xuan Zi remarked off-handedly.


    "....That is correct, sect master."


    "Hmm, The origin point of the cracks suggests that it wasn¡¯t intentional either. The applied force was uneven and spiky, with a poor choice of target area. You''re having trouble adjusting to your improved physique, yes?"


    Sometimes, figures like Xuan Zi and Kong Ye scared Xuhan in ways not even the scariest horror movies used to. The cliched xianxia term ''old monster'' actually fitted them to some degree. The way they observed the world around them contained a hint of a razor-sharp analytical mindset that he couldn¡¯t see ever being common in a regular society.


    Granted, they weren¡¯t some sort of terrifyingly intelligent beings beyond human weaknesses and errors, but considering the environment and social state they likely grew up in, being able to match in terms of intelligence and analytical skill with someone from the twenty-first century was already quite impressive.


    Han Xuhan did not think people who grew up in ancient times were stupid in any way. But constant exposure to advanced scientific reasoning could do wonders for the mental growth of any average Wang.


    "Once more, I must praise the sect master''s discerning eyes," Xuhan said.


    Even if Xuan Zi was taken aback by his uncharacteristically modest replies, it didn¡¯t show on his face. The ''old'' man maintained a standard smile that seemed just a few degrees more meaningful than Xuhan''s own.


    "Worry not, disciple Xuhan. You''re not alone in finding your own body hard to control. This is a common phenomenon among youths in the physique transformation realm. And any sect worth their title knows that. In fact, our sect, as well as a few others, has a long-running tradition to deal with this exact problem.


    However, this year we''ve run into a bit of a dilemma over how to conduct the program since almost the entire sect will be traveling to the Titanfall archipelago for the tournament. It has been decided that we shall have to cut some corners and let you disciples learn it the hard way, in the classic method that would never fail to give you the drive and ardor to learn like your life depends on it!"


    Xuan Zi''s solemn and grandiose declaration brought Han Xuhan nothing but bad premonitions. Briefly, he remembered a similar scene from his childhood. His father had made a declaration with the same phrases right before throwing him into the pool to make him learn how to swim...


    ''Yeah, that''s how I learned it, boy! That''s how my father learned it too! And his father, and the fathers before him! This is the classic style! If it doesn¡¯t make you learn how to do it, you know what will happen, hahaha! Wait, damn-don''t drink I- ah shit, hold on! Where the fuck is the lifejacket?''


    Han Xuhan''s face darkened with each second he spent relieving that memory. Was this what philosophers meant by ''mankind''s history is forever doomed to repeat itself''?


    Instead of drowning both his past and present self further amidst those memories, Xuhan decided to focus on the more important details of Xuan Zi''s words.


    "I wasn¡¯t aware that our destination is called the Titanfall archipelago! I must admit, the name doesn''t ring a bell...."


    Xuan Zi''s smile brightened. "Oh yes, it¡¯s not a place you¡¯ll find on maps in the mortal world. Even most cultivators wouldn¡¯t know where it is. Let''s just say it is a very special place, full of wonders that could kill a man or show him his path to heaven."


    "Aren¡¯t those two the same thing-ah, right, my mistake," Xuhan controlled himself from making a fool of himself with great effort.


    "Hahaha! That''s a good one, disciple," Xuan Zi burst into laughter, making Han Xuhan''s dark premonitions grow stronger. The old man never looked this happy before. Something insidious was up.


    "Sect master, might I ask a question about the test tomorrow?" Xuhan said, keeping his suspicion hidden. It was never a good idea to show animosity toward a figure who might just be his only shelter from a brutal death in this cruel world where overpowered cultivators like Fang Xie and Brother BB were eyeing him constantly.


    Of course, he couldn¡¯t completely throw away the possibility that Xuan Zi himself had some sort of a sinister scheme up inside his sleeves. But what he didn¡¯t know wasn¡¯t something he could deal with. His only choice, for now, was to stick by the man''s side with an upright expression on his face.


    "Oh sure, go ahead," Xuan Zi replied curiously.


    "How are we to reach this secret archipelago? I understand that the Celestial Gateway technique is obviously going to be linked to our journey by some means. That much is obvious to the entire disciple body. But what exactly-"


    "Ah, can''t tell you that! That''s a surprise better left for tomorrow. We left that part out of the instructions intentionally. For today, I have a more impactful surprise for you!"


    One of Xuan Zi''s hands reached within his robe and pulled out a small package carefully. He then offered it to Xuhan.


    "Go on, take it. It comes from your mentally unstable nemesis, Fang Xie!" He dramatically revealed.


    Han Xuhan took the package and was about to open it when he noticed the issue.


    "This package....seems to have been opened already, sect master."


    "How observant of you, disciple!"


    Han Xuhan looked up at Xuan Zi, whose standard grandfatherly smile hadn¡¯t receded at all the whole time. Looking up and down a couple more times as realization slowly dawned on him, Han Xuhan proceeded to open the thick wrapping and found a small box within.


    There was also a paper full of tiny writings attached to it. He took a look at the paper. It contained two different handwritings, one of them recent enough to leave ink prints on his fingers.


    The box too, had been unlocked despite there being a familiar locking technique cast on it. Xuhan himself owned a lot of gadgets with similar locking methods.


    "Trust in the dignity of your sect master, disciple. The act of destroying a simple lock shouldn¡¯t be a reason for you to look upon me with such distrust. I did it for your own good. That realization will occur to you in due time. Good night!"


    Before Xuhan could apologize for his acting mishap, Xuan Zi vanished right in front of his eyes tracelessly.

 Chapter 125: Divide And Conquer Your Minions

    "Papa! Eat?" Little Zhe asked in an innocent tone while edging near the contents of the box nonchalantly. Han Xuhan, who was busy deciphering the terrible handwriting on the paper that had come with the package, lightly gripped the snake by a rib and pushed it back.


    The main issue concerning Little Zhe was that its arrival had screwed up Xuhan''s personal control over his dao tower far more impactfully than its two predecessors. While Zhanxian and little Tian had started showing signs of becoming partial owners of their ''rooms'' in the tower, Little Zhe''s arrival had changed something much more basic and fundamental.


    Han Xuhan couldn¡¯t control this third minion''s summoning. While he could summon it and send it back to his dao tower freely, it too could appear and disappear from the real world as it pleased. Coupled with its extremely young mental state, it was no different from a lively child running back and forth all over the house, barging into rooms and randomly trying to eat stuff with and without permission. The only positive thing Xuhan could think of concerning its existence was that it at least didn¡¯t need to do potty training.


    Moreover, as an undead sensitive to qi, little Zhe feared cultivators like nothing else. Just then when Xuan Zi had shown up inside his hut and noticed the snake, it had run off, crossed worlds, and hid inside his dao tower where a snake pit had appeared right in the middle of the main room to house it.


    Han Xuhan had taken a good look at the pit from above when it had first appeared. It was at least a dozen yards deep, with a radius of only one yard. The bottom was like a dark maw of a leviathan waiting for food to drop in conveniently. The sensory connection he had with the dao tower told him that it was just an empty hole with walls that could be climbed easily and a bottom made of flat rocks.


    But his eyes had refused to believe his mind. The hole looked too sinister. Being around it made him feel the nervous pressure of a claustrophobic''s worst nightmares. Han Xuhan had no idea what caused this uncanny feeling, but he had decided to trust his senses and hadn''t gone down to investigate. Instead, he had thrown Zhanxian and Little Tian inside. They should have been out by now if nothing was wrong with the pit.


    The new development was, however, not much of a surprise compared to what he discovered upon reading the contents of the paper.


    The first bit with the atrocious handwriting was from crazy Xie. He seemed to have intentionally written it that terribly in order to inconvenience Xuhan. In all honesty, the only remark Xuhan could make about his little petty games was ''damn, this guy is good at this''.


    There are six vials in the box. Each vial contains a certain amount of a potion called ''mind killer''. As you can guess, the moment someone takes a sip of this potion, their mind will be ''killed'' in a certain sense. The dosage here, however, is pretty low. Once you make somebody drink from a vial, or inject it into their bloodstream, they''ll become mentally crippled for some time. What you need to do during that time is to inform me that you¡¯ve done your job using the method I''ve shown below. Once I''ve identified all the targets in the tournament, another message will be forwarded to you. Do not try to double-cross me, and our little contract will end in its due time.


    Beneath the paragraph was a simple-looking qi formation that even an amateur like Xuhan could design easily. It appeared to be in the same format as the formations for the Celestial Gateway Technique. Not having much expertise in the field of formations, Han Xuhan did not know what to make of it.


    However, the contents of the paper did not end there, because a new, more legible handwriting started beneath the formation design.


    Disciple, maybe you''re surprised, maybe you''re not, that your tasks involve poisoning people and mentally crippling them. As you''re aware, his targets are talented youths from various sects. This task is quite risky, and almost impossible for you to do by yourself. So I''ve taken the risk to modify the formation design he has given you. You can find this upgraded version on the other side of the page. The new version will not only allow him to reach the paralyzed minds of his victims but also let ME appear at the place of the crime to help clean up the clues and ward off any potential threats around. While I do not support what Fang Xie is doing, it will not stop me from extending a favor to a disciple as valuable as yourself.


    Han Xuhan turned the page over and observed the next formation design. It hadn¡¯t been modified too heavily. He could still make one on the go.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Papa! Big brother cried!"


    Broken out of his thoughts, he turned to look at little Zhe who had gone into the dao tower while he was reading. The skeleton didn¡¯t have any expression on its draconic face, but a state of panic radiated from the way its body twisted and turned on his shoulders.


    Placing the paper inside the box, Xuhan hid it inside one of his qi-movement-sensitive trunks where he usually kept his most treasured resources. Then he entered into his consciousness to investigate what was going on inside his dao tower.


    Soon, the bright white palace inside his mind surfaced in front of his mental gaze. Floating inside, he found Zhanxian and little Tian curled up in one corner of the main hall, hugging each other and shivering quietly.


    "Zhanxian, little Tian stole your spice-flavored qi juice yesterday. Little Zhe was not the culprit."


    The moment he finished speaking, Zhanxian leaped upwards and threw the owl at the nearest wall in fury, his fearful act forgotten in the wake of a massive torrent of emotions raging inside his nonexistent heart.


    "Bastard, I trusted you! This is how you repay me?"


    "Big brother Xian, don¡¯t bully a young man just because he is poor! The river flows thirty years to the east-"


    BANG!


    Zhanxian rushed toward the owl and kicked it away like a football.


    "I don¡¯t know where the river flows but I know where I''ll be scattering your crushed bones!"


    "Dammit brother Xian! You gave away our plan-"


    Little Tian yelped in sudden realization, making Zhanxian who was rushing toward him once more come to a stop.


    Awkwardly, both skeleton avatars turned around and faced Xuhan, not quite meeting his eyes. Han Xuhan, having guessed that their traumatized state was probably an act, harrumphed loudly.


    "You have ten seconds to tell me why I shouldn''t cut off your resource allotments for the next month."


    "....Because you need us for the tournament," Zhanxian answered in an honest tone.


    "....Hehehehe," wordlessly, Xuhan started chuckling after a few seconds.


    "Wha-why are you laughing? What''s so funny ?" Han Xuhan''s creepy, familiar laughter unsettled the eldest minion greatly.


    "Have you considered the fact that before something serious happens to me during the tournament, you two will probably die? Because I''ll definitely set up all of my strategies in that exact order. I know you do not fear death, Zhanxian. But I don''t think little Tian is going to agree, in which case I''ll let him take your share of resources so that he can surpass your cultivation fast and order you around like a dog."


    "Little Tian wouldn¡¯t-"


    "Heheh, did you just say that? Really, minion, how could you forget how much Tun Shi Tian hates that nickname? Have you never noticed the hatred in his eyes every time you call him by that name?" Han Xuhan''s voice was like a devil''s whisper behind Zhanxian''s neck.


    "His eyes?" The skeleton asked nobody in particular as it looked toward the dumbfounded owl skeleton.


    "Zhanxian, Zhanxian, Zhanxian, you foolish little thing. How could you not notice its malice, its schemes? Ever since its birth, the owl has concocted plot after plot against me. But do you think you were spared despite having tormented and insulted its humongous ego?" Han Xuhan silently used his control over the dao tower to isolate his voice, making Zhanxian the only audience. It was one of the two very unorthodox functions he had learned recently from Elder Kong Ye''s personal guidance sessions after actively requesting for it to the flummoxed elder. Now was the perfect time to execute it.


    "Ohho, little minion....The owl has repeatedly made you comply with its reckless, foolish plans, thinking I wouldn¡¯t notice. Even the greatest of fools would know better than to doubt my intelligence after being with me for so long. So why, just why did you keep agreeing to it, knowing fully well that the bird''s plans would almost never succeed?


    Have you considered the fact that it might have been targeting YOU the whole time?


    To make me take out my anger on you?


    To make me resent you and let it become my number one minion so that it can have the bigger share of resources?


    After all, you¡¯re the leader of every task I set for you two. Upon your failures and attempted tricks, my wrath shall obviously fall on you most of the time!"


    "He wouldn¡¯t-"


    "Ahahaha....come on, try to remember, Zhanxian. Or even better, let me help you remember!" His whispers fiercer and darker, Xuhan executed his second newly learned function of the dao tower and mentally connected to Zhanxian''s avatar as if he wanted to summon it back to the real world. But instead, he directed his qi toward his head and created a secondary cycle in his mediating body.


    A chain of memories he had readied in his mind surfaced from the depths of his thoughts. Zhanxian, whose avatar had frozen mid-air suddenly shook as scene after scene played themselves out in its mind, out of its control.


    The scenes were blurry and often unfocused. The sound hardly matched with the scenes either. However, Zhanxian recognized it instantly. He was seeing the memory of little Tian''s first appearance in the real world, from Han Xuhan''s point of view this time.


    "Trash," Tun Shi Tian''s familiar voice said coldly.


    "Trash, watch your mouth or I''ll sew it up for you!


    "DIE FOR MEEE!


    "For now, I''ll accept your tyranny, human!


    "Could you accept being forced to serve a talentless trash as cannon fodder?


    "But perhaps this was meant to be. Perhaps you shall be my stepping stone, the catalyst that will guide me on my way.


    "But I''ll prevail one day and gain my freedom, remember that demon!"


    The scenes played out ceaselessly, impacting Zhanxian''s mind like a battering ram again and again. The hatred and malice in the owl''s voice never subsided. Despite knowing this was Xuhan''s point of view, Zhanxian felt a streak of wariness and animosity taking shape in his heart.


    "Think about it, minion. Every task you screwed up in, was it really all your fault?"


    "Not entirely... No...."


    "Maybe, just maybe, little Tian was merely hiding his animosity toward you and using ME as the target of its malice as the distraction...? Surely, all clues line up to say that, YOU were actually the initial target of the bird''s insidious schemes?"


    Looking at Zhanxian''s silent avatar, a sinister smirk appeared on Xuhan''s face.


    Divide and conquer, that was the only way to keep his minions under his control, he''d come to realize.

 Chapter 126: A Planet On Fire

    "What''s going on? Hey, master! Why aren¡¯t you two moving? Wait, what did you say, brother Xian? I can''t hear you! Hey! HEYYY!"


    Tun Shi Tian looked extremely confused at the odd activities of its master and big brother. Both of them were standing really close to each other and silently moving their mouths. It didn¡¯t make any sense that it couldn''t hear them when it could easily hear the movements of an insect at that distance, let alone whispered conversations.


    Suddenly, Han Xuhan backed away and Zhanxian almost staggered, as if the two of them had been locked into a mental battle of some sort.


    "Uh, big brother Xian?"


    "Aaah-oh, right. Littl-I mean, Tun Shi Tian! How are you?"


    "....."


    Wordlessly, Tun Shi Tian''s suspicion fell toward Han Xuhan, who had facepalmed immediately.


    "Little Tian, I just had a battle of aura with your big brother in order to assert dominance. As you can see, I obviously won and it left your brother a bit shaken and traumatized. Don''t worry, just give him a few minutes to recover," Xuhan said lightly.


    "Battle of aura? Do you think I am a child?"


    Tun Shi Tian wasn¡¯t so easily fooled. But the bird couldn''t quite make him speak the truth either. While Xuhan absentmindedly floated around the dao tower, Zhanxian silently stood still in his original position, seeming shocked to his very core.


    Just as Tun Shi Tian was about to burst into an impatient, angry fit, Zhanxian finally moved.


    Walking forward, Zhanxian passed by Xuhan and headed toward his own ''room'' in the dao tower. Curious, Xuhan followed alongside little Tian.


    Entering his room, Zhanxian sat inside in a meditative pose without saying anything.


    "Hey master, did you break him or something?" Tun Shi Tian whispered as he watched from outside.


    Standing beside him, Han Xuhan maintained his silence. Zhanxian''s behavior struck him a tad too odd as well.


    After a couple of minutes, Zhanxian suddenly looked up and stretched a hand toward Xuhan, saying, "You wanted to know what we discovered inside the pit? Come, let me show you, master."


    "...Erm, yeah, okay." His doubts increasing, Han Xuhan floated inside Zhanxian''s room, unsure of what was up with all the drama.


    Tun Shi Tian didn¡¯t make a fuss, watching it all unfold while boiling in frustration.


    As Xuhan got close enough, Zhanxian reached out and touched Xuhan in the same spot Xuhan had touched him just a few minutes ago. Han Xuhan''s eyes widened in realization as he felt Zhanxian''s mental touch in his consciousness.


    Sssss!


    A sizzling explosion, not quite physical but certainly disorienting, overpowered his consciousness. Through the chaotic waves that rushed throughout his mind, a single string of calm thoughts acted like a lifeline to anchor his consciousness, making Han Xuhan grasp it with every bit of mental force he could muster.


    Then he realized that his eyes were working once more, except these were not quite the eyes of his own body...


    Zhanxian, it seemed, had cast the same spell of transferring memories he himself had performed on the skeleton. He had somehow become able to learn it instantly!


    Han Xuhan''s new sight seemed the same as any normal living human''s, once more confirming his theory that his summoned minions all had the same racial trait as the rest of their species despite their undead appearance. The lack of eyes wouldn¡¯t stop them from seeing normally, the lack of feathers wouldn¡¯t stop them from flying....and the lack of venom wouldn¡¯t stop them from poisoning their opponent to death.


    Oh, the possibilities.....


    But it wasn¡¯t time to dwell on those daydreams, for a more concerning issue had appeared amidst the memories had popped up.


    Zhanxian''s memories started from the moment he had thrown the two minions down the pit to investigate what was wrong with it. Except....it had been more than ten seconds since the start of their fall and they hadn¡¯t stopped falling. He could still see the bottom of the tunnel which seemed to be just a few meters away. But no matter how true his sensation of falling felt, the bottom did not get any closer to him.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    The discovery stunned Xuhan. Back when he had ordered his minions to jump inside the pit, he had seen them land on the bottom quite normally. There had been no such anomaly mid-flight. After they had landed, he had ordered them to examine the pit properly while his consciousness went back to his body to take care of business in the real world.


    Yet from Zhanxian''s perception, it was apparent that they were falling at an increasing velocity.


    Fifteen seconds.


    Twenty-five seconds.


    One minute.


    Three minutes.


    Just when he had started to think that Zhanxian had screwed up his memory transfer trick and was now simply showing him a loop of falling, his eyes suddenly were blinded by a sea of burning red color.


    "AAAAAAAHHHHH!"


    "NEVER! NEVER! NEVER SUBMIT!"


    "COME DOWN IF YOU DARE!"


    "SING THE ANTHEM!"


    "ANOTHER FORMATION! COME, BROTHERS AND SISTERS! LET US DESIGN ANOTHER FORMATION !"


    Inhuman screams of fury and frustration brutally crashed into his eardrums. The sources of the screams were all around him. In every direction, there seemed to exist nothing but the purest of agony. Those screaming at the top of their voice seemed to have burst their own trachea and vocal cords way too long ago. Their hoarse, yet still barely coherent screams full of pain invited nothing but terror in Xuhan''s heart.


    He had recognized this place after a few glances around him. And the realization was heavy enough to deal a fatal blow to his mental state.


    This was the world of the crimson sun. Only, instead of being an observer from a faraway planet, he was now standing right on the surface of the burning world.


    The word sun wasn¡¯t exactly an accurate description of this world, he realized. It wasn¡¯t a giant ball of gas and plasma. Rather, it seemed to be pretty close to an inhabitable planet if he ignored the fire crackling all around him. The soil looked pretty close to Earth''s, albeit being covered in a thick layer of ash. The terrain was mostly flat. But some long destroyed things strewn around him suggested signs of civilizations once existing here. The biggest giveaway was of course not these things, but the source of the screams.


    Countless semi-transparent things.....maybe souls, were on fire all around him, as far as his eyes could see, as high as his sight could reach. In some places, they were clustered into one giant ball of flames writhing in agony, in some places only one soul burned like a sun, radiating light so bright that no colors could describe the scene.


    Their state seemed both illusory and real at the same time, transitioning between the figures of human beings to nothing but twisted silhouettes made entirely of bright colors.


    All of them were screaming hoarsely. Yet....all of them also seemed to be capable of rational thinking even under the excessive pain.


    How long did one need to become accustomed to the pain of being burned alive? Or....were they alive at all? Could a soul, or an ethereal form, or whatever the state these people were in be counted as being alive?


    Was the fire their source of agony? How was it affecting them?


    More curious was the fact that Han Xuhan was sure that he had never heard of the language that was being spoken by the souls. Yet as he stood there in Zhanxian''s memory, he could actually realize a good portion of the words somehow.


    .....Was Zhanxian the reason behind his comprehension of this foreign language?


    Just when Xuhan''s mind had taken a nosedive down a path of questions he had no business pursuing in that situation, a deafening roar from behind came to rescue his attention.


    "Traitor! Traitor! How could you!"


    Zhanxian in the memory turned around to look hastily while Tun Shi Tian yelped and broke the silence it had been stupefied into since their first moment in this nightmare of a world.


    There was one lone burning soul right behind them that had been screaming for a while. However, its screams had been more subdued and drowned out under the thunderous roars all around. But now that Zhanxian had turned to take a good look at it, they immediately detected its specialty.


    The half-illusory soul had turned much vaguer compared to the rest of its companions. The layer of fire that it had been wrapped around for so long had diminished alongside the volume of its screams. What was left beneath the fire turned out to be a layer of crystalline substance, forming a roughly human-sized.....coffin, albeit a bit out of shape. That was the best description of the object.


    The newly created crystal coffin containing the colorful being vibrated audibly, creating a wave of dust around it. Then like a rocket, it shot upward at the sky, crossing dozens of miles per second at the very least. Zhanxian''s gaze followed the trajectory of the coffin and landed on one of the main features of the world that had clued Xuhan about the location he was in.


    In the sky hung a giant natural satellite, originally grey, but now marred by what seemed to be frequent reception of the red crystal coffins. A significant portion of the satellite''s surface was full of red specks. Seeing how it had taken up nearly one-third of the sky, Xuhan guessed that it wasn¡¯t even that far away. Perhaps a few thousand miles above this hellhole of a world.


    Thrice before, Han Xuhan had had the experience of entering this place that held the souls of his potential minions. But all three times he had landed on the satellite, it seemed. The clues lined up perfectly.


    There was no reason for little Zhe''s dao pit to have a link to any place other than its own origin. Instead of forming a connection with the satellite where Xuhan had found the snake''s soul in its crystallized state, the pit had led to the original world of the crimson sun where the soul of the snake originated from.


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian too were the same case. But why did their dao compartments not lead them to this burning planet?


    What was so unique about Little Zhe?


    Lost in his thoughts, Han Xuhan almost missed the approaching souls all around him. They were the ones who had screamed at the lone soul just then.


    "That traitor, Luo! How could he submit now? We were so close to a new formation! Aaaah!"


    "Son of a bitch!"


    "One day we shall track him down, brothers! Do not give up! Do not submit! Our justice shall be delivered one day!"


    "This puny world will not hold us! Nor will this filthy fire ever make the worthy submit! Sing the anthem of the ultimate transformation! All hail the Supreme Overlord!"


    Some sang, some screamed, some roared profanities at the sky. Most of the words were unknown to Xuhan. But he understood much. He also realized that the souls were gradually coming closer and closer to them.


    "Hey, big bro, do you think those things noticed us?"


    "I don¡¯t know. But there is no reason for us to take the risk and examine their attitude right now. Come, let''s go back-"


    "Yeah, did you just realize that we can''t get back? I have no idea how we got here in the first place."


    "....Fuck."


    "Fuck master."


    The souls encircling them were now barely dozens of meters away. The only reason they hadn¡¯t been noticed was perhaps their avatar state which was much smaller than their real body. They could hide temporarily behind the destroyed constructs that were poking out from the soil.


    Panicking, Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian spun around and kept looking for a place to hide or run to desperately. However, the area they had landed on was pretty much a flat field. There was nowhere to go.


    As their terror reached a peak of no return and both minions were about to start screaming for help to no one in particular, a familiar-looking snake skeleton materialized in front of them without any warning.


    "Wahh, run away!" The snake shouted fearfully after one look at its surroundings. In a stroke of brilliance, Zhanxian caught the snake by the tail and Tun Shi Tian by the wing.


    Seconds later, both of them found themselves back inside the pit, standing on the bottom which was now rock solid. They had returned to their home, Han Xuhan''s dao tower.


    Little Zhe made a cheerful shout and whizzed around like an arrow, spouting garbled nonsense that suspiciously sounded like the language they had heard in the other world.


    Han Xuhan realized that when little Zhe had run away upon their meeting with Xuan Zi, it had actually rushed to investigate his minions'' business in its pit.


    "Hey, big bro! How about we dupe Master into thinking that place is too dangerous for us to go?" Tun Shi Tian said in a conspiring tone.


    "Woah, good idea little Tian!"


    Han Xuhan suddenly had the urge to throttle someone.

 Chapter 127: A Universe Spanning Scheme

    Tap, tap, tap...


    The sound of a pen rhythmically poking a tabletop reverberated inside the deathly silent hut. Han Xuhan sat on his bed, his arms resting on the table, watching Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian write down whatever he instructed them to. It was both a punishment and a training for the minions, as they had already moved past the language spoken in their region. Han Xuhan had brutally hammered it into them after the incident with the report on Fang Xie where they had skipped a very important paragraph because apparently, it looked really hard to read.


    Right now, Xuhan was teaching the skeletons English, as it seemed much easier to learn compared to his own native language on earth. To familiarize the minions with the alphabets, Xuhan randomly uttered one every few seconds and made them write it from memory.


    There was an easier way to learn, of course. After gaining initial mastery over the memory transfer technique inside his dao base, Han Xuhan could make them experience much of his memories of learning English and thus let them learn it automatically in the process. However, that would be a bit risky. He didn¡¯t trust the minions that much.


    "Okay, that''s it for tonight. Off you go, and teach little Zhe some manners once you¡¯re there. I''ll be testing how effective you two are as teachers. Remember, your cultivation resources depend on it, as do your future prospects."


    Canceling the summon on the disgruntled faces of his minions, Xuhan dragged over the pages they had been writing on. His minions were increasing in number, as were the anomalies he was haunted by from every direction. He wouldn¡¯t have the luxury to teach the future newcomers everything by himself. It was necessary to train Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian for this exact reason.


    His eyes fell on the amateur scribbles on one page that little Tian had made. It contained his current thoughts on several issues.


    The world of the crimson sun is clearly a place for punishment. Perhaps a battle of epic scale had taken place between two sects, or between two planets, or between a protagonist and a random young master''s extended family. Even I, little Tian, who''s clearly an immature child, wasn¡¯t spared....or maybe a little shit like myself deserved it.


    Han Xuhan imagined the day when little Tian would be able to fluently read and understand the contents of these pages.


    Hehehehehehe...


    From what we''ve observed so far, the world of the crimson sun is filled with a layer of fire on its surface. However, the fire doesn''t seem to require any fuel except for the soul-like entities it tortures. Our avatars were clearly not harmed even though we should have melted under the searing heat all around. It suggests that the fire is a result of a massive curse or spell. Clearly, the forces involved in a conflict of this caliber are far beyond anything we have encountered till now.


    Han Xuhan stifled a sigh as he got to rereading this portion of his observations. Ever since he had started cultivating, his idea of ''incredible power'' had skyrocketed. Every other week, he would encounter an incident that made him reorganize his thoughts on the highest possible power in his vicinity.


    Where did the cliches go when he needed them? Why couldn''t the power progression of his opponents be the same as his?


    A few layers higher? He had easily escaped Shen Kai.


    An entire major realm higher? He had even tricked Brother BB.


    A FEW major realms higher? He still hadn¡¯t lost all control of the situation with Fang Xie and Xuan Zi....


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    But a realm of power that could burn an entire planet and keep its inhabitants'' souls intact, slowly torturing them into submission of some sort?


    That was way beyond his league. That type of power was supposed to pop up only after a protagonist had conquered a few universes. But looking at Mu Ran, Han Xuhan couldn¡¯t quite find any signs of that sort of progression. Yuen Zhou herself was barely a few steps ahead of that guy, and she was supposed to be Mu Ran''s trophy wife of this realm....if his suspicions about their cliched relationship were correct.


    Regardless, the fact that the appearance of little Zhe had formed a permanent interdimensional connection with this world is definitely suspicious. According to the Skeletal Monarch scripture, there should only be a mental connection with the satellite of the burning world. In fact, the scripture was pretty vague about these details...


    Could there be a bigger scheme here that we are missing? Have we unknowingly become a chess piece in another power struggle between old monsters?


    Being the passive party in this situation will do us no good. We need information. We need more resources. We need to tread more deviant paths to fool our opposition. Choosing the safe road and not meddling in these events anymore is no longer an option. We have gone too far down a path we ourselves desire to tread.


    When so many tornadoes have surrounded us, we cannot escape the fate of being swept off our feet. But we can attempt to find something to hold onto.


    We simply must figure out what it is.


    As for the second page on which Zhanxian had written, a to-do list had taken shape.


    1. Do whatever is necessary to complete Fang Xie''s task without a hitch.


    2. Create some countermeasures for obvious reasons.


    3. Investigate the world of the crimson sun.


    4. Try to gather more clues about the orphanage. If necessary, ask for Fang Xie''s cooperation through Xuan Zi.


    5. Learn some easy, useful spells or trapping mechanisms.


    The last one was his target for now. But tomorrow was the day when the entire sect would execute the Celestial Gateway spell. There was no time for him to learn something new. Moreover, his master was far too busy teaching private, troublesome techniques to the rest of his martial siblings. Had this mountain peak existed a few more years ago and carried a legacy of older disciples, Han Xuhan would probably not even get the scrapped lessons he had managed to get from the man by now.


    From Kong Ye, he had learned two secondary qi cycling techniques which he had already tested by using them on Zhanxian and little Tian. Sadly, no matter how many creative uses he came up with in order to use the spells to their full potential, one big hurdle stopped him from achieving them in reality.


    Both of those techniques'' effectiveness was restricted within his dao tower. He couldn''t affect anyone or anything by them outside in the real world. In fact, the only reason his techniques worked was because he was the creator and controller of every molecule of his dao tower, consciously and subconsciously.


    Otherwise, spells of that sort would be way too overpowered. The possibilities were endless. Learning, discerning, proving something, all would be so easy! And these were merely the good aspects! If one intended to use the spells for evil purposes, spreading lies, discontent, and falsifying proofs would be far too simple to do.


    So it hadn''t surprised Xuhan when elder Kong had explained why learning these qi cycling techniques wasn''t as awesome a feat as one might imagine. Speaking of using them...


    Han Xuhan summoned Zhanxian once more.


    "How many times do I have to repeat it? It''s a spoon, not a poon! You''re a goddamn snake for heaven''s sake. Why do you have a problem uttering ''s''-"


    "Little Zhe''s education seems to be going well, minion."


    Zhanxian took a second to adjust to the summon.


    "...Oh yes, it¡¯s going very smoothly."


    Master and minion exchanged a look that contained a vast amount of unsaid words. Clearing his throat, Xuhan said, "We haven¡¯t yet discussed how you were able to use that spell I cast on you only once, have we?"


    Cranking his head to one side, Zhanxian thought about it for a while before answering.


    "I knew you would ask this. So I''ve been thinking about what exactly happened at that time...and I honestly don''t have a clue."


    "Are you sure?" Leaning forward, Han Xuhan lowered his tone, his expression hardening. He was sure Zhanxian would realize what his body language implied.


    "...All I can say is that when you cast the technique on me, I could somehow sense what exactly was happening inside and outside my mind that made the spell work. It was like I successfully cast the spell myself alongside you without prior knowledge. I felt the changes made to the dao tower by your technique.


    So it was easy for me to cast it again, using my own mental influence. But I don¡¯t think I can cast it in the real world. I''ve tried to do so on little Tian and little Zhe. There was no reaction to the movement of my qi. It only seems to work inside the dao tower, specifically when I am in my own portion of the dao tower."


    Han Xuhan crossed his arms and leaned back, his mind wandering amidst possibilities. So was this another effect of his minions'' improvements in terms of cultivation?


    Or was there more to the issue that he just didn¡¯t realize? The biggest changes to his dao tower were not the superficial appearances and weird designs. They were still indirectly under his control. The problem most likely stemmed from the minions. Their cultivation, their ''share'' in his dao foundation, their own quirks...


    When he put those clues together with his newfound information from the crimson sun, Han Xuhan''s nose smelled a scheme....an intricate, universe-spanning scheme.

 Chapter 128: 500 Spirit Stones Per Night

    "You want me to teach you law manipulation every night? That''s going to cost you, A LOT."


    Brother Jin Tuyi, or Qian Yun, or whoever the fuck it was on the other side of the tunnel didn¡¯t disappoint Han Xuhan. What he had feared was an outright rejection. But the mention of a price meant that wouldn¡¯t happen.


    "Name your price!" Xuhan coolly replied, his heart in ecstasy. "Whatever it is, I''ll reduce it to one-third of that."


    "...Fifty thousand spirit stones."


    "Best I can do is five hundred."


    "....One-third of fifty thousand is just a few stones short of seventeen thousand," Brother BB answered hesitantly.


    "Oh, I know that!" Xuhan enthusiastically retorted.


    "Five hundred is way too low a price for something as precious as our law manipulation techniques. Even a single manual that deals with only one type of law is worth more than ten times that amount."


    "Yes, but I''m not going to buy the manual from you. So the only transaction between us is going to be the fee for the lessons."


    "Are you an idiot? How are you going to learn the technique without buying the manual? I''m not letting you take a peek at it for free." Brother BB sounded fed up with his playfulness, something that greatly saddened Xuhan. There were few others whom he could mess around with without worrying about the consequences.


    "Because I have already gotten a cultivation manual on law manipulation. I don¡¯t need to buy one from you. Hell, I doubt you would actually sell me the real thing anyway. Last time we had an ''honest'' transaction, you tried to screw me over permanently with that shitty artificial cultivation technique."


    Han Xuhan decided to play it aggressively, observing the other party''s change in attitude in parallel to his own.


    Would a guilt trip work on this guy? The answer would play a great role in their future exchanges, maybe going as far as directing their partnership someday. He had been throwing out these sorts of mental tests at the man every time they met in the realm of laws. It mattered not whether the other party realized his intentions or not, his reaction to the baits would be enough for Xuhan to decide his next course of action.


    Brother BB''s reaction to the news was quite lively.


    "Already got a cultivation manual on law manipulation? How? Where did you get it from? Who sold it to you?"


    The agitation in his voice did not seem fake. The evasive maneuver was real enough, though. Suddenly feeling rather powerful, Han Xuhan snickered creepily, producing a sound that he had only read about in xianxia novels.


    "Jiejiejiejiejie! I found it in one of the old chamber pots you dumped in my backyard last week."


    "...."


    "Jiejiejiejiejie! Do you regret your little pranks now?"


    "Why...why exactly were you going through the ''contents'' of those used chamber pots, brother Xuhan?" Brother BB asked, his tone quite doubtful.


    "...."


    "Go on! Make the fucking retarded sound again! Did you think I''ll buy that bullshit? Where did you get it from? Answer honestly!" Brother BB gradually started yelling angrily from the other side of the tunnel. But Han Xuhan had no regrets. That guy had really believed him for a second there. The burn he had gotten in return was well worth the satisfaction.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Oh well, that''s too bad. The truth is I got the manual from this shady-looking thief. He said his name is Fang Xie. I don''t think that''s his real name, but that''s all I got for you, fellow cultivator. Now, about our transaction, since we agreed that four hundred spirit stones are more than enough for your guidance-"


    "Fang Xie? There is nobody with that name in the records of our holy land- wait a damn minute, four hundred spirit stones? DO NOT TEST MY PATIENCE, HAN XUHAN!"


    "Ooooh, scary! If I had a body here, I might have pissed myself and the piss would''ve reached your side of the tunnel because of my enhanced physique. The force behind a sixth-layer cultivator''s piss is nothing to laugh at. So be careful with that tone, fellow cultivator Yun!"


    Han Xuhan felt great. Brother BB was much like his favorite video game on earth. These interactions where he could let his oral cannon loose truly calmed his nerves after a long day.


    "...You know what? Fuck you, Xuhan. I''ve got enough on my plate as it is. I don''t need your constant unfunny fuckery twice a week. Just transfer the new resource load and get the hell out of my sight."


    "This is going to get progressively worse and worse if you don''t agree to the deal, brother Yun. Think you can handle what''s coming? I shall devote a few hours of my day regularly just to come up with shittier forms of conduct every time we meet."


    Had his form in the realm of laws been a physical body, Han Xuhan would have spread his hands in a grandiose fashion and spoken in his heaviest tone. But alas, such wet dreams never come true. Reality is often disappointing.


    A long bout of silence stretched between them as his words reverberated through the tunnel. Han Xuhan was not nervous, however. He would force this deal on the other party one way or the other. His personal safety was in line here, after all.


    "Fine. Show me the fucking manual first. First I need to see if I''m qualified to teach whichever type of law manipulation technique you''ve gotten from this thief called Fang Xie. And more importantly, I need to test its authenticity."


    Resignation rang in Brother BB''s tone. Han Xuhan snickered creepily once more.


    Promising to send a copy of the manual the next time they have an exchange of resources (because Xuhan hadn''t memorized the manual, just as usual), he left the realm of laws.


    The night was at its darkest, he realized after a look outside. The mountains were asleep with their inhabitants. Tomorrow was a big day. Everyone wanted to get ample rest.


    Snuffing out the lungs-cleansing candles (scented), Xuhan laid down on his bed and drifted off to sleep easily, the mental labor of the day having taken its toll.


    "Oi, Xuhan! Oi, get up!"


    Alarmed, Han Xuhan opened his eyes and was greeted by Mu Ran''s excited face. The young man stood a few feet away from his bed, a large bucket sticking out from his back. Xuhan''s senses told him the content of the bucket was a pile of extremely pure, powdered qi.


    With a start, he realized that the sky had brightened, rays of sunlight had invaded his hut through the windows as well as the wide-open door.


    How did this guy get in? Goosebumps appeared on Xuhan''s back. This type of incidents was most common in rom-com novels. The retarded, creepy male lead would mysteriously gain the power to get past any door as long as the love interest was on the other side....


    "Honestly underling, your home security is kind of crap. How can I let you safeguard anything precious if even a basic telekinetic technique can unlock everything inside your home?" Brightly, Mu Ran reprimanded Xuhan, seemingly brimming with excitement for the event today.


    The chilling feeling in his bones disappeared as Xuhan realized that Mu Ran hadn''t gained the ability to unlock his door by becoming a template male lead from those retarded romance plots induced by some writer''s repressed fantasies.


    "Come, come, COME! We gotta hurry up. Wash your face, and maybe try cleaning your teeth with some ash and salt. Gotta make ourselves presentable!"


    Briefly, Xuhan fell into a spiral of doubt trying to reevaluate their relationship as boss and subordinate. Had the roles changed somehow?Since when had Mu Ran become so punctual?


    "Aiya~ all those foreign jade beauties, I must be at my most dashing self...."


    Mu Ran''s dreamy, lecherous expression brought him back from his doubts. Thankfully, this guy was just eager for his future harem members.


    "I''m on it, boss!" Xuhan dutifully leaped up and got to work, just as expected of a proper wingman.


    Half an hour later, both of them reached their master''s residence on the top of the mountain and then got yelled at by a distraught Kong Ye.


    "WHAT? YOU HAVEN''T RE-EXAMINED THE ENTIRE BODY OF FORMATIONS YOU WERE IN CHARGE OF ?! GO DO IT NOW !"


    Almost sent flying by the intensity of the shouts, the duo ran back to their own huts and started doing what they were told.


    Han Xuhan was done after ten minutes. It wasn''t because of his proficiency, but due to the fact that he hadn''t really designed much of the formations. Mu Ran had filled in for him.


    Not wanting to face Kong Ye right at the moment, Han Xuhan went to visit his other martial siblings.


    "Brother Wu, this mountain peak felt your absence far too strongly the last couple weeks! Have you finished preparing for whatever you''re planning to pull in the tournament?"


    "Huh? Who said that? Who said I was preparing to pull something in the tournament?"


    Xiao Wu looked like a deer in the headlight, his overly strong reaction giving away too much information. Xuhan''s predatory persona perked up smelling something very delicious.


    "You just messed up the formation you were attending to, brother Wu," he pointed out, watching Xiao Wu fumble with qi and try to reformat the design.


    "Did you finish up re-examining your own formations already?" Xiao Wu asked in a frustrated tone.


    "Oh yes, I did. It took like ten minutes." Han Xuhan didn''t explain that it took him such a short time only because he hadn''t really laid many formations.


    "...."


    Leaving behind an increasingly gloomy Xiao Wu, Xuhan went to visit Yuen Zhou with a swagger in his steps.


    But as soon as he got near her home, he was forced to stop approaching further. Her home was surrounded by a bunch of flying swords....and as interesting as their aerial movement seemed to Xuhan, the swords did not look friendly.


    "Sister Zhou! Are you in there?" He shouted while retreating as far as possible.


    No one answered his call. What was this lass up to right before such an important event? A last-minute attempt at a breakthrough?


    She was planting formations just yesterday. Did she gain enlightenment from bending over all day long designing them?


    Han Xuhan felt lonely.

 Chapter 129: Lone Audience Of A Planetwide Display

    "Master, shouldn''t we be packing up our belongings if we''re going to leave for the destination of the tournament today?" Han Xuhan said, internally burning with the curiosity to understand what the hell would actually happen when they executed the spell.


    His comprehension of the Celestial Gateway technique, combined with the very prominent title, gave him a rough idea of what might take place. However, almost everybody else around him seemed to know something about it that they did not feel like sharing for some reason. Whenever he tried to dig something out, the answer he would get was ''it''s going to be a surprise! You''d have realized it already if your comprehension reached the third layer of the Celestial Gateway technique. It''s pretty obvious, isn''t it?''


    Han Xuhan could certainly see the obvious possibility. His mind, however, rejected the notion of something so incredible despite his current experience with the wonderful world of cultivation.


    "It is unnecessary, disciple." Kong Ye looked much more calm and serene by now. The master and his four disciples stood on the highest point of the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak, a small, bare summit that now sported dozens of formations all over. The five of them had to step very carefully in order to avoid messing up the complicated designs made up of qi in various states, as well as a few cheap gadgets and makeshift mechanisms that connected and stabilized the formations.


    Looking afar, almost all the mountain peaks around displayed a similar scene, the only difference being the number of disciples on them. The Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak had only four disciples, all from the same generation while every other mountain peak had dozens of them. A handful of the older ones even contained almost a hundred disciples from dozens of generations. Mountain peaks like those had the disciples stationed all over the mountain observing and regulating the numerous formations.


    In contrast, the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak did not contain that many formations. And the majority of them were under the care of Elder Kong Ye. So the four martial siblings didn''t feel the pressure of the task as much as the others.


    "Have all three of you gained a dependable degree of proficiency in the third layer of the Celestial Gateway Technique?" Kong Ye asked in a low voice.


    Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu nodded at the same time. Han Xuhan noted their instant responses to their master''s inquiry.


    It seemed that Kong Ye had managed to ''tame'' these protagonists to a degree. A commendable feat indeed!


    "Disciple Ran, are you absolutely sure that you want to carry out that foolish plan of yours?" Kong Ye spoke once more, this time a bit more aggressively. Han Xuhan couldn''t blame him. He himself somewhat regretted spewing that crappy plan to the crazy guy that day.


    "Yes, master. I''m absolutely certain. And for the last time, stop calling it a foolish plan." Mu Ran''s response was neither servile nor overbearing; just as expected.


    Kong Ye sighed and fell silent, observing the scene around them with a contemplative expression. He seemed to have a lot on his mind these days just like Xiao Wu.


    With the sun brightly shining above the eastern horizon, Xuan Zi''s enhanced voice cut through the mountains, giving rise to a magnificent scene that would etch itself into Xuhan''s memory for a long time.


    "ELDERS AND DISCIPLES, TAKE YOUR POSITIONS!"


    Dong!


    The infamous bell of the sect which nobody had been able to locate to this day rang as loudly as the sect master''s shouts.


    Hundreds of disciples exploded into a flurry of movement as soon as the order was heard.


    Han Xuhan rushed to the spot Kong Ye had instructed him to be alongside his three martial siblings. Xuhan was to stand not far from Kong Ye due to his lacking skills which could have a disastrous result. Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu were stationed further down the mountain near their own residences.


    A minute later, the numerous bustling disciples settled down all over the mountains, each sitting in standard meditation pose on their designated spots.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Once again, Xuan Zi''s amplified shout reverberated through the sect.


    "MOBILIZE YOUR QI ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL!"


    Dong!


    Han Xuhan closed his eyes and carefully guided qi through his meridians, having mastered the process despite all the internal issues and anomalies inside the vessels by now. While his current, improved qi cycling was much better than what he could manage in the past, it was still nothing to boast about. Hardly had he completed the entire cycle with sweat on his back and brows when Xuan Zi''s shout came for the third time.


    "PERFORM THE FINAL STEP!"


    Dong!


    The final step consisted of connecting the mental control of qi with the formations all around them. It was obviously the most crucial step, as well as the hardest one. Despite his numerous practices of this step in the last few days, Xuhan still felt his heart shaking as he mobilized his entire mental force alongside hundreds of his peers.


    This step would be the first eliminator of many small sects all around the planet. Any issue with the collective synchronization would result into the failure of the execution of the main spell.


    Teeth gritted, fists clenched, Han Xuhan managed to stumble his way through the hardest portion of the movement and was about to relax when he messed up. One of his damaged meridians which leaked qi by a large amount received a high amount of qi and nearly consumed the entirety of his reserves. Just as he was about to panic and disrupt the spell, a powerful, yet minimal mental force waded its way through his body and gathered up the qi leaking from the meridian, sending it back to the original path with the most subtle manipulation of qi Han Xuhan had ever witnessed. The returned qi instantly fell under his control as if it hadn''t been under foreign influence at all just then.


    He didn''t need to open his eyes to know that Kong Ye was behind that feat. He was familiar with the man''s methods, as well as the unique aura of his mental force.


    Silently, Xuhan guided the qi into completing the special step and stopped there, awaiting the next instruction.


    It seemed that many others had met similar issues during this time. Despite his lacking speed, Han Xuhan had to wait a long time after the completion of that step before Xuan Zi was heard again.


    "CONNECT WITH THE FORMATION AND CORRECT EVERY FLAW BEFORE THE FINAL EXECUTION! "


    Dong!


    Xuhan''s consciousness sank into a vast network made up of nothing but energy, qi, and waves of forces. It was like a chaotic river under a tsunami-induced flood. His mental force was the tiny boat protecting his consciousness amidst the destructive waves from every direction. He recognized the paths and intersections soon enough, having designed some of the less complex ones himself last week.


    This was the world of pure formations they had created. In each intersection, someone''s mental connection labored to stabilize the increasingly chaotic waves caused by the spell''s awakening. It was as if they were trying to suppress the struggles of a gargantuan beast beneath their feet.


    Master and disciples'' minds connected in a way Xuhan had never thought possible, exchanging nothing but pure information that came in forms of pictures and illustrations at lightning speed, as well as an invisible guidance on comprehending the flowing information.


    He understood what to do, and proceeded to forcefully contain the smallest of waves and regulate the least complicated formations in the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak. Many of them were made by his own hands. It wasn''t difficult to take control of them and keep them connected with the rest of the more complex formations.


    Faintly, he heard a familiar voice in the real world, followed by the ring of a bell.


    "Execute the last cycle."


    Dong!


    Struggling to remember what the last cycle was, Han Xuhan mobilized the remaining qi inside his meridians and followed a simple course of movement.


    A few seconds later, he arrived at the conclusive point of the cycle.


    BOOOM!


    The loudest sound he had ever heard exploded inside his consciousness.


    ....... ......... ........ ........


    In a prominent solar system on the outskirts of the Redthorn Galaxy, the fifth planet displayed a sudden phenomenon.


    All over its greenish-blue surface, bright, tiny pictures appeared one after one, illuminating the exosphere.


    The pictures varied in terms of content; some depicting animals, strange beings, twisted silhouettes, some depicting simple shapes and patterns, some even depicting words in long-lost languages.


    Some of the displays shone dimly while a handful few nearly outshone everything in their vicinity, even covering the surface beneath them.


    Soon, the pictures expanded and connected with each other through thin extensions and rays of light. It was a magnificent display of power and liveliness.


    The entire surface of the planet was covered by this sudden formation of a network of light.


    Far away at the edge of the solar system, on a barren red planet, a single, inhuman eye took shape out of thin air. It appeared to be a cross between the eyes of advanced mollusks and arthropods. Some parts of it looked extremely unnatural, artificial even, sporting long tubes of flesh and crystallized layers of non-living substances that constantly moved within as if it was a semi-organic machine adjusting for better performance.


    The single eye focused on the lavish display on the surface of the fifth planet in the solar system for a long time. Despite its dissimilarity with anything remotely humanoid in nature, quite a human mirth appeared in the gaze locked onto the planet.

 Chapter 130: I Am The Prophesied Hero

    "The master disapproves of your decision to return there," the old man said with a sigh.


    Sitting in front of him in the lotus position was an ordinary-looking young man with an unnaturally serene expression on his face, eyes closed and fists clenched.


    "I too, do not think it would be the right decision to get embroiled in a new round of soul-shard purification, not when you''ve barely managed to suppress the faults in your own reformation," the old man continued, seeing no reaction coming from his listener.


    "Shi Xian, do not take the lord''s advice lightly."


    There was a hint of anger in the old man''s tone this time, and it seemed to finally rouse the youth from his meditation.


    "Master Lu, I am aware of the lord''s intentions for me and I am not averse to the plan. I have nothing but absolute gratitude and respect for the lord despite his wandering eyes. But-"


    "Junior, you dare?!"


    "...I''ll do my best to not leak that little information to everyone I meet- wait, WAIT, IT''S THAT OTHER GUY, NOT ME! CALM DOWN, MASTER LU!"


    The heat in the room seemed to have fallen by a significant amount within that half-minute exchange. Frost had grown on the metal bars of the windows. The floor suddenly was too cold to step on.


    The young man looked frightened out of his wit, crouching in a corner of the room. His eyes were focused on the old man whose eyes contained pure killing intent that he barely seemed to be restraining.


    "Huff....huff...."


    Breathing harshly, Master Lu slowly retracted his violent aura. The youth finally relaxed and stood up carefully.


    "I swear, that senior inside is just getting more and more suicidal every day. I don''t know how he comes up with these plans," he said despondently.


    "Which is why both the lord and I are advising you to not venture back to that neutral world. Your condition has not stabilized at all," replied the old man gloomily.


    Shi Xian nervously looked around, his eyes containing a hint of fear and desperation.


    "Master Lu, can the lord hear me right now as well?"


    The old man''s expression underwent a subtle change. His deadly aura faded, replaced by a body language that expressed pure reverence. His expression mellowed, a proud smile making its way into his face.


    "Yes, he can. The Lord hears and knows everything that goes on in the Purpleheart Galaxy. His title should have made that clear, no?"


    The young man who seemed to have been hoping for a different answer made a warped expression, his disapproval clear. But he hid it quickly enough and spoke again.


    "Then there is no point in hiding this. What do you, and the lord, know about my home planet?"


    "Not much," answered Master Lu, a hint of curiosity coloring his voice.


    "It''s just one of the planets in the neutral region-no, wait, that''s what it used to be. The solar system it is a part of has been shifting due to the natural law of celestial expansion. One of my disciples who was in charge of overseeing our territory in that solar system reported that half the planets of that system are already at the edge of the conflict zones. A couple of them have even begun to tread the boundaries every time they circle around their star....Ahhh, I see what you''re worried about."


    Old man Lu stroked his neatly trimmed beard, realization dawning on his face.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Yes, I''m quite worried that by the time I manage to stabilize my soul and suppress the senior inside it, it might be too late to return to that place," Shi Xian said.


    "Oh, that shouldn''t be much of an issue. The lord values you, little Xian. If you just request him sincerely, he would delegate a legion-"


    "No."


    "You''re too stubborn, child."


    "With utmost respect to the lord, I care about the lives of the innocent mortals far too much to let them be embroiled in a power struggle between two Galaxies. If a single party invades the territory of my home planet, they would not cause too much harm to the locals other than enslavement and suppression of the rebel forces in order to introduce their might initially. But if the lord sends legions in there, the collateral damage from the battle between both parties would be lives in the count of millions. I cannot accept a burden so heavy on my shoulders, a crime so heinous just for my own benefit."


    The gaze Master Lu cast at the young man prostrating on the ground contained both a flavor of reproach and grudging approval.


    "Indeed, the lord saw what we failed to see," he muttered to himself and pointed at the youth, saying "Then that makes me even more certain that you must wait till your stability has reached a controllable stage. Then you''re free to go there and face the other container of your soul, fetch the rest of the shards and return here for the next round of purification."


    "I was not finished, Master Lu." The young man straightened up and suddenly spoke in an awkward tone.


    "That wasn''t the main reason I''m eager to return."


    "Then what else could the reason be ?" asked Master Lu, finding the whole exchange rather frustrating.


    "There was a legend circulating in our world before the destruction of our Holy Land took place. A legend that spoke of a curse that had befallen our planet during the Great Sundering."


    "A curse from that time? Oh, this will be something for the high council to tackle. You should''ve mentioned it earlier!" Old man Lu suddenly became alert, his pupils shrinking, fists tightening.


    The awkward look on the young man''s face became even more pronounced. With a cough, he continued his explanation.


    "Er, yes, but you see....the legend is a bit ridiculous."


    "Oh please! You youngsters haven''t learned the extent of the power the true powerhouses of this universe hold. The Great Sundering doesn''t even make it to the top 3 in terms of overall damage and powerhouses involved. Yet the techniques used in those times were still enough to divide thousands of galaxies and suppress so many conflicts at once! The word ''ridiculous'' would be a perfect description for all of those methods! Don''t wave off a legend just because it sounds unbelievable. Not all legends are exaggerated, some are actually watered down."


    Old man Lu took great offense from the casual comment, Shi Xian realized. So he quickly tried to remedy it.


    "I''m not making light of the power behind this so-called ''curse'', master Lu. It''s just that the content of the legend is slightly difficult to believe. Nevertheless, it was a popular rumor. It said that the celestials were not pleased with the mortal world and the world of cultivation. So they often expressed their anger through special tribulations which almost always kill the transcenders. But it also twists their souls and returns them back to our world to wreak havoc, cause chaos and summon apocalypse after apocalypse. In fact, some careful research in our history showed that in the past, especially before the Great Sundering, very few apocalyptic events took place. Sometimes, it would even take hundreds and even thousands of years for such disasters to happen. But once the apocalypse did come, it would absolutely destroy any semblance of civilization on the surface of the planet, leaving nothing but broken societies and humans barely qualified to be called humans.


    This was one of the reasons why the mortal societies never developed much power outside those related to cultivation. A few times, there were proofs of mortals reaching incredible heights of power relying on nothing but machines and methods we can no longer decipher. But those great disasters wiped them off easily.


    However...."


    Pausing for breath, the young man looked around once more, as if rethinking about the issue of the lord of this galaxy listening to his every word.


    "However, since the Great Sundering, the number of apocalypses has increased by more than ten times."


    "....Ten times ?" Master Lu asked, dumbfounded.


    "Yes, the statistics really showed this result. The more time passed after the Sundering, the higher the frequency of the apocalypses on our planet became. It reached the point where such events would happen every few years and everyone became sort of used to this phenomenon. It became a routine for sects to check if their disciples had any abnormalities in their souls through various shady methods for everyone''s safety. Mortals regularly piled up resources and hid under the wings of the nearest sects every time they got the news of a new apocalypse coming in. It''s one of the reasons why the practice of sect-based society is so prevalent on our planet. Even the smaller sects have provided significant protection to the mortals affiliated with them over time. Their relationship may not be called mutually beneficial, as the sects aren''t exactly charitable organizations. But we managed to work things out civilly most of the time."


    "Wait a minute, if such horrible disasters happened all the time, why haven''t all life on that planet been wiped out?" Master Lu asked, seemingly utterly gobsmacked by the revelation from Shi Xian.


    "Well, that''s where it gets a bit ridiculous, see?" Shi Xian replied gloomily.


    "The legends differ from time to time as well as based on the different regions of the planet. But the main content can be surmised as....someone cursed the planet with a bunch of prophecies that would only come true if we actively fought to stop them from coming true. Some of these prophecies came in forms of short poems, some of them stories without context. The only link among all of them was the horrible rhyming scheme and that they always came true, at least partially. No matter what steps were taken to prevent the exact chain of events prophesied from happening, it would almost always happen in a roundabout way. The problem is, despite the apocalypses invited by these events being incredibly destructive, there would always be someone bearing the brunt of the attack, at times even thwarting the apocalypse.


    However, these talented cultivators who protected us also tended to be the main reason these apocalypses happened in the first place. They also showed a tendency to travel away from the neutral regions to seek higher powers as if they were not satisfied with all the disasters and struggles they had to face in a mere lower world."


    "...."


    A long silence followed after Shi Xian finished his explanation. In the end, Master Lu was the one to break it.


    "You''re saying that another apocalypse might happen soon even without any foreign interference? That''s why you need to return and finish your business with the other carrier of the soul shards?"


    A gloomy light appeared in Shi Xian''s eyes.


    "No, Master Lu. I''m saying that the other carrier of the soul shards might be the apocalypse, and I am the one to face it head-on. Because I already know of a prophecy with a story very similar to our situation."

 Chapter 131: See The Sea, Feel The Sea, Drink The Sea

    "On behalf of the Beasthaven sect, I, Luo Yi, welcome you all, fellow cultivators from the Crimson Snow Sect."


    Almost a hundred meters above in the sky, right on top of the central region of the Crimson Snow Sect, hovered a formally dressed middle-aged woman, her expensive beizi style hanfu flapping in the high sea breeze.


    That''s right. High sea breeze, a heavy, salty, rough gale that was as pleasant as the scent of wet vegetation it carried.


    Upon executing the final step of the Celestial Gateway technique, Han Xuhan''s consciousness had finally returned back to its normal state inside his own body, his senses returning slowly. Then he had opened his eyes and received a shock bigger than his experience inside the integrated network of consciousnesses of the Celestial Gateway technique.


    Before the execution of the technique, Kong Ye and he had been standing on top of the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak, surrounded by many other peaks, rivers, villages, woods, and plains as far as his eyes could see.


    Now, they were still on top of the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak, still surrounded by the other mountains containing the rest of the sect members....except the woods, the plains, the rivers, the villages, the woods, all of those elements had vanished from the picturesque scene he was used to seeing.


    The entire territory of the Crimson Snow Sect now was on top of a sea. Not only that, but it was also at least 500 meters above the seawater level, judging from his vantage point.


    "Hah, yes. Your eyes are not fooling you! Your sect is now technically a floating island! Ta-da!"


    The shout came from the representative of their hosts, whose unnaturally loud, sing-song voice was surprisingly pleasant, rousing the rest of the disciple body from their stunned reverie.


    A commotion rose instantly amidst the floating mountains of Crimson Snow Sect. Even from where he was standing, Han Xuhan could hear the contents of the countless shouts from the nearby mountains.


    "Holy heavens!"


    "So this was the surprise! Even though the third layer of the technique pretty much spelled out what would happen, I never thought it would be this amazing!"


    "What''s even more amazing is how much you''ve been bragging about reaching the third layer, Xu Qing!"


    "Oh no! Where did my secret cave go? My adult paintings!"


    "My secret spirit stone stash! The boulder isn''t there anymore!"


    "Ahhhh! My home! It''s gone!"


    "Fuck surprises! I didn''t even ready my equipment for the tournament! Why didn''t they say we''d be traveling instantly?"


    "Hey, who was the girl shouting about her adult paintings? Asking for a friend."


    "But you have no friend, Long Yun ."


    "My clothes are gone! I just left them to dry in the sun half an hour ago!"


    Han Xuhan redirected his focus, the chaos all around becoming too loud and complicated for his improved auditory senses to analyze. He had gathered a bunch of valuable information from the shouts, however. Slowly getting up from the ground, he walked up toward his master Kong Ye while his mind connected the dots.


    Point number one¡ª the Celestial Gateway technique had somehow teleported their entire sect, including a significant portion of its outer region, to this designated place. Judging by the workings of the technique, the formations laid all over the mountain soil were the secret behind the teleportation. While the homes and general infrastructures like the buildings, arenas, and workshops were still intact, many elements hadn''t been teleported along; such as the secret cave of that hentai artist, the spirit stone stash of the rich kid, and the clothes of the third victim.


    The natural conclusion from these incidents was that anything not specifically covered by the area of effect of the formations might not have been teleported along.


    His heart sank as he remembered how many precious treasures he had hoarded inside his bedroom over the last few weeks.


    Point number two¡ª It was intended to take place this way, sudden and silent. The fact that the disciples were not given any time or warning to prepare for the teleportation was not an accident, nor did it stem from the sect master''s enthusiasm to surprise them. This was quite possibly a part of the tournament''s hidden rules.


    Point number three¡ª he couldn''t see any senior disciples in the nearby mountain peaks from where he stood, even though these senior disciples had participated in the Gateway technique''s execution.


    By the time he had reached those conclusions, he was standing beside Kong Ye, observing the scene as all the elders from the mountain peaks flew up in the air to greet Luo Yi. Kong Ye himself took off a moment later, leaving an intrigued Xuhan behind.


    Truly, having the skills to fly as one wished was a goal he desperately wanted to reach. How exciting and cool would it be?


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Hurried footsteps came from behind, followed by the stormy reappearance of Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu.


    "What happened? What did I miss?" Mu Ran said, huffing from exertion.


    "There. That lady is a representative of the Beasthaven Sect, here to welcome us to the tournament." Han Xuhan pointed at the spectacle above where the elders and sect master Xuan Zi were exchanging some unnecessarily lengthy greetings with Luo Yi, all of them floating up so high that the disciples couldn''t catch much of their words.


    "By the way, boss, are our houses intact? Apparently, some portions of the mountains have been left behind-"


    Mu Ran instantly waved off Xuhan''s worried inquiry.


    "Oh, don''t worry about that, underling. Nothing of importance has actually been left behind on our mountain. With Master, me, and sister Zhou here, would we let that happen?"


    "...Oh! So this was the true use of the Gateway technique? To transport all of us here?"


    "Yes, underling. Everything that was covered by the scope of the formations was teleported through the Gateway, powered by an unimaginable amount of resources to break the barrier of space and send us here. The first-level domains covered by the weakest formations suffered heavily from the spatial impact. The second-level domains are mostly intact, and the third-level domains are absolutely perfect down to the tiniest sand drops.


    You''d have understood that if you studied the technique attentively."


    Struck speechless, Xuhan silently digested the information while squinting all around him carefully, looking for evidence that supported Mu Ran''s answer.


    He found it very fast.


    In every mountain peak, a significant portion looked dead. Like charred, ruined lands, these areas consisted of nothing but ashen soil, uprooted, crushed trees, and broken buildings that had been leveled to the ground. These regions could hardly be used in the near future. A lot of work would have to be done to return them to their original state.


    These were parts of the first-level domains! Was this how the impact of the teleportation had affected these areas?


    Thankfully, none of the disciples had to be stationed in the first-level domains. Otherwise, Han Xuhan couldn''t imagine the casualty...


    He walked down from the top of the peak, searching for similar regions in the Heavenly Haistorm mountain. As someone who had laid several first-level formations, he found a small area easily, barely fifty meters away from his hut.


    The clues connected easily in his mind after he personally examined the substance that the soil had been transformed into under the impact of the mass-teleportation.


    It was very malleable under a high amount of force, but didn¡¯t show any response toward qi. It did not seem to have any impurities or mixtures of other elements regardless of its vast amount all over the mountains, unlike regular soil on mountains where small rocks, litter, and vegetation could be found everywhere.


    He recalled reading in the manual of the Celestial Gateway technique that a first-level formation was supposed to treat everything within its range as pure mass.


    The second-level formations should have been the ones behind the creation of the rest of the infrastructure that was identical to the original sect then. As for the third level...it was supposed to grant the practitioner the power to modify and control the area of effect as he wished.


    Han Xuhan whipped around, curious to see what new changes might have been implemented by the elders and the geniuses who had reached the third layer of the Celestial Gateway Technique.


    However, at that moment, a voice came from above, stopping him in his tracks.


    "Uh-oh! Take cover, everybody!"


    Before he could understand what was happening, a booming sound hit him square in the eardrums, which was followed by...


    "It''s a flood!"


    Tsunami waves that seemed to have come from at least three different directions overhead crashed into the Heavenly Haistorm Mountain.


    The first gigantic jet of water that hit Han Xuhan had come from above. The sensation was a hundred times more horrifying than being hit by splashes beneath a waterfall.


    Before he could even breathe out a gasp, he had been swept off his feet and carried off downhill by the current.


    "What the f-!"


    He wasn''t the only disciple to suffer this fate, and neither was the Heavenly Haistorm mountain the only one attacked by the sudden, source-less tsunami.


    Surges of water washed over the mountains like a legendary flood from epics. It was as if an invisible dam had opened up on top of the Crimson Snow Sect, letting out millions of gallons of water backed up behind it.


    None of the disciples was in the position to investigate what exactly was going on, least of all Han Xuhan, whose physical prowess was the worst of the lot.


    "Glllrrg! Grrrr~"


    Han Xuhan''s world was spinning. He couldn''t even find the opportunity to throw up properly, carried along the mighty waves down the slopes of the mountain.


    "Aaaah, fuck! I can''t- grrrr....swim !" Someone yelled miserably from his back. Han Xuhan was in no state to tell who it was. He himself was barely holding up.


    BANG!


    THUMP!


    THWACK!


    Several crashes that should have killed a mortal followed soon once he rolled into the more bushy parts of the mountain. All of the trees here had been teleported with an unnecessary amount of care, it seemed. Their thick, sturdy trunks, gnarly branches, and the wiry creepers seemed to be actively punishing the ''passersby''.


    By the time his world had stopped consisting of whirly, lukewarm seawater, Han Xuhan was sprawled alongside his martial siblings at the foot of the mountain, where the ground was covered by knee-deep water everywhere.


    Groaning audibly, the four of them got back on their feet after much struggle, some of their bones and joints creaking in cacophony with them. Han Xuhan counted five different parts of his body that were now missing generous chunks of skin and meat. Had his expensive clothes not been magically reinforced, albeit pretty weakly, he would probably be missing a limb or two by now.


    "Where the fuck did all that water come from? And where the fuck did it go?" Mu Ran yelled furiously at the sky.


    "I think we will have to figure those answers out ourselves...." Yuen Zhou muttered, her eyes focusing on the sky.


    "Wait a minute, why aren''t your clothes wet?" Mu Ran asked in alarm after taking one glance at her. Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu instantly turned to look at her and found that Mu Ran''s observation was true.


    "Why do you want my clothes to be wet?" She asked in a monotone.


    "...Never mind."


    While the two of them glared at each other, Han Xuhan tried his best to calculate whether it was possible for a tsunami wave in the middle of the sea to be so large that it could drown somebody 500 meters high in the air. But the answer kept coming out negative unless he counted in magical factors....which implied that the disaster, as short-lived as it might have been, was purely man-made, magical outcome of a technique.


    Was it a goddamn prank? He had some pretty vicious plans bubbling inside his mind for the prankster.


    The harsh, salty taste in his mouth was nowhere near as harsh as the words that he was about to fire at whoever was in charge of the event management. But before he even gathered up the energy, Xuan Zi''s booming voice rang across the mountains.


    "Disciples! Now that all of you have familiarized yourselves with your new surroundings so practically, gather at the center of our sect, at the foot of my mountain."


    Exchanging gloomy looks among themselves, the four disciples of the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak limped along the serpentine path amidst the mountains, trodding the water-soaked slippery soil.


    The water was receding at a visible speed, they realized soon. Of course it would. The entire sect was now practically an island hovering magically in the sky. There was no way for so much water to accumulate here. It would all fall down back to the sea.


    But if the sea was below...why did the tsunami waves originate from above?


    Han Xuhan chalked it up to magic.


    On their way, countless disciples who had suffered the same fate as them created a large crowd. Some of them had been seriously injured during the flood and had to be carried toward the infirmary, although they weren''t sure if it had been teleported along with the rest of the sect. Han Xuhan quickly slipped into some close-knitted groups to gather information.


    "Ei, brother Hui ! Damn, that''s a deep cut. Gonna leave a scar for sure! I''d advise against healing it completely, though. Grade A jade beauty magnet right there! So what''s up with....."


    "Huh, sister Feng! Here, take my outer robe and cover your back. I saw some perverts staring at you. What''s that? Oh, you want their names....? Er, one of them was Mu Ran, I think. By the way...."


    By the time they had reached the foot of the sect master''s mountain, Xuhan had gathered up a significant amount of information. A rough picture of the entire sect in its current state had taken shape inside his mind.


    The most notable revelation was that not a single disciple of the senior generations had been teleported here alongside them. This suggested that the tournament would be limited to the youngest generation of disciples of every sect, confirming Han Xuhan''s suspicion.


    While Xuhan mentally noted down a few other details that he would need to rely on later for some of his preliminary objectives, the elders, the sect master, and the host representative lady Luo Yi floated down in front of the entire disciple body, looking completely dry and unharmed by the visit of the seawater just a few minutes ago.


    The air reeked of discontent, pregnant with a rebellious buzz amidst the disciples.

 Chapter 132: Coping Mechanism, Activate!

    "I have been graced with the honor of being your full-time guide and counselor for the 71st intercontinental Championship of The Planet, hosted by the Beasthaven Sect, the Abyss Guild, and the Forestheart Foundation this decade," declared Luo Yi as soon as her feet touched the ground. Sect master Xuan Zi nodded in affirmation as he landed beside her, exuding regal elegance and modesty.


    "I can sense that many of you may not have appreciated the little welcome mother nature had prepared for you in advance. Forgive my lack of action there, dear children, for it is a tradition to let the competitors handle some of the surprises themselves."


    Han Xuhan had several questions. How did seawater reach that high in the air? How was their sect itself floating that high in the air? How-


    "Now I shall explain to you the rules and regulations here. Please pay attention!" Cutting his furious mental tirade, Luo Yi swished her sleeves as she spoke once more, her movement summoning a giant.....


    "AAAAHHHH!"


    "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?!"


    "TAKE COVER! IT''S ANOTHER OF THOSE SURPRISES!"


    "YOU MEAN MURDER ATTEMPTS?"


    Some of the disciples standing close to her scrambled backward on all fours, shouting in panic as a foreign, unrecognizable creature appeared above Luo Yi from empty air.


    The creature was at least fifteen meters in height, and equally girthy. Its barrel-like body was covered by jet-black scales, glinting under sunlight so brilliantly that they almost appeared white at first glance. This beast had no visible limbs, which made him theorize that it moved by rolling like a ball...a building-sized, humongous ball.


    Han Xuhan truly wished to know if his theory was correct.


    He was standing close to Xiao Wu, and he sensed the boy tensing up, his face losing color.


    "Hey, you know what that is?" He asked Xiao Wu under the hubbub calmly. He was clear on the fact that this beast was not another of the unpleasant surprises by taking a look at Xuan Zi''s awkward expression and Luo Yi''s derisive smirk at the panicking disciples.


    "It''s a.....rare spirit beast. She is clearly an influential member of the Beasthaven sect. No regular cultivator can create a spiritual manifestation that powerful!"


    Xiao Wu''s answer shed a light on some of Xuhan''s guesses. Spirit manifestation, was it?


    Huh....very interesting.


    "I know this because I''m familiar with the cultivation system of spirit manifestation," Xiao Wu added defensively after a look at Xuhan''s enlightened expression.


    "Oh yeah, that makes sense. No wonder you wanted to learn it from Master. I almost started getting suspicious of you, ahaha."


    Han Xuhan laughed lightly and pretended to shift his focus to the beast summoned by Luo Yi.


    "This is my pet. I call him Meatball. Say hello to everybody, Meatball!"


    Roused by Luo Yi''s enthusiastic pats, the beast hummed like a bee, only, its voice was much deeper than the high-pitched buzz of bees.


    "BZZZZZZZ! Zzzzz! HUMMM!"


    "See? He''s very friendly. Feel free to pet him. He loves that!"


    At that moment, another figure materialized right above the crowd and hurtled towards the Elders like an arrow.


    It was a man this time. Clad in a black and white robe that screamed formality, the man''s landing caused Luo Yi''s energetic introduction and the chatter of the disciples to come to a stop.


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    "Abyss below, fellow cultivator Yi, can you skip the introduction of your pet for now? We''ve got twenty-three sects waiting for the rest of the sects to catch up!" He shouted immediately upon landing. Then he turned toward Xuan Zi and bowed respectfully.


    "Greetings, Master Zi."


    "Greetings, fellow cultivator from Abyss Guild," Xuan Zi said, his voice unnaturally loud as if he wanted to make sure all the disciples heard him. The cultivator noticed the little detail, his expression hardening in response for a moment before he seemed to give up on a rebuttal.


    "I see that Master Zi is still feeling aggrieved over the match in the last tournament," he said with a sigh.


    Han Xuhan immediately remembered a story he had read in the magazine Xiao Wu had bribe-gifted him with the last month. The scroll was basically a tabloid on the last few tournaments, containing a fairly large amount of gossip, conspiracy theories, and some rough statistics.


    The Abyss Guild had backstabbed the Crimson Snow sect in the last tournament, in a wide sense. Apparently, the two champions of the two sects had formed a team during the quarter-finals. But at a critical moment, the champion of the Abyss Guild had taken the opportunity to sacrifice her teammate and win the round. The Crimson Snow Sect''s champion had suffered a serious injury at that time, although the Abyss Guild had taken the initiative to take the responsibility of healing her.


    She came back stronger than before after a visit to their secret realm which they had opened to her sincerely. But the enmity between the two girls had already been transferred to their respective masters and sect masters. The Crimson Snow sect''s journey that year had stopped at the quarter-finals.


    It has been more than a century since the Crimson Snow Sect reached the semi-finals of the tournament. It made sense that an ambitious man like Xuan Zi would not be satisfied with the outcome of that tournament regardless of how the Abyss Guild tried to amend their relationship.


    Xuan Zi''s unnaturally loud tone was quite possibly an over-the-top warning toward the new generation of disciples in this tournament, meant to be both a reminder as well as an insult.


    "Grief....is too strong a word for my feelings, fellow cultivator Tang. A more accurate description would be ''dissatisfaction''. But let''s not make today about me. My disciples are eager to break our record this century. Fellow cultivator Yi, please continue your introduction."


    Xuan Zi did not make a scene and waved the elders to a side to watch as Luo Yi did her job. The cultivator from Abyss Guild shook his head and stood behind Luo Yi in a ramrod-straight pose.


    "Seems like we are in a hurry. So I''ll keep things at the minimum. Basically, meatball and I shall be stationed here for your convenience. I''ll help you with registrations for various events, explain any rules and changes implemented by the tournament authorities, clear away your confusion regarding the events, punish the rule-breakers, and help you in any way I can as long as it doesn''t involve breaking the rules," Luo Yi explained, not seeming bothered by the drama.


    At this point, the disciples were slowly adapting to the new situation, while Han Xuhan was getting even more confused. Registration for events? When did xianxia tournaments get so orderly? And why was there such a strong emphasis on her pet beast? What was its role?


    It seemed that he wasn''t the only one with those questions, because Mu Ran elbowed him in the back and whispered in his ear,


    "Underling, ask her about her pet. Something about it feels very suspicious."


    "Boss, I''m sure she would answer very honestly if you were to unleash your infinite charm on her and ask the question yourself!" Han Xuhan replied instantly.


    "....Well, can''t argue with that. But I''m trying not to attract attention for the first few rounds of the tournament and emerge as a dark horse to steal people''s hearts in the coolest way, see?"


    "People? Really?" Xuhan asked in a flat tone. "You sure it''s not a very specific type of people whose hearts you want to steal?"


    "Ehehehe."


    That was the reply he got to his question.


    Han Xuhan cursed the guy internally and chose to make the small sacrifice. He wasn''t afraid of exposure anyway. He had no special powers or treasures to be coveted. Why bother hiding from the eyes of the powerful? His backing was quite possibly the strongest in the sect. Mu Ran, Kong Ye, Xuan Zi, Fang Xie, all four of them had made investments of various sorts in him. Any enemy would have to face severe consequences for harming him and spoiling their plans.


    "Uh, can we ask questions?" He said from the middle of the crowd, raising his hand tentatively.


    "Of course, yes! Go on!" Luo Yi nodded emphatically and gestured at him to speak up.


    "Is Meatball a spirit beast? What is its role here?" Han Xuhan asked, a nervous, yet curious smile on his face that he had perfected just last week.


    Since it was a given that he would have to attract the attention of various powerful cultivators in order to do his duty as Mu Ran''s lackey, he chose to go all out and make the best of it.


    "Oh my, yes! How did you know? I didn''t know the Crimson Snow sect taught cultivation techniques related to spirit manifestations!" Luo Yi looked delighted as she nodded appreciatively at him and threw a sideways glance at Xuan Zi, who was watching Xuhan suspiciously.


    Han Xuhan breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, her response was positive. The spirit manifestation shouldn''t be a top-secret technique, considering it led to creating spirit beasts and the very title of her sect was Beasthaven sect. It was definitely a common or even the most popular technique in that sect. For a second there, he had been afraid that the technique would turn out to be a secret that would lead to a dispute. In retrospect, he had been a bit too rash. Not everybody liked to brag about their cultivation techniques or progress like his peers.


    Xuan Zi responded to the inquisitive look from her by saying, "That is disciple Xuhan under the tutelage of our newest elder Kong Ye, fellow cultivator Yi. He might not be the most talented....."


    A few snickers rose amidst the crowd as Xuan Zi trailed off for a second. Han Xuhan didn''t take it to heart, realizing fully well that at their age, it is common for teenagers to be competitive, even more so in the situation they were now, where talent and skills were the most precious characteristics one could have...no, wait a minute....a faint realization dawned on him at that very moment.


    He, Han Xuhan, was beginning to harbor a sense of superiority over his peers for the wrong reasons. His short lifetime back on earth could be barely qualified to be called ''experience''. In that life, he was a commoner whose achievements consisted of getting A''s regularly in exams, winning debate competitions against other lazy teenagers, getting into decent universities and such.


    He had died pretty young, without experiencing much of what life meant as a whole, missing valuable aspects of a normal life that should have changed his personality drastically. He was barely an adult trapped in a barely adult body. There was no reason for him to act so understanding and mature about the entire situation of peer pressure, jealousy, and the behavioral issues of young cultivators.


    So where did this superiority complex come from? It definitely was a superficial layer of maturity he had draped over his heart in order to cope with the lack of his talent and peer pressure in his sect...


    "...But he definitely is the most resourceful disciple of his generation. Do keep an eye on him, Lady Yi, hahah!"


    While Han Xuhan stood there contemplating the sudden realization, Xuan Zi completed his sentence and was about to resume his conversation with an elder beside him, but a phenomenon caught his eye.


    Above Han Xuhan''s head, the empty space was beginning to twist like a see-through cloth.

 Chapter 133: Warped Space, Twisted Tournament

    For a brief second, Xuan Zi froze, his eyes tracking the twisting air, space, and scene right above Han Xuhan''s head. But his surprise did not last long. With swift steps forward, he pointed at the dozens of disciples near Xuhan and made a familiar tugging motion with his hands, as if he was fishing.


    They had seen him make the same gesture once before, during the apprenticeship ceremony.


    "Woah-!"


    "Ow!"


    "What the-!"


    "Aaaaagghhh!"


    The disciples were caught off guard, as was Luo Yi herself. But Xuan Zi continued to propel away his disciples in the air like cannonballs, clearing the area around Xuhan as fast as possible. To placate the surprised disciples, he gestured upward at the sky where a row of words made up of red smoke had appeared at some point during his movements.


    ''Disciple Han Xuhan has had an enlightenment! Keep silent!''


    As soon as his words registered, the disciples themselves rushed away from Xuhan as if avoiding a plague. One of the biggest taboos in the world of cultivation was the interruption of one''s enlightenment. None of them dared to be in the vicinity of a peer experiencing enlightenment, as long as their enmity with him didn''t run to the highest possible level. It was the most important rule of a righteous cultivator''s ethics.


    Luo Yi did not stay still either. Her spirit beast moved with surprising fluidity without making any noise, leaping dozens of meters high while she produced a blue, liquid-like substance from her palms that connected her to the beast. A few seconds later, the beast disappeared into thin air, leaving behind the trail of liquid that fell from above like raindrops all around Xuhan. Everywhere the liquid landed, it created crystalline blue barriers that seemed to absorb both sound, perceptions, and light, blocking the onlookers'' vision of Han Xuhan.


    The cultivator from the Abyss Guild backpedaled extremely fast, his hands constantly punching at the air around him. Wherever the punches landed, cracking sounds in empty air could be heard, as well as a low, deep hum that sounded like giant waves crashing into a barrier.


    The elders all spread around the area, herding the disciples with their movements and casting spells one after one. Elder Kong Ye in particular was naturally the most active. He even threw out multiple scrolls around Xuhan containing complex-looking formations, and a few small gadgets that he seemed to have been carrying for occasions just like this.


    As everyone''s movements came to a halt, Xuan Zi made another shushing gesture and vigilantly observed the barriers surrounding Xuhan.


    All the disciples held their breath. Even Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou, who experienced enlightenments as regularly as an ordinary cultivator experienced breakthroughs, watched the scene attentively.


    The spatial deformation above Han Xuhan''s head continued to grow in volume. The disciples who weren''t familiar with the process stepped back every few seconds while the experienced elders held their ground with bated breath.


    The sound of a zither came from inside. A single, unnaturally bright ray of sunlight fell on the barrier Xuhan was within for a brief second. A floral scent spread across the mountains. Far above in the sky where nothing but white clouds were visible, a single white strip of lightning cackled like an airborne dragon.


    The array of phenomena started receding as swiftly as it had appeared. The spatial deformation at the center of the crowd warped back to normal. The faint hum of zither died down. The floral scent was carried away by the high sea breeze.


    "....Fuck! Where am I? Hello?" Han Xuhan''s confused, tense voice rang out from within the barriers.


    Xuan Zi looked relieved, his cloudy expression clearing up. Luo Yi waved a hand at the barriers quickly and the crystalline substance reverted back to its liquid state, flowing back to her as if gravity did not exist anywhere other than the inside of her palms.


    Han Xuhan reappeared under the scrutiny of hundreds of his peers with a dazed expression on his face. After one brief moment of facing the numerous silent stares, he turned for help toward Xuan Zi. The sect master seemed eager to explain what had transpired just then. But Luo Yi emphatically waved her hand at him to let her speak, which seemed to convince him to keep his mouth shut.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "That was called an ''enlightenment'', which I''m sure most of you are familiar with," Luo Yi began speaking without wasting any more time.


    "What disciple Han Xuhan here experienced just now is a common phenomenon in this place due to its specialty. For those who aren''t aware or may have overlooked the information, we are now standing in the middle of the Titanfall Archipelago!"


    Han Xuhan slowly slithered back to his martial siblings'' side while listening to her attentively. Xiao Wu gave him a scandalized look, which he decided to ignore temporarily. Mu Ran''s reaction consisted of an appreciative chuckle, the sort an elderly would show to an energetic newborn. Yuen Zhou, unsurprisingly, maintained her cool poker face.


    "Why would something as precious and rare as enlightenments be common here? What''s the so-called specialty of this place, if I may ask?" Enquired one of the nine geniuses of the sect.


    "Watch closely," Luo Yi answered with a grin. Pointing one of her hands at the sky, she loudly shouted, "MEATBALL!"


    All the disciples looked up, eager not to miss a single detail.


    Barely had Han Xuhan realized that the beast wasn''t where he had last seen it when he noticed a strange scene. The air around that place Luo Yi was pointing at twisted as if he was looking at a transparent cloth being folded roughly. A faint popping sound followed the warp, and the familiar spirit beast appeared once more right in front of the warped space, falling from the thirty-meter-high origin point.


    One word rang in Han Xuhan''s mind.


    Teleportation!


    "It''s not teleportation!" Luo Yi announced as Meatball dropped with the weight of several tons on the ground, sending out tremors all around.


    "what it is...is a secret you''ll have to unearth yourselves. If you manage to come up with a close enough answer, I, your counselor, would be obliged to reveal the actual details to you. This achievement would provide your sect with an extra merit point that can boost your ranking in the first round by a great margin. The same rules apply to all sects!


    "This Titanfall Archipelago is a rather unstable region. But due to that very factor, we have chosen it to be where the preliminary round of the tournament takes place. The elements and phenomenons you''ve seen so far shall play a vital role here. Obviously, there are many more details about this region that I''m not permitted to inform you of, mostly because they are crucial to your victory in the tournament. You''ll have to discover those information yourselves!"


    At this moment, another disciple from the genius gang raised his hand. Luo Yi nodded at him with a smile, permitting him to speak.


    "Senior Yi, you said something about enlightenments being a common phenomenon here in the Titanfall Archipelago. I''m pretty sure everybody here is more interested in that sentence compared to the tournament''s news."


    A buzz rose among the disciples, supporting his statement. Luo Yi shook her head thoughtfully, gesturing at them to quiet down.


    "That is correct. Usually, this information comes up much later, not during the introductory phase of the new sects here. But disciple Xuhan over there seems to have been at the edge of an enlightenment long before he had arrived here. So the specialty of the archipelago only acted as a catalyst to smoothen the process up. As for what the specialty it is....that too is a piece of information you''ll have to discover yourselves. ''The Champion Of The Planet'' tournament aims to be as realistic as possible without being boring and mundane. So nobody is going to guide you to gaining knowledge and experiencing enlightenments, not even your masters. Your success and achievements in the tournament shall depend solely on you. The only help you''ll receive from the elders of your sect is advice, safety in case of fatal accidents, and the regular teaching that you were supposed to receive back in your sect anyway. None of those things will directly help you achieve anything if you don''t put in the effort yourself."


    The disciples meekly nodded in agreement with her. Luo Yi returned to her original introductory speech.


    "I can see that the Crimson Snow Sect has had a bountiful harvest of talented new blood in this generation. The amount of the lowest-level domains on your island is quite small! I''m not going to waste any more time on information you can ask me for later. As you have heard from fellow cultivator Tang, there are other sects waiting in line for the arrival of their counselors. This year, the number of sects qualifying for the preliminary round of the tournament has been unprecedentedly high. So we are in a shortage of counselors right now. The backlog will be remedied soon enough. Until then, all of you can dedicate yourselves to the first task of the preliminary round¡ª the remodeling of your sect!"


    "Remodeling?"


    "What''s wrong with the current layout?"


    "I thought only the third-level domains were susceptible to control, right? If the elders aren''t supposed to help us, only the domains controlled by the nine geniuses will be left. That''s not a very large amount, is it?"


    "I doubt it can be called a remodeling of the sect. More accurate a description would be building sand castles at one corner of the sect."


    Hundreds of disciples broke out into discussions, their voices loud enough to reach Luo Yi. Han Xuhan threw a confused glance at his martial siblings and found out all three of them looked unnaturally excited. Even the stone-faced Yuen Zhou seemed to be radiating boundless energy and eagerness.


    Meanwhile, Luo Yi did not look remotely surprised. Instead, a strange smirk made its way into her face. Standing behind her, the senior Tang from the Abyss Guild had the exact same reaction to their discussions.


    "True, true," Luo Yi answered loudly to the questions directed at her, recapturing the attention of the audience.


    "Only the third level domain is malleable enough for a remodeling. And even if all of you become expert builders, you cannot make any substantial changes to your homes as easily as the geniuses of your sect who wield control over the third-level domains."


    Interrupting her speech, Mu Ran shouted out in annoyance, his tone impatient.


    "Oh, I get it. Tournaments are obviously aimed to fish out the true dragons in this pond full of fish! From the beginning, we all knew that only the geniuses had an actual chance to qualify for the competition. The rest of the rabble are just here to act as a peanut gallery!


    So this is where the true elimination begins! The-"


    "No, not really."


    "True genius- wait, what?" Mu Ran''s blood-boiling declaration came to a confused halt as Luo Yi''s remark hit him.


    "The third level domains will surely help you with the remodeling. But to gain victory in this round, it will play a minor role. The true key to winning this tournament lies in how many of you survive the oncoming disasters!" Luo Yi laughed, spreading her hands wide in a grandiose fashion.


    "That''s all I''m allowed to say!"


    Disasters....surely not....oh, no no no!


    Alarm bells went off in Han Xuhan''s mind. He had just been rejoicing upon hearing that only the nine geniuses might be competing for real while he could enjoy from the sidelines.


    "Yes, that''s right! Disasters just like the flood you experienced the moment you arrived here in the Titanfall Archipelago. Flood, earthquake, thunderstorm, demon beast invasion, acid rain, food and resource, robbery, thievery, betrayal, battle royale, cultivation deviation, and so much more! Ahahaha...how many of those are you going to face with that measly bit of third-level domains?"


    For the first time, Luo Yi''s cheerful persona slipped a bit, revealing a somewhat maniacal hysteria hidden inside.


    Stunned into silence, the disciples stared at her for a long time. Mu Ran looked heartbroken, his eyes winded in disbelief. Finally, Yuen Zhou was the one to speak once more.


    "Uhm...what was that bit about food and resources among all those disasters? Surely, we can return to the sect for those whenever necessary, right?"


    "Yeah, about that...." Luo Yi''s ear-to-ear grin did not indicate a positive answer to her question.

 Chapter 134: Invisible Opponent, Insidious Trap

    "That is utterly ridiculous!"


    "Thank you for your opinion, child."


    The exchange between Yuen Zhou and Luo Yi ended on a short note right there. The revelation that all of them would have to rely on external sources of food as soon as their current stock runs out struck the disciples the hardest. As cultivators, all of them had a fairly large appetite, an appetite that grew day by day with their cultivation level. To feed so many hungry, super active stomachs, that too from purely marine sources?


    That would quite possibly be one of the hardest tasks to get past.


    The fact that they had been able to transport more than a hundred disciples to someplace that had to be thousands of miles away from their homes was no longer something they could quite feel happy about. Now, more disciples just equaled more mouths to feed. No matter how much of a genius the disciples were, they were completely inexperienced in matters of hunting, fishing, and preparing food suitable for a cultivator''s appetite.


    Insidious, ridiculous, and humiliating! That was the only way to describe the elimination methods of the tournament.


    "With that cleared up, let me clarify the role of Meatball here. He is going to be our eyes and ears whenever we need him to be. Once you embrace your missions here fully and learn to use every advantage you can find, you''ll realize why he is truly necessary. Hopefully, that time shall come soon enough. In the meantime, I must trouble you with arranging a residence for me since I must accompany your sect at all times. And oh my, I would sure love the taste of the luxury I am used to in my sect. Who knows, I might even let slip some clues every once in a while..."


    "Ahem!"


    The extremely loud cough from senior Tang, the representative of Abyss Guild, which HAD TO HAVE BEEN magically produced, put a stop to Luo Yi''s secretive smirk.


    "Right, getting ahead of ourselves there. Surely, the honest, young disciples of the Crimson Snow Sect would rather compete righteously, regardless of the temptation of preferential treatment. My sincerest apologies for making such a hideous assumption. I meant no disrespect, senior Zi," she said with a short, ''fearful'' bow toward Xuan Zi. The sect master looked mildly entertained at the whole drama.


    The disciples exchanged dirty looks among themselves, realizing what their most important task for now was.


    "Hmph, what a weak test! It is so obvious that she wants to examine whether we have the heart of true cultivators, to choose the hardest option rather than bow to such disgusting methods to get ahead of our peers. How can we call ourselves righteous if we choose to cheat? How can we pursue the heavenly dao when the dao tolerates no shortcuts?"


    Yuen Zhou''s remarks were truly enlightening. Han Xuhan privately agreed that her logic was flawless. But he also felt that the concept of ''righteousness'' in the world of cultivation was stretchy....to say the least.


    And his opinion did not fly off the mark, it seemed, judging by the eager-to-please-mommy flavoured gazes that were being cast at Luo Yi at that moment from the vast disciple body.


    "For now, Meatball shall display to you your tasks ahead," she declared, poking at one of the beast''s scales. A collective gasp rose among the disciples as the beast''s entire outer shell suddenly turned transparent, and instead of displaying organs, revealing the image of a giant scroll inside. The scroll displayed a simple-looking chart listing the tasks they were to perform in the near future.


    The first and foremost was remodeling the sect, written colorfully, its strokes exuding dominance of a spiritual sort. This task also had a completion percentage box beneath it. The criteria for completion were not specified, leading Han Xuhan to form the impression that creativity might play a significant role in this task.


    The second one was more complicated. It stated that the Crimson Snow Sect, as a singular competitor entity, had to maintain a survival rate of 60 percent and above per trial.


    Every time the number of disciples judged to have lost in the trial hit more than 40 percent of the total number, they would accumulate a single negative point. At the end of the preliminary round, the sects with the highest number of negative points would be eliminated. The number of sects bound for elimination was not provided. Han Xuhan contemplated the implication of this obscure detail for a long moment before arriving at the conclusion that based on the insidious methods of the event designers, there had to be some hidden rules of elimination or redemption for the sects. They would just have to find out the latter in case things went south.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Before he could concentrate on the rest of the tasks, Luo Yi interrupted his line of sight, seemingly preparing to speak once more.


    "Well, your next trial should arrive any moment now. So don''t waste too much time. I''ll be heading over to the rest of the newcomer sects for their introduction along with fellow cultivator Tang. I do hope to see substantial progress by the time I return...especially with the residences and food, ahem! Any questions for now?"


    Han Xuhan was feeling quite curious about one thing. Tentatively, he raised a hand and said,


    "Where are the rest of the sects? Aren''t there other sects that reached this ''archipelago'' before us? And where are the newcomers like us?"


    Luo Yi smiled warmly. "Ah, I thought nobody would inquire about such an obvious issue! Finally! Come here, disciple Xuhan. Let big sister Yi show you how it is done."


    "...." With deep suspicion in his eyes, Han Xuhan walked over to her.


    She caught his arm in a vice-like grip and winked.


    "Ready?"


    "For wha-AHAHHHH!"


    She shot upwards at the sky like an arrow, dragging him behind her. But his screams of horror lasted only a second, because he found his body slowing down very soon.


    Both of them were now standing at the edge of the island, on top of a protruding mountain peak.


    "There, look!" She pointed at the sea behind her, beneath the floating island. Han Xuhan followed her direction and looked down from the edge of the island.


    There was nothing under them except the clear blue sea. He turned to look at Luo Yi with a questioning gaze, only to see a blur of motion.


    "Hey!" My Ran''s shout came from far away.


    Han Xuhan''s world turned into a blurry, spinning mess as gravity suddenly seemed to disappear. The surface of the sea rushed toward his face.


    That bitch had shoved him off the peak!


    "Ahhhhh-"


    POP~


    For a good few seconds, his consciousness went haywire, his mind in chaos.


    Han Xuhan''s scream came to another abrupt halt as his body hammered into an incredibly soft, squirming substance, barely avoiding critical joint displacement from the fall.


    No, he hadn¡¯t landed on a curvy girl. This wasn¡¯t a xianxia novel with trashy romance...hopefully.


    His landing turned out to be a mass of cloudy substance.


    The cloud was exceptionally elastic, to the point where his body had bounced twice before coming to a final stop, making his organs lurch around violently enough to keep him still on his back for a good ten seconds before finding the courage to move gingerly.


    "For fuck''s sake..." Xuhan muttered to himself once he realized that he wasn''t fatally injured from the fall. He wasn''t injured at all, in all honesty. But his mental state certainly wasn''t stellar.


    He had just been thrown off a mountain to a sea. Logically speaking, he was supposed to find some super awesome legacy down in the seabed while he almost drowned to death; well, at least that''s what transpired in cultivation stories. But he had landed on...not sea, wherever it was. Moreover, Luo Yi didn''t seem to have murderous intentions toward him either. Maybe he hadn''t fulfilled those critical conditions in order for the cliche to happen.


    "Hello there! A newcomer, are you? Which sect do you hail from, brother?" a voice came from his back, making Han Xuhan jump in fright. He had barely gotten back up on his feet. There hadn''t been enough time for him to run a threat check on his new surroundings. He had no idea where he-


    His thoughts came to a sudden halt as he took a proper look behind him. That was happening a lot these days.


    The first problem was¡ª nobody was standing behind him. He couldn''t see anyone flying either, which was a possibility he had learned to consider after becoming accustomed to the world of cultivation. But that wasn''t nearly as striking as what he COULD see now that he had turned around.


    There stood a gigantic castle made up of aquamarine crystals before his eyes, barely a hundred meters away. It looked like a crossover between a Disney creation and Tolkein''s imagination. Walls as high as palm trees surrounded the castle, sporting dozens of outposts from where different types of assault accessories stuck out.


    Han Xuhan took a deep breath. Some of those accessories looked a bit too similar to cannons; cannons which were pointed right at his frail, vulnerable body at the moment. Did gunpowder and explosives get invented already? When? How? Was it another transmigated senior whose brain had been full of convenient ''common knowledge of modern weaponry''?


    And those weren''t even the most intimidating ones.


    There were also crossbows¨C giant ones, pointed in his direction from every visible angle on the walls.


    He could even sense massive structures running on qi behind the walls, constantly growing in terms of intensity. Those probably were not friendly mechanisms either, as far as his experience with magical gadgets told him.


    Han Xuhan experienced a faint urge to sob pitifully. But alas, he was too manly to shed tears in the face of deadly threats; and too distracted by the sentence that followed after his invisible greeter received no answer to his inquiry.


    "You know, I thought people would be much more surprised by an invisible entity trying to make a conversation rather than that ugly shack over there. Hey, brother, you do realize that I can kill you long before any ammunition from the stronghold reach this place, right? That''s like...basic aerodynamics. Oh hell, who am I kidding..."


    Basic Aerodynamics?


    Oh.


    Fuck.


    Han Xuhan craned his neck around for a second look at his surroundings. Whoever the speaker was, Xuhan didn''t have the capability to fight them head-on, not when he could not see them and didn''t know their cultivation level, which the party was actively hiding from his senses. It implied that the other party was perhaps not very powerful. However...that implication itself smelled like a trap.


    Were they trying to test whether he was an enemy by offering him a weak, juicy prey, who could even stand as his hostage against the cannons on the walls? It was a life-saving opportunity delivered to his doorstep.


    As far as realistic strategies went, it was a decent trap. The only reason Han Xuhan hadn''t fallen for it was that he had no confidence in being able to overpower any cultivator in a fight, regardless of their cultivation level. He had zero experience in hand-to-hand combat. He also happened to be borderline paranoid, constantly trying to analyze any element around him that might be dangerous. Where others saw risks and opportunities for themselves, Han Xuhan saw interlinked interests of the parties involved. And right now, if he put himself in the shoes of a sect competing for the Championship, such a trap was barely surprising.


    The matter of their unnatural advancement in scientific fields required proper investigation. But he had to take control of the situation first. Wracking his mind, Xuhan tried to come up with an appropriate strategy to tackle the issue.


    "Hey, brother, are you deaf? Nod if you''re deaf." The voice rang out once more from a different direction.


    Han Xuhan turned to look at the empty air there and nodded emphatically with an honest grin on his face.


    "...."

 Chapter 135: The Most Honest Spy

    "Well, that certainly makes me find your character quite trustworthy," said the invisible guy from a direction Han Xuhan was not facing at the moment.


    Han Xuhan laughed happily, continuing to look in the direction he had been facing so far as if he could actually see whoever it was speaking to him.


    "Thank you, thank you. My master always said I have the most honest character, as well as an honest face; perfect for the job of a spy."


    "....How straightforward! Your master was right about the honest character part indeed, it seems."


    Han Xuhan had decided to gamble here. He was pretty sure that regardless of how he might attempt to explain his appearance in this foreign....sect, no one would believe that he ended up here accidentally.


    Yeah, it had to be a sect. He could sense that the cloudy substance beneath his feet bore some resemblance to the ash-like soil in the island of Crimson Snow sect. This meant that this entire expanse of cloudy periphery of the island he was on right now consisited of first-level domains.


    What a marvelous design! Had these people been aware of how this tournament has been designed?


    Why else would they keep all the first-level domains so far outside their main base? This structure was obviously intentional, as the first-level domains could easily be damaged compared to the second and third level domains.


    With all of the first level domain outside their main base, the defensive capability of the castle had to be very high! How much of it inside was made up of second and third level domains?!


    Based on that assumption and his current predicament, a few conclusions could be reached easily.


    This sect had been prepared to deal with foreigners, judging by their quick response to his sudden appearance. Perhaps for them, the preliminary round of the tournament had already begun. Their not-so-friendly behavior was apparent. If he had to look for a specific reason for their aggressive attitude....during any competition, members from foreign teams who would come uninvited were rarely welcome. Han Xuhan did not need to think too long to realize that at the moment, he definitely seemed like a spy in their eyes.


    Perhaps they were under the assumption that he, as a disciple of a newcomer sect, had come to ''visit'' and return with a bountiful harvest of information.


    In his mind played the memory of Lady Luo Yi shouting the names of the upcoming trials and disasters. Floods, storms, invasions, robbery, theivery...


    Robbery and thievery by whom? At that time he hadn''t put much thought into her words. But now it made sense all of a sudden.


    So the sects were allowed to ransack each other for resources!


    So that was another reason why they weren''t allowed to return to their real territory and take resources from there! This was to ensure a fiercer completion among the sects!


    Han Xuhan decided to throw a bait once the realization had set in. Since they were expecting him to be a spy/thief/robber, he would play the part....as unsuccessfully as possible. None of them would believe him if he claimed to be an innocent, clueless victim of a terrible prank. It was better to go along with the chain of events they had predicted, and then turn it upside down if he had the opportunity to.


    Inside his mind, plan after plan was drawn, modified, and discarded every second.


    "Hey, I''m standing here, not over there," the guy spoke once more after a brief silent contemplation. This time, the voice was coming from a different direction.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    "Where?" Han Xuhan asked ''in confusion'' while not moving his eyes from the castle in front of him, observing every nook and cranny that could be seen from where he stood.


    "Enough of this shit," the other party suddenly muttered and made a move. Han Xuhan barely felt the mobilization of qi in the air before his entire body got slammed against the ground by an invisible force.


    "Sect name, your name, the progress of your sect so far¨C speak. NOW."


    "Mu Ran, from the Crimson Snow sect!" Xuhan, lying on his back, gasped amidst wheezing. The heavy weight on his chest did not loosen at all.


    "We''ve just reached the archipelago. My master told me to go take a look at the rest of the powerful sects to see how they were doing and gather information about their methods. Then he threw me down to the sea before I could refuse! I have no idea how I ended up...here..."


    As his speech became garbled and slow from asphyxiation, the weight finally shifted.


    No, ''shifted'' was an understatement. The weight on his chest was thrown off as ferociously as it had subdued him just a few seconds ago. A yelp came from the invisible guy as Han Xuhan sucked in air desperately, his countenance recovering fast.


    Grimacing, He was about to get up when a meaty hand thrust itself into his line of sight, offering help.


    "Hello, fellow cultivator Mu Ran! Kindly excuse my martial sister''s hostility just then. We just haven''t had a good experience with outsiders here. Did she cause any injuries that require medical assistance? Can you get up?"


    Han Xuhan grabbed the hand and squeezed it as hard as possible while trying to stand. He was familiar with the degree of physical improvement of cultivators more powerful than him due to having so many friends in the sect. This guy''s hand indicated that he was close to the peak of physique transformation!


    "Oh, sure! I understand. Children are prone to violence pretty often. Not everybody learns basic manners and etiquette. It''s okay!" Han Xuhan replied with his trademark honest smile, which froze a second later.


    Sister? That invisible asshole was a girl? That voice was too manly, right?


    Damn!


    He turned to glance behind him and finally saw the girl, who had lost her instability. She looked slightly younger than him, maybe fifteen or sixteen years old. Brownish short hair, straight eyebrows, hooked nose, and a square jawline had given her an enviable handsomeness, which was complimented by her thick, emerald robe. Her masculine voice did indeed fit her.


    A tomboy waifu!


    Han Xuhan felt sour at how fast his thoughts nose-dived down a distasteful route.


    She gloomily stared back at him the whole time he was appraising her.


    Han Xuhan did not mind. He had vented his anger through the insults, and he would continue to do so, again and again until he was satisfied or made to stop by someone powerful enough to rival Xuan Zi.


    Girl, don''t let this young master catch your name! You''ll not like what I do with it.


    "And you would be...?" He asked his rescuer, a short, bald, blocky guy whose muscles were prominent even outside his green robe.


    "My name is Shangguang Ce. I''m an apprentice of Elder Zong Ao. This is the Sunrider Sect, well, a replica of it to be exact. We hail from the northern subcontinent." The youth replied proudly. He wore a bright smile on his face that never receded even when he spoke. It almost appeared unnatural.


    Han Xuhan did not know how to react to the revelation. All he knew about the northern subcontinent was that it was cold as fuck. Their accents, as well as choice of words often felt jarring. It barely felt like they were speaking the same language. No wonder these people were from another continent!


    He had never heard of the Sunrider sect, neither had he read anything about it from the tabloid Xiao Wu had sold him.


    Must be a weak sect that never won any significant competition....But when he took another glance at the strikingly beautiful castle , that conclusion did not quite feel organic.


    Too many things were happening at the same time. His brain simply failed to keep a leash on everything he needed for a proper plan of action. His mind had still not recovered from his earlier ''enlightenment''. While he was extremely happy that he had finally experienced one, the confusion in its wake took priority. He needed to talk to someone like Kong Ye or Xuan Zi to clear the confusion away. The thing was, the elders at the Crimson Snow sect refused to teach the disciples much about enlightenments. Their logic for refusal was sound enough though.


    Young disciples who learned enough about enlightenment will eventually end up being obsessed with pursuing them wholeheartedly. But not all enlightenment bore positive results. A small portion of them also pushed young ones to unorthodox, dark paths of no return. The stronger a cultivator became, the higher the percentage of that type of enlightenment became.


    Besides, once a disciple had experienced enlightenment, they''d be addicted to the feeling, a fact Han Xuhan could attest to now. It was easy to get lost in the pursuit of such fleeting pleasures and forget what the core value of one''s cultivation was.


    Feeling frustrated, Han Xuhan nodded in response to Shangguang Ce and said, "Fellow cultivator Ce, I feel woefully underprepared to tackle this reconnaissance mission my master has ordained me to accomplish. Help me out here, brother and I''ll remember the favor for an eternity!"


    Shangguang Ce raised an eyebrow, looking nonplussed.


    "Are you for real?!" the girl behind him shouted in part anger, part disbelief. "You want us to help you, an invader spy? Your eternal gratitude doesn''t mean jackshit to anybody."


    "...Well, then maybe not for an eternity. But a long time for sure!" Han Xuhan said bashfully.


    Silence stretched between the two parties. Shangguang Ce''s eyes narrowed slowly as he matched Xuhan''s gaze unblinkingly.


    "Wonderful proposal, Brother Ran. Let''s get to know each other first," he answered in the end with the ghost of a smile flickering on his face.

 Chapter 136: The True Face of The Archipelago

    "The walls are actually layered? Wow!" Han Xuhan''s exclamation came naturally. It was a sight to behold indeed.


    The crystalline walls completely wrapped around the entire inner infrastructure of the Sunrider Sect from all four directions. The furthest layer of wall at the periphery was pretty much a boundary determiner, barely three meters in height.


    It sported window-sized holes every dozen meters, behind which lay double-barrelled instruments that closely resembled cannons. In each of these instruments, one barrel was pointed outside through the hole in the peripheral wall while the other barrel pointed at the sky, aiming between the ten-meter gap between the two outermost walls.


    If a trespasser made his way past the first layer of wall, all of these cannon-like weapons would still pulverize him when he attempted to scale the second layer of wall.


    But this was not the only defense here.


    The second-layer wall was slightly thicker than the first, hosting enough space on its top to let the giant instruments on it operate freely.


    These instruments resembled sharp blender blades, spinning lazily on what felt like a special type of qi. These walls also sported windows, behind which Xuhan saw a bunch of metallic beehives humming in a deep tone.


    "These are called Dragonhearts," explained Shangguang Ce. "They spit fire through the innumerable holes on their surface. No trespasser wants to be around one when the security alert goes off, hehehe."


    "Oooh! Very informative!" Han Xuhan nodded vigorously. "Can I note these things down?"


    "Feel free to," Shangguang Ce gave the permission with a smile honest enough to rival Xuhan''s own.


    Han Xuhan pulled out an empty page from his pockets. He had gotten used to carrying a few around for no particular reason. Some of the pages included his shorthand notes on his cultivation techniques, in English.


    Taking out his favorite magical quill, Xuhan proceeded to note down the details of his observations openly.


    The defense of the Sunrider Sect is riddled with weaknesses.


    His first sentence was a very bold statement. From the corner of his eye, Xuhan noticed his first acquaintance in this place, Hong Wei, creeping up behind him to peek at his ''notes''.


    The walls all have big holes in them, allowing anyone to get past them as they please. The walls are also very low. From the peripheral wall to the inner wall, each one rises in height by a very small margin compared to the previous wall. So it will be easy to infiltrate the sect by jumping on top of each wall like a frog. This sect has basically surrounded itself with stairs! Hahaha!


    The second paragraph on his note was no less shocking, and Hong Wei''s reaction to it made that apparent.


    "This-this can''t be-you cannot possibly be serious!" She gasped in disbelief.


    "And you cannot possibly be a girl. Was Brother Ce really not mocking your manhood by calling you sister?" Han Xuhan said doubtfully, his eyes moving up and down her body with a disdainful look.


    Hong Wei glared at Shangguang Ce and said through gritted teeth, "Martial brother, why are we allowing this guy to strut around our sect again?"


    "I''m bored, that''s why. We''re here to compete against other sects. What''s the harm in getting to know a peer or two?"


    Han Xuhan threw Hong Wei a dirty grin while his thoughts raced. He didn''t believe Shangguang Ce''s answer to Hong Wei''s indignant question for a single second.


    This guy gave him the impression of a slippery eel despite his honest appearance, much like Xuhan himself. He had to be planning something unpleasant inside. Problem was that Han Xuhan wasn''t quite in a position to protect himself from Shangguang Ce''s plans.


    The stability of his current situation lay in how much of an idiot he could act like, which was surprisingly easy for some reason. The ease with which he could hold up the act was almost...insulting.


    These guys were probably under the impression that he was a cannon fodder from the Crimson Snow sect, let loose by the elders to test the waters.


    "And did I mention that the walls are semi-transparent?" Shangguang Ce suddenly said, pointing at the wall behind him. Han Xuhan turned around and saw a magnificent sight.


    A layer of blue color separated him from the outside world, just like the view behind tinted glass. The thick, crystal wall showed behind it the vast flatland where he had originally landed on. Past that floated grey clouds at a tempting distance. Han Xuhan could vaguely see the sea on the horizon. It was as if he hadn''t fallen from the floating island of the Crimson Snow sect at all. Had there been a landmark in the sea, it would''ve been easier to tell how far his fall had moved him. But there was none, neither was there a shadow of Crimson Snow Sect above in the sky.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    It did not take a genius to realize that he hadn''t fallen straight downward. His fall must have been interrupted by spatial magic of some sort. Luo Yi had shown them how her pet, Meatball had disappeared from their sight. Since she had been the one to orchestrate the entire display, she was likely to have intentionally thrown him using a method that led to this sect.


    A rough picture of this intriguing region called the Titanfall Archipelago took form inside Han Xuhan''s mind as he idly folded a corner of the page in his hand.


    A theory was taking shape in his mind, slowly.


    Maybe the space here was much like that folded corner of the page in his hand. Three-dimensional regions had been stacked together into a specific area, and there were methods to move through the stacks, leading to various sects that had appeared in each fold.


    The only exception was that whereas a stack of paper was three-dimensional, a stack of three-dimensional space should logically be a four-dimensional construct. So, his analogy was a poor one, offering nothing of much value to help him get out from here.


    This was another maze, but made of walls he couldn''t see, nor touch. The basic rules of navigation through mazes wouldn''t work here.


    Han Xuhan suddenly felt trapped. Perhaps he just needed to wait a while longer....


    Hahaha! Whoever it was that designed the defense system of the Sunrider Sect must be an absolute idiot! They made the walls semi-transparent. So if we ever need to attack them, we can easily observe what''s going on inside by just flying up. If we manage to make a really spirited, super-intimidating assault, even those stationed several layers behind the peripheral wall will piss their pants and run off in fear. It''s an easy prey!


    Han Xuhan enthusiastically wrote down the third paragraph on his note of observations. This time, Hong Wei did not even bother to throw a biting input.


    "What you''ve seen so far is the outer segment of the Sunrider Sect. If you''re willing, you can rest here to recover. And that reminds me, how do you plan to return to your sect?" Shangguang Ce remarked lazily, leading him deeper and deeper into the layered defense system of the Sunrider Sect. Han Xuhan, who had been curiously observing everything they passed by, came to a sudden halt, pretending to have realized that issue for the first time.


    "Oh, that''s easy," he answered Shangguang Ce pridefully. "I shall ask one of your elders to slingshot me upwards! Since I reached this place by falling straight down, logically, I should find myself back to my sect if the route is reversed." Finishing his explanation, Xuhan grinned victoriously and tapped the side of his temple, his expression the very image of smugness.


    "...I see, I see," Brother Ce muttered thoughtfully. "I don''t know if you''ve noticed this or not, but your sect isn''t up above right now. There is nothing but the empty sky above us."


    Han Xuhan squinted at him, a disdainful expression appearing on his face.


    "Well, your Sect wasn''t visible back in the Crimson Snow Sect either. But didn''t I land here just fine? Vice versa, I guess! And why did you say the sky is empty? The sky isn''t empty, stupid! My master said there is a roof where the sky ends. One day I''m going to become powerful enough to fly and see the roof myself."


    "...I would love to be a witness to a feat of such magnificence," Shangguang Ce said. "But are you sure about the plan-"


    "So what? Just because I can''t see it doesn''t mean it doesn''t exist. It''s probably invisible or something. Where else is the sect supposed to go? It''s probably there. I just need to fly up and I''ll probably see it."


    "Probably?" Hong Wei asked, seemingly not quite able to believe that someone would execute a suicidal move based on probability.


    "Well, there is a tiny bit of possibility that I''m wrong and my sect isn''t right up above," Xuhan said.


    "So what are you going to do if that happens?" she asked.


    "Hah! That''s like one in a million possibility. That would be way too illogical. So it would actually never happen anyway. Why do I need to worry about it then?"


    "...Ah."


    "By the way, are you sure you''re not a guy? Like, one thousand percent sure?"


    Hong Wei gazed at him with her eyes narrowed for a long few seconds before suddenly smiling very sincerely.


    Han Xuhan felt goosebumps rising on his neck.


    "You know what? You can think of me as a guy. Wanna compare dick sizes?"


    "...." This time, it was Han Xuhan''s turn to become speechless. This didn''t quite feel right. She had adapted a bit too quickly to the situation.


    "Guys don''t do that," Han Xuhan said finally, finding his footing once more.


    "Sure they do. Just ask martial brother Ce! Hey-"


    Hong Wei suddenly stopped speaking, her mouth gaping toward the place Shangguang Ce had been standing in. Han Xuhan had also felt it by then.


    The qi in the air around them...it was behaving oddly.


    And he, Han Xuhan, was quite familiar with this sort of movement of qi from his past experiences with Mu Ran.


    His heart thrumming, Han Xuhan turned around and saw Shangguang Ce sitting on the ground in a meditative pose, his fingers crossed in a weird method.


    His mouth was moving restlessly, muttering words both of them were a tad too familiar with.


    "Just because I cannot see it, it doesn''t mean it''s not there. Maybe I cannot see it because I''m looking for it actively. It may not be in the direction I''m advancing. And it may not even be where it is supposed to be. What rules are there binding it? If space itself can be twisted so far beyond imagination, why can''t something ethereal be manipulated? But at the end of the day, I''m the cultivator. This path to dao is forged by my resolution. Why must I bend to the rules mere mediocre crowds follow? My talent may not be enough for me to see the peak. But what even is talent in the world of cultivation? Master was right. I see it now. My only limits are those I''ve placed on myself!"


    A dumbfounded expression appeared on Han Xuhan''s face as the words Shangguang Ce kept muttering registered in his mind.


    Oh No. No, no, no, no, NO!


    Clouds gathered above their head, blocking the view of the bright blue sky. A faint sound of musical instruments rang through the air, reverberating amidst the crystalline walls of the Sunrider Sect.


    "He''s experiencing a major enlightenment!" Hong Wei screeched. In the back of his mind, Xuhan noted down the fact that Shangguang Ce spoke of space being twisted... Didn''t that mean his theory about the unique structure of the Titanfall Archipelago was on the correct route?


    "Where are the elders?! What are we supposed to do?" Xuhan shouted in panic. Back when he had first landed on this sect, he had noticed several people manning the weapons on the walls. But he couldn''t find any of them. In fact, since he had entered the walls, none of the other disciples or elders made an appearance as if they did not care about his sudden intrusion.


    From the waves of qi coming at his face, Xuhan could guess that Shangguang Ce was at least in the eighth or ninth layer of the physique transformation realm. He definitely needed an elder to oversee his enlightenment. Even an ordinary breakthrough at this level required delicate, intimate guidance.


    "I''ll call someone! You...don''t you dare do anything!" Hong Wei rushed away deeper into the maze leaving that threat hanging in the air. Han Xuhan did not need to be told twice. He backpedaled away as far as possible inside the maze without losing sight of Shangguang Ce. It was one thing to be caught as a spy in a friendly tournament. But messing with someone''s enlightenment would be way too serious a crime.


    Right when he was about to breathe a sigh of relief after distancing himself from the guy, a shudder ran through his spine uncontrollably.


    The clouds that had gathered above Shangguang Ce''s head had changed color. From dark grey, the voluminous clouds had turned pure black. Red lightning churned silently within their folds.


    He, a mere ant trapped within the layer of walls, could no longer see the sky above, only the darkness illuminated by the lightning taking up his entire field of vision.


    The windows in the walls through which they had entered had been blocked, he discovered as soon as he rushed toward one. The crystalline substance covered the holes as if there had been no windows there to begin with.


    Han Xuhan wanted to scream, partly in anger and partly from frustration.


    He recognized those black clouds above. Out of the numerous subtypes of anomalous tribulation clouds, the black ones, mixed with red lightning signified a disturbing fact.


    These guys were ghost cultivators.

 Chapter 137: I Forsake This Dao

    "Dammit, dammit, Dammit!"


    Cursing with every drop of venom he could muster, Han Xuhan flattened himself against the walls, his eyes locked on the churning clouds above, which had come down way too low, some of the wisps almost touching the top of the second wall, a mere height of seven meters approximately.


    The silent lightning bolts pulsed as if the entire chunk of cloud was a leviathan and the lightnings were its restless veins. Ghost cultivators...what else was he going to encounter in his mere entrance into the world of cultivation? These sorts of plot twists are supposed to be the material for a whole new arc in some shady secret realm!


    Did the author decide to rush the plot? But his story, Mu Ran''s story, or even Yuen Zhou''s story had barely begun!


    As far as he knew, ghost cultivators were practitioners whose cultivation techniques were centered around soul manipulation. A quote by an anonymous Daoist was recorded in a scroll on this topic, which the elders had referred to during the relevant lessons a few days ago.


    The dao a ghost pursues is not the dao man should pursue. The dao a ghost understands is not a dao man can understand. The dao encompasses all we see. Ghosts see what we cannot see, and do not wish to see. For the dao encompassing the vision of the dead is against the vision of the living. It is as incompatible as fire and water. This makes ghost cultivators a body of practitioners hellbent on the destruction of one''s humanity. But once you''ve tasted the flavor of death, destruction of the human self is hardly a future you''d fear.


    The entire quote swayed between the lines of ''profound'' and ''edgy'' like a pendulum. It made sense that the Daoist concealed his own name. Otherwise, he''d probably be laughed at in the old monster community. Even he, a noob in the world of cultivation, had rolled his eyes by the end of that passage.


    Now though...now he didn''t quite find the guts to laugh at what stirred above his head.


    Hong Wei hadn''t still returned with help. Shangguang Ce''s condition showed no signs of stabilization either. The guy sat unmovingly, his mouth spewing some of the bullshit Han Xuhan had spouted in order to keep up his act as a retard.


    When had enlightenments become so cheap?


    Oh, wait, if someone as mediocre as him could gain one, maybe it HAD really become cheap...


    Had his enlightenment been like this as well? Perhaps with clouds of different colors and less threatening lightning bolts?


    He had no idea. He hadn''t gotten the opportunity to talk about it with any of the witnesses.


    In fact, now that he thought about it, how would an enlightenment help him advance in cultivation anyway? It wasn''t as if he could summon entirely new souls from the Burning World just in one sitting to advance his Skeletal Monarch Technique. He needed to construct the skeleton first, accurately down to every tiny joint. Countless hours of qi cycling couldn''t be compensated by a measly two-minute ''Big Brain'' moment.


    Han Xuhan quickly pushed away these temporarily unnecessary concerns. He had to look for a quick escape route first.


    The walls were just too high, dammi-


    Han Xuhan''s curse hit a wall as a realization dawned on him.


    He was a cultivator at the fourth layer of the physique transformation realm. A three-meter-high wall might prove to be an insurmountable obstacle to a mortal, but was that the same for him?


    The ten-meter gap between the first and second walls was a substantial distance. He could gain a small momentum here by running four or five steps.


    Without a second thought, Han Xuhan dug his feet on the hard-wait, the floor was made up of concrete!


    Briefly, Xuhan recalled some of the key moments of his encounter with these cultivators.


    The Sunrider Sect boasted of quasi-modern artillery, having combined the magic of cultivation with rudimentary machinery.


    Their disciples spoke in foreign dialects and thought of aerodynamics as basic concepts everyone knew.


    Even their construction capability far outstripped the current era.


    The initial seed of doubt that had sprouted during his first contact with the Sunrider Sect grew into a giant network of possibilities and schemes.


    While his mind was embroiled in a web of the current, as well as future events, his body didn''t stay still. Left in the wake of his rush were rough footprints on the hard concrete, spraying tiny broken pieces at the wall behind.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    As if compensating for the lack of thunder, his footsteps reverberated throughout the maze. In a flash, he was just two steps away from the peripheral wall. Gathering all the force he could muster, Han Xuhan leaped up.


    "Ack-"


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    His midsection crashed against the top of the wall, sending waves of pain throughout his body, squeezing out all the air from his lungs. The three-meter wall had been but a fraction over his current capabilities. With a bit of practice and a formal jumping technique, he could probably jump past this height easily without even running.


    Han Xuhan clutched the top of the wall and swung the rest of his body over, surprised by how little effort went into the feat.


    Taking a deep breath, he gave one last look at the meditating young man named Shangguang Ce.


    So long, brother! I wish you a smooth breakthrough, which I''ll not be witnessing.


    His good wishes kept silent in order not to disturb Brother Ce, Han Xuhan leaped down past the peripheral wall and ran like the wind. He had never tried running at the fastest speed he could reach after he had reached the fourth layer. No better an occasion than now to test that out!


    Leaving the giant flux of black clouds behind, Han Xuhan rushed toward the edge of the floating island and looked down. His heels dug up soil, grass, and small rocks like a drilling machine. He could almost see a trail being formed following his track.


    According to his theory of stacked spatial folds, the bottom of the island would definitely not contain other sects but the sea itself just like the arrangement in the fold of the Crimson Snow Sect.


    He was proved correct, as he reached the edge of the island and his gaze landed below.


    The sea was the only thing beneath the Sunrider Sect''s island as well.


    There were only two possibilities he could think of right now regarding this arrangement. Either a mind-blowing illusion spell had been laid down around every island to mask each sect from the other sects'' prying eyes. Or his previous conjecture of stacked spatial regions allotted for each sect was really true. Due to the small clue he had heard from Shangguang Ce, Han Xuhan was inclined to believe the latter possibility even though the former seemed more realistic.


    But he did not have the guts to bank on that belief to execute his final escape plan. He did not feel like jumping down from the edge of the island to see whether he would land on the sea, or reach a different sect. Nope!


    Distraught, Han Xuhan looked up, hoping to see a shadow of the island of the Crimson Snow Sect. The black cloud surrounding Shangguang Ce did not reach this far, and he could properly see the blue sky.


    Right then, he witnessed one of the most bizarre things in his short life.


    Not too far from where he was standing, there was an area fifty meters above where an anomaly was taking place. Bursts of water were appearing out of empty air, being sprayed powerfully in all directions. It was as if someone had hidden an invisible hose pipe at that height, and its mouth was beginning to leak due to the pressure inside.


    Hssss! Hssss!


    A second spray appeared by the time he has recovered from the shock, this one much closer to him. He could clearly see how the bursts of water were being conjured out of nowhere. No sources could be seen or sensed at all!


    Taking a few steps forward, Han Xuhan reached below the second one and put his hand under the falling waterdrops.


    Cupping a few drops, he tasted it cautiously. The taste was very familiar!


    Salty, heavy...


    Han Xuhan''s eyes widened to the maximum as the realization occurred to him.


    Was this how the seawater had appeared back on the Crimson Snow Sect''s island?!


    The odd flood of water from the sky could clearly have originated from such a source! Except, there would have to be numerous other places from which a huge amount of water would have to leak out in a short span of a few seconds. That would be the only way to flood an entire island so fast!


    Han Xuhan looked up once more and felt a chill forming in his heart, because...there were three more places in the sky where sprays of water had appeared.


    Oh boy.


    His eyes flickered each time a new spray appeared, taking note of the distance between each source of the water, the shapes and sizes of each ''fountain'', the pressure behind each spray.


    The clear sky above the Sunrider Sect soon became awash with innumerable jets of water. The rainfall they caused was so thick that Han Xuhan couldn''t even register the whole phenomenon in his mind by the time his feet were submerged by the accumulating water.


    The bursts of water could no longer be called mere sprays now. These were jets, voluminous and powerful enough to reach dozens of meters from their origin points.


    "Shit, shit, shit, SHIT!"


    Han Xuhan spun on his heels and sprinted back toward the walls. Unlike the Crimson Snow Sect, the Sunrider Sect had no mountains for him to take shelter on. The periphery of the island was completely bare and flat. If he stayed still and waited for the water to accumulate higher, he''d be taken past the edge of the Island along with the robust current, right down to the sea hundreds of meters below.


    For the second time, he crashed into the peripheral wall, this time from the opposite direction, his ribs letting out audible protests to the abuse. The water had made it impossible for him to gather a strong momentum by running.


    Glancing back, Han Xuhan saw the water level showing no signs of ebbing away, rather the opposite. The three-meter-high peripheral wall was about to be engulfed very soon.


    Before the rising water level could, he slipped on the other side of the wall, falling face first just a dozen meters away from Shangguang Ce.


    His meditating friend did not seem aware of the fact that one-third of his body had been already submerged in seawater, a ratio that was about to climb high enough to drown him by the next thirty seconds according to Han Xuhan''s estimation. Since the jets of water were being produced almost everywhere above the island, no place was truly safe except the top of the walls.


    "Did that girl die on her way to find an elder?" He couldn''t help but curse as he got to his feet. From above, seawater spilled on his head continuously. It was hard to think under such circumstances. He could not get out of this maze right now. He could only choose the option containing lesser possibilities of instant death¨C entering deeper inside the maze, right into the heart of the Sunrider Sect, a nest of ghost cultivators.


    But as he took a good look at the second wall, his hopes of getting past it by himself vanished. It was at least seven meters high. The ground he stood on was no longer suitable for running- because at that point he was knee-deep in the water flooding the space between the two walls.


    "Well, at least I can swim. The powerful waves outside have been halted by the peripheral wall for now. If I manage to stay afloat here and stick to this wall, the water level will eventually carry me to the top of the second wall."


    Han Xuhan''s self-consolation trailed off as his eyes caught Shangguang Ce''s body, which was now chest-deep in water. His tribulation clouds neither receded nor attacked. Perhaps it was going to be a lengthy enlightenment, if he survived the tournament''s routine trial this time.


    "I should be more worried about myself. In the past, I used to hate those busybody protagonists risking their lives for others. How can I turn into one of them now?" Xuhan muttered, trying to focus on the fact that he''d have to swim desperately once the water level rose beyond the first wall. He had enough on his own plate without the responsibility of someone else''s life; someone who probably did not even have good intentions toward him.


    A tiny voice inside his head asked a question that he couldn''t quite answer¨C "but are you really a protagonist? You''re supposed to avoid falling into templates. Now you''re just acting like those ruthless, selfish ones."


    The water level rose to Shangguang Ce''s mouth five seconds later. Han Xuhan forcibly tore off his gaze from the sight, trying to drown out the hesitant voice of protest in a tiny corner of his heart.


    The water level rose past his nose. Shangguang Ce visibly shuddered, the red lightning streaks above pulsed as if mirroring his struggle.


    With a long, deep breath, Han Xuhan concentrated hard, trying to execute a particularly complicated qi formation inside his body in a standing position. Three seconds later, Zhanxian, Tun Shi Tian, and little Zhe leaped out from his back one by one and fell into the water, screaming partly in fear and partly from excitement. Han Xuhan decided to ignore the former of the two apparent emotions from his minions.


    "We need to get past that wall," he said in a dull tone.


    The three minions exchanged brief looks around and exploded into motion.


    Tun Shi Tian flew up on top of the second wall. Zhanxian grabbed little Zhe by the tail and threw her at the owl who caught the snake in a single swoop. As a ''cultivator'' at the first layer of the physique transformation realm'', Tun Shi Tian was considerably strong; and it showed as he confidently used little Zhe''s body like a rope for someone to latch on to.


    Han Xuhan grabbed Zhanxian and threw the skeleton at little Zhe''s hanging body. He wasn''t sure whether Tun Shi Tian would be able to drag Shangguang Ce up, or whether little Zhe''s body would be durable enough to bear his weight.


    In the end, he had failed to follow the code of an ideal xianxia character who would survive for more than a few arcs. He could neither be ruthless to himself, nor had he the heart to watch a stranger die when he COULD attempt to save him.


    It was almost laughable. He, a character proficient on the dao of meta, was about to fail the golden rule of ''ruthlessness''.


    "This better fucking pay off. No-fuck, I''ll MAKE this little stunt pay off," he muttered as he half-walked, half-swum to the fully submerged body of his new ''friend''.

 Chapter 138: Shredder Shenanigans

    "Catch him!" Han Xuhan shouted as he threw Shangguang Ce''s body upwards, the guy still in his meditating pose, unaware of everything.


    His enhanced strength was finally put to use, as even without a proper foothold on the ground due to the rising seawater, he managed to throw the stocky youth twice his size high enough for Zhanxian to catch him by wrapping his skeletal feet around Shangguang Ce''s midsection gently.


    Little Zhe let out a hiss of discomfort, its weak skeleton not quite capable of bearing the weight of Zhanxian and Shangguang Ce.


    Tun Shi Tian, just below Zhanxian in terms of cultivation, let out a screech of effort and pulled up little Zhe with a single, mighty tug, taking up along with the snake Zhanxian and Shangguang Ce.


    Han Xuhan was left at the bottom, almost swimming to keep his head above water. It was not a difficult feat in itself, as seawater could hardly drown anyone capable of flailing their limbs energetically. What posed the real problem were the surges coming from behind, crashing against the first layer of walls and spilling in where he was struggling. They were constantly getting stronger, higher, and faster. The first example of the trials he had faced half an hour ago was a gentle prank compared to this one. Perhaps the scale of the disasters depended on the progression of each sect...?


    "Master! Catch!"


    Han Xuhan quickly committed that realization to memory as he took on a new surge hitting his head by anchoring himself to the wall using Tun Shi Tian''s tail.


    "Hey, little Zhe! Are your joints alright? Oi, little Tian, give his body a checkup!" He yelled amidst the raging flood.


    "I''m okay, papa!" Little Zhe answered.


    Tun Shi Tian had the best sight among them, a natural gift of predatory birds. He quickly observed the snake''s skeleton from top to bottom and shouted, "Just a few small cracks in one joint in the middle of the spine. You''re much lighter than that dead guy anyway. Little Zhe can take it."


    "Okay, pull me- wait, what do you mean ''dead guy''? He''s still alive. Why would I bother risking my life for him if he''s dead?" Han Xuhan said, confused.


    "Uh, I''m pretty sure he''s dead." Zhanxian intervened in the conversation, adding, "he had no pulse or heartbeat, and his body was far colder than yours is, even though you''ve spent more time in the water than him."


    Han Xuhan sucked in a sharp breath and took a second look at the tribulation clouds above to confirm his rising speculation. Since the clouds hadn''t dispersed, Shangguang Ce was definitely alive.


    Ghost cultivators emulated dead people to a degree so extreme? What cultivation technique did these people practice? It seemed so interesting!


    As he was pulled up on top of the second layer of the walls, Han Xuhan got a good look at the situation outside.


    The sky above the Sunrider Sect was like cracked glass. Through the numerous cracks, furious sprays of water spilled onto the floating island endlessly.


    The accumulating water was constantly surging up against the walls while a small amount continued to ebb away at the borders of the island, falling straight down to the sea.


    However, a quick observation was enough to tell that the rate of accumulation was far greater than the rate of leakage due to the plate-like layout of the island, depicting a grim scenario if this situation continued.


    "Well, shit. This can''t get any worse," he muttered as soon as he got his first look at the maze he was about to enter.


    Not only did the walls become higher and higher per layer, the evil-looking instruments occupying them increased in number and size as well.


    Neither the vertical nor the horizontal gap between every two walls was a distance he could cross by leaping....probably. Han Xuhan was not sure how far he could really jump in his current state. However, he did not want to take the risk and find out the hard way that the answer to his doubt was negative. The wall he was standing on was seven meters tall. A fall from that height wouldn''t harm him. But the next wall was at least 12 meters high. He would definitely not be able to climb that from the ground. He would be trapped the moment he fell inside the gaps between the layers of walls, because these spaces were gradually being filled with water too.


    Han Xuhan found himself at an impasse. He couldn''t move forward, he couldn''t return, and he had no time to stand still and strategize either.


    Right at that moment, a silent flash of lightning blinded him. The stench of charred chicken meat wafted into his nose gently. As his sight recovered, Han Xuhan cast a frigid look at the ''dead weight'' of his team.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    All the hair on top of Shangguang Ce''s head had been melted. Part of his face dripped with a fluid of sickening implications. The bones protecting the frontal lobe of his brain were visible in some places.


    Shangguang Ce had been rendered unrecognizable with a single strike of the tribulation lightning.


    "I just had to jinx myself..." Han Xuhan shook his head and quickly went over his knowledge of tribulation lightnings.


    Unless two cultivators pursued the same dao down to the smallest details, one''s tribulation would generally not target the other unless the latter helped him survive the tribulation. As to what the extent of ''help'' was, that was too ambiguous to determine. History stated that the definition of ''help'' deemed improper by the heavenly authority was sort of arbitrary.


    As long as he avoided the splash zone and didn''t provide Shangguang Ce with any sort of healing methods or shields to take on more lightning strikes, he''d probably not be targe-


    "Watch ou-!"


    A second bolt fell from the sky, this one slightly greater than the first. However, just before striking Shangguang Ce, a small fragment of the bolt separated from its path and struck Han Xuhan in the back.


    Tun Shi Tian''s late warning did not work in his favor. Han Xuhan lost his footing from the shock and nearly fell down from the top of the wall. At the last second, Zhanxian caught him by a sleeve and tugged his body down to a sitting position.


    "OH MY FUCKING GOOODDD! THAT HURT! AHHHHHH!"


    With tears of pain streaming down his face, Han Xuhan almost tore off his clothes and tried to leap into the rising volume of water behind them, only to be held back by Zhanxian and little Zhe. Neither had the strength to actually restrain him. But in his current state, he could barely see or hear things, let alone use all of his strength.


    "Master, you can''t swim right now," Zhanxian growled. "Tun Shi Tian, splash water at him."


    Tun Shi Tian instantly flew a meter down the wall where the rising water had already reached. Swooping on the surface of the water, the bird flapped its wings at a rapid speed, hosing Xuhan''s lowered body with waterdrops.


    It brought nothing but discomfort. The burning sensation was bone-deep, not in the least affected by any rudimentary first-aid.


    Thankfully, it had been but a tiny portion of the actual lightning strike. Han Xuhan recovered his bearings half a minute later and staggered back to his feet, his thoughts slightly sluggish.


    Shangguang Ce was still unconscious. His face had been completely disfigured at this point. Han Xuhan knew a thing or two about major breakthroughs. But none of those descriptions matched with a tribulation this vicious. Was it really the result of an accidentally induced enlightenment?


    Something was off here.


    Regardless, he couldn''t exactly investigate what the issue was. The water level was just half a meter below them now. Waves surpassing his line of sight had already appeared at the periphery of the island. It was time to do something, anything.


    Han Xuhan quickly walked toward one of the defensive instruments on the top of the wall, just thirty meters away from where they had been standing.


    "Zhanxian, little Tian, carry him and follow me," he ordered as his pace quickened.


    "Must we do that? You survived the lightning strike because you''re at the fourth layer, unlike the two of us who are still stuck at the first layer. If we get close to him, it''s game over for us the moment the next strike falls," Zhanxian said, bluntly refusing his order.


    Han Xuhan did not find an answer to Zhanxian''s question. Keeping silent, he approached the machine that resembled a blender blade with three giant, scalpel-thin metal protrusions, each of them seven feet long.


    The central component of the machine was a two-segmented circular disk where the root of the three metal blades was inserted within the gap between the segments. Han Xuhan examined it carefully. Soon enough, he found a small mechanism that powered the rotator¨C a tiny qi converter surrounded by a bluish barrier of light.


    Han Xuhan pulled out a thin thread of qi from his body and inserted it into the barrier, hoping to elicit a reaction from the converter, an action he had done several times while using his precious cultivation gadgets back in the sect.


    This time, however, it did not succeed. Rather, a shock coursed through his meridians as if it was a backlash from the attempt. The next second, an even more stunning development took place. A mechanical voice spoke from within the device.


    "Unauthorized qi signature detected. Performing elimination sequence 4.2.7 in five, four, three..."


    Stupefied, Han Xuhan quickly pulled his arm back and punched down on the center of the upper disk with maximum force.


    "Alien threat confirmed. Initiating ''Operation Neutralization''."


    This time, there was no countdown, not that Han Xuhan had expected that to begin with. He had already started running away at his top speed, closer to his minion party than the scarily advanced device.


    But as it turned out, he had underestimated the terror of the device. By the time he had reached Shangguang Ce''s ''corpse'', a strange suction force began to emanate from the device.


    Han Xuhan grabbed the guy just before his feet were lifted off the ground.


    "I can''t fly, AAAHHHH!"


    "Aaahh! Papa, I''m flying! "


    "What is this?!"


    His minions were not spared either. All three of them zipped through the air helplessly toward the metal blades, which had just started rotating with a terrifying acceleration rate.


    This was a pure and absolute killing machine!


    Hunched over on the wall by purely relying on the slippery grip he had gotten on a rough corner, Han Xuhan saw death looming over his shoulders for him and his minions. And that very mental image seemed to finally shock his brain into operating at full speed properly.


    He canceled the summoning cycle of the skeletal monarch technique, making the minions disappear right before the whirling blades could shred them. Two and a half seconds later, Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian leaped out from his back once more. But this time, Han Xuhan kicked them away fiercely, helping them barely evade the scope of the suction force. Tun Shi Tian gripped Zhanxian by a bone and screeched from the effort it took for him to fly against the device''s force field.


    "UGGGHHH!" An inhumane scream was heard as the bird managed to reach beyond the machine''s force field.


    Finally free from the suction, the two minions noticed Xuhan''s wild gestures. Tun Shi Tian carried Zhanxian and flew toward the third wall. Like the second wall, this one also contained similar-looking shredding machines.


    "Zhanxian! Use your qi to attack the blue barrier inside!" Han Xuhan shouted.


    Zhanxian started examining the device, trying to carry out his orders. Meanwhile, Xuhan realized that the water level had risen to seven meters already, now touching his feet. A surge hit him almost instantly, leading to the slip of his flimsy grip.


    Han Xuhan tightened his fist around Shangguang Ce''s collar and embraced the guy heroically. Then he stood up straight for a second with all of his might, gritting his teeth through the suction force coming from the first active device.


    To buy a couple more seconds, he had decided to go with the flow....literally. A larger wave he had seen coming hit his body and pushed him down in the gap between the second and third layers of the walls. Before he could fall down with Shangguang Ce, the suction force of the shredder device doubled down and pulled their bodies up towards it again, their speed somewhat neutralized by the fierce waves of water. But before the two of them could hurtle toward their choppy deaths, a third lightning strike fell from the sky and hit Shangguang Ce with perfect accuracy. Because Han Xuhan had not loosened his grip on the guy, his smaller body was mostly shielded from the majority of the burns. A portion of it still fell on his shoulders, nearly numbing his body once more. Han Xuhan screeched tearfully.


    "Watch out! There is a fourth bolt coming!" Tun Shi Tian''s yell made his bones go cold.


    Death...seemed unavoidable today.

 Chapter 139: Defy Death To Die Another Day

    Regret...was not the major emotion that welled up in Han Xuhan''s heart at the thought of his imminent demise.


    Had he not tried to save Shangguang Ce, perhaps he would''ve managed to survive the flood. However, the feeling he detested the most was guilt¨C and he was absolutely certain that he hadn''t managed to cultivate the mindset of someone who could abandon a kid to his death and not brood over the decision for the rest of his life despite having a fairly decent excuse for his actions.


    He felt partly responsible for the fact that Shangguang Ce''s enlightenment had come through his random bullshit, although he was sure that his responsibility in that was actually negligible.


    His decision to save Shangguang Ce regardless of the risk was arbitrary, impulsive, and definitely incorrect considering his prime purpose was to survive. But he felt the sweetest sort of relief upon realizing that this respectable, disgustingly righteous decision was possibly the last decision he would make in his life.


    It was the type of joy a struggling degenerate felt upon busting a fat one to a good vanilla manga with no questionable tags¨C a pure, unadulterated appreciation toward life, and to himself for realizing that his heart had not been fully corrupted by what he didn''t quite find right.


    Time had not slowed down, but Han Xuhan''s world had sped up. The whirling blades were a mere ten feet away. Shangguang Ce''s molten skin was on his clothes. The stink of burnt chicken was in his nostrils.


    It was a piece of general knowledge among cultivators that Heavenly tribulations struck in a specific method unless something went gravely wrong during the process.


    The first wave would consist of a single bolt.


    The second would strike twice, the third, thrice...


    He had seen Shangguang Ce being struck twice in a row during his return alongside the flood. So the first strike had to have happened while he was on his way out.


    Following that logic, there should be two more bolts raining down on the two of them any second now without giving them much of a recovery time.


    The initial panic in his heart was gradually replaced by a sense of lazy serenity. There was hardly a reason to worry so much, he realized. Reincarnation was real, transmigration was real, heaven and hell were real. Life would not stop for him, or anyone else for that matter. He would start over in another world, perhaps. Death wasn''t so scary now, was it?


    Would there be a temporary state between his death and his next life? Would his non-physical form travel through the underworld? Would there be king Yama, granny Meng and the yellow river? Or would it differ? Was he about to see if any of the religions of his old world actually had it right?


    Angels and demons, divine judgment, karma....Han Xuhan''s thoughts were overwhelmed with imaginations of epic proportions.


    THUMP!


    His reverie was broken apart in a brutal fashion as a fierce kick nearly dislocated his shoulders. It took but a fraction of a second in his enhanced state of mind to connect the dots using the earliest of images that his eyes captured upon focusing on the real world.


    Zhanxian had leaped from the third wall using an aerial boost from Tun Shi Tian. It must have been apparent that he was about to get chopped up to pieces along with his ''meatshield'' within the next few seconds despite the viscosity of the seawater and the forceful waves working as a deterrent against its magnetic force field.


    This, however, was a suicidal move. Zhanxian''s body fell directly under the radar of the shredder and was sucked up toward it at a breakneck speed even before it could fall down in the water. Though the shredder machine itself was already half-submerged in the water, its force field hadn''t weakened at all.


    The kick had awakened Han Xuhan, both physically and spiritually. To his horror, he realized that he had actually accepted a death so miserable without a ferocious last-ditch effort.


    What the hell was that? How did that happen? Did Shangguang Ce''s tribulation infiltrate his own thoughts? But the two of them weren''t even the same type of cultivators! He was supposed to be safe from this guy''s tribulation!


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Han Xuhan venomously cursed the daoist author who had passed down that information. Was that man trying to get kids killed?


    Where was the CCP when you needed their censoring skills?


    Han Xuhan executed two actions simultaneously at the next second. Inside his body, he rushed his remaining qi into a short cycle, canceling Zhanxian''s summon right before a metal blade could break the red skeleton in half. Had he been half a second slower, Zhanxian''s body would have been reduced to a pile of dry noodles.


    While his mental force had been occupied with controlling his qi, Han Xuhan''s body had bent in an awkward, painful angle that had possibly dislocated his other shoulder. This position allowed him to use Shangguang Ce''s body as a surfing board on the newest wave of seawater, making use of the meat-shield''s stocky build which equaled to a large area of impact, thus pushing them further away from the scope of the shredder machine.


    Right at that moment, the second bolt of the third round of tribulation fell on Shangguang Ce, spraying Xuhan and the seawater beneath them with a strange, greyish substance leaking from his body furiously.


    Then came Tun Shi Tian''s excited yell.


    "Master, get ready!"


    Han Xuhan felt a second suction force growing at an alarming speed behind the two of them. It outstripped the second wall''s shredder by a great margin almost instantly.


    Tun Shi Tian had activated another shredder to neutralize the force-field of the first one!


    A faint hum rose in the wind as the second pair of metal blades blurred out from sight, only their friction against the wind left behind.


    The two forces clashed together and fell into a stalemate! The first shredder was closer to them, but the second shredder was much more powerful. Between these two were the constant surges of seawater that pushed and pulled on their submerged bodies.


    Han Xuhan instinctively wanted to cancel the owl''s summon as well. But then he realized that Tun Shi Tian was sitting on top of the device, a safe zone. A bold idea crossed through his mind as Han Xuhan caught a glimpse of the owl from neck-deep water.


    In the direction the chain of events was developing, he wouldn''t make it much further. To begin with, he hadn''t even had a clear idea of what to do once he trapped himself between the force fields of the two shredder machines. So far, he had been acting on instantaneous ideas to barely save his neck. This was already the limit to how much he could plan on the spot.


    Han Xuhan gathered all of his remaining strength in one arm and brutally clawed out a chunk of meat from a recently damaged area of Shangguang Ce''s neck.


    Humans had a meridian running through this portion of their neck, and Shangguang Ce did not turn out to be an alien, thankfully. Even though he couldn''t see it amidst the tumultuous waves, Han Xuhan sensed a sharp flow of qi inside the bloody, mangled flesh. Normal physical attacks wouldn''t damage a meridian, a half-ethereal, microscopic vessel which had tremendous self-healing capability. So he wasn''t worried to see trickles of qi leaking out from Shangguag Ce''s neck.


    He had been subjected to the infamous art of foreign qi control in his body several times in the past, a courtesy of sect master Xuan Zi and Kong Ye. His constant, fucked up development in terms of cultivation had practically forced them to do it, and he didn''t blame them. Other than by certified healers, no cultivator would let their meridians be invaded by foreign mental forces. It was borderline taboo to do so unless they were trying to murder each other.


    Using that experience, Han Xuhan mobilized his mental force and gathered a trickle of qi from their surroundings in vapor form, which he guided into Shangguang Ce''s meridians through the leak.


    "Shit, AH SHIT!"


    Gasping, Han Xuhan discovered how powerful Shangguang Ce''s mental force was. Physically, he was constantly getting steamrolled by the sea waves, and now, his mental force nearly got snuffed out like a tiny candle-flame as soon as it met the onslaught of Shangguang Ce''s own mental force. It almost felt comparable to his experience with Kong Ye and Xuan Zi!


    This guy was an absolute monstrosity! Could he be...


    The third bolt fell from above. Had he not distanced himself just a few seconds ago using that joint-damaging posture, he would have probably not survived that one, judging by the terrible state it left Shangguang Ce in. Now, he was but a charred body emitting smoke, his features barely recognizable.


    Gritting his teeth, Han Xuhan wrested out his qi out of the meridian and dragged along with it the tiniest possible amount of qi that had just been under Shangguang Ce''s mental force. Then he shot it toward the first shredder that was now deep underwater, its blades creating a whirl of seawater so powerful it almost withstood the oncoming waves by thrashing them aside.


    Thankfully, qi was a quasi-ethereal substance that could be influenced by very few corporeal things. The blades, or the whirling water could not stop it from approaching.


    With some difficulty, Han Xuhan landed the thread of qi on top of the central device, and then guided it toward the powerful, humming qi converter, an obvious target due to his prior investigation.


    Half a second later, the blades halted, and the force field of the first shredder disappeared without a trace.


    Han Xuhan''s qi was seen as an alien threat by the shredders, but Shangguang Ce was a disciple of this sect. His qi would be recognized!


    But his relief at managing to avoid death was short-lived.


    At a lightning-fast speed, Han Xuhan and Shangguang Ce were dragged along the accumulating water, toward the third wall where a larger version of the machine was humming with vigor.


    Han Xuhan growled like a wounded beast and used the last bit of his mental force to move the thread of qi inside the deactivated shredder.


    He wanted Tun Shi Tian to do what he had just done and stop the second shredder in time. He was too far away from it to do it himself, his control over qi being barely above average. His mental influence wouldn''t work accurately so far away.


    He managed to make the thread of qi wriggle out of the converter of the first shredder a second later. However, the second shredder had already hit its peak performance, attracting their bodies toward its blades so powerfully that it began to defy gravity.


    Han Xuhan did not need to be a calculating genius to understand that his thread of qi would never make it inside the core in time. Both of them had already been dragged out of the seawater by the force-field of the second shredder, their speed only increasing every decisecond as they were pulled upwards along the third wall. The blades were rotating just a few meters away! Only a second remained before they got chopped into pieces!


    He was so close to the device now! If only he had gotten just another extra second to use his qi to stop the device...


    Han Xuhan closed his eyes and prepared himself for pain.


    Tun Shi Tian screeched in alarm.


    Ah...so that bird did like him, after all. Its voice contained so much pain-


    "UNHAND ME, BITCH!"

 Chapter 140: A Special Physique Is A Great Excuse!

    Han Xuhan''s eyes snapped open in surprise which barely lasted half a second, because almost instantly the force field of the second shredder device disappeared and the two of them fell down into the chaotic seawater once more.


    After accidentally gulping down a good mouthful, Han Xuhan managed to stabilize himself and Shangguang Ce against the third wall. Looking up, he saw a familiar face intensely observing them.


    Short brown hair, typical Asian facial structure, atypical way to display affection and gratitude...Miss Hong Wei had never looked more attractive than right now.


    "Take my hand," she said as she bent downward.


    "In marriage?" Han Xuhan asked in a daze.


    Hong Wei''s intense, glowering expression turned somewhat red...wait, that wasn''t supposed to happen. She was supposed to yell ''Baka!'' and punch him in the face, which in hindsight would have been a more relieving response compared to her original reaction.


    Did I accidentally become a white knight in this girl''s heart?


    What a massive ego boost! Oh Yeah!


    It felt pretty fucking good for some reason, even though he used to hate white knights in xianxia stories passionately. Maybe he''d just hated it because it wasn''t himself inside the story getting all chummy with jade beauties.


    While his thoughts nose-dived in a direction that would most certainly piss off 90 percent of veteran xianxia readers, Hong Wei''s faint blush disappeared.


    "I''ll drown you," she said, back to her original aggressive persona.


    "Calm down, girl. You can drain me all you want-"


    "I SAID I''LL DROWN YOU!"


    "In love? I''m in!"


    Before she could follow up on her furious declaration, Han Xuhan grabbed her hand. With his other hand, he dragged the severely damaged remains of Shangguang Ce through the water and used the body to shield himself from any possible attacks, just in case.


    "I thought you were under the impression that I''m a man," she said while pulling the two of them up. "What''s with the sudden change of attitude?"


    "As long as you keep making such timely appearances to save me, I might just compromise..." Han Xuhan gave her an appraising look that would hopefully piss her off.


    But a creepy smile formed on Hong Wei''s face.


    "So if I do ever turn into a guy...you''re saying..."


    Han Xuhan suddenly recalled all those gender-bender plots in cultivation novels and felt a shiver crawling down his spine.


    He decided not to stoke the fire of passion between them anymore and edged away from the two martial siblings, wary of Shangguang Ce''s next round of tribulation bolts.


    Hong Wei, for some reason, appeared totally unafraid, as if she was unaware of the fact that two cultivators pursuing similar dao would be screwed by the tribulation if they were in close proximity to each other.


    She knelt down over Shangguang Ce''s mutilated body and fed him a small pill, an action that made Han Xuhan''s eyes go wide in shock.


    Wasn''t that forbidden? You couldn''t rely on medicine during a breakthrough! No direct external help could be granted to a practitioner in that state or it would spell his doom!


    Hong Wei seemed to notice his shock and her creepy smirk became even more prominent.


    "Hey, where are your elders? Isn''t anyone going to oversee his enlightenment?" Han Xuhan asked, finding the situation more and more bizarre with every passing second.


    "I need not interfere in a matter so flimsy," said a gravelly voice from behind, making Han Xuhan yelp and turn around.


    A lone man stood not far away from where he had been sitting. It was unknown when this stranger had appeared, but Han Xuhan hadn''t noticed the slightest change in the qi flow in his surroundings this whole time...and that basically spelled that this elder was a really big fish, the sort that could compare with Kong Ye at least.


    "Uh- greetings, respected elder from the Sunrider Sect. I''m Mu Ran-"


    Han Xuhan''s sincere introduction came to a halt as the elder raised one hand in the air gesturing for him to shut up.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    "It matters not what your identity is. While we do not approve of uninvited intruders, you''re a benefactor of our sect since you''ve tried your best to save our disciple. We''d like to overlook your initial offense and welcome you cordially...but the tournament still is in continuation. So forgive our inability to be a sincere host to our benefactor."


    The elder''s style of speaking was borderline obsolete, but the contents of his speech brought Han Xuhan such relief that he found the dialect to be music to his ears.


    "This one thanks you, elder," he said with a polite nod.


    "It was the most painful feat of my life. The tribulation bolts are too scary. And that reminds me, shouldn''t Brother Ce be taken to a safe zone to complete his enlightenment?" Han Xuhan gestured emphatically at the raging sea waves crashing right at the bottom of their feet. The seawater level was already close to reaching the top of the third wall.


    His worried tone did not move the elder, which was apparent from his reply.


    "What tribulation?"


    "...."


    Behind him, Hong Wei started snickering loudly.


    "But...the lightning bolts..." he muttered in a daze.


    "Just another type of disaster that''s included in the tournament." The elder''s answer was as cold as his heart was becoming.


    Slowly, Han Xuhan turned around and faced Shangguang Ce and Hong Wei.


    The mutilated body of his friend had sat up at some point when he wasn''t looking. Shangguang Ce grinned hideously as their eyes met.


    "I must say, Brother Ran, that was very kind of you. Sharing the trial of our sect in the tournament despite not knowing us at all? That takes something special inside."


    It took the entirety of his willpower to not turn red in the face and start beating someone up.


    He simply took a few seconds to digest the revelation and then said, "Oh. Okay. I see."


    Shangguang Ce waited for a few more seconds to gauge his reaction and was promptly disappointed.


    "So....why were you meditating in the middle of these disasters?" Han Xuhan asked, scratching his head. He found it to be in his best interest to revert to his retarded persona.


    "The lightning bolts require one to be in a state of deep meditation to survive the trial unscathed."


    Han Xuhan asked in puzzlement, "Have you taken a look at yourself, brother Ce? I''ve seen zombies that look better than you."


    "...Unscathed spiritually, I meant. The lightning strikes attack your spirit, your celestial form, the disembodied consciousness that you use to traverse inside your dao tower," Shangguang Ce explained.


    "Initially we had the regular plan of action in mind for you. We''d lead you inside and ''extract'' information from you in a way you wouldn''t like. But when the flood trial struck, that plan had to be halted. So I sent little Wei to call for an Elder right before I entered meditation. I must say, it was rather risky to surrender my physical form, unprotected, to an outsider, furthermore a competitor. When my consciousness had returned, I was pleasantly surprised to see your heroic actions under such stressful circumstances."


    There wasn''t anything heroic about my actions.


    Han Xuhan wanted to explain that he had actually run away at the first chance. The only reason he had attempted to save Shangguang Ce was because it was hard to not feel mentally disturbed when someone was slowly drowning to their death right in front of him.


    On second thought, it would probably be advantageous for him to not explain any of that.


    Han Xuhan was about to sigh despondently when he noticed an issue with Shangguang Ce''s recollection of the events.


    The cracks in the sky had opened up AFTER Shangguang Ce had ''started meditating''. He couldn''t have known about the threat of the flood during the middle of his enlightenment. And he most certainly did not know that it was about to happen prior to entering his meditation.


    Shangguang Ce was lying!


    For a second, Xuhan was tempted to point that out, but he reconsidered. Firstly, that would be pretty out of character for his current persona, although he wasn''t sure they were convinced of his act.


    But more importantly, the fact that he was lying meant this could possibly be both a trap as well a chamber of secrets. There were many possibilities¨C were they aware of the exact time when the disaster would strike? Was there a problem with being able to predict the advent of tournament trials? Was Shangguang Ce trying to hide the fact that he was a ghost cultivator? Why did Hong Wei not contradict his claim? Who were they trying to convince-- him, or the Elder?


    The Sunrider sect''s business slowly took up a suspicious flair inside his mind as all the details and inconsistencies lined up.


    He gradually began to find it way too unsafe to spend a single more second here than necessary.


    "Well, since it seems to have been ascertained that my character is as unblemished as the beautiful moon, I would love some help in getting back to my sect. I have sustained several small injuries and some of Brother Ce''s lightning bolts splashed on my body as well. The report I made on your weak defenses has been lost in the flood. How unlucky!"


    "Oh, we''ll be more than happy to help you recover-"


    "Ah, no. That can''t be done. You see, I have a special physique. I require medical assistance from the healers in my sect who are experienced in treating my body. It''s quite a hassle, to be honest," Han Xuhan hurriedly interrupted Shangguang Ce. Looking surprised for a brief moment, Shangguang Ce nodded and gestured toward the Elder politely. The Elder, who had maintained his silence this entire time, spoke up.


    "What kind of assistance do you require, young man?"


    Han Xuhan fell down a deeper rabbit hole of suspicion. From the looks of it, the Sunrider Sect had been here inside the Archipelago for a fairly long time. They were well aware of how things worked here, what the rules and customs of the tournament were at the moment, and even the nature of the tournament''s trials.


    Why was the elder unaware of the fact that they had to jump down or fly above to reach other sects?


    Maybe he was just overthinking it. Shaking his head forcefully, Han Xuhan explained his plan of action.


    "I need you to help me get back to my sect, Elder. Since I reached your sect by falling down from my sect, I should be able to return if I manage to fly up, right?"


    Han Xuhan knew how stupid his logic sounded. But currently, he could think of no other strategy with the clues he had on his hands.


    The elder did not reply for some reason.


    Han Xuhan looked from Shangguang Ce to Hong Wei to the elder, all three of whom had wooden expressions on their face.


    "Yeah...that''s not going to work, at least not that simply," Hong Wei muttered somewhat snidely.


    "Are you aware of what dimensions are, brother Ran?"


    "Should I?" Han Xuhan asked Shangguang Ce in a confused tone.


    Shangguang Ce scratched his nose, seemingly about to say something. But then he apparently reconsidered.


    "What sort of cultivation technique do you practice, by the way? Summoning undead soldiers? That''s not something I see every day."


    Hong Wei''s loud musings brought a wave of panic inside Han Xuhan''s heart. Looking above in the direction she was gazing at, he saw Tun Shi Tian circling them silently.


    He had forgotten to cancel the owl''s summoning cycle.


    Ignoring the urge to cuss, he nodded to Hong Wei''s question.


    "Do you practice any other technique? Ones related to souls or spirits?" She asked.


    "No."


    "Then flying up is perhaps your best bet. Good luck, I guess."


    "Once you''ve been here for a while, you''ll realize how transportation between sects works here. Don''t sweat it, brother Ran. I could have taught you myself, but since you don''t know what dimensions are, we can''t do that."


    Han Xuhan noticed a faint smirk on Shangguang Ce''s face as he spoke.


    Did his retarded persona get exposed?


    Was Shangguang Ce mocking him in a roundabout way?


    Han Xuhan pretended not to notice anything and walked toward the elder while he canceled Tun Shi Tian''s summon.


    "Please carry him near the rift line above, elder," Shangguang Ce requested. The elder nodded curtly and grabbed Han Xuhan''s forearm. Han Xuhan memorized the phrase as he considered the possible implications.


    "Are you ready?" the Elder said, seconds before a mechanical buzz sounded from the elder''s back.


    Han Xuhan had barely finished nodding in affirmation when the elder soared upwards like an arrow.


    While feeling the bursts of wind on his face, something occurred to Xuhan.


    How come he hadn''t broken his back after his fall? From the looks of it, he had fallen a height that could definitely turn someone of his cultivation into a gooey splatter.


    He looked up at the elder dragging him higher and higher, and noticed something that made his heart flutter uncontrollably.


    No, it wasn''t the elder''s handsomeness. He had found himself facing a pair of...thrusters.


    Merely a foot wide, with a metallic sheen, the polished device had stable blue flames coming out of three tubes incessantly...This was absolutely a top-notch piece of technology out of sci-fi novels, attached to the Elder''s back.

 Chapter 141: Monarchs Are Hiding, Chariots Are Burning

    The flood had been weakened by the first three layers of the peripheral walls. The black tribulation clouds had disappeared from the sky, revealing the sun shining brightly beyond. All around, the innumerable cracks in the sky that had opened up to flood the floating island with seawater had disappeared along with the tribulation cloud.


    The trial had come to a conclusion.


    Shangguang Ce and Hong Wei stood on top of the third wall, eyes glued to the sight of two soaring silhouettes overhead.


    Shangguang Ce''s smile broadened.


    "What an odd guy...It''ll be interesting to see where he ends up if he becomes a member of the coalition."


    Hong Wei''s gaze snapped toward Shangguang Ce upon hearing his musings.


    "You cannot be serious! Celestials above! Why would you want to recruit HIM out of all the potential candidates we''ve seen so far? He''s the least likely to be of any use to us. His cultivation is the lowest of them all, his manipulation of qi is barbarically crude, and his behavior is plainly unacceptable in an operation of such caliber."


    Shangguang Ce rubbed his nose absentmindedly while he listened to his martial sister. In the end, he couldn''t help but interject.


    "Hey, that''s going a bit too far. What exactly did you see in his behavior that''s so problematic? He seems like a fairly innocent, kind-"


    "Seriously?"


    Hong Wei interrupted his defense, her tone bordering on ridicule and indignation.


    "Did you seriously think I would be stupid enough to believe that Mu Ran is as much of an idiot as he acts as? Even more importantly, did you actually think I would believe that YOU hadn''t seen through his act faster than I did?"


    "Hey, now, no need to get so worked up, Little Wei. Let our friend keep his strange hobbies. If he finds happiness in being mistaken for a retard, we should respect that. As long as you are aware that it''s a facade, it''ll suffice."


    Hong Wei sighed, seemingly realizing that it would be a futile attempt to persuade her martial brother to change his decision.


    The two of them watched the elder throw Mu Ran''s body at the exact spot he had come out of just ten minutes ago. Mu Ran disappeared silently into the rift lines. The Elder flew downward immediately and landed beside them seconds later.


    "Anything else, Little Ce?" he asked in a monotone.


    "No. Please feel free to return to your chamber, Elder Peng."


    Hearing his reply, the Elder nodded and hopped upwards at the fourth wall, his speed almost difficult to track. Like a grasshopper, he leaped beyond their sight far within the layers of Sunrider Sect.


    "Whatever....But I''ll say this, at least. Don''t mistake him for being a kind fellow. He''ll definitely stab us in the back if the situation turns against us once the existence of the coalition is discovered."


    Shangguang Ce threw a sharp look at Hong Wei.


    "How did you reach that conclusion? Are you sure you''re not holding a grudge against him for making fun of your...Physique?"


    Hong Wei''s lips pressed into a thin line.


    "Let''s talk about his actions after I left you two here. The motion recorders caught him running away almost instantly. What forced him to return was the flood.


    Once he had realized that he had no path left other than to escape further inside the Jade Fortress, he decided to save you.


    It was obviously not out of kindness. He knew that, as competitors, we aren''t exactly a friendly party. He had to have insurance, which could only be you, the only friendly, defenseless acquaintance he knew here. Since you were under the influence of the Soul Crusher Bolts, he must have assumed that you might not survive the flood, seeing your aura is still in the physique transformation realm.


    Which is why he used you as a lifesaving token and brought you along with him while trying to enter further into the fortress. Even a fool could tell that he''d not be welcomed inside if he left you behind.


    Saving you was not his prime objective, it was saving his own skin."


    Shangguang Ce began to clap slowly, his expression half-amused, half-approving.


    "Your neural networks have improved in terms of critical thinking by analyzing your subconscious observations! Good work, little Wei. See why I told you not to change your current body? It''s a gem of a discovery!"


    Hong Wei scratched her throat lightly, an unwilling expression forming on her face.


    "So are you sure you still want him to be a member of the coalition? Our deal with that scheming woman hasn''t ended yet. Drones reported that someone intentionally messed with the Gateway formations here to create a jam just a few hours ago."


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "Yeah, I''m gonna have to agree with you on that one. That is definitely Lady Luo Yi''s handiwork," Shangguang Ce said with a chuckle.


    "She probably wants to send in a few more unsuspecting talents here from the newcomer sects; that''s some dedication I can respect."


    Hong Wei scowled sensing the tone of approval in his voice.


    "Another selfish, greedy, benefit-oriented-"


    "Well, why do you expect anyone to work for us if there are no benefits involved? That''s just natural. I wouldn''t work for anyone if it didn''t involve treasures at the level of this Jade Fortress either. All the talks of our great cause and ideology are still at the stage where you can label them as propaganda. Nobody''s gonna fall for just that," Shangguang Ce butted in before she could complete the sentence.


    "...."


    Hong Wei did not prolong the argument this time.


    "Let''s get ready for the next audition. It''ll be an interesting contrast once we weigh Brother Ran''s actions with the rest of the candidates," Shangguang Ce said, breaking the silence. Then he leaped towards the periphery of the fortress, where the water level had already decreased by a significant margin.


    Hong Wei jumped down into the space between the third and fourth walls.


    Walking towards a direction opposite to Shanguang Ce''s position, she touched her throat once more, this time hard enough to leave fingerprints on the brown skin. A thin thread of qi spun in a particular pathway around the fingers locked on her throat.


    A few seconds later, harsh, intermittent noise came from her throat.


    Bzzzz....Trrrrkk....Bzzzz!


    "Five, five, four, zero, six. The heavens are not above. Two. Wholesale. Correction. Transmigration."


    Through the crushing pressure inside her windpipes, a series of clear, meaningless words escaped slowly.


    A brief moment passed. Then a change took place deep within her left ear canal. The tympanic membrane that is originally supposed to transfer information inside vibrated by itself suddenly, producing a sound that reached her brain directly.


    "Report."


    It was a single word. But that was enough to bring Hong Wei great relief, it seemed. Loosening the grip on her throat, she spoke while massaging the area.


    "Silver level threat. Soul type. Requesting investigation."


    A long silence ensued once she finished speaking.


    "Are you absolutely certain it''s not a mere iron-level mutated soul?" the voice in her eardrum said, breaking the pause. Hong Wei seemed to have expected the doubtful question.


    "99 percent sure. I sensed an ancient, fragmented aura of at least the Dao Integration realm. In the worst-case scenario, it could very well be the hideout of a Monarch."


    "...The task has been published. You shall receive an update exactly forty-eight hours later. Your next code will be-- Jade Six, Gate Six, Two, Two, Infuse, Refinement."


    Containing a sense of urgency, a series of jumbled words sounded in her head, which she memorized carefully. Her left eardrum stopped vibrating as soon as the voice finished speaking.


    Hong Wei caressed her neck, now back to its normal complexion with no fingerprints to be seen, and walked off deeper into the maze of walls.


    ........ ........ ..........


    Nerves taut, Han Xuhan felt his heart beating like a drum as the floating island of the Sunrider Sect disappeared from his sight, along with the Elder who had just thrown him at the empty air above them.


    This time, he was more prepared to face the sudden world of darkness that encapsulated him.


    For a terrifying second, Han Xuhan felt as if he were inside a stuffed toy, his breath blocked by countless soft cotton balls. As panic set in, he tried to push away whatever he was buried within. But the crushing weight disappeared after a moment, replaced by the sensation of slippery substances surrounding his body. He felt as if his body had turned into a mass of noodles, constantly being stretched and mauled inside lukewarm fluids.


    Right at that moment, every drop of qi inside his meridians suddenly went out of control and rushed towards his right hand in a frenzy. Within half a second, even the tiniest drop of his qi channeled out of his palm and disappeared from his senses.


    The sensation of being a malleable piece of noodle went away with his qi as well. Han Xuhan opened his eyes and found himself back to the normal world, falling down towards a....chessboard.


    With his brain back to proper functioning, Han Xuhan observed his fall for a fraction of a second and realized that his acceleration didn''t quite seem as high as it should be under normal conditions.


    So that was the reason why he hadn''t sustained any injuries after falling onto the Sunrider Sect''s island! The basic laws of gravity weren''t consistent in this strange archipelago.


    With a loud thump, he fell down on the ground and immediately tried to perform a roll, ''tried'' being the keyword here.


    "Ah-fuck!" He got back on his feet as fast as possible, cranking a tendon or two in the process. It didn''t take more than a single glance to understand that he had traveled to a new sect this time instead of the Crimson Snow Sect.


    What he had originally mistaken for being a chessboard was actually a vast region of flattened soil. The entire floating island was crisscrossed by long borders made up of mud from one end to the opposite, giving someone overhead the impression of looking at a checkered board.


    Each chunk of land separated by the flimsy borders was square, albeit in very rough measurements. Some squares were slightly larger than the rest, while a significant number of them could barely surround a small shack.


    Countless stalks of weeds and dry roots of crops long harvested decorated the island in every square.


    This place...was a land of cultivation, a slightly different type of cultivation. As a cultivator himself, Han Xuhan didn''t feel welcome here in the slightest. In fact, he started sprinting towards the closest edge of the floating island as soon as he got his first look around.


    But alas! His plan of escape was not meant to succeed this time either.


    He was almost near the edge of the island when a loud, boisterous cheer came from ahead. Following the cheers appeared a swarm of bulls from below the edge, leaping onto the flat region with mighty roars, spraying chunks of soil in all directions without care.


    MOOOOO! MOOOOOOO! MOOOOOOO!!!


    Where the hell did these things come from? How were they able to climb up on a floating island?


    The bulls were gigantic, even the smallest of them twice his height, energy brimming with pulsing muscles. But what drew his attention were not these cattle, but what the cattle had dragged up behind them.


    A chariot on fire had landed at the edge of the island, bound to the raging bulls by meter-thick metal chains. It was the size of a small sea-faring boat, three-storied, stylized, its black polished wooden body smooth as glass.


    While he had been struck dumb by the otherworldly sight, the occupants of the chariot recovered faster upon noticing his presence. Their reaction, however, was rather off.


    "WOW! A new friend!" Screamed a guy whose naked upper body looked too muscular to be real. Each of his arms was thicker than Han Xuhan''s waist.


    "HEY BRO! DON''T RUN!" Shouted a lady whose physique almost rivaled the first guy.


    "Yeah! We come in peace!" Yelled an extremely tall, thin young man whose high-pitched voice was remarkable even amidst all the noise.


    "Wang One, you forgot your lines again! This is our sect. We''re not supposed to say we come in peace in this place!" Someone from the back of the chariot corrected him.


    "Hey, are you HUNGRY?" This time the shout was completely off-topic. But all the occupants of the chariot cheered extremely enthusiastically at this. Several of them jumped down from the top deck, making the ground beneath sink down by several centimeters. Han Xuhan, used to dealing with cultivators far above his own strength, understood how futile further attempts at escaping would be. These guys were all at the late stages of the Physique transformation realm! Not to mention, all of them appeared to have impossibly large physiques, hinting at non-human involvement!


    He decided once more to play the role of an honest man.


    In the blink of an eye, Han Xuhan was surrounded by three giants, each of whom was at least eight feet tall. Han Xuhan felt like a hobbit facing off against high elves.


    "Hello, big brother! Are you lost? Do you need shelter? You can stay here for as long as you want!" One of the giants exclaimed excitedly.


    Another giant, a girl, grabbed his right hand for a handshake so vigorous that it almost dislocated his shoulder.


    "Wow! This big brother sure has a good grip!" She said ''in wonder''. Han Xuhan, whose hand wasn''t even visible within her closed palm, absorbed a drop of manly tear back into his eye.


    "Although we''ve run out of crops, we still have food," said the guy who seemed still fixated on his proposal.


    "But we can''t guarantee the quality of the meat though. Haven''t yet gotten the chance to examine the loot."


    The words registered rather slowly in the back of his mind because he had just noticed one detail that had escaped his observation earlier.


    The fire crackling brightly around the black chariot was not a part of the decoration. It was actively burning down a significant portion of the chariot and becoming bigger every second.


    Loot, huh?

 Chapter 142: Too Many Wangs, Too Many Holes

    "Hurry up, Ling Six! This isn''t ordinary fire! The chariot won''t hold up for much longer."


    "I''m trying, I''m trying! Give me a few more minutes. Oi, Wang Three, hose that area with some water!"


    If a blind person had stood there listening to the intense howls coming from the chariot, they''d have been under the impression that these cultivators were trying to put out the fire on it, or salvage precious resources from it.


    But Han Xuhan wasn''t blind, not yet. He could clearly see that all the occupants of the chariot at present were standing stock-still in various cool poses, their clothes fluttering in the wind. A girl standing on the highest point of the chariot was ferociously slashing at a scroll made of animal skin hanging in the air by itself. After a closer inspection, Han Xuhan realized that she was making a painting.


    Their concern was not for the chariot, it was for the cool drawing.


    The wind was not natural either. One guy at a corner of the deck was practicing a superhuman version of tai chi. His movements produced enormous waves of wind directed at his martial siblings, also further fanning the flames in the process, an issue none of them seemed concerned about.


    Another guy, who Han Xuhan assumed to be Wang Three, sprinted toward the center of the flat island upon hearing the order directed at him. Han Xuhan watched with rapt attention as the heavyweight youth reached the middle of the island and with a mighty roar, jumped up by at least twenty feet.


    Before landing, he bent his body at an angle that would transfer most of his weight to his feet. When his soles came crashing on the ground, the entire central square caved in so low that it disappeared from Han Xuhan''s sight, taking Wang Three along with it.


    A couple of seconds later, he reappeared, dragging out the body of a giant, rubbery shoot of bamboo with him. Han Xuhan couldn''t see where the bamboo was growing from, but that soil had to be the most fertile soil on the planet because the bamboo''s girth alone was the size of his bedroom. A crudely made wooden cork seemed to have been attached to the top of the bamboo. Han Xuhan''s enhanced sight told him that there was a small hole in the middle of the cork¨Cabout the size of a teacup, sealed with wax.


    For a moment, he became confused trying to comprehend what was happening. But the next action of Wang Three rooted Xuhan to the spot.


    "What. The. Actual. Fuck?" he whispered to himself.


    Wang Three had punched into the wax seal and put his mouth on the cup-sized hole on top of the bamboo shoot.


    Then he quite literally began to inflate. It seemed that he was sucking out the air inside the bamboo, which Xuhan assumed had been hollowed out inside for this specific purpose.


    Wang Three sucked in once more, his body now taking the contour of a bloated balloon standing on sticks.


    Right when it looked like he was going to blow up, Wang Three removed his mouth from the hole and vomited out a jet of water. Along with him burst out a powerful squirt of water through the freed hole in the cork.


    Wang Three recovered within a second. His body shrunk back to its original size, the absorbed air and water leaving him simultaneously. His movements spoke of volumes of experience!


    This time he grabbed the squirting bamboo shoot with both arms and ran back toward the chariot, half of which was already about to become ash. The length of the shoot seemed to match the abysmally vast girth, as even after he had reached the chariot, its bottom stayed inside the hole in the center of the island.


    And then Wang Three began his work, happily spraying the flames on the chariot with the stream of water coming through the bamboo.


    Han Xuhan and his new acquaintance were within the splash zone. For the third time that day, he tasted the bitter sea on his tongue.


    "Well, now that the fire is under control, let''s get to know each other, brother....eh, your name wasn''t Wang, right? What was it again?"


    "It''s Mu Ran," Han Xuhan answered the guy closest to him in a distracted manner.


    "Yeah, and you were from this Red Snow Sect, you say? What an interesting name! I''ve never seen snow. I didn''t even know it was red. Those ancient poems in the archives always described snow as white. Did the word ''white'' mean the color red in ancient times? Or have I been reading it wrong my entire life?" Wang Four mused aloud.


    Han Xuhan scratched his head, feeling troubled. Initially, he had tried to explain how he had ended up in their sect. The conversation hadn''t exactly gone according to his plan.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    When he had said that he was not there to rob them, they had replied, "Hah! Like we have anything worth robbing. What could you even find in here? Farming tools? Don''t worry, Brother. Even if you claimed to have stolen anything from here, we wouldn''t have believed you."


    When he had said he was just lost and wanted to return to his sect, they had replied, "How can we let a guest return without a meal? Please stay for an hour while we prepare one. We''ll use the freshest ingredients from the loot!"


    Wang Four had decided to give him a tour in the meantime. The two of them awkwardly continued the conversation while the others were busy calming the bulls and salvaging the food they had looted from another sect.


    He had come to realize that these cultivators were the very epitome of the template ''musclehead''. Their extremely friendly behavior stemmed from the fact that this was their first appearance in this worldwide tournament, and no one they had met so far had been exactly impressed by their behavior.


    Their counselor was a frigid man from the Forestheart Foundation, who had left after exclaiming, "A bunch of backwater farmers who got lucky! Your sect shall certainly become well known once you''ve firmly grasped the lowest position in the rankings!"


    In the end, Xuhan decided not to remark on the issue and said, "What''s the name of your sect, brother Wang Four?


    "Err....that''s...." Wang Four rubbed his head in response, rousing Han Xuhan''s suspicion.


    "Honestly, we decided to officially form a sect only after our master got invited to the tournament. So we haven''t yet come to an agreement on what to name our sect," Wang Four explained hesitantly after seeing his expression.


    Han Xuhan took in a deep breath and put the topic in the back of his mind.


    "Where is your master?" he asked, realizing he hadn''t sensed anyone that powerful on this island yet.


    "He went on a walk. Said he needed to meet some old friends and visit a nursery, haha! You know how old masters tend to have fun!" Wang Four winked at him with an honest smile.


    "I know a fairly large number of old Masters, and that''s...not how they have fun; that is unless the kids in the nursery are their direct descendants," Han Xuhan said, a confused expression forming on his face.


    A nursery? In a place like this? Oh well, maybe some sects did have married couples amidst their members.


    "Or maybe you''ve been reading the clues of whether someone is happy wrongly your whole life, hehe," Wang Four remarked in a supercilious tone.


    "After all, them old monsters always speak in riddles and puzzles."


    Han Xuhan understood one more fact at this point. Brother Wang Four fancied himself to be a philosopher. It was extremely unwise to argue with him.


    "Aaand....it''s done!" The painter girl declared from afar suddenly. The two of them turned to look as the rest of the members of the sect jumped down from the burning chariot at once.


    Five seconds later, the chariot broke down into countless pieces and piles of ashes.


    "Sweet ride, that one. The Void-Hammer Sect is gonna miss it for sure!" Brother Wang Four added as an afterthought.


    "So that chariot was a part of the loot too!" Han Xuhan couldn''t help exclaiming out loud.


    "Of course. How else could we get a beauty like that?" said the painter girl proudly while walking over towards them in long strides.


    Han Xuhan blinked twice and found himself covered by her shadow. He had to crane his head at a 45-degree angle to maintain eye contact with this eight-foot tall girl.


    "I included you in the painting too, Big Brother! Look!" She said, thrusting the scroll in his hand enthusiastically.


    "This means you¡¯re family now!"


    Han Xuhan took a deep breath and turned his gaze to the painting. He hadn''t been expecting much, and he was surprised by the discovery that it was actually a decent painting. In fact, the painter seemed to have put the maximum effort and care into the tiny area that constituted his image. The rest of the picture was drawn methodically, with measured strokes, cutting corners wherever possible and the details kept to a bare minimum.


    "Wow...I didn''t know I looked that good. This painting is amazing!" Han Xuhan said, trying to match their enthusiasm. He felt quite touched...and overwhelmed by the unnecessarily friendly behavior of these cultivators. Why would such a sweet bunch fail to make friends?


    A distinct voice in a corner of his heart tried to explain that it probably had something to do with their blatantly disrespectful robberies, but Han Xuhan chose to ignore that voice for now.


    "Ahaha, thank you, Big Brother. Master once said I can make even a tapeworm look adorable. Making you look good was nothing compared to that!"


    "...By the way, are those bulls stolen too?" he couldn''t help asking, trying to change the topic. Had that remark come from another person, Han Xuhan would have taken it as an insult and retaliated viciously. But from this giantess, it sounded too innocent for him to hold a grudge.


    "They are not stolen," Wang Four proudly answered. "These handsome lads were robbed, right under their owners'' noses in broad daylight. There is a significant amount of difference. Only thieves steal. We''re not something as cowardly as thieves."


    "Enough chitchat about these insignificant things. The rest of us haven''t introduced ourselves yet to Big Brother. What impression would he have of us if we stay so distant? Come on, everyone. Introduce yourselves one by one!" Another guy who had just leaped from the chariot butted in from afar as he rushed toward them, the rest of his martial siblings hot on his heels.


    Han Xuhan felt like a prized animal in a zoo. To remedy the issue he threw out a suggestion.


    "Guys, all of you are aware that I''m on a tight schedule here. Any moment, a new trial can strike us. I need to return back to my sect as fast as possible. So why don''t we mix up the introduction a bit?


    Brother Wang Four, didn''t you want to give me a tour around the sect? Let''s talk while we''re on the tour!"


    Han Xuhan was feeling quite curious about this strange sect. The entire island contained no housing or other necessities that an organization would require to function as a sect. He did not want to be at the receiving end of another flood, or a heavenly tribulation caused by sudden enlightenments.


    Perhaps if there was a hidden shelter somewhere on this island, he''d be able to dodge the next trial of the tournament.


    And he was not disappointed by what was revealed to him soon. His suggestion having received a warm, positive, response, he was escorted towards the center of the island immediately.


    "Hello, little brother Ran! I''m Wang Six," said one guy while patting him on the head as they walked.


    Han Xuhan''s expression must have been unpleasant because the guy quickly asked, "Do you not pat each other''s heads when you introduce yourselves? That''s what we do in our village!"


    Han Xuhan shook his head despondently.


    "Man, no wonder all those girls from the Arrowless Sect looked so upset! I suspected something was amiss but they ran away so fast before I could ask what''s wrong."


    "Yeah, this one guy from the Void Hammer sect got really red in the face and yelled stuff like ''such humiliation'' and ''I''ll have vengeance'' when I patted his head after defeating him," said the Ling Six, the painter girl.


    Wang Six sighed heavily. Along with him sighed several others whose experience with head-patting seemed to be similar.


    One by one, Han Xuhan got to know the rest of the disciples of this nameless sect on their way to the center of the island. All the males were named Wang, as he had suspected. And all the females were named Ling. The only way to remember them was by their last names, the numbers, not that it was of much help. The numbering seemed completely arbitrary. It wasn''t a serial of their age, size, or cultivation level. Their master, who had bestowed on them their names sure seemed like an ''eccentric''.


    Han Xuhan was broken out of his socializing frenzy by an over-enthusiastic Wang Three.


    "Look, brother Qing. It''s my hole! Wanna go down?"


    "No, he doesn''t! Brother Qing will go visit my holes first!" Said Ling Nine.


    "No! Mine first! It''s the biggest one!" Exclaimed Wang Four.


    Han Xuhan found himself at an impasse.

 Chapter 143: Artificial Cultivation

    Han Xuhan walked a few steps forward while they bickered, distracted by the fact that they were standing very close to the central square of the island, near the bamboo shoot which Wang Three had pulled out through a hole in the ground.


    The hole was not arbitrarily made, nor a consequence of Wang Three''s mighty stomp, contrary to his assumption. Now that he was close enough to notice more details, he realized that the hole was almost square in size. He could see the borders of the sqaure running parallel around its mouth.


    Straining his neck, he took a peek down and saw a remarkable scene. The hole extended a long way downward, reaching all the way to the bottom of the floating island. The bamboo shoot actually went down through it into the sea, its roots possibly at the rock bottom on the seabed!


    How long was this thing?! At least close to a kilometer! Han Xuhan suddenly felt glad that he didn''t have to learn physics, chemistry, and biology in this world. He would rather end up as a cripple and die in a ditch after being brutally mutilated than spend a lifetime deciphering the science behind this world of cultivation.


    He found out that the tunnel''s walls were mirror-smooth, save for some thick roots and shaved rocks that popped out from several areas. Then he noticed the circular mouth of an underground tunnel halfway down the hole and a lot of things suddenly clicked in inside his mind.


    No wonder there weren''t any houses, pavilions, or other necessary elements of a typical sect on the surface of the island! This entire floating island was designed like a beehive!


    On its surface, they planted crops and messed around freely, but below inside the island lay the real sect!


    "Enough of looking at that brat Three''s hole. The honor of hosting the first guest cultivator shall belong to my hole!"


    A shovel-sized hand grabbed his shoulder roughly and pulled him back before he could discern more details. Turning his head around, he realized that their argument had come to an end.


    In the end, Ling Six, the painter, had won by ''exercising her right'' as the spiritual leader of the team, a fact that everyone else had objected to half-heartedly.


    Han Xuhan was dragged along with her dozens of meters away into a different square area.


    Keeping him standing on the borders, she stomped hard on the center of the sqaure the same way Wang Three had a few minutes ago. This time, Han Xuhan was close enough to notice the movement of the qi rushing through her feet, running into the ground to open up the hole beneath the surface.


    A magical lock opening technique? Truly sophisticated!


    Were these guys really as simple as their behavior suggested? Or was he just being paranoid again? After all, every sect was bound to have its special side....right?


    As the ground beneath her feet sank, Han Xuhan locked his sight on the soil that formed the shallow surface, extremely curious to understand where the relocated soil would end up once the hole was visible.


    The soil broke down into tiny units with its descent. As if an invisible rock-crushing machine was grinding its way downward, the grains of sand were plastered at the sides of the tunnel, leaving a smooth surface behind. The entire process took less than a second, after which Han Xuhan found himself gazing at the sea through a new hole.


    How?! What was the mechanism behind this technique? Did these people really live in tunnels even back in their home turf?


    Ling Six had hopped backward right beside him after her stomp. Seeing his look of abject wonder, she seemed downright proud.


    "Hmph! This is nothing! How can a measly island of this size capture the true charm and magnificence of our home? Come on, Big Brother! Little sister will let you discover a whole new world of fun!"


    With a tug, she dragged him down with her as she leaned over and let the gravity do its work. The wind rushed to Han Xuhan''s face, almost blurring his sight. Judging by the depth of the holes, Xuhan concluded that it''d take them roughly 4 seconds to cross past the bottom of the island. After the first second had passed, he opened his mouth to scream in terror.


    Then he felt an abrupt change in the direction of their fall.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Judging by the noise and his limited vision, he deduced that she had kicked the wall of the tunnel to guide their fall into a slightly different angle.


    THUMP!


    Han Xuhan had the wind knocked out of his lungs, cutting off his scream. But he had already guessed her method. Hence he wasn''t surprised to find himself crouching at the edge of a horizontal tunnel. Ling Six had used the momentum of the kick to land into the mouth of this horizontal hole on their way down.


    "Your way of living sure is impressive, Sister Ling."


    "Ahaha, it''s nothing compared to our daily lives back home. We had to cut a lot of corners while redesigning this island since the material they allotted to each sect wasn''t enough to copy our sect entirely."


    The two of them roamed the narrow tunnel at a brisk pace. Ling Six let Han Xuhan take the lead, since walking behind her in there was pretty much the same as taking a hike with blindfolds on. The only source of light in the tunnels were small orbs that radiated a yellowish light, similar to bright sunlight at noontime. The orbs had been embedded on the ceiling of the tunnels every few feet away, banishing the darkness from the otherwise stuffy tunnels.


    "You know, that''s a terribly enormous amount of labor you''ve been talking about," Han Xuhan said. He was slowly getting used to his current situation. His thoughts now organized, he decided to fish for precious information and plot a scheme or two for the near future.


    "According to the Celestial Gateway Spell, all the participant sects in the tournament are supposed to reach the Titanfall Archipelago at roughly the same time. So how come your sect got here so long before we did? Don''t tell me this redesigning didn''t take long."


    Ling Six scratched her scalp with a dirty finger and replied, "Celestial Gateway technique? What a domineering title! Is that how you got here?"


    "...Yes."


    "Huh, you must hail from a pretty large sect, Big Brother. Red Ice sect, was it?"


    "Something along those lines, yes," Han Xuhan quickly glossed over the issue and asked curiously, "You mean there''s a different way of reaching this place? And the organizers of the tournament let you use it? No...it isn''t just you. Even the Sunrider Sect definitely used the same method!"


    "Well, this Sunrider Sect must be like us as well. This method was allowed to Sects that had too few disciples, from what I hear. Master said we don''t have enough disciples to use the method other sects were using," Ling Nine answered.


    "But wouldn''t having too few disciples disqualify the sects, to begin with? Otherwise, any random practitioner could take in a couple of disciples and claim to be a participant!" Han Xuhan said in puzzlement.


    "Nah. The organizers wouldn''t be that dumb. Master thinks very highly of them. He even addresses one of the old grandmas from the Forestheart Foundation as ''Miss''! That''s the highest amount of respect I''ve ever seen him give to anyone. Usually he calls his fellow cultivators Assh-ahem!"


    Ling Nine''s pause made Han Xuhan pause in his stride. But before he could form a thought on it, she loudly yelled in his ears,


    "Look! Behold the majesty of artificial cultivation! The true pride of our sect!"


    Following the direction she was pointing at, Han Xuhan found himself staring at a wide, circular cavern where several tunnels had met.


    Instead of embedded orbs, the lighting in this area was the result of dozens of orbs floating gently, free of gravity. They emitted a gentle orange light. A faint, fragrant mist encompassed the entire cavern.


    The overall design prodded the PTSD he had earned from his experience in the foggy region of the Holy Land of Laws, making his body turn stiff for a good few seconds.


    Under the miniature suns, the floor of the cavern sported a sparse growth of vegetation. The colors of the plants were a bit off¨C with bright yellow leaves and dark purple trunks full of gleaming red ringspots. On Earth, these bushy plants would be considered severely afflicted by viruses, bacteria, and fungi.


    To top it all off, the roots of the plants had pushed their way out of the soil stubbornly like some halophytes on Earth, creating an entire miniature jungle made up solely of roots around the vegetation, obscuring nearly half of the bodies of the plants. It would have been pleasantly interesting to look at had the grey roots not been covered by a layer of dirty, slimy substance.


    "Artificial cultivation, huh?" Han Xuhan remarked, his mind still processing the information he had collected.


    "Yup! Master said this is the most interesting project he has ever worked on¨C to make plants that aren''t dependent on the sunlight at all. So far we''ve had a small success, and this is the result! Don''t tell anyone though," Ling Six finished her words in a hurried tone as if suddenly remembering that this project was probably not meant for the public eye.


    Han Xuhan bobbed his head up and down, trying hard not to recall his knowledge of basic botany. It would just screw things up in his head if he wanted their project to make sense scientifically.


    "Don''t worry, Sister Ling. Nothing related to this type of cultivation falls under my area of expertise. I have no idea what makes this project of yours special. I''ll forget it in a jiffy."


    Ling Six''s face took on a look that could be labeled as ''displeased''. Han Xuhan bit his tongue, realizing that he shouldn''t have treated their secret project so lightly.


    Dammit! He had forgotten to use his biggest trump card¨C Social skills!


    Thankfully, it didn''t take Ling Six much time to recover and return to her bubbly persona. But for the rest of the trip, Han Xuhan noticed the small details in her behavior suggesting a sense of distance between the two of them.


    Glossing over the secret ''leucoplast supremacy'' project, she took him to visit their underwater plantation, which turned out to be very close to Wang Three''s hole. The hollowed out giant bamboo was the main supplier of the water on their island, especially for the irrigation system.


    "Don''t the saltwater harm the plants? You couldn''t have grown so many halophytes in the short span of a few days," Han Xuhan enquired at one point while watching streams of seawater being pumped out of the bamboo''s body through needle-sized holes.


    "We use special qi to nourish the plants, from the root to the topmost leaves. Our plants grow faster, stronger, and smarter than regular breeds. Our expertise in purifying harmful substances from plants is unmatched; at least that''s what master''s manual says," Ling Nine answered.


    "It is one of the reasons why we chose to reside underground. Our cultivation techniques are beneficial to the plants in our surroundings as well."


    "So hypothetically, would you be able to purify poisoned animals and humans?" Han Xuhan asked, finding this topic to be rather interesting compared to all the agriculture stuff.


    Ling Six stroked her chin with a surprised expression on her face for a while before answering, "I have no idea! Never gave it much thought."


    The two of them then proceeded to travel the entire expanse of tunnels within the floating island, visiting hole from hole, meeting new acquaintances who awaited their arrival eagerly. He got to eat some fairly delicious leafy food, saw some very beautiful plants, decided to forget some plants in order to evade nightmares, and finally spent an entire hour trying to comprehend a lecture on how agriculture is the only way to save civilization from utter ruin.


    His gait unsteady and gaze unfocused, Han Xuhan climbed back outside from Wang Twenty-Four''s hole using some outgrowth of roots on the wall of the tunnels.


    Loud yells and a scent of charred meat invaded his chain of thoughts as he reached the surface of the island. Squinting under the rays of original sunlight, Han Xuhan found himself facing a...party.


    "Man, wish I could change sects," he grumbled wistfully.

 Chapter 144: No Party For A Lone Explorer

    The sounds of drums, excited shouts and boorish cheers made it hard to concentrate. Excusing himself from his banquet bros, Han Xuhan slowly walked toward the closest edge of the floating island and cast his gaze around, his thoughts mired in too many problems he was trying to solve.


    Unlike the Sunrider Sect, surviving the floods, lightning strikes and other similar trials was much easier in this unnamed sect. The disciples here fought against most trials by utilizing the ''Heavenly Plowing Technique'', which turned out to be earthbending of some sort, mostly used to block the mouths of the tunnels after taking shelter inside.


    The few trials that couldn''t be faced that way, for example- earthquakes, were pretty much ignored by these folks. They had great confidence in their tunneling skills, which made them fearless in the face of earthquakes that could break a regular Richter scale. After surviving one himself, Han Xuhan was certain that the earthquakes were just the result of someone carefully messing up whatever spell kept the island airborne.


    Taking a bite of the deliciously roasted chunk of meat he had been given at the party, Han Xuhan reorganized his priorities. He needed to get back to his sect. He had spent an entire day getting tossed around and he didn''t want to repeat the same experience anymore.


    He devoured the piece of meat and sucked out the calcium-rich paste inside the bones while watching the sunset by himself. The partymongering disciples of this strange sect didn''t interrupt his silent feast. He had told them about his experience in the Titanfall Archipelago so far. Perhaps the subtle hints that he had laid down in his story had hit the mark. He needed some space, a period of rest, and mental peace to get back into form.


    Feeling slightly charged up, Han Xuhan got to work while the sun disappeared into the horizon. He had put together several plans to achieve his objective. While everyone else was busy cleaning up the mess they had made on the surface of the island, he climbed down into Wang Three''s hole using the bamboo spearing the tunnel.


    Wang Three was inside, toiling amidst a garden of vines. Seeing Han Xuhan return, he came out of the garden with a wide smile on his face.


    "Hah, I knew you''d return! I noticed how curious you were when I was showing you the specialties of this bamboo. It isn''t every day a regular cultivator gets to behold a plant that''s about to become a heavenly material!"


    Han Xuhan carefully selected his words as he replied to Wang Three''s honest exclamations.


    "Brother Three, I don''t really understand how precious this bamboo is. I couldn''t care less about its price or status as a heavenly material."


    From his experience with Ling Six, he was fairly certain that his belittling tone wouldn''t be received well. But he was even more unwilling to be seen as someone lusting after others'' treasures.


    Han Xuhan didn''t give Wang Three the space to think or change the impression he had created in their hearts.


    "I just wanted to ask something, Brother Wang Three. Is the root of the bamboo embedded into the bottom of the sea?"


    Wang Three''s smile faded. He nodded thoughtfully a moment later.


    "Yes. Do you want to see it?"


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    Han Xuhan stiffly laughed. "No. I''m a bad swimmer. What I want to know is... do the spatial cracks that lead to other sects exist near the seabed as well? Can we reach that spot without being transported to another sect''s area?"


    These questions were produced by the culmination of the clues he had gathered so far about the structure of the Titanfall Archipelago.


    Wang Three''s expression changed from suspicious to conflicted in a heartbeat.


    "Big brother, I''m afraid I can''t tell you that. Rules are rules. If it was up to me, I would escort you back to your Red Sleet sect. But the counselor left an observation method here, as it was a part of their duty. Helping you so directly will certainly penalize our sect, even leading to disqualification in severe cases. And you''ve seen how few disciples we have in our sect. We cannot afford to lose anyone in the preliminary round."


    "What sort of observation method did he leave here?" Han Xuhan asked curiously.


    Wang Three shrugged.


    "No idea. But the first time we broke a rule, he instantly appeared outta nowhere looking all pissed. Since master wasn''t there, he threw his weight around very cockily. Not a very likable fellow, if you ask me."


    "What rule did you break?"


    "We tried to break the island according to the square borders we made on the surface. Easier to irrigate the soil if we just divide them all up and keep the broken pieces half-sunken into the sea. Makes the scenery better, makes the portraits Ling Six draws cooler, and really solidifies the archipelago title."


    "...What about the floods, though? How would you survive that?" Han Xuhan said, once again finding his thoughts jumbled by the antics of his giant friends.


    Wang Three tapped his temple with a wizened expression.


    "Wang Four theorized that since the flood can happen all the way up at this height, we''ll never be able to evade it anyway. However, the most damage these floods can do is during the initial period when we''re caught unprepared. Once we take enough preparations against the accumulating water, we can survive just fine. Even if a few disciples screw up, it shouldn''t be deadly for anyone at our levels. So we can actually stay very close to the surface of the sea and not be affected by the flood at all. By staying so close to the sea, the initial flooding will never gain enough momentum to damage us! We can easily see it from there if there are odd phenomena in the sky and forcibly sink the entire island beneath the water! Hahaha! The sudden waterfalls that appear in the sky wouldn''t be able to strike us at all!"


    "....Oh. Uhh- let''s get back to the original topic, Brother Three. So you''re saying that there are specific rules barring you from telling me the answer to my question?"


    "Yup! The rules are very clear about cooperation between sects in the preliminary round. It is absolutely forbidden."


    "But didn''t you break those rules by telling me that method to survive the floods right now? Is the counselor going to turn up any moment?" Han Xuhan asked, casting his gaze around shiftily.


    "Ehehe, you see Big Brother, I never said it was a valid method. After all, it came out of Wang Four''s head. We were just trying to have fun and see if it was actually possible to break the island into so many pieces. At that time, the rules we broke were some jargon about damage to property and exploitation of loopholes. Just a bunch of bullcrap to stop us from getting ahead of others, if you ask me. Those damn organizers probably never even thought of this possibility. Not that anyone could blame them. Nobody ever thinks of the stuff that comes out of Wang Four''s mind."


    "...I see. I guess I shouldn''t give any such ideas to my people either."


    Wang Four laughed dimly at Han Xuhan''s remark.


    "That aside, I can''t jeopardize the chances of my sect''s victory. That''s not a decision I have the authority to make. You could ask Ling Six or Wang One. If they consult the rest of my martial siblings and feel helping you is worth a penalty, then...."


    Han Xuhan held up a hand, stopping Wang Three''s despondent answer.


    "I do not expect, neither do I deserve, such treatment, brother Three. If it is forbidden, I would never ask you to break the rule. Just answer another question of mine and it will be enough."


    Wang Three nodded with a relieved smile.


    "Feel free to ask. But I''d advise you to save your breath. You don''t need to leave this place in a hurry. We can accommodate you here for as long as it takes your sect to figure out how to travel between the sects and send out a search party for you. Minimum hospitality is not prohibited by the rules. You''ll have to just hunt your own food and gather the small necessities yourself. Why bother trying to look for vague clues from questioning us when your entire sect is competing to master the exact same thing? Leave that stuff to them. Have fun here with us! Let''s Party!!"


    Han Xuhan shook his head after considering his offer for a second.


    "As tempting as that sounds, I have cultivated this small habit of being an active party in the face of all problems. Do you know when the next flood will hit the island? Can you tell me?"


    Wang Three remained silent for a long time, probably going through all the rules their counselor had laid down before leaving.


    "I do not and I cannot," he answered in the end, making Xuhan''s guts clench up.


    "Okay, if that was it, let''s go visit Ling Seven''s herb garden. She said she would require someone to guard the tunnel the herbs are in very soon," Wang Three added, patting him on the back with an unnecessary amount of force.


    Han Xuhan, nearly about to throw all caution in the wind and execute his final strategy, suddenly felt something was off.


    Would require someone to guard it....very soon, eh?


    A wide grin bloomed on his face as he cheerfully followed Wang Three.

 Chapter 145: Try Some Crack

    "Keep still, keep still, little land


    How I wonder if you''re my friend


    Up above the sea so high


    Like an island in the sky."


    Han Xuhan was spitting out the improved verses under his breath to ward off the fear coursing through his body.


    He wasn''t a particularly good climber. So it did feel rather unnerving when he took a look above and below his current position, hanging off an overgrown node of the bamboo spearing the floating island.


    He was approximately a hundred meters above the seawater. The island above was more than 200 meters away. From the experiments he had done so far, this seemed to be the border of the safe zone, free from the invisible spatial cracks that could transfer him to another sect.


    Taking out the last pebble from his pocket, he closed one eye and focused on a spot just a dozen meters below. He would not have had the dexterity or strength to accurately throw a pebble at that distance had his cultivation been a couple of realms lower. To the current him, it wasn''t much of a challenge.


    Strengthening the grip his toes had on the grooves of the node, he loosened both hands to rotate his body into a more suitable position for the throw. His fluid movements were the result of repeating this exact procedure on every node he had passed on his way down here.


    Han Xuhan carefully pulled his right arm back and threw the pebble at his targetted spot. He wasn''t surprised by how accurate the trajectory of the pebble was, almost exactly how he had pictured it to go.


    Due to the frequent, dangerous stunts he was being forced to take on, he had discovered roughly how much his body had improved. His ability to calculate data, exert physical force, control his newfound strength and handle the effects of adrenaline pumping through his veins had improved by a significant margin.


    Having practiced throwing these pebbles at nearby targets for so long, he was inhumanely good at it. It was as if his very learning capacity had undergone a qualitative upgrade after cultivating for so long.


    Due to his excitement, he almost slipped, three of his toes losing their grip from the groove they had dug in.


    A flood had just struck the island fifteen minutes ago. The bamboo''s body was slippery, its grooves and nodes especially so. But Han Xuhan had gone through his own plan anyway as soon as the second flood had ended.


    He had discovered the hard way that there wasn''t an obvious pattern to the floods striking the island; no specific period of time in between, no particular behavior of the seawater that suggested a flood was coming.


    The cracks in the sky simply opened up suddenly and unleashed numerous fountains over the floating islands. The only information he had managed to gather was that the flood was the most common type of trial in this round.


    Wang Three had led him to two different tunnels in the last two hours, both times with the excuse that he had to guard the tunnels against something. Both times, the ''something'' had turned out to be a flood. It was enough to clue him in that there was a way to predict when a flood is going to hit. He just didn''t know how to figure out what the method was.


    Regardless, he was grateful enough to Wang Three and his martial siblings for their indirect guidance.


    "Well, there goes the last pebble. Tun Shi Tian,


    Zhanxian, prepare yourselves," he ordered as soon as the pebble disappeared into thin air right at the spot he had thrown it at.


    From the beginning of his descent down the colossal bamboo, he had tested his route by throwing these pebbles collected from the island. A majority of the pebbles had disappeared exactly around this area.


    The phenomenon gave birth to several problems in his mind.


    If this region, nearly a hundred meters above the seawater, was where the spatial cracks were, what about the sky? Where did those spatial cracks come from? And why was there so much seawater on the other side of the cracks?


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Maybe the entire floating island was surrounded by spatial cracks. After all, back in the Sunrider Sect, the Elder had indeed managed to throw him into a crack in the sky. That was how he had ended up reaching this place.


    So what relationship do the airborne cracks have with the sea below?


    He had no idea.


    For now, he had to continue forging his own path.


    "Zhanxian, are you ready?"


    "....Yeeeeahhh," the skeleton effortlessly hanging on to the node drew out its answer quite unenthusiastically.


    "Excellent. You''ll follow the trajectory of the pebbles I threw in that direction," he said while pointing the spot out.


    "And Tun Shi Tian, you''ll follow the trajectory of the last pebble. Any questions?"


    "Nope!" Tun Shi Tian answered a bit too cheerfully, flapping its wings right above his head.


    "Okay. On my count ¨C THREE, TWO, ONE, GO!"


    Han Xuhan finished his countdown in a rush. Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian exchanged a deliberately slow look and sighed.


    The first to leap was Zhanxian. Tun Shi Tian followed his fall closely, in case his trajectory went awry.


    The extra caution turned out to be unnecessary. Zhanxian''s cultivation came in handy as the skeleton was able to exert the required amount of force to traverse the horizontal distance. Gravity did the rest.


    Without a sound, Zhanxian disappeared at just the spot where the pebbles had. Tun Shi Tian dived away a second before that and hurtled toward the spot fixed for him.


    Half a second later, Tun Shi Tian too, disappeared into the void.


    The dim moonlight did not help his tense mental condition. In all four directions, vast emptiness greeted him. The knowledge that he could move in none of these directions made it harder to keep his thoughts calm and collected.


    Sticking his body close to the bamboo, Han Xuhan counted the passing seconds.


    One.


    Two.


    Three.


    .....


    Fourteen.


    Fifteen.


    Immediately, he canceled the summoning cycle of the skeletal monarch technique. Then he restarted it after another five-second delay.


    Tun Shi Tian flew out from his back, followed by Zhanxian who grabbed Han Xuhan''s shoulders tightly upon being summoned.


    "Recount what you saw, down to every detail- no wait, let''s return first," Han Xuhan said, remembering a certain useful technique he had used to suppress his minions'' rebellion.


    "Yeah, let''s go inside our dao tower," Zhanxian said fearfully.


    Han Xuhan narrowed his eyes at the skeleton''s usage of ''our'' instead of ''your''. But he refrained from addressing the issue, canceling their summon once more.


    He couldn''t obviously sink into meditation at his current position. So he started climbing back up at a rapid pace, using a chainhook he had found lying beside the burnt remains of the Void-hammer sect''s chariot.


    To ensure that his footing wouldn''t slip, Han Xuhan had smeared a handful of soil every few feet on his way down.


    Like a spider, he almost walked up on his way, his body in a horizontal position. Throwing the chainhook from node to node, he crossed the nearly two-hundred-meter distance in two minutes.


    With a heave, he emerged from Wang Three''s hole and landed on the ground in the superman pose.


    "Uwaaah, my hand! Ughhh!"


    The landing pose, as badass as it had looked, turned out to be injurious to his health.


    Cursing silently and massaging his throbbing knuckle, Han Xuhan gave a stiff chuckle while facing the crowd that had been observing him from the mouth of the tunnel.


    "That was a neat pose, Big Brother! Do you need some herbs for your fist-"


    "We can''t do that, Wang Six. That would be counted as breaking the rules."


    Coughing loudly, Han Xuhan waved off their concern.


    "Guys, I''m a cultivator too, remember? Injuries like this are too minor."


    "Well, master said it''s often the minor injuries that accumulate over the years and destroy your body. So you should probably not assume that mindset, brother," Wang Six said while the rest of the Wangs and Lings nodded like chickens.


    "That was very enlightening, Brother Six," Han Xuhan said gratefully.


    "Wait, did that fall under helping you too?" Ling Nine suddenly exclaimed.


    All of them shiftily looked around, trying to prepare themselves for the appearance of their counselor.


    After half a minute of silence, everyone''s expression returned to normal.


    "Man, these rules are way too ambiguous to follow. Where is your rulebook anyway?" Han Xuhan asked.


    "There is none." Wang Three shrugged.


    Han Xuhan rubbed his forehead and excused himself from the gathering, distancing himself from the hubbub. All of them wisely avoided bringing up the fact that Han Xuhan had just descended down the giant bamboo using their loot, the chainhook, just in case that notified the counselor that Han Xuhan had taken advantage of a loophole by ''stealing it while the others were pretending to look away''.


    Sitting down, he entered deep meditation, his consciousness appearing in front of his dao tower soon. Inside, Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian awaited him in their own rooms.


    First, Han Xuhan entered Zhanxian''s room and mentally touched the skeleton''s avatar.


    A few seconds later, his vision was replaced by the familiar, abyssal darkness that occupied the route between sects, inside the spatial cracks.


    It lasted less than a second this time, light appearing once more around him as his skeletal body fell toward the ground slowly.


    Zhanxian was screaming his head off and flailing his limbs in a panic the whole time, making it hard for Han Xuhan to properly observe the sect below him. Once Zhanxian fell, he did his best to memorize everything he could see around him.


    Sandy area, houses made of rocks, at least a couple hundred disciples, two old men walking over toward him lazily. One of the old men made a strange gesture in the air suddenly. Han Xuhan felt his limbs and body snap into a ramrod-straight posture.


    But before the old men could reach him, his sight was replaced by the familiar walls of his dao tower, indicating that Han Xuhan had canceled his summoning cycle from the other side.


    "Not our target," Han Xuhan muttered as he left Zhanxian''s room to enter Tun Shi Tian''s abode.


    Zhanxian hadn''t taught the bird how to cast the memory-sharing technique yet. So he merely let it recount its experience.


    From Tun Shi Tian''s descriptions, the sect it had traveled to turned out to be the Void-Hammer sect. The owl''s enhanced vision had noticed the name stitched on a flag in tiny letters.


    Han Xuhan suddenly recalled a problem. When he had first met the Wangs and Lings, they had appeared from a direction almost opposite to the spot where Tun Shi Tian had entered. It was very far away from the bamboo and unless the bulls drawing the chariot could fly, their leap onto the island had to be from an area just below that edge of the island.


    How could both cracks lead to the same sect? Or...


    The clues all suddenly connected inside his mind one after one, finally revealing to him the true picture of the twisted space of Titanfall Archipelago.

 Chapter 146: Comprehending A Gargantuan Mechanism Of Nature

    "The spatial cracks are mobile!" He exclaimed out loud immediately upon opening his eyes, punching his own palm vindictively. Thankfully, his hand had recovered from the damage received during his Superman landing. Had it been otherwise, he would have had to forget about any more climbing for tonight.


    Standing up, He started pacing back and forth energetically. Things were finally making sense now!


    The rifts in the air were definitely moving around, carrying the paths to other sects with them everywhere. Back when the disciples of this unnamed sect had returned after robbing the Void-Hammer sect, the rift that led to the Void-Hammer sect was at one side of the island, just below the edge.


    But later when he had led his minions down along the bamboo, the rift leading to the Void-Hammer sect had moved way lower, just a hundred meters above the sea.


    More importantly, in the period between those two incidents, there had been three rounds of floods, which would be impossible unless some rifts within the seawater moved up above the island.


    No wonder the water pressure of the leaks in the sky was so powerful! There had to be spatial rifts deep down the sea to spurt out such powerful bursts of water.


    Han Xuhan glanced upwards. Every time he had travelled to other sects, he had fallen from above, an experience also repeated by his minions.


    It could be taken for granted that there were spatial rifts in the sky as well, almost always at that too.


    The picture in his mind gained a bit more clarity.


    Taking the floating island as the center, countless spatial rifts or cracks were continually revolving in a specific orbit. The reason why the island managed to stay afloat could very well be these rifts! If the gravitational pull from the other side of the rifts remained active, then the floating island would obviously be pulled into all 4 directions because of the rifts.


    This island was afloat by the pull of gravity canceling itself!


    This immediately answered the question why his fall from the overhead rifts hadn''t been fatal. Why had his fall slowed down halfway?


    Because the gravitational pull of the overhead rifts had become active the moment he appeared, working furiously against his falling momentum. But the gravity at the bottom was negating it weakly too, which practically manipulated his fall into a slower descent than normal.


    That meant that if he could detect the movement of the spatial cracks, he could easily predict when the next flood would hit. Not only that, but he could also predict the advance of a thunderstorm, tribulation lightning and other similar disasters. One could also keep an eye on the openings of the spatial cracks to guard against invaders too!


    This was a vast, magnificent mechanism! Absolutely incredible!


    "Hehehehe," Han Xuhan chuckled in deep satisfaction, proud of himself for figuring out such an intricate design by himself.


    "Five seconds ago, I was but a blind man on a tightrope. Now, I know when the rope will get cut off." Muttering nonsense in excitement, Han Xuhan bent down and picked up two handfuls of weeds and pebbles from the ground.


    Seeing his sudden activity, the curious Wangs and Lings chilling on the other end of the island jogged over to him.


    "Big brother, did you truly discover something substantial? Congratulations!" Wang Three said, his tone torn between appreciation and curiosity. "What did you learn?"


    "Can''t say," Han Xuhan responded tersely. "Might break the rules if it ends up helping you somehow."


    "Ai, those accursed rules!" Wang Four spat on the ground indignantly.


    "Doesn''t feel very good to be at the receiving end of that sentence, does it?" Han Xuhan said cheerfully.


    All the Wangs and Lings emphatically shook their heads in agreement.


    Right at that moment, the dim moon in the sky suddenly disappeared. All of them looked up in unison. The stars started blinking out one by one. Within a mere half minute, absolute darkness encapsulated the sky.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Yet even in the abyssal emptiness above, Han Xuhan glimpsed movements of something sinister. He could see it, but he could not describe what colour it was, or what its shape was, or which direction it was moving at. It was akin to the vision one would see upon suddenly closing their eyes.


    "A sense tribulation!" Someone among the crowd hissed. The terrified shout dragged him out of the reverie he had unwillingly entered.


    Sense tribulation?


    Han Xuhan had no idea what that was, but he was not at all eager to find out.


    Sprinting crazily, he slipped inside the nearest tunnel and huddled up in a corner while the other occupants of the tunnel worked seamlessly to block all entrances.


    Spells after spells were cast, the earth moving in rhythm with the mobilized sea of qi flowing out of the disciples.


    "What is a sense tribulation?" he asked one of them as soon as they finished sealing themselves in.


    The girl thought for a while before replying, "I suppose this won''t break the rules since you''d know about it anyway once your cultivation reaches a bit higher."


    Han Xuhan listened carefully, feeling joyous that this too wasn''t information to be kept a secret.


    "One of our seniors underwent three consecutive breakthroughs in a life and death battle a few days ago, reaching the peak of the physique transformation realm and attracting the heavenly tribulation on the spot.


    "That senior didn''t realize it was a heavenly tribulation in the heat of the battle since master never taught him about transcending a major tribulation at that scale. He was crippled as a result. From then on, Master has been teaching us about all sorts of tribulations. The sense tribulation happens to be one of those.


    "Amidst the set of tribulations we must transcend to reach the soul reformation realm, the sense tribulation is a tough one. I cannot recall the details right now, but it''s one of the few that can actually kill you on the spot if you fail."


    Han Xuhan let her finish without interruption. He didn''t need a lie detector to confirm that she had avoided giving away any crucial information concerning the tribulation. He wasn''t so ungrateful as to hold that against her.


    Thanking her, he settled down inside the tunnel and prepared for the tribulation to pass. He was determined to see the sunrise tomorrow from his own mountain peak.


    The trial took up an entire hour to pass. The Wangs and Lings sharing the tunnel with Han Xuhan chatted together, their demeanour as relaxed as ever. Someone suggested playing Immortal Slayer to pass the time.


    Soon, all of them were sitting in circles of threes and fours, trading cards in battles of qi and strategies.


    Han Xuhan decided he needed to get back to work as soon as the trial ended. It had absolutely nothing to do with his terrible eleven-time losing streak. He was not salty at all. He most certainly did not rage quit with gritted teeth, suspicious of his opponents'' gaming ethics.


    Outside, the moon had revealed itself once more, accompanied by the sea of stars. Most of the mouths of the tunnels were still sealed, their occupants either resting or cultivating inside.


    Swinging the chainhook, Han Xuhan surveyed the entire periphery of the island using his stone-dropping method, looking for any new spatial crack that might have moved close during the last hour.


    He found only one by the time he completed the tour. After sending in little Tian, he came to learn that it led to a small sect that was in complete disarray after being repeatedly ravaged by the trials. Only a handful of disciples were despondently guarding a few tents.


    "You should''ve seen their faces when I appeared above them, hahaha! Oh, the clear fear in their eyes was such a scrumptious treat!" Tun Shi Tian screeched demonically, flying around in high spirit.


    "What was the name of the sect? Did you see any emblems?"


    "There was a white tortoise drawn on each of the tents. I also saw a bunch of patterns on their uniforms. No idea if those meant anything. Looked like a foreign language."


    Han Xuhan nodded approvingly at the owl''s thinking process. It felt good to work with someone whose intelligence could be relied upon.


    Done with the peripheral region of the island, he visited Wang Three''s hole once more and climbed down the colossal bamboo. This time, he didn''t stop even after discovering that the spatial cracks he had discovered earlier had moved up by a hundred meters.


    On his way down, he threw pebbles in all four directions, sometimes even upwards just in case one might have shifted there.


    Every time he discovered a crack, he sent down a minion to investigate what lay on the other side.


    Constantly counting seconds, summoning, unsummoning, absorbing rich qi to replenish his meridians...it all became nearly too extreme an excursion to handle with his early fourth layer cultivation.


    Sects after sects were discovered by the three of them, only to disappoint them every time. He even found the spatial crack that led back to the Sunrider Sect. But there was no sign of the Crimson Snow Sect amidst the dozens of new discoveries.


    Twice, he had to scurry back up to the island after realizing that his pebbles were suddenly hitting the sea directly regardless of the directions he threw them in.


    Both times, fierce columns of seawater had followed in his wake as if targeting him specifically.


    After making countless adjustments and changes on his route, he was finally able to reach the surface of the seawater. For half a minute, Han Xuhan stared at the blue expanse all around, tiny waves caressing his feet as he hung from the lowest visible node.


    "Nope, no more saltwater baths. NOT VOLUNTARILY!"


    Shaking his head at the very thought of getting wet again, he started climbing back up, occasionally throwing pebbles above to ensure his path was still secure.


    On his journey upward, he ended up racing against the first rays of sunlight where he lost once more. By the time he climbed out of the hole, sunshine had long marked the flat island with its warm presence.


    "Should we check the sky for spatial cracks?" Tun Shi Tian asked, sounding tired.


    "Even if we find anything in the sky, how are we going to enter it? You''re the only one capable of flight here, little Tian." Han Xuhan shook his head and stared at the rising sun for a long time, internally debating his next decision.


    "At this point, there is only one other strategy left for us to take."


    Han Xuhan took a good look around him. The tunnels were still silent, their inhabitants occupied with their own business. He was tempted to go bid all of them a hearty farewell. But that would probably take up too much time.


    "Oh well, I''ll see them in the upcoming rounds anyway. Why am I getting all emotional at a temporary goodbye?"


    He dived back into Wang Three''s hole, sliding down the bamboo smoothly. This time, he knew exactly where he had to go. Other than ensuring his route was safe on the go, he didn''t stop for once.


    It had been way too long since the next trial. Any moment now, something troublesome could appear.


    He came to a stop just 50 meters above the sea. Taking out his last pebble, he threw it at a familiar region in the air.


    The pebble disappeared.


    "Tun Shi Tian, check what''s on the other side again," he ordered.


    The owl flew in. He went through the routine. Wait fifteen seconds, cancel the summon, reactivate the summon, and finally, interrogate the minion.


    Tun Shi Tian reappeared behind him soon and reported without waiting for the question.


    "It''s that blue castle again! You''re not thinking about going back in there, are you?"


    "Yep."


    His reply succinct, Han Xuhan took one last look back at the floating island above before kicking the node he was standing on with all of his strength.


    For the third time, he entered the spatial cracks of the Titanfall archipelago. However, this time he knew what lay on the other side.

 Chapter 147: Secret Exchange With A Suspicious Party

    "Excuse me, fellow cultivators. I''ll be occupying the field of your vision for a few minutes, minding my own business. It would be great if you did the same," he declared loudly while falling from the sky.


    The target audience of his declaration, Shangguang Ce and Hong Wei looked as surprised as he had expected them to be.


    Getting back to his feet, he rubbed off the dirt from his clothes and waved at them in a gesture of friendliness.


    "Please, don''t mind me. Keep doing your job. I''ll be gone in a jiffy!"


    His insistence on each of them oiling their own machines was ignored, judging by the enthusiasm with which the two disciples of the Sunrider Sect approached him.


    "Was the undead bird-uhm, never mind, have you managed to find your way to your sect, yet, brother Ran? Or are you still blindly jumping from sect to sect?" Hong Wei said.


    Han Xuhan noted down her abrupt change in inquiry. She had noticed Tun Shi Tian''s appearance in the sky just a minute ago, it seemed. Since that was followed by his own reemergence, she had managed to link the two incidents and correctly guessed that he had sent the owl in as a scout. Despite understanding that, she had taken a step back to display her ignorance of the fact that he was, in fact, not jumping between the folded regions blindly.


    Perhaps Hong Wei was trying to make a statement here.


    Nevertheless, it was of no concern to him at the moment.


    Shangguang Ce rummaged within his robe and took out a small, square-shaped piece of blue crystal from a pocket.


    "Here, I wanted to give this to you, brother Ran. Last time you took your leave too fast and I didn''t have the chance to hand it to you," he said, pushing the crystal into Xuhan''s palm insistently.


    Han Xuhan took a good look at the crystal.


    "Thanks, brother Ce. But what am I supposed to do with this thing?"


    "It''s a contacting method. After you manage to return to your sect, we can contact each other through the crystal."


    Han Xuhan''s eyes brightened. A magical gadget! He simply adored these foreign, unscientific inventions.


    "Whoa! How does it work?" he asked in excitement.


    "You put it in your mouth and suck on it," Shangguang Ce answered.


    "Wow....I- I''ll try it later, I guess." His enthusiasm was killed by the way Shangguang Ce worded the process. Try as he might, he couldn''t figure out if there was a hidden meaning to that description aside from the obvious, dirty one. Thinking too much about it brought him nothing but discomfort.


    "So what do you plan to do here, exactly?" Hong Wei said, still keeping up her act.


    "Ah, right, almost forgot what I came here to do. Fellow cultivators, can I borrow your elder for a few minutes again?"


    On his way here, Han Xuhan had realized a serious issue. The elder of the Sunrider Sect had been very kind in his treatment toward him in order to repay his ''act of selflessness'' while saving Shangguang Ce from drowning.


    Both parties had ended up helping each other. So why didn''t any of the counselors pop out to stop them from breaking the rules? If his experience with the unnamed sect was true, they had definitely broken a handful of rules.


    How come there was no backlash? Not even a warning!


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Were the disciples of the other sect lying this whole time? Or was there an even more sinister plot at play here?


    This would be an excellent way to test that for one last time.


    "Borrow the elder?" Shangguang Ce''s eyes crinkled in a silent smile.


    "Sure! Little Wei, go call the Elder here."


    Hong Wei disappeared behind the walls in a flash. Han Xuhan closed his eyes and meditated for a couple of seconds, summoning Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian in a row.


    "Do they have their own consciousness? Or do you control their mind with direct orders?" Shangguang Ce asked, sounding deeply interested in the Skeletal Monarch technique.


    "5000 spirit stones," Han Xuhan declared.


    "What?"


    "If you want to buy this technique to summon undead soldiers, it''ll cost you 5000 spirit stones."


    Shangguang Ce''s expression turned a bit stiff. Throwing his hands up in the air, he said in a surrendering tone, "Forget I ever asked. My apologies for being nosy!"


    "The price is open for bargaining. Don''t give up so fast, brother. Tell me what your highest bid is. I''m sure we can come to a settlement."


    Shangguang Ce opened his mouth to say something, only to close it shut and stare at Xuhan fixedly.


    "You''re seriously trying to sell your core technique to me? I thought you people had taboos..."


    "Excuse me, but when exactly did I say this is my core cultivation technique? And what do you mean ''you people''?"


    "...Never mind. I don''t have 5000 spirit stones. In fact, I don''t even have a single spirit stone on me currently."


    "Well, you''re too broke to be investigating other people''s cultivation techniques then."


    Han Xuhan harrumphed snobbily and was about to order his minions to get to work, but Shangguang Ce stopped him.


    "I do have a trade offer, though."


    "Ah, nice! Now you''re speaking my language, brother Ce. What do you want to trade? Let''s see it."


    Shangguang Ce craned his neck, glancing in the direction Hong Wei had disappeared. Then he closed his eyes, one of his outstretched palms clenched into a fist.


    A familiar, audible popping sound reverberated through the air, making Han Xuhan''s brows jump upwards in surprise at the implications.


    Did this guy just casually use spatial manipulation techniques? Aren''t such techniques supposed to be impossible to learn at their cultivation level?


    Shangguang Ce might have been a late-stage physique transformation realm cultivator, but that, in no way, filled up any requirement to execute spatial techniques!


    Or was this a unique ability of ghost cultivators?


    Han Xuhan was not dumb enough to think that Shangguang Ce''s secretive gestures were involuntary. This friendly, modest youth was definitely a crafty fellow. His shifty behavior was a silent statement of the fact that he didn''t want Han Xuhan to speak of this little trade, especially around Hong Wei.


    What a hotpot of schemes! This Sunrider Sect was really a troublesome territory.


    The object that had appeared in Shangguang Ce''s palm turned out to be a scroll. In front of Han Xuhan''s eyes, Shangguang Ce unfurled it and gave him a glimpse of the title, as well as a few lines of description. The rest of the contents had been blurred out by some magical technique, a common method to ward off the thievery of the contents.


    Sensing Space: A Beginner''s Guide


    ¡°The method inscribed within this manual allows the practitioner to sense space. It''s theorized to be immensely helpful for cultivating techniques related to space, time, and physical dimensions. The lower your cultivation is, the harder it will be for you to comprehend its contents. However, it is not outright impossible to gain a basic understanding as long as you have some talent.¡±


    ¨C Han Fei


    Sunrider Sect


    Celestial Armour Galaxy


    Publisher''s words:


    Patriarch Fei is an illustrious cultivator whose comprehension of spatial laws and techniques is considered unmatched in the galaxy. He is also highly reputed for having taught some of the best cultivators ever seen in the history of the Sunrider Sect. Please note that when he says you can understand his manuals regarding spatial concepts as long as you have some talent, he is using his supremely talented disciples as benchmarks for the basic qualification. Be kind to yourself and tackle this manual with the utmost optimism you can assemble. Otherwise, you''ll only learn to hate it.


    "Heavens! This manual seems too precious! How could I be shameless enough to trade it for the price of my beginner-level cultivation manual?"


    Han Xuhan was a very honest young man. He didn''t want to scam Brother Shangguang Ce, especially when the other party was willing to sell him such an invaluable manual, regardless of the price.


    In fact, Han Xuhan was so honest that his hands instantly, automatically tried to grab the manual despite what his mouth spouted.


    "I admire your honesty, brother Ran," Shangguang Ce said, his grip on the manual hardening in response to Xuhan''s tugging.


    "That is why I am willing to offer this manual to you, in exchange for your skeleton summoning technique, as well as a favor."


    "Name your favor!" Han Xuhan generously proposed, still tugging on the manual insistently.


    "Can we shelve that part of the contract for the future? We don''t need to fix all of it right now..."


    Han Xuhan fixed his gaze on Shangguang Ce''s face and let go of the manual immediately.


    "No deal. I am too smart to fall into such measly traps, hah!" He declared proudly, pointing a finger at himself.


    "Last time I signed a contract without reading all the terms and conditions, I got into lifelong debt. Ain''t falling for that again!"


    Seeing Shangguang Ce''s expression darkening, Han Xuhan quickly added another sentence.


    "Not that I think you''re going to entrap me in some kind of an illegal, unfair deal; but can you blame me for being cautious, brother Ce?"


    Shangguang Ce shifted on his feet uncomfortably at his questioning tone.


    "You know what? I''ve got just the idea of what to do. Right now I don''t have the entire cultivation manual of my undead summoning technique with me. So how about I return to my sect and then contact you with this crystal thingy. We can settle the deal properly that way," Han Xuhan proposed, his eyes catching Hong Wei''s return from within the distant walls.


    Shangguang Ce nodded in agreement. The two of them exchanged a brief, secretive look and waited for Hong Wei to come closer.


    "Hey, why do you two look like you just had a dick measuring contest?" Hong Wei said as soon as she got within earshot.


    "My, my, lady Wei....You must have extensive experience in this dao. How did you know?" Han Xuhan asked in amazement.


    "Do you even know how shifty you two appear as of right now? All those whispers and secretive glances at each other, hands in your pockets..." Her eyes roved over Shangguang Ce, who had just hidden the scroll inside his robe.


    "Haha, brother Ce is just embarrassed that he lost in the contest by a very, very, very large margin. Don''t give him a hard time. Now, where is your elder?" Han Xuhan asked in a brash, confident tone.


    "....He''ll be here in a few minutes."


    "Great! Can''t wait to see what''s he packing!" He exclaimed, turning toward his minions.


    "Zhanxian, I''ll leave the bottom to you. Little Tian, you''ll handle the top. We must not miss a single inch! Let''s go!"

 Chapter 148: Demonic Enlightenment

    "Whoa! You were right little Tian. This place is unrecognizable!"


    The Crimson Snow sect had undergone a tremendous change while he had been exploring the archipelago.


    The mountains looked smaller, wider, their narrow peaks flattened by a significant margin.


    The original sporadic formation of the mountains had been altered, possibly by using the third-level domain of the Celestial Gateway Technique.


    On average, four mountains had been attached together in each direction to form shielded regions at their center.


    Multiple joint mountains had been placed mirroring the same design to recreate a central region in the island that could be quickly reached from any direction.


    It wasn''t a perfect formation, of course. The sizes of the mountains varied. Some of the central regions were more shielded than the rest. Some regions were too vulnerable to trials like floods and earthquakes. And heavens have mercy on those living on top of the peaks....those guys were in for a ''shocking experience''.


    Some new mountains had also been erected for convenience, he realized after a headcount. Now the Crimson Snow sect sported approximately thirty-two proper mountains as well as half a dozen slender domes.


    Canceling Tun Shi Tian''s summon, he swaggered into the redesigned Crimson Snow Sect, the sweet sentiment of returning home bubbling uncontrollably within his heart.


    He had truly accepted this sect as his own at some point in his life during the last few months. He didn''t exactly love the sect, not with all the complaints and bad experiences he had had here. It was a strange amalgamation of feelings.


    On his way, he realized that the housing system hadn''t been designed arbitrarily. The residences on top of the mountains belonged to the elders while the residences in the central regions surrounded by three to four mountains belonged to the disciples.


    A fair share of residences had also been moved to the shielded parts of the hills, mostly safe from the destructive force of the floods.


    On his way, he encountered numerous disciples working their butts off clearing weeds, making smoother roads, building temporary homes, and cooking meals in giant vats.


    Not wanting to raise a fuss, for now, Han Xuhan lowered his face and slipped into a moving crowd nonchalantly, helping them carry a giant bundle of recently cut logs.


    From their discussions, he found out that the new design of the sect was being regulated by the nine stars of their generation since the senior disciples were not here to lead them and the elders were practically there on a picnic, bound by the rules not to interfere.


    Luo Yi had handled the aftermath of throwing him down from the sect with great expertise.


    "It''s easier for disciples to understand the rules after gaining hands-on experience. Other counselors would never do this, but they''ll not help disciples learn the ropes here either. As Daoist Tang has said, right now we''re short on time and I must leave to solve the traffic problem. So consider my actions a favor. If nothing else, your martial brother Han Xuhan will gather quite an amount of precious information on the inner workings of your neighboring sects. I haven''t thrown him that far away from this sect. Maybe he''ll even manage to find his way back..."


    According to a disciple vehemently expressing his dissatisfaction with her ethics, that had been the gist of her explanation to them. He also learned that Luo Yi had left her pet beast at the center of the sect and hadn''t returned yet with further instructions. The disciples were not harboring a favorable attitude toward her.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Halfway on his tour around the sect, he finally found the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak. Its position being unnecessarily prominent was the key to his speedy discovery.


    The Heavenly Hailstorm peak had been moved to one of the riskiest areas, surrounded by low hills on two sides and another small mountain doing most of the shielding.


    Expression darkening, Han Xuhan slinked through the gap between the domes and found his own hut right at the entrance of the center of the three mountains. A quick search inside calmed his nerves.


    Everything was intact, in place.


    Changing his attire, Han Xuhan exited his house with a mouthful of dry snacks, feeling immensely refreshed.


    My Ran''s house was just a minute''s distance away. The door turned out to be locked. Pressing his ear against the wall, Han Xuhan heard the sound of deep, steady breathing coming from inside. Was this guy asleep? In such a critical time? Why not go and explore this strange, interesting archipelago?


    The moment that thought formed, alarm bells started ringing inside Han Xuhan''s mind.


    Since when had he discarded his principles for surviving in a xianxia world?


    Why was he suddenly so insistent on exploring the unknown and having adventures? Isn''t hiding in a cave inside a powerful sect the best option here?


    Han Xuhan reflected on his recent actions for a long time, standing still in front of Mu Ran''s house.


    It seemed that his personality had undergone a subtle change in the last few days, which was especially prominent during his adventures in the archipelago.


    What could be the reason behind this change?


    He needed answers to a lot of questions, and he knew just the person who could provide him with what he needed.


    Kong Ye''s home was on top of the only mountain in their area. Han Xuhan knocked heavily on the door of his residence and had to wait for half a second only before the door was opened wide.


    "Good morning, master."


    Kong Ye''s gaze was fixed on his face for three full seconds, surprise brimming in his eyes, his jaws going through the same motion as his door.


    "Well done, disciple Xuhan. Whatever method you may have used to return, it is commendable by the virtue of your timing. My worries were not necessary, it seems." Kong Ye recovered fast and welcomed him in with a wide smile growing on his face.


    "Come. Let''s have a proper chat."


    Sitting down on a comfortable mat, a teacup full of a foreign, sizzling-hot, dark drink thrust into his hand, Han Xuhan began his story.


    As usual, he had prepared his script beforehand by editing out a significant amount of incriminating details. But what he really appreciated was the fact that despite some of his occasional slip-ups throughout the briefing, Kong Ye wore the look of sincere trust seamlessly, ignoring any discrepancies in a direct, pronounced manner.


    ''I see through your lies, but I will not expose them. Trust your master.''


    An unsung message, a subconscious hint, a very clever way to condition your familiars.... Han Xuhan was impressed.


    This type of manipulation could be quite useful in managing his minions, he realized.


    "And so, my minion finally managed to locate the rift that led back to this place. It was actually not far away from the area where I had first traveled to, right on top of the Sunrider Sect. Their elder used his jetpa-er...jade-smooth metal gadgets and helped me fly up and jump into the spatial crack in time."


    Kong Ye nodded in acknowledgment, yet silently spent the next entire minute gazing outside through a window, seemingly digesting the story.


    "This unnamed sect you speak of...take me to visit them sometime in the future. They sound like a very interesting group of fellows. I really want to have a dao debate with their master." He broke his silence with a surprising topic, adding, "Not to mention, I must thank them for their kind treatment to you in particular. What a curious thing to do..."


    "I will remember that," Han Xuhan answered with a nod, his eyes narrowing a degree for the fraction of a second.


    "Your exploration aside, we do need to address a more important issue here."


    Han Xuhan straightened up at that. He knew what was coming, and he turned out to be correct.


    "Your enlightenments...they have affected you in a subtle way, my senses tell me."


    Han Xuhan was about to nod, only to stop short as a detail in Kong Ye''s observation registered in his mind.


    EnlightenmentS? Plural?


    Seeing his eyes widening, Kong Ye chuckled.


    "Glad to see the change hasn''t affected your intellect. Yes, you''ve gone through multiple enlightenments. The first one was right in front of us, the one where sect master Zi himself stood as your dao protector."


    One finger raised up to show the count, Kong Ye continued.


    "That was a major enlightenment, as well as the most orthodox type of enlightenment. There are several other types, and I''m going to neither discuss nor guide you to any of them, except the other one you''ve experienced."


    "Why not?!" Han Xuhan blurted out.


    There were multiple types of enlightenments? If he had had two of them without even trying to, could he try and experience the rest as well? How much of a boost would that give his cultivation?


    But his indignance vanished as soon as he heard Kong Ye''s next words.


    "Because all the other types of enlightenments are considered to be demonic. And had your luck been more....extreme, you''d have ventured down a dark hole whence few ever make it out. Based on my understanding of what happened during your tour, the extreme orthodox factions like the Northwestern Templers and Buddhist sects could either kill or imprison you for your second enlightenment session."


    "....."


    "That''s right. I know you''ve guessed it by now. That long stretch of confusion you fell in when you were under Shangguang Ce''s tribulation trial, trying to save his life?" Kong Ye smiled devilishly.


    "That was your second enlightenment, one of the most abhorrent methods ever discovered by those who pursued artificial cultivation in the great river of time."

 Chapter 149: Enlightenment Versus Breakthrough

    "Interference in someone''s tribulation in good faith isn''t exactly a crime. But taking on the brunt of tribulation strikes yourself at that? That''s when you get yourself inseparably attached to the tribulation of the other person. That''s when you mutate along the path of your partner, not your own road. That''s when you fall under the same condition, the same rules as your partner does."


    Kong Ye''s voice was akin to thunderclaps stinging his eardrums.


    "Your friend Shangguang Ce was quite possibly under an artificial tribulation constructed by the mechanisms of this tournament....or it might actually have been a genuine tribulation. It isn''t rare for tribulations to strike a cultivator when he''s comprehending a sacrilegious scripture disapproved of by the Heavenly Dao. Him being a ghost cultivator definitely implies a possibility of this sort.


    Your interference and share of his trial must have delegated part of his enlightenment to you, a harsh rule of nature."


    Han Xuhan contemplated his memories during that incident. The sudden avalanche of intrusive thoughts, the uncontrollable flow of urges inside his own mind....the symptoms did match what he experienced in his original enlightenment, although not by a very large degree.


    "The demonic cultivators who devised this method took advantage of this rule of nature and went around looking for unsuspecting cultivators undergoing tribulations. They interfered while shouting righteously that the cultivators under the tribulations needed immediate assistance. They stole the cultivators'' thunder, both literally and figuratively. Delegating a major portion of the tribulation''s burden on their poor targets, they enjoyed the fruit of countless minor enlightenment sessions, good fortunes that you can receive only by surviving the strikes of the heavens."


    Han Xuhan listened attentively. It was a very interesting concept. No wonder these aspects and incidents regarding heavenly tribulations were never taught in their regular lessons from the elders!


    Young disciples in harsh situations were very much likely to try this method out as a last-ditch effort to overcome their difficulties. The temptation of rapid improvements in cultivation without the necessary hard work, resources and luck was too intense to ignore.


    "Judging by your situation, what you received must have been a very tiny portion of the enlightenment. I can''t sense much of an improvement in your cultivation or your dao heart compared to the last time I saw you," Kong Ye finished speaking, his eyes fixated on an area above Han Xuhan''s head.


    "That reminds me, master, what is the difference between an advancement made through breakthrough and an advancement made through enlightenment?" He asked, addressing the issue he was most concerned about.


    Kong Ye continued to gaze vacantly at empty space.


    Han Xuhan was familiar with this disconcerting habit of his teacher. Silently, he awaited for Kong Ye to break out of his daze.


    A few seconds later, Kong Ye''s gaze refocused on him. "My apologies, disciple, I was busy examining your foundation. Did you say something?"


    Han Xuhan patiently repeated himself.


    Kong Ye took a moment to organize his answer and began explaining.


    "The most obvious one is that once you make a breakthrough in cultivation, it comes purely from your own efforts, through your interaction with qi and through the instructions of your cultivation manual. It''s a methodical advancement where you can classify and categorize your enhancements, be it physical or spiritual.


    But it also limits you, as you can not break past a layer unless you''ve fulfilled the condition in your manual; in your case, that is creating new minions.


    "But enlightenments are a different case. You can''t predict when it will happen, or know why it may happen before experiencing it yourself. The enhancement it gives your cultivation is not as direct as a breakthrough. It will neither strengthen your physique, nor your soul, nor even your extraphysical spiritual form. It''s not a path meant to be categorized, or advanced methodically. The only aspect that you can measure perhaps is the improvement in talent."


    Han Xuhan gasped.


    "Enlightenments can improve talent? How do I tell if my talent has improved? Can you test it out for me, master?"


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Seeing his eager eyes, Kong Ye sighed gloomily.


    "It''s not that easy to make a qualitative leap, disciple. I have already checked your improvements. Your talent hasn''t improved enough to make that leap. If you undergo a couple more enlightenments, I suppose there might be a noticeable change."


    Han Xuhan was dumbfounded. A couple more? Enlightenments aren''t vegetables, dammit! There was no telling when or where he''d experience another enlightenment!


    Seeing his disheartened expression, Kong Ye hurriedly continued with the rest of the explanation.


    "So how do you make sense of the other enhancements provided by enlightenments? The answer is very simple, you don''t, at least not when you''re in low realms of cultivation like physique transformation and soul reformation. Enlightenments aren''t of much use to cultivators at this level...unless your supreme talent guides you to have enlightenment on very minor issues, like how to move your sword, how to throw a javelin, how to master a martial technique...and even how to see things."


    Blankly, Han Xuhan pointed out the most problematic part of his teacher''s explanation. "Low realms of cultivation like physique transformation and soul reformation? Soul reformation is a low realm to you?"


    Kong Ye rubbed his nose, seemingly caught off guard.


    "You''re focusing on the wrong thing here. What I''m trying to tell you is that don''t be so obsessed with your enlightenments. You''re not as talented as Mu Ran or Yuen Zhou. You might see them displaying martial techniques that overshadow their own realms, carrying hints of the heavenly way, techniques integrated with nature itself. Your enlightenments don''t fall into that type. When you reach a sufficient level of cultivation in future, you''ll actually appreciate this fact."


    "WHEN I reach a sufficiently high real, huh..." Han Xuhan muttered despondently, disappointed. He had expected something more exciting than this. But oh well...


    "Now let''s talk about the less obvious effects of YOUR enlightenments," Kong Ye said, startling him out of his misery trip.


    "From what I have sensed by examining your foundation, the major and righteous enlightenment tweaked your dao heart by a small margin. An imperfection hidden deep inside your heart seems to have been eradicated through it."


    The contents of Kong Ye''s words were not totally surprising to Han Xuhan. What impressed him more was the fact that this teacher of his could glean so much information by just looking at him for a couple of minutes.


    He himself had guessed it before, and Kong Ye only confirmed his theory. His inferiority complex, which he had disguised by adopting the artificial mindset of someone superior, was a weakness of his character.


    It had given birth to many excruciating hours of jealousy, longing, and bitterness in his heart during his stay at the Crimson Snow Sect.


    Since his first enlightenment, his heart felt lighter, more cheerful, and less pressed. During his tour of the archipelago, those negative emotions had rarely emerged in his mind.


    "As for your second, minor enlightenment, the descriptions of your thoughts, my observations, combined with the fact that it was the tribulation of a ghost cultivator, tells me that it brought you two minor fortunes.


    The first one is related to the lightning strikes you received alongside Shangguang Ce. It enhanced an aspect of your soul by a tiny degree. In future, if you ever encounter vengeful ghosts, you can trust your soul to survive an attack or two, giving you a small leeway to escape."


    Han Xuhan teared up suddenly, recalling the painful memory of being burnt in that trial. At least it hadn''t been in vain!


    "Secondly, the enlightenment itself affected your dao heart in a way I would not call positive, but nevertheless, it was both beneficial and interesting."


    "Negative effects that are beneficial?" Han Xuhan''s eyebrows rose. "This disciple doesn''t quite understand, teacher."


    "To understand this, you must have a firm grasp of the concept of dao heart. You should have accumulated some knowledge of what a dao heart is by now, yes? Information on this concept is available in the archives. The elders teaching you regularly should have also explained the general outline by now."


    Han Xuhan nodded and tried to recall the information.


    "The dao heart is an ethereal representation of our comprehension of...anything in general. A dao heart is an amalgamated, agglutinated mass of fleeting emotions, sudden understanding of something that is in line with the universal laws, and the evolution of our own selves throughout our lives. Anyone with a dao foundation has a minimum presence of a dao heart associated with his existence."


    "Splendidly spoken! Right out of emperor Sheng''s scrolls, eh?" clapping his palms together, Kong Ye pointed at Xuhan with a wide smile.


    "That''s enough to give you a basic explanation of the mutation of your dao heart.


    Ghost cultivators are innately a conflicting faction to us. Their way of life, way of cultivation, and way of seeing things are fundamentally different. Let''s put it this way, what type of personality do you think you have? What kind of cultivator are you? The brash, passionate, and adventurous type like your martial brother Mu Ran? Or the silent, hardworking, secretive cultivator like your martial sister Zhou? Or the kindhearted, straightforward, and brutish sort like Xiao Wu? You aren''t any of these types, are you?"


    Han Xuhan shook his head. "I''d say I''m more of the cautious sort who loves his life more than anything else."


    "Then why did you suddenly become so adventurous? It all started when your fear of death was killed in Shangguang Ce''s tribulation!"


    Han Xuhan''s horror overturned his surprise. He had noticed the issue, but he hadn''t connected the dots!


    "You see where I''m getting with this, disciple? Shangguang Ce is a ghost cultivator seeped in the aura of death and decay, violating the line between the living and the dead! You, a cultivator who loves life and safety, nearly gave up on your attachment to life after spending one moment inside his tribulation! It turned you reckless, brash and fearless even when facing certain death!"


    "....Fuck, no wonder I began flirting with Hong Wei."


    "...One of the major ''blacksmiths'' of one''s dao heart is enlightenment! It simply changes you, enhances you, and mutates your very being. So when you partook in Shangguang Ce''s tribulation, the portion of his enlightenment opportune that you robbed has guided your dao heart in a volatile, conflicting direction. I know not what lies at the end of that road, but I am looking forward to heaven''s attitude on your path when you attempt to transcend to the soul reformation realm. Hohoho, it''ll be such an interesting phenomenon!"


    Han Xuhan took a few seconds to digest the revelation. But some questions rose in his heart as soon as he tried to connect the dots. He unearthed some inconsistencies that sang a different tune.


    "Teacher, why do the tribulations created for the trials of this tournament have the ability to give enlightenment opportunities to disciples? Shangguang Ce said that he was just undergoing a trial where he needed to be in deep meditation to remain spiritually unscathed."


    "Shangguang Ce lied, that much I can assure you. It''s the opposite actually. Your enlightenment is the factor that attracts tribulations in the form of trials here." Kong Ye said with a wink. "As for the rest of the inconsistencies, I must express my inability to answer them, because, THAT. GOES. AGAINST. THE. RULES."


    Han Xuhan blinked in surprise. An issue of this caliber was a part of the tournament too? They were talking about direct violation of universal laws here!


    Something smelled fishy.

 Chapter 150: Why Does The List of Problems Keep Getting Longer Every Time We Meet?

    Han Xuhan couldn''t quite process the vast amount of implicit information hidden inside Kong Ye''s answers to his questions at the moment. So he decided to collect all the answers in one go and absorb them slowly in the next few days to get a clearer picture of his future.


    "Master, this is unrelated to the subject of our discussion, but, do you have any idea if extremely powerful cultivators require the help of low-level cultivators for any specific purpose?"


    Kong Ye seemed flabbergasted by the incredibly vague question.


    "What do you mean? Powerful cultivators can''t obviously do all the tasks of a sect by themselves. Even rogue cultivators with sufficient power would have to take in some disciples to look after their estates and manage their resources."


    Han Xuhan struggled to make his question more precise. He didn''t yet want to reveal his deal with Fang Xie to Kong Ye, unsure of the hidden currents flowing beneath the surface of the sect.


    "Well, let''s say the cultivator in question is an immensely powerful loner who has traveled far away from his home. What could be the reason behind his search for talented, young disciples?"


    Kong Ye''s expression turned unsightly for some reason.


    Han Xuhan suddenly recalled that Kong Ye himself was a foreigner, invited by Xuan Zi to join the sect....


    And he too was looking for talented, young disciples...


    "Cough, cough...ahem! How retarded do you think I am? Would I ask this if I were investigating YOUR motives? I believe in your professional integrity, master!"


    Despite his hurried explanation, Han Xuhan found his thoughts suddenly taking a darker turn. Kong Ye was doing the exact same thing as Fang Xie, only in a much more indirect way. Fang Xie''s method was crude, whimsical and straightforward, giving off the stink of peril.


    Kong Ye was playing a bigger game, a far-reaching path where many objectives could be accomplished while maintaining an ethical, righteous code of action.


    Well well well, it seems that by trying to dig out a rat, I have unearthed a viper.


    Kong Ye, meanwhile, recovered from his gloom and smiled stiffly.


    "Ahaha, I almost took offense there. Why would I have impure motives for teaching a bunch of kids?"


    Han Xuhan nodded.


    When did I say anything about impure motives? Did my tone indicate that?


    Han Xuhan started growing nervous. This conversation wasn''t going in a direction that could lead to a positive outcome. If Kong Ye did indeed have impure intentions, it would do Xuhan little good to alarm the man. He had to steal Kong Ye''s words out of his mouth and let him feel at ease, as if he was the one in control of the conversation.


    "Yes, of course, master! So as I was saying, what if this cultivator in question was surely harboring impure motives in their heart, unlike you?"


    "That''s a really vague question, disciple. The world of cultivation is vast. There are countless ways for a powerful cultivator to make use of the weak with bad intentions in mind. Human sacrifices, dao heart refinement, forbidden pill concoctions, heavenly tribulation manipulation...too many objectives can be achieved if you''re not a virtuous person."


    Han Xuhan felt troubled. How was he supposed to make this guy understand? Fang Xie hadn''t given away that many clues...


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "It''s fine. I was simply curious about something I read in a historical record from the archives. I had another question though, teacher. It''s much more important than the previous one."


    Kong Ye gestured for him to speak, his gaze still suspicious.


    Han Xuhan took out a small vial from an inner pocket of his robe and handed it over for Kong Ye''s inspection.


    Inside the vial sloshed a colorless liquid, harmless in appearance, terrifying in usage.


    "What can you tell me about this liquid, master? Is it possible for you to examine its properties without wasting a single drop? As you can see, I do not have much of it in stock."


    Kong Ye curiously observed the liquid inside the vial. Han Xuhan fixed his gaze on Kong Ye''s face, looking for even the tiniest changes in his expression.


    For the briefest moment, he saw Kong Ye''s eyes losing their lively luster and entering a familiar dazed phase.


    The light in his eyes returned almost instantly, and brought with it a horrified tinge in his gaze.


    "WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?!" Kong Ye cried in disbelief.


    * * * *


    [ Scan Completed. Remaining Scans: 3/7 ]


    [ Subject: Liquid matter ]


    [ Properties: Poisonous, tasteless, odorless]


    [ Poison Rank: C+ (weakened version) ]


    [ Usage: Can be used to cripple the target mentally and invade their consciousness, usually used to suppress and tame sacred beasts ]


    [ Remedy: None discovered so far. An afflicted victim can only hope that someone equally powerful as his attacker is nearby to protect his mental fortress. ]


    [ N.B. If host can intake a sample of the scanned poison, you can unlock it as a purchasable item in the shop. ]


    [N.B. All poisons produced using the system shall contain fail-safes that can be activated by spending appropriate amounts of points. ]


    Kong Ye snatched the bottle out of Han Xuhan''s hand. He recognized the poison after going through its property panel from the system. This was not something that should exist on a backwater planet like this where sacred beasts had yet to be born.


    Which outsider had brought it here? Why? How did Han Xuhan get his hands on it? Who was being targeted?


    Seeing his intense, questioning gaze, Han Xuhan threw his hands up in the air in a surrendering pose.


    "Don''t ask me where I found that. I''d have elaborated from the beginning if that was an available option, master. My only request is that if there is an antidote or a neutralizer to this poison, help me find it."


    Lots of thoughts blazed through Kong Ye''s mind. Schemes, secrets, predictions and cautiousness blended together to guide his reaction in one particular direction¡ª the path he had always chosen while dealing with his disciples.


    Don''t investigate the secrets of the freaks.


    Returning Han Xuhan''s meaningful stare, Kong Ye said, "If that is what you wish for...sure. I''ll look into it."


    Han Xuhan tried to take the vial back, only to be held up by him.


    "But I''ll need a sample, a drop at least."


    Seeing Xuhan''s reluctance, he added, "I''ll return the sample unharmed, don''t worry."


    Han Xuhan nodded and silently watched him collect a drop of the poison in another vial.


    "Quite bold of you to be carrying out such...plans, disciple. I don''t think your ''company'' matches your cultivation level, though. Be careful while playing with fire," he warned, handing the vial over to his disciple.


    Both of them seemed to silently reach an understanding...


    ''System, bring out the first disciple''s stats.''


    Rows of panels materialized in the air, invisible to all but him. However, the contents of the panels were overwhelming. Kong Ye felt a chill run down his spine as he read about Han Xuhan''s current stats.


    [ Disciple #1: Han Xuhan ]


    [ Race: ? Still Can''t Identify ]


    [ Ancestry: ? Still No Fully Accurate Matches ]


    [ Cultivation: Early Fourth Layer Of Physique Transformation Realm ]


    [ Comprehension: B+ ]


    [ Qi Quality: D+ ]


    [ Dao Heart: C ]


    [ Dao Foundation Quality: ? What The Actual Fuck Did I Sense In There? This Is Beyond Measurement! ]


    [ Elemental Affinity: D ]


    [ Raw Talent: D ]


    [ Expand This Column To See The Rest Of The Key Characteristics ]


    [ Overall Potential: B ]


    [ Click Here To See The Fluctuations In The Stats ]


    [ Existent Issues That Require Immediate Guidance ]¨C


    [1? His Kneecap''s been locked onto by a foreign, damaged armament. Deal with that, for starters.]


    [ 2? This Disciple''s dao foundation has undergone extremely complex mutations, to the point where it''s unprecedented even in the system''s vast records. If immediate measures aren''t taken to strengthen his dao base, host''s disciple count will soon be down to three. ]


    [ 3? He still hasn''t started practicing the cultivation technique you gave him. In the meantime, his breakthrough into the fourth layer has completely screwed up his dao foundation, to the point where it can''t even be analyzed. Heck, calling it HIS dao foundation might be a bit of a stretch as of right now. There are at least five separate wills struggling to take over the ownership of the dao base. His weak-ass dao heart is barely holding on to the title of the owner.]


    [ 4? His meridians have worsened in quality. It won''t be a long wait to see him end up as a cripple. ]


    [ Expand This Column To See The Rest Of His Problems, And Hot Damn, This Guy Has A Fuckton Of Those. ]


    [ Current Impression Of Host: Mildly Favourable ]


    Kong Ye recalled the last time he had examined Han Xuhan''s stats as his disciple. His sharp memory singled out the discrepancies in Han Xuhan''s new stats even without the help of the system''s records.


    Han Xuhan''s qi quality has gone down by a grade, from C- to D+.


    On the other hand, his dao heart has moved upwards in quality, from C- to C; courtesy of his recent enlightenment, quite probably.


    More importantly, Han Xuhan''s dao tower seemed beyond saving at this point unless he switched to a new cultivation technique. Five different wills vying for control in a single dao tower?


    As interesting as the phenomenon was in such a low realm of cultivation, the implications were equally terrible.


    Kong Ye was beginning to lose his hope of seeing this poor disciple ever reach a formidable level of cultivation and explore the vast sea of stars.


    Even by the system''s evaluation, his potential had gone down by a notch, a clear declaration of his future prospects.


    Kong Ye found it hard to formulate a proper plan for Han Xuhan''s future. Considering the circumstances they were in right now, cultivating new techniques was hardly a good idea.


    Nevertheless, he had to do something, address some issues, and guide his disciple as much as possible for the optimal outcome.


    "Disciple, take off your pants."

 Chapter 151: Sudden Luck Isnt Really Reliable

    Han Xuhan calmly contemplated the order for what felt like an eternity.


    "No." His reply was very well thought out and succinct, leaving no room for counterarguments.


    Kong Ye''s expression darkened upon realizing what Xuhan was assuming. Slamming down his teacup, he cleared the misunderstanding immediately.


    "Get your mind out of the gutter! We need to assess the artifact on your kneecap."


    Confused, Han Xuhan looked down at the knee Kong Ye was pointing at. Hesitating, he said, "Master, it''s not humanly possible for that to reach one''s knee...and, should you really be calling it an artifact just because I don''t use it?"


    The teacup in Kong Ye''s palm emitted a cracking sound. Sensing a heavy, suffocating aura intensifying inside the room, Han Xuhan quickly rolled up the leg of his pants up to the knee...and saw something that nearly scared the soul out of him.


    "What the fuck? How..."


    His hoarse curse went unnoticed by Kong Ye, who bent down to observe the object strapped around Han Xuhan''s kneecap.


    It resembled a knee protector made of metal, quite a small one at that, barely covering the joint. Gingerly, Han Xuhan prodded at it, watching Kong Ye for a reaction just in case that wasn''t a good idea.


    He was in for another round of surprises. He couldn''t feel the item, rather, it was the skin of his knee that received the sensation of being prodded. His eyes clearly told him that his finger was touching a foreign object, a layer of protection above his skin. Yet his sensory nerves seemed oblivious to its existence.


    No wonder he hadn''t been able to sense it till now! When had this thing latched on to his knee? How?


    He recalled Kong Ye''s words quickly enough. He said this was an artifact...So Kong Ye did know something about it.


    Sensing his inquisitive gaze, Kong Ye pulled his head back and nodded in a satisfied manner.


    "Not a bad place to have landed a piece. With your luck, I had feared you might get a useless item...like that crown Mu Ran got and that set of artificial teeth Yuen Zhou snagged."


    Han Xuhan caressed the dull, charcoal black knee-guard and said in a weak voice, "So what exactly is this... artifact?"


    "It is one of the many miscellaneous items that inhabit the void inside the spatial rifts. I''m sure you can recall the experience of traveling inside those dark passageways. Those rifts aren''t natural, of course. Whoever or whatever caused them to open up, they must have lost control of the situation, letting the void consume a vast number of items that probably belonged to that side."


    Han Xuhan felt his heart quake as the described scenery played itself out in his overly imaginative mind. The hair on his neck stood up in excitement.


    Truly, the world of cultivation was full of wondrous occurrences! What kind of power...


    "Although most of them are mundane objects, these items belonged to extremely powerful cultivators, a fact proven by their amazing compositions and properties. Your poleyn is a fine example of that.


    Not even you, the person wearing it, can sense its existence as if it''s just a part of your own skin. I suspect this is a part of an armor created for spies. It doesn''t obstruct your movement at all yet provides decent protection from attacks." Kong Ye finished explaining, leaving Han Xuhan shaken to the core.


    Good heavens! This item was that awesome?


    It sounded like something out of a hardcore action novel! So cool!


    But then Kong Ye''s last sentence registered properly in his mind.


    "Wait, if I can''t touch it myself, can it really block others'' attacks? This thing seems like an illusion to fool people at best."


    His inquiry made Kong Ye release a peculiar smile. Han Xuhan found it rather familiar. Kong Ye always wore that smile on his face whenever Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were around, asking off-key questions.


    "Watch," he said, pointing two fingers at the knee guard.


    A tiny thread of qi rolled out from his palm and entwined itself around his fingers, constructing a taut, bow-like shape.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    A smaller, thinner string of qi entered the construct and straightened into the shape of an arrow. It pushed back against the taut string, stretching it back to the joint between the fingers.


    Soundlessly, the arrow shot out, too fast for Xuhan''s eyes to track its trajectory.


    "Aaahh FUUUCK!"


    The meridians in his knee sent a painful sensation throughout the limb. Han Xuhan had never thought there would actually be nerves connected to his meridians. But this proved it!


    Kong Ye'' qi arrow felt like a needle wiggling inside his muscles. But before the sensation could go beyond ''mild pain'', he felt the qi dissipate into gaseous form and return outside.


    "What the fuck was that supposed to prove?" He asked Kong Ye, too furious to care about etiquette at the moment.


    Kong Ye seemed to have expected as such, maintaining his calm demeanor.


    "Inject your qi into the poleyn this time," he said.


    Han Xuhan sent him a resentful look and did what he was told, keeping his complaints silent. This guy clearly could have said it the first time. What was the need to shoot that arrow into his knee?


    Regardless, as the pain has subsided, his mind cleared up.


    Using your qi to fashion bows and arrows? That wasn''t something he had ever considered possible. He used hardened, purified qi blocks for cultivation pretty frequently. But that form of qi was the result of complicated production by alchemist cultivators and their complicated industrial machines. Yet Kong Ye could do it so naturally?


    Incredible! Even Mu Ran hasn''t completely mastered the ability to make qi transition between gaseous and liquid freely.


    Han Xuhan refined a stream of qi from the area around his knee and injected it into the poleyn carefully.


    A familiar, tugging sensation jarred his mental force, making it lose its influence on the qi as soon as the first drop entered the poleyn. The stream of qi was sucked inside instantly.


    The sensation jogged his memory, making him recall that time inside the rifts when he had left the Sunrider Sect for the first time. In the oppressive darkness, surrounded by slippery materials, all the qi inside his body had crazily left his control and vanished through his right hand.


    Perhaps that was how he had come into contact with this artifact. His flailing hand had grabbed onto it inside the void and the qi in his body had been sucked out by it.


    But that raised the question, how did the poleyn attach itself to his kneecap? His hand wasn''t anywhere near his knee at that time...


    Deciding not to hide the issue, Han Xuhan posed the question to Kong Ye, describing his experience inside the void in all honesty.


    "Hmmm," Kong Ye mumbled thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. "Remember what I said about this being a part of a full armor? I assume it was activated by your qi in there and gained some form of sentience, a feature not so rare if we''re talking about the treasures of powerful cultivators. Self-fitting, self-repairing armors have always been around, you know?"


    Han Xuhan nodded in realization. That did make sense. A self-fitting, sentient armor would probably ingest qi as its fuel.


    His eyes turned back to the poleyn.


    This time, the heavens had not totally screwed him over! He had actually found something useful!


    Has Mu Ran''s luck been rubbing off my misfortune? Hahaha hahaha...


    Wait a minute, Kong Ye said something about Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou being unlucky in this case, having found a crown and a set of teeth.


    How can that be?


    Han Xuhan''s eyes narrowed as he observed the artifact. This thing couldn''t end up being a disastrous plot device in the future, right?


    Oh my, oh my...that totally seemed plausible.


    Meanwhile, a second string of qi appeared inside the bow between Kong Ye''s fingers. It hardened into another arrow and faced the direction of his kneecap, ready to be shot.


    "I''m going to shoot once more. Has the artifact shown any response to your qi?"


    Han Xuhan shook his head and continued to pour more and more qi. He even extracted the entire reserve inside his meridians since refining external qi wasn''t something he was proficient at due to his ''physique''.


    By the time his entire reserve was about to be depleted, his mood had calmed down.


    This artifact obviously belonged to someone with incredible cultivation. How could his meager supply of low-quality qi satisfy its activation conditions? He would probably never be able to use its magical functions.


    Hah, I was really getting worked up for a second there thinking my luck has improved.


    Why is human nature so fickle? I should have known better.


    Just then, the last drop of qi in his reserve was sucked away by the poleyn.


    Kong Ye''s pupils suddenly shrank as the arrow from his bow shot out, this time even faster than before.


    Han Xuhan only saw the vaguest flash of color covering the surface of the knee guard as soon as the arrow crashed into it.


    Stunning both of them, the arrow exploded into countless specks of qi and disappeared soundlessly.


    A moment of silence ensued.


    "...Okay, whoa!" Han Xuhan exclaimed, unable to believe what had transpired.


    "Just as I had assumed," Kong Ye said with a devilish grin.


    "So it''s a one-shot artifact!" Xuhan reasoned loudly. "It can only be activated by depleting the entire reserve of my qi."


    Kong Ye nodded in approval. "Indeed. We can not stop at that, however. Further testing is required to determine how useful it will be to you."


    Standing up, Kong Ye swiped in the air casually, making the tea set fly off swiftly toward his kitchen. "Wash these things first. We don''t have any servants here to do these chores anymore."


    Han Xuhan''s excitement was quickly replaced with gloom at the implication of that order. As the weakest cultivator of this mountain peak, would he have to replace the servants?


    Eyes flashing, he summoned Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian. Kong Ye watched him order the two minions to handle not only the dishes but also all the miscellaneous chores in the house.


    "Good, good, good. You truly embody a humble, capable, meticulous disciple''s spirit, Xuhan!" Kong Ye declared with a satisfied smile on his face.


    "Now come, it is almost time for your first lesson in this archipelago. It''s a very special one, designed by our sect master himself!"

 Chapter 152: [ F-] Tier Luck

    "Fellow cultivator Zi, it''s been seven years! I hope your cultivation has progressed smoothly in this period!"


    "Fellow cultivator Chen, your goodwill warms my soul!"


    Xuan Zi was genuinely pleased to see his peers on the planet mingling together, sharing joy and sorrow, the spirit of a holiday encompassing their picnic spot.


    Bowing to familiar faces, embracing long-neglected friends, winking dashingly at the single beauties...ahem, it was truly a wonderful day.


    As he walked around, stories, discussions, and gossip of all sorts buzzed in his ears.


    "Master Ren, please receive this one''s small gift. It''s just a set of aphrodisiac pills," said a familiar middle-aged man not very far away from him, grabbing his attention.


    "...Benefactor is too kind! This penniless monk cannot take such gifts." Replying to the middle-aged cultivator was a handsome young monk radiating a pure, fresh aura, his white kasaya bellowing gently with the wind.


    "No, I insist, Master Ren. These pills can even rouse what has been long dead-"


    "Benefactor, it''s not that I don''t appreciate your goodwill. Simply said, this poor monk doesn''t need an aphrodisiac to satisfy benefactor''s respected mother. I may be penniless, but not penisless."


    "Whoooaaaaaaaa!"


    "You go, Master Ren!"


    "Hahaha! Take that, Yuan Long!"


    Cheers rose in favor of Master Ren, proof of the long-repressed anger of many fellow Daoists. Yuan Long, the middle-aged man was well known for being a disrespectful prick. Now the butt of his own joke, Yuan Long''s expression turned unsightly.


    "....Ahaha, this one didn''t expect Master Ren to be such a crude and vulgar monk. Are you certain you''ll be able to achieve nirvana and step into the heavenly court with that mouth? Hell might be a more likely destination."


    Yuan Long''s recovery was quick, but Master Ren''s replies were unshakably profound.


    "If I do not go to hell, who will?" He said, face serene, eyes closed, lips curved in a faint, benevolent smile.


    "...You monks really like to use that sentence to justify all of your fetishes."


    Xuan Zi nodded approvingly, finding a trace of comfort in these mature verbal wars that he had always been fond of, and walked over in long strides.


    "Those pills give off an impressive aura!" He said, coming to a stop beside Yuan Long. "I wonder why fellow cultivator Long would carry them around..."


    Sometimes, not finishing one''s words conveyed more meaning than a complete message.


    Yuan Long gloomily digested the insult in silence, too experienced at handling such situations to be trapped so easily and lose his cool.


    "Hah, why is that a surprise to you, fellow cultivator Zi? We all know many of our fellow sect masters here are well past the age of passion. I simply prepared some because these pills would surely be a great gift for them!"


    An outraged buzz rose among the crowd. Yuan Long happily bathed in his hateful glory.


    "What? It''s not like I''m lying! Quit pretending most of you don''t think the same!" He shouted at the top of his voice, his eyes flickering toward the white-haired elders glaring at him from within the crowd.


    "No matter how high your cultivation has reached, almost none of your total lifespan has reached over 300 years, hmph! Many of you are physically past your prime, regardless of your cultivation base." His logic was sound, leaving no room for counterarguments, not that anyone would do so.


    The older cultivators present shook their heads and decided to let it pass. They were familiar with Yuan Long''s antics, and they were even more familiar with the powers backing him. It wasn''t worth their dignity to keep arguing with this ''mischievous junior'', ahem.


    Xuan Zi wasn''t one of those old sect masters and had an equally biting reply ready at the tip of his tongue. But he was on a mission today; such trifling battles could wait.


    After socializing for a while, he decided it was time to proceed with the plan.


    Xuan Zi walked over to one of the more elevated areas on the island and loudly clapped his palms together, attracting everyone''s attention.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Fellow cultivators, there is something we must discuss today."


    Dozens of gazes locked onto him, some thoughtful, some suspicious, and some already anticipating the outcome.


    Xuan Zi scanned the room one last time carefully before speaking.


    "I assume most of you have noticed that the sect masters of the top three powers of our planet, the Beasthaven Sect, the Forestheart Foundation, and the Abyss Guild, are not here for this meeting."


    "I heard they were displeased with the invitation sent to their abode," said an old woman, smiling in a wooden manner.


    Lots of eyes shifted in myriad directions. The relationships among the sects in the alliance were complex. Many were enemies on the outside while in cahoots internally, many would embrace each other warmly while planning to snatch away another resourceful region from the other party. It was impossible for one man to keep track of it all.


    "Perhaps," Xuan Zi remarked. "Or maybe they just needed an excuse to show off their superiority.


    Regardless, we have something much more important to discuss today."


    His status as the master of one of the well-respected sects ensured that everyone listened to him with rapt attention.


    "My fellow cultivators, I''m sure all of you have seen the trials of the second and third rounds of the tournament. I can not be the only one to harbor some suspicion at how vast a change has been brought to our traditional structure of this long-running competition. Some of the trials seem downright illogical and too roundabout a way to gauge the capability of our disciples. There are much easier methods to run the competition on its course.


    For example, why must the elders of our sect take part in the second round of the tournament, while we, the sect masters cannot?"


    "They did provide a good explanation, fellow cultivator Zi. Are you accusing the organizers of this tournament of harboring ill intentions?" Someone from the crowd asked.


    As the most powerful sects on the planet, the organizer sects had many powerful allies, many of whom were present in the crowd, and Xuan Zi knew that perfectly well.


    But when faced with the threat of extinction, how many of these powerful allies would stay true to their friendship with those scheming giants...especially when THEY were the threat?


    "I would not go that far, fellow cultivator Yan...but what harm is there in taking some precautions?" Xuan Zi answered with a measured smile.


    ****** ******* ******


    Kong Ye''s heart quaked as he took in the newfound information on his system screen.


    [ Scan completed ]


    [Remaining Scan: 2/7 ]


    [ Warning: Host Is advised to purchase a new scan package from the store ]


    [Subject: Refined Planecore Metal (Armor Fragment) ]


    [ Fragment Rank: E+ (Damaged) ]


    [ Armour Rank: B+ ]


    [ Alert: By gathering and combining the rest of the fractions, the damaged armor can be returned to rank B- ]


    [ Alert: Upon gathering a sufficient number of the fragments, the system can synthesize blueprints for construction. Each blueprint will charge an appropriate amount of points ]


    [ Properties ]


    [ 1. Fools foreign senses if its wearer wills it. ]


    [ 2. Can freely repair itself using consumable treasures meant for this purpose. ]


    [ 3. Consumes qi to operate. ]


    [ 4. Overdrive mode: Consumes the entire qi reserve of its wearer in exchange for a stronger level of temporary defense. ]


    [ 5. Ultimate defense capacity: the peak of physique transformation realm. ]


    [ 6. Vulnerable to non-physical attacks. ]


    [ Note: The level of enhanced defense in overdrive mode depends on the amount of qi provided by the wearer. Larger the reserve, the stronger the defense. ]


    [ Alert: Blocking attacks at its maximum capacity will deteriorate the rank of the armour-fragment and at worst, completely disintegrate it. ]


    [ Alert: Detected recent damage inflicted by host''s qi, reevaluating current performance level of the armor-fragment. ]


    [ Level of hosts'' attack is estimated to have been at the peak of the Physique Transformation realm, which is beyond its current capacity due to prior damage! ]


    [ Estimation: This poleyn will lose most of its functions if it downgrades by another rank and reaches rank- E ]


    [ Remaining Capacity: A single block. ]


    [ System''s Remarks: Don''t blame yourself, host. The esoteric design of the armor makes it hard to guess that it cannot even take on an attack at the soul reformation level. Your disciple just has shitty luck. If there was a way to measure luck like other stats...it would probably be an F- rank in his case. ]


    The system''s consolation did nothing to smother the burning regret inside Kong Ye''s heart.


    He had just screwed up his disciple''s precious treasure due to his excitement. How could he not feel guilty? The second qi arrow had indeed carried the attack power of the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm.


    He was familiar with many sorts of enchanted armors, having seen such mechanisms and materials on a regular basis on his home planet.


    This armor, while fairly powerful, was nothing to fawn over. Even the system hadn''t given it a very high rank. It might have been ranked B+ when it was intact and used by someone with decent cultivation, but it was hardly useful for anyone in the lower realms of cultivation. But vulnerable to non-physical attacks?


    How the hell was he supposed to know it would be that useless?


    This was the reason why he hadn''t exercised much caution in handling it...and now, the result had bitten him back in the ass.


    Looking at his young disciple, Kong Ye couldn''t find the appropriate words to explain anything to him.


    Han Xuhan was oblivious to his internal struggle, prodding and attempting to explore the poleyn with a look of abject wonder on his mug.


    Kong Ye found Han Xuhan''s thirst for knowledge and curiosity heartwarming as a teacher. He appreciated that in children. But now, that thought only served to fuel his guilt.


    "Erm, disciple..."


    Han Xuhan looked up, eager to start testing his artifact.


    "This little toy of yours...I have finished analyzing its properties already. There is no need to test it further."


    "...Toy?" Han Xuhan sounded hurt, but he quickly hid the emotion in his tone and said, "Amazing! So what else does it do? What sort of attacks can it block? What''s the limit? How do I operate it easily?"


    Han Xuhan''s flurry of inquiries made Kong Ye shift uncomfortably on his feet. But hiding the truth would only deteriorate the situation further. He decided to speak the truth...although not the whole truth.


    "It has only one use left, Xuhan. It was too damaged to function for long. You can block one powerful attack at the peak of the physique transformation realm with this artifact. Afterwards, it will be just a piece of scrap metal."


    Han Xuhan stared at him, open-mouthed. Kong Ye stared back, unblinking as a statue.


    "Just one attack?" Han Xuhan repeated.


    "Yes." Kong Ye confirmed. "Think of it as one of those mythical life-saving amulets. As long as you use it within its limits, you can save your skin from a deadly blow."


    Kong Ye had expected some sort of a tantrum to follow, at least a minute of gloomy complaints. Out of his four disciples, only Xiao Wu exercised proper etiquette around him. Han Xuhan refrained from acting unruly, but he frequently lost that respectful facade of his. Kong Ye didn''t usually admonish them on the issue.


    But Xuhan seemed less than surprised by the turn of events. After nodding once, he pulled his pants down and followed Kong Ye out of the house, ready to attend that day''s lesson with his martial siblings.


    Kong Ye was feeling all jittery inside when the blue screen popped up in the corner of his vision.


    [ Sample analysis progression: 100% ]


    [ Congratulations! ]


    [ New item unlocked in the shop! Click here to visit it ]


    Kong Ye quickly focused his mental energy to click and enter the shop.


    A new row of products had been created inside. Only one slot in the row was occupied. The product was a cartoonish image of the vial Han Xuhan had presented to him.


    Kong Ye examined its properties.


    [ Item: Mind Killer ]


    [ Attributes: Poisonous ]


    [ Rank: C+ (upgradable) (downgradable) ]


    [ Description: Same as the source of the sample, it paralyzes the mental defense of its victim. Stronger versions of it are deadly even in small dosages, and weaker versions can temporarily confuse its target and affect their intelligence ]


    [ Price: 999 points + one sacrificial ritual. ]


    [ Do you want to buy the recipe? ]


    [ Yes] / [ No ]


    Kong Ye took a long, despondent look at his points balance at the corner of the screen. It displayed a measly 1275 points that he had saved up after half a month of hard work.


    He chose to click on the first option.

 Chapter 153: Son of Nightblood

    Xiao Wu was under immense pressure, having to take on two cultivators of the same level as him at the same time; that too, while maintaining complete silence, just In case his secret became public.


    "You will return it, you thief! Even if I have to sacrifice my cultivation base, I''ll take it back with me!"


    The larger and more passionate one between his two opponents, was in dire straits, both arms terribly damaged by Xiao Wu''s most formidable attacks, a deep bloody hole in one of his thighs revealing his red flesh and white bone.


    "If you continue to be so obstinate about this, I''ll simply go all out and scream for help, you fool! I may not be able to defeat you, but don''t even dream of making a stand against my martial siblings."


    Xiao Wu''s threat was weak, and both of the parties were aware of that, which was why they continued to encircle each other in a tense balance, occasionally making feints to test out the waters.


    "The longer you drag this out, the worse the outcome will be for you, thief. You''re not the only one who can ask for help. Your sect won''t defend you if we reveal everything publicly. No sect master will dare face the wrath of the most powerful sect on this planet."


    The other member of his enemy party spoke up. Xiao Wu''s complexion didn''t change, clearly having thought of that possibility beforehand.


    "Honestly, I don''t get why you''re being so difficult here, son of Xiao Chen. You''ll never accomplish anything even if grand elder Meng were to guide you on the path of Beasthaven''s legacy. Quit your useless drama and hand over what doesn''t belong to you, and we will not pursue this matter. The master has promised to overlook the past transgressions of your clan as long as you agree. You''re the one being unreasonable here."


    Their argument was persuasive, rational and proposed a tempting solution to Xiao Wu''s biggest mental turmoil. But he still was not willing to hand over the manual. The ambition of his ancestors encompassed that one scroll, the last words his father had said to him was to never let go of it, and the envious gazes of his siblings had followed the scroll when he had set out to become an immortal cultivator.


    This was no longer about making a rational choice, doing what was logical and earning the insurance for himself and his family. This was a principle of his little life, and he was determined not to break it, so long as there was any single way around it.


    Even a temporary solution would be enough. He was not so delusional to think he would be able to keep the manual with him forever. It would be taken away by its ''rightful owner'', no doubt. Still, he could do SOMETHING, if given more time.


    Xiao Wu decided not to yield. He readied himself for a brutal struggle, preparing his trump cards and going over a battle method in mind¨C


    "HOW ARE YOU STILL NOT DONE WITH THAT TRASH?!"


    The exclamation took him by surprise, while his opponents let out a relieved sigh. The injured one ran toward the source of the shout, a masked youth who had appeared from a direction that made Xiao Wu freeze the moment that detail registered in his mind.


    There were more than two of them? How many of these disciples from the Beasthaven Sect had infiltrated their region? Surely, it couldn''t be a high number...


    And then Xiao Wu noticed four more disciples, similarly masked, appear behind the youth who seemed to be in the command of the entire team.


    All of them had come from the direction Mu Ran''s house was in, the area closest to an exit outside the redesigned borders of Crimson Snow Sect.


    "Huh...The two of you couldn''t beat this guy in combat? Is he that good? Or are you two just a pair of disappointments? I have a feeling that it''s the latter because if the son of that dog Chen was so talented in combat, he would be one of our martial brothers."


    The leader of the infiltrators viciously pushed the injured youth aside and stepped forward, planting his feet heavily just a dozen feet away from Xiao Wu, too close for him to relax, too far for him to attack suddenly and land hits successfully.


    "Look, you oaf. We are not here to discuss jackshit with you, neither are we giving you choices to pick from. You will give back what your father has stolen, and you will be happy that this is how the drama ends. You wouldn''t have a problem with doing things our way, would you?"


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Xiao Wu let him prattle on till the end and then pretended to be deep in thought.


    "Yes, I do have a problem with that," he replied dryly.


    "Well, now you have two," said the masked youth, lifting his left hand in the air and clenching his palm Into a fist.


    "And this fist of mine is the bigger one."


    Xiao Wu''s feet sunk into the ground as he pushed all of his concentration on footwork, not eager to be punched too soon. Any millisecond now...


    Right then, a gloomy voice re-interrupted his combative stance.


    "I didn''t know someone was here to retrieve stolen property! What a coincidence! I just happened to discover the distinct lack of a certain treasure in my bedroom as well!"


    Mu Ran''s footsteps came from behind the team of infiltrators, alarming all seven of them.


    Their leader leaped sideways and entered a combative pose, tensely observing the figure making his way out of the hedges at a deliberate, slow pace.


    His six underlings followed suit, fanning out around the grove methodically, their movement synchronized and experienced.


    "I''ll have to thank you for that good nap," Mu Ran said languidly, coming to a stop a few feet away from Xiao Wu, letting himself be surrounded by their opponents as if he didn''t care about the threat they posed. "Haven''t had one that deep in weeks."


    The leader of their team exchanged a gloomy look with one of his teammates, saying, "Did you just fuck up the most important part of the plan?"


    The one he had addressed shook his head emphatically. "No. He must possess some sort of a skill, or an artifact that neutralized the tranquilizer. I''m sure I did my part perfectly."


    All of them turned to look at Mu Ran, while Xiao Wu''s thoughts began racing.


    I was not these infiltrators'' first priority? How could that be?


    Why did they assault Mu Ran? Or was it just a coincidence?''


    "You give off a familiar aura," Mu Ran suddenly said, looking at one of the youths surrounding him. His target displayed no particular reaction to Mu Ran''s suspicious inquiry.


    A tense second passed before Mu Ran''s eyes suddenly lit up in recognition.


    "Hey! You were there when that bandit Zhao robbed me of my treasured sword! I remember you barking quite a bit while I was trying to keep a low profile!"


    The masked youth groaned in a resigned manner. Their leader took a few steps to block him from Mu Ran''s line of sight.


    "I see...so you''re the rogue scum brother Zhao made a complaint about. I must admit, had I known it was you in that hut, a tranquilizer wouldn''t be the substance you would have been hit with."


    Mu Ran once again ignored the leader of the infiltrators as if he didn''t even exist in his perception, and turned to face Xiao Wu.


    "Martial brother Wu, is that the stolen property they''re trying to reclaim?" he asked, his eyes surveying the scroll clenched inside Xiao Wu''s palm.


    Xiao Wu nodded, seeing no reason to turn down a possible helping hand. He didn''t mind sharing his secret with his three martial siblings if that was what it took to keep it in his possession.


    "Good. You keep that scroll in your hand," Mu Ran ordered, his voice suddenly taking a cold coating. "Stolen property, was it? Let''s see who dares to repeat that claim."


    The infiltrators surrounding them had a bizarre look in their eyes as they observed Mu Ran''s behavior.


    "You are aware that more than half of us have a higher cultivation than you, right?" their leader asked, sounding flabbergasted.


    "Hah! Another frog whose vision is limited by the view from the bottom of the well! So what if there are three of you with higher cultivation-"


    "Four. More than half of seven means at least four," the masked leader interrupted Mu Ran''s passionate speech.


    "Hmph! Such paltry attempts at ruining my momentum¨C truly insidious, as expected from the brethren of that lowly Zhao Dong-"


    "Zhao Huang, that''s his name."


    "That dog should be honored that I remembered half of his name! That half is the only part that matters, because when I wipe out his clan, I''ll not discern whether it is a Huang or a Chuang that my blade beheads."


    "...You have some guts," the leader of the infiltrators said once Mu Ran finished his war cry.


    THUUUMP!


    "Let''s see how many punches your guts can survive," he finished as Mu Ran went flying, smacking into a thick tree ten feet away and half-uprooting it with the force behind the collision.


    A trickle of blood colored the ground where he had fallen, his face purple and veins standing out on his neck as he tried to get up.


    Xiao Wu''s expression stiffened.


    What in the world had happened in that fraction of a second?


    Xiao Wu himself was at the peak of the fifth layer, not so weak that he wouldn''t be able to discern the actions made in a fight between two cultivators who were just a few layers above him. Even if both of them were at the peak of physique transformation realm, he would be able to track their movements so long as there were no unusual, rare techniques involved. As someone who hailed from a family of cultivators, he had that much confidence in himself and yet...


    He couldn''t understand how the leader of the infiltrators had punched Mu Ran so hard, so fast.


    While his thoughts were in disarray, Mu Ran got back up on his feet, his face the very image of someone about to lose all rationality. The masked man casually said,


    "Well, since you''ve memorized the surname Zhao, I''ll tell you mine as well. The day you feel like wiping off the Zhao clan, visit mine first; would save everyone''s time.


    I''m Meng Shan, core disciple of the Beasthaven Sect''s Nightblood Faction. If you''re afraid that you might forget it, don''t worry¨C I have carved the surname on your back."


    Mu Ran''s expression turned unsightly as his hand automatically felt out his back. The clothes there had been torn apart by his brutal collision with the tree. From where Xiao Wu stood, he could see some vague lines of gashes crisscrossing Mu Ran''s back.


    He didn''t need to see the whole character to understand what was ''written'' in there.

 Chapter 154: Its Hard To Swear By The Heavens These Days

    How had Meng Shan done it? He was given no time to analyze that brutal exhibition of dominance.


    It was the strangest fight Xiao Wu had ever witnessed. Both parties simply held each other''s gaze and stayed still as a statue. Yet every few seconds, Mu Ran was being thrown around like a rag doll, slamming repeatedly into the thickest trees in the vicinity.


    Bang!


    Boom!


    Thwack!


    Xiao Wu felt resigned to his fate. Mu Ran was the most powerful peer he knew, as well as being one of the most talented disciples of his sect. If even he couldn''t make a stand against this Meng Shan guy, keeping the manual to himself was just a pipe dream.


    "I was actually impressed by how confident you seemed in your combat prowess. But to think that you''d make use of astral techniques against me..." the leader of the infiltrators, Meng Shan finished his mockery with a chuckle.


    Xiao Wu recalled that so far, they had officially received no lessons from their master Kong Ye on cultivating their astral bodies. Mu Ran had been regularly consulting the man for quite a while, though. His enthusiasm for astral combat meant that he probably did have some former association with an astral cultivation technique. However, his expertise in that field couldn''t be high.


    Why would he choose to make use of this technique that he had no expertise in a moment like this?


    The sympathy and helplessness he was feeling overwhelmed with suddenly evaporated by a large margin. His gaze tracking Mu Ran''s movement held a tint of disbelief and puzzlement.


    Was something wrong with martial brother Mu Ran''s head?


    In light of his past behavior....yeah...that wasn''t out of the question.


    "Aren''t you a resilient one, awww!" Mu Ran''s opponent exclaimed as he got up once more after a brutal thrashing. "Here, maybe this will do the trick."


    For the first time in the fight, the youth moved his hands and made a strange gesture in the air, as if he was holding the handle of something heavy.


    Mu Ran''s eyes shifted toward the space above his hands. Xiao Wu could still see nothing, but he inferred that being able to sense astral bodies would have made their battle actually discernible.


    Meng Shan made a swinging motion, his fists clenched. Xiao Wu sensed a staggering wave of qi roiling in the air, surrounding the man.


    His eyes shifted instantly towards Mu Ran, unsure of what that madman was thinking. Why the hell was he standing still? Was he planning on taking this strike head-on as well?


    That was when he noticed that Mu Ran was smiling faintly.


    In a fraction of a second, Mu Ran disappeared from his original spot and appeared a couple of meters away from Meng Shan, leaving behind a trail of dirt in the air.


    Both palms closed into fists, Mu Ran''s hands were fast as lightning, crashing down on Meng Shan''s chest mercilessly.


    Yet, his punches never managed to land.


    Two jet-black lashes whipped out from the ground beneath Meng Shan''s feet and wrapped around Mu Ran''s legs much faster than anyone could react. Mu Ran''s body was yanked down to the ground harshly, making his head crash into Meng Shan''s feet.


    "Did you really think my teammates were going to stand there and watch you hit me? I mean...this is just sad," Meng Shan responded to the hateful glare Mu Ran sent him from the ground.


    "For someone so confident in his combat prowess, your strategies sure are transparent! I had to go out of my way to bait you into making your move."


    Xiao Wu''s eyes were glued to the strips of shadows coiled around Mu Ran''s legs, tracking their origin. The shadows beneath Meng Shan''s feet stretched all the way to the six of his teammates surrounding them.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The shadowbeasts of the Nightblood faction!


    Subconsciously, Xiao Wu''s palm held the manual even tighter than before.


    His father used to tell him the legends of all sorts of spirit beasts. The shadowbeasts had been one of the most prominent ones in his stories.


    Born of darkness, grown within Soulslots, nourished by spiritual force, manifested through heart-harmony, the shadowbeasts were not uncommon in the legends surrounding the Beasthaven sect; their reputation, however, was terrific.


    All six of Meng Shan''s teammates were from the Nightblood Faction as well, it seemed. And their participation in this fight spelled doom for both Mu Ran and Xiao Wu.


    Why had he assumed that this was going to be a fair fight? Who would be stupid enough to bring along six powerful teammates and face an opponent alone for no reason? Someone like Mu Ran, maybe.


    "Stay down if you don''t want your backbone smashed into twenty-six parts," Meng Shan threatened, slamming a foot down on Mu Ran''s back.


    "You," he pointed at Xiao Wu, "unless you want a similar friendly exchange, better hand that manual over. I haven''t yet ordered them to break all five of your limbs purely based on the respect I have for your grandfather. Don''t make me sideline that."


    ''Should I fight it out?


    Should I scream for help?''


    Xiao Wu hated how powerless he was at the moment. But before he could make a choice-


    "AAAAAAHHHHH!!! HELP! INFILTRATOOOORSSS!!!"


    A high-pitched howl nearly ruptured everyone''s eardrums.


    Everyone collectively swerved around to look at the sky, the origin point of the scream. A red skeleton of a bird was afloat overhead, they discovered. Before anyone could make a move, it disappeared from their sight without a warning.


    Han Xuhan?! How did he-


    Mu Ran barked out a laugh and twisted his body at an impossible angle, slipping away from the foot Meng Shan had been holding him down with.


    "You''re not the only one with friends to back you up in a fight," he asserted, standing up slowly.


    Xiao Wu''s spirit sank. It seemed inevitable that many people would find out about his manual today. But he also realized that this might very well be the best outcome he could''ve asked for. Regardless of the revelation of his little secret, he still could possibly retain the manual for now.


    Meng Shan''s gaze returned from the sky and fixated on Xiao Wu, completely disregarding Mu Ran as a threat.


    "So this is your final decision? You wish to keep that manual with you by any despicable means?"


    "Despicable? You''ve come to my doorstep for a treasure belonging to my clan for three generations, claiming it doesn''t belong to me. And you dare to call me the despicable one?" Xiao Wu''s anger finally exploded.


    "Screw your elders and their arbitrary rules. My grandfather earned this! This belongs to us, and as the rightful heir of my clan, I have all the rights to do whatever the hell I want with this manual. You should be thanking the heavens that I haven''t sold this manual to the Crimson Snow sect yet! I''d like to see you try to claim it from master Xuan Zi then!"


    Meng Shan fell silent. All of them could hear the sound of countless voices closing in on them from four directions. This was a competition between all sects. Infiltrator disciples of foreign sects would certainly be given a good beating and be robbed of their equipment before they were let off.


    The Crimson Snow sect, as a competitor that had spent a whole day and night inside the archipelago, had already familiarized itself with the rules of this round. Other than direct, severe harm, any sort of punishment could be delivered to spies, thieves, and robbers from other sects.


    In this game where all of them were vying to attain the maximum amount of resources, anything within certain limits was fair game.


    "Then you leave me with no choice. Xiao Tang!"


    For a brief second, Xiao Wu was confused, not understanding what Meng Shan was trying to do. Then he watched one of Meng Shan''s teammates come out of the circle they had formed around the grove.


    "Take off your mask," Meng Shan ordered.


    A faint suspicion bloomed inside Xiao Wu''s heart, the name ''Xiao Tang'' ringing a bell.


    It couldn''t be...


    The mask was taken off from the youth''s face, and recognition dawned on Xiao Wu.


    Xiao Tang, one of his cousins, was looking back at him with impassive eyes.


    In a second, a lot of past incidents suddenly connected in his mind. He realized that this was the Beasthaven Sect''s ultimate method of persuasion.


    "Looks like you haven''t forgotten this cousin of yours. Elder Di Qian of the Deepworld faction took him in as a disciple a few months ago while he was on a trip. His father, your uncle, pledged his allegiance to the Deepworld faction soon after, alongside the rest of the branch heads of your clan. The Xiao clan is now prepared to sever all connections with the Nightblood faction and join Deepworld''s territory as a subordinate clan. The Nightblood Faction has agreed to the deal as long as our manual is returned to us. So, unless you want your father''s branch to be expelled from the clan, better make your choice carefully."


    Xiao Wu cursed inside his heart. What the hell was this? Since when was Xiao Tang talented enough to be personally recruited by an elder from the Beasthaven Sect? Something fishy was afoot!


    As the commotion around them grew closer, Xiao Wu made his decision, heart hardening with the image of his family floating in his mind.


    "I''ll voluntarily deliver this manual to Elder Meng Hao when this tournament ends. Give me this small period of time to consult my family."


    Meng Shan nodded after a moment of silent reflection. "Fine. But swear a heavenly oath that not a single word of that manual will be leaked to any outsider. Otherwise, your family will suffer the consequences firsthand."


    "I swear by the heavens, I will not reveal a single word of this manual in my hand to anyone until I''ve delivered it to Elder Meng Hao."


    Xiao Wu''s oath was quick and decisive. However...


    "Wait a damn moment, did you say ''the manual in my hand''? Are you trying to trick me?" Meng Shan harrumphed coldly.


    Xiao Wu coughed awkwardly and threw the fake manual away. He had been carrying that decoy for months now, having foreseen such sneaky attempts from the Beasthaven sect. Who knew this guy would see through the trick?


    "Fine! I swear by the heavens that I will not reveal a single word of the ''Shadowbeast Nurturing Manual'' to anyone until I have returned it to Elder Meng-"


    "Xiao Wu, don''t test my patience!" roared Meng Shan. "Are you implying you''ll be free to reveal it to the world once you''ve delivered it to Elder Meng?"


    "Damn, when I go to deliver the manual, just make me swear another oath at that time! I can''t think of anything more flawless than that!" Xiao Wu shrieked in frustration.


    "You could say you''ll never reveal a word of it to anyone!"


    "...I swear by the heavens, I shall never reveal a single word of the ''Shadowbeast Nurturing Manual to anyone!"


    "Hey, I''ve found them! Come, brothers and sisters! It''s clobbering time!"


    A voice familiar to Xiao Wu and Mu Ran came from within the woods. The commotion nearby increased manifold instantly, growing closer every second.


    Seeing that Xiao Wu had relented, Meng Shan made a gesture at his underlings. All of them sprinted to him in a flash.


    "Take care. Any rational man should know not to play with fire."


    With that threat hanging in the air, Meng Shan bent down toward the ground and punched the soil.


    An array of blue light appeared around the team of seven disciples of the Beasthaven sect. Clearly, it was some sort of an escape mechanism.


    "Return MY treasure first, you thieving assholes!" Mu Ran suddenly yelled in fury, rushing toward them with waves of qi emanating from him, about to cast a spell.


    But before he could execute the spell, all seven of them disappeared, leaving behind an explosion of blue light.

 Chapter 155: Beef With A Powerhouse Doesnt Solve Itself

    Han Xuhan wasn''t surprised to witness the super stylish method the infiltrators used to escape. He, however, was disappointed sorely. Since his entrance into Titanfall Archipelago, he himself had been the one to constantly get in trouble in foreign territories. This had been a golden opportunity to vent some of the frustrations his adventures had left him with. He really wanted to beat up a bunch of tied-up, powerless intruders.


    "Xuhan? You managed to come back?"


    "Whoa! When did you return?"


    Both Mu Ran and Xiao Wu seemed to suddenly realize that the owner of the familiar voice should be out there fighting for his life in foreign sects. Eyes wide, the target of their attention shifted towards him.


    "This morning. But we can talk about that later. Boss, do you require medical assistance to heal those injuries?" Xuhan asked after rushing into the grove. The enemy team was gone. There was no reason for him to hide behind trees and wait for backup.


    Mu Ran rubbed the gashes on his back solemnly, watching the numerous disciples who had rushed forward from nearby regions pouring into the grove.


    "I''ll heal," he said, a displeased tone in his voice that didn''t escape Han Xuhan''s perception. Having predicted this subtle result, Xuhan didn''t hesitate to apply the remedy. After all, how could Mu Ran publicly accept a defeat when he hadn''t gone all out and revealed half of his secret trump cards?


    "Boss, my apologies for interrupting your grand battle scheme. I was just too eager to teach those honourless scums a lesson. How could I bear to see my martial brothers be bullied?" He said while nodding implicitly at the inquisitive gazes targeting him. After all, everyone saw him being thrown off the floating island just yesterday. They were curious to know how he had made his return completely unscathed.


    His words were loud, diverting the attention of all instantly. Everyone who had gotten a good glimpse of Mu Ran''s injuries was stunned.


    What the hell do you mean by interrupting his grand battle scheme? Was Mu Ran scheming to get himself killed in a grandiose fashion?


    Even Mu Ran, an experienced praise-sponge, looked caught off guard.


    "Eh? How did you know I had a battle scheme in mind?" he couldn''t help but ask, a green tint coloring his face.


    Han Xuhan snorted coldly, stretching his hands wide. "That Meng Shan is a mere frog in a well, to be bold enough to challenge boss. How could his meager schemes stand in front of absolute power? He just got lucky to have caught you by surprise, boss, that''s all. I don''t believe that there is a single physique transformation realm cultivator in this world who can overshadow you, boss."


    The surrounding disciples had odd looks on their faces as they watched Han Xuhan kick up a fuss. It didn''t take one to be a genius to understand that this guy was just buttering up Mu Ran for benefits. After all, Mu Ran was a renowned genius in Crimson Snow sect.


    However, wasn''t this going too far...? Mu Ran''s bloodstained body and dust-coated face hardly gave off the aura of someone who had the upper hand in a fight. Although none of them had witnessed the battle, they could glean a lot from the results. To them, Han Xuhan''s flowery speech nearly toed mockery...


    Mu Ran, meanwhile, wiped off the embarrassed expression from his face and gracefully nodded.


    "Not bad, not bad. Your battle instinct seems to have improved. I did indeed have a trump card ready to turn the tide. Who could have guessed that those cowardly dogs would run so suddenly? No matter, I''ll meet them for sure in the future."


    His musings were not uttered in a low volume, earning him some snickers from within the group of spectators. But both Mu Ran and Han Xuhan were too confident of themselves to care much about the opinions of the mediocre.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "Brother Wu, they didn''t manage to injure you, did they?" Xuhan enquired, turning his attention to the dumbstruck Xiao Wu.


    "Uh- no, I''m fine." He shook his head.


    The disappointed crowd dispersed. So far, they had mostly fended off trials set by the organizers. Only once, a small team of infiltrators had been caught attempting to rob the vaults. How they managed to evade detection of the guards at the periphery of the island was still a mystery, as they had refused to spill the secret regardless of how ''persuasive'' the enthusiastic disciples interrogating them were.


    They knew that no one would dare to do anything too cruel in a friendly competition. The Crimson Snow sect had ended up chasing them away once the disciples understood this.


    Being the thieves and robbers held an advantage over being the defenders.


    It now appeared that the sects that had arrived earlier were already implementing sneaky tricks to evade detection upon crossing over to foreign sects.


    Although most of them were small sects that hardly seemed like a threat, the infiltration by Beasthaven''s disciples would light a fire among Han Xuhan''s fellow disciples, that much he could predict.


    Once the grove became devoid of prying eyes, Han Xuhan gestured at his martial brothers to follow him.


    "Master and I were waiting for all of you to come attend today''s lesson. But seeing that the two of you were late, master told me to come check up on you two," he explained on their way to Kong Ye''s residence.


    "Oh? Is he finally going to begin teaching astral cultivation?" Mu Ran asked, sulking. "I''m going to renounce him as my master if he doesn''t hurry the hell up. I''m almost beginning to suspect that he isn''t as skilled at astral combat as he boasted of."


    Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu pointedly ignored the disrespectful threat. Xiao Wu''s complexion seemed to have improved by the news. His footsteps carried a tad more vigor than before.


    "Brother Wu, didn''t you become master''s disciple just to learn a spirit manifestation technique? Is that the manual those scums were trying to steal?"


    Spirit manifestation... Spirit beasts... Shadowbeasts.


    Han Xuhan had made the connections easily. Back when he had noticed how knowledgeable Xiao Wu was about the cultivation methods of the Beasthaven sect, much of which the boy had revealed during Luo Yi''s arrival, the seed of suspicion had been planted in his mind. And now that he had gotten a glimpse of the situation Xiao Wu''s family was in, a lot of the threads closed together to weave a picture, a very interesting picture.


    But he was careful not to poke at the nest of stories hiding in that hole of secrets, leaving Xiao Wu with the freedom to choose whether to share those or not.


    "What a shame! Now that you''ve sworn a heavenly oath, you can''t even show the manual to master. How is he going to guide you into cultivating the technique?" Mu Ran sighed. "You shouldn''t have been so rash. I had a plan to take them down."


    Han Xuhan, about to pat Xiao Wu on the back to console him, went rigid as he noticed the hint of a sneaky smirk materializing on Xiao Wu''s face.


    "Wait...what did you do? There wasn''t any loophole in the last oath!" He asked, mind firing up with all sorts of ridiculous possibilities. Mu Ran lost his composure as well, realizing something was up from Xiao Wu''s expression.


    "Xiao Wu, you''re not thinking of breaking the oath, are you? I mean, it''s not impossible but¨Ccough!"


    Mu Ran trailed off, ignoring the look of extreme interest from both of his martial brothers. Seeing that he wasn''t about to complete that sentence anytime soon, Xiao Wu shook his head and laughed cheerfully.


    "I swore that I would never reveal a word of that manual to anyone, ever, but..."


    "You''re not just going to reveal a word, but the whole thing at once?" Mu Ran asked, attempting to guess.


    Both Xuhan and Xiao Wu sent him complex looks and once again, ignored his interjection.


    "But the thing is...I have already revealed the whole manual to someone. So I don''t need to break the oath in the future at all!"


    "Who?!" Han Xuhan and Mu Ran collectively gasped.


    "Master!" Xiao Wu answered with a proud smile. "I knew that I would be targeted by the members of the Nightblood faction for the manual. It''s not the first time they''ve tried to snatch it! So I simply handed it over to the strongest cultivator I could trust! I always had a few decoy copies ready to fool others. So even if someone stole everything in my house, it wouldn''t have been an issue. My anger and unwillingness were part of the act to strengthen their belief in my oath. I knew they''d manage to force me to hand the manual over sooner or later. It''s the strongest sect of this world we''re talking about, after all. All I wanted was time, and they stepped right into my trap."


    Xiao Wu finished his explanation with an evil laugh. His victorious laughter traveled across the mountains surrounding them.


    Their heart trodden by thousands of imaginary horses, Han Xuhan and Mu Ran kept silent, not sure whether to feel overjoyed about the fact that he had successfully fooled the enemy, or feel humiliated by the fact that they had been fooled too.


    "By the way, martial brother Ran, didn''t you say they stole something from you first?" Xiao Wu suddenly enquired.


    "Yeah. Bastards stole that funny aura crystal of mine after drugging me in my room. If only my cultivation was a bit higher, I wouldn''t have fallen asleep..." Mu Ran gloomily punched empty air.


    Han Xuhan immediately recalled his trip to Mu Ran''s house half an hour ago, back when he had just returned from the Sunrider Sect. He had sensed Mu Ran sleeping deeply at that time...No wonder! Were the thieves inside his hut when he had knocked?


    A chill ran down his back, thinking of the possibilities. He had surely escaped a disaster there by not barging in!


    Cough...Mu Ran didn''t need to know that, though.


    "The aura crystal? Out of all things, they stole just that?" Xiao Wu asked, surprised.


    "I know, right? It''s like they''re looking down on my treasures! Those bumpkins probably didn''t even recognize how precious and rare the treasures in my room are! Hmph!" Mu Ran snorted angrily.


    "Wait a minute, when I first found you two fighting those guys, that Meng Shan was saying something about an elder Di Qian, right?" Han Xuhan recalled, a grave premonition taking shape in his heart.


    Xiao Wu sent him a measured look. "Elder Di Qian is an elite member of the Beasthaven sect''s Deepworld faction. Do you know him?"


    Once again, Han Xuhan and Mu Ran were stunned into silence.


    "Fuck!"


    "Heavens!"


    A collective series of curses colored the peaceful trip to Kong Ye''s dwelling.

 Chapter 156: The Tentacle Monster Technique

    Kong Ye was lecturing Yuen Zhou with a stern look on his face when Han Xuhan and Co. arrived at his door.


    "Disciple, in the scenario you''ve proposed, the chances of the appearance of an ''Extermination level'' heavenly tribulation is too high. Even if someone were to steal that much foreign energy and refined it instantly, the possibility of transcending to the soul reformation realm is still pretty much zero."


    The appearance of the rest of his disciples didn''t escape Kong Ye''s perception. He immediately quit the discussion with one last warning directed at her.


    "Put away thoughts of such evil methods to advance one''s cultivation. Your cultivation speed can be fast, but the tribulation lightning is faster."


    Mu Ran''s breathing suddenly hitched for a couple of seconds, which both Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu noticed. But neither of them had any idea about what the two of them were discussing, except that it was something severely dangerous. The three of them tacitly chose to forego any attempts at digging into Yuen Zhou''s business. It was a common habit by now in their mountain peak.


    "Change into a new set of uniforms, disciple." Kong Ye waved a hand and out from his hut flew a package right into Mu Ran''s chest.


    "Someone from the Beasthaven sect, was it?" Kong Ye enquired, seemingly full of curiosity.


    While Mu Ran went to the backyard to change out of his damaged uniform, Xiao Wu described the incident. To Xuhan''s surprise, Xiao Wu hid nothing from their master, at least none he could distinguish. Kong Ye seemed quite touched at how honest Xiao Wu''s account appeared to be.


    "You''ve done well by confiding in me. Rest assured, unless the situation deteriorates further, the sect is obliged to provide your family with some means of protection. Otherwise, we would lose our hard-gained reputation as a powerful sect."


    Xiao Wu gratefully bowed. "I''ll be satisfied as long as you provide me with guidance as you see fit, master. I''ll have to trouble you for the next few days to teach me the Shadowbeast Nurturing technique."


    "What? What about my astral warfare methods? Are we not learning that?" Mu Ran made his return known loudly.


    Han Xuhan wanted to add to that, asking when Kong Ye was going to guide him into cultivating the Snowfall Garden technique that was supposed to strengthen his dao foundation. Or even when he was going to treat his continuously deteriorating meridians. But the timing didn''t seem appropriate. In the end, he and Yuen Zhou stayed silent, watching Mu Ran and Xiao Wu bicker back and forth trying to convince Kong Ye.


    "Martial brother Xuhan, I have something to discuss with you. We should talk after the lesson." Yuen Zhou''s sudden whisper nearly made Xuhan yelp out loud, because she was at least 10 feet away from him.


    How the hell did her whisper reach TEN FEET?


    And why didn''t the other three people in the courtyard hear her? None of them had even spared her a glance.


    ...Was this the fabled voice transmission technique from xianxia stories?


    Their eyes met for a brief moment where Yuen Zhou nodded meaningfully before looking away. Han Xuhan stood there trying to puzzle out what business she could possibly have with him. It was Kong Ye''s loud, impatient voice that broke him out of his web of thoughts.


    "Alright, alright. That''s enough from both of you. Let me get this straight¡ª Xiao Wu, you would like to learn the Shadowbeast Nurturing technique, while Mu Ran wants to master astral combat. Both of you want to attain the highest quality of proficiency in the least amount of time. Neither of you cares a whit about my warnings and the taboos of swift cultivation. You''re being very difficult here, you know?"


    Xiao Wu bowed very sincerely, replying, "Yes, master. I want to teach those uppity assholes from the Beasthaven sect a lesson before I give away the manual. It''s the least I could do to preserve my ancestor''s dignity."


    Realizing how convincing he appeared, Mu Ran immediately broke his character, going out of his way to bow to a perfect ninety-degree angle.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "I do not want to implicate the rest of you in my personal vendetta, which is why I''m trying not to give away too many details. But if I do not manage to master astral combat very soon, I''ll be in grave danger, and may not survive long. I''m sincerely requesting master''s help!"


    Han Xuhan, Xiao Wu and Yuen Zhou were absolutely stunned, never having seen such a servile version of Mu Ran. His entire personality suddenly seemed different from usual. Gone was the pride and testosterone barrage from his body, leaving bare a slick, slimy new persona that none of them could see through as easily as before. An uncanny feeling rose in Xuhan''s heart as he took the scene in.


    When did this protagonist undergo such massive character growth? How? Did a mini-apocalypse happen without anyone noticing? How can anyone change so fast? Even he, who practiced acting regularly could only dream of achieving such a high standard.


    "Disciple Zhou, what''s your opinion? I remember you wished to learn divination from me?"


    Hesitating for a second, Yuen Zhou answered, "My pursuit can wait for now. Clearly, martial brother Mu Ran and Xiao Wu require your guidance more than I do."


    His face hard to read, Kong Ye turned to look at Xuhan. But contrary to his expectations, no questions came, rather, he made a statement that Xuhan could not deny.


    "You require guidance on the Snowfall Garden technique."


    Han Xuhan ignored the brief looks of curiosity from his fellow siblings. Kong Ye gazed vacantly at the sky for a second before he spoke again.


    "Fine then. I''ll teach all four of you, all four of the techniques, at the same time. Prepare the materials!"


    * * * * *


    "All of you have advanced ceaselessly to your current realms without actively consolidating your foundations, that is, without learning to synchronize between your newfound power and your mind that is used to being limited by its past weak vessel.


    The realm you are in is called the Physique Transformation realm for a reason. Just enhancing your physique is not the entirety of its aim. You need to learn to use your enhancements, push past your previous limits, and discover the advantages of a vessel capable of nurturing a celestial. Every muscle, every fiber of your body must be under your full control for you to reach the real peak of your physique transformation realm."


    Kong Ye had begun the lesson with a straightforward speech. His determined countenance was supplemented by his resolute tone, grabbing the entirety of his disciples'' attention.


    "Usually, if you were an apprentice of a normal elder in the outer court, they''d not make you refine your body that far. It''s difficult, requires a vast amount of resources, and isn''t very useful in the common paths of cultivation pursued by the upper echelon of the Crimson Snow sect. Unless you aim to be a body refiner who frequents lethal combat, you can cut corners in this aspect. So long as you enhance your physique to a degree passable under the heavenly tribulation, it is enough. And most of your seniors, as well as your peers are already treading this path as we speak. I, Kong Ye, do not approve of this practice."


    Kong Ye punched a tree behind him to display his resolution. It was a very thematic addition to his lecture, he personally felt; making his aura as the speaker fiercer. Of course, had he genuinely punched the tree, there would be no tree in that spot anymore. And had he been at the peak of his power, he wouldn''t even need to punch anything to wipe its existence off from regular sight...


    "But now, things are different. Our sect master has given all of you the opportunity to pursue the peak of cultivation. In this preliminary round, all disciples are allowed to snatch resources from other sects, so long as they don''t cross certain limits. That solves our problem of resources. In terms of the difficulty in guiding you to the peak of physical enhancements, I alone can take care of that. In this sect, no other elder can boast of this!"


    Kong Ye''s bluster almost matched Mu Ran by now, a fact that he was well aware of. But he was unafraid of any repercussions that his boasts might bring. No elder of the Crimson Snow sect had the balls to challenge him over his words anyway. In the back of his mind, he recalled the faint memories of his early life, where he had spent years perfecting his control over his fully enhanced body, just so that he would never leave a single weakness in his dao foundation. Many of his peers had jeered at him upon climbing past his realm, drunk on their powers.


    He had beaten a dozen emotions out of them after reaching the soul reformation realm. Such pleasant days those were...


    Sighing, he waved a hand at his attentive disciples. "Come, let us go take a walk. We''re not learning anything here by just standing around flapping our mouths."


    The four of them followed Kong Ye as he strode out of his courtyard, hands clasped on his back in a bossy pose. Today, he was going to go all out...


    ''System, is the augmentation complete?''


    [ progress bar: 78% ]


    [ System''s remarks: Host, are you certain you want to do this? You might end up downgrading the quality of that Shadowbeast cultivation technique, as well as mutating the Snowfall Garden manual. Forcefully amalgamating so many different types of cultivation techniques into one will surely breed something hideous. ]


    ''Are you saying that you''re not competent enough to perform the task? Or that I lack the theoretical knowledge necessary for this?''


    [ The system is plenty capable of performing this task. But are all of your disciples capable of dealing with the repercussions? Don''t try to answer that host, because both of us know that neither Xiao Wu nor Han Xuhan has the talent to comprehend a compound scripture.]


    Kong Ye had nothing to say. In the end, he could only think of one outcome.


    ''All four of them seem to be in urgent need of my guidance. It will be my failure as a teacher if I show partiality to one or two of them while ignoring the plight of the rest. I''ll do my best, which means making use of you in any way possible. If they fail to keep up, that will be their misfortune. You are not omnipotent, I am not omnipotent, their talent cannot be changed, and their plights are theirs to face. I cannot see what more I can do. My conscience will remain spotless regardless of the outcome of this experiment."


    [...]


    [ Congratulations, host!]


    Kong Ye was stunned by the sudden off-topic message.


    [You''ve unlocked a new achievement! ]


    [ Title: Neutral Fountain ]


    [ As a fountain of knowledge, you are impartial, yet merciful; ruthless, yet selfless! You teach all equally regardless of their abilities. It''s not a very good trait for a teacher to have, but it comes in handy. ]


    [ Reward: One A-tier, Two B-tier, Three C-tier cultivation manual augmentation token ]


    [ Remarks: Well, that restores all the currency you spent on the amalgamation and more. Nice! ]


    Kong Ye had to suppress the uproarious laughter bubbling out from his heart. Truly, a wonderful surprise this was!


    [ Alert! ]


    [ Progression: 100% ]


    [ Amalgamation complete! ]


    [ New compound scripture has been successfully created. ]


    [ Scripture Title: Tentacle Monster]


    Kong Ye''s countenance turned unsightly.

 Chapter 157: The First Disciple Isnt As Harmless As It Appeared

    [ Scripture title: Tentacle Monster ]


    [ Description: When you''re this desperate, you can''t really be choosy. This scripture is entirely new, conceptually a mess, sizewise a giant, and horrifying in terms of complexity. Few beings in this vast universe can come up with an abomination like this, and still not screw themselves up while cultivating according to this scripture. Obviously, the system cannot accurately predict everything that will possibly happen upon cultivating this technique. But the simulations do form a picture¡ª the picture of a giant, horrifying tentacle monster. ]


    [ Scripture level: A¨C tier (predicted) ]


    [ Scripture Type: Unorthodox ]


    [ System''s Remark: No, I''m not changing the title. ]


    Kong Ye found it meaningless to curse anyone at this point. Thankfully, the techniques involved in creating this compound scripture were mostly high-grade. The amalgamation had only downgraded the overall quality by a small degree.


    Still, the A¨Ctier was just a prediction based on the simulation run by the system. Kong Ye had tried creating compound scriptures before, on a lower scale to save up his system resources. These predictions weren''t exactly reliable. Much of the result depended on the performance and behavior of his disciples. Luck was also a powerful factor....speaking of luck, Kong Ye snuck a glance at his worst disciple, Han Xuhan.


    This might not bode well for that kid...


    Clearing his throat, Kong Ye came to a stop right at the edge of their floating island. He sensed his disciples tensely waiting for him to start speaking, their eagerness palpable in the air.


    "None of you clearly will ever succeed in mastering multiple techniques at once, at least not within the timeframe you''re confined within. That leaves us with a single option. My teachings from today will, on one hand, lay down the foundation of all four techniques in a singular form inside your dao foundations, a type of cultivation method that falls under the category called ''compound technique''."


    Kong Ye sensed Yuen Zhou''s heartbeat destabilizing for a very brief moment. Huh...this lass is too knowledgable for her own good.


    "On another hand, my teachings will allow each of you to pursue the sort of technique you wish to, even though in terms of theory, I''ll be teaching the same thing to all of you."


    Puzzlement began to show on their faces, Kong Ye noticed with satisfaction.


    "And in another hand, the training plan planned by the sect master will help all of you consolidate your current cultivation, enhancing your control over your powerful physique, let you understand the wonder hidden deep inside your muscles, waiting for your control. Seize it, and you''ll reach the apex of the physique transformation realm in no time!"


    "...That adds up to three hands," Han Xuhan remarked in a confused tone. Kong Ye chose not to reply to that. This kid really needed his horizon to be broadened. What''s wrong with having three hands?


    "All four of you, start accumulating qi inside your meridians, now!"


    The four martial siblings sat properly to meditate on the ground immediately to fill up their reserves. Kong Ye decided to inspect their improvements in terms of speed and quality of accumulation during the process.


    Hmm, Mu Ran''s accumulation speed has once more improved by a small margin of 1 percent, which was already unbelievable considering he was the best disciple in his generation in this particular aspect. His speed, finesse, quality of qi, the quantity of qi, total reserve, everything was off the ordinary charts, and off the genius charts as well. The fact that he was still improving was hard to believe. Even higher-world cultivators were rarely this good.


    Yuen Zhou was a strange case. Her speed, reserve of qi, and speed of accumulation, all were above average, yet her control of the whole process was extraordinary. She should be capable of a much better performance purely based on her level of control. But she did not, which, Kong Ye guessed was an intentional act on her part.


    Xiao Wu displayed a much more ordinary collection of data. Not much improvement in any sector except the stability of accumulation. This boy was slowly becoming a confident cultivator. Hopefully, this tournament''s results wouldn''t affect him too heavily.


    Lastly, Han Xuhan showed a small surprise. Rather than improving in one of the regular categories, which was quite difficult for him due to his rare physique, Han Xuhan had become better at making use of qi. He was nearly as good as Yuen Zhou in terms of achieving what he wanted to do with qi. Perhaps having that disastrous meridian system had wrung out all of his willpower and talent to enhance this one aspect so that he could function as a cultivator.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Just when Kong Ye was about to begin his lesson, he noticed another unexpected detail.


    Han Xuhan was guiding his qi on a path very familiar to him. He saw the boy following this route regularly. However, something about this session felt off. This boy was about to summon his minions. Yet his qi consumption was not what it should have been...


    A second later, the familiar red skeleton of a man leaped out from his back, followed by the skeleton of a bird, then a...really ugly-looking snake.


    While Han Xuhan busily whispered to his minions, Kong Ye felt his worldview churn.


    If that detail he had noticed was what he assumed, this could be an unprecedented discovery!


    Minions who can share the burden of their summoner''s spiritual capacity?


    Or was it the opposite¨C minions that could potentially be a threat to the summoner, changing the very essence of the technique that created them?!


    And right then, the contents of Han Xuhan''s whisper registered in his ears.


    "All three of you, listen to my master carefully. If you pick up a thing or two, it''ll be your good fortune! Don''t say I mistreat you, hmph! This is an opportunity any of my peers could kill for!"


    Kong Ye really wanted to beat somebody up.


    His first disciple was playing with fire, and the fire was already so very close to melting his hands off into a pile of ashes.


    The skeleton minions summoned by Han Xuhan were already replacing his will inside his dao tower, slowly and steadily. How many more minions were in line? How much longer before the collective will of his minions overwhelmed his own and Han Xuhan became a walking, talking vessel carrying out the will of these undeads?


    Kong Ye didn''t know how to persuade this young man to quit cultivating this Skeletal Monarch Technique, seeing how troublesome it would be for him to start from scratch once again. Had he not allowed his minions to cultivate, the technique would have remained a harmless piece of trash. But now...even he didn''t know what awaited Han Xuhan in the future. Any prediction he could base on the current state of Han Xuhan''s dao tower was full of gloom and tragedy.


    Oh well, hopefully, the Snowfall Garden Manual he had given the boy could be of some help. But the problem with his meridians would still remain.


    And that left one issue unchecked.


    "Disciple Xuhan, are you planning on letting your minions become my disciples as well?" he asked, not exactly suppressing the anger in his tone.


    "Huh?" Han Xuhan, who usually was quite perceptive when it came to reading between the lines, looked surprised. "You''d be willing to do that, master? Awesome!"


    Acting obstinate intentionally!


    Xiao Wu and Yuen Zhou, who had their eyes closed, broke meditation midway to give him a look full of disbelief. Kong Ye couldn''t fault them for that.


    Mu Ran had kept his eyes open the whole time, brazenly showing off his prowess in qi manipulation. He too, looked dumbfounded by the idea. But Kong Ye felt a headache incoming when he noticed the hint of an approving smirk taking shape in the corner of his mouth.


    Bunch of damned weirdos!


    "Are you not aware that this teaching of mine is to be kept a secret? The very reason there is a tradition of apprenticeship in the Crimson Snow sect is to prevent precious knowledge from falling into the hands of malevolent forces due to being widely spread among all types of members. No elder, not a single one, will let you casually disperse his hard-learned mastery to those unworthy of it."


    His fingers pointed straight at the three minions behind Han Xuhan, Kong Ye made his stand clear. However, the bird skeleton chose not to take it lying down.


    "Hey! Who are you calling unworthy? I''m the most talented disciple you''ll ever get in your life!"


    Such gall! It was HIS teaching these minions were trying to grab onto, and they had the audacity to talk back to him?


    He was about to slap some sense into that owl and demonstrate his stand to this troublesome disciple of his when Han Xuhan barged in between the two of them.


    "Ah, my bad, my bad!" He pointed a finger at his minions, mirroring Kong Ye''s stance. "Guess it cannot be helped, guys. I told you my master''s teachings are quite precious. I just didn''t realize that it was considered such a big taboo. The only way I can see this working is if you signed a contract of secrecy with my master or something. But that sounds too troublesome. Off you go, back to the dao tower it is. You three can keep cultivating the Spiritual Bones technique or something¨C"


    "I accept!" Zhanxian loudly interrupted him before he could finish.


    "...Huh? You accept what?" Han Xuhan asked in confusion.


    "I accept the contract of secrecy. I wish to learn under Master Kong!" Zhanxian kneeled instantly, sincerity laced with his movements.


    Tun Shi Tian followed suit after a second of stunned silence.


    "Me too! So long as the contract doesn''t have any humiliating conditions, I accept this solution!"


    Hai Yin Zhe, the little snake who had played the role of a silent, inquisitive spectator, began screeching, its juvenile voice grating on their ear drums.


    "I WANNA PLAY TOO! IF BIG BROTHER XIAN AND TIAN ARE STAYING OUTSIDE THEN I WON''T GO IN! I WON''T I WON''T I WON''T I WON''T I WOOOOOOON''T!"


    The little snake had much more to say, it seemed, from the struggle it displayed as Han Xuhan gently clamped its mouth shut.


    Fury and indignation booming inside his heart, Kong Ye decided to put a stop to this madness. It was one thing to teach his own disciples who were recognized by the system. But these undeads? His system wouldn''t accept any summoned entities as disciples. Kong Ye had already tried that in the past out of desperation.


    Teaching Xuhan''s minions would be meaningless, and quite possibly harm Xuhan himself. Moreover, the meddling of his system in his craft was something he wished to keep a secret forever. Disseminating the unorthodox methods provided by his system was hardly a wise thing to do.


    Why did this kid not understand that he couldn''t willy-nilly share such precious things? He always appeared so crafty, when did his intellect suddenly drop¨C


    His eyes met Han Xuhan''s gaze right at that moment, and his head went blank as he caught the blatantly clear look of mirth and satisfaction growing in Xuhan''s eyes.


    No words were spoken, yet in that fraction of a second, Kong Ye was forced to consider the possibility that Han Xuhan wasn''t in fact being a stupid little piece of shit.


    What scheme could possibly be involved here?


    Kong Ye reversed the chain of events that led to this outcome. If he agreed to sign a contract of secrecy with the minions, they would be bound by certain rules, not to Xuhan but to him, a cultivator who was considered very powerful on this planet.


    How would that benefit Han Xuhan?


    Wait a second..was Han Xuhan using him to control his minions?


    That could potentially be a double-win for this kid. On one hand, the minions would be forced to serve their summoner as he was their medium of contact with Kong Ye. It would be impossible for them to backstab Xuhan in the future if Kong Ye focused on that issue in their contract. On the other hand, by signing that contract, these minions would receive the best teaching they could ever dream of receiving. Their rise to power would be swift so long as they didn''t die once more. Han Xuhan, their summoner, wouldn''t even need to cultivate seriously so long as he had minions of that caliber.


    A scheme that took advantage of its victims'' greed...and turned the benefit of the victims into the benefit of the schemer.


    Kong Ye suddenly began to feel a sliver of apprehension towards his least threatening disciple.

 Chapter 158: Tentacle Monster Technique: First Form!

    "Everything that exists, whether visible or invisible, touchable or untouchable, material or ethereal, living or lifeless, valueless or invaluable...has a formal form with some common and some unique attributes.


    These forms of all that exist can be found in the astral world, and thus these forms are called the astral projections."


    Kong Ye''s definition of the astral world was easy to understand, but the implication it carried caused a few mini-explosion of ideas inside Han Xuhan''s head. Sadly, he had to push down the immense urge to entertain those ideas, as the lesson had just begun and he could not afford to miss out on a single word.


    "The astral world itself cannot be categorized as entirely separate from the real world. Simply said, the human mind, so long as it is confined by its mortality, isn''t powerful enough to comprehend the concept of overlapping universes. To us, our world is normal, easy to live in, and a model example of a life-bearing atmosphere. I don''t think I need to explain why that impression is but a mere illusion we grow up with.


    It is true that we have evolved to survive in this universe, and cultivation can enhance our body and mind to such a degree that it allows us to explore the other universes as well, a prime example of which is the astral world. In a sense, cultivation is the ultimate system of evolution, artificial in nature, yet approved of by nature."


    Questions instantly rose in Han Xuhan''s mind. Twitching for a second, he raised a hand, hesitant.


    Kong Ye sent him a dismal look before nodding.


    "How many other universes are out there other than the astral world? Your wording did imply there are a few that you know of..."


    From the corner of his eye, he saw Yuen Zhou, who had been sitting in a relaxed pose for so long, suddenly lean forward subtly.


    Kong Ye silently stroked his chin for a few seconds before replying with a surprising number.


    "There are three that I know of. And I''m sure the real number is way more than that. Calling all of them universes would be somewhat erroneous. You can classify these alien territories into two categories. One is mostly habitable for us, and we call the worlds that fit into this category ''Macrocosms of Man''.


    "The other category is uninhabitable unless we mutate our physique, soul, or even mind to fit into the rules and lifestyles that can allow us to thrive there. These are labeled as ''Totalities''.


    "Other than the astral world, which is obviously a Totality, both the other universes I know of are Macrocosms where humans...humanoids rule."


    It was fascinating. His imagination conjured up scene after scene of epic scale, where galaxies after galaxies whirled in a pool of fissures, alien existences coming into touch with one another as they broke past their weak, mortal shells and traveled through the sea of stars.


    "But that''s none of your concern, don''t lose focus on your prime objective, disciples." Kong Ye''s admonishment brought him back to the real world.


    "The reason why the astral realm interests cultivators is its uniqueness," Kong Ye began once more, his eyes shifting toward Mu Ran not so subtly, an action repeated by his other three disciples.


    "The astral world transcends the concept of space. No matter how many stars away your objective lies, so long as you can pinpoint its location in the astral world, you can reach it in an instant."


    "Whooaaa!" Xiao Wu''s exclamation was sincere.


    "No wonder!" Mu Ran''s remark sounded enlightened.


    "Isn''t that too...unrealistic? I mean, everyone would be rushing to cultivate astral techniques if that was so simple..."


    "Correct!" Kong Ye pointed at Xuhan, satisfied by his observation. "To be exact, you can close that distance in the astral world only. So what you''ll find upon reaching the location of your objective is not the person, or the object itself, but its astral projection."


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    "What happens if we destroy the astral projection of someone?" Mu Ran asked.


    "Why would you want to do that? And how do you want to do that?" Kong Ye asked, his tone somewhat playful.


    "I mean, if it''s my enemy, better to wipe out all of their traces from all known worlds, right?" Mu Ran answered with a shrug.


    "And that''s where you''re mistaken, disciple. If destroying an astral projection was so simple as conceiving the notion of destroying it, the astral realm would not be known for housing the projections of all existing matter in all universes connected to it." Kong Ye finished his rebuttal with a supercilious laugh.


    "Only two outcomes are possible in a clash between the astral projections of two parties. If there is a big difference of power between the parties, one side will completely devour the other side and make the loser''s astral projection a part of the winner''s projection, thus evolving and mutating its original self; if the clashing parties are nearly equal in terms of power, one projection shall enslave the other and gain the power to control it through a lengthy period of struggle.


    In the end, whoever wins may not be the ultimate profiteer. Why, you ask? To comprehend the answer, you must learn the basics of astral cultivation, first and foremost. Now, let us begin with the first form of the technique I shall be teaching you¨C THE TENACIOUS TENTACLE!"


    ". . ."


    ". . ."


    ". . ."


    ". . ."


    ". . ."


    ". . ."


    "Papa, what''s a tentacle?"


    ". . ."


    "The Tenacious Tentacle is the form concerning itself with divination, clairvoyance, and karma. It focuses on the more ethereal aspects of cultivation," Kong Ye explained, ignoring the skeptical look his four disciples and three undead minions were sending in his direction.


    "Yuen Zhou, you shall pursue the perfection of this form."


    Yuen Zhou sucked in a short breath. "Pursue its perfection? Are you telling me that this is an untested cultivation technique?"


    Kong Ye nodded slowly, an odd smirk surfacing on his face.


    This time, all four disciples collectively gasped.


    A technique that had yet to undergo a heavenly tribulation! The dangers and uncertainty associated with it were too extreme!


    "I''ll display the basic qi circulation for the technique at first, upon mastering which I shall teach you how to sprout your first tentacle."


    "....Okay."


    The four of them watched with rapt attention as Kong Ye moved his hands in the air gracefully, blueish strings of qi spilling forth from his open palms, spreading out in front of them to create a human-sized silhouette.


    Crisscrossing through the silhouette were dozens of bright blue lines, the pulsing movement in them making them appear alive with power.


    "Wow! Can I eat it?" Little Zhe raised a question that went unanswered.


    Han Xuhan easily recognized what it was, a three-dimensional meridian map. However, why did it look a degree off for some reason? Some details did not add up at all...


    "This, Yuen Zhou, is YOUR meridian map."


    Casually dropping the bomb, Kong Ye smiled victoriously. Han Xuhan snuck a look at Yuen Zhou and she did not look pleased, a frosty expression spreading over her face.


    He glanced at Mu Ran and noticed the alarm growing in his eyes.


    It did feel like an invasion of privacy...


    Perhaps Kong Ye had realized that as well because he immediately redirected the conversation.


    "Watch closely. This is how you must direct your qi to cultivate the first form of the technique." Looming over the silhouette made up of his qi, Kong Ye began manipulating a new stream of qi.


    "Uhm, master, I get that the first form is called the Tenacious Tentacle, but what is the technique itself called? You haven''t told the name of the scripture yet," Han Xuhan said tentatively.


    "You''re not ready to appreciate the title of the scripture, yet, disciples," Kong Ye said, not sparing him a single glance.


    The first step was absorption. Kong Ye made the new qi enter the body of the silhouette and guided it into the bright, pulsing lines throughout the body.


    "Unlike when you cultivate conventional techniques, this compound scripture cannot be cultivated by simply absorbing qi without a strategy. You need to create origin points inside the meridians where the absorbed qi will be gathered and compressed temporarily."


    In each meridian, Kong Ye chose a single region to amass a small amount of qi. But what surprised Han Xuhan the most was the fact that Kong Ye chose ten origin points in ten different meridians and amassed qi in all ten of them at the same time without a single break in his control over the qi.


    At the same time, the entire silhouette too was made up of the qi he was in control of!


    Was this still something humanely possible?


    Twelve-fold allotment of mental power!


    Under his wide-eyed gaze, Kong Ye finished his work in the span of a few breaths and stopped.


    "Of course, you do not need to copy my steps fully as of now. You can choose a single origin point and amass as much qi as possible inside it. Be careful about the size of the origin point, though. If it is larger than what I''m showing you, your meridians will burst when you execute any techniques using the tentacles.


    In each layer, you''ll fully concentrate on one origin point, from where you''ll sprout a single tentacle. Ten layers, ten tentacles, and you''re set for the heavenly tribulation to the next realm."


    "Master, when you say we''re going to sprout ten tentacles...does that mean we will be turning into some sort of a tentacle monster?" Xiao Wu asked weakly. The rest of the disciples shared the same sentiment.


    "....You will not be sprouting them physically, but spiritually. The tentacles will be a part of you in the astral world."


    "So they will be useless in this world?" Mu Ran enquired anxiously.


    "Not exactly. Remember what I said about overlapping universes? The Astral Totality and our macrocosm overlap each other. Using the tentacles on an opponent''s astral projection will have its effects on our world as well. For example, my calculations tell me that using the Tenacious Tentacle on somebody may empower you to predict his actions. The performance of the technique depends on the execution by its practitioner. As I''ve explained, the Tenacious Tentacle form focuses on ethereal aspects like karma, divination and clairvoyance. What you''ll end up with is hard to say for sure since this will be the first time anyone cultivates the technique."


    The disciples and minions shared worried looks at each other for a brief moment.


    "That''s a lot of uncertainty in a single description." Yuen Zhou cracked her knuckles, eyes narrowed.


    "But thank you for your teaching, master. I''ll be cultivating this form to the perfection as you wish."

 Chapter 159: Why Do Tentacles Keep Appearing Everywhere?

    "Behold, the second form of our scripture, The Fifth Limb!" Kong Ye declared proudly, waving his hands around a new silhouette made of qi.


    Mu Ran''s expression did not resemble any type of appreciation as he entirely ignored Kong Ye and scrutinized the silhouette of the meridian structure which Kong Ye had conjured up.


    Han Xuhan understood his sentiment. ''Special'' cultivators like Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou definitely had some special traits related to their cultivation, physical or mental. For example, he had overheard Mu Ran multiple times blabbering about some special physique called the Twin Dragon Devil Reverend something...


    Kong Ye so far had been careful not to poke at any of those secrets, so what was he doing right now? Casually displaying each of their meridian structures to the rest of the audience hardly seemed like a wise thing to do...


    But as Han Xuhan kept on examining Mu Ran''s expression, he realized that the tension and concern were receding from his face. Since he had been that worried, something special had to have been at risk of being leaked. Yet neither Han Xuhan nor anyone else had noticed anything special or noteworthy about the meridian structure in front of them. Didn''t that imply...


    That Kong Ye already understood what each of their specialty was and the man had hidden those secrets intentionally while creating the four different meridian structures and qi circulation systems!!!


    What was this if not psychological manipulation of the highest order? Han Xuhan was in absolute awe! This man, Kong Ye, was truly someone he could learn from!


    Another possibility was that Kong Ye did not know about their exact specialty at all, but Han Xuhan found that to be unlikely.


    Sight locked on Mu Ran, Kong Ye added as an afterthought, "This is the form you''ll be pursuing. Astral combat shall be quite a fascinating skill to master with this, no? Any questions, disciple?"


    "...Is that a tail?" Mu Ran asked, an extreme concern discernible in his tone. "I''m not attaching a limb to my ass."


    "Yeah, if the ten qi accumulation points in sister Zhou''s meridian system sprout tentacles, then...this accumulation point in the butt-"


    "It''ll be an extension of your tailbone, stop butting into this, " Kong Ye spoke up, interrupting Han Xuhan. "Besides, it''s an astral extension, not like it''s gonna be real tail attached to you in this corporeal world."


    "Accurately speaking, that would be an appendage, not a limb," Xiao Wu added.


    "No technique sounds decent with the word appendage in it. We''re calling it a limb." Kong Ye''s tone was as flat as it could be.


    "...Right," Xiao Wu concurred.


    "We could call it the Return to Monke technique!" Han Xuhan suggested enthusiastically. But the flummoxed glare Kong Ye and Mu Ran sent toward him made him recall that he was no longer on Earth.


    Mu Ran wore a shifty look on his face as he accepted that his new cultivation technique was primarily about sprouting a tail. "Maybe this is a sign that I should mingle with those spade-tailed ladies from the succubus race, hehehe..." he whispered to nobody in particular as Kong Ye handed him a scroll containing the brand-new cultivation technique. Sitting nearby, Han Xuhan''s imagination suddenly got colored by a demonic tint, some depraved elements crawling into his mind about succubi of all sorts...


    Even his recently enlightened mind wasn''t enough to keep away the waves of envy.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    "Now, Xiao Wu, my disciple, you wish to cultivate a spirit beast-rearing technique according to the Shadowbeast nurturing manual. So in your case, we''ll have to change things up a little-" Kong Ye began manipulating the qi in front of them once more, waving his hands around emphatically, which Han Xuhan was fairly certain was a mere dramatic flavor to add to the sense of mystique in his actions.


    As a new silhouette made of qi began to take shape rapidly, all of their brows creased, especially Xiao Wu''s. Because...


    "I know my physique doesn''t exactly come off as super healthy... But there is no way my face looks that horrifying," Xiao Wu protested as the basic shape of the silhouette formed and stabilized.


    "My good disciple, this is an octopus."


    "...Why... Why is it an octopus? There are hundreds of thousands of spirit beasts to choose from. Why does it have to be something this hideous?"


    Xiao Wu''s sorrow was something Han Xuhan couldn''t quite sympathize with. He wasn''t picky when it came to cultivation techniques, or maybe his experience as a summoner of near-useless zombies had guided him into adopting such a mindset. Han Xuhan found the prospect of rearing a giant, horrifying eight-limbed octopus inside his soul much more interesting than all of those predictable divine phoenix, heavenly dragon, and golden crow beast spirits that he used to read about in stories. Just imagining the scene of a giant Lovecraftian monstrosity rising from behind his comparatively tiny figure, to face off all sorts of powerful enemies by using eight...tentacles-


    Ah, so that was the link connecting all of these forms of Kong Ye''s new cultivation technique.


    Tentacles.


    No wonder Kong Ye was unwilling to share the title of this technique! He could guess what it might be.


    Wait a second...so what would the fourth form of the technique be? Wasn''t that the one allotted for him?


    Suddenly, Han Xuhan began to feel a sense of crisis. Meanwhile, Kong Ye confronted Xiao Wu''s insistent badgering coldly.


    "Do you want to have the chance to make a stand against the Beasthaven sect? Or would you be happier to rear something that looks cute?"


    Grumbling inaudibly, Xiao Wu chose the former and accepted his new aim in life as an octopus cultivator. Handing over a scroll to him after explaining some details about his form, Kong Ye turned to face Han Xuhan.


    For a brief second, Han Xuhan noticed his teacher''s eyes flicker towards the three minions at the back, and then become vacant for a few seconds.


    "Lastly for you, disciple Xuhan, I have here the fourth form of the technique, the Astral columns!"


    "THANK THE HEAVENS!"


    "Didn''t know you were that religious, disciple."


    "I''m just glad that it''s not named Astral Tentacles or something like that, teacher."


    Kong Ye pointedly ignored his reply and began to create the meridian structure representing Han Xuhan''s physique. Realizing that this was a good chance to confirm his suspicions about Kong Ye''s little scheme, Han Xuhan closely examined every millimeter of the silhouette that took shape in front of him.


    As it turned out, Kong Ye had no qualms about revealing the heaven-defying physique Han Xuhan had been born with.


    "By the nine hells, that thing looks more terrifying than my octopus..." Xiao Wu wondered out loud.


    "This would be a hundred times scarier to any cultivator compared to your future pet, Xiao Wu," Mu Ran said. "Truly befitting of my underling and martial brother; only someone of that caliber can be expected to live well with this physique."


    Han Xuhan''s emotions were in turmoil. He didn''t know whether to feel happy by the awe of his peers or to lament the reason for their awe.


    Yuen Zhou''s brows were furrowed. Perhaps she too had noticed that Kong Ye had hidden the rest of their specialty while revealing Han Xuhan''s weakness. Han Xuhan almost began to wonder if his unnecessary, snide remarks had flipped a switch inside Kong Ye...yup, that was probably it.


    Adopting a saccharine-laced smile, Han Xuhan said, "Teacher, where are the qi accumulation points of this form? And what will they sprout?"


    "The qi accumulation points in the meridian systems of your martial siblings were all about the astral totality. Yuen Zhou would use her ten accumulation points to sprout ten tentacles of fate, which can latch onto the astral projection of a thing or a person. What results this attachment would lead to is up to her performance, external factors, and luck.


    In Mu Ran''s case, the accumulation points shall all lead to one center point, the end of his tailbone, and together they shall form a tentacle that can be used as a fatal weapon in the astral world. The power of that weapon, of course, would depend on his performance and luck.


    Xiao Wu''s accumulation points shall form a network of external meridians belonging to the octopus he shall rear as a pet," Kong Ye steadily recapped the role of the accumulation points so far before stopping for a breath.


    "For each of you, I have fashioned a different form of the same technique by overlapping the principles underlying across multiple cultivation methods. As for you, I have fused together the Snowfall Garden and the Skeletal Monarch, and some minor astral cultivation manuals working as supplements. But the mutations your dao base has undergone by now have essentially become impactful enough to influence the outcome of this new cultivation method."


    The more Han Xuhan listened, the more he found all of this to be following a familiar path. Whenever Kong Ye was about to drop some verbal bombs, he gave off this exact aura. And the sinking feeling in his guts made Xuhan recall that Kong Ye''s verbal bombs had a tendency to leave him in tears.


    "Your qi accumulation points shall generate columns that will support your dao tower and strengthen its foundation, which right now is the thing you need most. Only when you finish reaching the peak of this form, the tenth layer where ten columns will reinforce your dao tower, you can think of cultivating other techniques. For now, this has to be the only technique you can cultivate. This is for your safety and the survivability of your dao foundation."


    Silence followed Kong Ye''s explanation. Han Xuhan contemplated his words for a long time before asking, Soo...where are these accumulation points? I can''t see them in this meridian structure."


    "They''re not inside your body, Han Xuhan, for you no longer are the sole owner of the dao foundation you make use of."

 Chapter 160: A Looping Scheme

    Zhanxian, Tun Shi Tian, and Hai Yin Zhe sat in a line, one step behind Han Xuhan. Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu had been asked to take their leave, to go into their respective huts and study the intricacies of the technique. Han Xuhan appreciated the gesture of respect for his privacy from Kong Ye, who seemed to have lost his wrath towards Han Xuhan pretty fast.


    It was one of the reasons why Han Xuhan trusted the man; anyone with an anger storage so tiny couldn''t possibly be blackhearted...unless of course the loss of anger too was an act.


    Han Xuhan could not decide if taking the paranoia-induced scenarios in his mind should be taken seriously. On one hand, they''d keep him alive from possible danger, on the other hand, he might just become an insane schizophrenic.


    "Each of your qi accumulation points shall be located in each of your minions. Ten layers, ten minions, ten astral columns to support the ten chambers of your dao base; that''s when you will reach perfect stability. I have never seen the result of any cultivation technique that has been twisted to such a degree, not to mention being stacked with multiple other techniques that have no real relationship with the main manual. So even I cannot predict what the actual result might turn out to be. Good luck, disciple."


    Qi spilled out of Kong Ye''s hands, flowing around the five of them steadily. The total volume of qi was divided into six streams, forming a quarter-circle with Han Xuhan at the center. Three streams were between Han Xuhan and each of his minions, and three were between the three minions, a design that reminded him of mesh topology networks.


    "Wouldn''t this mean that once I''ve reached the peak of the third layer in this technique, I''ll have to cultivate the Skeletal Monarch manual to produce a new minion to place my fourth qi accumulation point on its body?"


    Kong Ye nodded after thinking for a while.


    "Yes. By the time you reach the peak of the third layer of this technique, your control over your dao foundation will increase to the point where creating a new minion would be much safer than now. It is a feasible method."


    "Since I myself cannot cultivate any other technique for the time being, what about my minions? Can they cultivate their own techniques while I practice this?" He asked Kong Ye, holding his gaze meaningfully.


    Kong Ye hesitated for a second before answering. "I don''t think there''s much of a conflict between your cultivation and their cultivation, seeing how your dao base hasn''t been crippled...yet. It should be fine. But just to be safe-"


    "Really depends on your definition of safety, teacher. Sure, there might be risks of my dao base getting ruined by a conflict of power among us, but we''re not in a safe environment, to begin with. Personal power matters a lot here, my experience tells me. If I can''t cultivate to a higher level right now, my minions must protect me."


    Han Xuhan had put much thought into what he was asking of Kong Ye. This conversation wasn''t just about his dao foundation and Kong Ye''s new techniques. A deeper stream ran below the surface, and that was the most vital part of this exchange. Only, the minions were not a part of it.


    "What makes you think their paltry cultivation can protect you against any danger which you cannot fend off yourself? You do have a higher cultivation than your minions, after all." Kong Ye pressed on.


    "So long as they can distract the enemy with their numbers, I can...do something," Han Xuhan answered slowly.


    "He means he can run away while using us as meat shields."


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "Tch, cowards will never change."


    "Meat? I wanna eat meat!"


    Kong Ye had learned from Han Xuhan to ignore the minions. The two of them were locked in a contest for dominance, eyes narrowed, gazes cold.


    "You''re right. The astral column will not be of any benefit to your external safety. Your minions do have to cultivate on their own...which brings us to consider another issue- which technique do you want them to cultivate from now on?" Kong Ye suddenly relented, breaking the stare-off and retracting the qi revolving around the five of them.


    Han Xuhan''s tense brows suddenly relaxed as he let out an ambiguous smile.


    His part here was done!


    He had successfully made the man agree to his plan!


    The rest of his task here was a mere formality to fool the minions.


    Mechanically, he turned toward his minions and began throwing out his bait.


    "Minions, it is time for you to make a choice. To this day, you''ve cultivated the Spiritual Bone armor over your bodies. But that is, after all, a low quality technique meant to offer a paltry protection. Moreover, your only guide in cultivating this technique is me, someone who doesn''t practice that technique at all.


    Now you have the chance in front of you to cultivate a technique much better in quality, learn from a teacher who created the technique himself in a sense, and learn alongside the most talented disciples of our sect. What do you choose?"


    * * * *


    Han Xuhan knew what their answers would be. Zhanxian''s enthusiasm back when the issue had been first raised was the factor that made him throw the trap he had been thinking of for the past few days. At that time, it was he who had intervened and directed the conversation away to think the details through...as well as for the benefit of the second half of his plan.


    "Minions, my teacher is obviously unwilling to accept you as his official disciples. But even if you had more talent than ordinary cultivators, you wouldn''t be able to find a better teacher than him. So if you do wish to learn under his tutelage...you''ll have to abide by the rules he sets for you, just like I''ve told you before."


    Wiggling his eyebrows towards them silently, he put the pressure of the decision on them. Zhanxian did not hesitate. He had already assented to this arrangement before their learning session with Kong Ye. Tun Shi Tian followed suit. And Hai Yin Zhe''s toddler-level intelligence didn''t deter it from repeating what everyone else was doing.


    Looking at the innocent little snake, Han Xuhan felt a heavy pang of guilt for manipulating it to get his way...however, this was, at the end of the day, for their own good. He wouldn''t make the snake do anything fatally risky anyway due to its lack of wisdom.


    Their agreements taken, Kong Ye took a deep breath and said, "mere heavenly oaths are too easy to misinterpret and take advantage of. Verbal, normal language has always been prone to such weaknesses. Wait a minute while I make preparations for a proper contract -"


    "Will it be enforceable by the heavenly authority and strictly binding?" Han Xuhan asked. He could ask brother BB from the Holy Land of Laws for a contract if Kong Ye couldn''t produce anything better than those sentient contracts.


    However, Kong Ye nodded pretty confidently.


    "Yes. You don''t have to worry about that. The only issue is that these things are a bit tricky to produce."


    Kong Ye left the room, leaving the four of them behind. Han Xuhan glanced at Zhanxian and prodded for his reaction now that his plan was almost about to come to fruition.


    "Are you sure you won''t regret your decision? I have no way of influencing what conditions my master puts in the contract. Read the clauses carefully before you agree to them."


    Zhanxian took a second to answer. "I can''t see what kind of malice your master could possibly have towards useless undead like us. What''s the worst condition he could set?" Shrugging, Zhanxian seemed to put his concern away.


    Tun Shi Tian snorted. "You''re not feeling jealous, are you? Or do you feel threatened that someone else will share your power of unilateral command over us?"


    Han Xuhan harrumphed coldly and turned around, trying his best to not display the evil smirk crawling into his face.


    He had told them to read the conditions carefully, but his minions couldn''t really read well anyway...


    "Disciple Xuhan, come here for a minute. I require your willingly donated blood to prepare the contract."


    Hearing Kong Ye''s shout from another room, Han Xuhan instantly understood the actual reason for the call and came up with a trick to leave the minions behind.


    "Hey, you three, since the contract requires me to donate blood, it might require something from you too. Sit here and fill up your qi reserves for any necessities that might arise. And don''t touch anything here, got it?"


    Without giving them the space to respond, he disappeared from the room.


    Kong Ye''s original residence had been larger, but not all of it had been transferred accurately to the archipelago. Just two rooms away, at the back of the house, Han Xuhan found the man pacing about impatiently.


    "So..." he began upon seeing Xuhan, "you''ve convinced me, but how do you plan to convince your martial siblings to share their new techniques and tutelage?"


    Han Xuhan awkwardly laughed. "Well, the techniques actually belong to you, teacher, at least most of them do. So if you agree to the arrangements I don''t think they could really protest."


    "I''m not going to force my real disciples to do something they don''t want to for the benefit of your minions," Kong Ye said in all seriousness.


    "It''s beneficial for me as well..." Han Xuhan trailed off, testing to see if that ruse would work. But it did not, judging by the look on Kong Ye''s face.


    "Fine. Leave this to me," Han Xuhan waved a hand casually, not particularly aggrieved by the failure of his little emotional blackmailing.


    This wasn''t the first time he was making his martial siblings agree to work for his benefit.

 Chapter 161: The Horror Beyond Space

    The contract Kong Ye produced was a bit different from what Han Xuhan had originally envisioned. Unlike Sentient Contracts which followed the customs and designs of the mortal world, the method they were using right now consisted of a large double-headed loop drawn on the ground using some substance he didn''t recognize, full of complex, foreign inscriptions inside.


    On one end of the loop sat Han Xuhan with Kong Ye, where he had been asked to run an incomplete cycle of qi inside his meridians according to the Skeletal Monarch manual.


    This would be the ethereal connection binding the minions to him in the eye of the contract.


    On the opposite end of the loop sat his three minions, each of them letting out a stream of qi downward to the ground where the inscriptions glowed dimly.


    The inscriptions reminded Han Xuhan of the law fragments he had seen inside the Holy Land of Laws due to the similarity of their design and purpose. But he couldn''t sense any response from them even when his qi came into contact with the loop. Kong Ye had refused to elaborate much on the exact nature of the contract, simply describing it as a formal ritual observed under the authority of a higher-level being...which made the whole thing sound so shady that Han Xuhan would have never agreed to take part in it under any other circumstance.


    "Disciple Xuhan, drop some blood from your fingertip with this." Kong Ye passed him a tiny needle with a surface full of microscopic writings.


    "Now push the needle at the midpoint of the loop," he instructed after Han Xuhan had dropped a dozen drops of blood. The five of them watched with rapt attention as the blood drops began moving like sentient creatures, attaching themselves to the lines of the inscriptions and spreading across the loop, thinning in concentration and color until the entire eight-shaped loop had been colored by blood...not that it retained the external quality of blood anyway. Now the blood had transformed into a watery fluid of a very light red shade.


    "Hmm, this...doesn''t quite look like what''s written in the instructions," Kong Ye mumbled to himself.


    "Oh well, that''s why practical experience is always better than theory. Let''s do it!"


    Waving away the red flag, Kong Ye proceeded to play the role of a conductor, giving out instruction after instruction on how to move their qi, how to manage the timing and cohesion of their moves, and the recitations they needed to utter...


    Nearly fifteen minutes later, when all of them except Kong Ye had exhausted their qi reserves, the man finally told them to sit motionlessly and observe the result carefully


    "As I''ve mentioned before, the contract is very simple-


    Firstly, On any change of relationship between the three of you and Han Xuhan, you''ll need my express, voluntary permission so long as the change in your relationship is enforced by your minions, whether by one or two or by all three of you.


    Secondly, I alone hold the authority to decide the circumstances under which you are allowed to perform the techniques begotten from my teaching.


    Thirdly, I can ask you for a repayment for the teachings I shall provide you with, so long as your master Han Xuhan agrees the repayment is reasonable.


    For the last time, do any of you have any questions or objections?"


    Zhanxian shook his head, Tun Shi Tian followed and Hai Yin Zhe completely ignored the enquiry because it was fascinated by the glowing inscriptions.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    "Right. Then let us proceed..." Kong Ye''s qi exploded out of his body and flooded the loops, emitting a pressure far beyond most elders of the Crimson Snow sect. The intensity of his qi in Han Xuhan''s perception was nearly enough to block his senses. Through his fuzzy vision, Han Xuhan watched the blood on the floor slowly turn into a murky, grey liquid.


    Right after that, Kong Ye''s voice entered his ears, unnecessarily clear as if it was a recording he was listening to through a headphone.


    "Do you, Han Xuhan, agree to the terms and conditions of the contract inscribed with your blood?"


    With a sense of horror, Han Xuhan found three separate images appearing inside his mind, superimposing over each other. Each image consisted of a single line of symbols that he could not recognize but found familiar-


    He suddenly realized that the symbols were no longer so foreign to him. He could understand their meaning, and his mind began to read what was written in the overlapping pictures somehow.


    They were the 3 conditions Kong Ye had laid out!


    The wording in these images was much different from how Kong Ye had stated his terms. Yet he could also sense somehow that these conditions were identical.


    "Yes, I agree," he said after a moment of hesitation.


    "You must say, yes, I do, disciple."


    "...Yes, I do."


    "Not sincere enough! Say it again!"


    "YES! I DO!"


    "Put some emotion in it, Xuhan!"


    Brought to tears from attempting to sound emotional, Han Xuhan sobbed, "Oh yes, I do! Heavens know I do! I agree so hard! "


    Satisfied, Kong Ye turned towards the minions and repeated his enquiry towards them.


    "Fuck Yes! I do! I do with all of my heart!" Zhanxian said, wailing sorrowfully.


    "I do! I bet my dao foundation on it!" Shouted Tun Shi Tian heroically.


    ". . ."


    "Little Zhe, stop licking the floor and answer the teacher!"


    "Slurp... Slurp... Uhwa... I shoo!"


    "And I, Kong Ye, agree as well! Let this contract be validated and made binding under @%# ¦Ð?|& £¤€&% !"


    The last part of Kong Ye''s sentence somehow escaped Han Xuhan''s perception, clearly heard yet too vague to be registered in his mind somehow...


    For a brief second, he saw a white rope binding all five of them together, produced by the midpoint of the loop.


    And then the pressure, the mental images, the glowing inscriptions, all of it disappeared.


    * * * *


    Wherever the sea of stars has stretched to, it is considered a part of the huge matrix that humans call ''space''. It is the carrier and nurturer of their lives, their countless civilizations.


    But ''space'' is not the only matrix where a being may exist. And in one such ''territory'' of existence beyond the reaches of space, reality was under mutilation by the ''will'' which it sustained.


    The laws that regulated this territory were in absolute disarray. Matter, light, qi, force, all existing components of this domain constantly erupted into activities that could essentially end all life inside the macrocosms of man if such development took place there.


    At the heart of this domain was a single indescribable entity. Its existence was not static, fading in and out of reality chaotically.


    At this exact moment, the entity displayed a humanoid form to interact with reality. The face of the human body belonged to a middle-aged woman, currently twisted due to emotions that could be deemed as ''shock''.


    The look of shock morphed further into a mask of outright terror as time passed. The source of its horror, it seemed, was the ''8'' shaped loop that floated in front of the being, encased within a four-dimensional border, detached from the unnatural changes happening inside the creature''s domain.


    Inside the loop, three colors shone brightly from five dots. Three of the dots were black, shining from one end of the loop. The two other dots were at the opposite end, one white, one crimson.


    The loop itself was a colorless, transparent item. And that was the problem.


    "No no no no....this blood bond, how can it be unrecognized? If it was not registered by a mere error of the current authority, that would still be plausible...but this ''thing'' is accompanying my agent. And that colorlessness...it can''t be a coincidence, never!"


    Pausing for a second, the humanoid silhouette brought a metal card from seemingly out of nowhere.


    Unintelligible sounds began to emit throughout the domain as the card began vibrating and expanding in size, creating a giant wall in front of the silhouette.


    "System, show me all the data processed since my last concealment. Even the most insignificant numerics must not be excluded."


    The metal wall lit up with millions of symbols whizzing in and out of the screen at a speed beyond human perception. The silhouette watched with rapt attention as an unimaginable amount of data poured out from the device.


    "...Ancestry cannot be determined? Bloodline cannot be detected? Deteriorating physique?"


    A long time passed while the creature picked up certain data from the records, one by one, and created a profile of a human being in front of her.


    This profile consisted of a three-dimensional picture of a young man in his late teens, several diagrams circling him, several lines of text floating alongside the diagrams.


    "Who could this be...? Just who can fool the heaven''s eyes for so long?"


    Half a second later, the entire domain trembled, shattering its connection with the macrocosm of man, scattering away the spatial pocket that had carried the projection of the loop.


    One echo was left resounding throughout the minor world, a shout of sheer disbelief, rage and awe-


    "Lord Crimsontide has escaped! How? When?!"

 Chapter 162: Playing Personas

    "Boss, what do you think your master could possibly ask from us as repayment for his teachings?" Zhanxian wondered on the way to Yuen Zhou''s house. Despite being so surefooted earlier, Zhanxian seemed rather concerned now that the contract had been successfully established.


    "Don''t worry about that right now. Let''s first see if he actually teaches you anything worthwhile."


    Han Xuhan canceled the summoning cycle of the three minions and walked alone to his martial sister''s hut. He needed the silence to think about his upcoming task, and make some ways to reach his objectives regardless of the obstacles in his way.


    Prior to their short, introductory lesson ''Tentacles 101 ''with Kong Ye, Yuen Zhou had secretly asked him to meet after the lesson. Han Xuhan was seriously concerned if it would be possible to come to an agreement to let his minions learn the ''Tenacious Tentacle'' form with her once she revealed her reason for inviting him over to talk.


    "Knock, knock, sister Zhou," he yelled the moment he reached her door, and then proceeded to kick the half-closed door open wide. He wasn''t trying to be rude on purpose, of course. Han Xuhan merely did not want to walk in on her changing clothes or showering or appear unnoticed only to find her under the influence of some aphrodisiac that required vitamin D.


    One can never be too careful in the world of cultivation.


    Sitting inside the front room, Yuen Zhou sent him a thin smile, saying, "that door costs 2600 spirit stones."


    "...." Han Xuhan''s gaze shifted from her face to her door and back to her face three times before he let out a strained laugh.


    "Wahaha, NICE! I thought you were serious for a second there, damn!"


    "I was serious."


    "Come on!" Han Xuhan threw his hands up with a grin. "It''s the same door my hut has. Why would yours cost a thousand times more than mine?"


    "I had the door modified with some treasures I picked up during my travels. I''m a weak, vulnerable young lady, after all. You can never be too careful in the world of cultivation. What if someone covets something of mine...or worse, me? Surely, someone so weak and defenseless as me needs a decent sanctuary, right, martial brother?"


    Han Xuhan was lost for words.


    Weak?


    Defenseless?


    Vulnerable?


    Heh. Heh. Hehehehehe.


    Restraining his sudden urge to break something valuable, Han Xuhan decided to play the game the way she wanted to play. He was pretty sure that she knew he was going to play along while being fully aware of her ridiculous attempt at steering the conversation. This was almost a play, scripted by her, now to be aided by him as an actor.


    You want to act? Sure, you can count on me to never point that out! Let''s hone our acting skills together!


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    What''s this girl trying to do? From the way this conversation had started, he had a hunch that she required some assistance from him. The only thing he couldn''t comprehend was the reason behind this roundabout method of expressing it.


    "Oh of course, of course, martial sister," he vehemently agreed, shaking his head up and down. "I am obviously aware of your glaring weakness and fragility. Anyone who takes a good look at you would surely think of you as an absolute weakling, a delicate flower vase that must be handled with utmost care. My sincerest apologies for kicking the door there!"


    For a moment, he felt a chill run down his spine as if a predator was breathing down his neck. Quickly shrinking back, he awaited the consequence of his ''nudging''.


    The ridicule he had put in his words was necessary. He needed to test her, check the perimeter and depth of this play. Knowing where she was drawing the line was a great clue. Whether she would let him continue to spew nonsense like that or not...could essentially clear a lot of the fog on his path right now.


    "Mm, it''s okay, martial brother, we all make mistakes," Yuen Zhou began to say as soon as he had stopped speaking. "But that''s a topic for another time. Right now, we need to talk about something more urgent. I need your help."


    Giving himself an imaginary pat on the back for correctly guessing it, Han Xuhan spread his arms wide.


    "How may I be of assistance, sister?" he asked confidently.


    "I need the main layout of the sect''s weight allotment scheme for the Celestial Gateway Spell, the one which only sect master Xuan Zi has access to."


    Han Xuhan had thought of many possibilities, many potential avenues he could help her with during this short period of time. What she asked, however, wasn¡¯t one of those. It took him a couple of seconds to understand what exactly she was talking about.


    "...I didn¡¯t know that there was a confidential document with a layout of weight allotment different from what we saw," he said cautiously, his mind running on full overdrive mode.


    "Oh, it''s not necessarily different from the layout the disciples were given. I simply need the entire layout in one piece, accurate to the tiniest detail," Yuen Zhou waved his suspicion away casually.


    "I know what you''re thinking, martial brother Xuhan. I''m not trying to say that there might be a secret nefarious plan revolving around our teleportation here. I simply needed the map to confirm something."


    Well, that was awfully specific...


    Scratching his chin worriedly for a few seconds, Han Xuhan decided not to press her further over her motive and moved straight to business.


    "Let''s simplify this then. You need the weight allotment scheme, which you think only master Zi has access to, yes?"


    Yuen Zhou nodded, looking relieved. "I would be extremely grateful if you can manage this for me. "


    "Ahahah, sure, sure, I''ll do my best!" Han Xuhan declared, slapping himself in the chest. Inwardly, however, his thoughts ran in a wee bit different direction.


    The fact that she was not trying to look for the layout scheme herself meant that it wasn¡¯t as easily available as she was making it out to be, which begged the question, why would a totally ordinary object like that be out of her reach...?


    Interesting. Very interesting!


    "I can rest assured, then." Yuen Zhou beamed happily, getting up from her seat and patting him on the shoulder. "That was all I wanted to ask, martial brother! I shall go study the first form of master''s new technique now..."


    Speaking quite forcefully, she began pushing him out of her hut with a considerable amount of physical force.


    Getting the cue, Han Xuhan smirked his way out of her hut and disappeared down the mountain peak.


    Yuen Zhou stood quietly on her doorstep, making sure her martial brother was out of the vicinity. Seeing him pass out of sight, she turned around and faced the old man who had been sitting beside the two of them the entire time.


    "See? Getting my hands on the map is THAT easy. The boy has a close relationship with the sect master. If even he can''t get access to the map, I''ll just steal it like you wanted me to."


    The old man listened to her attentively, his eyes fixed on her feet with rigid discipline, as if he did not want to meet her stare.


    "If that is the case, then I shall listen to your excellency for now. However, that boy dares to...covet your excellency. He will ''suffer'' if your excellency keeps stoking the flame of passion like this." The old man put an extra emphasis on the word ''suffer'', knowing she would get the implication.


    Yuen Zhou didn''t need to see his eyes to feel the murderous intent brewing in the room. But she also found the notion of Han Xuhan ''coveting'' her laughably amusing. The reason he had played the character of an enamored youth was definitely due to his quick wit. She had laid out the directions he needed to follow, behaving much differently from her usual self, which let him realize something was wrong. She had ended the conversation the moment he had agreed, lest he might break character without knowing the invisible threat sitting right beside him.


    Han Xuhan was a very intriguing anomaly in the world of cultivation. A regular conversation between the two of them could reveal that easily. And the old man occupying the room right now might just slice him apart out of caution and curiosity if he ever came to know of such anomalous existences near her. Mu Ran, Han Xuhan, Kong Ye...perhaps not even Xuan Zi were safe from this ''old man''.


    "You should concern yourself less with how I treat my friends, Li," she answered, displaying her stance bluntly.


    The old man maintained his silence for a long moment before relenting with a sigh.


    "My apologies, I overstepped my boundaries."


    Nodding, Yuen Zhou was about to tell him to screw off from her home, only to see him suddenly stiffen up. The source of his discomfort made itself prominent three seconds later, as the door of her house violently slammed into the wall for the second time that day.


    "Sister Zhou, we never discussed what I would get in return for helping you!" A boisterous shout came from behind.

 Chapter 163: I Am Untouchable (Conditionally)

    For a brief few moments, Han Xuhan had found himself caught in a bind. Yuen Zhou''s behavior made it apparent that some issues had cropped up beyond his perception. The way she had pushed him out was enough of a clue. Her palms, both of which she had pressed on his back insistently, left wet imprints on his clothes due to excessive sweat.


    Yuen Zhou had many character traits. Being a shallow, nervous actor and a rude host were, however, out of that list.


    Was she under pressure from somebody? Why would anyone covet the weight allotment scheme of the Celestial Gateway spell? What could they possibly achieve with that?


    Accompanied by those complex concerns, Han Xuhan had tiptoed back to Yuen Zhou''s hut.


    What did she say about expensively modified doors?


    BOOMMM!


    The door was kicked open brutally once again, despite being half open already.


    Firstly, if Yuen Zhou was under external compulsion by an unfriendly force, he did not want to end up barging in there like a thief and catch this opponent. The fact that Yuen Zhou was under their control meant that this party had to be considerably powerful. Wouldn¡¯t attempting to face them just spell his demise? Permanently shutting him up was a piece of cake for any cultivator worth their qi.


    It was a better strategy to boorishly make his presence known and stick to his character template. If anyone sensed his return, they''d have ample time to hide and feel like they''ve avoided his detection.


    Secondly, even if someone was actually manipulating Yuen Zhou and controlling her actions, there had to be limits they couldn''t break. Yuen Zhou''s particular emphasis on the door was intriguing. Could that have been a ''real'' warning?


    What''s so special about the door, eh? Was he about to find out?


    It was risky, but somebody had to test the waters...and who better was capable of such risk other than Zhanxian?


    Han Xuhan would obviously never do such a dangerous job himself. He had simply asked Zhanxian to kick the door, promising to cancel his summon as soon as the job was done. He himself stood outside her yard, cautiously watching the surroundings while he let out a shout.


    "Sister Zhou, we never discussed what I would get in return for helping you!"


    For the second time that day, Han Xuhan found himself freezing momentarily under an invisible, hostile gaze. The first time, he had assumed that Yuen Zhou was the source of the chilling intuition...perhaps that wasn¡¯t the case.


    The intuition disappeared immediately, but he still canceled Zhanxian''s summon and got ready to scream for help.


    Yuen Zhou walked out of the hut in a slow, measured gait, her face a display of strained emotions which, he was pretty sure, was artificial. Was she trying to convey the gravity of the situation without any words?


    "Martial brother! I didn¡¯t know you were this selfish! You wouldn¡¯t help your poor martial sister without any remuneration?" She sounded extremely hurt! Tears began to pour down her eyes as she raised a shaking finger towards him in accusation!


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    And that cemented Han Xuhan''s belief that Yuen Zhou truly was acting. Moreover, the fact that she was taking her double-layered acting this far meant the situation was dire.


    Based on their dealings in the past, he had a mutual understanding with her when it came to working together. Yuen Zhou respected the rule of equivalent exchange as much as he did. There was no way she would not expect him to demand a payment.


    "Ahahaha, you''re just being unreasonable now, martial sister. Sure, I could help you without getting anything in return...but what would that prove? That I really cherish you? I''m sure you know that already! So why do I need to re-establish that?" He replied with a confident grin, doing his absolute best to spout an impactful volley of ''logic''.


    "Let''s keep it real, martial sister. Since you need me to do something you can''t, why don''t you agree to a demand of mine and leave both of us satisfied?"


    Han Xuhan delivered the dirtiest smile he could create on his face right at that moment, his gaze roving over her body unbridled.


    He felt an overwhelming amount of pride in his delivery, seeing Yuen Zhou''s absolutely befuddled expression.


    And then, quite suddenly, he felt an overwhelming amount of panic.


    Suffocation wasn''t quite an adequate word to describe the way his five senses were deafened unstoppably. Vision, hearing, touch, smell, taste, all gone one after one, making him recall the memories of teleportation in the Holy Land of Laws.


    A moment later, he lost grip on his memories as well, unable to recall the exact details of that Holy Land of...what? He began to struggle to remember...


    Wait, who am I?


    For a terrifying second, Han Xuhan even forgot his identity. But it only lasted a second, as his memories, senses, and control over his body returned simultaneously.


    A thumping noise came from inside Yuen Zhou''s house. Somewhat dazed, Han Xuhan noticed the door of the hut tremble.


    Yuen Zhou had whipped around at some point during his muddleheadedness, rushing back inside her hut, only to come to a sudden halt as she noticed the door''s movement as well.


    "Did I just sense someone teleport?"


    The voice belonged to someone both martial siblings were familiar with.


    Kong Ye walked into Yuen Zhou''s yard, seemingly having appeared out of thin air.


    Great work, little Tian!


    Relief flooded Han Xuhan as he realized that his backup had arrived. The first thing he had done after leaving Yuen Zhou''s house was to order the fastest of his minions to call for help. Using Zhanxian to make a scene hadn''t exactly been a wise thing to do. But in the heat of the moment, it had given him immense satisfaction to think how his actions had affected the enemy''s movement...


    Wait a second...did I just push myself into the line of fire once again?


    Han Xuhan cursed whatever enlightenment had caused this change in his cautious nature. Why did he keep walking into such messes voluntarily? Why is flustering my opponents so much fun?


    Thankfully, Kong Ye''s home was close by. The man had arrived just in time to save his ass.


    The cultivator who had attacked him must have escaped after sensing Kong Ye approaching!


    Hah! Want to pick a fight with me?


    Over my master''s dead body!


    Plus my martial siblings'' dead bodies as well!


    Maybe the entire sect too...


    "Disciple Zhou..." Kong Ye beckoned at the half-confused, half-relieved lass, his gesture obvious.


    "It was a disciple from one of the sects in the tournament, teacher. He was hiding inside when I returned from your residence. After a brief contest of abilities, he used some sort of a treasure to summon a shadow with unfathomable power. They were attempting to interrogate me when martial brother Xuhan appeared, forcing me to act as if everything was normal. It is Brother Xuhan''s credit that he understood something was off and brought you here so fast!" Appearing tired, Yuen Zhou took a deep breath, staggering toward her porch and sat down, hands massaging her temples.


    Han Xuhan''s eyebrows shot up in surprise. So he had guessed it right! But what was up with the door, though?


    Kong Ye seemed to share his suspicion, walking over to it and touching it cautiously.


    "Did you see them escape?" he asked the two of them.


    "I was blinded temporarily," Han Xuhan replied honestly.


    "They were already gone when I turned around," Yuen Zhou responded.


    Kong Ye quickly searched through the entire hut while his qi covered every inch of the surface of the door. But his gloomy expression after the search had ended told them it had been futile labor.


    "I can''t sense anything special about the door except some...expensive talismans. Where did you get those?" he asked Yuen Zhou.


    "Inheritance left by my previous teacher, back in the mortal world." Her explanation didn''t appear to be contradictory to what they knew of her past.


    "Did you figure out which sect the invader was from?" Kong Ye made his final inquiry before he was about to leave.


    "Heaven knows!" Throwing up her hands in the air in frustration, Yuen Zhou sighed.


    "Well, this seems like a pretty normal case of invasion by our opponents in this round. I''ll talk to the counselor and see if what this invader did was permissible. How can kids be allowed to summon powerful guardians in a friendly competition..."


    Sounding pissed off, Kong Ye left in the blink of an eye.


    Han Xuhan was about to follow suit, but Yuen Zhou raised a hand and gestured at him to sit down beside her.


    ". . ."


    ". . ."


    An awkward silence ensued as both of them stared at the horizon past their mountain peak.


    Had he gone too far with the lechery back there?


    Han Xuhan couldn''t help but feel embarrassed.


    "Brother Xuhan..."


    "Yeah, about that comment back then-"


    "Get me the weight allotment scheme. Name your price."


    "?!?"

 Chapter 164: Colossus Of Metal And Flesh

    Planet NT-NE-Sc7-SS11-P7 usually sported a cheerful green-tinted sky. But today was an exceptional day, unique even, considering the impact of the changes that would take place in the solar system after the current occupants of the planet succeeded in accomplishing their purpose.


    The sky today was full of black smoke, smeared with navy blue botches that resembled the sea of stars twinkling above on a dark night.


    Mechanical titans speared their numerous protrusions through the highest of the clouds, creating the appearance of a gargantuan mountain occupying a significant portion of the planet''s surface, visible even from outer space.


    The occupants operating these mountains of metal were a diverse bunch. From vaguely humanoids working on minuscule projects, to hundred-limbed cylindrical creatures toiling amidst innumerable levers and switches...this construction consisted of flesh as much as it consisted of metal.


    The entire planet was shuddering as the machines operating on its surface shifted gradually, falling into position, taking the shape of a composite nightmare, just as intended.


    Li Qi, tired of watching this scene, turned away from the window of his luxurious cabin. His servants were still cleaning up the fluids on the floor carefully. He hadn''t ''bled'' in a very long time. Even one small stain of his body fluids could kill any of them. Their work ethics required the utmost meticulousness.


    ''This has to be kept a secret,'' Li Qi had repeatedly warned them. It had been a mistake to bring these inexperienced servants along, but he hadn''t been given a choice, truly.


    Monarch Li Huolong the Fifth couldn''t have overseen a catastrophe from such an unexpected angle. Even he, a half-step Monarch, hadn''t sensed the imminent danger until it struck him square in his foundation.


    Backlash from attempting to erase the memories of a physique transformation realm human!


    It wasn''t as if younglings of powerful clans didn''t walk around with such protection from their elders. Defensive measures against ethereal attacks like his were common. However, what horrified him right now was the fact that...he couldn''t figure out what type of defense he had encountered back then.


    He had, in fact, been injured by his own attack, as if the person he had attacked did not even exist, and he had merely occupied an external soulless vessel before attacking the same vessel in a suicidal move.


    There had been no reaction, no defense, no obstruction to hold him back, warn his senses, or confound his mind.


    Since when has humans in the neutral territory become this terrifying in incorporeal combat? He hadn''t sensed a single cultivator on that planet whose cultivation rivaled his own. So who could have been behind such a technique?


    Li Qi was lost in his conundrum, absentmindedly levitating a cylinder of soul-nourishing chemicals when a sudden message from the Monarch arrived.


    Oh good! He was just about to open the communication channel as well. The monarch must be made aware of such an anomaly near her excellency, the future saintess!


    Li Qi opened the subspace portal that had asked for his permission under the Monarch''s name, a spatial channel known only to the two of them.


    A flower fell off from the spatial granule through the tiny opening, alongside a note. Written by hand, the note exuded nobility, grace, and power via its exquisite penmanship.


    The note said-


    ''This flower is the millennium orchid, containing the essence of immortality and a thousand heavenly dao. It must be harvested and eaten as soon as it has bloomed, or all of its properties will be lost. Only the worthy can truly digest it."


    Li Qi picked up the flower, having recognized it at first glance.


    Known as the Dark Dancing Maiden, this orchid was one of the first of its species that had grown fully on his home planet. It ranked among the top ten on the list of most poisonous herbs. An entire petal of this flower could kill a cultivator at the peak of the soul reformation realm, poisoning their body, soul, and mind simultaneously.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Monarch Li Huolong had an...odd sense of humor, not that he minded. Li Qi put the flower in his mouth and chewed on it without hesitation.


    The first stream of the juice its petals produced contained enough data to drive mortals and low-level cultivators insane in a millisecond.


    The second stream of taste carried a code only he could decipher fast enough. Understanding the message, Li Qi chewed a third and a fourth time, each producing a jarring sensation inside his mind, and then he waited patiently, keeping his mouth stock still.


    The combined juice and his own saliva created a new liquid, producing a profound taste that carried only one piece of information.


    "Lord Crimsontide may have escaped. Abort your mission, and bring the lady home as soon as you can."


    It took Li Qi a second to recall who Lord Crimsontide was. It wasn''t a name he had heard in a while.


    "Heavens be damned! " He cursed as the realization hit him. Half a second later, his quarters were emptied, his servants were sent away to safety. Li Qi himself damaged his own body to forcefully teleport to the fifth planet of the solar system.


    * * * *


    At the end of it all, Han Xuhan had, once again, ended up getting what he wanted.


    The full weight allotment scheme of the celestial gateway spell, in exchange for Yuen Zhou''s agreement to share her Tenacious Tentacle technique with...Hai Yin Zhe.


    She would not only let the little snake learn alongside her, she had even gone out of her way to state that she would personally help the little snake understand Kong Ye''s teachings if Han Xuhan could bring her the allotment map within 3 days.


    In fact, Han Xuhan distinctly felt that he had wasted an opportunity by asking her to agree to that instead of something more valuable. She seemed more than happy to run the experiment on Hai Yin Zhe. Perhaps she would have agreed to that request even if the circumstances hadn''t forced her to.


    Somewhat miffed, Han Xuhan returned back to his hut, with the implications of Yuen Zhou''s behavior circling around his mind.


    She had lied to Kong Ye, at least partially. Whoever the other party was, they were holding a card against Yuen Zhou somehow. Han Xuhan had obviously attempted to learn what it was. But Yuen Zhou had merely answered, "Actually it''s me who needs the map, martial brother. It hasn¡¯t got anything to do with the invaders, don¡¯t worry."


    Naturally, Han Xuhan had his doubts. But he hadn¡¯t voiced them, knowing fully well that further digging wouldn¡¯t result in anything beneficial for him.


    It seemed like a win-win situation for him regardless of whether he could do the job or not. Now, he simply needed to delve into the matter of this map from Xuan Zi. Was it something to be kept a top secret, carrying confidential information?


    That would make things rather tricky.


    Nevertheless, he had managed to deal with the most difficult one of his martial siblings. Mu Ran could obviously be managed with some bullshit. And he doubted Xiao Wu would disagree with his proposal to let Zhanxian learn the third form of the technique- the Astral Warbeast form.


    Sitting inside his hut, Han Xuhan fell down a deep rabbithole of concerns. Just as usual, too many things were happening at once to keep track of, too many ways to endanger his existence lying dormant in every step he made, too many factors outside his control controlling his fate.


    It was already noontime, and he was hungry. Summoning the three minions, he instructed Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian to cook up a meal using the last of their stored ingredients. Accompanied by a happily hissing Hai Yin Zhe, he made a detour around the sect, observing their progression so far in adapting to the atmosphere of the tournament.


    On his way, he had to take cover to avoid another flood. Thankfully, the mountain peaks in the periphery had delegated a team of disciples to observe the seawater below and warn the rest of the sect the moment they saw the water moving unnaturally.


    However, he knew that the floods were just an appetizer. The real disasters were yet to strike. The sect had to be warned...


    Han Xuhan asked around and came to learn that the leading disciples of each mountain peak had constructed a central meeting pavilion for convenience.


    Approaching close to the central field, Han Xuhan noticed a growing crowd. Alongside many others, he rushed inside the crowd and tried to push his way through.


    Sadly, he was physically too weak to move anyone by force.


    "EWW! A CENTIPEDE! AHHHAGH!"


    Screaming in a high-pitched voice, Han Xuhan threw little Zhe at a trio of fairly weak disciples ahead of him.


    In less than a second, the crowd in front of him fell apart trying to find the horrifyingly large, ugly ''centipede'', which he had already summoned back into his dao tower. Unable to find this creature of hell which had magically disappeared inside the crowd, everyone tried their best to distance themselves from each other, and Han Xuhan gracefully, fearlessly walked on towards his destination.


    As the last few disciples in front of him moved away, Han Xuhan found the center of the crowd''s interest...


    It was Luo Yi''s spirit beast.

 Chapter 165: Nefarious Businessman Xuhan

    The spirit beast, named Meatball, looked much different from his memory. For instance, its barrel-like body had grown transparent now. He could see its insides, and that created even more confusion, because the beast''s insides didn''t quite match what anyone expected in a natural creature.


    Instead of a digestive system, skeleton structure, or muscles, numerous tiny lamps emitting a variety of colors twinkled within the confines of its voluminous body.


    The lamps were slowly moving as well, only in two directions, up and down. But the speed of movement was quite slow, almost at a snail''s pace.


    Han Xuhan carefully got closer for a better look and realized that each of the lamps contained a unique shape of flame blazing inside.


    As his eyes moved downwards, he found a lamp that confirmed his growing suspicion. This lamp was one of the low-flying ones, containing a familiar shape, the six-headed snowflake.


    These lamps represented the sects taking part in the tournament! So their specific elevation inside the beast pet would indicate...progress?


    "Hey, look! There are numbers below each lamp!" exclaimed a fellow disciple who had followed him, arriving beside the spirit beast. Han Xuhan hadn''t noticed the detail before. But as he squinted his eyes hard and squished his face on the beast''s transparent hide for a closer look, he finally saw them.


    The tiny numbers under each lamp were in the thousands. The topmost lamp, displaying flames shaped like a cockroach, boasted the highest number- 31,123.


    Han Xuhan had no idea why any sect would choose a cockroach as their sigil. Maybe they practiced some sort of undying body cultivation technique...?


    The lower they went, the lower the numbers were. During the half-minute in which they investigated the bizarre display, some of the numbers changed, causing the lamps to float in either direction based on the nature of the change, increasing or decreasing.


    "So...this seems to be a ranking system to evaluate the performance of the sects in the tournament," remarked the disciple. Han Xuhan agreed, his eyes stuck on the lamp representing their sect.


    799.


    This disparity was way too huge, right?


    How were they supposed to close the gap?


    The rest of the disciples had created a crowd once again after not being able to trace the whereabouts of the monstrous centipede. A murmur ran through them as they too, noticed the details and began to question the fairness of this tournament. Since Luo Yi had left the spirit beast here, this was clearly the main purpose- to keep the disciples updated on their position in the rankings.


    After sticking around a while longer, he realized that it would be a futile attempt to make any headway by fervently discussing this sudden development. He quickly made his way out of the crowd and slipped inside the empty central pavilion.


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    A wooden message board had been constructed there, divided into many sections, each reserved for a single mountain peak. Han Xuhan found the section belonging to the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak quite easily, as it was the only section without any messages.


    He began to survey the rest of the message sections first, attempting to get a clear-cut picture of how things worked here.


    The Silent Snow mountain peak requires food supply for twenty-one disciples within 2 days.


    The Heaven Grazing Snow mountain peak requires 2 kilograms of solidified qi (purity>50%), 500 grams of stoneheart leaves, and a new latrine for public use.


    The Unbreakable Frost mountain peak requires manpower to guard the treasury. Disciples above the 4th Layer may apply. Additionally, we''ll be needing a regular supply of freshwater from tomorrow.


    All he could see was need, need, and need. There were no suppliers, no resources in excess, and manpower seemed to have been mismanaged. There were hundreds of disciples in their sect, and at least a hundred and fifty of them had come to attend the tournament. Surely, the level of service required in this round was manageable by sheer manpower...?


    Sighing, Han Xuhan picked up a chalk and got to work.


    These fellow disciples of his were undoubtedly hardworking. What they needed right now was a guide, a direction to follow, and some basic knowledge to use to their advantage. He, Han Xuhan, could provide some of those.


    "Let''s see how this affects our tournament ranking..."


    * * * *


    1. The current floating island our sect embodies is surrounded by portals that lead us to other sects in the archipelago. The portals are invisible, mobile, and a large number of them are blocking the bottom of our island, roughly three hundred feet above the surface of the sea. When the portals below the seawater move up above our head, the seawater has direct access to our island, and accordingly, floods strike soon after. The guards patrolling the edge of the island may test the positions of the portals by dropping small stones below.


    2. If any mountain peak has disciples who practice movement techniques focused on speed and aerial movements, teams consisting of these disciples can go down to catch fish from the seas through gaps among the portals.


    3. If the second solution is not viable, our only option is to rob other sects for food and resources. Teams of scouts, frontal assault, guerilla assault, and plunderers can be created for convenience and smooth operation.


    4. A research team analyzing the nature of the portals should be constructed, in case their findings create opportunities for us.


    5. A second team should be created to research the ocean below us. We need some basic information, for example- how deep the sea here is, the concentration of aquatic life, the properties of the seawater, etc.


    6. A third team must run experiments on the portals, as well as the dark voids inside the portals. The treasures discovered by disciples inside the portals may carry foreign threats. Treasures that might be related to each other, for example, parts of armor, should be brought together to be tested for compatibility.


    At this point, Han Xuhan stopped himself. Most of his clues were inferred from his observations and were not concrete. It would be unwise to put too much reliance on his guesses and endanger his fellow disciples somehow.


    The last point, related to the treasures found in the void, was mostly a selfish move. His armor piece, the poleyn was almost useless right now. If he could sell it this way...a decent profit could be made.


    People have an obsession with complete, symmetrical things. If anyone had found the other knee guard, or wanted to collect the rest of the armor''s parts, they would buy it despite knowing its fragile condition.


    Hahaha... hahaha...moneyyyyyy!!!


    Feeling extremely pleased with himself for coming up with this nefarious business bait idea under the name of Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak, Han Xuhan made a swift exit.


    He had done his part. Whether his fellow disciples could follow his instructions was up to them.


    It didn''t really matter to him whether they qualified for the next round or not. After all, nothing was at stake here for him. Even if his sect got eliminated in the first round, he''d lose no sleep. Besides, he had more important things to be concerned about...for example, how to get his hands on the weight allotment map in Xuan Zi''s possession.


    The sect master''s residence wasn''t far away from the centerpoint of the island. A few minutes later, Han Xuhan reached the artificial mountain where Xuan Zi lived. On the foot of the mountain sat a familiar man, meditating under the shades of some trees that looked uncannily perfect; every branch, every leaf, even the small flower buds appeared measured, symmetrical, synthetically created.


    On several occasions he had examined them. They were actually real and living organisms, but their growth seemed to have been under the influence of a robotic governor.


    "How did the trip go?" asked the man, squinting open an eye lazily.


    "Better than you were hoping for, I would guess," Han Xuhan answered. Fang Xie seemed to be in a good mood today for some reason.


    "Oh I was hoping for the trip to go well and bear some fruits, actually. After all, the Crimson Snow sect needs to advance to the next round if the tasks I''ve set for you are to be accomplished. Trust me, boy, you don''t want to suffer the consequences of elimination in the first round. I would be more than happy to personally make sure of that."


    "...."


    Dang, I had to go and jinx myself!


    Han Xuhan could only curse himself silently.

 Chapter 166: One Question To Answer All Questions

    "What makes you think that your plan can be put to effect in the next round?" Han Xuhan said while picking his nose nonchalantly.


    Fang Xie let out a gloomy smile. "You''ll see when it''s time for you to see. Now, why don''t you quit soiling my vision with your presence?"


    The man gestured in a way one might shoo off mosquitos. Han Xuhan wasn''t intent on sticking around and chatting any longer. He walked up the stairs on the mountain, heading straight for Xuan Zi''s house.


    The sect master''s residence hadn''t undergone any change, its size as vast as it had been back in its original territory. Han Xuhan had to wonder why a palace so large was constructed for one man to live in. Granted, there were servants to cook and clean for the sect master. But such a lavish display didn''t quite fit with what he had come to expect in traditional sects.


    Now, not even the servants were here to maintain the mansion. They had been given a paid leave for as long as the sect would stay in the archipelago. Who would cook and clean for Xuan Zi now? Or was the man powerful enough to survive a few weeks without food?


    With those bizarre questions circling inside his heart, Han Xuhan knocked on the ten feet tall, six feet wide door.


    "Greetings, Master Zi."


    The door opened a moment later, and his nose was suddenly assaulted by a heavenly aroma.


    No, it was not some jade beauty''s perfume. It was the smell of fish being roasted, spices flying in the air, a delicious meal approaching the culinary peak!


    Already hungry, Han Xuhan''s stomach rumbled as he walked in. He had no idea who had opened the door because Xuan Zi was busy fiddling with bottles of spice and maintaining the fire.


    "Welcome back, disciple. How did the trip go?" the sect master opened the road to discussion with the same words as Fang Xie, albeit a degree more politely.


    "As well as you could hope for, sect master," Han Xuhan responded in the only way he thought was fitting.


    "Oh! That''s interesting to hear!" Xuan Zi raised a brow at him, seeming pleasantly surprised.


    "It might take a while to give you the full story," Han Xuhan pointedly made a statement. Getting the implicit signal, Xuan Zi''s mouth twitched uncontrollably for a second before he agreed.


    "Sure, why don''t you tell me all about it over lunch?"


    "Ahahaha, I''ll have to thank you for the meal then, sect master." Han Xuhan had the audacity to look surprised, making Xuan Zi roll his eyes and sigh in vexation.


    Lunch tasted as magnificent as it smelled. Han Xuhan made a mental note to come visit his old sect master more often to show his filial piety, especially around the time of meals.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    He didn''t leave out any of the details, not even the crystal which Shangguang Ce had handed him secretly. Xuan Zi''s eyes were sparkling by the time he finished.


    "Two sects, then...not bad, not bad. I haven''t heard of this Sunrider Sect before. Maybe I should pay them a visit in the future. As for that communication crystal, use it to befriend the other party. It might pay off."


    Han Xuhan nodded in acknowledgment. He himself was very, very, very interested in the Sunrider sect. For the first time in the world of cultivation, he had found himself facing cutting-edge technologies comparable to modern Earth. Not investigating the history behind this sect would be a terrible mistake.


    "What about the other sect, though? They were a pretty unique bunch of people." Han Xuhan did not forget the warm treatment he had received from the Wangs and Lings. Those were a group he could genuinely befriend without any benefits involved.


    Unexpectedly, Xuan Zi barked out a short laugh.


    "Oh, they''re unique all right. I know the master of this sect. Very friendly guy, you''ll love to meet him."


    Looking at Xuan Zi''s warm smile, Han Xuhan felt a chill in his heart.


    Whoever that sect''s master was...he did not want to meet him.


    * * * *


    "Something on your mind, disciple?" Xuan Zi asked right before he was about to take his leave. Han Xuhan, who had been attempting for a while to make that exact fact obvious, nodded hesitantly.


    "Well, come back to say it when you feel like you can, since it doesn¡¯t seem like you can say it right now..."


    Noticing the impatience in his tone, Han Xuhan quickly began to speak.


    "Do you remember a fellow disciple of mine named Yuen Zhou?"


    That''s right. He was going to tackle this matter openly, honestly. After all, his relationship with Yuen Zhou was not worth angering Xuan Zi. Whether the weight allotment map was accessible or not; whether he could steal it or not; whether it contained a huge secret or not....none of these were important in the bigger picture.


    The actual matter of importance was his approach towards this task. If he got caught trying to steal it, or trick Xuan Zi into handing it away somehow...it would create a huge chasm in his relationship with the sect master. Between Yuen Zhou and Xuan Zi, the latter was a better backer, the bigger golden thigh.


    This was an excellent opportunity to kill many birds with one stone.


    To his inquiry, Xuan Zi''s answer was an expected one.


    "Yes, the only female disciple under Kong Ye''s tutelage, how could I not remember?" Said the sect. master, a shadow of a smile lighting his face.


    Han Xuhan felt that something was off in the way Xuan Zi had worded it. But if he tried to dig around that detail, he would lose the reigns of this exchange. He firmly made a mental note to himself and proceeded with his preplanned script.


    "...I assume that you are aware that this martial sister of mine is an...exceptional cultivator."


    Xuan Zi''s faint smile widened for a second.


    "Of course, of course. A mere mortal who grew fast enough to catch up with some of the most advanced disciples. Several elders have praised her natural affinity with our way of life in front of me. Quite an exceptional lass."


    This time, Han Xuhan began smiling, copying the sect master.


    "Not surprising! Well, but I do bear some news about her that might surprise you, master."


    "Oh! Do tell!" Xuan Zi leaned in, arching a brow.


    "Martial sister Zhou has been searching for a certain object that belongs to you, quite desperately."


    Xuan Zi''s smile froze.


    "And what might this object be, disciple?"


    "A map, in her words, a map containing the weight allotment scheme of the Celestial Gateway Spell. She wants the full map, containing the exact weight distribution of every disciple."


    For the first time, Han Xuhan noticed a look of sheer confusion and bewilderment pass through Xuan Zi''s face.


    "That?! What use is that to her?"


    Han Xuhan felt his heart sink. Did that mean the map didn''t really contain anything particularly important or secretive? Had he made a clown out of himself?


    "Wait a second...which part of the island did the last invasion from our competitors take place in?" Xuan Zi suddenly asked.


    Han Xuhan''s eyes widened. Xuan Zi noticed and smiled gloomily.


    "Can''t you think of one very obvious reason why our competitors might want this map?"


    Countless cogs and wheels inside Han Xuhan''s brain started turning.


    "Well, the map contains the weight allotment...oh, OHHHH!"


    Realization dawned on him fast.


    How had he overlooked a motive so prominent?


    The weight allotment scheme could give an outsider all the information about the average cultivation level of the disciples and elders, the exact number of powerful cultivators, and even the exact cultivation level of any specific disciple!


    This map was potentially the most accurate and important collection of information on their sect!


    And the attack by foreign cultivators on Yuen Zhou had taken place just before she had demanded the map!


    All the details lined up, connecting the dots one after one...all from that one question Xuan Zi had posed.

 Chapter 167: When False Becomes True, Truth Becomes False

    "I must say, if she is being forced by any of our competitors to deliver that map in their hands, she''s doing a very sloppy job. She asked you for the map as soon as they left, admitting openly that she needs something that is for my eyes only...how intriguing!"


    Xuan Zi''s casual remark got Han Xuhan thinking up all sorts of complicated scenarios again.


    "Disciple Xuhan, does this lass know of your frequent visits to my residence?"


    Han Xuhan nodded hesitantly. "Possibly. I don''t exactly hide from curious eyes on my way here."


    Of course he didn''t. Throughout his stay at this sect, Han Xuhan had openly flaunted every connection he had made. He was known for having close ties to the sect master, elder Shen, elder Kong Ye, cultivation genius Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou, and many senior disciples holding important jobs.


    He had also gotten a model disciple medal, which had only added to his fame. Even those who he didn''t have a good relationship with for various reasons seldom focused their aggression on him.


    "If she isn''t an idiot, she will obviously be aware that it''s impossible for you to somehow figure out where such a random object will be and steal it without me knowing. Then do you think she knows you''re going to snitch on her as soon as you get the opportunity? After all, it''s a decent way to make me put more trust in you."


    ". . ."


    Heavens! This sect master of his is too good at scheming!


    If Han Xuhan hadn''t hung around Mu Ran frequently, he wouldn''t have cultivated the considerably thick skin he owned right now. So he didn''t even blush at being seen through so easily. Rather, facing someone so perceptive and cunning, the speed of his thoughts got a speed boost.


    Did Yuen Zhou have such foresight?


    He couldn''t be sure, but that only meant he had to assume she could predict his actions.


    Does that mean...she wanted to be caught betraying the sect?


    What the hell was even going on here?


    Han Xuhan was lost.


    Xuan Zi, meanwhile, finished his meal steadily in silence.


    "Disciple Xuhan."


    "Yes, sect master?"


    "Have you figured anything out?"


    "No, sect master. I am very confused right now."


    "Good."


    "What?"


    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    "If you were able to figure something out miraculously out of this mess, that would be quite suspicious."


    "...I see. Good thing I''m so stupid, then. Ha ha ha"


    Han Xuhan laughed mechanically.


    "Worry not, and stop thinking so much. Let''s have some fun instead, eh?"


    ". . ."


    The leap in the sect master''s thinking once again rendered him lost for words.


    "Say, disciple, why don''t we dig ourselves into a hole?"


    ". . ."


    "Metaphor, it was a metaphor." Xuan Zi clapped his palms together cheerfully. "I''ll hand you the map she wants. You''re going to deliver it to her. She is going to deliver it to our opponent. Our opponent, of course, will be suspicious of its authenticity. So they are going to test it. Maybe they''ll choose specific disciples to attack and see whether their cultivation level and foundation weight match the data on the map, maybe they are going to use divination to check if it''s authentic, or maybe they''re going to use a method beyond my knowledge."


    "So, we should give her a false map?" Han Xuhan wondered aloud.


    "Mmm...No. We give her the true one, the one and only legitimate map."


    Once again, Xuan Zi cheerfully clapped his palms together as if he had solved a huge problem just now.


    Han Xuhan felt his eyes losing focus from sheer befuddlement. Try as he might, he couldn''t figure out ANYTHING!


    The intelligence he had been always so proud of having seemed useless suddenly. Unable to keep his thoughts wandering any longer, he had to ask, "Sect master, may I know why?"


    "Why what?" Xuan Zi asked, looking surprised for some reason.


    "Why are we letting our enemy get ahold of the real information?"


    Xuan Zi leaned in, smiling so wide that Xuhan could see a fishbone stuck between his upper left molars.


    "Because, disciples, when false becomes true, truth becomes false, and information becomes meaningless."


    "...???"


    *       *          *          *


    "Here you go. This is the map." Entering the room, Xuan Zi threw a sealed bamboo tube at him. Han Xuhan had been waiting patiently like he had been told to do. Catching the tube, he examined the seal.


    Huh...normal wax.


    Xuan Zi really didn''t treat this thing as important.


    "Can I take a look at it before I give it to her?"


    Xuan Zi fixed an unreadable gaze on him, not blinking for nearly half a minute. Han Xuhan felt quite aggrieved. Sect master Zi''s behavior today was way off the unpredictable category. Fang Xie''s conduct made more sense than his.


    "You know what, that''s a good idea."


    "Really?" Han Xuhan said, caught off guard again.


    "Indeed. It''s better if we can force our opponent to fall into a tight schedule. Hold on to the map for a week''s time, or more if she appears patient enough."


    The permission to peek into the map implied, Xuan Zi very politely asked him to excuse himself. Han Xuhan offered to clean up the dishes, making Xuan Zi look rather gratified.


    The walk back to his house was uneventful. The rate at which floods were striking had slowed down by a notable margin. The calm before the storm, perhaps.


    Zhanxian had cooked lunch, while Tun Shi Tian had shirked off his share of the labor. Han Xuhan didn''t have the heart to tell him that he had already had a meal. As a cultivator in the fourth layer of the Physique Transformation realm, it was hardly a task for him to stuff a second meal into his stomach. He planned out his evening schedule while eating.


    He had to speed up his personal advancement rather than focusing on so many miscellaneous issues. He hadn''t cultivated at all since reaching the doorstep of the fourth layer, as the creation of Hai Yin Zhe had damaged his dao foundation terribly.


    Something had to be done to repair his Dao foundation. The Astral Column form of Kong Ye''s tentacle sprouting technique came right in time.


    For the next few hours, Han Xuhan decided to try his best to educate his minions on the concept of astral cultivation. They had listened to Kong Ye''s lecture on the technique already. So he approached the task a bit differently. Taking out the manual Kong Ye had given him, he went through each line himself first, comprehended its meaning, and then translated it in a simpler way to his minions, a process that used to help him earn passable grades in college.


    However, it wasn''t particularly effective in mastering cultivation manuals, which were just instructions on the practical application of magical elements. One of the most common features of cultivation manuals was that the more one practiced the technique, the more they realized how layered, twisty, and vague the instructions were. Different cultivators had different perspectives, and most cultivators who created new techniques tended to be geniuses with unique mental states. Regular cultivators like him generally found themselves in a maze of inconsistencies and fog whenever they practiced the techniques of these geniuses. Every few layers of advancement provided them better insights, evolved outlooks, and an increasingly twisted view of the technique they were learning, making them lament how horrible their prior comprehension of the technique was.


    Natural enlightenments were one of the common factors that induced such realizations. In Han Xuhan''s case, however, his natural enlightenment was not in his cultivation techniques but on his dao heart. But repeated studying and practice of technique were still enough for him to understand this phenomenon.


    This was one of the reasons why so few cultivators could successfully teach younglings. The method of explaining delicate magical concepts was an intricate art one had to master. For some, like Kong Ye, talent played a bigger part than experience.


    Han Xuhan''s approach contributed more to his interest than the minions this way. But the minions were very grateful that their summoner was sacrificing his precious time and effort behind educating them.


    In the end, they were all the biggest benefactors in their own eyes. Who knows, maybe someone else was benefiting more than them behind the scenes. But Han Xuhan was a self-centered man fully taking the biggest advantage he could. Nothing else mattered, really.

 Chapter 168: Why Does Everyone Know Things They Shouldnt?

    "Alright, settle down, settle down, minions. With the resources here, I expect a considerable improvement in your current cultivation. This portion of our resources is solely reserved for the Spiritual Bones technique. Try your best tonight and we will see if there''s hope for any near-future breakthroughs."


    Handing Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian a sack each, Han Xuhan sent them to his backyard to cultivate. Being undead came with many disabilities; the lack of the need to sleep wasn''t one of those. Even peak physique transformation realm cultivators had to sleep regularly to be in their best shape.


    It was pointless to make little Zhe cultivate the Spiritual Bones technique. Han Xuhan wanted to see if Kong Ye and Yuen Zhou''s combined teaching proved to be effective for someone so young. If that bore some fruit, he''d try to teach the technique to little Zhe. After all, it was practically custom-made for living skeletons.


    "Papa, I wanna play with them!" the snake screeched from his shoulders as it watched them go outside.


    "They''re going to work all night, little Zhe. Why don''t you go play inside your pit?" Han Xuhan proposed.


    "NOOO!!! Yuck! I can''t play there!"


    "Why not? It''s a nice place!"


    Hai Yin Zhe didn''t answer him, seeming distracted by a small bottle of meridian stimulating syrup on the bedside desk due to its sweet flavor.


    "Papa..."


    "That''s not something you can eat, little Zhe."


    "Uwaaaahhh!"


    With a soulful cry, little Zhe crawled down inside his robe and started weeping.


    ". . ."With the most neutral expression he could muster, Han Xuhan opened the cap of the bottle and gobbled up most of the syrup in one go. By the time little Zhe had recovered, the bottle was filled up once more with a mixture of water and the remaining few drops of the syrup, capped and sweet-scented just like before.


    "Fine. Here you go. Don''t drink the whole bottle at once."


    Little Zhe''s sniffing stopped instantly. Biting the bottle ferociously, the snake crawled off his shoulders and slithered away outside.


    "Don''t disturb your big brothers. Play by yourself!" He shouted the reminder and plopped down on his bed, dead tired.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    But resting had to be postponed. He still had business to attend to.


    Eyes closed, Han Xuhan slipped into his mental world, slowly moving some qi through his invigorated meridians. A second later, he was inside his dao tower, in the form of a mass of light surrounding a miniature version of his physical self; at least that''s how Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian had described his appearance.


    Han Xuhan made visits to Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian''s rooms, and peeked at Hai Yin Zhe''s pit from above cautiously.


    No abnormal changes. The hole looked as sinister as ever despite being empty. It wasn''t too difficult to believe that this pit led to an entirely different planet that resembled hell.


    Routine checks done, he floated upwards into the dome.


    The graffiti on the rounded walls whizzed around, seeming rather lively. Han Xuhan recalled the last time he had entered this place. It hadn''t even been a week, yet it felt like a lifetime ago.


    He had almost forgotten his status as an Initiate Law Manipulator under Qian Yun''s care.


    A few seconds later, Han Xuhan found himself in his spawn point inside the realm of laws, surrounded by the globular walls and facing the cylindrical tunnel.


    "Ey, Brother Yun, you alive over there?" His shout reverberated through the tunnel.


    After almost a minute of silence, Qian Yun''s reply sounded.


    "I expected you to return sooner. It''s been a while since you''ve asked me to teach you law manipulation."


    "I got caught up with some tasks in the sect."


    "The tournament, I presume?" Qian Yun remarked in a questioning tone


    "....Wait a damned second, how did you come to know about the tournament?"


    "That''s not something you need to be concerned about," Qian Yun replied in a monotone.


    Han Xuhan peered into the cylindrical tunnel for a long moment before backing off from the topic. Some ideas were taking shape in his mind. But more clues had to be collected before he could make a decision. For now, he''d let that pass.


    "Make preparations for the displacement spell. I''m sending over the manual you''ll be instructing me on."


    Han Xuhan left the realm of laws and his dao tower, breaking out of meditation. The manual he had gotten from Mu Ran was finally about to be of some use!


    One good thing about the realm of laws was that he could traverse there even when he was asleep. That''s how Qian Yun used to summon him initially.


    His body never got tired regardless of how long he stayed there. Even his mind didn''t feel particularly fatigued, which he suspected was because his actual self, soul, and mind did not get fully transferred to the realm of laws, only a portion or certain aspects of himself did the traveling.


    It was an excellent place to cultivate any technique related to the laws of the universe. Naturally, he had come up with the plan to cultivate Kong Ye''s technique during the daytime and learn the language of laws from Qian Yun at night.


    Han Xuhan opened up a chest he had hidden inside a hole in his ceiling and carried the scroll to his backyard. A checkup on his two older minions showed him that both of them were diligently burning through his resources.


    Despite being one of the biggest spendthrifts of the Crimson Snow sect, Han Xuhan felt a phantom pain in his chest watching the scene.


    ''You two better make that count!'' he roared silently before leaving.


    At one corner of the backyard, the familiar engravings on the ground had almost been covered by soil and grass.


    Han Xuhan cleaned up the dirt and redrew some of the alphabets that had grown obscure.


    The displacement spell was not a difficult task to execute. He had grown familiar with the technique after using it so many times to deliver resources to the Holy Land of Laws.


    The scroll was delivered smoothly, and in return, Qian Yun sent another pile of garbage. Residue of half-eaten meals, torn-up clothes sporting dried blood, and some foul-smelling vases...


    This guy was soiling his backyard from another realm! Yet he could not complain!


    Han Xuhan called Zhanxian to clean up the mess and went inside. It was time to give his body some rest, and his cultivation some boost.


    Seconds later, he was back inside his spawn point in the realm of laws. Silently, he awaited for Qian Yun to throw a hissy fit. It didn''t take very long...


    "HAN XUHAN!"


    "Present!"


    "This...you...HOW?! When did you steal this? This belongs to our Holy Land!" Qian Yun howled in anger.


    "I can''t see why you''re getting so worked up over this, brother. You were tricked into becoming a slave of that Holy Land. It''s been what...seven weeks? Seven weeks and you seem ready to kill for your Holy Land."


    ". . ." Qian Yun failed to follow up with an appropriate answer to that. But when he did reply, it was Han Xuhan''s turn to be dumbfounded.


    "So it was you all along! You were the one publicizing the cultivation techniques of our Holy Land!" Qian Yun growled, his fury spiking with every syllable.


    ". . .How did you know?!" Han Xuhan gasped.

 Chapter 169: My Hobby Is Pissing People Off

    "This is the realm of laws! Every law manipulator who has stepped past the door of cultivation has entered this world! We, the current living members of this holy land represent this planet''s law manipulators. Do you think we wouldn''t notice people trying to ''borrow'' our gateway to this realm?"


    Han Xuhan''s mouth figuratively fell open.


    "So there''s such a detection system as well!"


    His sheer awe at the mechanisms of this realm seemed to pacify Qian Yun slightly.


    "Hmph! Know your limits, Han Xuhan. Law manipulation techniques are not something to be taught to any riffraff. We will not allow outsiders whom we do not approve of to use our gateway to access this realm."


    "Those outsiders aren¡¯t riffraff. They''re my fellow cultivators, disciples of my sect!"


    "You''re giving away OUR technique to disciples of YOUR sect?!"


    "You''re wrong! I''m not giving anything away! I''m trying to encourage them to buy the technique..."


    "...BUY?"


    "My sect sells it."


    Qian Yun fell silent for some reason. Han Xuhan began to wonder if the man''s brain had short-circuited from anger when Qian Yun finally spoke once more.


    "I see. So it''s your sect where this technique originates from. They must have gotten it from our Holy Land back when it was flourishing. My apologies for being rude."


    Han Xuhan''s brain short-circuited from trying to figure out how Qian Yun had reached that conclusion and how he should respond to it. Should he confess that it was he who had sold the technique to the Crimson Snow sect?


    "....Apology accepted." Han Xuhan replied a couple of seconds later in a tone full of confidence.


    He deemed it unnecessary to explain that he, Han Xuhan, was the biggest individual shareholder in the contract for the sale of the Force type law manipulation manual.


    Why have enemies when you can have friends?


    "Those fellow disciples of mine...are you going to deny them from accessing this realm?" Han Xuhan prodded. This was vital to his business scheme.


    Qian Yun sighed. "Honestly, if we had more members in our Holy Land, I would never allow it. But right now, some new members would do our sect some good. It is the only reason I haven¡¯t destroyed their spawning points in the realm of laws."


    "You can do that?" Han Xuhan gasped.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    "Yes."


    "If that is true, then I, Han Xuhan, am a dog."


    "....Stop praising yourself. Besides, why would I lie?"


    "Because if you really had that power, our mutual positions here would be very different from the current status quo." Han Xuhan let out a loud laugh full of ridicule.


    "#%$¡ê."


    Qian Yun succinctly spoke some words that Han Xuhan chose to remove from his memory.


    "Since you''re actually benefitting from new members joining your sect, what''s the fuss about? You should be more concerned about my fees. "


    "Fees? What fees?"


    "Well, I''m the one recruiting new members for your Holy Land, so..."


    Qian Yun once again vehemently expressed his emotions through some inappropriate words.


    "Alright, alright. Enough with the unimportant topics. Let us begin tonight''s studies. Begin your lecture, teacher Yun." Han Xuhan redirected the conversation, realizing that Qian Yun was on the verge of having a stroke.


    And so began his first lesson on Force type laws.


    * * * * *


    "That''s it for tonight''s session. Return and do your best to memorize the grade-1 alphabets I''ve taught you tonight. We will move on to a new set of alphabets in each new session. It''s a good thing that you managed to decipher a significant portion of the alphabets back during our first meeting inside the Holy Land. That simplifies your curriculum. I estimate we can move on to grade-2 alphabets after a couple more sessions."


    Qian Yun dismissed the lesson in an angry, tired tone. Han Xuhan quickly bade his farewell and left the Realm of Laws with his head spinning.


    If there was one academic criterion he sucked at, it was memorization skill. His fellow disciples walked around with tomes of cultivation techniques stored inside their heads. The elders were even more accomplished, having memorized techniques that they didn''t even practice.


    Han Xuhan couldn''t even remember how many diagrams the Skeletal Monarch manual contained, and it was his main cultivation technique.


    Perhaps the root of the cause lay in how they approached their studies. Back at the orphanage, Han Xuhan''s academic qualifications had been honed via personal practice, not aimed at passing exams set by the royal academy, which he had been too poor to attend. He never gave any importance to memorizing the texts, other than the most basic and easy-to-remember info.


    After entering the sect, his memories of Earth had only enhanced that habit of his, as his studying back then consisted of regurgitating his understanding of some thesis written with a grammar more complex than the topic of the thesis.


    And this had ended up becoming the main hurdle on his road to mastering the language of laws. Initiate law manipulators like him had to memorize a huge number of alphabets, each with unique usage.


    The first layer of cultivation as a law manipulator consisted of two steps -


    Step one- Perfectly memorize enough grade-1 alphabets to construct a law.


    For force-type law manipulators, the grade-1 alphabets he needed to memorize corresponded to various types of forces found in nature. The most common example was gravity, easy to perceive, and easy to affect.


    Step two- Successfully create a law fragment that you can activate with your own qi.


    In a sense, Han Xuhan had already completed step one a long time ago. But the power he had used in order to activate the law fragments hadn''t belonged to him.


    When Qian Yun had been explaining this to him, a question had formed in Xuhan''s mind.


    "That''s all very easy to understand, brother Yun...but how does this affect a cultivator''s physique? Or is your cultivation system completely different from ours? Where is the transformation of your physique?"


    Qian Yun had laughed.


    "This is the difference that separates us law manipulators from other ordinary cultivators. Our physique transformation process is not dependent on our main cultivation technique. Rather, we treat physical enhancement as a secondary goal."


    "...Isn''t that harmful for the next realm of cultivation where you need a strong physique to host a continuously strengthening soul? "


    "Not at all! Just because it''s a secondary goal, it doesn''t mean we do not focus on it. The thing is, at the beginning layers of the physique transformation realm, the law fragments we have the capacity to create are...garbage in terms of quality. So using these law fragments to enhance our physique will never bring about a beneficial change in our bodies. We wait for the time when we reach the upper layers of the physique transformation realm where we can create decent law fragments and sustain their activation period for a long time."


    Han Xuhan had quickly grabbed the opportunity to dig out more precious information.


    "You mean your physical enhancements directly rely on law fragments. How does that work?"


    "That''s something you''ll learn when you reach the upper layers of the physique transformation realm as a law manipulator. These are information closely related to breaking through to the soul reformation realm as a law manipulator. You''ve got a long way to go before that.


    Focus on closer goals... For example, paying my fees," Qian Yun had replied.


    "What fees?" Han Xuhan asked in a puzzled tone.


    "....HAN XUHAN!"


    "Oh right, yes. You did mention a teaching fee per session. Sure, I''ll send you tonight''s 40 spirit stones immediately. But how do you plan on spending it though?"


    "How I spend it is none of your damn business-WHAT DO YOU MEAN 40 SPIRIT STONES?! WE AGREED ON 500 SPIRIT STONES PER SESSION!"


    Vulgarities continued to ring out frequently from the tunnel while Han Xuhan tried to convince the uncultured fellow that he did not, in fact, agree to pay 500 spirit stones. And that was how he spent the last ten minutes of their meeting.

 Chapter 170: Grey Reality In Superimposed Visions

    It was still midnight when Han Xuhan opened his eyes. He considered sleeping till dawn. But that could give rise to some deadly situations, for example- if a flood hit when he was asleep, he might just be dragged along with the water, off the edge of the island due to the Heavenly Hailstorm peak''s proximity to the edge.


    There hadn''t been any floods since a pretty weak one during the sunset. The new formation of mountains around the island was working wonders. Some of the sudden, smaller ones like small-scale series of lightning strikes were even beginning to go unnoticed by a good portion of the disciples.


    Han Xuhan and his fellow disciples were still totally in the dark about how these trials affected their ranking in the tournament.


    From what he had seen inside Luo Yi''s Beast pet, The Crimson Snow Sect was pretty much at the bottom of the barrel in terms of ranking.


    Why? He didn''t know. Nobody did.


    How to change it for the better? He didn''t know. Nobody did.


    What all of them did know...was that they needed to climb the ranks fast if they didn''t want to be thrown off the list of the sects that would qualify for the next round.


    Han Xuhan made a mental note to revisit the central field of the island tomorrow and check what has changed in the ranking list after the most recent trials. Comparing the data from both sides should provide a good clue.


    For now, sleeping for that long would not be a good idea. He sat up on his bed, feeling slightly refreshed from the three hours of physical sleep.


    There was one more issue he hadn''t looked into yet.


    Taking out the square-shaped blue crystal from a pocket of his robe, Han Xuhan hesitated on taking action for a long while.


    Must I really suck on this?


    In the end, he did it for the greater good. The crystal was warm, but not enough to cause discomfort in his mouth. But he immediately gagged.


    Horrible! The taste was absolutely horrible! It tasted like someone had wrung out a concentrated dose of Bitter-gourd juice and made a crystal out of it!


    Teeth gritted, Han Xuhan persevered through the ordeal, trying his best not to let a single drop of saliva come into contact with the crystal.


    But would merely sucking without tasting it work?


    Apparently not.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Han Xuhan awaited salvation for a very long time, almost fifteen seconds, before choking and spitting out that hellish instrument of torture.


    No! I must do it! For the benefits! For the power!


    Even Xuan Zi wanted him to do it. He had to maintain a decent relationship with the enigmatic sect master for now. He needed shelter and safety.


    In the back of his head, he imagined an epic orchestral piece booming in his ears as he put the crystal in his mouth for the second time, this time determined to taste it thoroughly!


    Oh, the stench! The misery! This world would never know the sacrifice he had made tonight, the sheer terror his tastebuds tangled with. Right when he was about to admit defeat and spit out the saliva-soaked crystal, something changed.


    More accurately, he felt that something had changed, but he could not pinpoint what it was. The only thing he could sense was the changing texture of the crystal, from velvet smooth to a rough exterior grating on his tongue.


    The disgust he felt seemed to stem not just from his tastebuds, but also from his mind. Sure, the taste was horrible, but the mental abhorrence he felt was enhancing the feeling of disgust beyond the far reaches of his tolerance limits.


    The taste reminded him of everything he hated, every unpalatable dish he had ever tasted, every nauseating stench he had encountered in his short eighteen years of life. Even his qi fell into chaos.


    It was more than just a reaction of his body to the taste, it felt like a cultivated sense of hatred.


    Wait a second, did the crystal get smaller just now?


    It can''t be edible, right?


    Han Xuhan quickly tried to spit it out, but alas...the crystal also turned out to be sticky.


    He immediately jammed a couple of fingers down his gob to pry it out, but by then, the damage had been done. The crystal had morphed into a substance as foamy as cake, spreading all over his mouth, sticking stubbornly wherever it reached.


    Han Xuhan felt like he was about to pass out from disgust and horror.


    Right then, the taste disappeared, and his sight went dark.


    Han Xuhan''s sight returned soon enough, albeit with an unfamiliar characteristic.


    He could recognize his bedroom, his bed, the small window adjacent to the bed, the bedside table, and the miscellaneous objects littering the bedside table.


    But these objects looked different now. Something extra, something unknown to him was perceivable in each of them.


    When he looked at the bed, what he saw was not just the outline, sheet, and frames, but also a grey sketch that resembled a child''s scribbling. It was superimposed over his original vision of the bed, yet not obstructing his normal sight in any way; almost as if the two images were coming from two different sources, received by two different receptors inside his mind and then amalgamated into one compound image where both images existed in their full, intact form.


    His table, the objects on the table, and the rest of the room displayed the same phenomenon. In the dim moonlight coming through the window, this new attribute in every object he could see made him shiver in fear.


    Han Xuhan couldn''t tell if a normal human brain had the capacity to visualize and comprehend images like these. Nonetheless, his brain seemed plenty capable of functioning as things were right now.


    Heavens! What was in that crystal candy?


    Didn''t Shangguang Ce say that sucking on the crystal was a contacting method?


    If not, why did I undergo this torture of taste?


    "Shangguang Ce! This better not be a prank!" Han Xuhan roared angrily at the ceiling and leaped down from his bed, getting dressed for a venture outside.


    The moonlight tonight was rather brilliant. Han Xuhan took advantage of that by running his eyes over every object around his hut and made a mental list of his observations.


    Firstly, all the dead objects, like the walls of his hut, the soil under his feet, and even the empty air itself displayed scribblings of all sorts. He couldn''t find any patterns or codes inside the scribblings. Everywhere he looked, swathes of grey ink took up his vision. This world of grey ink was not just a collection of two-dimensional images of separate objects. In fact, most of these scribblings were three-dimensional. What made this apparent to him was the air itself, which was pretty much an all-pervasive projection of grey lines, twisting, turning, crossing, tangling everywhere. The sight made Han Xuhan feel like had been transported inside a surrealistic painting drawn with a needle-sharp pencil.


    Secondly, not the entirety of his vision consisted of the color grey. There was he himself, a mixture of uncountable colors overshadowing the grey ink around him. In his normal vision, his body looked the same as before, while in the new superimposed vision, he was pretty much a multi-colored blob contained within a humanoid outline.


    Thirdly, the grass on the ground was also not entirely grey. Webs of jet-black lines ran through their leafy bodies, pulsing every now and then inexplicably. Same with the trees. Black veins vibrated among the gray lines which represented them, all the way up to the highest stalk.


    Fourthly, he could see another mass of bright colors erupting in the sky just above their mountain peak, landing near Kong Ye''s hut like a shooting star.


    BOOOMMM!


    BOOOMMM!!


    BOOOMMM!!!

 Chapter 171: Which Fellow Cultivator Is Behind The Blue-pill Prank?

    A thunderstorm trial had appeared! Right on top of their mountain peak at that!


    Han Xuhan stood frozen in awe at the majestic, horrific sight above, his eyes still immersed in double-layered imagery.


    In one image, the clouds had surrounded the curved moon, moving so fast that his eyes could barely keep track of their entire volume. Like a volcano eruption, the black smokey barrier covered his entire field of vision and blocked out the moonlight. Blue lightning cracked across the sea of darkness, creating crisscrossing webs wherever he cast his sight.


    In his second vision, the scene was much different. His eyes lost the track of the clouds as soon as the wind began blowing. A near-infinite number of grey lines spun across his vision crazily, as if stimulated by the wind. As seconds ticked away, Han Xuhan noticed something.


    His second vision was growing weaker with each passing moment. The more the wind''s speed rose, the more his vision blurred out of focus. By the time he had recovered from the shock, his second vision was but a landscape of grey blotches and fluttering lines; much alike an old, malfunctioning tv screen.


    Han Xuhan raised a hand and focused on it. Prior to the thunderstorm, his hands were multicolored extensions of light, letting out bright pulses from every millimeter. But now, the air between his eyes and his hands had become an obstruction to his sight. He could barely make out the outlines of his limbs, splashes of colors blooming inside the chaotic grey lines.


    Closing his eyes for a second, Han Xuhan took a deep breath and tried to see if that had changed anything. The disappointment he experienced was not shocking.


    Good thing was, he could focus on his ordinary vision singularly, ignoring the secondary vision as if there was a command switch in his brain that turned off the processing of the sensory input brought by the secondary vision.


    "Master!"


    Han Xuhan spun around and saw Tun Shi Tian flying towards him like an arrow.


    "What''s up with the qi in the air?! It''s amazing! Zhanxian and I can definitely make a breakthrough if we cultivate under these conditions! But..." The bird cranked its neck upwards and shuddered fearfully.


    Meanwhile, Han Xuhan was completely taken aback, because his Tun Shi Tian''s approach made his new sight act up crazily, ignoring his control. It forcibly made his brain ''see''.


    Xuhan was intrigued by what his second vision captured as the skeleton owl landed on his forearm.


    Tun Shi Tian''s body in his second vision did not contain any grey scribblings, nor any bright pulsing light. Rather, it showed a sharply detailed outline of a tiny bird, as if the grey scribblings that should''ve been there had united and organized themselves into one intricate structure.


    Neither a dead object nor a living being?


    At least that was what his previous observations led up to, truly befitting Tun Shi Tian''s current state of existence.


    But why so...well organized? Even living beings didn''t look so neat and tidy in his new sight.


    Blinking rapidly, Han Xuhan sent out his orders. "This is a thunderstorm, a part of this tournament''s trials. However, there is also the possibility of a tribulation storm popping out of this. So, don''t cultivate right now. Get inside the house. Wait for me to return. And if I summon you back into the dao tower suddenly, be ready for a battle."


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    The owl gaped at him for a moment before nodding in acknowledgment. Han Xuhan chucked it at one of the windows of his hut and walked out cautiously, heading towards the peak of the mountain where the shooting star had landed.


    He wasn''t exactly fearful of that phenomenon. Kong Ye was right there. The peak of the mountains were all visible from Xuan Zi''s residence. If anyone or anything had the balls to threaten him there, hiding in his hut right now wouldn''t provide much security anyway.


    Soon, he reached the landing site of the shooting star, his steps somewhat unsteady due to his unsettling visual perception.


    However, he couldn''t locate the exact crash site of the meteor. The trees and soil nearby showed no signs of damage. No burning grass, no hole in the ground, and no pieces of foreign rocks strewn around.


    Why hadn''t Kong Ye come out? Or was the business already taken care of?


    After a dozen minutes of fruitless search, Han Xuhan decided to go visit Kong Ye''s residence. He was curious to know what that shooting star was, and even more important was the issue with his eyes.


    Halfway down the road, his second vision began to spiral out of control again. Grey and black swirls exploded in his sight, almost submerging his normal vision.


    Clutching his eyes, Han Xuhan stood stock-still in the middle of the road, not daring to open them again.


    Maybe if he screamed, Kong Ye would hear.


    But before he could act upon that thought, things got worse. The grey swirling lines seemed to surpass all physical barriers, appearing in his sight once more despite his eyes being closed and covered with his palms.


    Han Xuhan wailed and began to scream... Only to stop short as from within the maddening chaos of the grey-black landscape, colored lines began to emerge, connecting, twisting, looping amongst themselves and creating a human outline.


    Something about the outline was familiar.


    BOOM!


    A streak of lightning struck the nearest tree, so close that Han Xuhan''s original vision overpowered the dominant second vision once more, letting him see clearly in the darkness. And the half-second-long clarity of his sight told him that an impressive fist was aimed at his face right now, ready to strike.


    Han Xuhan did not hesitate to act upon the first reflexive thought in his panic.


    WHUMP!


    Two fists hit each other head-on and slipped past each. One of the fists carried with it far more power than the other, and that was not Han Xuhan''s fist.


    "FUUUUCK!" Han Xuhan skidded backward and lost his balance, falling down on the ground like a log, clutching his contracted fist in pain.


    His opponent was at least three layers above his cultivation and wasn''t even using his full strength. It had been a slow, casual punch for someone at that level, likely an attempt to greet him heartily.


    "Good evening, fellow cultivator Ce." Han Xuhan greeted the stocky youth with a contorted expression.


    His original vision had already been clouded by the new one by then. All he could see now was a grey world of tangled threads and nets. At the center of his vision, right in front of him stood the sole source of color in this world, an outline made up of many colors just like his own body.


    "Good eve-hmmm? Wait, How did you recognize me? Is my celestial form so recognizable?"


    Shangguang Ce sounded quite surprised. Han Xuhan let out a dry smile.


    "What was in that crystal?" He asked in a tone that did not quite hide his anger.


    "I told you it was a contacting method. Why do you think I came here? You summoned me...sort of."


    "You should really explain my new vision problems, brother Ce."


    "It''s a method we ghost cultivators make use of for secrecy, brother...what was your name again? Mu Ran, right?"


    "Something like that, yes."


    BOOOM!


    "Well, I''m ready to explain but we surely need to find a shelter first," Shangguang Ce said as another streak of lightning fell just a yard away, nearly deafening them.


    "These bolts of lightning prefer hitting living beings. I''m certain you remember how being struck by them feels. Want a repetition of that day? "


    "Yes, I remember quite clearly, no thanks to you." Han Xuhan hobbled towards a depression on the side of the mountain. Shangguang Ce was quick to follow.


    "How well can you see right now?" He asked curiously, watching Xuhan''s measured footsteps.


    "Right now? All I can see are grey threads as thin as spiderwebs. The limit of my vision seems to be restricted at...three yards, give or take a foot."


    Shangguang Ce nodded, seeming satisfied. "Mm, three yards is the upper limit for those who use the crystal to peer into our totality. That''s surprisingly good. You''ve got to be incredibly talented if the limit of your vision has reached this far so fast! "


    "Totality?" Han Xuhan shouted in alarm.


    "Yep!" Shangguang Ce replied with a short laughter, full of pride and amusement at his reaction.


    "What you''re looking at right now, is a different totality. Do you know what totalities are? They are realms beyond the reaches of your normal universe...." he began to explain the concepts of macrocosms and totalities patiently while Han Xuhan bobbed his head. He let the guy ramble on, testing if everything Kong Ye had taught them on this topic matched with Shangguang Ce''s version.


    Other than some terms and phrases, it turned out to be pretty much the same as Kong Ye''s explanation. In fact...both versions were eerily similar, as if stemming from the same source.


    "Hey, brother Ce," Han Xuhan said as Shangguang Ce stopped for a breath. "Do you know anyone named Kong Ye?"


    Shangguang Ce looked confounded as he answered, "...No."


    "Okay. Keep talking. What''s the relation between the crystal and my new ability to see this totality you speak of? "


    "This new totality you''re seeing right now is known as the Consciousness Matrix. And the crystal you consumed contained a chemical that alters your real sight, translating your audiovisual data into the dataset of the Consciousness Matrix." Shangguang Ce kept it brief and concise.


    "....You''re telling me, I ate the blue pill and now I can see the matrix?"


    BOOOM!


    "That''s what I said, yes." Shangguang Ce scratched his head with a doubtful expression, making Han Xuhan realize that the intensity of his second vision was lessening. His original vision was returning slowly.


    But that was less important of a concern now...he had to investigate exactly which transmigrating senior was behind this whole ''Bluepilling'' prank.

 Chapter 172: The Pervasive Consciousness Matrix

    "Who invented this method?" Han Xuhan asked Shangguang Ce.


    "What? The recipe for the blue crystal? No idea." Shangguang Ce shrugged, adding, "Hong Wei bought it from one of her channels. You can try asking her when you meet in the future."


    "When?" Han Xuhan remarked in a questioning tone.


    "Yeeeah, you''re gonna meet again, for sure. Let''s return to our prime objective of this conversation, shall we?"


    "And what is that?"


    "Getting you to familiarize yourself with the Consciousness Matrix, of course. How else are we going to meet in the future? I can''t just barge into your sect every time we need to talk, now, can I?"


    BOOOM!


    A blinding white bolt fell right beside the cave-like depression they were sitting in, illuminating Shangguang Ce''s face.


    Han Xuhan was about to respond, but the words got stuck in his throat because he realized that Shangguang Ce''s body had grown transparent.


    "You know what? That stuff can wait. First, tell me why your face is transparent right now," he said, somewhat shocked at the twists and turns taking place tonight. He was practically growing numb to sudden, horrific surprises. That would not do his sanity any good, at least what remained of it.


    "Transparent?!" Shangguang Ce yelped in shock. "Dammit! That was my dramatic departure move!"


    Han Xuhan wore a confounded look on his face.


    "Wait a damned second...how the hell did you-- Did your original vision return?! Impossible!"


    Shangguang Ce jumped to his feet, his expression abruptly morphing into disbelief.


    "Tell me right now! What''s the state of your vision? Don''t leave any details out!"


    Feeling another trouble incoming, Han Xuhan took a few seconds to reply. "I can see both modes of vision. My original vision was only gone for a while when you first appeared. It has mostly returned back to normal now. Seems like it acts up temporarily only when another unusual person is nearby. Now the secondary vision your crystal caused is at balance with my normal sight. I can see your colorful Consciousness Matrix version, superimposed upon your physical body which is rapidly losing its tangible state. I can even see the wall of the mountain through you."


    "....No fucking wonder," Shangguang Ce mumbled after a few seconds of absent-minded, open-mouthed daze.


    "Fire away, brother Ce. I''m ready for more terrible news, super ready," Han Xuhan plainly declared.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "No, no, no terrible news for you tonight, brother Mu Ran...or something." Shangguang Ce began to laugh loudly, uproariously, as he waved off Han Xuhan''s growing blood pressure.


    "The heavens'' plans are truly twisted. You don''t even want to know how I''m feeling right now, man." Shangguang Ce covered his face with a palm, a complicated expression dawning there. Vexation, happiness, surprise, fear...Han Xuhan lost track of how many changes his face went through.


    "Turns out all of my efforts were for naught. That crystal was wasted on you."


    "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Han Xuhan asked Shangguang Ce in trepidation. The youth merely smiled morosely.


    "Depends on how you look at it." Shangguang Ce''s nearly invisible body began to pace around.


    "Alright. How do I begin...Damn, this is going to be complicated.


    Let me put it in the most simple way- You, Han Xuhan, are a natural-born ghost cultivator."


    BOOOM!


    "Woo. Cool."


    That was Han Xuhan''s reaction. He didn''t quite trust that last sentence, because the last time someone made a similar declaration, it had turned out to be a massive trap to turn young, naive youths like him into mind-controlled puppets.


    From the beginning of this current chain of events, the flow has been controlled by Shangguang Ce. The crystal, the new vision method, the revelations...it was very easy to entrap an ignorant cultivator like Han Xuhan using such a setup. Even he, who relied on schemes to eliminate his obstacles, would perhaps not think of a method so roundabout.


    Shangguang Ce also seemed to clearly realize this from Han Xuhan''s flat tone and impassive face.


    "As I''ve said before already, the crystal lets one see the consciousness matrix, which is a realm only ghost cultivators have access to."


    "Ghost cultivators...like you?" Han Xuhan said slowly.


    "Yes, like me, like us, natural ghost cultivators. We have an inherent ability to perceive this other realm, this Totality where a certain aspect of all sentient existences resides. We are born with this power, and cultivating on the path of ghosts is how we really tap into the full potential of this ability. Think of the meridians which we need in order to cultivate our physique. For ghost cultivation, this inherent ability is as crucial as a set of working meridians! As without meridians, you cannot become a human cultivator, without the Ghostsight, you cannot become a ghost cultivator!"


    "That is enlightening and all...but I, Han Xuhan, have never been able to see this consciousness matrix Totality before eating your crystal. This inherent ability of natural ghost cultivators you speak of is not inherent in me at all."


    Shangguang Ce chuckled, replying, "that''s because you''re a late bloomer, or your lineage is weak! I''ve read about this phenomenon before. When your inherent ability is suppressed due to internal or external factors, it will take a very long time for the ability to manifest, sometimes even decades! I guess consuming the crystal stimulated your recessive vision and made it rebel against the artificial chemicals trying to take its place. That''s why your original vision was restored so fast and your Ghostsight was suppressed. One of the disadvantages of using the crystal is that the chemicals react only in the presence of powerful influences from the matrix, like the presence of other ghost cultivators, making it suppress a person''s natural sight. In your case, your body naturally revolted against the change! You''re already close to controlling and changing your modes of sight!"


    "I see."


    Han Xuhan''s head became mired so deep in these new revelations that his expression turned even more blank compared to before.


    Shangguang Ce''s explanation was very logical, at least he couldn''t find any gaps in his logic. The phenomenon he had described perfectly lined up with Han Xuhan''s experience after consuming the blue crystal. The second mode of vision, ''Ghostsight'', had indeed taken over his normal vision back when Shangrguang Ce had made his appearance nearby. Similarly, he had seen the vision act up when Tun Shi Tian came near him. Although Tun Shi Tian wasn''t a ghost in the same sense as Shangguang Ce, being a soul locked up in an undead body did fit the traditional concept of a ghostly existence.


    Now, both of his modes of visions were equally perceptible, superimposed over each other, but under his control and focus."


    Unfortunately, Han Xuhan''s paranoia had reached a stage where even the most logically concrete explanation would not escape his suspicion.


    Of all things, a ghost cultivator?


    Really?


    "Oh, I know that look," Shangguang Ce remarked, throwing his hands up in the air. "You don''t need to be this cautious with me. We''re pretty much an extinct branch of cultivators. If I thought of you as an interesting acquaintance before, that status of yours has evolved to the level of family now."


    Han Xuhan maintained a neutral expression and asked a question that had arisen in his mind just now.


    "Brother Ce, was the phenomenon of the shooting star caused by you?"


    Looking put off by his lack of enthusiasm, Shangguang Ce mumbled his answer. "Yes. It was to attract your attention so that I don''t have to look too long for you."


    "With that spectacle, aren''t you afraid that my whole sect will come looking for you?" Han Xuhan asked, finding it rather odd.


    "Haha, that''s the awesomeness of having access to an all-pervasive Totality like the consciousness matrix," Shangguang Ce spread his hands around and laughed cheerfully. "Other than another person with the inherent ability to see this realm, NO ONE CAN PERCEIVE US!"


    Right at that second, Shangguang Ce''s physical body disappeared from Han Xuhan''s original sight.

 Chapter 173: Racist Choice At The Crossroad of Fate

    "You can still see my other form, can you not?" Shanggaung Ce said.


    "...Yes, the colorful form," Han Xuhan answered, taking a few seconds to digest the new development.


    Shangguang Ce''s original body had disappeared, leaving the accompanying form in the Consciousness Matrix behind.


    "Teleportation?" He asked, burning with curiosity.


    "Something like that, yes," Shangguang Ce''s answer came from his ethereal body, sounding quite satisfied with himself.


    Han Xuhan leaned a bit closer for a better look and realized that two extremely thin threads were connecting him and Shangguang Ce at the moment.


    More accurately, the threads were connecting their ''bodies'' in the consciousness matrix. Grey in color, the threads were near imperceptible, mixing in with the rest of the grey threads that surrounded them representing perhaps the air, the micromolecules, and perhaps even the microscopic lifeforms...


    "What are these?" He said, pointing at the two threads.


    "What? The connectors? How do you think I''m communicating with you right now? My physical body is not here to speak for me. And my celestial form does not have the equipment to ''speak'' to an ordinary human. These are extensions of my body, equipped to carry over my words to you, your celestial form. This is the most basic communication method in the circles of ghost cultivators."


    "Celestial form?" Han Xuhan caught onto what seemed to him a very important detail.


    "The colorful form is called our celestial body, the result of cultivating according to the path of ghosts. The first realm of ghost cultivation is much different from the orthodox human cultivation system. In this realm, we learn to use our ghostsight and develop our special constitution which is suitable for traversing the world of the consciousness matrix. At the peak of this realm, we form a complete celestial body, having fully developed our inherent constitution...and become a full-fledged, perfect ghost."


    The target is to become a ghost?


    "Why the hell would I want to be a ghost? I''m fine the way I am right now," Han Xuhan said in a dissatisfied tone.


    "Your celestial form is the aspect that will develop into a ghost, not your current self in this macrocosm. Why the hell would you NOT want to become a ghost?" Shangguang Ce countered.


    "....Well..." Han Xuhan couldn''t refute the argument.


    Indeed, what''s wrong with becoming a ghost anyway? It''s not as if I''ll accomplish much as a regular orthodox cultivator...


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Is that racism I sense?" Shangguang Ce said, sounding displeased. "Damned prejudiced people, always looking for excuses when there are none."


    "Cough...cough. Let''s backtrack a bit, okay? All of this is way too sudden, way too much to handle at once. First of all, you gave me this blue crystal which would let me see your current, celestial body, even if I did not have an inherent ability to perceive the consciousness matrix, correct?"


    "Yes." Shangguang Ce''s colorful silhouette nodded.


    "And then, since I did have the inherent ability-"


    "Yes, the celestial constitution."


    "My body suppressed the chemicals in the crystal. In the meantime, you somehow knew immediately that I''d consumed the crystal and arrived here...flashily."


    "The flashy arrival could be perceived only in the matrix. Your ghostsight was the one that saw the shooting star, which was just a trick my celestial body performed while traversing the matrix. My real body appeared here, of course, but for that, I used a different method."


    "Did your main body come through the spatial cracks?" Han Xuhan inquired doubtfully.


    "Hahaha...not gonna say, at least not right now."


    Sending a narrow-eyed look toward him, Han Xuhan asked the main question troubling him.


    "So, does this change anything? Me being suitable for ghost cultivation and all..."


    "It changes A LOT of things. For starters, it changes my original intention for meeting up with you, brother Mu something."


    "Ah, I remember, you wanted the cultivation technique I practice." Han Xuhan recalled their deal back on the Sunrider Sect''s island.


    "Initially, yes. But now I would like to change the deal into something more meaningful, more beneficial for both of us."


    Finally, things were falling into a template Han Xuhan was familiar with.


    Leaning back, he smiled warmly. "Sure, brother Ce. Do state your proposal."


    After a pregnant pause, Shangguang Ce declared, "actually, my main aim of meeting you was to invite you in a coalition of sorts. You would not need to disclose your real identity there, for safety measures. It''s a partnership union among a diverse bunch of cultivators. We needed someone to represent the northeastern sects, and you were the only cultivator we met in the tournament so far who hails from that territory."


    "How did you figure that out?" Han Xuhan asked, squinting.


    "Uhm- your clothing, language, skin color, sect emblem, skull shape, hair...how many more clues would I need to figure out this much?"


    "......" Han Xuhan was in a bit of shock. He hadn''t considered so many factors before. And more importantly, the Sunrider Sect was technologically so advanced that they could probably go as far as testing biometrics and DNA to identify him accurately.


    This was quite problematic. If the interests of the two of them ever fell into conflict, he would have to bring huge changes to his usual schemes.


    "As I was saying, that was my original intention. But now that I''ve come to know of your special constitution, I think it would be better for you to not join this coalition," Shangguang Ce said, returning back to the topic.


    "Why?"


    "Who would let their infant brother play with a knife?"


    "...I am neither an infant nor your brother," Han Xuhan said in a dull tone.


    "Yes, you are, from the viewpoint of any ghost cultivator, you''re an infant who needs to grow, A LOT. Besides, I told you, there aren''t many of us out there. If a powerful ghost cultivator ever finds out about your constitution, their first instinct would probably be to kidnap you, and brainwash you into thinking that your orthodox cultivation potential is garbage and that you should become a ghost cultivator under their tutelage. Maybe marry their only daughter too while you''re at it and make a big, happy family full of ghost babies."


    "It should''ve been me, not him!" Han Xuhan wailed.


    "....What?"


    "Your life story sure sounds wholesome, brother Ce."


    "Nah, that was my father''s. I''m one of those ghost babies they made."


    "....."


    "Here''s how it''s gonna be. I''ll not attempt any of that. It''s up to you to decide whether you want to become a ghost cultivator or not. I''m sure you can calculate which cultivation method would be better for you, let you reach a higher realm, and extract your full potential.


    I''ll walk you through the future of a ghost cultivator, everything you need to know, and if you feel like becoming one of us, I''ll be more than happy to guide you on to this path, for free.


    All you need to do is just listen, calculate, and compare.


    Which would be more beneficial for you?


    Which cultivation method would you be better at? Which road would you prefer?


    And then, simply state your answer. I won''t interfere or pick sides for you."


    Han Xuhan wanted to laugh. Han Xuhan wanted to laugh real hard.


    Compare his potential in each of the two cultivation methods?


    Compare his future down each road?


    What was there to compare?


    There is only one answer, and the option to choose is but an illusion.


    "No," Han Xuhan said in a tone that left no room for discussion.


    "I do not wish to become a ghost cultivator."

 Chapter 174: Ghosts Come Out At Night

    "...Any particular reason behind this decision, brother?" Shangguang Ce asked, looking caught off guard.


    "Yes. I''m racist. I''d very much hate to be a ghost, wandering around this boring grey-ass totality of yours, haunting latrines and all. Quite a disturbing way to live, if you ask me."


    "......"


    Han Xuhan couldn''t see Shangguang Ce''s expression, as his current form was merely a collective outline of colored threads. But he could sense the sheer offense taken by the other party at his blatantly racist remarks.


    "Are you certain?" Shangguang Ce said in a gloomy tone.


    Han Xuhan slapped himself on the chest in the manliest way possible, pulling his chin up and narrowing his eyes which radiated disdain.


    "The words that I, Han Xuhan, say, carry with them the weight of ten billion suns. Nobody has the guts to take my words back, not even me."


    "Han Xuhan? Southern names are truly odd."


    "Mm, trust me, brother Ce. That''s my real name."


    A tense bout of silence stretched between them. Han Xuhan realized that the sound of the thunderstorm was no longer banging on his eardrums. A glance outside told him that the sky had cleared up at some point, and the moonlight was shining once more.


    "Fine. I shall respect your choice," Shangguang Ce said in the end.


    "Woo, don''t hear that every day." Han Xuhan let out a sniff. Then he recalled the reason Shangguang Ce had come here and asked, "So does this mean we return to our original deal? You know, the one where I receive your Sensing Space Manual while you receive my Skeletal Monarch technique."


    "Alright, I can deliver the manual to you right now. Let''s exchange." Shangguang Ce said hesitantly.


    "Wait for a minute, will you?" Han Xuhan closed his eyes and entered his dao tower.


    Hai Yin Zhe could be seen scurrying around the dome above the tower, whistling and hissing happily.


    "Caught it! I caught it! Hahaha!"


    "What did you catch?" Han Xuhan asked curiously.


    "This picture that looks like me!" Hai Yin Zhe shouted, sounding quite proud of the feat.


    Han Xuhan took a close look and saw that an intimidating-looking law alphabet on the wall was being headbutted by the skeletal snake.


    "When did you return?" he inquired. Little Zhe''s sneaky bypassing ability was getting rather threatening. The snake was too young to understand that it couldn''t always just jump out and make trouble in its summoner''s world.


    Little Zhe ignored him, appearing too excited with the new alphabet-chasing game to care about things so trifling as its Papa''s inquiry.


    Sighing, Han Xuhan canceled Tun Shi Tian and Zhanxian''s summons, calling them back to the dao tower.


    The avatars of both minions popped into existence immediately, each inside their ''apartments'' in the tower.


    "Oye, master, where did you go for so long? I told you tonight''s conditions are too good to let go of! I have a feeling I can break through to the first layer and consolidate qi armor around one of my bones!" Tun Shi Tian fired off a barrage of complaints as soon as he saw Xuhan.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Yeah, I''ve made substantial progress tonight already. But the lightning strikes suddenly started falling on top of the roof and..." Zhanxian did not finish the sentence, inducing a foreboding feeling in Han Xuhan''s heart.


    "I told you lot not to cultivate right now. You didn''t, did you?" He said in a grave tone.


    "I uh...well, little Tian was desperate for a breakthrough, and I couldn''t stop him. So I thought, why should I sit around doing nothing either?"


    "Dammit Zhanxian, you fool!"


    "Is my house still intact?" Han Xuhan shouted in alarm.


    Tun Shi Tian and Zhanxian exchanged a quick look before looking away and stuttering.


    "It''s...mostly fine."


    "Only about one-sixth was damaged."


    "One-sixth of what? The roof?" Han Xuhan growled.


    "The house, one-sixth of the house."


    "....What does that mean?"


    "The four walls around are fine. The floor is fine too. The roof...it is no longer there."


    If Han Xuhan had the ability to exude killing intent, he''d be emitting the aura of a genocidal maniac by now. But sadly, all he could do was stare at the minions for a good ten seconds before recalling his purpose for coming here.


    "There will be a conversation about this, certainly. For now, I have a business to attend to. Tun Shi Tian!"


    "Uh-yes, master?" responded the owl in a sugary tone.


    "Go into my bedroom and open the chest where I keep the scrolls. You know the combination lock. Five waves of qi, followed by three drops of water. Bring the Skeletal Monarch manual to me."


    "Got it, master." Tun Shi Tian gave a salute with its wings, sounding rather relieved.


    Han Xuhan left his dao tower and his consciousness returned to his body. Opening his eyes, he ran a cycle of qi to replenish his reserves while Shangguang Ce quietly observed him. As expected of a creepy ghost.


    Tun Shi Tian was summoned soon. The bird sped out of the cave, totally ignoring the fact that there was a human made up of rainbows standing five feet away, as if his existence was completely beyond the owl''s perception.


    Han Xuhan was impressed, mighty impressed.


    All the ghost stories he had heard in his life sort of made sense now. No wonder ghosts are able to bypass all restrictions and perceptions. The only stories where anybody survived the haunting of ghosts were those where a powerful cultivator was involved.


    "The bird will be returning with the manual. But where''s the manual you promised?" He asked Shangguang Ce.


    Since Shangguang Ce''s main body was not here, how would he exchange the manuals? With this...illusory body?


    "Watch," Shangguang Ce said lightly.


    Under Han Xuhan''s widening eyes, Shangguang Ce''s main body materialized once more, filling up the exact outline of his celestial body.


    In his hands, a scroll was clutched tightly.


    "Hehehe." Shanggaung Ce seemed to be enjoying Han Xuhan''s astonishment.


    "So that''s how your physical body snuck into my sect the first time! Your celestial body helps your physical body teleport!" He exclaimed, the clues finally clicking together in his mind.


    "I''m beginning to miss that dumbass persona of yours," Shangguang Ce remarked with a sigh.


    "Here you go. Check it before you take it."


    Han Xuhan took the scroll from his hand and gave it a cursory look. It was indeed the same Sensing Space manual written by Han Fei, just as he could recall.


    "Oh look, your bird is here."


    Han Xuhan looked up at Shangguang Ce''s words and saw Tun Shi Tian diving into the cave skillfully, carrying a scroll with him.


    "That''s your manual. See if it satisfies you; we can close this bargain that way, and everyone goes home happy."


    Shangguang Ce opened the scroll and went through the content speedily.


    "This is a copy, definitely not the main manual," he mused pointedly.


    Tun Shi Tian whipped around, glancing at Han Xuhan in surprise.


    "What? Did you assume I would give away the main copy? What am I going to show to the sect if an elder wishes to examine my technique?"


    "Fair enough." Shangguang Ce shrugged. "But how do I know you haven''t changed any of the details here? It''s not like I can check the main source to authenticate this."


    "Same goes for this, does it not?" Han Xuhan shook Shangguang Ce''s scroll in his face emphatically.


    "Indeed. Guess we must simply trust each other''s integrity." Shangguang Ce looked troubled.


    "You can always put one hundred percent trust in my words, brother Ce," Han Xuhan said with another chest-slap. "It is me who is taking the greater risk, trusting a suspicious, unreliable fellow like you. I still remember the last time when you tricked me into saving your ass from the flood."


    "...Alright, I shall choose to trust you...a ghost cultivator to another ghost cultivator."


    "Having a suitable constitution for ghost cultivation doesn''t make me a ghost cultivator," Han Xuhan said insistently.


    "Well, you can always end up changing your mind. My people will accept you with open arms. I hope you understand my position here. We''re kind of desperate for new blood."


    Han Xuhan snorted. "That makes me even more unwilling to join you people. By the way, when is my sight going to recover? Or am I going to end up seeing these double images for the rest of my life?"


    Shangguang Ce scratched his head, suddenly looking awkward.


    "To be honest, I''m not sure. The records where situations like yours are discussed are pretty vague about the long-term effects. Why are you complaining though? You''ve already learned how to ignore the Ghostsight when necessary. It''s no different from having your normal vision active all the time right now."


    "What''s the expiry date of the chemicals?" Han Xuhan asked, trying his best to sound angry. He was not quite successful at that. After all, this ghostsight mode was too fascinating. A whole new world had been opened up all around him via this new mode of vision. Seeing ghosts was not an ability anyone could look down upon. Hell, most mortals didn''t fully believe in ghosts unless they had had some first-hand experience.


    "Well, the expiry date of the crystal itself has almost ten more years to go. But in a decomposed state inside your body...I don''t know. It is likely to be shortened. But I doubt you''d need that long.


    The Heavenly tribulation at the end of the Physique Transformation Realm will reconstruct your body. All such external impurities will be expelled completely. That''s a much better option than waiting for the crystal''s expiry period."


    "Makes sense," Han Xuhan agreed. "Then, let us part ways, brother Ce."


    Standing up, he put a hand forward.


    Shangguang Ce seemed puzzled at first, but he figured it out faster than Han Xuhan expected and shook his hand with a thoughtful expression on his face.


    "How would we contact each other again, if ever necessary?" Han Xuhan raised a question as he walked out of the cave.


    "Oh don''t worry about that. My Celestial body makes rounds around this archipelago every night, checking up on the sects I find interesting. If you need me for something, leave a note in this cave. I''ll drop by regularly."


    "Damned creeps!"


    Han Xuhan''s fascination with ghost cultivators was growing with great momentum.

 Chapter 175: Everyone Is A Scheming MC These Days

    "Remember, aside from that manual, you agreed to do me a favor as well!" Shangguang Ce yelled from behind.


    "What? I can''t hear you!" Han Xuhan yelled back as he sped away faster than the wind, not letting the conversation lengthen anymore. He had indeed promised that guy an extra favor for the exchange deal back during their second meeting in the Sunrider Sect, but he hadn''t expected him to follow through with the deal so simply.


    As Han Xuhan, accompanied by his undead minion, vanished from Shangguang Ce''s sight, the young man walked out of the cave in a slow, lazy gait.


    "Interesting sect. Very interesting. They clearly know that I''m here, yet take no steps to stop me..." Shangguang Ce''s eyes moved towards a certain peak, quite far away and nearly invisible in the night.


    "Tsk, you sneaky bastard." He muttered to himself in a low voice right before his body vanished into thin air and appeared hundreds of meters away, in the middle of nowhere with only the ocean bellowing just below his feet.


    For half a second, his body hung in the air before falling down, dragged by gravity. Yet it never hit the sea, disappearing once more a few feet above the surface of the water.


    Swimming through the void, Shangguang Ce reappeared above the floating island of the Sunrider Sect, falling toward the familiar crystal castle, his current home.


    Hong Wei had been waiting for him below, probably tracking the movement of the spatial crack he so frequently used.


    "When are you beginning his lessons?" She said the moment he landed.


    "He...did not agree," Shangguang Ce answered, still not able to fully believe it himself.


    "What?" Hong Wei appeared as stunned as he himself was. "That makes no sense! Elder Peng Six''s sample analysis clearly shows that that guy is about to cripple himself any moment now! His meridians are on their last leg! Why would he refuse to become a ghost cultivator now?"


    Shangguang Ce sniffed. "He says it''s because he''s racist towards ghosts."


    "?!?!?"


    "He said that, not me." Shangguang Ce shrugged.


    "And you believed him?"


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Not really, but what else was I supposed to do? He clearly has some reasons not to join our ranks, and he would not tell me. I can''t just beat the answer out of him, can I? At least not on the first meeting! It took a painstaking effort to create a decent impression of us ghost cultivators in front of him. I''m not going to ruin it the moment our interests come into conflict."


    "That was a peak Essence Assimilation Organism Core you handed him! That cost me my entire credit card! All of that gone, and this is the result?!" Hong Wei kicked a small stone nearby hard enough to reduce it to sand.


    "One of your credit cards, usable only in the Purpleheart Galaxy. Calm down, this isn''t something to be so upset about!" Shangguang Ce said as he began to saunter towards the gate of the castle, completely unaffected by her anger.


    "Next time use your own damn money-"


    "I''m not talking about the money," Shangguang Ce hastily explained, breaking out with sweat. "Think about it. This Han Xuhan-"


    "That''s his name?"


    "...Something like that, maybe, I can''t say for sure. Anyway, Han Xuhan, is actually a bit more cautious than we had initially assumed. That''s a good thing for us if you consider the bigger picture here."


    Hong Wei''s temper instantly cooled down as the realization struck her.


    "You''re saying that...he might have guessed that the whole crystal thing was a ploy for something else?"


    Shangguang Ce looked thoughtful as he stared blankly into the distant sky. A second later, a cheerful smile bloomed on his face.


    "Might have? Ahaha! hahaha!"


    "Mind explaining why you''re laughing like a sore loser, martial brother?" Hong Wei said, face sour.


    "I did put some thought into analyzing the logical explanation behind his actions, and I suddenly understood that we''ve made a mistake in the ploy." Shangguang Ce sighed.


    "It''s not that he was too smart to bite the bait, but that we were too hasty in arranging the bait. By putting myself in his shoes, I realize that Han Xuhan had two options in front of him- and they were not about choosing to be a ghost cultivator or not choosing so.


    "His options were to trust me fully, blindly, accepting my offer; or to wait and watch how I react to his denial of my offer. He knows that he doesn''t have much time left before he becomes a cripple. He must have searched for a cure, a remedy, for a while at least. Suddenly, a random acquaintance he met in this foreign place offers him exactly what he needs with no conditions attached...That''s too much of a coincidence."


    Hong Wei digested the explanation and harrumphed. "You should''ve just told him that we know of his condition and we can help him. After all, he won''t need to rely on his meridians at all if he reaches the Essence Severance Realm as a full-fledged ghost cultivator."


    "I have a feeling that that would backfire even more terribly. No cultivator appreciates their secrets being peeped on. He would become even warier of us. This is actually a good outcome. He will still be a good acquaintance of ours. We can develop our friendship and once he''s desperate, he will realize that we are his only option left."


    "But did you explain to him that being a ghost cultivator means he doesn''t necessarily have to become a cripple?" Hong Wei asked. "How else would he know that it''s the only path left for him?"


    Shangguang Ce smiled even more deviously.


    "Do you think he would simply believe that? If we need to make him trust us, we will have to share some of the downsides of being a ghost cultivator. The process needs to be slow, deliberate and well-planned. Once he is certain that we are no longer trying to desperately recruit him...that''s when we tell him that he still has a chance to become a powerful cultivator. At that time, I believe he will not think I''m trying to manipulate him into making him a new prey for the Celestial Armour Galaxy."


    Hong Wei snorted. "With Han Fei''s precious manual in hand, and as an owner of an artificial Celestial Constitution, he''s a target for a good number of people already. I honestly don''t like how badly you''ve screwed this guy over. I don''t get why youre so fixated on trying to recruit him."


    "It''s not like I can find another guy here who has a recessive Celestial Constitution, can I?"


    "A condition which is nowhere near enough to let him become a ghost cultivator. That crystal just filled up a huge chasm of the missing parts of the constitution. Besides, who said we need a ghost cultivator? Any decent talent from one of the top sects would be as good as one anyway."


    "Hey, you haven''t taken a liking to him, have you? The martial sister I know isn''t this compassionate." Shangguang Ce threw her a dirty grin.


    "Ughh...I''m trying to cultivate some humanity in me just like you asked!" Hong Wei displayed a disgruntled expression as she wandered off into one of the tunnels of the Castle, leaving Shangguang Ce behind.


    Watching her back, the dirty smile on Shangguang Ce''s face became even more pronounced.

 Chapter 176: Count Them With These Nuts

    "Where the fuck am I supposed to live now?" Han Xuhan shouted to the two cowering minions. "Why is it too much to ask for a simple instruction to be heeded properly? Seems like I''ve been a bit too tolerant of your numerous instances of misconduct ever since I summoned you!"


    Zhanxian occasionally sent Tun Shi Tian gloomy glances amidst the beratement, as he had been persuaded by the owl to continue cultivating under the thunderstorm.


    "Just you wait, I promise you will regret this, especially you, little Tian."


    Temples twitching, Han Xuhan growled curses under his breath as he salvaged the pricey stuff from the ruined house. He had hidden a considerable amount of resources, money, and equipment inside several secret slots in his ceiling and floor. The walls were still intact, although appearing rather delicate from all the cracks and burns on them.


    "Take these boxes to Mu Ran''s house and tell him to store these safely for the next few days. We can''t keep these out in the open if a big flood hits us again."


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian rushed to pick up the boxes he handed them, seeming eager to get away from the ''crime site'' as fast as possible.


    "I''ll be heading to Xiao Wu''s home. Tell him that before returning."


    After they had left, Han Xuhan pocketed the most valuable manuals and gathered his vast wealth in a rice bag, and headed toward Xiao Wu''s house.


    While he did not mind storing his treasures under Mu Ran''s care, living with that lazy asshole would be a nightmare.


    Han Xuhan did not want to spend the next few days attending to Mu Ran''s smallest whims, doing his chores and helping him practice his qi manipulation skills. His life was on the line here in the tournament.


    Knocking on someone''s door after midnight is bound to arouse some unwarranted suspicion and hostility. Xiao Wu opened the door quite fast, but had his arms ready to deliver vicious slashes with his sharp knives. Even after seeing Han Xuhan, his hostility didn''t quite go down.


    "How many martial sisters do you have?" He asked in a resolute tone.


    What was this? A Password?


    Huh, probably to filter out tricky intruders from other sects. Not bad, not bad at all.


    Han Xuhan scratched his head and answered, "Originally there was only one whom we could call a sister, and now there is still only one."


    "Come in," Xiao Wu said, exhaling in relief.


    If the intruder is unprepared, they''ll take a guess and say a random number to try their luck.


    If the intruder is prepared, they''ll say the answer is just one sister.


    If it is someone with some sort of mind-reading powers, they would answer that there had been three martial sisters before they changed teachers. And now there is only one, Yuen Zhou.


    However, only Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu would have the tacit agreement to treat the other two martial sisters of theirs as non-existent people they''d happily ignore.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Han Xuhan followed him inside and carefully placed the bag down, sitting beside it himself to relieve the stress this night had brought him.


    "Did your house get attacked?" Xiao Wu said, cautiously looking out through the window. "I didn''t hear-"


    "No. That thunderstorm...hit my roof till it broke down."


    Xiao Wu gasped. "It could do that?! Shit!"


    "Not necessarily, it only seeks you out if you try to cultivate under it. Probably has got something to do with the heavenly energy we harness during breakthroughs."


    "Are you okay?" Xiao Wu said in concern.


    "I''m fine. It wasn''t me who cultivated under it. It was the damned minions."


    "...Oh!" Xiao Wu seemed stupefied. "...Well, we can share this house until the tournament is over. What''s in the bag? If it''s clothes, put it on that shelf over ther-"


    "Money."


    "What?"


    "The bag. Inside, it''s all spirit stones and jade cards."


    Xiao Wu''s mouth fell open as he took a second look at the bag.


    "Jade cards? The five-hundred spirit stones per piece, handcrafted bonds?!"


    "Yes," Han Xuhan confirmed, taking one card out of the bag and throwing it to him. "It''s hard to hide thousands of spirit stones in my pockets. Figured I should cut out some weight. Elder Shen was glad to help."


    "Doesn''t these have a conversation rate of 97 percent or something? You''d make a loss of dozens of spirit stones every time you exchange these cards." Xiao Wu looked apoplectic.


    "Dozens of spirit stones isn''t much now, is it?"


    "... Don''t make me want to kick you out, man."


    Han Xuhan laughed dryly.


    Right then, there was another knock on Xiao Wu''s door.


    "Who is it this time?" Xiao Wu became alert, picking up the knives once more.


    "My minions," Han Xuhan said, getting up to open the door himself.


    Mu Ran was standing outside the door wearing an awkward smile on his face. Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian were standing behind him, still carrying the boxes.


    "Ahaha, underling, looks like all of us are gonna have to share this house!" Mu Ran said with a forced laugh.


    "How do you count the number of people who know about the zeroth layer?" Han Xuhan asked Mu Ran before Xiao Wu could fire away his own question. He was pretty confident that only the real Mu Ran could give him the correct answer.


    "With my balls," Mu Ran replied with absolute confidence.


    Right on the mark. Before Mu Ran had given Han Xuhan the secret instructions on cultivating the zeroth layer, Mu Ran used his dick to keep count of the number of people who knew the secret. With Han Xuhan added to the equation, the counter had moved to his balls.


    "What happened to your house, boss?" He asked with a heavy smile, letting Mu Ran in. "You two, go keep the boxes in sister Zhou''s house," he ordered the minions still standing outside.


    Tun Shi Tian and Zhanxian grumbled in low voices as they left.


    "My house was hit by the lightning strikes while I was breaking through, same as your misfortune."


    "...Breakthrough?!" Xiao Wu gasped.


    "To which layer?" Han Xuhan asked.


    Mu Ran''s expression turned rather hard to read as replied. "Uh...it was a breakthrough from the 5th layer to the 6th layer."


    "You said the same thing the last time you broke through," Xiao Wu muttered under his breath.


    "Oh, did I? I must have misspoken."


    "Misspoken? When? This time or the previous time?"


    "That was a really cool thunderstorm, don''t you think?" Mu Ran said loudly, furiously prodding at his ear with his middle finger in a very pointed manner.


    "...Sure, brother," Xiao Wu put his hands up in defeat and shrugged. "Make yourself at home," he added, in a tone distinctly less welcoming than the one he used with Han Xuhan.


    Mu Ran did not notice, or if he did, he did not show it, which was a good thing because Han Xuhan doubted he would be allowed to crash in either Kong Ye or Yuen Zhou''s house.


    Throwing his baggage on top of Xiao Wu''s bed, Mu Ran stretched his limbs and let out a refreshed yawn, exclaiming, "Martial brother...your bed is kind of tiny. Do you make your ladies sleep on the floor?"


    "I... What?" Xiao Wu looked lost. "Well, I don''t really brin-"


    "Hahaha! Look at Brother Wu''s chest!" Han Xuhan butted in before the situation could deteriorate further, slapping Xiao Wu''s meaty pecs hard.


    "Do you think the ladies he brings in would ever want to sleep elsewhere when THIS is available?"


    Xiao Wu wore the expression of someone who was torn between pain and appreciation upon hearing that.


    Mu Ran sent a disgruntled look towards Xiao Wu''s towering figure and then at his own passable physique.


    "I see, I see. But I''m not quite keen on sleeping there, so...Where do I sleep?"


    "Ahaha, that is a simple problem to take care of. We obviously need to keep a watch outside for signs of trouble. So we can divide the nighttime into 3 shifts, where each of us will be on guard duty in one shift, cultivate in the next shift, and sleep in the remaining shift. Easy!"


    Han Xuhan went through great pains to maintain the cheerful smile on his face as he explained the routine.


    "Awesome plan, underling!" Mu Ran beamed. "This way I won''t have to share the bed at all!


    I was planning to feed you two some pills to make you lose all sleep for the next few days and nights. Looks like that won''t be necessary! Good for you, good for you. Those pills have some severe side effects, after all. Man, I really need to develop my alchemy skills more. Alright, I''m claiming the bed for this shift, so NIGHT NIGHT!"


    As Mu Ran busied himself with getting into his strange-looking nightwear (which definitely was a treasure of some sort), Han Xuhan dragged an extremely pissed Xiao Wu out of the room.


    "Let him have this, martial brother. He just came out of a tribulation."


    "That''s no excuse to act like this!" Xiao Wu hissed.


    "Yeah, I''m pretty sure he always acts like this. You just don''t hang around him as often as I do," Han Xuhan said.


    "Nobody does, man. Nobody does."


    As the two of them sat on the porch to cool their temper, Han Xuhan''s mind was already moving like a tornado.


    A wild business scheme had delivered itself to his doorstep...well, Xiao Wu''s doorstep, technically. But he was the only one who could make use of it!


    Pills!

 Chapter 177: Ready To Slaughter

    "Did sister Zhou say anything?" Han Xuhan asked his two minions who had just returned back to Xiao Wu''s house.


    "She told us to deliver this to you." Zhanxian handed over a small, folded piece of paper.


    As Han Xuhan leaned forward to take the letter from Zhanxian, he noticed a detail for the first time since he had gained his second sight.


    Zhanxian''s middle finger''s distal phalanx, the starting point of the minion''s bone cultivation, did not quite match the rest of his body according to his ghostsight.


    Similar to Tun Shi Tian, Zhanxian''s body was neither full of colors, nor a disjointed mess of threads resembling childish scribbles. Both minions'' celestial body was made up of neatly organized, bundled-up lines that collectively created an outline perfectly mirroring the minions'' physical bodies.


    But now, upon closer inspection, Zhanxian''s middle finger appeared to be different from the rest of his body. Among the numerous grey threads that jointly created this finger bone, there were many black threads.


    Han Xuhan recognized the shade of these black threads, mainly because this same color was all around him.


    This black color was the exact shade that he could see in the plants everywhere.


    From his observations so far, the celestial body of living beings was invariably made up of organized bundles of colorful threads, which created a rainbow-like silhouette.


    In the case of plants, however, there were only two types of threads- grey and black.


    Logically speaking, the grey color was quite possibly the color that represented ''lifelessness'' in the Consciousness Matrix... In other words, the grey threads symbolized the lack of consciousness.


    But plants were conscious organisms. In that case, the black threads were very likely to symbolize the consciousness of the plants.


    But Tun Shi Tian was an undead. He had a consciousness, but it was an unnatural consciousness, detached from this body which was merely an artificial vessel Han Xuhan had made for the bird.


    As an existence standing between the boundaries of life and death, it was logical for Tun Shi Tian''s body to not contain all the attributes of a living organism. The bird''s celestial body was indeed made up of organized threads, but it was entirely grey, a perfect fusion between the living and the dead.


    So, what did the fact of Zhanxian''s finger containing black threads signify?


    That Zhanxian was turning into a tree?


    Not a likely conclusion.


    What could it be?


    Right then, Han Xuhan recalled the growing influence of his minions on his dao tower.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Oh.


    Oooh!


    Ooooh Shit!


    Could this possibly mean that once Zhanxian''s entire body turned black, he would become a real living entity separate from Han Xuhan, outside his control?


    The distal phalanx bone carried around it the qi armor Zhanxian had cultivated. To reach the second layer of the physique transformation realm, Zhanxian would have to cover the rest of the fingers in that hand, as well as the palm; at least that was what the manual stated.


    So far, Zhanxian had managed to cover three more fingers with qi armor. But these fingers did not display any black threads in his celestial body. Why?


    If his speculations were correct, it was because Zhanxian hadn''t completed his second layer cultivation yet. Once completed, the rest of the fingers as well as the palm would display more black threads.


    Everything is so intricately connected!


    Interesting! Very interesting!


    Han Xuhan made a mental note to run some experiments on the minions while he opened the letter from Yuen Zhou. Xiao Wu leaned over to take a peek, making Han Xuhan recall that the letter might contain sensitive information.


    "This might not be for your eyes, brother Wu. Don''t be nosy."


    "Oh? You and sister Zhou are exchanging secret letters now, eh?" Xiao Wu said, his white teeth flashing.


    "Hehehe! Letters aren''t the only secret thing we are exchanging," Han Xuhan said shamelessly.


    Xiao Wu, about to make another snide, teasing comment, froze. "Wh-wait, seriously?!"


    Han Xuhan smiled like a shark as he silently read the letter, ignoring Xiao Wu''s shock.


    Send your third minion here for some preliminary lessons before Master begins our class tomorrow. I hope you''ve made some progress on your part of the deal.


    By the way, congratulations in advance for your second minion.


    Congratulations in advance?


    For what? What was she talking about?


    Han Xuhan''s eyes fell on Tun Shi Tian''s claws, where he had helped the owl create the first fragment of its qi armor according to the instructions of the Spiritual Bones technique.


    He needed only a glance to determine the changes made in the size of the armor just tonight; it was truly prominent.


    In just half a night of cultivation, the qi armor over Tun Shi Tian''s right claw had reached 90 percent completion from 60 percent.


    Han Xuhan''s eyes flicked towards Zhanxian''s hand sharply, examining the armored fingers once more, this time more critically.


    Indeed, even Zhanxian''s progression had advanced by more than 10 percent in this short timeframe. He hadn''t noticed it only because Zhanxian''s armor was already much more expansive in size compared to Tun Shi Tian, hence rendering the changes less eye-catching.


    Good. Very good. Tun Shi Tian was about to step into the path of a real cultivator as well. The Stronger the meat shields, the safer the commander.


    But what effect would this have on his dao tower?


    Han Xuhan''s delight disappeared instantly.


    Thinking for a few seconds, he decided to push back Tun Shi Tian''s breakthrough a few days. Until he could comprehend the practice and effects of Kong Ye''s astral columns, it would be prudent not to damage his dao tower further.


    But one thing could not be postponed. If he wanted Hai Yin Zhe to become a cultivator under Kong Ye and Yuen Zhou''s tutelage, the little snake needed the most important tool to utilize the opportunity.


    Hai Yin Zhe, like any other ordinary snake skeleton, did not have a body that could sustain qi. So the most critical problem he had to take care of right now was to push the snake towards the path of artificial cultivators first, just like his other two minions.


    Funnily enough, the source of his artificial cultivation method was Yuen Zhou herself, little Zhe''s soon-to-be teacher...


    Han Xuhan was very interested in seeing how she was going to handle the snake''s cultivation method. Surely, she might just let drop a hint or two regarding artificial cultivation at some point, knowingly or carelessly.


    This was Han Xuhan''s second scheme, hidden inside his first strategy to make use of Yuen Zhou''s gifts.


    She was smart enough to see through it, of course. But was she patient enough to deal with a toddler without resorting to some shortcuts?


    If Yuen Zhou tried to make little Zhe an efficient cultivator, she would have to sacrifice some precious information about artificial cultivation that was still unknown to Han Xuhan.


    "Tun Shi Tian," he called.


    "Yes, master?"


    "Here''s a qi crystal. Try to see how much progress you can make by tonight. But if you get close to completing the full 100 percent of the qi armor on your claw, stop right before breaking through."


    Tun Shi Tian sent a hesitant look at the sky. "The favorable condition seems to be gone. I haven''t been able to sense the awesome feeling anymore since the storm disappeared."


    "I''m aware of that. Do what youre told."


    "Alright, as you wish."


    Tun Shi Tian''s behavior right now was the very epitome of obedience and flexibility!


    As the bird received the crystal and left for Xiao Wu''s backyard, Han Xuhan gestured toward Zhanxian.


    "Monitor the owl. If he tries to break through to the second layer of the physique transformation realm without informing me...interrupt it."


    The whispered command made Zhanxian shudder.


    Interrupting someone''s breakthrough was one of the vilest crimes a cultivate could commit against his peers! And their master clearly told him to do exactly that to his second minion!


    What did this mean?


    The master''s fury has long surpassed its limits! He was ready to kill!


    Zhanxian internally swore to never step outside Han Xuhan''s orders for the next few weeks at least as he nodded meekly and followed Tun Shi Tian''s tail.

 Chapter 178: A Game Of Calculated Damage

    He needed an answer, desperately, but not now.


    It has been decades since the last time Li Qi found himself in a situation so troubling as this.


    On one side, he needed to take care of the girl who was very likely to be chosen as a direct disciple of the monarch. His orders were clear:


    Convince her to accept the offer by enlightening her on her true potential, but do not resort to force. When she agrees, bring her to the founding planet as an ordinary core disciple under your tutelage, master Qi.


    This had been the message from the monarch, and so far Li Qi had not been able to accomplish the very first of his task, to convince the girl.


    Unlike what the monarch had assumed, the girl hadn''t appeared delighted by the prospect of being recruited to the Jade Forest as a core disciple.


    "Whatever this true potential of mine may be, my heart desires to pursue the end of the road I walk right now. Your promise, sir, is grander than what I can imagine, but I seek simply the fulfillment of what I can imagine. Once that is accomplished, I''ll happily follow you to your sect."


    Her answer to his offer had made things difficult for him.


    Yuen Zhou was a bit of an oddity for someone so young. But that was one of the reasons why the monarch had expressed his interest, so Li Qi could not fault her outlook.


    But their time was running out. The Lightbreaker on the seventh planet of this solar system was almost ready to be assembled. This planet would hardly be safe after it was used. The injured Li Qi would be discovered in the first raid.


    Yuen Zhou''s dream to reach the pinnacle of her current cultivation technique was going to be nipped in the bud by the time the second or third wave of the aftermath hits this planet.


    "Shall I tell her?" Li Qi seriously considered the question.


    But his understanding of Yuen Zhou''s character was enough to let him predict her reaction to his warning.


    She would not believe him, and rather, would completely lose the trust he had managed to consolidate in her heart already.


    The monarch''s last message had set off a storm in Li Qi''s heart. If Lord Crimsontide had truly managed to escape, the current era of peace, the status quo among the giant factions and clans might be overturned brutally. The seeds of the first cosmic war since the Great Sundering were ready to bloom. Lord Crimsontide could trigger the final spark so simply as by just existing outside his prison.


    On another side, the damages caused by his injury would grow more fatal if he continued to stay in this place without proper medical care. To understand the root of the problem, Li Qi knew that he needed to grab the boy called Han Xuhan and take him back to his planet where the facilities were good enough to unearth what went wrong during his attack on the boy''s soul.


    But this boy was a close friend of Yuen Zhou. She was depending on him to deliver the weight allotment map of their transportation spell. Earlier, this meant nothing to him. He hadn''t even known why she wanted the map. But now...


    Her plan might just save both of their skin easily. Li Qi wanted the map even more than she did, now. Several times, he had considered robbing the map from the sect master''s residence. Each time he had given up after weighing the pros and cons.


    It was not a particularly difficult task for him to snatch the map. It was, however, difficult to hide the fact that someone far above the power level of anybody in this sect had taken the map. At least he would not be able to hide it from the perceptive sect master whose background spelled trouble.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Xuan Zi would know immediately. And he would definitely alert the factions opposing the monarch. The neutral territory rule was inviolable, at least that was the ideal every faction maintained publicly. Li Qi''s entry here could not be brought to light, or it would bring a disaster to the monarch''s faction, as well as Li Qi''s entire clan.


    For now, Li Qi chose to wait till the end of this tournament these sects were participating in. The entirety of Yuen Zhou''s plans were not clear to him. But he could believe that she wanted to earn a big boost to her cultivation.


    It didn''t matter. His own plan was simple enough to execute if the circumstances the girl had predicted came true.


    "Han Xuhan...let me see your capability." Li Qi awaited in his new hiding place, a small cavity inside one of the giant rocks that formed the core of the floating island of Crimson Snow Sect.


    * * * *


    "Hey, seriously, what''s going on between you and sister Zhou?" Xiao Wu nagged at Han Xuhan''s back once more as Zhanxian rushed to his backyard. Han Xuhan produced another one of his mysterious, annoying laughs and decided not to torment him further.


    "Nothing. She''s a business partner. Of course she''d be in touch with me regularly. What got you so worked up? Don''t tell me you''ve taken a fancy to martial sister...."


    "Oh no, I was just worried that I''d be the only single dog left on this mountain peak. I''m okay with being a loser, but I can not bear to be the only remaining loser! It''s relieving to hear that''s not the case."


    "....." Han Xuhan felt hurt. His own martial brother was rooting for him to live as a single dog! This unforgiving world of cultivation has truly molded these children into ruthless devils.


    "Papa! Uncle Wooo! I wanna play peek-a-boo!"


    Hai Yin Zhe popped out of Xuhan''s right sleeve and sprung toward Xiao Wu''s face like a coiled arrow.


    As a cultivator at the peak of the fifth layer, Xiao Wu had the reflexes to slap the spine off little Zhe''s body mid-flight, and he also had the mental dexterity to NOT do that in a panic.


    Hai Yin Zhe splattered on Xiao Wu''s torso and bit on his collar with his mouth in order to not fall off. Xiao Wu gingerly put his arms below the snake''s body as a safer landing space.


    "Peek-a-boo? Hah! I''ve got a new, better game in mind today, little Zhe. Come on, come on!"


    Han Xuhan gestured at Xiao Wu to carry little Zhe over to a large rock nearby while he sprinted back into the house to get the necessary equipment for the ''game''.


    Little Zhe squirmed around in Xiao Wu''s embrace, hissing and squealing in excitement. The little one loved anything that carried the adjective ''new''.


    "Okay, to play this game, first we need to put some makeup on you!" Han Xuhan said in a sugary voice as soon as he returned outside and saw Xiao Wu placing little Zhe on top of the rock. Carrying a small pouch that was producing clinking sounds, he rushed over.


    "Makeup?" Little Zhe repeated after him, probably wondering what the word meant.


    "What kind of game is this?" Xiao Wu asked suspiciously. Like any ordinary sane man, he had no knowledge of any game that required a snake in makeup.


    "The best kind, of course," Han Xuhan said soothingly, patting the restless snake on the back. Then he took out a tiny needle from the pouch.


    "Face down, ass up- I mean, face down, tail up, little Zhe!"


    "....." Xiao Wu looked lost as little Zhe obediently followed the order.


    "Hmm, first the tip," Han Xuhan muttered as he cautiously grabbed the tip of the snake''s tailbone and observed his own handiwork. It had been just weeks ago when he had been putting his heart and soul behind the construction of this tailbone.


    "Brother Wu, hold the tail here, just an inch or two below the tip," he directed the thick-fingered youth as he took out the second piece of equipment, a very small hammer.


    "You''re trying to create those dents you put on Zhanxian and little Tian, aren''t you?" Xiao Wu said, gripping the tail and steadying his hold.


    "Correct."


    TING!


    The first blow landed on the needle, driving its other end past the tip of little Zhe''s tail and creating a groove wide enough to fit a hair.


    Xiao Wu''s eyes widened as he noticed a flash of blue in the impact zone.


    "Qi? Why is there qi in its tail?" Xiao Wu enquired in surprise.


    "The qi is in the needle. It''s my qi," Han Xuhan answered, landing the second slam without hesitation.


    TING!


    "This needle...is this a treasure of some sort?"


    "Not exactly a treasure. It''s from the Snow Thread Mountain Peak. They invented a mechanism to make their needle-weaving skills more efficient and cost-effective. Some of them even use modified versions of this as their weapons."


    "What''s the mechanism?" Xiao Wu''s curiosity was palpable.


    "There are some sorts of complicated arrays and whatnot inside the body of the needle. Don''t ask me how they work, I''d like to know, but they don''t like to tell.


    Basically, the qi that is passed into the needle carries the property of glue when it comes out through the other end and fixes any of the unintended damage done to the target surface so long as you direct the flow of the qi with your mind, just like controlling normal qi.


    In this case, little Zhe''s bones are too tiny and brittle to sustain the grooves I''ll be putting there. This needle constantly fortifies the sides of the groove with the displaced fragments of the bone, creating very stable grooves.


    I faced the same trouble with Tun Shi Tian, whose bones are mostly hollow and very light. Good thing I had the idea to ask around for tools that might help. Found it easily."


    TING! TING! TING!


    His explanation went alongside his work. Little Zhe had already grown impatient, it seemed, as the rest of her body began to squirm around. This was going to be a tiring task even with the extremely useful magical instrument.


    "Whoa!" Xiao Wu exclaimed. "This mechanism


    sounds too unorthodox to be implemented in weapons! I need to see how they fight!"


    "Yeah, me too. Guess we''ll see soon. This is a tournament we''re in right now, after all."


    "I almost forgot that." Xiao Wu chuckled. "By the way, how much did this needle cost? I could use that. My clothes need to be patched up pretty often and my mother isn''t here to do it...." he trailed off, looking awkward.


    "Three hundred spirit stones," Han Xuhan answered bluntly.


    TING!


    "Forget I ever asked." Xiao Wu''s awkwardness was overshadowed by frustration.


    "Aiya~ what can I say, I''m okay with being a loser, but at least I can afford the things I need." Han Xuhan exacted his revenge viciously, mercilessly.

 Chapter 179: Tricking Children To Become An Overlord

    The ''science'' behind the artificial qi circulation system was a field that had been oversaturated with all sorts of wild experiments, conducted by desperate cripples and retarded mortals alike. At least that''s the impression Han Xuhan had gotten from the manual''s extremely arbitrary use of logic to justify sets of actions that did not quite line up according to any single orthodoxy''s ideologies.


    From regular cultivators, the creator of this technique had borrowed methods of dividing a technique into layers and the reliance on qi circulation as the source of all power.


    From the monks who practiced loosely religious scriptures, the creator of this technique had borrowed the principles of methodical purification of oneself, physically and mentally. However, this aspect of the technique was flawed, which resulted in great damage to his body and subsequently a tragic death.


    The manual also referred to several other obscure schools of thoughts that Han Xuhan didn''t have much idea about. But it was clear that the principles borrowed from these schools were too esoteric to be understood by someone at his level. And due to the demonic nature of the manual, coupled with its history, Han Xuhan didn''t have the guts to openly ask his teachers for help in comprehending this technique.


    Maybe he had a chance now, with Kong Ye being so tolerant of his little schemes so far...


    One of the most fascinating and difficult problems tackled in the manual was the relationship of qi with meridians, a prime objective that the author wished to explore properly. Research had apparently shown that the ability of a cultivator to control qi did not exist solely due to the existence of the meridians in his body. It was the cultivator''s inherent, inborn quality, influenced by bloodlines, mutations, and factors beyond the normal human''s understanding. Meridians were only the most important tool required to channel this talent. But it was indeed possible to influence qi by talent alone, however weak and useless the degree of influence may be.


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian had this talent, but not the tool to utilize it. Han Xuhan had given them a close substitute, their artificial qi pathways. Unlike Xuhan and his fellow disciples who had to learn to sense qi via breathing exercises, the undead minions had a natural affinity with qi due to their physique literally being shaped by qi.


    Another theory was taken out directly from famous texts on practical cultivation. Any cultivator from a bare basic sect would know this theory and its use.


    The degree of influence a cultivator would be able to exert on foreign qi is inversely proportional to the distance between the cultivator and the qi, subject to the positive incremental effect by the cultivator''s own qi and level of cultivation and the degree of proportional change is unique for each cultivator.


    This nature of foreign qi greatly influences one''s own qi, because the moment the two come into contact, the unruly, chaotic foreign qi sweeps the controlled qi away. The finer a cultivator''s control over their qi gets, the longer they can persist with their qi flowing outside their body. Han Xuhan, at his current level, could effectively control his own qi from nearly twenty meters away.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Of course, if the distance between his qi and his body was filled up with large, solid obstacles like a wall, or a dense crowd, then his ability was significantly weakened. The texts had no answer to this issue.


    Mu Ran could effortlessly reach fifty meters, from what he had observed. The average disciple at the mid-level of the physique transformation realm in his generation could hit roughly twenty-five meters on average.


    Going by this rule, the most optimal qi circulation system for artificial cultivators like Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian had to be on their own bodies. The closer, the better. Otherwise, Han Xuhan would''ve just bought some disposable tubes to create qi circulation systems for all of them and become an overlord.


    And now, Hai Yin Zhe had become the third one. Han Xuhan had taken his time, planning a very obscure pathway on the underside of the snake''s bones, so that an opponent would be hard-pressed to predict that the snake can use qi the same way a cultivator can.


    "Waaah! Is it done? I don''t wanna sleep anymore!" Little Zhe struggled out of Xiao Wu''s grasp. "Let''s play! Let''s play! Let''s play! LET''S PLAAAAYYYY!"


    "Of course," Han Xuhan agreed excitedly while he prepared the setup to let little Zhe control qi by herself. He was done soon, and the two of them placated the snake into sitting patiently on top of the rock for another couple of minutes while the gadgets gathered qi.


    "This is what we''re going to play with tonight," Han Xuhan said, holding up a solidified qi cube.


    "Food?" Hai Yin Zhe wondered.


    "Yes, we''re playing with food, just like you always want to. The rules are simple: the food will melt into water, and we will compete on whoever can collect more in their hand!"


    "Hand?" Little Zhe glanced at its own limbless body, sounding stunned. "Papa! I don''t have hands! Why don''t I have hands?!"


    "You have these grooves here, little Zhe," Xiao Wu helpfully pointed out, having realized what Han Xuhan''s plan was. "Collect the food in these grooves; they''re much more useful than hands! Hands can''t hold soft things like water."


    "HAHAHAHAH!" Little Zhe suddenly looked extremely pleased. "Papa doesn''t have goobs! Uncle Woo doesn''t have goobs!"


    "Yes! Now let''s get started. Look, this is going to melt now!" Han Xuhan kickstarted the performance with a smile on his face.


    The cube of qi began to deform as he put his concentration on guiding the qi.


    "Is it time yet?


    "Is it time yet?


    "Is it?


    "Can I begin?


    "Can I?"


    Little Zhe kept trying to inch closer while Xiao Wu held it back.


    In the middle of a large bowl, the cube was soon turned into a gooey turquoise-colored soup.


    His eyes met with Xiao Wu, signaling to let little Zhe go.


    "Three, two, one, GO!" He shouted.


    Hai Yin Zhe shot toward the bowl. Han Xuhan grabbed its sides to stabilize it while the snake rampaged inside, swimming in the liquified qi.


    "Oh no! Little Zhe is so fast!" Han Xuhan exclaimed while putting a hand inside the bowl to help the snake plunge into qi properly. "I can''t even pick up one handful!"


    "HAHAHAHAHA!" The snake was ecstatic.


    Han Xuhan poured some more qi into the unfilled portion of the grooves and then exerted the entirety of his mental force into keeping the qi inside.


    "Brother Wu. Do it."


    Xiao Wu was fast as lightning, clicking on the switch of the formation around them. The two of them leaped outside, away from the formation and the gadgets inside to watch the plan unfold.


    Hai Yin Zhe was oblivious to these changes, happily rolling around inside the bowl. Immediately after their leap, the formation identified the snake as the default owner of the qi.


    All qi inside the formation fell under Hai Yin Zhe''s command.


    Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu watched with wide eyes as qi from all directions rushed towards the snake, like magnets attracted to magnets. A hazy field of qi encapsulated the bowl while Hai Yin Zhe''s indistinct shadow continued to stir up a small storm inside.


    "You''ve won, I''ve lost! Now we can start the second stage of the game, little Zhe!" Han Xuhan declared with a victorious smile. From inside the pouch, he pulled out the diagram depicting the qi cycling method for the first layer of the artificial meridian system.


    "Now, let''s see who can move the water without touching it!"

 Chapter 180: The Third Minion Is A Monster

    The sunlight today was particularly sharp, the sky so seamlessly blue it was a shock to behold. Absolutely no clouds overhead, the sky above and the sea below were so alike that the horizon was hard to distinguish.


    Han Xuhan''s mood had recovered already. Hai Yin Zhe was now officially capable of cultivation, a feat that the snake thought of as just a game. Little Zhe loved it, finding it a novelty that food could be summoned out of thin air, moved and controlled by its thoughts, and Papa''s admonishment never came regardless of how much it played with the food.


    However, being able to utilize the artificial meridians did not mean that Hai Yin Zhe was officially a cultivator now. This technique was not a ''registered'' one, meaning that it could not by itself create a dao foundation. The heavenly law would only recognize those techniques that have been baptized through the heavenly tribulation, at least once. As a technique with only 3 available layers discovered so far, this cultivation method was far from that stage.


    And this was a good thing. Because Han Xuhan did not want his minions to have a weak foundation. Just like himself, his minions must be proud cultivators with a zeroth layer foundations. Zhanxian had accomplished this, and so had Tun Shi Tian. Now, it was Hai Yin Zhe''s turn.


    However, not everything fell under Han Xuhan''s calculations. For instance-


    "Wheeeewheeewheeeeee!"


    Gaseous qi roiled like cigarette smoke all around him, distinct even under the glaring sunlight. A shrill, demonic voice echoed in the vapor, its owner running to and fro energetically. Some distance away, Xiao Wu sat on the ground, looking fatigued.


    Being sleepless for one night was not enough to render a fifth-layer physique transformation realm cultivator tired. The reason was the chain of events that had taken place last night.


    Hai Yin Zhe was an absolute monster.


    There was nothing the snake could not do. The only thing limiting it was its near-zero cultivation base. Hai Yin Zhe''s control of qi, speed, mental dexterity, qi purity, every tested talent was far beyond Han Xuhan, Xiao Wu, and even Tun Shi Tian.


    Treating the whole thing as a game, Hai Yin Zhe had blazed through the basics.


    Establishing mental control over qi? Done before Han Xuhan had even fully explained the concept.


    Drawing qi into the artificial meridians? Accomplished before Han Xuhan had even instructed it to.


    Moving qi according to provided directions and diagrams in the manual?


    The snake had memorized the pathways in one look and got bored after five cycles. It had even begun experimenting with all sorts of tricky movements, such as suddenly stopping the flow of qi, changing the direction of the flow, directing qi while moving, directing qi while shouting nursery rhymes, expelling qi from the body and retracting it simultaneously...


    Han Xuhan couldn''t even do half of these stunts properly. His damaged meridians were barely surviving the regular flow of qi. Experimenting like this would be tantamount to crippling himself voluntarily.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Not sure how to react, he had directly shown the snake the Zeroth layer manual, instructing it to follow the guide. Hai Yin Zhe''s dislike towards this type of strictly regulated cultivation session was apparent. A lot of coaxing and desperate promises had been made by both martial brothers before little Zhe agreed.


    Han Xuhan''s motive for forcing the task on a child like Hai Yin Zhe was not purely selfish. As a cultivator, he was bound to run into all sorts of fatal incidences. Xuan Zi''s upcoming training scheme, Fang Xie''s tasks for him, invasions by foreign sects, the future rounds of this tournament, and Mu Ran''s vicinity, none of these were safe. Violence was a forgone conclusion.


    Hai Yin Zhe would not survive even the weakest kick by any of these potential enemies. Moreover, the snake was too naive to be controlled on a battlefield. Han Xuhan could just imagine it randomly jumping out of the dao tower to play outside and being smashed into bone paste 0.5 seconds later.


    Han Xuhan walked over to Xiao Wu''s side and sat down, exhausted. The two of them watched the serpentine silhouette roll, twist and turn inside the misty vapor of qi.


    "Double congratulations, I suppose," Xiao Wu said lightly.


    "With Tun Shi Tian closing in on his breakthrough and little Zhe about to consolidate her foundation-"


    "Her?" Han Xuhan had his doubts. Because little Zhe had given multiple answers to this question. Maybe the original soul inside it had been too young to understand the distinction, and the current body was in no way helpful in remedying that.


    Xiao Wu shrugged. "Whatever you prefer. I have a sister, about little Zhe''s age, so..."


    "This is the second time you''ve brought up your family today." Han Xuhan gave him a calculating look. "Do you just miss them, or are you worried about something?"


    "Both. Their safety is the main concern. But I do miss them."


    Han Xuhan silently contemplated Xiao Wu''s situation. From what Xiao Wu had revealed so far, his family''s ties with the Nightblood Faction of the Beasthaven sect had been severed over an alleged theft, and the Deepworld Faction''s elder Di Qian had reforged the relationship, not through Xiao Wu''s father, the patriarch of the family, but an uncle of his.


    Already in decline, the family branch Xiao Wu belonged to would suffer.


    If Xiao Wu surrendered the manual at the end of the tournament as promised, the Nightblood Faction would cease to pressure his family. But heavens knew how long this tournament would last. A lot of things could happen in the meantime. Xiao Wu''s concern was not unwarranted.


    "If you''re so worried about your family''s safety, you should just return the manual right now rather than waiting for the tournament to end. Master has already created a better technique for you using that manual. You don''t really need it now, do you?" Han Xuhan suggested.


    "But I told them I want to keep it till-"


    "Oh come on, all of us can see what you''re planning. You want to beat your opponent in the area they excel in. You want to beat that Meng Shan guy in a pokemo- I mean, spirit beast duel. Master can provide you with the opportunity whether you possess that manual or not. So what''s the fuss about?"


    "....A man must honor his promises. Besides, If I do that, they''ll think we''re actually guilty. They''ll look down on me and my father, and our label as a family of thieves will simply become a permanent mark."


    "But you did steal the manual," Han Xuhan countered. Then he noticed his stocky friend''s darkening expression, which made him hastily add, "I mean, your father stole it-er...fuck it."


    The lack of sleep and constant brainstorming was finally catching up with Han Xuhan. His loose mouth was on a rampage today. Chewing on his tongue for a second, Han Xuhan restarted his persuasion cautiously.


    "Look, no promise is worth more than your family''s safety. You''ll be seen as guilty regardless of when, or how you return the manual.


    Do they not look down on you now? You''ve got nothing to lose here. At least you can try to slap their faces in the tournament and show those uppity brats that you don''t even need their precious manual to stomp on them!


    Once you can lighten the weight of the allegedly stolen manual publicly, who will bother to call you a thief again? Ehehehe."


    With a toothy grin, Han Xuhan provided the solution to Xiao Wu''s dilemma. His friend looked troubled, deep in thought. Han Xuhan left him there and decided it was time to begin the day''s business.


    "Little Zhe, come, Let''s visit Aunt Zhou."


    Hai Yin Zhe stopped playing immediately and crawled back into his robe, settling on his back like a spider.


    "Aunt doesn¡¯t have much food," the snake said as Han Xuhan set out.


    "No one carries your food around like Papa does, little Zhe. You have to stop begging others for treats."


    "I wasn¡¯t begging!" Hai Yin Zhe hissed petulantly.


    A few minutes later, Han Xuhan reached Yuen Zhou''s hut. Just like the previous time, he knocked on the door very loudly.


    Nobody responded. Standing still for nearly a minute, Han Xuhan walked around the house and saw an open window.


    Should I...?


    He peered through the window after a moment of hesitation. The room inside was not occupied. But he could see her bedroom past its door. Yuen Zhou was sitting on the floor there, absorbed in a cultivation session.


    Right as he was about to call her again, he noticed something that hit him like a brick, rendering his breath irregular.


    Yuen Zhou''s hands were dyed red.


    The floor of the house sported countless red streaks.


    The blood was slowly, gradually spreading across the rooms.

 Chapter 181: Why Do People Keep Calling Me Insane?

    There was a butcher''s knife on the floor, fully painted red. Yuen Zhou''s clothes were intact and her posture seemed relaxed. The flow of the blood on the ground wasn''t coming from her direction but from the direction she was facing. He could not see who or what the source of the blood was. But it did not take a genius to understand that whatever bloody conflict may have taken place just before his entry, Yuen Zhou had not been the one to lose.


    Han Xuhan whipped his head around and examined the ground behind him in the shortest possible time.


    No dry leaves, no dead branches. The yard was very well maintained.


    Perfect for a silent escape.


    Sending a second glance at Yuen Zhou''s still form through the window, Han Xuhan backpedaled quickly.


    He had no reason to get involved in conflicts beyond his power level. Was Yuen Zhou a serial killer? A generic murderhobo?


    He didn''t care so long as he remained safe from her.


    Of course, there was another possibility. Perhaps an invading team of disciples of other sects had attacked her. That had led to this hellish aftermath...but from the volume of blood on her floor, it was apparent that somebody had either died already or was close to death. Judging by Yuen Zhou''s calm appearance, the former possibility was probably more plausible, because it would be irrational to watch someone bleed to death without helping just because they happened to be from a competing sect.


    A death in the tournament was not uncommon, but there were obvious repercussions and punishments. It would not matter who was in the right and who was the real miscreant, because the killer would be the focus of all the fury. How many xianxia protagonists had been caught under fire just because they were present in the wrong place at the wrong time? Uncountable! Those guys survived mostly by luck, which Han Xuhan was sorely lacking.


    Running away is the best option.


    Sorry, sister Zhou! Better take care of the bodies yourself!


    The enhancement of his senses was quite apparent to him by now. Even without turning, he could tell just when his body was about to hit the fence about the house. Stooping low and sticking to the ground, Han Xuhan slinked out of the yard successfully and decided to give her half an hour to clean up.


    As he crossed the gate, he turned his face around and loudly declared, "It seems like your aunt Zhou is busy cultivating right now. Come, little Zhe, we will return half an hour later."


    And then he jogged away at the unhurried pace of an Olympic sprinter.


    Heaven''s plan works beyond man''s plan.


    Han Xuhan was halfway back to his ruined but, feeling very relieved, as well as curious, when a familiar voice called him from behind.


    "Martial brother, my cultivation session is over! You could''ve just waited a minute more. Besides, the door was not locked either! You weren''t this polite the last time, were you?"


    Yuen Zhou had crept behind him at some point.


    Fast! Too goddamn fast!


    Han Xuhan forcefully suppressed a shudder and turned around swiftly.


    Don''t look at her hand! Don''t look at her hand! She''ll notice!


    Eyes were hard to control without showing signs of discomfort.


    With a tremendous effort, Han Xuhan fixed his gaze on her face, eyes watering.


    "Is there something on my face?" Yuen Zhou asked immediately, raising a palm to check. Her suspicious look at her fingers as she scratched her cheekbones made Han Xuhan''s tummy churn.


    He had to get out of this passive position!


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Han Xuhan shifted his gaze toward her chest. Although his dog eyes could not see the mountain Tais there due to the loose-fitting robe and high neckline, Han Xuhan was naturally able to keep his eyes focused on that area due to the special power of every teenage boy. His eyes no longer felt any discomfort at all.


    Yuen Zhou noticed, of course. But instead of getting angry at him like she should have, she looked rather puzzled.


    "Martial brother...are you alright?" She asked suspiciously.


    "Of course, I am!" Han Xuhan blurted out, eyes flickering between her face and her chest rapidly.


    Come on, get angry, girl!


    "Well, you''re not exactly behaving like your usual self," Yuen Zhou observed.


    He was a passionate young man looking at the subject of his passion! Why was this considered unusual? Had he been too much of a gentleman in the past?


    "Aunty Zhou!" Hai Yin Zhe finally came to the rescue, crawling up on his shoulder and greeting her cheerfully.


    "Papa, your back is sooooo wet and cold! I almost slipped!"


    "Ah...Papa got sweaty because I was running, little Zhe!" Han Xuhan''s hastily rubbed the icy sweat off his forehead and threw the snake at Yuen Zhou before her suspicion could mount higher.


    "Aunty, catch meeeeeee!" Hai Yin Zhe shrieked excitedly.


    Landing on her arms, little Zhe snuggled up to her and giggled in delight.


    "I''ve carved the artificial qi pathways on little Zhe''s body. Currently, she doesn''t have a foundation. She can control qi to some extent now. So feel free to teach her however you prefer." Han Xuhan gave Yuen Zhou a rundown of last night''s progress.


    Yuen Zhou''s eyes flashed as she checked the narrow channels at the anterior side of the snake''s skeleton.


    "If little Zhe is as talented as you say...You need to watch out for her progress, martial brother, lest it should cross yours," she remarked.


    "I know. Just don''t let her break through suddenly without informing me first." He sighed dispiritedly.


    "I can guide her to that stage quite fast. In fact, she''ll very easily reach the first layer of my technique with master and my combined guidance. But what about that zeroth layer foundation you want her to develop?" Yuen Zhou suddenly said, her tone very casual.


    Han Xuhan choked on his own spit.


    "Who told you about that? How do you know about that?" Han Xuhan was appalled.


    "I hear about it every time you discuss it with Mu Ran. Pretty audible when you''re a mid-level physique transformation realm cultivator sitting just ten feet away."


    "...." Han Xuhan scratched his head for a moment and decided not to prolong the conversation.


    "The zeroth layer is not a part of any cultivation technique. The Tenacious Tentacle form you''ll be learning and teaching is not a registered technique under the Heavenly authority. It will not form a dao tower until you reach the peak of the physique transformation realm and survive the tribulation to the soul reformation realm. So it doesn''t matter whether little Zhe reaches a breakthrough and becomes a first-layer cultivator of master''s astral cultivation technique. By the time little Zhe reaches the stage of establishing her own dao tower, the zeroth layer foundation will have been laid. Neither technique will clash with the other."


    This was the reason why Han Xuhan wasn''t apprehensive of little Zhe''s cultivation right now. He would keep a check on Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian''s cultivation and keep them away from breaking through to the next layer lest it might damage his dao tower irreparably. But learning Kong Ye''s astral cultivation method would not generate a dao tower for Hai Yin Zhe, meaning little Zhe would not become another ''shareholder'' of the authority he had over his dao tower.


    The zeroth layer foundation would only result in a separation of existence inside the tower. Han Xuhan''s foundation would not be particularly affected.


    In a way, Hai Yin Zhe was potentially his most powerful card. The snake could reach the peak of the physique transformation realm by practicing Kong Ye''s technique while Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian would have to lag behind until Han Xuhan could find a solution to the problem with his damaged foundation.


    His explanation made Yuen Zhou gape at him for a long ten seconds, her expression shifting from confusion to astonishment to shock and then to a complex countenance he couldn''t even read. But she spelled out what she was thinking.


    "Martial brother, you''re insane."


    "Thanks for the compliment." Han Xuhan showed her a thumbs-up.


    "This is such a unique and interesting development," Yuen Zhou muttered to herself audibly. "If this works, so many new paths of cultivation would be opened! Martial brother!" She leaped forward and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him so forcefully that both modes of his visions blurred together into a messy mixture.


    "Uh- Stoph-"


    "You have to proceed carefully! I''m rooting for you!" She shouted at his face. He had never seen her getting this excited about anything. But now that she had drawn closer, he could actually smell the faint stink of blood. It had been suppressed by heavy perfume, but his enhanced olfactory nerves could still separate the familiar fragrance.


    "If it isn''t too much of a problem for you, can I ask your exact path of development? I really want to know how you reached this situation. None of the texts in the archives ever mentioned anything like this!"


    Her extreme enthusiasm was disconcerting. But Han Xuhan went along with it and agreed because his nerves were being drawn tight the longer they stood in close proximity.


    "Sure, martial sister. I''ll answer your questions so long as they''re not too...invasive," he smiled in a strained manner. "But not today, okay? I''ve got to prepare for the class today and take some rest as well."


    "Alright, alright, that''s fine. Some other day, maybe." Yuen Zhou nodded, seemingly realizing how strange her sudden interest appeared.


    "By the way, have you made any progression on the...thing I asked you to look for?" She said as Han Xuhan was about to leave, stopping him dead in his tracks.


    "Yes." Han Xuhan nodded after thinking for a second.


    Yuen Zhou''s eyes lit up. "When? What did you find?"


    "The map is inside the sect master''s bedroom. He let me have a peek because he was examining it just before I visited him; such a convenient coincidence, hahaha!"


    It wasn''t the best lie could come up with, but it was enough to convince her.


    "Excellent! How well guarded do you think it is?" She enquired eagerly.


    "Oh, we don''t have to steal it, sister Zhou, don''t worry."


    "Huh?"


    Han Xuhan smiled wide, finally feeling a bit confident. He had thought about how to keep both Yuen Zhou and Xuan Zi off his back in the little deal. Yuen Zhou would continue to pressure him every day until he handed the map to her. The ruse would be hard to keep up. But he couldn''t give it away too fast either in order to keep Xuan Zi satisfied.


    "Sect master Zi is apparently reviewing some details in the map. He did not tell me why, but seeing my interest, he said I could borrow it once he''s done reviewing."


    "That works too?" Yuen Zhou looked dumbstruck. "I could have just asked? So easy?"


    Han Xuhan shrugged. "From my estimation, you''ll have the map in your hands by next week. See ya!"


    He hastily retreated immediately, because Yuen Zhou''s face looked quite gloomy from the revelation.


    Watching his back disappear down the road, Yuen Zhou''s brows wrinkled.


    "Why is he lying?" She asked nobody in particular.

 Chapter 182: Corrupt Democracy

    "I''m about three cycles away from completing this claw armor," Tun Shi Tian reported after a few moments of silent calculation. Behind him, Zhanxian nodded up and down in support, implying that the analysis was true.


    "Three cycles..." Han Xuhan thought for a second and then checked his pockets for pieces of crystallized pure qi. There was a very tiny one left after constantly appeasing little Zhe last night. It would, however, be enough to take Tun Shi Tian past the first layer of the physique transformation realm.


    "Run another cycle and then wait for me to return." Orders received, Tun Shi Tian obediently left the room.


    Han Xuhan had managed to get an hour of rest in Xiao Wu''s bed after he had kindly informed Mu Ran that Xiao Wu had a habit of wetting the bed. After angrily storming off to collect water for a shower, Mu Ran hadn''t returned, now probably in Kong Ye''s house. Their master hadn''t made the schedule very clear. But he had instructed each of them to attend the class half an hour after their predecessors. They had drawn lots to fix the order of their attendance. Mu Ran had won the first position, then Yuen Zhou, Han Xuhan, and at the bottom, Xiao Wu.


    Feeling very refreshed, Han Xuhan summoned his first minion.


    "Zhanxian."


    "Yes, master?"


    "How long do you need to reach a stage similar to Tun Shi Tian? Not quite at the peak of the second layer, but close to it."


    "If I cultivate regularly from right now for at least 10 hours a day, I''ll need more than a week, but not past two. " Zhanxian seemed to have done the calculation already. "But if I use resources like you, master, then this time can be shortened."


    The skeleton had been by his side since his first step into the second layer. He had seen Han Xuhan bypass countless obstacles, weaknesses, and lack of talent for months. Zhanxian''s estimation was based on real experience, it could be relied upon.


    "Then for the next week, I want you to divide your attention into two different cultivation techniques," Han Xuhan said.


    "I will not summon you back to the tower until you''ve reached our targets."


    "Targets?" Zhanxian caught the plurality.


    "For your current technique, the Spiritual Bones, I need you to reach near the peak of the second layer, and at the same time, I need you to cultivate a second technique under my master''s tutelage, alongside Xiao Wu. You can cultivate that one freely."


    Zhanxian wasn''t surprised. But he seemed to have some reservations. "Will he really not mind?" he asked.


    "Leave that to me. Focus on your goals. Twelve hours cultivating the Spiritual Bones, twelve hours cultivating the Astral Warbeast; that''s how you''ll be spending the next week. You can have all the supplies you need to maintain your highest possible speed."


    "Twelve? I can''t take rests?" Zhanxian gasped.


    "For an undead, fatigue is only mental. If you feel mentally disturbed, take some minutes off to cool down and snort some of those mind-cleaning incense. Slacking will not be tolerated."


    Han Xuhan put extra emphasis on his last sentence and left the bed to put on some clean attire. One of the satchels he had carried in here was full of dry food. Quickly stuffing some in his mouth, he walked out carrying Kong Ye''s manual in hand. Zhanxian followed.


    "Brother Wu, you don''t have any problem letting Zhanxian learn the Astral Warbeast form alongside you, right?" He said loudly. Xiao Wu, busy doing the dishes, shrugged.


    "Yeah, fine. It''ll be hilarious if the Beasthaven sect ever finds out. Such a lovely scene...how can I turn down the opportunity to make it happen?"


    Xiao Wu''s hatred had been burning, and the conversation at dawn had only stoked the fire. Han Xuhan had already made his intentions pretty clear back when he had made Kong Ye accept the presence of his minions in his lecture. So it went without saying that Xiao Wu wouldn''t be averse to the proposal.


    "See? Now go help Brother Wu clean up the kitchen. You can accompany him to master''s house later. I''m leaving."


    "Hey, Xuhan."


    Han Xuhan turned around, hearing Xiao Wu''s call.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    "Have you noticed that there hasn''t been a single flood or even another thunderstorm since the one last night?"


    Han Xuhan nodded. "Yes. I think we''re about to face the real challenges of this tournament. The floods were just the appetizer. They''re giving us a buffering period to make us relax and let our guard down. Better be prepared, martial brother!"


    With that, Han Xuhan rushed out of Xiao Wu''s home. The sky was still spotlessly blue. No signs of clouds anywhere. Any new thunderstorm would be seen coming from a mile away.


    What disaster were they going to face next?


    Han Xuhan''s curiosity was spiking up. This tournament was nothing like he had ever seen or read about even in the most outrageous xianxia novels. There was no systematic arrangement, no specified path of progression, and not even a clear opponent to fight against. From what he knew, even the previous tournaments were not at all like this and bore much more resemblance to the traditional ''geniuses fighting geniuses'' method.


    Why the change?


    Right at that moment, his second mode of vision, which had been full of grey and black colors until then, acted up crazily, almost blinding him in the process.


    Han Xuhan put his palms over his eyes to shield himself from the pure, radiant miniature sun that was hurtling toward their floating island and collided with one of the central mountain peaks.


    A soundless explosion of light overshadowed the sun itself on top of the Crimson Snow Sect. Yet, no screams were heard.


    It took his secondary vision more than a minute to adjust to the brilliant radiance pulsing ahead. Such a strange feeling; his real eyes were still functioning normally and showing him the unchanged landscape ahead. Yet he experienced the feeling of being flashbombed.


    The grey world was still there, he observed. But the threads which had been mostly peaceful till now were slowly growing restless. Occasionally, bright white pulses ran through some of the threads collectively, their source, the ball of light that had fallen ahead.


    Describing the light as white would be inaccurate. What he could see was not any color, but the lack of all colors, yet no darkness either.


    He could not explain to himself how he understood this, but he did. It was almost instinctive.


    The place where the ball of light had landed must have been surrounded by everybody by now. Even if they hadn''t seen it land, something had to have happened there. Han Xuhan felt it would not be too risky to go down and check what it was.


    Changing direction, Han Xuhan quickly ran to the central point of the floating island.


    His guess was correct. A large number of disciples had gathered at the foot of one of the smaller mountains in the central area. Unable to penetrate the crowd, he climbed up on a thick tree nearby and cast his sight at the source of the crowd''s attention.


    It was that asshat!


    Luo Yi, their counselor for the tournament, stood facing the crowd, her hand stroking Meatball, her spirit beast.


    This was what his normal vision had captured.


    But his second vision saw something much more alarming.


    Luo Yi''s celestial form in the Consciousness Matrix was the ball of light that had blinded him. Even now, it was shining like a miniature ''white'' sun.


    So far, Han Xuhan''s ghostsight had not noticed any human whose celestial form was different from his own, a mass of countless colors forming a human-shaped silhouette. Even Shangguang Ce, a ghost cultivator himself, had a similar celestial form.


    So what''s up with Luo Yi? Such an anomaly couldn''t be accidental. But Luo Yi was not from the Sunrider Sect, but the Beasthaven Sect. She was probably an elder-level figure too. What connection could she have with Shangguang Ce? Was she a ghost cultivator herself in secret?


    Head spinning from trying to forge a connection between all the chaotic discoveries of the last couple of days, Han Xuhan almost missed the moment when Luo Yi began speaking.


    "Disciples of the Crimson Snow Sect! You''ve done well!"


    The crowd was not particularly thrilled by the announcement. Everyone continued to stare at her silently.


    Han Xuha felt emotional all of a sudden. The incidence of Luo Yi throwing a friendly, agreeable and helpful person like him off the island had angered his peers greatly! Their impression of her wasn''t about to improve anytime soon, hah!


    Right then, one of the disciples from a side yelled, "Lady, your landing ruined our breakfast. I ask you to be magnanimous and compensate us with 24 pounds of buffalo meat, 1 pound of spice, 1 pound of onion, 1 pound of salt, and 6 pounds of firewood. Food is in short supply right now. Surely, an envoy from the great Beasthaven sect would not commit such injustice!"


    Such a poisonous mouth!


    Han Xuhan couldn''t help but admire the venom in this brother''s voice. A man worth befriending!


    A loud chorus of shouts rose in support, some of them even adding more ingredients to be compensated. One girl carried up a gigantic pot full of soup and meat in front of Luo Yi and showed her the gravel which had fallen into the pot due to Luo Yi''s alleged dramatic landing from above.


    Han Xuhan was greatly saddened by the fact that the disciples of his sect weren''t actually feeling indignant on his behalf, but seeing Luo Yi''s face turn sour was a very satisfying spectacle in itself.


    "You need all the ingredients in that list for one meal?" she said, her teeth gnashing together.


    "YES!"


    Nearly fifty disciples shouted in unison. The first guy added afterwards, "If you don''t believe us, take out the meat from this soup and weigh the pieces one by one, and then analyze the contents of the soup, and then calculate how much wood we used from these ashes here." Pointing at a hole where they dumped garbage, the disciple crossed his arms over his chest and held Luo Yi''s gloomy stare without flinching, as if daring her to argue back.


    He did not know him by appearance, which meant this fellow disciple was neither a super genius of their sect, nor a social, friendly peer.


    Han Xuhan etched this person''s face in his memory. This guy could be a useful addition to his friend circle.

 Chapter 183: In Retrospect, Everyone Was Scheming

    In the end, corrupted democracy always wins, and as the beneficiaries, the majority declares this a golden victory for the righteous cause, for the greater good. And Han Xuhan was no exception.


    Cherering alongside his fellow disciples, he celebrated Luo Yi''s admission of guilt and promise of immediate compensation.


    "Meatball, go deliver this to Big Jiang." She wrote a memo and stuck it inside a gap between Meatball''s incisor teeth.


    The pet shook its rotund body, as if warming up, and then suddenly inflated like a balloon. It''s body grew at least 50 percent larger.


    And then, again!


    And again!


    Thirty seconds later, the dumbstruck disciples were looking apprehensively at a monster bigger than their houses, with a radius of more than 15 feet!


    The transparent body of the monster, which displayed the sigils of all the sects taking part in the tournament, turned opaque, slowly returning to its former appearance.


    Just when it seemed like the monster would burst like an over inflated balloon, it farted.


    POOOOOOOOOOO!


    The sound produced by the fart could be used as a warhorn. First came the auditory impact, but then the olfactory devastation followed.


    "AAHAGHGHGH!"


    "AWWK! AWWWWWKKKHH!"


    "I''m dying! Help! Give me a piece of cloth!"


    A brother even tore away his girlfriend''s scarf to cover his nostrils.


    A desperate youth took off his robe and handed it to a pretty lass near him with the strained smile of a hero. The girl hurriedly took it, flashed him a charming, grateful smile, and then turned around and rolled her eyes.


    Luo Yi had taken out a small fan at some point. Using it, she warded off the smell, and then seemed to deliberately guide the air towards the young man who had started the movement against her unjust acts. Being close to her, the young man seemed to be affected the most. He was already on all fours, coughing and hiccupping.


    Han Xuhan had the opportunity to observe such fine details because he was a bit far away, and more than a dozen feet above the ground. He had taken out a pinch of mind-calming balm and applied it on the opening of his nostrils the moment he realized what was happening. The strong stink could not affect him due to the heavy scent of the balm.


    However, his attention was diverted fast by a more ridiculous spectacle. Meatball''s voluminous body was rising in the air, inch by inch, powered by the outflow of gas, it seemed.


    Just when he felt like this could not get any more ridiculous than this, the sound of the continuous fart doubled.


    Two farts at once!


    The speed of meatball''s upward levitation increased.


    Then the sound tripled!


    Quadruple!


    Quintuple!


    Sextuple!


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Heavens above! How many assholes does this beast have! Why?!" Someone cried.


    The crowd was scattering. Luo Yi was smiling. Meatball was flying. The stink was strengthening.


    WHOOOOSHH!


    A heavy burst of wind came from behind, making the stinky air flow away from the retreating disciples.


    Sect master Xuan Zi was the source of the wind, coming to the rescue heroically. In his hand, he held up a fan the size of a door. Waving it lazily, he trotted up to Luo Yi and watched Meatball disappear into a spatial crack far above.


    "Good morning, and welcome back, fellow cultivator Yi! I see that you have left a wonderful impression on my disciples already. I could not have given them a better understanding of your character myself!"


    Damn!


    Han Xuhan almost felt the air burn. Sect master was too cool!


    Turned out, Luo Yi did not have the balls to begin a feud with Xuan Zi.


    With the pleasantries exchanged, sect master Xuan Zi invited Luo Yi to his house for a meal. Luo Yi happily agreed and left a message for the disciples who had barely recovered from their shocked stupor.


    "I assume each of your mountain peaks has a leading disciple with some qualifications. Inform all of them to come visit me within the next hour. My tent will need to be assembled somewhere safe. Master Zi''s mountain looks nice. I''ll begin my job as your counselor once the tent is ready."


    Then she left with Xuan Zi. The entire time, the white brilliance spreading out from her Celestial Body didn''t decrease in the slightest. Han Xuhan''s Ghostsight was almost blinded temporarily from staring at her for too long.


    Now that he thought about it, back when Luo Yi had thrown him into a spatial crack, the first sect he had landed on was the Sunrider Sect.


    At that time, he hadn''t thought anything of it. But now, if he took in the possibility that Luo Yi herself was a Ghost Cultivator, then the situation became anything but a random occurrence.


    Interesting. Very interesting.


    Pushing those thoughts aside for later, Han Xuhan found himself in another dilemma. Who was supposed to be the leader of the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak?


    He was the weakest of the four. It would not look good for their peak if he proclaimed himself as the leader and went to visit the woman. Besides, he didn''t feel very safe around her. If possible, he did not want to interact with her at all.


    Ruling him out, among the three of his martial siblings, Mu Ran was considered to be the strongest. But he was not exactly leader material. Allowing him to handle the tasks of this position would be a foolish choice.


    Yuen Zhou would probably not be interested. She did not even interact with the disciples of other mountain peaks and avoided responsibilities actively whenever possible.


    Xiao Wu...was sensible, but too honest and easy to take advantage of. But he was their best choice if they wanted no scandalous incidents.


    Han Xuhan turned around and ran back to Xiao Wu''s hut and informed him of the order. He did not specifically mention the issue of choosing the leader of their mountain peak, fearing that Xiao Wu might protest.


    "Your serial is at the bottom for master''s lecture. So only you can attend the meeting without any inconvenience, martial brother. Bye, I gotta go!"


    Han Xuhan did not give him a chance to protest.


    Kong Ye''s house was not too far away. A few minutes later, Han Xuhan crossed the gate and caught the familiar voice coming from inside the house.


    The largest room of Kong Ye''s house, probably made specifically for such events, was occupied by Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou and Hai Yin Zhe, with Kong Ye sauntering around the three disciples, continuously instructing them. The qi in the air was exceptionally concentrated and pure.


    Was this Kong Ye''s personal cultivation chamber?!


    Noticing him, Kong Ye made a gesture, signaling at him to wait a while.


    Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Hai Yin Zhe were sitting on the floor obediently, absorbed deeply in their cultivation session.


    "Disciple Zhou, your origin point has inflated by 6 percent from its initial size. Regulate the flow of qi and reduce the size of the origin point, slow down the flow inside your meridians to lessen the qi pressure."


    "Disciple Ran, your origin point has moved upwards. It needs to be just at the area where your tailbone curves inwards. Move the point down by half an inch."


    "Little Zhe, stop playing with the qi in that curved groove and focus on the qi in the rest of your ''meridians''. Your qi reserve is going down every second due to the lapse in your concentration. No, stop, STOP!"


    Kong Ye had to rush over and personally guide the lively little snake.


    "Here, this is where you''ll gather the qi. Once you''ve repeated the cycle enough times, there will be a permanent lump here. If you can do that faster than your aunt Zhou, I''ll let you eat that big trophy you wanted!"


    Hai Yin Zhe immediately put her heart and soul into following the instructions. What was that big trophy, though? Han Xuhan felt both embarrassed and grateful over how patient and sincere Kong Ye''s tutelage of Hai Yin Zhe appeared to be.


    More than ten minutes later, Kong Ye decided that his three students could stably reenact the qi cycles without screwing up royally. Ordering them to repeat their cycles twenty times at a stretch, he finally focused on Han Xuhan.


    "Sit a bit further away from them." he gestured. Han Xuhan moved to follow.


    "Your form will be somewhat different from the rest. Have you gone through the manual I gave you?"


    "The whole manual? Er... it''s too large to go through so fast, not to mention, so complex. I''ve reviewed the basics of the technique and the general outline. I tried to understand the texts thoroughly, but after the introductory sentences, every theory that follows is too chaotic and complicated to follow. This disciple can only await your guidance."


    Han Xuhan had done his best to comprehend the manual and regurgitate his understanding to his minions. But that was the painful result of his endeavors.


    Thankfully, his response did not elicit any anger from Kong Ye. Rather, Kong Ye actually seemed to have expected it.


    "Fine, fine. It''s not actually that tough. Bring out the manual and start from scratch. Which parts did you have trouble understanding?"


    Master and disciple entered a passionate debate as the pages of the manual was turned one by one. More than an hour later, Xiao Wu appeared outside the room. But Kong Ye told him to wait and listen to their debate, as the discussion of the theories would strengthen Xiao Wu''s theoretical knowledge, both of their astral forms being the derivatives of the same compound technique.


    Occasionally, Kong Ye would leap away to correct mistakes made by Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and most frequently, Hai Yin Zhe. How this man was able to keep an eye on so many things at the same time was beyond Han Xuhan.


    Finally, after more than two hours of endless questions, answers and arguments, Kong Ye declared the words Han Xuhan longed to hear.


    "Disciple Xuhan, your comprehension has reached the appropriate stage to be applied in cultivation. I know you''ve not been able to cultivate for a very long time now in fear of damaging your foundation and meridians. This technique will at least solve the issue with your loosening control of your dao tower. So begin drawing qi into your meridians! Steel your heart! Steady your mind! Step into the world of astral cultivation!"


    Han Xuhan took a deep breath and initiated the familiar set of actions after nearly an entire week of abstinence.

 Chapter 184: Become Champions, Get Crippled

    The source of most of the magical properties of qi was movement. To be more accurate, certain methods of movement.


    When kept still, qi acts the same as any other matter, susceptible to heat, magnetic fields, telekinesis, and forces like gravity; of course, the parameters differed wildly from normal matters. But this was still within the boundaries of ordinary matter.


    But once qi is made to move, the properties of qi shift fast. Much like electric charges creating magnetic fields, a controlled flow of qi could construct the gateways to the power of manipulating matter, force, laws, order, space, dimensions, totalities, energy, and information.


    Most cultivation techniques cannot solely depend on one of those aspects to develop a pursuit-worthy, comprehensive set of abilities. Because all of these aspects are connected and correlated. If one wishes to construct a technique that focuses on only one aspect, one''d require extensive knowledge of these interrelations, which isn''t really possible for any single cultivator unless they devote millennia after millennia to just studying and experimenting.


    At least, to Han Xuhan''s knowledge, no such technique existed on this planet. All the techniques he had seen so far relied heavily on one or two aspects while borrowing a shallow ground from other aspects and concepts. None of these concepts were utilized to their highest potential in order to keep things simple and understandable, in other words- jack of many trades, master of none. The core of this type of learning cannot be labeled as ''pursuit''; a more appropriate label would be ''reliance''.


    This was somewhat contradictory to the famous, grand, elegant phrase all cultivators use to describe their aspirations- ''pursuing the dao''. But few had the ability to practice the other route, the cultivation of a pure, conceptually singular aspect.


    As long as one had a basic understanding of these shallow complementary aspects, one could focus fully on mastering the main objective and comprehending its principles.


    Kong Ye''s astral cultivation technique had four forms, and each of these forms could be called a separate technique due to their vastly dissimilar nature and aspects of power.


    The principles behind Mu Ran''s Fifth Limb technique were related to transitioning between the Astral Totality and their Macrocosm. Mu Ran''s Astral form would sprout these tentacle-no-tails upon cultivation, becoming deadly weapons in the Astral realm themselves; more importantly, through the origin point on his tailbone, the limbs could come out into this world to help him in ordinary physical combat. The damage done to his opponents'' physical bodies could even be transferred to their Astral form and vice versa. However, Mu Ran would need to reach a very high level of cultivation to become so terrifying in combat.


    Han Xuhan could not help but be jealous. His only consolation was the fact that Tun Shi Tian would learn this one day. Unfortunately, he hadn''t yet been able to make the deal with Mu Ran to let his minion share the technique with him.


    Yuen Zhou''s Tenacious Tentacles worked on the basis of similar principles, but the ability of her tentacles was more...pervasive. These tentacles could invade the functional core of a world, rather than transitioning into physical objects. They could sense the changes in the world happening around them and predict the outcomes of these changes, much like the power of clairvoyance. These tentacles could invade the flow of information in both the Astral Totality and their Macrocosm.


    All in all, her technique was cool as hell, and Hai Yin Zhe, a minion useless in battle, could learn it and be of some use to Han Xuhan.


    His own Astral cultivation technique, the Astral Columns, was the vaguest and most complicated of the four. To affect a dao tower is as simple as it is complicated. In principle, any technique can change a dao tower, but only registered techniques may lay foundations. With his foundation having been laid already, it was hard to predict what changes the Astral Columns could bring to it.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    The objective was of course to strengthen the dao tower and improve his influence over it. But unlike typical totalities and macrocosms, the dao tower was not situated in any specific place, in any area of the universe. It was a half-imaginary ''object'', with many unresolved mysteries surrounding its state of existence.


    Whereas the tentacles sprouted from Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou''s Astral form would have some influence in the physical world, directly and indirectly, the tentacles produced by Han Xuhan would be incapable of either. Rather, the origin points in his and his minions'' bodies would become the gateways to his formless consciousness inside the dao tower, through which, the Astral Columns would germinate therein.


    Sitting inside Kong Ye''s house, Han Xuhan did his best to accomplish this objective and remove one of the most complex obstacles in his path.


    But the task was growing increasingly difficult. He could sense how much his meridians had deteriorated by now. Had Kong Ye not personally provided the best possible atmosphere for cultivation by letting them practice inside this special room, his progress would be so slow that he''d have to forget about reaching the first layer of this technique within this year.


    In the time he completed one qi cycle through the fragile meridians, his martial siblings completed three. The amount of qi that reached the endpoint of the cycle, the origin point of the first tentacle, was so small that he needed to run three to four cycles to have the same amount of productivity as them.


    The sun had reached the middle of the sky, signaling the advent of noon by the time Kong Ye concluded the session.


    "Go have your lunch and return immediately," he ordered.


    "Our lesson isn''t finished yet?" Mu Ran asked.


    "What you''ve done since the morning was just the theoretical aspect and ordinary cultivation. Following this, you have a separate curriculum to attend to. Remember what I said about our sect master designing one for all the disciples here? It will begin today. You should be in your peak shape, mentally and physically. So, do NOT overeat."


    Han Xuhan and Co. exchanged half-curious, half-excited looks among themselves.


    What was this new curriculum going to be like?


    At that moment, Han Xuhan recalled Xuan Zi''s expression back when the man had revealed this information to him personally.


    Chills went down his spine.


    * * * * *


    "How did your visit go? Did Luo Yi have anything important to say?" He asked Xiao Wu as they feasted upon the pot of meat the kitchen had provided for each mountain peak. When enquired about its origin, the elder in charge of the kitchen had laughed mysteriously and replied, "You''ll find out soon enough, hahaha! Hope you make most of that discovery."


    They hadn''t. The meat tasted too unfamiliar, with an exotic texture. But most of them guessed that it was probably the meat of some large fish from the ocean.


    "Well, first, she made us set up her tent. Someone must''ve brought her things here already. The amount of stuff we moved into the tent has to weigh over two tons." Xiao Wu''s expression looked pained recalling the memories.


    Han Xuhan silently thanked his past self for not taking up the position of the leader of this mountain peak. He had dodged a bullet...no, a mountain there.


    "Just two tons? That''s not even as heavy as the aura of that beast I faced in the forests last month." Mu Ran''s valuable input was ignored by Xiao Wu, while Han Xuhan widened his eyes and looked at Mu Ran in ''awe''.


    "After we set the tent up, she informed us that due to some reasons that she herself isn''t aware of, the arrangers of the tournament have decided to implement some changes in the first round."


    Mu Ran and Han Xuhan''s posture turned ramrod straight instantly.


    "Why did you not say that till now?"


    "What changes?"


    "Oh, she wasn''t very explicit, or I''d have told you by now. She only talked about the changes she was certain of.


    Apparently, some parameters have been changed in ascertaining the progress made by the sects here. Several loopholes have been fixed. The point system, which seems to be something everybody except me knew about, has been updated to perfection.


    But these are minor changes. The major change is that the first round of the tournament will have an additional event from now on, reducing the frequency of these ''natural disasters'' we''re facing every few hours. It''ll be the key factor in deciding which sects get eliminated and which sects reach round two. The reason there have been no disasters since last night is that the overseers of the tournament have been occupied with arranging this new event."


    "What will this new event be about?" Mu Ran asked, excited.


    "No idea." Xiao Wu shrugged. "And by the way, which one of you wrote on the notice board of our mountain peak?" Xiao Wu sent a searing look at Han Xuhan, probably having guessed the answer already.


    "What notice board?" Mu Ran said.


    Han Xuhan admitted it without any hesitation.


    "I did. I just wrote my findings during my little venture outside, and some instructions based on those. Why? Did someone say anything about that?"


    Xiao Wu nodded. "Luo Yi guessed it right. She says you''re in the position to become this year''s champion on behalf of our sect by virtue of the information provided there. She is apparently keeping a tally of disciples with high contributions to our sect''s progress, and some of the mountain peaks have already begun to use your information and instructions. You''ll find out more if you visit the central meeting area."


    "....Fuck." Han Xuhan could not stop the curse from rushing out loud.


    The champion of their sect in the last edition of this tournament had been crippled.

 Chapter 185: The Heroic Descent

    The three martial brothers met their martial sister on their way back to Kong Ye''s home. She was still carrying the little snake, Hai Yin Zhe on her shoulders. Han Xuhan wanted to test little Zhe''s progress before they reached their destination, but before he could get to it, Kong Ye himself appeared on the road ahead, seemingly waiting for them to return.


    "Come, come! Hurry!" he shouted, waving his hand and signaling them to follow.


    The five students trotted behind their teacher, climbing up to the highest point of the mountain. The sunshine here was irritating on the skin, the heavy sound of the ocean below only enhancing the sense of discomfort.


    The Heavenly Hailstorm mountain''s location had been moved to a corner of the floating island using the formation designs of the Celestial Gateway Spell.


    From the peak, they could directly cast their sight below and observe the sea. One careless misstep and the fall down the steep slope of the mountain-back would lead right into its embrace.


    As he was looking around, Han Xuhan realized that they weren''t the only ones in this position. Not too far away, the peak of the mountain next to theirs was occupied as well by a few familiar disciples and their master.


    Further in that direction, the same scene repeated itself, all around the floating island. A nervous, but festive mood enraptured the disciples as a fierce wind hit them.


    "Disciples!" from far behind, Xuan Zi''s amplified voice boomed all across the island. Han Xuhan could not see the sect master anywhere nearby. But judging by the amplitude of that voice...was the man shouting from his house?


    "I have given you the time to adjust and adapt to the circumstances in the tournament. You''ve had a small taste of what to expect in the last two days. You''ve made the preparations to face the future mentally, physically, and academically.... But practical experience-wise, you''ve been lagging behind.


    At least here, in the Titanfall Archipelago, you cannot hope to fight on for long without some training, some feats that require your every field of expertise, and academic excellence that could stand undefeated even in the face of the entire planet!


    Right now, I hereby declare the initiation of your new learning curriculum, which you''re obliged to follow. Your masters will provide you with the details and guide you to the best of their ability.


    Make me proud of the Crimson Snow Sect!


    Make yourselves proud of the Crimson Snow Sect! Make the world proud of the Crimson Snow Sect!"


    Han Xuhan enthusiastically began to clap as soon as Xuan Zi''s voice fell silent. The rest of the disciples nearby followed and soon, the entire outer court was clapping, cheering, and hooting furiously.


    "Speeches are easy to celebrate, hard to manifest. Moreso in this case because from what I''ve seen, your new curriculum is...pretty harsh."


    Kong Ye''s sympathetic remark was like a bucket of cold water, shocking the four martial siblings back to concrete reality.


    When an ambitious teacher labeled a curriculum as ''pretty harsh''....it would probably carry some health hazards.


    The ominous premonition they had felt upon hearing Kong Ye''s comment turned out to be more than accurate, as the main objective of the day''s lesson was declared by the elders in every mountain peak simultaneously.


    "Find out the location of the largest spatial crack around the floating island of the Crimson Snow sect."


    Han Xuhan was stunned when he heard the sentence coming out of Kong Ye''s mouth.


    Wasn''t this considered against the rules? That the elders weren''t supposed to interfere with the sect''s progress in the tournament?


    He had asked the question immediately. But the answer he had gotten made sense too.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    "The rule states that all information regarding the Titanfall Archipelago must be unearthed and analyzed by the disciples themselves. A disciple of our sect has already developed a preliminary analysis of the nature of the spatial cracks. He may or may not be factually correct," Kong Ye had said with a goofy grin on his face. "But the information he has provided is enough for us to use without breaking that rule. Hahaha!"


    "But how are we supposed to accomplish this objective?" Xuhan couldn''t help but complain. "The spatial cracks keep moving! It might just move away randomly after we''ve discovered it. Even if we find out the locations of all the cracks around us, there''s no way to measure their sizes and compare."


    Kong Ye looked unperturbed.


    "Indeed, if it was that easy, Master Zi wouldn''t have added the task to your curriculum. We, the elders cannot guide you on this without breaking the rules, unfortunately. This makes me unable to answer your question."


    "Then how is this a ''lesson''?" Yuen Zhou spoke out in a displeased tone. "Sect master did say this is a part of our academic development."


    "Because, you''re going to have to use the techniques at your disposal to accomplish this objective and unless you''re already good at techniques involving the concept of space, you''ll be needing our guidance. We cannot help you find the spatial cracks, but we can help you learn the techniques which will be of use to you."


    Han Xuhan scratched his head. Their elders were really good at toeing the line without breaking the law. But why was Xuan Zi so insistent on this type of curriculum? Was he so hell-bent on getting a good position in the tournament rankings?


    "All right. Enough with the questions now. Tell me, disciples, what do you think the first step should be if you need to locate and measure the spatial cracks?"


    Kong Ye stepped forward and put a foot down on the steep landing leading to the ocean.


    The four martial siblings exchanged nervous looks and inched a bit closer to the edge, watching their teacher act like an adrenaline junkie.


    "Since it is a problem related to spatial concepts, the first step should probably be to learn a technique related to space," Yuen Zhou answered hesitantly.


    "Indeed, that is the best approach. But you lot don''t have the qualifications yet to comprehend any such technique. So rule that one out of your options and think again."


    This time Kong Ye put his other foot down as well and began to slide downward slowly, using his hands to grip onto the tough soil and slow down his speed of descent. The soil on the edges of the island had been created by the low-level formations of the Celestial Gateway spell. It was not as stable as the actual soil it was imitating. As a powerful cultivator, Kong Ye could easily control his velocity on its surface, which he did so cautiously that his speed would lose to a turtle.


    Looking around, Han Xuhan realized that the other elders on the nearby mountain peaks were also descending down the slopes, each of them in different ways. Some had directly leaped off the edge and firmly planted their feet into the bottom of the island''s periphery. Some were standing on the hilt of a flying sword thrust into rocks. One master had even weaved a white net in that area at some point and was urging her disciples to jump just like she had.


    He shivered as he tried to imagine what a fall from this height would feel like. The island was at least 500 meters above the sea. A normal human could not possibly survive a 50-meter fall, let alone 500. Even his enhanced physique might not have an intact organ left if he fell from here.


    Mu Ran was the first to follow Kong Ye''s tracks. But Instead of sliding down like him, Mu Ran simply hopped off the edge, hurtling towards a rocky protrusion at the bottom of the island''s rim.


    "WHOAAA!"


    "MASTER! BEHIND YOU!"


    "WATCH OUT!"


    All three of them at the peak shouted in alarm. Kong Ye did not, however, need to be warned. He did not even turn around, but a rubbery whip made of qi lashed out from his back and wrapped around Mu Ran''s feet, dragging him away from the deadly trajectory. Mu Ran''s body slammed down hard on a tiny, flat area on the slope. But he was back on his feet in a flash, no injuries visible.


    "There were safer methods of coming down." Kong Ye scowled, coming to a stop halfway down his slide.


    Mu Ran put his fists together and performed a short bow. "I have full trust in you, master. How could you let me fall to my death so easily? Hahaha!"


    Kong Ye had a helpless expression on his face, but it seemed apparent that he was satisfied by Mu Ran''s reply.


    Back on the peak, Han Xuhan gasped.


    Is this still the Mu Ran I know?! Heavens!


    It did feel like something a protagonist might do...but it did not fit Mu Ran''s template at all.


    "Do you three need an invitation?" Kong Ye loudly called from below before beginning to slide down once more. Yuen Zhou sighed and stepped forward, choosing a relatively smooth route to descend.


    A couple of daggers appeared in her hands as she slid down, imitating Kong Ye. Every few meters, she stabbed the daggers into the soil to regulate her speed.


    It wasn''t a very sophisticated method, but it at least looked better than Kong Ye''s brutish style.


    Xiao Wu and Han Xuhan looked at each other''s pale faces and then at the rest of the mountain peaks.


    An unprecedented sight greeted their eyes.


    Hundreds of disciples were climbing, leaping, hopping, flying, stabbing, and crying their way down the mountains!


    He had read many poems in the mortal world, depicting the myths of celestial, epics of heroes, and tales of demons descending from peaks as high as the heavens.


    But he had never imagined a scene this impactful.


    Is this what it really is like to be a cultivator?


    Meanwhile, Xiao Wu became the third disciple to go down. He did not choose any techniques, relying just on his powerful physique to jump from rock to rock. A few leaps later, the rock he landed on broke off, and Xiao Wu screamed the rest of the way down before Kong Ye stopped and caught him using his qi whip. Xiao Wu was left dangling upside down in the air far below the lowest point of the island.


    "Little Zhe, go play inside," Han Xuhan resolutely ordered before canceling her summon. He took a good look below and decided on his route without hesitation.


    Kong Ye was nearly at the bottom of the slope when he heard the thunderous sounds behind him. Twisting his neck around, he saw his disciple Han Xuhan swooping down the mountain. Only, his method looked exceedingly cool, not befitting his level of cultivation. It would have been more appropriate had he been a majestic cultivator with unfathomable cultivation!


    "St-stop!" Kong Ye shouted weakly.


    Han Xuhan, the weakest disciple of the Crimson Snow Sect, was heroically running his way down the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain, his speed increasing faster and faster with every step, every second, every meter!


    And his route was the exact one of his master!


    A second later, Han Xuhan crashed right into his target, his safety net, the back of his teacher, pretty much flying the last dozen feet.

 Chapter 186: Complex Objectives, Simple Plans

    "Have you thought out any answers to my question yet?" Kong Ye asked.


    Han Xuhan and Co. stood side by side, feet planted firmly on the lowermost edge of the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak, just a dozen feet shy of a deadly drop.


    "What do you think the first step should be if we want to accomplish today''s objective?" Kong Ye reiterated his question.


    "We can use water. Just transport a large amount of seawater from below and use a pipe to spray the water in every direction around the island. The regions where the spatial cracks are at the moment can be easily detected that way, I suppose," Yuen Zhou said.


    Han Xuhan mentally slapped himself for never thinking of an idea so simple. It was much easier to implement compared to the chaotic plans he had been trying to formulate.


    Kong Ye clapped his palms together, looking satisfied. But judging by the surprised expression he had been trying to hide, Han Xuhan surmised that he hadn''t thought of that idea either.


    "Excellent, excellent! You read my mind, disciple! That''s a very good plan. But to collect that much seawater, you''d need more than the collective physical strength of you four. Do any of you know a technique that can help you?"


    The four of them traded glances among themselves.


    As far as Han Xuhan knew, Yuen Zhou practiced two techniques- a zombie-controlling technique and a flying sword-controlling technique. He had never seen either of them in the sect''s archives.


    Mu Ran''s main technique was a crossbreed between martial arts and qi manipulation. Another technique he had seen him use was the Astral Heatwave spell, but neither should be useful here...


    Xiao Wu practiced a technique to enhance his physical strength. Han Xuhan did not know whether he had any accomplishments in the spirit beast nurturing technique, but it did not seem likely.


    As for Han Xuhan himself....he couldn''t do much either.


    Seeing the lack of feedback, Kong Ye sighed. "I can''t help you here, disciples. And it''s too late for you to learn the appropriate techniques to practice right now."


    "So....can we go back and continue to cultivate?" Mu Ran asked hopefully.


    Han Xuhan elbowed him from the back, not very subtly. This new routine was devised by Xuan Zi himself, and that man had made it clear that all disciples were obliged to participate. Not doing so just because they did not know any techniques to help them would be pretty disrespectful.


    Han Xuhan still remembered his first meeting with Xuan Zi. Despite his easygoing nature, the sect master was not exactly a kind, sympathetic, reasonable fellow.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    "We can think of other methods. It wouldn''t be appropriate to go back right now," Xiao Wu spoke up.


    Kong Ye nodded. "Take your time, but that doesn''t mean you can just sit around and talk. There''s a good reward awaiting the mountain peak whose disciples make the best progress, and naturally, the disciples whose performance can be ranked at the bottom will be given....some less-than-rewarding tasks."


    Han Xuhan ran his thoughts faster than ever as soon as he heard that warning. Maybe watching the disciples from other mountain peaks might provide a clue?


    However, from where they were standing, the numerous disciples he had seen at the peak were not visible. The few he could see seemed as puzzled as they were.


    He tried his hardest to see if any abnormalities could be detected with his second vision, the Ghostsight. But it did not produce any results either, which made sense. The Ghostsight was a tool to see the Consciousness Matrix, not their current macrocosm. How would it have the ability to detect spatial cracks?


    But right after he retracted his focus from the second vision, a rather blunt method took shape in his head.


    "Boss," he prodded a sulking Mu Ran, saying, "Can you use your qi manipulation technique to create threads?"


    Han Xuhan''s plan was simple. Just like his previous encounter with these spatial cracks, he was going to execute a strategy best summarized as- throwing stones in the dark.


    To examine so many spatial cracks, throwing rocks and soil at empty air was not a very effective approach. Otherwise, someone would have tried this already. It was hardly a genius solution. No one would resort to it unless they were as desperate as Han Xuhan had been at that time.


    Moreover, there were still some doubts in his mind about how these cracks worked, which defeated a few of his other plans.


    Threads made up of qi on the other hand were expendable. He wanted to use a large number of threads to fish for the cracks.


    "Threads? Do you want to use them to dangle yourself down and look for the cracks?" Mu Ran asked.


    "Not exactly," Xuhan replied, bending down to pick up a couple of small, but heavy rocks. "Boss, make me a qi thread. You''ll see what I''m trying to do."


    Under the curious eyes of the rest, Mu Ran began to harness qi from the surroundings. Kong Ye helped by drawing qi around from further away, increasing the production rate of the thread Mu Ran was producing.


    "Helping my disciple cultivate doesn''t break the rules," he said to their inquisitive looks. "I don''t care what he does with the qi. From what I see, my disciple is simply trying to cultivate."


    With a nasty smile on his face, Mu Ran sped up his accumulation and conversion of the qi from gaseous to liquid, and then to a solid state. Yuen Zhou began to help by cutting the solidified qi into cylindrical, thin shapes, as befitting a thick rope. Xiao Wu joined the teamwork by connecting the suitable chunks and constructing a long, smooth chain of solid qi.


    As for Han Xuhan...he offered encouragement by cheering every few seconds.


    "Awesome, boss! That chunk won''t even need to be processed anymore. Brother Wu will add it to the chain right away."


    "NICE! How do you even control that much qi at once? I can''t even do one-tenth of that!"


    "Wow! The transition from fluid to solid was so smooth!"


    Of course, most of his praise was for Mu Ran, with a few reserved for Xiao Wu. Mu Ran did not need the cheers, but he wanted them. Xiao Wu did not want the cheers, but he needed them.


    Kong Ye''s gaze shifted between the two parties his disciples were divided in. When Han Xuhan met his eyes, he saw a faint shadow of admiration there.


    This was respect to the hustle!


    "Hey, underling, how long does this thread need to be?" Mu Ran said as the length of the joined chunks of qi crossed the ten-meter mark.


    "Boss, surely this cannot be your limit!" Han Xuhan exclaimed in disbelief. "It needs to be much longer than that. In fact, the longer the thread becomes, the more useful it will be for you, for us."


    Mu Ran nodded and went back to work. Despite his many shortcomings, this guy was an absolute beast in practical tasks. Even Yuen Zhou could not keep up with his speed and quality of performance, although she wouldn''t lose by much.


    In the meantime, Han Xuhan summoned Tun Shi Tian.


    "Progress?" he said in a monotone.


    "Just as you asked for. Two cycles away from completion of the claw armor." Tun Shi Tian appeared very honest and straightforward.


    Zhanxian must have made it too obvious that he was being monitored. Perhaps the threat Han Xuhan had made was already known to the owl...exactly as Xuhan had envisioned.


    He widened the smile on his face and gave Tun Shi Tian a look full of approval. "That''s awesome! I totally forgive your earlier misconduct which resulted in the destruction of my house."


    "...Uh, thanks, master. This one does not deserve such benevolence!"


    Tun Shi Tian''s panic was growing, and Han Xuhan was going to nurture this panic with much care.

 Chapter 187: Measuring Spatial Fissures

    The final product was almost twenty meters long, with a girth reaching half a centimeter, questionable toughness, and nearly nonexistent elasticity.


    Calling it a thread or a rope would be a mistake; it bore more resemblance to a bendy plastic pipe.


    But Han Xuhan was satisfied. While the three laborers rested, he explained the plan to Tun Shi Tian and began the preparation.


    After throwing a few stones, he determined a rough, incomplete map of the spatial cracks in the area right below the island.


    "Try not to do that too much, disciple. The island holds our entire sect right now. Even the smallest damages done to it may add up to a result we can not afford to face. Every stone, each fistful of sand here is important."


    Kong Ye''s warning put an end to this part of the plan. Han Xuhan had no idea whether the warning had any deeper meaning behind it, or if Kong Ye was just being extra cautious. He doubted he would get an answer even if he asked.


    Right at that moment, a burst of celebratory cheers from nearby attracted their attention. All of them craned their necks past a rocky border and found the source of the sound, a team of disciples from another mountain peak.


    These guys had already formulated a plan, it seemed. One of them was meditating, while the rest of the team rushed around, laying down a qi-gathering formation for her.


    "What are you looking at?" said a guy suddenly, halting his work. He blocked the pretty, meditating girl from their sight, appearing displeased at the peeking.


    Han Xuhan turned around and saw that Kong Ye had lost interest and walked away already. No wonder this disciple had the guts to be so mouthy!


    "I''m looking at Ning Lan. You got a problem with that?" Mu Ran barked back ferociously.


    Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu whipped their heads toward Mu Ran in surprise.


    He knew the girl?


    "Who the fuck is Ning Lan? That''s my sister Shui Ling!" The young man on the other end shouted indignantly.


    "Thanks, brother," Mu Ran replied with an evil chuckle. "Come Xuhan, our work here is done." He went back with a victorious smile on his face.


    However, he completely missed the even more evil grin that took shape on that young man''s face seeing him leave.


    "Hmph! Do you think you''re the only one who has read ''How To Make A Harem: A Perfect Guide To A Blissful Marital Life¡¯? How foolish!" He said in a low voice to Mu Ran''s disappearing back.


    "And the rest of you, you better stop peeking! Have you no shame, no self-respect? Trying to steal our method?"


    "Cocky bastard..." Xiao Wu muttered some incomprehensible words under his breath.


    The three of them backed off. This tournament was beginning to arouse the competitive spirit inside everyone''s hearts. Han Xuhan did not find the discovery comforting.


    * * * * *


    Yuen Zhou found it rather concerning how her martial brother Xuhan ALWAYS walked around with a plan, ready for almost any situation. This observation had strengthened her belief that his mediocrity was a carefully woven front to hide his real colors.


    Han Xuhan could possibly be the most insidious adversary she had faced so far after her regression.


    But try as she might, she could not recall anyone he could be linked to from her memories of that past life.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    What could his motives be?


    Was Mu Ran really the centerpiece of the events that would lead to the destruction of this planet?


    After interacting with both of them for so long, Yuen Zhou was beginning to doubt it.


    In her past life, Mu Ran had been well known for carrying this guilt, the evidence transparent enough to convict him.


    Could it have been an elaborate ploy staged by Han Xuhan, or whatever power was behind him?


    Regardless, she wasn''t planning to leave this planet anytime soon. The world outside the neutral territory was nothing short of terrifying, especially for abnormalities like herself. This planet being blown into smithereens was not a future she would let happen...no matter what it took.


    "Sister Zhou! Need some help here!" Han Xuhan shouted, bringing her out of the gloomy introspection.


    Mu Ran and Xiao Wu were struggling to control the large, delicate chain of solid qi. The density of the chain was not consistent throughout its body and some parts were slowly melting away.


    Qi is chaotic by nature. It follows few of the natural principles that other elements of nature uphold. Even the millennia-long legacy of the current world of cultivation had not yet managed to pinpoint some fundamental characteristics of qi, for instance, the melting point, the boiling point, the freezing temperature, maximum density, and so on.


    Good thing was, she had predicted something like this might happen, and so had Kong Ye, by the looks of it.


    Both of them timely rushed forward to help stabilize the weaker portions of the chain.


    "Little Tian, see if you can carry that thing up and fly comfortably," Han Xuhan''s voice came from one side.


    Flapping its wings, his undead bird landed in front of her and grabbed the chain at one end with a claw.


    Yuen Zhou noticed the improvement made to the qi armor protecting the owl''s claw. This too was solidified qi, except its properties were completely different from the chain they had produced in the last fifteen minutes.


    The qi armor over Tun Shi Tian''s claw was not just a physical object, but also a spiritually connected manifestation of a measured, tested cultivation technique. Its stability was beyond question.


    Letting undead beings cultivate...was an area she very much wished to explore, especially now after seeing what Han Xuhan was doing with his minions.


    Burning with curiosity, she watched the owl skeleton take flight with an unsteady dive, dragging the chain of qi with it.


    "I can fly, but not comfortably. This thing is HEAVY!"


    The owl''s struggle was apparent to everyone''s eyes. It flapped its wings rapidly, forcefully, to stay afloat. The powerful wind was not making things easier for it either.


    "Yeah, that''s enough. Remember the plan. Let''s begin!"


    Tun Shi Tian swooped downwards, following the trail of flight Han Xuhan had apparently instructed it to.


    "On your right! Slow down and swing the chain!"


    Tun Shi Tian rapidly spun in the air, nearly a hundred feet below the island. The momentum made the chain of qi lash out in an arc.


    Nothing happened.


    "Go about ten feet lower and repeat!" Han Xuhan shouted.


    This time, the bottom part of the chain seemed to disappear for the fraction of a second during its descent.


    "Found the crack!" Han Xuhan pumped his fists in the air.


    "Now, the second step, slowly lower the chain at that exact spot."


    All of them looked on with interest as the chain seemed to get shorter and shorter the lower Tun Shi Tian went.


    "Come back up, at the same speed!"


    The chain began to elongate. Like a magician pulling out long scarves from a tiny pocket, that spot in the air produced the portion of the chain it had devoured.


    "Good! Now we can be certain that the spatial cracks do not directly transfer anything by mere touch. Things are allowed to exist both inside the crack and outside the crack at the same time."


    Yuen Zhou''s core strategy in dealing with the spatial cracks was utmost caution. Her knowledge of spatial concepts did not exceed the basics of what a cultivator was expected to know at the peak of the Dao Integration Realm. But she had never seen a phenomenon like this, where the law of gravity was clearly not functioning properly and so many cracks in space had opened up simultaneously, yet there was no distortion, no damage done to the environment, no effect on the elements surrounding the cracks.


    Yuen Zhou herself had investigated one of them the moment she had gotten the chance, having even traveled past the void inside and visited the sect at the other side of the crack.


    Her visit had been quick, as she had returned to the Crimson Snow Sect immediately after disabling the two disciples guarding the area she had landed on.


    What had made her be wary of the cracks was not the enemy on the other sides, but the phenomenon during her transportation through them.


    The tour had left her with a surprise from an unexpected source, the void itself, and she was not the only one. The set of sharp set of artificial teeth she had found herself carrying after her return was an interesting piece of work.


    The craftsmanship definitely belonged to a Rank-2 civilization. It had taken her an hour to figure out its purpose, which was to...be a set of dentures for low-level cultivators with irreparable oral injuries.


    Harmless as it was, Yuen Zhou did not at all trust a place where everyone was being handed foreign treasures while their senses were shut off.


    She had thought of a way to get rid of it pretty fast.


    The opportunity would come within a day or two...


    So far, she approved of the way Han Xuhan was experimenting on the cracks. With his minion''s safety on the line, there was no need for him to take the risks. It saved her the trouble of taking up the mantle as the head of their team and exploring this suspicious ''source of treasures''.


    "Let''s move on to the third step. You know what to do!" Han Xuhan yelled after Tun Shi Tian had repeated the second step multiple times smoothly.


    The owl hooted in acknowledgment and began to fly in circles with the chain of qi swinging below.


    "First circle, FIVE SECONDS!" Both Xuhan and Tun Shi Tian chanted together. There was no way to measure the radius of its flight in the air. So they had adopted a measurement based on time!


    "One!"


    "Two!"


    "Three!"


    "Four!"


    "Five!"


    "The first circle can fit inside the spatial crack!" Han Xuhan clapped loudly with a victorious laugh as the bottom of the chain stayed inside the crack throughout its circular course.


    This way, once they managed to figure out the circle that no longer fit the crack, measuring its size would be easy, provided of course that it didn''t move away within this period.


    "This is...easy, I gotta say," Mu Ran said, thumping him on the back with a surprised smile. Both Kong Ye and Xiao Wu on the other hand seemed to have expected something similar to happen.


    "Second circle! Eight seconds!" Han Xuhan declared, and this time all four of them counted down the numbers together, having gotten the hang of his plan.

 Chapter 188: The Domain of Time

    The bottom end of the chain of qi that had disappeared for a while suddenly appeared in their sights during Tun Shi Tian''s fourth circular flight track.


    It almost seemed as if something had thrown the chain''s other end out, putting it back to its original spatial region.


    The radius of Tun Shi Tian''s current orbit was nearly ten meters. The reappearance of the rest of the length of the chain indicated that this invisible spatial crack was almost circular.


    This also confirmed the answer to a more important question Han Xuhan had been wondering about.


    Could the edges of the spatial cracks be...deadly?


    He had never read anything on this topic from the scientific community on earth. The junk novels and movies he could recall having such concepts all unanimously confirmed that a separation or warping of space would directly decimate anything occupying the space.


    Some of the more wild literature even had scenes of the main characters using their powers to cut space itself and disemeber their opponents, break past solid obstacles, destroy super robust treasures...


    Naturally, he had been brooding over the issue ever since his journey into the cracks. But now, the chain looked totally unscathed after directly crossing the edge of a spatial crack! It seemed more like the chain had been dangling inside a large basin, and when it hit the walls of the basin due to being spun in circles, it got thrown off trajectory.


    This threw the logical scenario in his mind off balance.


    "Stop! Hover in that position!" Han Xuhan yelled.


    Tun Shi Tian, having realized it as well, lowered his speed and began to circle that area where the bottom end of the chain had reappeared, balancing the momentum of the chain below.


    "Boss, can you sense the chain from here?" Xuhan asked Mu Ran, who nodded confidently.


    "Alright. Little Tian! Lower the chain by ten more feet. Then swing it slowly, but only forward and backward this time."


    Under his command, the chain was soon set in a pendulous motion. After adjusting his position in the air by a few feet, Tun Shi Tian soon found the exact spot where the chain of qi had fully come out of the spatial crack, in other words, the ''wall'' of spatial fissure.


    "Lower it and then raise it up. Keep repeating that." All four of them stooped as low as possible from where they were standing to focus the entirety of their attention on the chain of qi.


    The chain went up and down, half of its length disappearing and reappearing continuously right at the boundary of the spatial crack. After five repetitions, all of them noticed a change.


    "Stop!" Han Xuhan ordered.


    "The chain is shorter than before," Mu Ran confirmed their thoughts. Being the one in control of most of the qi on the chain, his connection with it was better than the rest. After a careful examination, he added, "The bottom part is melting off."


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Yuen Zhou looked like she wanted to say something, but scrapped the idea in the end.


    Han Xuhan was lost. What could possibly cause this effect?


    The chain of qi should have been fairly stable after going through multiple rounds of furnishing by Yuen Zhou, Xiao Wu, and Mu Ran. Kong Ye had approved of it himself.


    Turning to their teacher, Han Xuhan laid out his question very sincerely.


    "Teacher, how does warped space affect a material object?"


    Kong Ye glanced behind as if looking out for eavesdroppers.


    "The answer to this question can be found on the third floor of our Archive Pavilli-"


    BOOM!


    A white bolt of lightning directly hit Kong Ye. Han Xuhan could not even see which direction it had originated from. Kong Ye looked physically unaffected and mentally unfazed, definitely having expected that.


    "Told you." He sighed. "It''s rare to see competitions where the rules are intentionally kept hidden. Even we elders are making mistakes, tsk tsk...this will have consequences."


    His gaze locked on Han Xuhan with unnatural stiffness, as if trying to relay a hint silently. After a few seconds, he looked away and added, "I may not have the permission to answer your question, or even guide you to the answer, but I have the liberty to correct your mistakes. Disciple Xuhan, you asked me how warped space can affect a material object...but are you dealing with a material object?


    Kong Ye''s question made Han Xuhan''s thoughts slam to a halt.


    Indeed, qi has never been considered a material object. The most agreed-upon consensus was that qi is an element existing between the material and the ethereal world, able to freely transition from one to another and adapt to any atmosphere.


    Han Xuhan''s eyes were locked on Kong Ye''s meaningful smile. He could try visiting the Archives right now to find the answers to his question, of course. But...


    The fact that Kong Ye had been punished the moment he broke the rule meant that they were under observation. Going to the archives to use the information Kong Ye had let out would also possibly be taken into account.


    He recalled how emphatically Kong Ye had stared at him when he said that there would be consequences for leaking the information.


    Han Xuhan decided to not pursue the matter, not right now at least.


    However, there was no way he''d give up on it, rather, he had just thought of a more roundabout method to approach the answer.


    "Er...so what are we doing now?" Xiao Wu tentatively asked, breaking the silent stare-off between Han Xuhan and Kong Ye.


    "Tun Shi Tian!" Han Xuhan called.


    "Yes, master?"


    "Repeat that set of movements ten more times."


    "...Sure."


    The four martial siblings sat with their feet hanging over the three-hundred-meter drop. Their eyes were not on Little Tian this time, because both on their right and left, far more interesting scenarios were taking place.


    "Those guys are from the Steel Searing Heaven Peak, right? Look at that assortment of weapons! Heavens!" Xiao Wu exclaimed.


    He was talking about the group of disciples on the far right, who were hanging from the bottom of the floating island using chainhooks. Brandishing their weapons, they had stirred up a strange force-field of some sort, which distorted the air below them and accomplished some other purpose that Han Xuhan and co. could not decipher. But they certainly looked very happy at their progress, that much was evident by the cheers and whistles audible from a distance exceeding a hundred meters.


    "That girl is from the Silent Snow mountain peak. She''s the one I peeked at bathing...by accident. She hasn''t spoken to me since I beat her up. I wonder why!"


    Mu Ran was pointing at a girl who was floating in the air, at the same height as Tun Shi Tian, a storm of snowflakes surrounding her like a protective shell.


    The source of the snowstorm seemed to be her teammates, who were standing at the edge of the island''s lowest regions like the four of them.


    So far, only these two teams of disciples had gotten bold enough to directly get close to the spatial cracks and experiment like them. But this did not mean the rest of the teams of disciples were sitting still.


    Many disciples had already had experiences of traveling through the spatial cracks. They would continue to brainstorm and come up with ideas Han Xuhan could not conceive.


    The numerous cultivation techniques practiced in this sect would show their worth now. Surely, some of those techniques would be a perfect fit for the task Xuan Zi had set for them.


    "Master, I''m done!" Tun Shi Tian screeched suddenly.


    Han Xuhan asked the owl to bring up the chain of qi and take some rest...to rejuvenate its mental state, as the undead minion couldn''t really feel physical fatigue.


    More than half of the chain was gone. The bottom that remained was melting off at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    "Stabilize it," Han Xuhan ordered. Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu immediately cast their mental influence over the chain.


    Within ten mere seconds, the melting stopped.


    "Halt!" Han Xuhan raised a hand. "Can you sense any difference in the qi here? Is it the same thing we sent below there or has the qi undergone any changes?"


    "Other than going out of my command at that time, nothing has changed," Mu Ran answered.


    "If it was not carried into the spatial crack, how long would your command last?" He asked.


    "If it had been purely under my control, then more than an hour. But martial sister Zhou and brother Wu also had their share of influence over its solidity. So, I don''t know..."


    "No matter how much weaker our commands are, I don''t think the chain would fall apart this fast. It hasn''t even been ten minutes since we constructed it," Xiao Wu said in a displeased tone.


    Yuen Zhou nodded in assent.


    Han Xuhan sighed.


    "Guys, I might have an idea why this has happened."


    Five necks snapped towards him, their gazes boring into his face.


    "We have, perhaps, tapped into the key to manipulating time," Han Xuhan announced unceremoniously.

 Chapter 189: Secondary Objectives, Tertiary Learning

    The stare Kong Ye had fixed on his face was so full of suspicion that Han Xuhan was beginning to regret revealing his theory.


    "Manipulating time?! That''s....not something we can control, right?" Xiao Wu said hesitantly.


    "Exactly how did you reach that conclusion, disciple?'''' Kong Ye enunciated each of his words with an unnecessary amount of force.


    Han Xuhan''s eyes flickered towards his martial siblings, taking in the look on each of their faces.


    Mu Ran¡ª dumbfounded.


    Yuen Zhou¡ª Expressionless.


    Xiao Wu¡ª Confused.


    "I thought hard about the possible answers to this phenomenon," he began by pointing at the molten tail of the chain.


    "The conclusion I''ve reached is based upon martial brother Mu Ran''s information - that normally, the chain would only begin to destabilize after more than a couple of hours has passed without his command."


    Mu Ran''s shock seemed to grow further at that.


    "So, I adopted a very simple assumption; a couple of hours have passed already, not for us, but for this chain of qi."


    If countenances could make sounds, Han Xuhan was sure that a collective of ''What the fuck are you on about?'' would be heard at that moment.


    "....That''s it? You based your solution on a theory that you made up on the spot without any logic?" Kong Ye barked, his eyes getting narrower and narrower.


    Han Xuhan really wished he could explain the logic he had applied to reach his conclusion. But he had no idea how to begin elaborating on how the curving of space due to tremendous gravitational force could induce a change in the relative perception of timeflow.


    He hadn''t studied astrophysics in his previous life. All he could recall was that this phenomenon was well-known during his lifetime, which had garnered his interest as a curious child. But other than the general description provided for the convenience of laymen like him, he didn''t know anything else about the topic, let alone being able to explain why it happened.


    From the undercurrents he could sense right now, nobody would believe it if he told the truth. While the source of his logical reasoning was not from this world, the answer itself must have hit the mark.


    "Well?" Kong Ye''s tone grew even harsher, demanding a better answer.


    But that was okay.


    Because he had already thought of a fairly convincing argument to support his conclusion. In fact, the argument was so convincing that he himself felt pretty optimistic about its chances of being correct.


    "Teacher, do you remember the knee guard I came back carrying unconsciously after my journey through the spatial cracks?" he asked. "Didn''t you tell me that most of the disciples who had entered the spatial cracks to explore have returned with similar miscellaneous objects?"


    Kong Ye nodded. "What about it?"


    "If you think about it, no matter how many miscellaneous objects are lying around in that void between the two sides of the cracks, it is extremely unlikely for one to simply traverse through the area and get in touch with one of the items in there within the span of a few seconds."


    Mu Ran and Xiao Wu gasped as the blocks fell into their positions in their minds, connecting Han Xuhan''s theory with their experience.


    "This seed of doubt has long taken root in my mind. And right now, after seeing how the chain of qi has melted as if it has been hours since martial brother Mu Ran commanded it, it seems quite likely that the rate of timeflow inside and outside the spatial cracks are not harmonious and parallel.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Rather, one moment here can mean hours inside that void.


    Disciples who had gotten the strange items must have been inside the void for hours and hours, which greatly increased their chances of coming into contact with those things.


    It now makes perfect sense why such a high portion of the disciples came out carrying an item or two. After all, the blocked perception inside the void makes it hard to tell precisely how much time has passed."


    "It does add up..." Xiao Wu trailed off, lost in thought. He was one of the disciples who hadn''t gone below to explore the spatial cracks. He did not have any experience to match with Han Xuhan''s theory.


    None of the rest countered his logic either, and Kong Ye tried to shift away from the topic after sending one last complex look his way.


    "Since I''m not even allowed to tell you whether you''re on the right track or not, I suppose you should really just proceed with that theory if no one has got better ideas. Nonetheless, your objective today is not to delve into what lies behind the spatial cracks. You only need to measure their size. You''ve already found a way to do that, so the path forward should be easy now."


    "Of course, of course," Han Xuhan agreed vehemently, nodding like a chicken. "We''ll get right to it, teacher."


    And so they did...well, Tun Shi Tian did most of the work in reality while Han Xuhan ordered the owl around from the edge of the floating island. It was a good thing that the unpredictable catastrophe routine had been temporarily suspended. Otherwise, they''d never proceed so far on the task.


    The sun had set by the time they were done examining the entire region below the floating island, almost half a kilometer of space.


    Han Xuhan noted down the measurement of the last spatial crack there and revised their findings so far.


    Eleven spatial cracks had been discovered by their team this evening. Some of them were circular in shape, some unclear, and some like narrow fissures. The sizes of the cracks varied, from a radius of just three meters to a twenty-five meters wide maw.


    And they weren''t even the only team to have found a way to perform the task set by the sect master. On their side of the island, two other teams had managed to do the same. One of them was surprisingly using the method Yuen Zhou had come up with. Two members of the team practiced techniques related to telekinesis, perhaps. Countless large blobs of water had risen from the sea, floating around below, around, and above the island lazily.


    Whenever a blob suddenly went missing, that area would be fully surrounded by dozens of smaller, widely spread clumps of water, bringing out the approximate size and shape of the spatial crack there.


    These guys were much more efficient that Tun Shi Tian. By sunset, Han Xuhan doubted they had left a single inch of the area nearby unexamined.


    At this time, the familiar magnified voice of the sect master echoed from the top of the island in every direction.


    "Disciples! You''ve worked hard! It is heartening to see that all the spatial cracks around our island have been found and measured already! You''ve made this old man proud."


    It would be an understatement to say that Han Xuhan and his martial siblings were startled. Even Kong Ye seemed taken aback.


    "Counsellor Luo Yi and I have been watching your progress. The main assignment today was to find out the largest spatial crack around us. A big congratulations to Heaven Grazing Snow peak''s second team for accomplishing this objective!"


    Thunderous sounds of slow clapping ensued, which was probably just Xuan Zi and Luo Yi clapping politely. How the hell did that noise magnifier spell even work? Han Xuhan was really interested to know.


    "From today, till tomorrow evening, all chores and duties of this team will be delegated to the teams with the lowest level of performance in this session. Team Two and Team Four of the Incorporeal Snow Peak and Team One of the Silent Snow Peak, these three teams are hereby assigned with this task. I''d advise the disciples in this team to make haste and get to work, because there is a TON of chores left in the Heaven Grazing Snow Peak, hahaha!"


    This time, Luo Yi could be heard laughing maliciously alongside Xuan Zi.


    Han Xuhan could not help but shiver. Ever since they had arrived in this archipelago, all sorts of odd jobs and miscellaneous tasks that used to be handled by failed disciples and mortal laborers back in the sect were piling up. Washing robes, gathering daily necessities, cooking, cleaning, repairing, shopping, transactions and many more jobs had created a mountain-sized backlog. Whoever was made to tackle this problem would be in deep, deep trouble.


    Sect master Zi was a real crafty fellow. He knew that the disciples themselves would never properly focus on solving the issue, at least not in a situation as tense as the tournament. So he was using the competitive lesson scheme as an excuse to get these things done.


    "This is so unfair!" Mu Ran complained. "It is entirely dependent on luck! How would we know which spatial crack is the largest one without measuring each and every one of them? If someone is lucky enough, they can measure just one crack and become the champion immediately."


    It was rather unbecoming of him, least of all people to complain about luck, but Han Xuhan didn''t voice that thought.


    "Not necessarily," Kong Ye said in a consoling tone. "Perhaps they executed a technique to figure out exactly where the largest spatial crack was around the island. Would that fall under luck? Nope!"


    As the four disciples and one very hardworking skeleton owl sighed in dissatisfaction, Xuan Zi''s shout boomed through the island once more.


    "Madam Yi has an announcement to make, disciples!"


    Luo Yi''s disembodied voice came right after.


    "As most of you are aware, some rules of the tournament have been changed and a new mode of competition has been prepared for all competing sects.


    I''ve just received the news that the new mode will be initiated tonight!


    The rules are simple! Every 24 hours, every sect needs to send a team of disciples to sneak into another sect''s territory and steal a certain treasure that they will keep hidden. As always, no elders shall interfere in the clashes. Also, the safety measures beyond the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm protecting the treasure right now will be disabled in order to ensure a fair competition.


    After one week, whoever has the highest number of the treasures shall be declared as the winner of this event and the top ten sects in this list shall automatically reach the second round regardless of their accrued points in the current ranking system.


    You may attack other sects as many times as you want, but you can only attack each sect once a day. If your attack on the first day fails, look for another sect to attack if you want to. Wait for the day to pass, and you may attack the same sect again the next day. For further details, your team leaders can come meet me for consultation. Good luck!"


    Han Xuhan was completely caught off guard. As he met his fellow disciples'' gazes, he saw them mirroring the same look. But right then, Xuan Zi''s voice returned to make things even worse!


    "Today''s session was, of course, an introductory lesson. I know many of you are disappointed in yourselves, at your teachers even, for not having the appropriate techniques in your arsenal to perform well. But worry not, because tomorrow, you lot have a new chance to prove yourselves on a playing field with different rules, and a different objective.


    Today, you have located and measured each and every spatial crack surrounding our island. Tomorrow, all of you shall locate and measure the spatial cracks surrounding the islands of our competitors!"

 Chapter 190: One Antidote To Many Poisons

    "How is this still a part of our curriculum? Sect master is practically asking us to declare an unending war," Xiao Wu said, gulping nervously.


    "Oh, that objective master Zi declared was only the primary objective, disciples," Kong Ye answered. He seemed to have predicted the questions and had memorized the answers to the complaints.


    "There are multiple objectives?" Xiao Wu''s face turned sour.


    "Oh hell no..." Han Xuhan felt waves of dread climbing down his spine.


    "Indeed! All elders have already been briefed before coming here. Listen!"


    Kong Ye produced a scroll from his robe and read the contents out loud.


    "Once the introductory session has successfully been completed, the number of objectives shall slowly be increased per following session.


    In the second session, the primary objective is to repeat the measuring competition inside the territories of other sects.


    Alongside this, four more tasks will be added.


    One, defeat four disciples of another sect in combat.


    Two, carry back weapons, food or treasures weighing over 100 kilograms.


    Three, demolish a house.


    Four, whoever is guarding the treasure you''ll have to rob according to the rules of the new mode of competition...make them chase you for 30 seconds before you successfully escape from their island."


    Silence fell as Kong Ye finished reading the scroll. Darkness fell as the sun''s last trace disappeared from the horizon behind him. Han Xuhan wanted to fall as well, plop onto the ground and beat his own chest in despair. But his heart had grown numb to sorrow by now.


    "You''re...you''re saying we''ll have to accomplish those?" Xiao Wu''s voice reflected his emotions, rough, gravelly and cold.


    "Someone will have to!" Kong Ye shrugged. "You do not need to try all of the objectives. There is no real punishment for failure to accomplish any of the objectives, primary or secondary, as you''ve seen. But if you want your skills to progress, if you want our sect to progress, enrich your combat experience, and most importantly, get our newly established mountain peak a decent spot in the list of contributions, you don''t have much of a choice. As you may have noticed, our sect master has put more emphasis on this practical curriculum compared to the real competition of the tournament. Why do you think he did that?"


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Seeing them silent, Kong Ye answered himself. "This is to ensure a high-quality educational trip for all of you. Master Zi isn''t so narrow-minded as to put some tournament trophy ahead of the disciples'' interest in his list of priorities. Due to attending this competition, a vital training regime mandatory for all disciples of the Crimson Snow Sect has been skipped.


    The sect master has adopted this new lesson scheme in order to fulfill that gap in your curriculum.


    Out there, in the territories of those foreign sects, you shall face opponents from nearly every part of this planet, wielding techniques you''ve never heard of, displaying skills beyond your knowledge, in a stage like this archipelago where even we elders do not dare to explore recklessly.


    You must bank on the techniques you have mastered till now, the combat experience you''ve gained so far, the teachings your masters have been imparting to you every day, even right now.


    Yes, this will carry with it grave danger, chances of fatal injuries and even death, heavens forbid.


    But this is a golden chance for a true genius to shine."


    Nobody except Mu Ran seemed particularly delighted upon hearing Kong Ye''s fiery declaration. As the man bid them farewell, Han Xuhan approached Yuen Zhou and handed her a pouch full of food for a certain minion of his.


    "Little Zhe, go play with Aunt Zhou, okay? Papa has some work to do."


    Throwing the summoned minion into her arms, Han Xuhan was about to leave right away, but Kong Ye appeared out of nowhere and put a hand on his shoulder, silent as a deadly predator.


    Han Xuhan nonchalantly stood still and watched his martial siblings climb their way back to the top of the mountain. Once they were out of audible range, Kong Ye''s expression turned serious.


    "I have two news for you, disciple."


    "One good and the other bad?" Han Xuhan asked.


    "You can say that." Kong Ye''s face twitched.


    Gingerly, he took out a tiny vial, half-filled with greenish liquid.


    "Guess what this is, disciple."


    Han Xuhan took his time, running his thoughts in every possible direction. In the end, the answer he came up with was indeed good news for him, if true.


    "You''ve found an antidote to the poison, master?" he said, voice shaking, heartbeat erratic.


    The Mind Killer. Able to mentally cripple a human, even cultivators weren''t safe from its attack. This was the poison he was supposed to use on talented disciples from foreign sects. Otherwise, Fang Xie would have an excuse to snatch him from the shelter of the Crimson Snow sect and ''study'' him.


    Kong Ye nodded and handed the vial to him. Han Xuhan was half tempted to ask what Kong Ye wanted in exchange...but he didn''t have the courage. Instead, he said, "What''s the bad news, then?"


    "I have managed to concoct only one vial with all the ingredients I could find. Not a drop more can be created. More importantly, the vial you showed me that day was a fairly mild dose, yet it still has enough lethality to fight with this antidote. This entire vial can only stand equal to that vial of poison if the victim is lucky enough."


    "What are the chances?"


    "Fifty-fifty, if you''re optimistic."


    "And it is impossible to create more? Stronger versions?"


    "Can''t find the ingredients here in the middle of the ocean, can we?" Kong Ye shrugged.


    Han Xuhan let out a deep breath.


    "I''ll forever be grateful, master."


    "That''s good. I''d be happier with a promise to not do something terrible with that poison...but I''m guessing that isn''t an option, huh?"


    Kong Ye seemed to have guessed something. Han Xuhan had contemplated how to answer if Kong Ye tried to help him solve whatever problem he was facing.


    But for some strange reason, Kong Ye never offered help in that way. Instead, Kong Ye had directly handed him the antidote to the poison without digging too deep into the matter.


    It made things easier, but it made Han Xuhan uneasy.


    What did this guy know?


    "I wish it was, teacher," he replied in the end.


    "Then you better be careful with that antidote. Don''t be in a rush to use it. After all, the poison itself is pretty mild in terms of toxicity like I said. It won''t kill anyone directly. Only use the antidote if you think...it will make a difference."


    Kong Ye left with those words. Han Xuhan stood alone under the darkening sky and mulled over his future plans.


    Indeed, what exactly could this antidote achieve? Maybe he could save just one of Fang Xie''s victims with it.


    How would that help?

 Chapter 191: A Bad Evening

    The race between his cultivation level and meridians'' damage was a difficult topic to mull over. With great focus, that was exactly what Han Xuhan was doing right now.


    From Kong Ye, he had gotten a very rough outlook on the damage his meridians were suffering each time he went through a typical cultivation session. It did not appear to be substantial at a first glance, but the damage rate was an uphill curve, which meant that once it went past a certain point, his meridians would uncontrollably burst into tubular fragments within one or two sessions.


    His half-hour-long calculation showed him that the worst-case scenario awaited him...just as usual.


    The race between his highest possible cultivation speed and least possible meridian deterioration rate would have a winner by a very close margin, and that winner would be the latter one.


    The bigger issue was that Kong Ye had still not shown him any cultivation technique that could improve the condition of his meridians despite his earlier promise.


    Han Xuhan did not have any resentment towards him for that, though. Because, at least Kong Ye seemed to have tried to find a cure, whilst everyone else, including Xuan Zi himself, had flat-out told him that there is no way to cure this condition of his. His meridians simply were not formed for long-term cultivation.


    The best result he could hope for was to stop cultivating completely and make do with his accomplishments so far. That way, he would be able to continue being a legitimate cultivator, at least. As long as he didn''t try to pursue the higher layers of Physique Transformation realm, his general ability to manipulate and use qi would remain intact for many years.


    The sect would probably not treat him too harshly even if he chose that path. That model disciple badge, coupled with Xuan Zi''s approval would buy him a decent position among the mortal workers of the sect.


    But Han Xuhan had grown addicted to the feeling of having power, the feeling of experimenting with magical concepts, techniques, adventures, and most importantly, the experience of ''leveling up''.


    This had not gone unnoticed by himself, of course. He had even uncovered the main influence behind this addiction recently.


    It was the concept of reincarnation.


    In his past life, he had never taken this concept seriously. He had treated that life as an ultimate experience and cherished everything the world had offered him, all the while keeping away from any sort of risk and dangerous activities. He had never protested against powerful politicians when they passed absurd policies, he had never criticized the government despite disliking their conduct, he had never even dared to put up a fight when he had been robbed and assaulted.


    All in all, he had been a total wuss in his previous life because he had loved living a bit too much.


    But after finding out that he might be born again after death, all the repressed frustration, anger, longing, and craziness had slowly began to spread across his heart.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    Death? It was but a stretch of pain. He''d be alive and kicking once more even if he died. What was there to fear?


    This was obviously not a healthy mental development. Han Xuhan knew that. This development was being fuelled by his demonic enlightenment under Shangguang Ce''s tribulation.


    But the memories of his past life had fully integrated themselves with his current self. The old Han Xuhan, and the dead Han Xuhan, both had ceased to exist. The person occupying this body was mutating into something much more, but he had also lost that vital fear of death.


    So, what he was afraid of most now was falling back into that mediocre routine, that sense of being powerless and alone in a world full of mighty beings.


    The current Han Xuhan was neither a reckless adrenaline junkie nor a timid mortal in denial of his reality...the current Han Xuhan was an explorer at heart.


    Handicaps would not stop him. Fear of death would only make him more cautious. But the destruction of his meridians would be synonymous with paralyzing him fully. How would he explore the magnificent world out there, then?


    He was very much unwilling to see this scenario come true.


    "Must I choose...that?" His fingers struck a name written on a paper filled with calculations.


    Seconds ticked by, the night deepened, the moon moved. His quill moved as well, slowly, uncertainly.


    "Tun Shi Tian."


    The minion who had been guarding Xiao Wu''s backyard flew in hurriedly through the window.


    "Yes, master?"


    "Do you remember that cave I was sitting in last night?"


    "Yes."


    "Go put this paper in that cave. Place it somewhere that would make it visible to anyone walking by."


    ?????? ???????? ????????? ?????????


    The waves of fierce passion that had overflowed in his heart upon finally cultivating after so long had died down fast.


    Sure, he could continue to cultivate without too many issues for a while, maybe even break through to the later stages of the Physique transformation realm.


    But what would that achieve?


    He would end up as a cripple long before reaching the peak of the physique transformation realm. He might have had a chance to ascend higher had the odds been a bit better, had the damage to his meridians not been so severe.


    The bodily enhancement by the heavenly power which the tribulation at the peak of the physique transformation realm brought was said to be powerful enough to remove all impurities and disabilities of a body.


    Maybe it would have been able to fix his meridians as well. But now he didn''t even have the chance to reach that stage.


    "Underling, where''s Xiao Wu? It''s been hours since sunset and I still can''t smell the aroma of a decent dinner." From the other room, Mu Ran''s frustrated voice floated in. He must have completed his cultivation session.


    Han Xuhan answered, "he went to talk to that counselor lady. I told him to buy some extra food from the kitchen on his way back."


    Cursing in disgust, Mu Ran said, "the food from the kitchen is unpalatable."


    "Boss, we''re short in terms of any kind of supply right now. Gotta make do with what we have."


    Silence fell. But not long after, Mu Ran spoke again, this time in a conspiratory tone.


    "Hey, Xuhan, how about we go fishing?"


    Han Xuhan''s annoyance was overflowing. With a deep breath, he lied through his teeth.


    "Whoa! How come I never thought of that? I don''t think any disciple on this island has thought of that spectacular idea either! Awesome plan, boss! Let''s goooo!"


    Han Xuhan rushed out of the hut and waited for Mu Ran to come out. Seeing him appear, he immediately said, "Boss, where is your equipment?"


    "....???" Mu Ran looked nonplussed. "What equipment? You need equipment to catch fish?"


    "Exactly how were you planning to catch fish then?" Han Xuhan said.


    "We''d find a way to reach the surface of the ocean. Then we will look for the fishes swimming close to the surface. Then I''d use my astral heatwave technique-"


    "Boss. That technique of yours affects everything around you."


    "I know that, underling. So what?"


    "Everything would include...me as well. Once we both go down there and you use your technique, you''d be busy feasting on roasted fish while some other fish would be feasting on my unconscious body."


    "....I see!" Mu Ran looked enlightened. "So what do we do?"


    "Simple! YOU go down and fish in the ocean, while I make preparations here to roast your harvest! Besides, brother Wu''s food needs to be cooked as well. Would you like to help out with the cooking?"


    Mu Ran hollered. "Ahahaha! How can a real man sit at home and cook?! Underling, men must be the providers! Watch me bring a shark for dinner!"


    Mu Ran left like a summer breeze, gone in seconds. Han Xuhan sighed in relief and went back inside the room he was living in for now.


    "Bad evening! Hoped to find you unwell," said a person sitting on his bed.

 Chapter 192: I Have A Special Physique! I Repeat, I Have A Special Physique!

    Han Xuhan took a deep breath and calmed his frenzied heartbeat.


    "A bad evening indeed. What brought you here, Master Fang Xie?" He said, taking a seat on a tool nearby.


    "Is the poison supply I sent you intact?"


    Han Xuhan nodded, asking, "Do you need them?"


    Fang Xie laughed. "No, boy. YOU need them. You need them to be in your hands from tomorrow."


    Han Xuhan closed his eyes. When he had heard Luo Yi''s declaration that all sects were to actively engage in invasions in order to secure a high rank in the tournament, a dreadful thought had occurred to him.


    Fang Xie''s task for him was to go around poisoning some talented disciples of the sects attending this tournament. Since the new rules and Xuan Zi''s training plan mandated that they had to go attack other sects, wouldn''t that be the perfect time to execute that task?


    He was not at all delighted to see that his foresight had made an accurate judgment.


    "So...who do I poison, specifically?" Han Xuhan said after sorting out his thoughts.


    Fang Xie pointed toward the table he was sitting beside. Han Xuhan turned his head and noticed an unfamiliar scroll there.


    He unfurled it swiftly, running his eyes over its content, which turned out to be....nothing.


    "The identities of the targets are recorded on the scroll." Fang Xie smiled excitedly, confounding him further.


    "Once you arrive near one of the targets, you''ll see the name and appearance of that disciple on the scroll. So I would suggest checking it every few minutes whenever you''re on the move in the islands of the foreign sects."


    So this scroll was imbued with inexplicable magical traits beyond his perception?


    Han Xuhan felt a mixed range of emotions¨C excitement, apprehension, suspicion, and annoyance, to name a few.


    Fang Xie seemed to have noticed his expression, because he said, "If you can perform this task well, you may keep that treasure."


    Han Xuhan cast a steady gaze at him and asked a very rational question. "When does this explode?"


    "...." Fang Xie''s smile disappeared. With a sigh, he replied, "Kid, just because I hate you doesn''t mean our differences cannot be reconciled. You do this for me and..."


    Seeing Xuhan''s unchanged stare, Fang Xie trailed off.


    "Alright, alright, you got me. It doesn''t explode, really. It just catches on fire when given a certain mental command."


    "Normal fire?" Han Xuhan asked, recalling all the extra spicy fire dao written by his favorite xianxia authors from his past life. Those authors had to have snorted some pretty nasty stuff to be able to come up with those abominable concepts.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ".....No." Fang Xie relented after another ten-second-long staring contest. "But you shouldn''t worry about that little trick. Since you''ve foreseen the prank, I''d lose face by resorting to it anyway, hmph!"


    Pranking kids and losing face were not a compatible pair in the same sentence. But Han Xuhan did not argue. He did not want to lose face either by getting into an argument with a madman.


    Much to his relief, Fang Xie left without further ado. Taking a second look at the scroll, Han Xuhan put it inside a pocket of his robe.


    Before Xiao Wu returned, there wasn''t much he could do. Lying down, he took a dive down into his mental world, having decided to pay a visit to his dao tower.


    There was another surprise awaiting him inside.


    Tun Shi Tian and Zhanxian''s avatars were nowhere to be found there. Han Xuhan was sure that he had canceled their summons. How could they be gone?


    Did they somehow get ahold of Hai Yin Zhe''s inexplicable power to bypass his will and freely travel between the worlds?


    Han Xuhan could not sense his heart at the moment, but if it was conscious of his mental state, its beatings might have broken his ribcage.


    And that''s when he saw it.


    The alphabets of laws that resided inside his domed ceiling were not moving like they usually did.


    Han Xuhan''s consciousness floated up close to the dome and realized that the alphabets were now divided into two groups, one tiny and one large.


    The larger group consisted of hundreds of familiar alphabets buzzing and vibrating together chaotically, which wasn''t an unfamiliar sight, but they appeared unwilling to break away from the jumbled, dense formation.


    The smaller, second group was where the problem lay.


    The alphabets in this group had been twisted beyond recognition and arranged in a tidy order.


    At first, something felt off about the arrangement. Han Xuhan leaned in for a look and the realization struck him. Suddenly, he began to feel breathless.


    The law alphabets had been deformed in order to create the letter structures of another language. The overall arrangement formed a line written in...English.


    To a successful Fusion


    Cheers


    Han Xuhan''s consciousness rocketed out of his dao tower, overwhelmed by panic.


    His eyes snapped open and without wasting a single breath, he sped out of the hut, determined to seek Kong Ye''s help as fast as possible.


    But hardly had his foot crossed the yard of Xiao Wu''s house when he felt his balance fall into disarray. As if his limbs had a mind of their own, both of his legs folded themselves and refused to move.


    Han Xuhan tried to crawl forward using his hands, and they snapped backwards, gluing themselves to his back.


    Han Xuhan attempted to scream as hard as he could as a fourth-layer cultivator. But not even empty air came out of his mouth.


    He directed his qi flow towards the ground, trying to etch down a message on the soil. The qi froze inside his meridians before he could move them out.


    Han Xuhan despaired. But that emotion did not last very long due to his familiarity with the feeling. Instead, he began to calm down.


    As far as he could sense, there was nothing else he could do to contact another person. But if he simply stayed in this pose out here, that would give anyone enough of a clue to realize that something was wrong.


    So he simply needed to wait for Xiao Wu or Mu Ran to return.


    However, he was soon distracted by the sensation of air hitting his vocal chord.


    "Grggrrhgh! Unghhrrh! AAAAAHHH!"


    Voice his own, words not, the current body of Han Xuhan was mostly out of his control. As his voice seemed to find its groove and grew proficient in creating coherent sets of words, Han Xuhan could do nothing but listen attentively.


    "Escaping heaven''s eyes is sometimes an illusory possibility, but escaping your dao heart is invariably futility."


    Silence fell.


    "Oh right, you can''t speak right now, can you? Let me see..."


    The voice sounded a bit embarrassed.


    "It''s been a while since I''ve done this¨C wait, yes, try speaking now. Is there anything you want to say to me? Reckoned there is."


    Han Xuhan cleared his throat, successfully.


    "Senior, what do you want from me and what would it take for you to not harm me?" He said in a tearful tone.


    "Me? Harm you? Hahaha! My boy, I have no such motive!" His voice was forcefully borrowed once more for the sake of communication.


    "In fact, I''m very grateful to you! If you hadn''t damaged your own dao tower by letting your minions cultivate, I''d have never seen the light of day again! Aahhh, it''s been sooo long!"


    The unwanted occupant of his body sniffed the air ravenously and emitted some inexplicable sounds while


    Han Xuhan uttered some terrible profanities in his mind.


    Letting his minions cultivate invited this guy to his dao tower? How the fuck did that even work?


    "As for what I want from you...a healthy, powerful body would be excellent. You wouldn''t happen to be in possession of one, would you?"


    The tone of his opponent sounded pretty light-hearted. But every sentence he said made Han Xuhan shiver.


    "How could I be in possession of dead bodies, senior? I''m not a demonic cultivator-"


    "Oh, not dead bodies, NO! Living ones! I need a living, breathing, healthy body!"


    "I''m afraid there is nothing of that sort here either, senior," Han Xuhan answered in a shaky voice.


    The other party sighed. "Then I have no choice but to use yours, don''t I?"


    "Yeah, about that, senior...I must warn you. I have a very special physique."

 Chapter 193: I Have An Ideaaaaaaa!

    "Special physique? Oh! That is a surprise! Do tell me about it, child!" The other party exclaimed.


    "You see, my meridians are naturally fragile to the point where every time I cultivate, it damages them-"


    "I know."


    Han Xuhan lost his voice.


    What?


    He knew? How?!


    "I have been occupying your body for a while now without interfering in anything. All I have done is observe this world I''ve found myself in through your eyes. I was an audience of most of your conversations and exchanges, as well as your cultivation sessions. So I know very well of this ''specialty'' of yours, child."


    The horror in Han Xuhan''s heart was too immense to put into words. He could only open and close his mouth, feeling a sense of crushing suffocation.


    "For your information, I''ve even helped you in overcoming this crisis. When your minions return, listen to them carefully and make a decision."


    The voice began to fade away, and Han Xuhan regained some degree of control over his muscles. As he attempted to stand up, the other party left one last message using his voice.


    "You''re a clever little child. Surely, you won''t make the mistake of telling anybody about this little exchange of ours, would you?"


    There was no malice in his tone, but Han Xuhan felt his bravado shrink instantly for some reason.


    "Sure, senior. Consider this one''s mouth shut." He gave his assurance and waited till his body had recovered fully.


    Once able to move smoothly, Han Xuhan returned back inside his room, feeling absolutely defeated.


    What the hell was happening?


    Whoever this entity inside his dao tower was, Han Xuhan did not feel any goodwill towards him. This person could literally take over his body and do ANYTHING!


    More importantly, this entity had likely hidden some crucial information...for example, he had written in English inside his dao tower. The only way this could be possible is if the entity had gone through his memories of the earth!


    It could both be a good thing or a bad thing for him if this entity was a fellow transmigrator or just a sneaky malevolent creature.


    But which possibility was Han Xuhan going to entertain here?


    Dangerous! Far too dangerous!


    If possible, he wanted to expel him from his dao tower as fast as possible.


    This entire world seemed to be working against him. No matter how careful he was, no matter how low a profile he maintained, no matter how harmless he was...trouble came knocking on his door, his window, his basement, and even his roof. Every direction, every avenue was blocked by some powerful figure''s random whims.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Han Xuhan did not feel resentful, neither was there any hatred in his heart. The time to swim in those feelings was not affordable to the current him. He only had the time to...plan.


    He sat down and mapped out his plans for tomorrow.


    While everyone else was about to tackle sect master Zi''s tasks and attempt to rob the treasure marked by the authorities of the tournament, he would have to ditch them and search for his own prey, more accurately, Fang Xie''s prey.


    Plans after plans were made. But they fell apart swiftly. Han Xuhan did not give up and continued to forge new tactics. He did not himself know what he wanted to achieve through his plans, specifically. The vague notion in his mind was to not do anything that jeopardized his own safety, all the while not going against his conscience either.


    Right then, the sound of Xiao Wu''s footsteps came from outside.


    ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????


    "While attacking, each team shall not have more than ten members. To keep things fair, the team of defenders guarding the targetted treasure will also consist of ten members only."


    Hearing Xiao Wu state that rule, Han Xuhan asked in confusion, "Doesn''t Master Zi want us to invade other sects? So who is going to defend anything here?"


    "You seemed to have forgotten that three groups of disciples were penalized for the lack of contribution in today''s class. They are to stay here and defend the treasure while they do the chores delegated to them by the Heaven Grazing Snow Peak. The rest of us will have to split up into groups and invade other sects."


    "Is forming groups necessary? Can''t we try going alone?"


    Xiao Wu cast a narrow gaze at him. "Since when did you become so reckless?"


    Han Xuhan let out a hollow laugh. "Just asking, just asking. We need to be aware of every nook and cranny of the rules if we want an optimum result."


    Xiao Wu nodded. "Yes. I think all four of us should stick together and go invade a relatively weak sect which our sect has a relationship with. That way, even if we lose, we can avoid any severe consequences by using that relationship."


    Han Xuhan clapped, impressed. "That is an excellent plan, Brother Wu."


    Xiao Wu beamed pridefully.


    "In fact, the plan is so excellent that nearly every group of disciples from every sect may attempt to put that plan into action tomorrow," Han Xuhan added to his praise and watched Xiao Wu''s smile wither. His wide face scrunched up, falling deep in thought as he seemed to visualize that scene in his mind.


    "Fuuuuck...all the weak sects affiliated with strong ones are in for the ride of a lifetime tomorrow." Xiao Wu shuddered.


    Han Xuhan nodded in agreement. He was wondering if the strong sects which fostered weaker sects would provide their disciples with protection of some sort....


    "Hey, Brother Wu. What if two invading teams meet each other in a foreign sect''s territory while searching for the treasure? They can''t both fight the defense team, right?"


    Xiao Wu shook his head.


    "No, but they can fight each other. The other option is to just wait it out. Give the other invasion team an opportunity to look for the treasure first and if they fail, give it a go yourselves."


    Han Xuhan suddenly sat straighter, a plan forming in his mind. Indeed, there might be some merit to that passing thought...


    Right then, Mu Ran burst into the house with a foot-long catfish held in his arms.


    "Guys, see what I caught!"


    His triumphant look made Han Xuhan recall that Mu Ran had left saying he''d bring back a shark. He couldn''t help but exclaim, "Whoa! I had no idea that sharks were so small! Those picturebooks all lied to us!"


    Mu Ran harrumphed. "What are you saying, underling Xuhan? It''s almost as big as my di-ahem."


    The cough was unnecessary, very much unnecessary. Han Xuhan, who had been gearing up to roast that fish felt his appetite die. A look at Xiao Wu''s expression relayed to him a similar, silent, tragic twist.


    The dinner that night did not include fisheries for the two of them. Mu Ran ate their shares, unbothered. In fact, he appeared to be pondering something as he ate. The rare sight forced Xiao Wu to ask, "Brother Ran, something''s on your mind...?"


    Mu Ran looked at him from the corners of his eyes, silently judging something. Feeling self-conscious, Xiao Wu took a look down at his body to check if everything was alright.


    "Brother Wu, I have come up with an excellent idea for tomorrow''s mission!" Mu Ran announced with a calculating look in his gaze.


    Both Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu fixed their sight on him, their minds synchronized, pondering on what implications to derive from the word ''excellent''.


    Seeing their attentive faces, Mu Ran put down his saliva-covered fishhead and wiped his mouth, donning a serious appearance.


    "If we think about it, everyone tomorrow will take a cautious approach to the tasks to be accomplished. Everyone-no, most of them are a bunch of pathetic losers. So their caution is justified...for them.


    But I am not a loser.


    As my underling, Han Xuhan is not a loser.


    And as his good friend, you, Xiao Wu are not a loser either!"


    Han Xuhan began to sense an ominous premonition in his heart.


    Leaning towards them, Mu Ran raised his voice high.


    "So why don''t we take the opportunity to create a storm? Why don''t we take a road which only real men would take?!"


    "Sister Zhou is a woman, though," Han Xuhan reminded.


    "Well, she isn''t my woman, and that''s no different from being a man to me. Now, where was I?"


    "Deep in the streets...of real men," Xiao Wu helped him recall.


    "Right! So why don''t we all act like real men and invade the strongest, the most influential sect on this planet tomorrow?"


    Xiao Wu''s jaw fell open. Several times he attempted to move them, but no words formed in his mouth.


    Han Xuhan''s eyes, meanwhile, reflected the same calculating countenance as his boss.

 Chapter 194: Fortune Doesnt Shine Upon Those Who Cannot See Mt. Tai

    A long discussion followed Mu Ran''s proposal, in which Xiao Wu and Mu Ran were the only active participants. Han Xuhan ate his dinner in silence, nodding towards them occasionally when they asked for his opinions.


    As he was about to get up and leave with his plate, Mu Ran said, "Underling Xuhan, are you really turning down the opportunity to eat the flesh of a spirited beast?"


    Han Xuhan looked in the direction Mu Ran''s fingers were pointing, confused. All he could see was a pile of discarded, semi-edible meat and bone of that catfish that Mu Ran had just finished feasting on.


    "T-that was a...spirited beast? The catfish?!" Xiao Wu cried out in disbelief.


    "Catfish? That''s a baby shark!" Mu Ran shouted.


    "The fuck is a spirited beast? Do you mean spirit beasts? Like that pet ball of meat Lady Luo Yi owns?" Xuhan said in an unsure tone.


    "No, the counselor''s pet is a spirit beast, also known as soulbeasts," Xiao Wu explained. "Pets like those are usually modeled after real-life creatures, but they aren''t living beings themselves; sort of like your skeleton minions. They are manifestations of the techniques practiced by the members of the Beasthaven sect. Spirited beasts, on the other hand, are the type of creatures that can gain enlightenments through their instincts, becoming beast cultivators in their own unique way. For them, bloodlines, lineage, and ancestral factors matter most significantly. The only connection between spirit beasts and Spirited beasts is that it is often beneficial to use a spirited beast as a model to create your own spirit beast inside your soulslot."


    "...Oh." Han Xuhan nodded slowly. Finally, another typical xianxia trope had been detected after so long!


    He had been wondering why there wasn''t any news of beast cultivators amidst the usual gossip in the sect. He could vaguely recall some news of heavy conflict between the mortal kingdoms and the beast societies back when he was still in the orphanage. It had seemed like nothing too serious when he entered the Crimson Snow Sect, or otherwise his fellow disciples would definitely have been chatting about it.


    While he was busy recalling the information he had heard from Shen Hai, the mercenary who had accompanied him to the sect''s recruitment ceremony, Xiao Wu cast an envious gaze at the remains of the fish in Mu Ran''s plate.


    "Man, you should''ve told us earlier. Meat of spirited animals can grant one useful attributes if he''s lucky enough."


    Xuhan''s eyes snapped up towards Mu Ran''s plate as well.


    "Even if we aren''t lucky, it could enhance our physique and sustain our bodies for a very long time. It''s not easy digesting all the nutrition stored in their bodies. Not to mention, their meat can cure all sorts of rare ailments."


    Han Xuhan had to grab the door handle to steady himself.


    "You-you fished out something so rare as a spirited beast from the ocean?!" he spoke in a shaky voice, feeling his heartache at the loss of the opportunity to enhance his physique. Who would care about what comment Mu Ran had made so long as they got to eat a mouthful of spirited-beast meat?


    "Yeah, I mean, why did you not recognize it by looking? It''s so obvious that the fish had an evolved set of jaws, an abnormally elongated tongue, and fins containing qi channels that led to the serrated meridian running horizontally through its body!"


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Obvious?!


    Han Xuhan did not reply to Mu Ran''s question. He was too busy wondering how lucky one had to be to randomly fish out a spirited beast without any equipment from a source as large as the ocean. Of course, now that he thought about it, Mu Ran must have used a bait that only special creatures would be lured towards. Would someone like him be satisfied after catching something so ordinary and common as a catfish?


    Han Xuhan could only lament that his sense of superiority and disdain towards Mu Ran had blinded his eyes to the point he had overlooked mountain Tai...


    Neither he nor Xiao Wu was desperate enough to salvage the remains of the catfish after Mu Ran was done with it, however. Mu Ran looked rather displeased.


    "I don''t think you two realize what a huge opportunity you''ve missed. Had I been in possession of that prized spear of mine...tsk tsk. I could''ve really caught a real shark- I mean, a bigger shark or two easily. Heavens, I''m so unlucky..."


    His groan startled Han Xuhan. "Spear? What spear?" he asked curiously.


    "Don''t you remember the one that resonated with me in the weaponry pavilion? You were the one who tracked it down for me, underling! I told you it''s a great treasure, remember?"


    It took him a few seconds to recall that incident. That day, he was the one who had taken a liking to the spear. But Mu Ran had incorrectly assumed that his underling had picked out a good weapon for him. The memory made Han Xuhan sigh.


    "Right, boss. Didn''t you lose that thing in the Holy Land of Laws? It didn''t make a strong impression, to be honest. I wouldn''t have used it even if you handed it to me," he said.


    "Underling Xuhan, you''re too simple. You could see how valuable that spear was, and yet you''re still uninterested! I wish I could be as selfless as you are!"


    Mu Ran appeared emotional. Han Xuhan did not feel like explaining that he wouldn''t have used the spear only because he didn''t have the physical strength, or martial training to wield it properly. Out of all melee weapons, mastering the spear was said to be the hardest discipline.


    Not to mention, Mu Ran praised the spear so much that it made Han Xuhan even warier of it considering any treasure could attract deadly foes to its possessor in the world of cultivation.


    As long as ordinary weapons did their job, why use something special that''s bound to invite trouble?


    Suddenly, Han Xuhan found his nefarious thoughts taking a turn towards a shady business opportunity. Instead of humbling himself to give Mu Ran''s ego the boost he was asking for, Han Xuhan threw out a bait.


    "Boss, I might have a way to track down that spear...a costly way, perhaps. But maybe I can return that treasure to you unscathed."


    ........... ............. ............... ..........


    Nighttime in Xiao Wu''s house was not quite relaxing for Han Xuhan. He missed his own house, and more importantly, his anxiety was slowly rising despite his manifold attempts at keeping his mental state stable.


    Xiao Wu was asleep, as per their shift system, while Mu Ran stood outside, guarding the house. Han Xuhan was supposed to be cultivating, and he was busy using this precious time to think.


    "I suppose there is no point in prolonging this suspense," he muttered to himself before sitting cross-legged and entering meditation.


    His dread regarding the development inside his dao tower had now shifted. He was far more terrified of the unknown entity occupying the tower, able to possess his body like a ghost and even use his body without his knowledge. But how long could he avoid that monstrosity?


    As it had stated as soon as he became aware of its existence, escaping one''s dao foundation was futile. Moreover, the entity had also answered a burning question he had in mind.


    The cause behind his minions'' disappearance was this entity''s influence. Han Xuhan had no idea what it did, but the entity itself had said that Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian would return. Not only would they return, but they would also provide him with some sort of information that may or may not show him a way to solve the issue with his meridians.


    Just when he needed it most, a random expert suddenly possesses his body and guides him to salvation...Hah!


    Han Xuhan had no doubts about the truthfulness of the entity. Whatever solution Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian conveyed to him after being influenced by that person, it was likely to solve his condition.


    But he also did not doubt that this entity was merely trying to reinforce the body it was currently capable of possessing. How would it use Han Xuhan''s body if he became a cripple?


    This realization did not elate him. Hours had passed since then. Now, Han Xuhan was ready to face the terror inside his dao tower. He wanted to see what had happened to his minions. He wanted to see what they would offer him, how they would try to tempt him...


    The dive into his consciousness was smooth as usual and soon, he managed to enter his dao tower unscathed, uninterrupted.


    "Master!"


    "Hey, boss!"


    Two voices, two avatars, rushed to him from two directions. Han Xuhan took a good look at both Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian.


    There were no visible changes in their avatars.


    "You two look quite excited for some reason. Did something happen while I was busy?" Han Xuhan asked in a curious, unsuspecting tone.


    His gaze wandered upwards, tracking down the law alphabet on the dome''s wall.


    The two lines written there in English had been erased. The alphabets were moving freely once more all over the walls.


    "Oh, something happened, alright!" Tun Shi Tian replied.


    "Yeah! We actually made another visit to that world of burning souls!" Zhanxian added.

 Chapter 195: To Guide Two Idiots

    Among the possible scenarios he could possibly face, this was the latest and most logical conclusion he had ended up formulating. So he wasn''t very surprised to hear that his minions had traveled back to their origins, the world of the fiery sun which lay at the core of his skeletal monarch technique.


    This was the source of the souls of his minions. If any anomaly related to them were to take place in his dao foundation, that burning planet would likely be the source of the anomaly too. The invisible existence which currently held the power to forcibly occupy his body had perhaps originated from that world as well. To his knowledge, there really wasn''t any avenue leading to his dao tower other than that.


    "Made a visit to the burning planet?!" He, however, pretended to be caught off guard. "What made you do that?"


    Zhanxian replied, "we saw the calculations you were doing to predict the future of your cultivation, master. Since it looked...uh, devastating, the two of us were having a conversation here about what would happen to us when you end up as a cripple."


    " ''When'' I end up as a cripple, huh..."


    "Yeah. That''s a forgone conclusion at this point," Tun Shi Tian affirmed. "Then Zhanxian got depressed and began to wail like a little bitch-"


    "But a strange incident interrupted our conversation," Zhanxian slapped the bird away and took the reigns of the explanation.


    "What kind of strange incident?" Han Xuhan asked.


    "A voice! Unintelligible sounds! We could hear it all over the tower. But we couldn''t locate its source," Zhanxian answered in a hushed voice.


    "So what did you do?"


    "Of course, both of us ran to our own portions of the tower and hid there!" Zhanxian said, sounding proud.


    "I wanted to investigate, but Zhanxian didn''t let me," Tun Shi Tian protested, displeased that he was being described as a coward alongside Zhanxian.


    Han Xuhan wanted to tell them that the disembodied voice had probably wished for them to investigate its source. But he decided against it and said, "then what?"


    "Well, the voice died down after a while. Still, neither of us came out of our hiding corners. But then, an even stranger thing happened! Those law alphabets above us began to fall down from the ceiling like raindrops!"


    All three of them gazed at the domed ceiling. With a shudder, Zhanxian continued, "At first we were terrified that this tower was finally falling apart! But then, we noticed that the fallen letters had begun to rearrange themselves into that foreign language you''ve been teaching us, master!"


    "English?" Han Xuhan enquired. Both minions nodded in response.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Yes! It took us a while to decipher the message written there. It said- ''The technique which can save all of you can be found in the burning prison'' !"


    Han Xuhan tried to emit a surprised yelp. "How fascinating!"


    Zhanxian''s enthusiasm surged. "First we didn''t realize what this burning prison is. So we got into an argument. And also, Tun Shi Tian kept insisting that the meaning of the sentence I deciphered was wrong! I''m pretty sure he just forgot some of the letters."


    "Shut up, Zhanxian!" The bird raged from behind.


    "In the end, Tun Shi Tian noticed that at the bottom of the message, there was an arrow-shaped letter pointing at Hai Yin Zhe''s pit! It''s quite strange that we didn''t see the arrow earlier."


    Han Xuhan didn''t feel the need to explain that their guide, the perpetrator behind that scene was probably beyond frustrated to see that his blatantly obvious hints had failed to lure these two idiots down in that pit, which had prompted him to come up with a much more direct method of guidance, again and again.


    "So we went towards the pit and recalled our last venture down there. It was so scary! The two of us didn''t even have to argue this time to come to a decision! We decided not to go down!"


    In the back of his mind, Han Xuhan suddenly found himself imagining a disembodied entity screaming at the sky in frustration.


    "What made you change your mind?" He asked the minions, almost feeling a pint of sympathy for the entity trying to guide them.


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian exchanged a nervous look.


    "Uh...we got kicked off the edge of the pit," Tun Shi Tian answered reluctantly.


    "Kicked off? You can fly, little Tian. Why would a kick make you fall into the pit?"


    "We didn''t just fall, we shot downwards so fast that when our senses recovered, we were already on that planet," Zhanxian explained.


    "It was a pretty hard kick," remarked the owl.


    "Understandable, understandable." Han Xuhan felt the churning vengeful emotions in his heart being quelled by a great degree upon imagining that scene.


    But this also revealed another precious piece of information. The entity hiding inside his dao tower could exert physical force as well, just like his minions and Han Xuhan himself.


    Casting furtive glances around, Han Xuhan gave an order Zhanxian must have been expecting. The skeletal, humanoid avatar flew closer towards him and executed the memory-sharing technique taught by Kong Ye.


    A moment later, Han Xuhan found himself standing on a vast plateau, a smoky, lightless sky overhead. The fiery hell he had expected to face was not so close as the previous time. He could see a carpet of cackling flames in the horizon ahead, some on top of the mountains behind, some even dancing far above his head on empty air.


    Zhanxian was clearly relieved. He slowly walked around his landing, talking to Tun Shi Tian and observing their surroundings.


    The soil was covered in a layer of soot and ash. Occasionally, he found himself stepping on wooden planks, metallic objects too misshapen to identify, and rubbery substances that had melted into chunks of useless junk.


    Structures as hard as concrete stuck out from the ground here and there, possibly portions of destroyed homes.


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian cautiously trekked through the ruins, examining whatever they could find on their way, hoping to find a method to return to their dao tower.


    They found some stone tablets containing foreign alphabets. Just like last time, Han Xuhan was able to glean the meaning of some of the words despite being completely unfamiliar with the language used on the tablets.


    "House...Cherry...Zhu. House...Cherry...Shui. House...the fuck is this... Uh, blood? House Blood...Ren."


    These tablets all seemed to be synonymous in terms of usage. Han Xuhan felt that these were the nameplates of the buildings, or perhaps if they were standing on the ruins of a sect, then these stone tablets could be containing the titles of the factions or pavilions of the sect, just like how the Crimson Snow sect had many mountain peaks with different names and characteristics.


    Their exploration, unfortunately, was cut short by an alarming discovery.


    The tides of fire on the horizon were creeping closer at an discernible speed. At some point, they had been surrounded by the burning, soul-like entities from all directions except a small gap just ahead.


    Panicking, the minions rushed towards the gap, their speed nowhere near enough to match the advent of the waves of fire rushing towards them.


    Thankfully, that gap in their formation was quite close. As the two minions reached the area, they realized the reason why no burning entity had approached them from this direction.


    Here lay a chasm deep enough to completely escape the reach of the fiery red light that illuminated this planet. They couldn''t even see the other side of the chasm...if there was any. It was as if an endless sea had dried up here, uncovering its abyssal depths.


    The mouth of this chasm was curved, perhaps even circular, Han Xuhan couldn''t really tell due to the lack of light here.


    "Well, what are you waiting for Zhanxian? No fire here! That means we can hide here for the time being!"


    Tun Shi Tian did not consider much more and dived downwards, spreading its wings vertically. Zhanxian took one last look at the hellish display closing up on him from all three directions and swiftly chose a suitable slope to slide down.

 Chapter 196: Acid Trip In A Burning Planet

    Han Xuhan felt apoplectic upon witnessing the flow of events that had led his minions to jump into an abyssal pit in an unknown world full of terrifying creatures chasing them.


    His anger was mostly directed toward the minions, of course. How retarded did one have to be to even conceive that there might be a safe environment down where they were headed?


    But he couldn''t exactly blame them for the decision either. After all, the other three directions were blocked by now with walls of fire. Had they noticed the approaching danger sooner instead of exploring mindlessly in the ruins, they could''ve found a better way to escape, perhaps.


    Bygones are bygones. Han Xuhan shook those thoughts from his head and focused on their present circumstance.


    The floor Zhanxian stood on was metallic, seemingly purposely designed with a rough texture and countless sharp protrusions that could probably tear off human skin. Han Xuhan could not tell its purpose, but it would be a good fit for one of those magic shows where the magician lies on a bed of nails.


    Zhanxian''s bony feet had some trouble balancing on top of the protrusions, slowing down his speed to almost zero. Tun Shi Tian, flying dozens of feet overhead, did not suffer from any such issue.


    The pit they had dropped into contained a remarkably vast canyon-like structure inside, they had found out soon enough despite the lack of light in here. The walls of the canyon were at least a hundred feet high. But that was not a problem for Tun Shi Tian either, who had flown up above the walls, scouted ahead, and discovered a way out of the maze.


    Han Xuhan felt proud seeing how useful his foresight was turning out to be. Choosing an owl as his second minion had been an excellent move. Even where Zhanxian was blinded, stranded, and slowed down, they were still proceeding on the right track, never completely defeated.


    With Tun Shi Tian guiding the way, Zhanxian stumbled his way forward, passing each fork, twist and turn inside the canyon without any hesitation. Soon enough, Han Xuhan could feel the surroundings becoming brighter. Sight adjusting to the low light, he took in the details around him properly for the first time.


    The walls were not bare, rather, endless slashes crisscrossed across their surface. Zhanxian touched a wall for support as he stumbled again for the umpteenth time, which gave Han Xuhan an opportunity to closely examine the gashes nearby.


    The gashes were not smooth and had no patterns to them, so far as he could perceive, which ruled out the possibility that these were a part of the eccentric design of the structures here as well...but that was not enough to stop Han Xuhan from feeling a wave of deja vu.


    This sight reminded him strongly of the Holy Land of Laws where he had to pass through an obstacle course just like this. In the end, he had realized that the obstacles were not only meant to keep people out, but also to detain someone inside.


    Could this be something similar...?


    Oh no no no no.....


    But he could not warn the minions, not inside a memory. Back then, Zhanxian had accompanied him for a while inside the Land of Laws. But the stupid minion didn''t seem to notice the uncanny resemblance and trudged forward bravely.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Just past the bend ahead!" Tun Shi Tian announced loudly from above, swooping forward toward the source of the light illuminating their surroundings.


    Han Xuhan could only wait in trepidation as Zhanxian hurriedly followed the owl.


    Right as the skeleton was about to step into the rays of light coming from the other side of the curved wall, it hesitated. Han Xuhan could feel Zhanxian''s body suddenly turning rigid. And then, Zhanxian''s teeth started clattering, limbs began to quiver, steps faltered.


    "This seems a bit familiar..." the skeleton muttered, washing Han Xuhan''s heart with relief.


    "Uhh, big bro Xian? Oi, Zhanxian!" Tun Shi Tian''s voice suddenly shook the skeleton. The owl flew back and landed in front of him, appearing completely normal.


    "What''s wrong? Why did you stop?"


    "Are you sure there''s a way out and it''s ahead?" Zhanxian whispered.


    "Yeah! Right there, you''ll see it as soon as you walk out of that dark corner! Come on!" The owl emphasized.


    Don''t trust him! Don''t trust him! Don''t do it!


    Han Xuhan internally yelled. Unfortunately, the yells did not reach Zhanxian, who followed Tun Shi Tian past the wall after a brief moment of contemplation.


    Whoa!


    "Wow!"


    "Told ya!"


    Han Xuhan was as dumbstruck as Zhanxian, staring at what lay in front of them.


    A huge cavern illuminated by thousands of burning lotus flowers drifting in the air greeted their sight. The flowers didn''t wither, for some reason, continuously radiating light like moving airborne lamps.


    With a diameter exceeding half a kilometer, Han Xuhan could still make out the cuts and slashes on the wall on the other side of the cavern. However, his vision overhead didn''t reach very high. Let alone seeing the smokey sky, here he couldn''t even see how high the walls reached. A mass of darkness barred the way above not too far away.


    These, however, were secondary details. The main attraction in the cavern was the enormous signboard at the center, standing on top of an enormous stone column, sporting letters written in English. It said-


    "Want to leave? This way!"


    Zhanxian read it aloud, his voice tinged with disbelief.


    "Tun Shi Tian...I...you..."


    The skeleton was lost for words, and rightly so. Even Han Xuhan didn''t quite know how to react to this ''wonderful'' discovery.


    "Oh, no need to thank me! I''m just doing my job, brother!" Tun Shi Tian said, his tone not appearing as modest as his words suggested. The owl rubbed its bony wings together and flew forward, unsuspecting of any potential threat here.


    Zhanxian''s jaw opened up to yell something, but the skeleton decided otherwise and watched the owl''s actions cautiously.


    It took Tun Shi Tian nearly a minute to reach the signboard. The owl circled around it, examining the surroundings before landing on a corner of the board.


    Han Xuhan watched with rapt attention as it bent forward, eyes glued to the ground on which the stone column stood. It seemed to have found something interesting there.


    "Oi, Zhanxian! Looks like we''ve found something interesting. This shouldn''t be a coincidence! Come over and see this!"


    Zhanxian hesitated for a moment before hobbling over.


    On the way, Han Xuhan desperately took in every detail of the surroundings. The ground still sported the design they''d seen inside the canyon-- narrow, sharp, tiny units of metallic mosaics that made it hard to walk on. However, now that he had enough light to examine the design properly, he realized soon that the mosaics weren''t randomly placed. It was just that the patterns created by the mosaics were too large to be detected unless one observed from an open space like this.


    Although much more colorful, the patterns these mosaics formed bore some similarities to the language of laws in terms of appearance. From different angles, the patterns looked different, often even giving the impression that the patterns were the ones moving and Zhanxian was standing still.


    The more he observed, the more he felt the ''life'' inside these patterns. At some point, he lost track of his current body, too deeply engrossed in the movement of this colorful world of shifting, rotating, growing, shrinking, many-faced patterns. It was Tun Shi Tian''s loud screech that brought his consciousness back to clarity.


    "Stop there! Look at the ground in front of you!"


    With a mental shudder, Han Xuhan felt his consciousness being released from a strange influence, his thoughts suddenly clear and free from the obsessive attraction towards the patterns.


    Looking ahead, he realized that Zhanxian had already reached the center of the cavern, just a few yards away from the enormous signboard where Tun Shi Tian was sitting.


    He had crossed nearly half a kilometer without being conscious of it! Zhanxian''s speed of walking was very slow here due to the disturbing design of the ground.


    How long had it been? Ten minutes? Twenty?


    Perhaps more!


    The phenomenon induced nothing but terror in his heart now that he could think clearly. Even inside a memory, his consciousness had been affected like that!


    What would happen if his real body was here?!


    And why didn''t these constructs affect his minions?


    There was no time to pursue the answers to these questions, because Zhanxian''s discovery was right before his eyes as well. Tun Shi Tian hooted from above.


    "Hoh! You''re in luck! You get to go first, big brother!"

 Chapter 197: Familiar Construct In Alien Planet

    The stone column which held up the signboard was actually a part of the mosaic design on the ground, Han Xuhan realized. It was larger in size compared to his assumptions too, with a width of ten meters or more. Its body was constituted of countless pieces of tiny mosaics attached together, with the bottom end directly inserted into the floor.


    Upon close inspection, Han Xuhan noticed nine ring-shaped horizontal patterns on the body of the column, dividing the column into ten segments.


    "Take a good look at the floor in front of you," Tun Shi Tian said with a chuckle. "That''s our way outta here."


    Zhanxian bent down to examine the floor. Here, the mosaic patterns were no longer incomprehensible symbols and pictures. Rather, a neat, circular chart had been constructed with the stone column at its center.


    The chart was divided into two major parts, an inner circle and an outer circle. Each circle was again divided into ten identical segments.


    The outer ten segments lined up perfectly with the inner ten segments, a seemingly perfect, symmetrical construct....except, three of the outer circle segments, as well as their corresponding inner circle segments, displayed some images and patterns while the fourteen other segments were devoid of any such things.


    "That one on the left side is me, the one on the opposite side is you, and the other one is definitely little Zhe," Tun Shi Tian explained, which wasn''t really necessary. But the owl seemed to be in a strangely good mood, feeling quite talkative.


    Zhanxian recognized the pictures of their avatars drawn inside the three separate outer segments.


    A small explosion went off inside Han Xuhan''s mind as the clues all connected together.


    This was...a mirror image of his dao tower, with Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian''s ''apartments'' facing each other at 3 o''clock and 9 o''clock! The ten outer circle segments represented the ten layers of the Skeletal Monarch Manual!


    Hai Yin Zhe''s pit, however, was shown here to be situated at 6 o''clock, which did not correspond to the rest of the image. In his dao tower, this pit was situated right in the center of the main hall.


    Logically speaking, that pit should be constructed in the middle of this chart, right below the....stone column.


    Instantly, he reversed the flow of logic in his mind.


    From this new standpoint, he theorized that it wasn''t this chart which failed to show the exact mirror image of his dao tower, rather, his dao tower was the one where the anomaly was.


    Indeed, the inclusion of the pit during his ascension to the fourth layer was the critical point from where the most troublesome issues had cropped up. His control over Hai Yin Zhe''s summon was partially gone. And the new, terrifying entity capable of possessing his body had also shown itself, possibly through that pit.


    This pit was the only avenue connecting his dao tower with this burning planet. If the entity originated from this planet, it had obviously made use of the pit. Perhaps, that entity had influenced the development of his dao tower and created this anomalous situation!


    Zhanxian obviously wasn''t thinking of such complicated implications. While Han Xuhan was reeling from the shock of the discovery, Zhanxian shouted, "Oi little Tian! What the hell are you talking about? I get to go first? What is that even supposed to mean? How do we leave?"


    "Hahaha! You stupid idiot! You didn''t sense the connection yet? Truly a waste of the resources Master shares with you! Hmph! Concentrate on that part of the circle where your avatar has been positioned. Concentrate hard and try to sense the connection it has with you. You''ll realize what I''m talking about, dumbass!"


    Both Zhanxian and Han Xuhan were puzzled, but they followed the instructions given by the owl.


    As seconds ticked by, Han Xuhan felt his thoughts beginning to wander again. He could sense nothing by concentrating on Zhanxian''s image in that outer circle segment. His mind was more concerned about what the implications of this discovery were.


    If the ten outer circle segments represented ten layers of his Skeletal Monarch Technique....what the hell did these ten inner circle segments represent? Three of them even displayed some alien symbols. What did these mean?


    As his eyes wandered across the floor and his mind wandered across all sorts of theories and puzzles, he felt his senses blurring, his thoughts beginning to run sluggish. This was a familiar sensation.


    Just a few minutes ago, he had felt this sensation of being mentally influenced, lost inside a world of patterns, colors, and symbols he couldn''t understand. At that time, he had been focusing on the mosaic patterns carved on the ground behind them.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Now, it was Zhanxian who was focusing on a certain part of this grand construct with which the skeleton supposedly had some sort of a connection.


    Why was it affecting him?!


    Han Xuhan was just a person observing Zhanxian''s memories!


    What the hell was happening here?!


    For perhaps the first time in his life, Han Xuhan found his mind devoid of any thoughts. Not even during his most arduous cultivation session did he ever feel so empty-headed.


    He found the situation odd, yet he could not form a chain of thoughts long enough to come to a rational decision, no comprehensive realization of his current state taking shape in his mind.


    And suddenly, there was something. A small stream, a flow of information foreign to him. Silhouettes, images, colors flickering in and out of focus in hyperspeed, motion blurred, thoughts semi-formed and left hanging, chains of logic spinning in circles.


    Han Xuhan felt his consciousness beginning to grow aware, beginning to observe the flow in his mind. This new existence inside the empty void of his thoughts was a...three-dimensional pattern, drawn with dark red ink, its strokes revolving in multiple directions at the same time.


    No, no, no, no...this was no pattern, this was a voice, uttering instructions to him, in a language he didn''t know but could understand...


    No, this was a picture! This was a portrait of a short, malnourished beggar, huddling fearfully...


    Wait, this was a portrait of a red skeleton! Strange! Han Xuhan felt like he knew this skeleton. But the skeleton in his memory did not have such a robust bone structure!


    "Ghghggghh!!!"


    The unintelligible groan hit his struggling consciousness like a lightning strike. The foreign elements crowding his mind disappeared in a flash, and Han Xuhan rediscovered himself watching from the eyes of his first minion, the red skeleton Zhanxian.


    The groan seemed to have come from Zhanxian''s mouth. As clarity began to flood him, Han Xuhan''s mind went into overdrive trying to analyze what had transpired just now.


    Did he just take part in the hallucinations Zhanxian had experienced upon observing the image drawn in front of them?


    As someone experiencing a memory...that indeed might be the truth. He would see everything Zhanxian was seeing, and he would even experience the hallucinations of his minion which too, were a part of the memory.


    But what was that even about? Han Xuhan found himself stumped. And that was when Zhanxian shouted,


    "OH YES! I know exactly what to do!"


    His befuddlement shot through the roof as Zhanxian leaped forward with all of his strength and landed lightly on the inner circle segment connected to the outer segment which contained his portrait. As Zhanxian crouched down and ran his fingerbones across the surface of this segment, Han Xuhan felt a wave of familiarity pass through his consciousness. The illegible patterns and symbols drawn on here hadn''t left any impression on him the first time he had examined them. But now, he could feel a strange affinity with these symbols, as if he was looking at alphabets of a language he could read to some extent, but not understand.


    These patterns and symbols were the ones that had appeared in my consciousness just then!


    The realization came swiftly, and with it followed the logical conclusion- Zhanxian''s hallucination had left both of them with this knowledge, but Zhanxian seemed to have gotten a better grasp of it compared to him.


    It took him but a couple of seconds to reach this conclusion. In the meantime, Zhanxian''s fingers were rolling on the floor like a pair of spiders, scratching, clicking, knocking on the mosaics which constructed the patterns and symbols.


    As an intimate observer, Han Xuhan could sense the urgency and certainty in Zhanxian''s movements. What was he trying to do?


    It looked almost as if he was trying to solve a puzzle.


    Suddenly, one of the mosaics shifted by half a centimeter as the skeleton''s fingers prodded it forcefully. Zhanxian''s body shook in excitement, and his movement grew more frenzied.


    Seconds later, it happened again, in another corner of the 10 square meter segment, this time by coming into contact with one of his toes.


    Again and again, the mosaics in the inner circle segment shifted from their original positions, breaking up the original patterns and symbols.


    In front of Han Xuhan''s astonished gaze, a new, complex pattern was beginning to emerge out of the messy arrangements, encompassing the entire segment.


    He couldn''t quite place his finger on what this pattern looked like. Was it an alphabet? Or maybe a picture? Or a code? His mind couldn''t pin down the exact nature of this otherworldly sensory input.


    And then, Zhanxian stopped. Tun Shi Tian hooted. Han Xuhan sensed an odd substance intruding into his mental perception. It rushed towards him from all directions, as if attracted by a powerful force.


    Qi!


    There was something unfamiliar about it, but it was indeed qi! And the invisible force attracting the qi to his body was Zhanxian''s mental influence!


    For the first time, Han Xuhan sensed what it was like to cultivate without damaged meridians. The unbridled, reckless consumption of qi, the aggressive guidance of the flow, the smoothness of the cycle all across his body...


    If he had to compare their cultivation sessions, Han Xuhan would be the careful king of a country rife with unruly subjects and a harsh environment, working methodically to avoid dangers, while Zhanxian was a tyrant of a tiny kingdom, uncaring and brutal in his decisions.


    Han Xuhan felt an incomparable rush of power as he experienced this new approach to cultivation.


    So it can be done like this too!


    Incredible! This was truly incredible! He didn''t know if one could get addicted to cultivating, but he was willing to bet he was surely infatuated with this experience now!


    As Zhanxian''s reserves filled up, the channels dug across his bones began to radiate a red glow, as if molten lava was running through Zhanxian''s body.


    Zhanxian glanced downwards, and Han Xuhan saw a stream of red qi spreading from his feet, across the grooves of the new pattern carved on the inner circle segment. The grooves were soon filled up to the brim.


    Standing on top of the glowing pattern, Zhanxian uttered a series of incomprehensible sounds. Inside the vast cavern, his shout reverberated. The golden glow of the burning lotus flowers overhead dimmed. The remaining qi in the air churned restlessly...


    Is this a...breakthrough?


    On top of the pattern he was standing on, a fiery projection took shape, mirroring the pattern, surrounding their body.


    Walking a couple of steps back, Zhanxian looked up and gasped audibly.


    The incomprehensible pattern finally made sense to Xuhan''s mind somehow.


    This was a depiction of a humanoid skeleton, but not quite similar to Zhanxian''s body. This skeleton had a short, thick tail made of bones, a skull that had two faces at its front and back, a ribcage that contained twice the number of bones compared to what was natural, and each limb sporting two sets of the same bones attached together.


    The red projection became taller and taller, the light radiating from it reaching higher and higher and then finally shooting through the mass of darkness that blocked their sight overhead.


    Tun Shi Tian dived up and away from the stone column, which had begun to vibrate faintly, creating a soft, deep hum throughout the cavern.


    The qi which was occupying the pattern beneath his feet flowed towards the other end of the inner segment where the base of the column lay, and then began to crawl upwards through its mosaic-filled body.


    The advancement stopped right below the lowest of the nine horizontal rings, the flow of the qi stabilizing around the lowest segment of the stone column, just like it had inside the inner circle segment.


    A crimson glow flashed from the bright red base of the column, so brilliant that Han Xuhan lost his vision for a moment.


    "And here we are!" Zhanxian''s familiar voice shouted somewhere in the chaos.

 Chapter 198: Composite Cultivation Realm

    The familiar walls of his dao tower greeted Han Xuhan''s eyes as Zhanxian''s shout reverberated through his mind.


    "We''re back...? Is that how you managed to return from that planet? I don''t get it," he mumbled in a confused tone.


    "Yup! Didn''t you see the instructions? It was clearly written in there that once I imprint the fusion glyph on myself, the teleportation array would respond to my qi!" Zhanxian explained.


    "Fusion glyph?! Teleportation array?! Zhanxian, what the fuck are you even talking about? Why didn''t I see anything like that?" Han Xuhan''s confounded voice gave the minions a pause.


    "...You''re telling me, that you didn''t experience the boon of the glyph?" Zhanxian said slowly.


    "Didn''t you see me concentrating on my portrait? That''s when the glyph activated!"


    "Are you talking about the hallucinations you went through when you looked at the drawing inside the circular chart? All I could see there were some patterns and pictures that didn''t make any sense."


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian exchanged a puzzled look.


    "But we saw some simple illustrations, with a voice explaining the whole thing to us. How else would we know what to do in order to leave that terrible world?"


    "Yeah, although the illustrations seem hard to explain because of the foreign symbols and language used, the guy explaining it taught us thoroughly. Even master Kong Ye isn''t that good at teaching!" Tun Shi Tian added after Zhanxian.


    Han Xuhan''s thoughts spiraled into a series of doubtful assumptions. After a moment of blindly groping for clues...he found one.


    The message written for him in English inside the dao tower talked about some sort of a fusion...and Zhanxian too, had just spoken of a fusion glyph.


    Could these two be related? Quite possibly!


    "What''s a glyph?" Han Xuhan asked calmly.


    "...No idea," Zhanxian shrugged. "But the voice said he was using the glyphs to inject us with information in an easy, comprehensible way. And the fusion glyph was just the one we had to imprint on ourselves if we want to survive in the future when your meridians get destroyed."


    "And you did it? You...imprinted this fusion glyph thing on yourselves?" Han Xuhan asked. "How? When?"


    "By memorizing it, of course!" Tun Shi Tian answered proudly.


    "Why do you think we spent such a long time staring at the glyphs? Even when that disembodied voice was lecturing us, it kept pressuring us to memorize the glyph! Honestly, it was actually way easier than we thought it would be. It almost felt like....like I''d learned something similar before."


    All three of them fell silent, contemplating the implications of Tun Shi Tian''s theory. It was a plausible situation, Han Xuhan could see it.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    The souls of his minions hailed from this planet to begin with. It would hardly be unnatural if they happened to be familiar with the language, culture, cultivation techniques and secrets of that burning world.


    "What does this fusion glyph do?" Han Xuhan asked in the end, deciding this wasn''t the best time to pursue such long-winded mysteries.


    It was better to focus on the present circumstances. Since his minions had returned safe and sound, carrying this glyph imprint on themselves, that should be his main query right now.


    If what they claimed was true...


    "Actually, it''s really simple, what this glyph does. Just like its name suggests, it enables you to fuse with anyone who shares the same imprint. You can think of it as a separate, secondary cultivation technique that has been integrated into your cultivation technique, master. Instead of 10 layers, this new integrated cultivation method will provide you with 20!"


    "....Fuck."


    "That came out sounding like a negative development. I get your reaction, master," Zhanxian hurried to explain.


    "In these 20 layers, you only need to cultivate the original route by yourself. Each time you construct a new skeleton body to summon the souls from that planet, you''ll reach a new layer of the Physique transformation realm, as usual.


    Simultaneously, one of the empty outer circle segments we saw in that glyph construct at the center of the cavern will automatically be filled with the information and image of the minion which you''ve summoned.


    Subsequently, the fusion glyph for that new minion will be created inside its corresponding inner circle segment.


    Ten layers, ten minions, ten imprints. All you have to do in order to use these fusion glyphs is to memorize them, each of which will leave a unique imprint on your mind, as well as our dao tower. Climbing the ten extra layers is as simple as that!"


    Han Xuhan listened, feeling more and more dumbfounded with each passing second. After a long stretch of silence, he asked the most obvious question.


    "Exactly why would I want to ''fuse'' with you lot? What does that even mean?"


    "Isn''t it obvious?" Tun Shi Tian laughed. "Remember the monstrous skeleton that took shape around Zhanxian when he filled his inner circle segment with qi? You saw it, right? The one with dual sets of bones all over its body! If you fuse with Zhanxian, that will be the result!"


    Have you two gone insane?!" Despite having suspected it, Xuhan couldn''t help being shaken at the notion.


    "Not at all! You will NEED to fuse with us if you want to continue cultivating, master. You''re not an idiot. How come you can''t see something so obvious?" Zhanxian replied, sounding annoyed.


    Imagination running wild, Han Xuhan spoke cautiously as he entertained the concept.


    "From your words, it seems that this fusion you speak of is not only a mere metaphor..."


    "Indeed, it''s very much a literal fusion. We shall be fused together physically, spiritually, and mentally. Our powers, our cultivation, everything shall aggregate together!" Zhanxian''s excitement was infectious.


    "If we fuse together physically, then your artificial qi channels can replace the job of my meridians!" Han Xuhan suddenly came to the realization and exclaimed out loud.


    Heavens!


    That one decision he had made impulsively the day he had purchased his first-ever cultivation technique...was it about to turn his life around completely?! If this worked, then all the troubles he had gone through to let his minions become cultivators would be absolutely worth it!


    The thought of the possibility was like a magical seed in his brain, suddenly taking root and germinating at lightspeed.


    But he controlled his roiling emotions. Caution was still required, especially now.


    "That voice which taught you all of this sure seems awfully helpful. Could this unknown entity have an agenda in mind...?" he wondered loudly enough for his minions to hear.


    Zhanxian nodded immediately. "Absolutely, master. I thought of this possibility too after returning here. Whoever it was, he can clearly influence our dao tower heavily. So, my theory is that, this benefactor helped us because he didn''t want the tower to be damaged. I''ve already told you that he addressed that planet as his prison.


    But he can clearly come out of there and beat us up here in the tower, which should not be accessible to any outsiders, let alone a prisoner stuck in a damned ruin. Doesn''t that mean that he has escaped through the connection our dao tower has with his world? And he also hasn''t done anything adverse to our interests and safety so far, which signifies that either he holds goodwill towards us, or..."


    "That he is unable to harm us, for now," Han Xuhan finished the sentence before Zhanxian.


    "Either way," Tun Shi Tian chirped in, "he''s stuck with us in this tower. So if this tower is damaged...boom, he''ll be in the same danger as the rest of us."


    "And this is why, I believe, that he guided us to the way to preserve your cultivation, protect our existences, and fortify the foundation of this tower. The fusion glyphs, if cultivated successfully alongside the Skeletal Monarch Manual, can achieve all three of those targets." Zhanxian drew the conclusion to his theory with a bow.


    "Excellent, Zhanxian, excellent. I never noticed that you were this sharp!" Han Xuhan applauded with an approving nod.


    "Unfortunately, you''ve overlooked one obvious problem."


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian snapped to attention.


    "What?"


    "Where?!"


    "If this was the entirety of his motives...then why did he not just tell us directly? Why did he force the two of you to go inside his prison and discover the clues piece by piece? If he could lecture you and guide you there, why can he not do the same here? He is still here, after all. Am I correct, senior?"


    Han Xuhan looked up and around his dao tower impassionately, waiting for a response.

 Chapter 199: Ghosts Have High Standards These Days

    "No response?" Han Xuhan observed loudly. "Yeah...figures. You do understand that this makes me very, very suspicious towards you, right senior? I suppose if you don''t really care about that at all, the implications are simple. Whatever plan you have for us is going to be purely reliant on force, huh?"


    The dao tower remained silent as before, dragging his hopeful heart into icy waters.


    What was this entity trying to do?


    Would he even survive to see tomorrow''s sun?


    Han Xuhan spent a long time trying to soothe his nerves. Too many things were waiting on his wishlist, and now he was forced to consider that he''d never reach those goals. He couldn''t see a bright, or long future ahead of himself. However, the memories of his past life came in handy as he prepared his heart for an inevitable, fast-approaching death. If he opened his eyes after breaking away from this session of meditation and still retained the control of his body, mind, and dao tower, Han Xuhan was ready to consider it a gift, a borrowed period of time to appreciate this rebirth, this interesting world.


    Zhanxian looked like he was about to try to convince him to go along with the flow of this entity''s scheme. But the oldest minion understood Han Xuhan''s personality, especially his pettiness and spiteful nature, very well. So no such requests came from him in the end.


    In the end, Han Xuhan decided to return to the original world as a test.


    As he opened his eyes, conscious of his surroundings, Han Xuhan felt fully in control of himself. One minute passed, then two. Suddenly, he bolted outside, where Mu Ran was supposed to be performing his job as the temporary guard of the hut.


    "What are you doing?!" Mu Ran yelped as soon as he set foot outside, looking alarmed.


    "I-cough, cough...uh, nightmare," his voice answered. Then his body turned around and re-entered his room, sat down on the bed, and shook for a second. Once again, Han Xuhan had experienced what it felt like to be possessed.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.He got up again. This time, he walked out slowly, slouched and appearing dispirited. He made some small talk with Mu Ran and sat outside with him for a long, long time.


    "Boss," he suddenly said, breaking the silence.


    "Yeah?"


    "What would you do...if you were suddenly possessed by someone very powerful? " Han Xuhan shot his words swiftly, before he could be stopped.


    "WHAT?" Mu Ran leaped up, his eyes narrowed and gait cautious. He had entered battle mode, almost instantly.


    Han Xuhan felt like he was overreacting a bit, but considering the current situation, this was just perfect! But before he could continue-


    "Ahaha! Boss, right now I''m possessed by a very powerful urge to go back inside and sleep! I don''t think I can slog through tonight''s shift. Could you...cover my shift for me?" His voice was robbed again.


    "....Oh." Mu Ran nodded slowly, still looking wary.


    Han Xuhan''s legs carried him back inside his room, his hands closing the door on the way.


    "Young man, that was a poor decision. My patience has its limits. If you think you can achieve a result by repeatedly forcing me to possess this body of yours...I would be disappointed."


    "...I felt that we needed to have a conversation. This seemed like a convenient message, alarming enough to summon you, senior." Han Xuhan''s tone was cold. Unlike their first conversation, he was prepared now. This entity would not get the respect and fear he had gotten in their previous exchange. What he''d get is a rude, uncaring negotiator.


    "....You know what, I''ll let you in on a secret. The longer you expose me to this world, the higher the possibility of you being struck with an ''Erasure'' level Heavenly Calamity will grow. So, I suggest that you listen to the next three sentences of mine carefully, and not force me out again.


    "Firstly, you''ve done me a service I appreciate, so I''ll not simply kill you and steal your body like you seem to think.


    "Secondly, I provided you with the fusion technique not only out of goodwill, but also to ensure that I have a footing in this world through you, and that''s all there is to it.


    "Thirdly, an ''Erasure'' level Heavenly Calamity is something so far beyond your scope of comprehension that the very knowledge of it could get you in trouble; all you need to know is that it will spell both of our deaths.


    "There you go, young man. I just handed you the most important trump card, the way to launch a suicide attack against me. Don''t ask this old man to show more sincerity. You already have the higher ground now."


    "Senior! Wait! One last question¡ª is it possible to shift your foothold in this world from my body to someone else''s? You did say you wanted a healthy body! I''d love to know the process!" Han Xuhan anxiously shouted.


    "Hahaha! I have some high requirements, I''ll warn you!" the entity laughed incredulously.


    "Get me someone beyond the Soul Reformation Realm, tied up and unable to retaliate in ANY way, physically or spiritually. I''ll consider it!"

 Chapter 200: The Anomaly In The Map

    The entity possessing him had taken his leave, but his departure had left Han Xuhan with a numbness he was well acquainted with- the feeling of being crushed by a pressure beyond his ability to bear.


    Nonetheless, one fact had been ascertained, the most crucial of them all.


    This entity hiding in his dao tower was unwilling to take possession of his body, unless absolutely necessary...for now.


    This gave Han Xuhan a small semblance of hope. Maybe his death was close, but not so imminent that he needed to say goodbye to the world.


    He reshuffled his list of priorities once more in his mind, considering how to spend the remaining days of his life from now on.


    Pretend everything is normal and go about his business like he was supposed to?


    Or was there a necessity for something more, perhaps a new task...to find a cultivator with power beyond the Soul Reformation realm, restrain his abilities, and present him to this entity inside him?


    Han Xuhan almost laughed out loud, imagining the scene of a mid-level Physique Transformation realm cultivator dragging in a tied-up, unconscious cultivator TWO major realms above him.


    Heck, he wasn''t even sure what the realm above the Soul Reformation realm was called...


    A thought occurred to him, suddenly. If he wanted to know how many cultivators above the Soul Reformation realm were nearby, he could actually find the information within seconds!


    Han Xuhan leaned over from the bed and took out a scroll from inside one of his bags.


    This was Xuan Zi''s map, the object martial sister Zhou was desperately looking for¨C the weight allotment scheme used in their setup for the Celestial Gateway Spell.


    Since this displayed the map of how the cultivation levels of the participants of the spell were spread across their island, Han Xuhan could ascertain his potential targets right away!


    He unfurled the scroll and lit a candle on the table, spreading the map under the firelight.


    The first thing he realized was that instead of exact cultivation levels, sect master Xuan Zi had used an approximate range of cultivation for a large number of participants.


    Why?


    Han Xuhan reached a plausible conclusion easily after a moment of contemplation.


    It was the norm in the world of cultivation to have a few secrets, trump cards for self-defense, and surprises for unsuspecting enemies. Hiding one''s real cultivation level was simply the most common, convenient, and traditional method of bringing an unwelcome surprise to one''s enemies.


    Even within their sect, some forms of rivalry existed, especially between the elders of each mountain peak and their close disciples. The senior generations had their own forms of hierarchy, but due to the lack of communication with them, Han Xuhan did not know much about the politics in their circle.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    So it was hardly an exaggeration to say that the publicly known cultivation level of many members of their sect was false.


    This must have been why Xuan Zi had used a small range of cultivation levels for these disciples and elders.


    The map followed the physical structure of their sect, divided into many mountain peaks with an elder commanding over each. Some of them were only elders in name and they didn''t teach disciples, restricting their routine to cultivation and some basic tasks to maintain their positions as elders.


    The core of the map was based on a color scheme.


    The elders, with cultivation levels ranging from the peak of the Soul Reformation Realm to whatever lay above, were represented by blue dots. There were more than 30 such blue dots...all of them a potential source of his salvation.


    That was all he needed to see, but he couldn''t remove his eyes from the rest of the map without taking a proper look.


    The senior disciples who had reached the Soul Reformation Realm had not accompanied them to the tournament. So the next level of cultivation directly dropped to the Physique Transformation realm.


    The disciples on eighth layer and above were represented with the color red. They closely surrounded the blue dots on each mountain. Out of curiosity, Han Xuhan counted the dots carefully and found 15 of them, spread across the island.


    The revelation struck a nerve in him.


    FIFTEEN!


    He did not know of a single disciple in his generation who had reached the eighth layer of the Physique Transformation Realm! And there were actually fifteen of them?!


    Thankfully, none of these fifteen red dots were placed on their Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak. That meant neither Mu Ran, nor Yuen Zhou had lied outright about their progress so far.


    Han Xuhan checked the entire map, mountain by mountain, looking for familiar disciples. But there were no names to mark them down, so he could only take guesses.


    For example, in his own mountain peak, he could identify the persons behind all five dots. One blue dot representing Kong Ye; two orange dots representing Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou; and two black dots representing him and Xiao Wu.


    The most common color on the map, orange, represented the numerous disciples with a cultivation level ranging from the fifth to the seventh layer.


    The black dots represented the true black sheep of their sect, those with a cultivation level of the fourth layer and below...


    Normally, a disciple would find it humiliating to be grouped in this category. But Han Xuhan had nothing but pride and appreciation for his magnificent self. He was very close to his target, the fifth layer, which he had to reach within the next five months in order to not get expelled from the sect per the rules.


    As he was about to close the map, his eyes fell towards the central mountain peak, where the dots were sparse, surrounding a large blank circle drawn with purple ink.


    He did not know which realm of cultivation this signified...but he knew who it was.


    Sect master Xuan Zi''s cultivation level was truly unfathomable. He was on a league of his own!


    Then Han Xuhan''s gaze flickered towards the only other dot in that area, a black dot.


    Who''s this? Sect master Zi hadn''t brought any of his servants along with him. Did he have a secret disciple whom nobody knew about? Why would he do that?


    Or a concubine...ahem!


    Han Xuhan''s respect towards that man surpassed any other cultivators he had met so far in his life. Although Xuan Zi had never exactly shielded him from the dangers that befell him, something about the way the man treated him struck a chord in Xuhan''s mind. The two of them shared an odd sense of kinship between themselves.


    This made Han Xuhan feel too awkward to dig into the sect master''s personal life. So what if he had a secret concubine? That was fine by him as long as the relationship wasn''t forced.


    And even if it was forced, there wouldn''t be much he could do to break them up. Who was he gonna complain to?


    Han Xuhan pushed away those dark thoughts and was about to close the scroll when his eyes fell on a corner of the map, the weight scheme of the Black Sheep peak causing him to pause.


    His pupils shrank, brows furrowed, and his heart skipped a beat as he traced his finger across the few dots in that mountain.


    The central dot was blue, which was expected from Elder Daheng. But there was another blue dot in that area, right beside him.


    No other elders were placed in that mountain peak, and no one would voluntarily go there either, that much Han Xuhan knew.


    But this was hardly where the abnormality lay.


    Not too far away from the second blue dot was a third dot, neither black, nor orange, not red, and not even blue.


    This was a unique green-colored dot.


    Han Xuhan went through the layout guide of the map a second and a third time to make sure he hadn''t missed any crucial information about that color scheme.


    Yet he could not find any information about this green dot, let alone know who it represented.


    This time he focused on the actual weight allotment used in that mountain peak by going through the three tiers of formations constructed there in order to take part in the Celestial Gateway Spell.


    Then Xuhan''s mouth fell agape. Because all the formations shown to have been used in the Black Sheep Peak were at level 3, the highest possible tier of the formations. In comparison, the rest of the mountain peak only managed to make a tenth of their formations 3rd level, half of which was the contribution of the elders.


    Even then, every peak had managed to house their entire body of disciples in the weight scheme to attend the tournament.


    So what could be the need for a construct with all the formations at the 3rd level? Did they want to house someone above the elders'' level? That was the only reason why a mountain would require so many high-tier formations!


    What the hell is this?


    Just who is hiding in the Black Sheep Mountain Peak? Who does the second blue dot represent? And what is even the green dot?


    He was forced to close the map with confusion brewing in his head.

 Chapter 201: Pest Extermination Agent

    Recently, Han Xuhan''s nights had been busy. Had he not been a cultivator at the fourth layer of the physique transformation realm, it would have been hard to even form coherent thoughts by now, let alone stay awake at midnight and construct thorough plans.


    But that was what he had been doing till now. Closing his notes, which he had just finished memorizing, he burnt the papers on the flame of the candle.


    Lying with his back on the wall, Han Xuhan thought for a moment before diving back into the depths of his consciousness, heading for his dao tower.


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian came out of their rooms, looking alert.


    "Did you see anything odd here after I left?" Han Xuhan said casually.


    "No."


    "Nope."


    The answers were expected. Han Xuhan hummed and turned towards the ceiling where the law alphabets were gathered. The dome appeared normal.


    His consciousness hurtled toward the dome and used the familiar circular formation of letters there to transport his consciousness to his spawning point inside the vast realm of laws.


    Qian Yun responded to his incessant howling rather fast.


    "What is it? What happened?!" Slightly panicked, Qian Yun''s voice trembled.


    "Wow, you''re so fast, brother Yun! Do you spend most of your time here?" Han Xuhan answered.


    "...Do you have something to say or not?" Qian Yun snapped back.


    "Whoa! What''s with that unwelcoming tone, brother? If I don''t feel welcome here, how am I supposed to learn from you? And more importantly for you, how am I supposed to keep handling the resource-trading business?"


    Qian Yun didn''t answer for a while. But Han Xuhan distinctly felt like someone was grinding their teeth hard on the other side of the tunnel.


    This truly was an effective way to vent!


    "We''ve been handling some problems here in the Holy Land for a while now. I''d be grateful if you could comprehend the pressure on me," Qian Yun said after a long bout of silence.


    Han Xuhan was just about to give up his trolling for the day and get down to business, but Qian Yun suddenly added another line.


    "In fact, I think you should know about the problem. It''s your martial sister who''s responsible for it."


    "...What?" Han Xuhan asked, feeling like he had misheard.


    "Yeah, that girl called Zhou, remember she had a zombie army with her when she was accompanying us through the ''test''?"


    Han Xuhan remembered that perfectly, down to some terrible, graphic details.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "She left with you, but her zombies remained in this place. The humanoid zombies disappeared for some reason, but the rest have been plaguing us for a while now. They used to avoid us initially, but I suspect that hunger and lack of prey here have pushed them to their limits. They''re actively attacking my people, trying to break into our rooms, infiltrating the tunnels...it hasn''t been easy on anyone''s nerves. Especially now that the zombies have mutated."


    "MUTATED?! What do you mean they mutated? Those things were already beyond recognition after being zombified. All of them were mutated monstrosities to begin with!" Han Xuhan couldn''t help but screech, scenes full of unhinged body-horror creeping into his imagination.


    "You don''t want to face them now, that''s for certain. Nobody would. These zombies turned on themselves after running out of the little food they could find here. They fought each other, fed on each other, absorbed each other, mutated through the process, and fought another mutated zombie after that. In the end, only a handful of them were left, out of which we killed all but one. The remaining one has fed on multiple mutated zombies. It''s as smart as any of us, with physical strength way above the peak of Physique Transformation realm. It''s a miracle that none of us have been hunted and devoured already...but that day is perhaps close. This remaining zombie is growing impatient. In a face-to-face combat, none of us will be able to kill it by ourselves.


    "So we''ve been trying to hunt it together. I wish I could say we''re making progress..."


    Qian Yun trailed off. Han Xuhan couldn''t even imagine the circumstances these fellow cultivators were in. It sounded like an absolute nightmare, being stuck in a small archaic region with nowhere to escape to while being hunted by mutated, intelligent zombies.


    "Hey, brother Yun, do you think my martial sister might be able to help you with that danger?" Han Xuhan suddenly said.


    "Maybe, but would she?" Qian Yun didn''t sound too hopeful.


    "Well, she would probably not care, but I can make her," Han Xuhan felt a smile taking shape on his face despite being disembodied right now.


    "Are you certain?" Qian Yun said cautiously. "I don''t want anyone so troublesome to infest this place again. Not if she can''t solve the problem easily."


    "With some forms of remuneration, I believe, everything can be ascertained and made easy." Han Xuhan snickered with the business opportunity in hand.


    "And that reminds me, I need you to do something. Consider it an advance payment for solving your zombie infestation problem."


    "Get to the details," Qian Yun immediately responded.


    "Do you remember that when you first entered the portal leading to the Holy Land of Laws, you landed on top of a cliff?" Han Xuhan probed carefully.


    "Yes, the area just outside the deathmist. Everyone who entered through that portal ended up in that place," Qian Yun affirmed.


    "Deathmist? So that''s what the fog is called, huh? That''s a pretty cool name!"


    "...Get to the topic.".


    Han Xuhan coughed and began to elaborate.


    "Well, inside the region shrouded in deathmist, my martial brother lost his favorite weapon. How about you find it for us? You can send it over during the next resource exchange."


    "The region shrouded in deathmist isn''t small. I''ll need a more specific location. Describe the area where he lost it, as well as the appearance of the weapon. I''ll see if it''s a feasible task." Qian Yun seemed unwilling to spend a single extra second talking to him right now. So Han Xuhan provided him the information swiftly from memory.


    He was quite confident that they''d be able to find the spear. Because Mu Ran had apparently left it stuck inside a zombie monkey. The corpse wouldn''t rot away fully so soon.


    Just as he was about to leave, Qian Yun suddenly said, "Speaking of resources...I would like to buy something special from your sect. I''m willing to negotiate with whatever price you offer for it."


    If Han Xuhan had hands, he''d clap in surprise.


    "Whoa! I was wondering when you''d begin paying with something valuable again. The only thing of value you''ve ever sent to my side using the displacement spell is that blueprint of your Holy Land, man. You really got me thinking you''re a cheapskate. We''ve been sending so many resources to you-"


    "Those blueprints are one of the most valuable treasures of our Holy Land! Do you think a few months of measly resource supply can be comparable to that?!"


    Qian Yun sounded apoplectic.


    Han Xuhan let him rant on for a minute. But it seemed that the frustrated young man had a LOT to rant about. His verbose abuse didn''t recede at all...


    "I''m feeling really unwelcome here right now, I''m warning ya~"


    His voice was very weak compared to the other party, but it made Qian Yun shut his gob immediately.


    "Ahaha, you get scared so easily, brother. So what is this special resource you''re looking for? Must be something real precious!" Han Xuhan said in an eager tone.


    "I need...guidance. The guidance of teacher, preferably an expert in Spatial Concepts."


    Han Xuhan was stunned by the answer.


    "Didn''t you say you''re in the Physique Transformation realm? Why the hell would you want to learn spatial concepts?


    From what I know, it''s one of the most complex dao out there!"


    "I am not pursuing the dao of space, brother Xuhan. I''m simply trying to learn how to leave this barren world we''re stuck inside. Without understanding how to operate techniques, spells, and instruments that can open gateways to our macrocosm, we''ll never be able to leave."


    "I see. By gateways to our macrocosm, you''re referring to that portal we used to get inside the holy land, right?" Han Xuhan was surprised that they hadn''t asked for help sooner. Granted, he was sending them food and other necessities regularly...but that ruined Holy Land was no place for the living.


    "Yes. Judging by the information I have unearthed from the archives here, it seems that there is still a good chance for us to activate a gateway to the macrocosm. We will just need to learn how to decipher the manuals, operate the spells, and activate the gateways. The process overall is complex, requires huge manpower, and some skilled minds. But as long as we can open the gateways for the fraction of a second, it''d be enough."


    Qian Yun''s explanation convinced Xuhan. No, he wasn''t convinced that Qian Yun could achieve the feat. He was simply convinced that the business opportunity here was too good to let go of!

 Chapter 202: Hidden Exchange

    Another bright, burning sunshine greeted the occupants of the Titanfall Archipelago as they got busy with their daily tasks.


    For Han Xuhan, the first priority was to retrieve Hai Yin Zhe from Yuen Zhou''s house. However, when he paid her hut a visit....


    "Papapapapapapapaaaaa!!!"


    No. This was not the sound of an intercourse taking place nearby. This was the outcry of a petulant child, having taken a fancy to a toy it couldn''t play with.


    "Little Zhe, that''s not papa''s treasure. You can''t take that, try to understand!"


    Han Xuhan''s patient tone did absolutely nothing to improve Hai Yin Zhe''s loud tantrum.


    "I want it! I want it! Papaaaaa!"


    Han Xuhan was not very fond of such demanding children. The short life he had lived in the orphanage had weeded out the sympathy someone else would feel in this situation. He could only see a brat that needed some soft discipline. But how do you discipline an undead snake skeleton?


    Should he try grounding Hai Yin Zhe inside his dao tower? That wouldn''t even last 5 seconds. Hai Yin Zhe would come out immediately and scream louder.


    "If you really want this, I can give it to you," Yuen Zhou said demurely. However, her eyes weren''t looking at Hai Yin Zhe, rather, she was focused on its master.


    Han Xuhan began to sweat upon being showered with the entirety of her attention. The nervousness didn''t stem from romantic interests, rather, its source laid with the three skulls decorating Yuen Zhou''s bedside table.


    He was quite certain that those skulls were new additions to her bedroom decor; something that had only appeared after he had walked in on her crime scene yesterday. There had been enough blood on this floor to signal multiple fatal injuries...


    Han Xuhan forced out those thoughts from his mind and focused on the conversation.


    "Ahaha, how can that be? It''s the treasure you picked up from the mysterious void zone between the spatial cracks. It''s got to be a precious item! Little Zhe is just a child-"


    "I''m willing to sell it, for an appropriate price."


    "Ah, of course." Han Xuhan fell silent. That made sense...only if that teeth set really was useless like master Kong Ye had claimed.


    Why else would she be willing to part with it?


    Maybe she was wary of its source, the void?


    "Is it a hazardous treasure?" he couldn''t help but ask.


    Yuen Zhou shook her head. "It''s perfectly safe. It operates on simple, transparent mechanisms. I just have no use for the teeth set because as you can see, all my teeth are intact and healthy, and I wouldn''t like to add anything extra."


    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    She flashed him a wide smile to prove her claim. But the revealed neat rows of teeth only made Han Xuhan''s stomach churn in dread. He felt like he was facing a friendly predator...


    "What''s your price?" he said, eager to end the conversation. Then he felt like his words had been a bit ambiguous. So he added with a jerk of his head,


    "You know, for the teeth set, what''s the price?"


    Yuen Zhou narrowed her eyes and spoke in a measured tone.


    "The map of the weight allotment scheme would be a decent price, I think."


    Han Xuhan instantly felt his nervousness, his dread, and his suspicious chains of thoughts disappear with a BANG!


    This was his business she was striking at! How could he let her do as she pleased?


    Fear? Intimidation?


    Those feelings could wait! He wouldn''t compromise in front of money! He wouldn''t compromise in front of a desperate customer!


    "Hahaha!" he laughed uproariously. "Martial sister, that was a hilarious attempt at bargaining. Be more realistic, will you? How about 5 spirit stones?"


    This time, it was Yuen Zhou''s turn to be struck dumb.


    The two shameless martial siblings bantered back and forth until the more desperate one gave up.


    "Fine, fine. If you''re willing to stoop that low with your pricing, I see no point in trying to reach a price that''ll satisfy both of us. How about I add a favor to the deal?"


    Yuen Zhou''s proposal was just what he had been aiming for the whole time. Han Xuhan''s eyes lit up like lightbulbs.


    "I want the full volume of the Artificial Meridian Construction technique," he fired away immediately.


    Yuen Zhou pressed her lips into a thin line, seeming dissatisfied.


    "I''ve told you already before, the creator of that technique only cultivated the first three layers of the technique before his death. It''s a stub-type cultivation manual with evil origins. How am I supposed to produce the next layers for you? You''ll need guidance on seven more layers till you reach the peak of the Physique Transformation realm and experience the baptism of Heavenly Laws. That could possibly fix your body, and you''d need the technique will no longer. However, I can''t magically conjure the instructions to reach the next seven layers for you."


    This was an answer Han Xuhan had gotten before, and he expected her to repeat the claim. So, his response was ready at the tip of his tongue too.


    "Then what about a similar technique? All I need is something that doesn''t rely on meridians. That''s all."


    Yuen Zhou shook her head with a gloomy expression.


    "You''re a good friend of mine, martial brother. I''m aware that you''re at the end of your ropes. If I had knowledge of any such techniques, I''d have given them to you for free. No bargaining would have been necessary. Unfortunately..."


    She sighed. Han Xuhan felt his hope die a little. So he threw out his last card.


    "I''ve heard that ghost cultivators do not need meridians for long..."


    Yuen Zhou''s gaze flickered towards his face like a bullet. The gloom and sympathy in her expression were gone, replaced by a sharpness and a hint of realization.


    "Did Shangguang Ce tell you that?" She said curtly.


    "....."


    Han Xuhan took a moment to digest the twist.


    How the hell did she know about Shangguang Ce? He hadn''t told them his name when describing his adventures around the archipelago.


    Seeing him silent, Yuen Zhou took out Hai Yin Zhe''s coveted teeth set from her shelf and handed it to him.


    "You can take it. As for our exchange deal, I''ll add some advice as well.


    "Do NOT trust your foreign friend. You''re not the only person he has reached out to recruit more members for his clan. I''m not certain what his ulterior motives are exactly, but I can certainly predict that it''s not something you want to be associated with. Not now, at least. That''s all I''ll say."


    Han Xuhan listened with his full attention, plotting scenario after scenario in his mind with each of her sentences.


    So many directions to follow, so little information to bank on...


    "When did he contact you?" He finally asked in a level tone. He was now certain that Shangguang Ce and Yuen Zhou had had their own exchange at some point, unnoticed by everyone.


    "Within the last 36 hours, I presume?"


    Yuen Zhou grinned lightly and gave a short nod.


    So that was why Shangguang Ce hadn''t yet replied to the message he had left for him using Tun Shi Tian!


    "He contacted you because I rejected his offer. I don''t see why that is anything to be suspicious of." Han Xuhan explained his stance.


    "Doesn''t change what I said. Ghost cultivators aren''t trustworthy people. Even I rejected his offer." Yuen Zhou''s grin widened.


    Han Xuhan sighed and said, "Heavens! You''re more racist than I am! Is there any particular reason why? "


    Yuen Zhou''s brows furrowed in confusion. "What? Racist? I don''t hate ghost cultivators, personally. They just have an ill reputation which entirely is their fault. And before you ask, NO, I''m not going to tell you why or how I know these things. It''s a secret, and I''d appreciate it if you treat it like one."


    "Never mind." Han Xuhan waved his hand and stood up from his seat. Little Zhe, who had been struggling to climb his legs from the floor screeched, forcing him to pick the snake up and hand over the teeth set to it.


    "I appreciate the advice, martial sister. But switching to ghost cultivation seems like my only remaining avenue at this point if I wish to keep cultivating."


    "I wish I could help. But there isn''t really anything-"


    "Oh wait, there''s another business I need to take care of with you," Han Xuhan interrupted her midway.


    Surprised, Yuen Zhou gave him a questioning look.


    "You need to take care of a pest infestation problem for me."

 Chapter 203: A Businessman In Any Situation

    "You''ve kept contact with Qian Yun till now?" Yuen Zhou sounded a bit appalled.


    "That guy was possessed by the Prime Disciple of That sect. Surely, you haven''t forgotten that he was about to kill us or possess us as well?"


    "Not that I had a choice, but yes, I have been exchanging pleasantries with him every few days. But don''t worry. The Prime Disciple Jin Tuyi has long taken his leave from Qian Yun''s body. Someone apparently visited the world fragment after we escaped and dragged that evil schmuck away, leaving behind our friend mostly intact."


    Han Xuhan explained to her the brief story Qian Yun had told him. He didn''t care whether it was true or not. Qian Yun, for now, was his business partner. His true identity, or motives weren''t as important as the treasures he was giving away in exchange for food and resources.


    "But when there''s an extremely smart zombie hunting you, it becomes difficult to stay pleasant as always, which is why Qian Yun has requested for a cleanup by none other than the sole culprit behind the threat, YOU!"


    "...No."


    Han Xuhan felt his face twitch uncontrollably at Yuen Zhou''s deadpan reply.


    "Your answer seems a bit too fast, martial sister. Do you perhaps know what''s happening inside the Holy Land right now?"


    Yuen Zhou gave him a measured look.


    "I don''t need to know. The zombies I left behind in that world fragment are quite special. They''ll eventually mutate further and hunt down every living creature inside without my control over their minds. Your request was enough for me to understand that it has already begun."


    "Sister Zhou, may I know why are you unwilling to help them ?"


    "When I took control of those zombies, I knew this was the path they''d need to tread in order to become stronger. And so I assisted them into adapting to the changes, helped them grow for as long as they were under my control. Back when we were tied up together in the hands of Qian Yun and his possessed friends, I imprinted their image in the minds of those zombies using our mental connection in order to facilitate a last-second rescue. You managed to take us out of the world fragment by your planning, but that didn''t give me an opportunity to take the zombies out with me from there.


    "I knew those zombies would grow there in strength and wisdom. And I fully support their growth."


    "....."


    That was a revelation Han Xuhan had not seen coming. But it made sense, now that he thought about it.


    No wonder that last zombie was smart enough to evade the claws of Qian Yun and his associates! No wonder it came out on top even after going through so many rounds of battles and mutations!


    "Is there any specific purpose for which you planted those zombies there?" Han Xuhan said.


    "I''ll reclaim my control over them and use them as bodyguards, just like before."


    "But for that, you need access to that Holy Land, which I''m assuming you do not. Do you?"


    Yuen Zhou exhaled. "In world fragments like that, there wouldn''t be any methods to sneak in from outside. But someone from inside can probably find a way out with enough information in hand. The zombies might eventually grow smart enough to rival regular humans and figure out how to leave that world fragment. I''ll sense their presence the moment they appear in our world."


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "I see," Han Xuhan muttered. "So there''s no chance that you''d cooperate with Qian Yun to hunt down the last zombie in the Holy Land?"


    "The last zombie?" Yuen Zhou''s expression turned sour. "So there''s only one left..absolutely not. That zombie would be a precious treasure of mine. Why would I do such a thing?"


    "What if they manage to kill it, though?" Han Xuhan said. "That way, you''d be the biggest loser."


    "I doubt they''d be asking for my help if they could just manage to kill it by themselves."


    Yuen Zhou laughed in scorn.


    Han Xuhan''s eyes gleamed.


    "You know, martial sister, all these talks of killing and mutating seems a bit pointless when there''s a better solution."


    Yuen Zhou''s eyebrows creased. "Better solution? Do tell, martial brother."


    "Why not cooperate into making that zombie an ally of Qian Yun and his associates?"


    * * * * *


    Han Xuhan left Yuen Zhou''s hut with a sneaky smirk on his face. On his shoulder, the skeletal snake coiled itself around its new toy, the teeth set.


    "Making people entrenched in debts feels so empowering! No wonder loan sharks always get so carried away!" he muttered to himself.


    Yuen Zhou would owe him two favors now. He couldn''t wait to see what kind of profit he''d end up making at the end of the whole business.


    But this also meant he needed to hand over the Weight Allotment map sooner than planned. But that wasn''t much of a problem. He had gotten a good look at the map already. What Yuen Zhou did with it was not his business. Xuan Zi had agreed to the deal, and that was enough.


    "Little Zhe, I''m very dissatisfied with your behavior in Aunt Zhou''s house. I am never sending you to have fun without supervision, NEVER!"


    This was a necessary admonishment. He sincerely hoped that the snake would understand the gravity of its ''crime''.


    "But Auntie Zhou told me I could have it!" Hai Yin Zhe insistently replied, not appearing bothered by his severe tone.


    "That''s because you were crying for it! How could you make a scene in someone else''s house? You''ve embarrassed me!"


    "...But she said I could have it if I cried for it in front of you!"


    "...When did she say that?"


    "Last night!" Hai Yin Zhe answered grumpily.


    Han Xuhan was stunned.


    So Yuen Zhou had manipulated him through his minion! She had practically forced him to buy the teeth set and thus paid off a share of the debt she was in for the Weight Allotment Map!


    "Damn! This world of cultivation is truly perilous! Even my close friends are trying to cheat me!" Han Xuhan exclaimed sorrowfully, not quite acknowledging that he himself was thinking about extorting Yuen Zhou in exchange for the favors she owed him...


    Today, he had woken up early to get his gears going. The sun was still stuck on the horizon, trying to climb up lazily. Han Xuhan couldn''t afford to be as lazy as the sun, though, for he had to attend his second business venture of the day: collecting the items other disciples had ended up acquiring from the void inside the spatial cracks leading to other sects.


    He reached his destination, the center of the island uninterrupted, uneventfully, which was a rare event itself these days. Shit always seemed to go down whenever he was out heading somewhere.


    The temporary tent that had been set up there for convenience was not empty, unsurprisingly. Today was a big day. Today was going to be eventful, challenging, a dangerous day they''d all remember. It was expected that most of the ordinary disciples would be up and running early.


    Entering the Central Pavilion, Han Xuhan looked around for a few minutes, watching his fellow disciples trade, barter, and have tense exchanges. Adapting his mind to the atmosphere, he beelined towards an empty corner and began to shout loudly on the way, attracting many bleary eyes.


    "The void-begotten objects! Whoever has a void-begotten object, please follow me! Willing to pay, willing to trade, willing to sell, willing to rent, willing to accept bartering, willing to give away with IOUs! And if you''re sincere enough, willing to even share for free!"


    The prime rule in a market like this was to maintain the external image of a peaceful, honest exchange. The last sentence of his would help in ensuring that nobody acted too problematically, and the wide array of options he had offered them would ensure that nobody could choose too fast for him to keep track of.


    Sitting in the corner, Han Xuhan watched with a calculating gaze as some disciples hesitantly walked over.


    "What are you offering for sale?" the first one to reach him opened the conversation without wasting time.


    Han Xuhan took out the Poleyn he had separated from his leg with the help of Kong Ye. And then he placed it beside the teeth set Hai Yin Zhe was still playing with.


    "What are YOU bringing to the table, brother?" Han Xuhan asked with an honest smile, his tone charged.


    The disciple looked uncomfortable for some reason. Instead of answering, he squatted down and said, "How did you manage to get rid of the objects? I''ve tried many methods but it''s still glued to my body."


    Han Xuhan leaned in and answered, "It''s a trade secret. But I can facilitate your desire for the small price of 50 spirit stones."


    "Fifty?!" The disciple sounded outraged.


    "I''m open to bartering, like I''ve announced a minute ago."


    The disciple said with a dark expression, "Ten."


    "Forty."


    "Fifteen."


    "Alright, let''s skip the next four lines and agree to the price of twenty-five," Han Xuhan said in annoyance.


    "Twenty-five..." the disciple sounded unsure.


    "Look, brother, twenty-five spirit stones is a very small amount of money to free your priceless rod from its unwanted sheath." Han Xuhan slammed a fist down on the ground, raising his voice with each word.


    The disciple looked scandalized. "Who said it''s on my-"


    "Trade secret, trade secret," Han Xuhan shouted over his indignant cry.


    "It''s really not! It''s stuck around my butt. I haven''t been able to go to the latrine since then! And my master won''t help me!"


    "...Oh no! That sounds like an emergency! We need to treat you fast! So where''s the money?!"

 Chapter 204: Abyss Guild vs. Crimson Snow Sect

    On his way back to the hut, Han Xuhan was forced to consider one very puzzling issue.


    The rest of the masters in other mountain peaks were not at all willing to help their disciples in any way, going so far as to not even detach the void-begotten objects from their bodies.


    There had to be a good reason behind that, the obvious one being a penalty from the judges of this round.


    He had seen clearly when Kong Ye had been struck with lightning bolts whenever he crossed the limits placed by the organizers by helping his disciples. Sometimes, even answering a simple question concerning the tournament invited heavy punishment.


    Kong Ye, an elder with an unfathomable cultivation level, couldn''t remain unaffected at the face of those bolts; that''s how deadly they were.


    So why had Kong Ye helped him by teaching him how to attach and detach the poleyn?


    He must have suffered the consequent retributions, but how? When? Why had he not seen it take place? As far as he was aware, the punishments were meted out instantaneously along with the offense committed.


    Did Kong Ye figure out a loophole to exploit here?


    Impressive! Very impressive! That master of his was truly resourceful!


    He doubted Kong Ye would answer if he asked about it, so he put the issue past his concerns and hurried back to Xiao Wu''s hut. The baggage he was carrying wasn''t small, after all. Everything had to be rearranged.


    His business venture was a massive success, even though in terms of financial gains, he had made a big loss. But this was his investment.


    Out of the hundreds of objects claimed by his fellow disciples from the void, he had managed to buy nine. Since most of them couldn''t figure out what the special functions of objects were, many were willing to sell their findings.


    Han Xuhan wasn''t willing to buy everything up for sale, though. He had spent the whole time fishing for a specific type of treasure he was familiar with, thanks to Kong Ye...pieces of armor!


    His hard work had paid off. He had found over a dozen disciples who had been wearing armor of various types, all from the void. But most of them were unwilling to sell, and it had taken a good chunk of his stash to convince nine of them.


    The pieces he had procured weren''t parts of the same armor, though. Two were even designed for ladies. But the workmanship was so exquisite and magical that anyone who could wear them could use them.


    Han Xuhan entered the silent hut carefully and set the baggage down. Mu Ran was still asleep, and Xiao Wu was nodding off in his sentry post.


    Right as he was about to begin re-examining the future additions to his armor, he felt the ground vibrate.


    Eyes narrowing, Han Xuhan stood up and walked out of the hut.


    The Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain Peak was placed at a corner of the floating island, which made it easy for its residents to have a good view of the rest of the sect. And that perk came in handy right then.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    He barely needed to walk to a higher portion of the mountain to notice the source of the earthquake.


    A ship the size of one of their mountains was visible from where he stood, hovering very, very close to the floating island like a silent monstrosity.


    It was airborne, first of all, with no visible clues telling him how. Hovering at the same height as the floating island of the Crimson Snow Sect, the ship had just rammed into the least populated side of the island.


    It was a disconcerting view, to say the least.


    Masts wider than the hut he lived in, sails tall enough to hide both the sky and the sea in that direction, and most importantly, a billboard-sized flag that displayed the image of a cute, black lobster at the center of the countless blue sails...the gargantuan construct of wonder rammed into the island once more.


    BOOMBOOMBOOMMMMMMMMM!


    The loose soil at his feet vibrated for a good dozen seconds.


    The sound of rushed footsteps came from behind as Mu Ran sprinted out of the hut.


    "What in the world is that?" He gasped in shock, taking in the full view.


    Xiao Wu, who had been half-asleep at the corner of the yard had also run out, following him. He was the one to answer the inquiry.


    "The Abyss Guild''s first target of the day seems to be our sect, Brother Ran."


    The real event of this round of the tournament was officially open! And they had been attacked before they could initiate one!


    "Tsk, such a show-off," Mu Ran said in half-disgust, half-jealousy. "Do they think we can''t do any damage to a target so huge?"


    "What are we supposed to do? Just...sit and watch the treasure-defenders fight off the invaders?" Han Xuhan asked Xiao Wu, their team leader in papers.


    "Yes, the rules state that other than the defending team, the rest of the disciples present in the scene cannot interfere unless incited."


    Xiao Wu''s answer did not please either of them. The three teams which had been ordered to stay behind in the sect to do the chores and defend the treasure consisted of weak disciples. How would those guys put up a fight against a team of elite disciples from the Abyss Guild?


    "Wanna watch?" Xiao Wu suggested. "We''ve got some time left before the assembly."


    Shrugging, Mu Ran followed Xiao Wu, and Han Xuhan was sent to ask Yuen Zhou if she wished to go witness their probable shameful defeat as well. She agreed as well.


    The four of them were not the only disciples who had made the decision, as it turned out. Nearly a hundred disciples were out of their huts, headed toward the area where the ship had violently docked. But none of the elders, nor the sect master himself made an appearance this time.


    The ship had placed itself between two misshapen peaks unsuitable to house residents. It didn''t touch the ground, hovering just a few meters above steadily.


    Han Xuhan could not detect any power sources, or engines, or even any magical mechanisms that kept the huge object afloat, which meant that whatever it was, he wouldn''t understand how it worked.


    Up close, the Ship was actually even more impressive, as expected from one of the top three sects on the planet. It could house thousands of passengers, probably. And Han Xuhan could not understand why a ship so huge would be required to transport a team of ten disciples through the spatial cracks....until he realized that the ship wasn''t made of wood.


    The main body of the ship was made out of a glassy substance, and behind the semi-transparent walls, they saw numerous faces mirroring the same abject look of wonder on the faces of the disciples of the Crimson Snow Sect.


    This ship was not just carrying an attacking team of ten disciples, it was also carrying over a hundred spectators, each sitting comfortably in their own cabins and observing the world outside through the glass.


    Many of them were sitting with papers and quills, ready to take notes while many were eating and drinking leisurely!


    The ten disciples who would attack the sect were up on the deck, garbed in exotic combat apparel. One of them, a girl wearing form-fitting leather armor and...goggles, jumped up on top of the figurehead at the front of the ship.


    "Greetings, Crimson Snow Sect. The Abyss Guild is here to issue its first challenge. You know the rules. We will search for the treasure using the clues we''ve been provided. We do not know where, or with whom it is hidden. We do not even know which disciples among you are the defenders. Unless incited for a fight, none except the defenders are allowed to land a finger on us or bar our search. The team of ten defenders may attack, hide, or defend; it is entirely up to you."


    Her speech finished, she leaped down to the soil of Crimson Snow Sect with the momentum of a heavyweight predator, raising a wave of dust all around her landing spot.


    Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud...


    Nine more youths followed her gracefully. Their appearance, gait, and synchronized movements revealed a trace of experienced teamwork that Han Xuhan had never seen in anyone except soldiers from the royal court.


    "This Abyss Guild resembles a naval army," Yuen Zhou muttered what all of them were thinking.


    "Brother Wu, where is our defending team? Have they prepared at all for the invasion?" Han Xuhan asked anxiously as he watched the team of attackers survey the landscape and exchange words among themselves in a foreign language.


    Xiao Wu rubbed his face awkwardly. All three of them looked at him simultaneously, feeling a foreboding sensation in their hearts.


    "Yeah...about that, I''m pretty sure those guys haven''t prepared for this yet. The amount of chores and labor they were given yesterday wasn''t small. We were supposed to sort out everything in the assembly, like which team would attack which sect, and what our defense strategy would be like...but these guys were so eager to attack that they didn''t even wait for the sun to rise fully."


    "...."


    "...."


    "...."

 Chapter 205: Six Direction Search

    The countless gazes fixed on the team of ten attackers hailing from the Abyss Guild were uncertain, unfriendly, but eager.


    Everyone had been caught unprepared by how fast the first invasion of the day was.


    "So, it seems that the defending team of the Crimson Snow sect has chosen a partially passive strategy," said the leader of the attackers, her voice raised high.


    Turning to her subordinates, she ordered, "Team, spread out. Cover all six directions."


    All SIX?!


    Han Xuhan, as well as the hundred other disciples witnessing the spectacle, felt puzzled for a short few seconds...and then they understood what she had meant.


    Out of the ten disciples of the Abyss Guild, six teams formed immediately upon receiving her order; four teams with 2 members, and two teams of lone warriors. The leader herself was one of the latter category. She distanced herself from the rest of her teammates.


    The four teams spread out in perfect sync, each heading towards different sides of the sect.


    Although the shape of the floating island they were on currently was not exactly a square with four sides, this seemed like an effective enough strategy to cover the most ground in the shortest time.


    Among the two lone warriors, the leader knelt down for a second.


    Under everyone''s curious eyes, the qi in the air around her pulsed. She had cast a technique, it seemed.


    As she stood up, they realized the technique was focused around her feet. They were the reason the qi in the surroundings was behaving oddly.


    With a deep breath, the girl raised one foot in the air as if to step forward, but she placed it a few inches above the ground, on nothing but air.


    Han Xuhan''s pupils shrank as he focused on that exact area.


    There was nothing there! What was she trying to do? Act cool?


    But then, what followed was indeed...way too cool!


    Her other feet rose from the ground and stepped firmly on nothing but empty air, inches above where the other feet rested.


    It was as if she could see and use a staircase in front of her that none of them could. Step after step, her feet carried her up in the air.


    One meter, two, four, six, nine, fifteen...


    Soon, she was standing stably more than a couple hundred meters above her original landing spot, looking down at the numerous disciples staring at her with their mouths agape.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    From where she stood, she could effortlessly cast her sight on every corner of the floating island. Even the mountains would barely restrict her sight.


    "Did she just walk on air? Literally?!" Xiao Wu muttered. "That''s way too powerful a skill to be something a Physique Transformation realm cultivate should have..."


    "Her aura doesn''t appear to exceed the Physique Transformation realm," Yuen Zhou denied his suspicion in a calm tone. "She isn''t even at the peak of our realm. Her cultivation technique is just something that focuses on that skill. What do you think she''s using to achieve that result? I doubt it''s anything too sophisticated. Physique Transformation realm cultivators cannot fly so stably without external assistance, and neither can they access powers to control gravity or conjure an invisible staircase that huge in size. It has to be something more realistic."


    "Air pressure, maybe?" Han Xuhan suggested. He was more inclined to believe the gravity cancellation theory, but Yuen Zhou had voted against that. This was the only other option he could think of.


    "Air pressure? How would that work? I mean, if the air below her feet is so fierce that it can keep her afloat, we would sense it, wouldn''t we?" Xiao Wu asked.


    Han Xuhan scratched his head for a few seconds and decided not to elaborate on Pascal''s theory. He wasn''t sure if his suggestion was possible anyway.


    "What a shame!" Mu Ran faintly remarked.


    "What''s a shame?" Xuhan said, curious to know this guy''s thoughts on the topic.


    "It''s a shame that she''s wearing trousers. If she had worn a skirt...well, let''s just say, nothing would''ve escaped my powerful vision. NOTHING!"


    Neck still cranked upward, Mu Ran shook his at the girl in the sky dispiritedly.


    "...."


    "...."


    "...."


    One of the two-person teams was headed in their direction. As they got closer, Han Xuhan finally got to observe these foreign cultivators down to the tiniest details visible.


    On average, the cultivators from Abyss Guild had a pale complexion, much paler than what one would find in the regions Han Xuhan hailed from. There was an odd gloss on their skin that didn''t quite appear natural, and their physique seemed more toned. That was where the differences ended. Unlike Earth, the cultural, physical, and social attributes didn''t vary so wildly on this planet for some reason...although it would''ve been fairly hilarious if it did.


    Han Xuhan had to suppress a mighty chuckle as he pictured a Dao Ancestor Jason, Sect Master Jamal, and Prime Disciple Jogesh...


    In the sea of stars where countless other civilizations resided, the possibility of that happening wasn''t low. If he ever reached a realm powerful enough to venture into space, he''d definitely search for the clues, Han Xuhan decided.


    "Make way, make way, stand aside for our investigation, please."


    The gentle voice of one of the two teammates brought Xuhan back to the present.


    All four teams had to push their way through the crowd of disciples surrounding the gigantic ship.


    Unfortunately for Crimson Snow Sect, these attackers were very polite. They did not behave like uppity young masters with a passion towards death, nor did they get angry when some of the cunning disciples from the sect acted like one to incite them into a fight.


    After all, the rules stated that if the attacking team overstepped their boundaries with anyone other than the ten defenders, the aggrieved disciple could fight back and help the defenders. This meant that as long as they could start a fight with the attackers, not a single member of this team would make it out of the crowd without getting lynched by the mob.


    Of course, they also had to be careful not to outright begin a fight when they weren''t a member of the defending team. That would spell expulsion of that offender from the tournament, resulting in heavy penalties for the sect as well. So the crowd was indirectly forced to give way to these four teams.


    Han Xuhan and his peers watched with rapt attention as two attackers jogged past them slowly.


    "Both of them seemed to be using a spell while moving," Yuen Zhou said.


    "It doesn''t give off the aura of a cultivation technique. The qi leakage is too small, and the pressure is too faint." Mu Ran added his observations.


    Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu exchanged complex looks. Neither of them was skilled enough to figure out that much from a three-second observation.


    "A stub-type technique." Yuen Zhou reached the appropriate conclusion fast.


    "For what?" Xiao Wu asked.


    "The target they''re here for," Han Xuhan answered. "The treasure that the defenders were supposed to be protecting."


    "If there was a stub-type technique we need to practice in order to search for the treasure, why have we not been informed of that?" Mu Ran raised a valid question.


    "We''re supposed to head out to attack soon. What point would there be in telling us about the technique before we leave? We can''t just cultivate on our way to the foreign sects, can we?"


    His displeasure was apparent. All of them were quite dissatisfied with the lackadaisical, whimsical attitude of sect master Xuan Zi, as well as the organizers of the tournament. Everything they did felt so disharmonious and incomprehensible that the situation was beginning to grate on their nerves.


    "Maybe the technique is something they figured out themselves, or the treasure has some relation to their own cultivation techniques." Xiao Wu''s suggestion seemed more logical.


    "Wait, where''s the last guy? Where did he go?" Han Xuhan exclaimed upon turning back toward the ship. The last of the ten attackers was nowhere to be seen.


    "He ran behind the ship," answered one of the disciples from another mountain peak.


    "Seems like he''s gonna climb down and scour the area below our island. The treasure can be kept hidden anywhere, you never know."


    "Ahhh, so that''s why she said six directions! Front, back, right, left, up, and down!" Mu Ran finally saw the connection.

 Chapter 206: A Proposal On Flying Mountains

    "So...what do we do now? Wait for the attacking team to track down the treasure and see what goes down?" Someone in the crowd said loudly in confusion.


    Watching the leader of the attackers casually standing hundreds of meters overhead, Han Xuhan constructed several plans of action, ready to tackle different developments.


    "Xiao Wu, how much time is left before the assembly takes place?"


    "Twenty minutes or less," Xiao Wu answered him.


    Han Xuhan began to walk toward the hovering ship. Emboldened by his move, his peers followed his footsteps.


    However, as they got closer, the ship let out a dull, deep rumble from within its depths, startling and scattering the crowd away. Then it rose straight upwards gently, arriving at a height no Physique Transformation realm cultivator could reach without a specialized technique. It didn''t go as far as the leader of the attacking team, but it would still be nearly untouchable for most of them.


    Vaguely, they could see the disciples sitting inside the ship laughing at them through its semi-transparent exterior.


    "Anyone here capable of flight?" Someone asked from the middle of the crowd.


    "Doesn''t matter. One scout isn''t going to make it in there," came a reply from a corner.


    "Maybe we should all head to the place where the defenders are. We could at least see what happens once the attackers track them down,"


    Another guy suggested.


    "That would just give away their position, you retard," someone rebutted in a pissed voice.


    "You make it sound like they aren''t going to realize who the defenders are the moment the treasure is found."


    As the bickering amidst the crowd intensified, Han Xuhan took one last look at the airborne girl and the ship below her. Eyes narrowed into silts, he gestured at his martial siblings to leave the crowd.


    "We will gain nothing by standing here. Neither do we have the time to chase after those attackers scouting our island. Let''s just prepare for the assembly. If something happens in the meantime, we can just hear about it from others. The defending team has nothing to do with us anyway."


    "Agreed."


    "Good thinking."


    "Hang on a second, let me take care of a small business-"


    All three of them watched Mu Ran jog back into the crowd, making his way toward the ship once more.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    What was he about to do?


    Even the quarreling crowd stopped to look at this famous asshat of their sect.


    And then, perhaps for the first time, this generation of the disciples witnessed the true meaning of a ''Protagonist''!


    The ground began to vibrate.


    BOOM!


    BOOOMM!


    BOOOMMM!


    Far behind them, past a couple of mountains, the sound of cannons being fired made them all whip their necks around. Even the girl flying overhead spun on her heels to look at the source of the sound.


    Mu Ran was no longer the focus of the crowd. What took his place, rather, were chunks of...soil. With countless trees, stretches of grass, small and large rocks intact on the surface, these small mountains had been ripped out of the island and shot up like cannonballs being fired.


    Numerous eyes blankly watched the trajectory of the misshapen mounds...which turned out to be headed toward them.


    "RUN!"


    "What the fuck?!"


    "HEEEELP!"


    The paralyzed crowd broke away, disciples screaming their lungs off as they tried to avoid the fate of being crushed by the mini mountains.


    However, Han Xuhan''s eyes saw something else, something that confirmed his immediate suspicion.


    Mu Ran was laughing at the scene, hands outstretched to welcome the oncoming mass-murder weapons.


    The sight of Abyss Guild''s flying battleship had been stunning, but the half-dozen mountains whirling toward his tiny existence like vengeful meteors far outstripped that shock.


    It was evident that even the disciples inside the Ship were in panic. The ship was letting off the familiar rumbles signaling it was about to move. But the shadows of the soaring semi-mountains were already shrouding it.


    The ship barely managed to evade the first of the falling mountains. The twenty-something-meter-high mound crashed into the ground with a sound that didn''t quite fit the scene.


    Han Xuhan was fairly certain that the mountain had slowed down on its way. Something, some sort of power was in control of this whole fever dream.


    His suspicions were confirmed when the second mountain jerked out of an unavoidable collision course with the ship and landed right on top of the first mound.


    The third mountain exploded halfway down on its trajectory, but the debris still fell on the heap of soil that had gathered below.


    "Heavens damn it!"


    Mu Ran''s nose was bloody, Han Xuhan realized as he looked back at him. Cursing profusely, Mu Ran began to sprint forward, his target- the stacked mountains.


    The fourth, fifth, and sixth mountains were still airborne, but they wobbled unsteadily on their trajectory. As Mu Ran reached the sixty-meter-high, brand-new peak of their sect, he leaped up on its slope and dug his feet into its loose soil.


    The fourth mountain, meanwhile, managed to reach the end of its route and broke down into a mass of dirt, mud, and rocks just like its predecessor. But it still added to the height of the heap.


    After a second''s pause, Mu Ran began to climb the slope using only his feet. Like a frog, each leap of his took him dozens of meters high, and by the time the fifth mountain had fallen on top of the mountain-stack, Mu Ran had reached the peak as well.


    Covered in dust and dirt, Han Xuhan and his fellow sect members forgot to breathe for a brief moment as they witnessed a spectacle of a lifetime.


    Three things took up the entirety of their focus.


    One- the flying ship backing away from the floating island''s periphery, still too slow in its reaction.


    Two- the sixth mountain plunging straight downward due to gravity, its sides breaking away from the main body showing that this last mountain too was about to fall apart.


    Three- Mu Ran, who stood on the topmost point of the heap of five fallen mountains, bending his knee to make one final leap.


    His feet crushed the rock they were on the moment his body shot up, displaying the full physical force of someone at the sixth layer of the Physique Transformation realm.


    The bottom of the falling mountain brushed by his body as it hit the peak of the heap below.


    Mu Ran used it as another springboard to keep leaping, going from rock to rock as everything on it broke apart from the collision.


    And then, a fourth object of their focus came into their view.


    The leader of the attackers who was desperately trying to reach her ship turned out to be a mere dozen meters away from Mu Ran.


    In the dusty air above the desolation, two strangers met under extraordinary circumstances that may never again be replicated.


    The two airborne figures faced off for the briefest moment before one of them spoke.


    Nearly a hundred meters below at the foot of the new mountain, Han Xuhan couldn''t quite hear the exchange over the sound of the ''rain''.


    And then, he watched Mu Ran fall.


    He watched the leader of the attackers practically fly towards the hovering ship.


    He watched a small rock hurtling toward his face, which finally shook him out of his shock.


    The entire mountain began to fall apart like a sandcastle. Disciples nearby ran out of its range and waited for an explanation with blank faces.


    As the dust settled, a lone figure sauntered out of the ruins proudly. Han Xuhan, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu waited patiently as the figure strode in their direction.


    "Uh, boss? What just happened?" he said, voicing every person present there.


    Mu Ran shook his head as he arrived by their side.


    "I sent a proposal."


    "...For what?"


    "A proposal for marriage."

 Chapter 207: My Teammates Draw Too Much Aggro

    "A marriage proposal?" Han Xuhan blankly repeated the sentence. His mind couldn''t form any connections between the vast collection of information he knew about Mu Ran and his paltry knowledge of the Abyss Guild. Where and how did a marriage fit into this scene?


    Mu Ran, who was about to pass by the three of them suddenly stumbled and fell on all fours, retching horribly.


    "Boss!" Han Xuhan''s underling instincts took over his detective persona. He nimbly jumped forward to help the guy up.


    Mu Ran''s face was pale, and a stream of blood was running down his nostrils. Han Xuhan used his mental influence to sense the qi on the surface of Mu Ran''s body as his hands checked his pulse.


    "A minor qi deviation resulting from over-drafting one''s mental capacity."


    Yuen Zhou''s diagnosis came before he could reach that conclusion.


    "What exactly did he do?" Xiao Wu muttered, still sunk in disbelief.


    "The Celestial Gateway Spell...did all of you forget?" Mu Ran gasped out between heaving breaths.


    The clues clicked together suddenly. Han Xuhan briefly recalled the little manipulative stunt he had pulled back during the first week of their preparation for the tournament.


    Their mission had been to construct formations according to the designs provided by the elders in each mountain peak. As a stub-type cultivation method, the Celestial Gateway technique had three layers, where the domains made by first-level formations were the lowest type and the domains created by third-level formations were of the highest quality.


    Han Xuhan had manipulated Mu Ran into handling both of their shares of the workload. Mu Ran had gladly constructed countless second and third-level formations to form the highest-quality gateway designs on their mountain peak. Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu had to barely add to the design, as Mu Ran''s superior craftsmanship was better appreciated by Master Kong.


    The specialty of the third-level formations was that the area of effect under them would become as responsive as qi to the controller''s mental commands. One could make the material under the formation''s control do almost anything he wished to. Of course, this power had its limits. One couldn''t turn water into wine, or living wood into lifeless metal. But ordinary actions like flying, breaking apart, coagulation, reconstruction, etc. weren''t impossible to accomplish through simple mental commands. It was after all, how they had redesigned the floating island for the convenience of surviving the natural disasters here, although not by such a huge degree.


    Following that clue, Han Xuhan finally understood the secret behind the six soaring mountains that formed the ruins in front of them.


    These chunks of dirt were the ''material'' under the control of Mu Ran''s third-level formations!


    Being the major shareholder of the overall formation designs of the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak, Mu Ran obviously could control a large portion of the soil of the mountain!


    Han Xuhan recalled Mu Ran''s eager proclamations that day. He had boasted that he''d impress the entire planet by using the high-level formations under his control...


    "Boss, you didn''t need to go that far with the spectacle, you know? Look at yourself now."


    Han Xuhan sighed, his mind reeling from the shock. The disciples nearby also began to connect the clues and whisper among themselves in a frenzy.


    "How powerful is his mental influence? He pulled out nearly half of the mountain peak he lives on!"


    "A sevenfold control of one''s mind! Unbelievable!"


    "What level formations are these mountains under? Level three?! Such a huge area!"


    Han Xuhan exchanged a troubled look with his martial siblings and decided to carry Mu Ran back to the hut, away from the commotion. If this guy fell sick, their chances of successfully invading another sect would dwindle by fifty percent.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    On their way back, they noticed the four teams of the Abyss Guild rushing back toward the center of the havoc in panic. No matter how impressive a background they had, the sudden sight of six hopping mountains had to be a shocker.


    "One thing I still don''t understand...why did you send a marriage proposal to that girl? What''s wrong with you, martial brother?" Xiao Wu made the inquiry for the rest of the team.


    Hanging from Xuhan''s shoulder, Mu Ran grinned sinisterly and said something that made Xuhan stumble.


    "That girl is my childhood sweetheart."


    "HER?! She''s the one you told me about on our first day in the sect?" Han Xuhan asked.


    "Yes. She was forcibly taken away from her family by the master of the Abyss Guild when we were young. Although she has changed a lot since that time, I recognized her when we faced each other in the air. I''m certain she has recognized me as well."


    All three of them listened to his explanation attentively, fascinated by the twists and turns.


    Han Xuhan couldn''t help but interject.


    "So what were you trying to do before you recognized her? Did you have another plan in mind when you were climbing the stacked mountains?"


    Mu Ran answered slowly, "I was going to go up to her and call their sect master an ugly old hag. And then I would have issued a challenge against their sect, declaring that when I manage to land on their island, I shall fight my way through every disciple present, regardless of whether they are a member of the defending team or not! It''d be a slap to the face of that damned witch!"


    "...."


    "...."


    "....."


    Han Xuhan, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu exchanged a complex look among themselves. On one hand, they were pissed at Mu Ran for planning a suicide schedule like that where he would have probably dragged them too.


    On the other hand, they were just relieved to see that Mu Ran''s plan hadn''t gone the way he would have wanted it to. Now, they could be prepared for such cases in the future.


    Their amazement at his stupidity was another matter. They were so tired of it that they didn''t even express that emotion anymore.


    Mu Ran suddenly coughed out another stream of blood and fell unconscious. Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu hurried to take him towards the but while Yuen Zhou made a sprint toward Kong Ye''s residence for decent quality medicine.


    Inside Xiao Wu''s hut, Han Xuhan called Zhanxian out of his cultivation room to help Xiao Wu administer some first-aid to Mu Ran. As they busied themselves, Han Xuhan walked out of the hut and summoned Tun Shi Tian.


    "Eh, master?" The owl yelped, surprised at having been interrupted during its crucial cultivation sessions.


    Han Xuhan took out a scroll from his pocket and threw it at the bird.


    "Open the scroll and fly in that direction. There''s a huge flying ship at the edge of the island. Hide among the trees and try to get at close as possible to the ship. Then circle around it as fast as you can while keeping the scroll open. If the scroll shows any abnormality, stop and take a good look at it before returning here. And do not let anyone from the ship, or hanging around it approach you. It''s better if you can do it undetected."


    Tun Shi Tian gaped at him for a long dozen seconds before shaking his head in what appeared to be disbelief.


    "What if someone from this...flying ship attacks me?"


    "They won''t if you do not initiate an attack. They''re bound by rules."


    "...Alright. Got it." Tun Shi Tian didn''t look very convinced. Han Xuhan was certain that if he had ordered Zhanxian to handle this task, the skeleton would''ve outright refused without even entertaining the idea. But Tun Shi Tian was a much more adventurous minion. He loved taking risks as long as Zhanxian wasn''t around to influence his decisions.


    As the owl took off with the scroll in its claws, Han Xuhan went to his room and checked the armor parts he had purchased from his fellow disciples.


    From what he could grasp in Mu Ran''s actions, a hellish experience awaited the four of them. Last night, Mu Ran had proposed to invade the most powerful sects on the planet with a rather far-fetched, but almost smart rationale.


    But today, he had ended up revealing a second reason behind that plan, a very personal reason.


    Han Xuhan had a sneaky suspicion that this wasn''t the only thing Mu Ran was hiding from them.


    He needed to prepare for the worst!


    The first and easiest one to purchase among the nine armor-parts was a...codpiece. That disciple had just been glad that he could get rid of it, as the armor wasn''t unattachable by regular means.


    Han Xuhan put it on cautiously after entering his qi into it. The principle behind the claim of ownership was simple. These armors fed on qi to function. So long as one filled the armor with enough of their own qi to activate it, they could form a weak mental link to it, opening the window to command its functions. Attaching, detaching, overdrive modes, deactivation, etc. were the common array of commands available for the wearers.


    The second was a female breastplate. Han Xuhan put it aside. He had thick skin, but going out sporting two small peaks on his chest was still a bit too much for him. He''d only use it in case of an emergency...


    The third one was just a shoe. He hadn''t found the other of the pair. But one was good too. This shoe had a specialty. Its overdrive mode activated a strange function...which was to empower the leg it was on to kick with the full power of a peak Physique Transformation Realm expert.


    Granted, he didn''t have enough qi in his meridians to fuel a kick so powerful, but it would probably be better than the power behind his normal kicks.


    The fourth, the fauld that would save his ass...literally. He looked ridiculous wearing it. Han Xuhan chose to cast it aside too for now. Moving through the spatial rifts in the Titanfall Archipelago was a troublesome task in itself. Weighing himself down with so many heavy armor parts wouldn''t be a wise decision when he needed to stay airborne so frequently.


    The fifth was a gorget to protect his throat. Its specialty was the ability to take on the color and structure of its wearer''s skin, meaning that no one would realize easily that he was wearing it.


    The sixth was a poleyn, just like the knee-guard that he himself had received from the void. There were some differences between their craftsmanship, but Han Xuhan wasn''t complaining.


    The seventh part was an incomplete gauntlet covering only his fingers.


    The eighth and ninth both appeared to be joint protectors rather than traditional pieces covering limbs. Han Xuhan didn''t need them for now.


    By the time he finished wearing those he chose for the upcoming mission, Mu Ran''s coughs could be heard in the other room. Yuen Zhou had returned with the medicine.


    Discreetly, Han Xuhan entered the room they were in and began to fuss over Mu Ran.


    DONG!


    DONG!


    DONG!


    The ever-elusive bells of the Crimson Snow Sect began to ring as Mu Ran sat up from his bed to take a swig of body-nourishing herb juice.


    "The assembly is about to take place. Come, everyone. Can you walk, martial brother?"


    The doubt in Yuen Zhou''s tone seemed to anger Mu Ran, who leaped up unsteadily and walked out through the door before the rest of them could.


    Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu sent her two thumbs-ups and followed him.

 Chapter 208: Sect Master Is An Insidious Fellow

    The hundreds of disciples who had gathered at the central plain looked listless and hesitant, which was understandable. Even last night, they had been filled with enthusiasm, imagining the adventures and glory they would experience starting from this morning.


    However, their sect had been invaded long before their defending team could get ready, meaning that the Crimson Snow sect was about to experience a massive setback on the first day! Their only treasure, which was supposedly the unit of measurement in determining the winners of the round, was about to be taken away.


    How could they not be affected?


    Their only consolation was perhaps the incidence of one of their peers bombarding those invaders with half a mountain. It had given them such a fright that the marble-smooth ship that had carried them to the island was now no longer within the border of the sect. It was still hovering cautiously at the edge of the island, waiting for the results of the invasion.


    This one incident made Mu Ran''s popularity among the disciples spike up like a rocket.


    Standing amidst the buzzing crowd, Han Xuhan and his peers frequently caught the rest of the disciples staring in their direction and whispering among themselves in awe and appreciation. Mu Ran glowed from all the attention.


    "Aiya, underling, I''ve always wanted to keep a low profile. But I guess it couldn''t be helped..."


    "How can a man as majestic as yourself hide amongst us mediocre? That''s too unrealistic, boss. I guarantee that you''ll never, ever, achieve the status of a low-key person."


    "Hey, I just didn''t try hard enough to be low profile, Xuhan. What are you saying? I can obviously maintain a low profile if I try harder."


    Han Xuhan couldn''t be bothered to reply to that, so he focused on the development taking place a hundred meters away.


    Luo Yi and Xuan Zi, accompanied by the Elders of the sect, were headed their way.


    The hubbub in the crowd died down as they approached.


    A small tremor ran through the ground beneath their feet, alarming the disciples. But almost immediately, the source of the tremor became visible to all of them.


    The soil beneath Xuan Zi''s feet was...rising up.


    Like a crocodile hidden within grey mud, the soil shifted up gently, slowly, with each step Xuan Zi took forward, taking his body higher and higher until he towered over the assembly like an announcer on a podium. Below him, the shifting soil formed a dozen feet tall mound.


    The Celestial Gateway Spell! The sect master was using the formations to control the soil just like Mu Ran had!


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Han Xuhan realized why none of the elders or the sect master himself hadn''t used this technique to do anything until now. They had even left it to the disciples to remodel the island as they wished, which had resulted into the current stylish, but mostly useless design of their sect.


    It was probably written in the rulebook of the tournament that they weren''t supposed to teach or hint to the disciples anything valuable concerning the tournament or its elements. The Celestial Gateway Spell was certainly one of the most valuable elements of their current circumstances.


    But now that Mu Ran had showed everyone how to take advantage of the spell, the sect master and the elders could openly abuse it!


    No wonder none of the elders had shown any interest in the explosive news that Mu Ran had chucked a bunch of a mountains at the invaders! They hadn''t even come out of their hut to investigate the earthquakes. Had they been expecting a development like that anyway?


    Luo Yi and the Elders surfaced behind him. The entire assembly could see them now with their heads tilted up by a few degrees.


    Standing at the forefront of the raised platform, Xuan Zi opened his arms wide and began to speak in a volume that reached every corner of the three-hundred-meter-wide field.


    "Disciples, as much as I love an orderly spectacle, I''d love to have your opinions on an important issue. Are all of you comfortable with forming groups of ten members? Or would you like to execute your invasion missions with your trusted friends in smaller groups?"


    Xuan Zi didn''t look surprised at the replies the disciples gave him.


    "We''d prefer the latter, sect master!"


    "Yes! We can work better with our friends!"


    "The second option would be more effective!"


    Unlike Han Xuhan, most of the disciples didn''t spend their time trying to form good relationships with disciples from other mountain peaks. Even within their own mountains, their circle of acquaintances usually fell short of ten members. So when the sect master had declared that they had to work in groups of ten, the disciples hadn''t taken the news very well.


    In a competitive situation like this, working with unfamiliar peers would not produce a smooth, cohesive output. It seemed that the sect master had also realized the issue...


    "I understand the general sentiment, disciples. However, in the sects you invade, the teams of defenders shall absolutely consist of ten members. Are you certain that you can manage to defeat them with lesser numbers? Do you think the power of friendship can overcome the disadvantage in numbers?"


    The disciples didn''t dare to reply this time. They knew the answer. None of them were confident enough to say Ye-


    "Yes, sect master!"


    "Who''s that? Who said that?" sect master Xuan Zi suddenly lost his cool. He looked into the crowd with narrowed eyes, searching for the culprit.


    Meanwhile, Han Xuhan felt his stomach lurch. He knew who the culprit was. He was standing right next to him.


    "I said that, sect master." Mu Ran raised his hand proudly.


    "I believe that just me and my three martial siblings are enough to tackle the invasion mission. We don''t need any riffraff tagging along."


    And that was how Mu Ran lost every bit of respect he had earned from his peers by scaring off the Abyss Guild''s disciples half an hour ago.


    "Confident child, aren''t you?" a trace of humor seeped into Xuan Zi''s tone, which made Han Xuhan shiver.


    "Is there anyone else who wants to form his own team of attackers with less than ten members? Raise your hands! Don''t be afraid! It''s not like I''m going to punish you for being so bold."


    No one did, although many of them looked tempted to. But the last sentence of his had made them very, very afraid.


    Xuan Zi nodded with a smile growing on his face.


    "Then it is decided. The elders will help all of you form teams of ten members...except you, disciple Ran." He pointed in their direction.


    "You and your martial siblings together shall form a team of four and handle your mission. But if you fail to produce results within the next 24 hours, your team shall be dismantled. I''ll decide what to do with you four after that. You have no complaints, I take it?"


    A good number of the disciples groaned, realizing that there indeed was no punishment for acting as audacious as Mu Ran and choosing to form their own teams. The sect master had skirted around the topic of punishment solely to test their resolve!


    So insidious!


    "Not at all!" Mu Ran replied to Xuan Zi.


    "Good, good, good! Now, let''s move on to the matter of your sec-"


    "ATTENTION! ATTENTION! ATTENTION!"


    The interrupting voice was loud enough to cover the entire island.


    A shadow fell on the crowd, making everyone turn their head up.


    The flying ship of the Abyss Guild had breached their perimeters once more, unbeknownst to them. It now hovered about fifty meters above their heads. On its deck, ten familiar disciples in combat gear showed furious expressions on their faces.


    "The shout was unnecessary, children, but sure, you have it. You want to do something with all that attention, now?" Xuan Zi yelled back.


    "Madam Yi, we would like to report the Crimson Snow sect for committing fraud!" Declared the leader of the invasion team in a cold tone.

 Chapter 209: Schemes And Counters

    "Fraud?" Luo Yi repeated the word in puzzlement. "That''s a serious allegation, children. What makes you think the Crimson Snow Sect is committing an offense that''d have such severe repercussions?"


    The leader of the Abyss Guild''s team replied, "As you''re well aware, we landed on this island almost half an hour ago. Since then, we''ve been searching for the traces that could lead us to the treasure hidden here. However, despite visiting every corner of this floating island, we''ve not found any signs of it, which begs the question, have the high-level protection arrays sealing the treasure been truly disabled as per the rules?


    That seems to be the only logical conclusion."


    "Well, I''ve got an even more logical conclusion for your ears. Maybe, just maybe...your tracing method fucking SUCKS!"


    Everyone turned to look at the disciple who had replied. Han Xuhan recognized this talented peer of his. He was the guy who had forced Luo Yi to compensate his martial siblings with a shitton of resources yesterday. His vicious mouth had left a deep impression on Han Xuhan''s mind.


    Even Xuan Zi looked at him in surprise. Luo Yi appeared to recognize him as well, and her aura immediately shifted.


    "I''m sure a sect as reputable as the Abyss Guild wouldn''t send their disciples out to hunt with a faulty technique. Her accusations warrant a proper investigation," she said, which led to a low buzz of boos resounding throughout the crowd.


    The disciples of the Crimson Snow Sect were beginning to hate this lady with a passion.


    But the expression of their hatred did not have the chance to grow into something more meaningful, because Xuan Zi stepped forward on his podium and raised a hand to silence them.


    "Disciples, I agree with Madam Yi. An accusation so grave warrants an investigation. We shall hear both sides of the story and reach the truth, all out in the open. Elder Lei!"


    One of the elders standing behind him coughed.


    "Oh, I forgot he''s dead. Elder Mu!" Xuan Zi didn''t sound embarrassed.


    "..." Worldlessly, a man Han Xuhan recognized very clearly came into view from within the group of the elders.


    "Please gather the disciples of the defending team and bring them here."


    Elder Mu nodded with an unreadable expression on his face and took out a flying sword from within the folds of his voluminous, colorful robe. Han Xuhan fondly recalled the moment when he had vomited all over it and used its remaining clean parts to wipe his mouth.


    Under the eager eyes of the disciples, Elder Mu flicked the sword at the ground with a twitch of his wrist. The sword cut through the air with a short whistle and half of its blade sank into the soil.


    Taking a step back, Elder Mu raised a foot in the air and kicked HARD, aiming at the hilt of the sword.


    CLUNK!


    The sword was flung into the air, whirling its way to the sky, spraying a torrent of mud behind it, nearly obscuring the elder behind.


    Han Xuhan blinked.


    The dirt and dust cleared up immediately, but the elder was no longer there.


    A gasp ran through the crowd as they attempted in vain to look for the elder. He wasn''t here, he wasn''t nearby, he had disappeared magically.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    All of their gazes flickered back to the sword that was whirling past a mountain peak hundreds of meters away.


    Could it be?


    Having lived among cultivators for so long, Han Xuhan''s thinking process had undergone some subtle changes.


    He could take an educated guess at the mechanisms behind this magical technique.


    And it reminded him of a certain enemy he had faced not long ago. At that time, he had been bewildered by that opponent''s terrifying methods. Shen Kai''s ability to disappear on the spot and reappear far away from it almost instantly was much alike the legendary skill of teleportation, a technique that scientifically (as scientifically as it is possible in the world of cultivation) was impossible for cultivators at or under the Soul Reformation Realm.


    But if he could get to study the principles behind Elder Mu''s disappearing technique, maybe he''d find a clue on how Shen Kai was able to accomplish it.


    The wait for the defending team to show up was not long. Just a mere minute after Elder Mu''s blinding display of movement technique, all of them heard the cries of a poor wretch approaching them from afar.


    Seconds later, a black dot made its way past a mountain''s topmost part and headed toward the assembly in a curved projectile.


    The black dot turned out to be one of their fellow disciples, who was weeping as she held onto the hilt of Elder Mu''s flying sword.


    100 meters! 50 meters! 25 meters¨C


    Just when all of the witnesses were about to wince upon the realization that she was about to hit the ground at a speed that would turn her into a pile of paste, the sword curved upwards once more, creating a centrifugal force so powerful that she lost her grip on its hilt and zipped toward the elders like an arrow.


    Xuan Zi stood his ground and raised a hand lazily as her body flashed past him. His fingers accurately clamped down on her neck, and he dug his heels into the soil to spin her around himself a couple of times like a pencil around a compass.


    The spin gave her body the chance to survive the sudden stoppage.


    As he dropped her to her feet below the podium, she threw up, which made Han Xuhan feel better. So he wasn''t a weakling after all! It was natural for even fourth-layer cultivators to throw up after traveling on that sword!


    The sword, meanwhile, disappeared once more in the direction it had come from.


    Half a minute later, the spectacle played out once more with a buff, male disciple. He too, threw up.


    Han Xuhan''s self-confidence received another huge boost!


    Third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth...all of them crashed into Xuan Zi''s arms in all sorts of embarrassing postures.


    The last disciple was accompanied by Elder Mu himself, both clutching the hilt of the flying sword. He was spared some embarrassment because the Elder took his time making a grandiose, slow, descent to show off in front of the outsiders.


    "Disciples, why were you not attending the assembly? This was mandatory for you."


    "...."


    No answers came immediately, making the audience frown. The sect master leaned over from his podium and coughed pointedly, demanding an answer.


    "We...we were busy washing clothes, sect master. We didn''t realize that it was already time for the assembly," one of them meekly replied.


    Han Xuhan took a closer look at the ten disciples and realized that all of them were wearing wet clothes. He was probably speaking the truth.


    "I see. That''s a minor mistake. I can forgive that. However..." Xuan Zi trailed off, his aura suddenly upsurging, sending a wave of fright across his disciples.


    "I cannot forgive a mistake as major as cheating. Tell me, disciples, have you cheated? You''ve been accused of it by your very first opponent in this tournament. Answer honestly."


    The ten disciples looked at each other in bewilderment.


    "Cheated how? What exactly is the accusation, sect master?" said the disciple who had been carried over here first. She had recovered her spirits from the shock already, it seemed.


    "These disciples from the Abyss Guild have searched our island for half an hour and came to the realization that they could not find any traces of the treasure that your team was supposed to be defending. You have already been briefed on the characteristics of the treasure and the seals that protect it. They claim that if the seals were undone, they would have been able to trace it by now. So now the question is...have the seals on the treasure you''ve been guarding not been undone?"


    As Xuan Zi spoke to her, all ten disciples of the Abyss Guild''s invasion team leaped down from the ship and surrounded the defending team. Their eyes, postures, and body language radiated impatience, hostility, contempt, and resentment.


    The girl looked rather confused by the explanation. As her nine teammates looked at her work puzzled eyes, she reached into her robe and pulled out a small box.


    A gasp ran through the crowd as they realized what that box might be...


    "...Is that where you hid it? On yourself?" Abyss Guild''s team leader snorted in disbelief. "A pretty cowardly strategy from a sect as powerful as yours, don''t you think?"


    "If you don''t mind, could you use your tracing technique once more?" the girl holding the box asked her. "I''m not quite sure what you''re so worked up about..."


    "Sure. You''re going to be penalized either way."


    The leader of Abyss Guild''s team was very confident in her approach. And she had all the reasons to be.


    If her tracing technique didn''t work, it would prove her accusations true.


    But if the technique worked this time, it would still mean that there was something wrong with how the box was hidden. After all, everyone had witnessed them casting the tracing techniques as soon as they had landed on the island. Why would it only work now?


    Qi shifted around her as she cast her spell. All the disciples nearby could sense a strange movement in the air as the technique was activated.


    A huge amount of qi rushed towards the box as if attracted by it magnetically. The box almost appeared to be shaking from the half-material, half-ethereal impact. Soon, a thin layer of fog surrounded the box closely. This fog was entirely made up of qi!


    "It worked! So the treasure is indeed in the box! You must have disabled the seals right before coming here!"


    A surge of whispers, angry shouts and words of denial rippled out from the disciples of the Crimson Snow Sect.


    But the leader of the attacking team looked ecstatic. They had managed to prove their accusation!


    However, a familiar cold voice from the crowd of disciples behind her boomed out, silencing the rest of the audience.


    "Or maybe just like I said, your technique is simply faulty, or a fluke even, and you knew that fully well. So you accused us of cheating in order to force us to bring out the treasure in front of you so that you can use that gimmick to prove yourselves right. Now you know where the treasure is, and you can ask the overseers of the round to penalize us in some way to give yourselves an advantage. Sounds like a smart plan...But it''s a pretty cowardly from a sect as powerful as yours, don''t you think?"

 Chapter 210: Chained Butterfly Inside A Flying Ship

    The counter-accusation from this disciple of the Crimson Snow sect was logically sound. Immediately, it gained the support of hundreds of clamoring voices.


    "That''s right! It seems like you''re the ones cheating here!"


    "What an insidious strategy!"


    "They should be penalized!"


    Xuan Zi raised his hand once more to silence his sect as he turned toward the members of the Abyss Guild''s team.


    "Unless you can prove that your tracing technique works perfectly, your accusation appears too flimsy to be taken at face value. I''m sure Madam Yi wouldn''t object, would you?"


    His last sentence brought an enormous sense of invisible pressure, most of which was directed at Luo Yi. She slowly shook her head with a contemplative expression.


    "Sect Master Zi is correct. The tracing method you''ve used is unique to your sect. I don''t think any other competitor in this tournament has developed a technique specifically for this round, a technique that can trace this treasure so accurately. You have to prove that the technique isn''t a gimmick meant to scam people."


    "This technique isn''t something we developed here. Our sect master formulated it long ago, and we learned its basics prior to the arrangement of this competition. It''s natural that we''d use it to our advantage here, is it not?" replied the leader of Abyss Guild.


    "Nice story, hah!" came a shout from the crowd.


    "Prove the authenticity of the technique. How else would anyone believe you?" Xuan Zi told her.


    "If you''re worried about leaking its secrets to outsiders, Madam Yi can work as the mediator. One of my disciples would represent the Crimson Snow Sect while you explain the basics of the technique to Madam Yi. If it convinces both of them, I''ll accept the loss and the penalty for cheating as well. Sounds good?"


    The girl still hesitated. Xuan Zi chuckled and added another sentence to relieve her.


    "Child, did you manage to master the technique the first time your teacher explained its mechanism to you?"


    She shook her head. "It took me a week to comprehend the basics."


    "Well, then my disciples aren''t going to master it by listening to your description once either."


    That seemed to reassure her. She spoke to her teammates in a low voice for a moment before nodding at Xuan Zi and Luo Yi.


    "Is there anyone here who''d like to volunteer as a representative of the sect?" Xuan Zi shouted to the crowd.


    Tentatively, many hands rose in the air. Not all of them were confident in being able to evaluate the authenticity of the technique.


    "Choose the weakest disciple here. Someone with a very low talent, but just the adequate amount of comprehension to understand my explanation," the girl suggested to Xuan Zi.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    "You''re quite the troublesome lass..." Xuan Zi said sourly. "How are we supposed to-"


    He stopped speaking, because he noticed a strange phenomenon among the disciples.


    Almost a hundred of them were staring at one disciple in particular.


    Han Xuhan''s face was covered by his palm as he faced the knowing look of numerous acquaintances.


    "Seems like someone fitting those requirements has already been found," the leader of the Abyss Guild''s team said aloud.


    *. *. *. *. *. *. *. *.


    Han Xuhan and Luo Yi sat on the deck of Abyss Guild''s cruise ship, patiently waiting for the presentation of the tracing technique to be prepared and sent to them via a messenger who had just headed back to Abyss Guild.


    The leader of the attacking team, who he learned was named Qing Ya, was not as patient as them. She constantly paced around the two of them, hands locked on her back which made her appear tense.


    "This is such a waste of time. We could''ve moved on to another sect by now..."


    This was the third time she had expressed that complaint. Han Xuhan''s irritation finally kicked in.


    He stood up from his seat and strode past her, heading for the door that led to the inner chamber of the ship.


    Immediately, three of her teammates jumped in front of him to bar his way.


    "What are you trying to do?"


    "Go back. Sit where you''re told to."


    Han Xuhan barked out a laugh. "You lot are wasting my time. I could''ve finished my business in the assembly and attacked a sect by now. Why would I want to sit here and wait for your convenience?"


    That got them fuming, especially the team leader who had just spoken the same words.


    Qing Ya appeared behind him like a silent phantom and patted him heavily on the shoulder.


    "Don''t attempt to make a scene. It''s not like your sect is the victim here. Unreasonableness will be met with unreasonableness."


    Han Xuhan leaned close to her face and whispered, "Young lady, you better not take that tone with your future brother-in-law."


    From this vantage point, he could see her eyes behind the glassy goggles flashing with confusion for a brief second before her pupils suddenly constricted.


    Face rigid, she took a step back.


    "Mu Ran doesn''t have a brother. So you are...his martial brother in the sect?"


    "Yes. Now where is my special treatment? You can''t welcome an in-law without a proper banquet! Bring out the food! Show me around! You don''t want to leave a negative impression in my heart!"


    His jubilant tone didn''t quite rouse the spirit of Abyss Guild''s disciples. In fact, most of them sent scathing looks at him, not that he minded.


    From the back, Luo Yi called out in a lazy tone, "I fully support this young man''s point of view. You should never treat your in-laws with disrespect, especially when the relationship is still new! Do your best to make us feel welcome here."


    Han Xuhan sent her a quizzical look. She could deduce so much from just that one conversation? She didn''t even seem surprised at the fact that a disciple from the Abyss Guild was in a relationship with a disciple from the Crimson Snow Sect.


    The hand Qing Ya had placed on his shoulder to exude pressure on him slackened. Instead, she grabbed ahold of his arm and dragged him gently in the direction he had originally intended to go.


    "Sister Wen, pick something up for Madam Yi from the kitchen. We''ll be having a conversation in the meantime," she muttered as her two teammates guarding the door to the inner chamber stepped aside, letting them in.


    Han Xuhan''s pupils were like two rubber balls jumping around the moment he stepped inside the belly of the ship. He didn''t want to miss anything!


    Two marble walls formed a long corridor, both sporting numerous wooden doors which presumably led to cabins. The non-participant disciples inside the ship whom he had seen from outside were probably occupying these cabins.


    The corridor was lit brightly by what appeared to be narrow tubes of white light running across the polished floor and roof. For a moment, the uncanny resemblance to a modern building infrastructure made Han Xuhan falter in his steps.


    The doors didn''t have doorknobs. Han Xuhan casually kicked one while he was being forcibly guided towards the other end of the corridor. The door didn''t budge, which made him suspect that these doors were operated by magical techniques.


    So extravagant!


    He tore his gaze away from it and focused on their apparent destination, a half-open door that led to a narrow staircase spiraling upward.


    "Taking me to the Captain''s quarters? Nice! Finally feeling like I''m on my sister-in-law''s turf!" Han Xuhan flashed her an approving smile, which she didn''t return.


    Ordinarily, he''d have been scared shitless by their stone-cold, antagonistic attitude. But they were still on the Crimson Snow Sect''s territory. Xuan Zi, Kong Ye, Mu Ran¨C all three of his golden thighs were waiting fifty feet below the ship. The Abyss Guild wouldn''t have the balls to try anything funny right now. He felt completely at ease, safe and sound with the halo of the Crimson Snow sect protecting him.


    This was what it felt like to be a part of a powerful faction! Even facing one of the most powerful sects on the planet, Han Xuhan could crack his usual collection of infuriating jokes.


    The staircase took them to a spacious chamber, answering his question. This was indeed the captain''s room.


    A woman garbed in a humongous traditional royal attire was sitting on...something. It was probably a throne, but her attire was so flamboyant and spacious that it occupied one-third of the space in the chamber, hiding everything behind her.


    Golden Cross collars nearly dwarfed her head, two black sashes were not only wrapped around her waist but also strung across the chamber to be tied up to four levers in the four corners of the room.


    Her colorfully embroidered sleeves were so wide that if she raised her hands up, she would resemble a black and white butterfly chained inside this chamber.


    However, these weren''t the most eye-catching details in the chamber. Han Xuhan''s mind was more preoccupied with the observation that this lady had tentacles coming out of her dress where her legs were supposed to be.


    Suddenly, he didn''t feel so safe anymore.

 Chapter 211: Hidden Figures Behind Disguised Secrets

    "Meet Lady Caizhi, the captain of Guild Squad 121, my Dao Instructor."


    Qing Ya gave a cursory bow at the flamboyantly dressed woman and sent a pointed glance toward Han Xuhan.


    It was perhaps a cue for him to follow her actions and bow, but Han Xuhan was so overtaken by the shock that his Earthly instincts once more began to act up. Instead of bowing, he performed a sloppy boy-scout salute to show his respect.


    "Lady Caizhi wishes to be the one to speak to you about the matter between me and Mu Ran," Qing Ya said through tightened lips.


    "I''ll be waiting outside."


    As she took her leave quickly, Han Xuhan felt like a mouse trapped with a cat. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate on Lady Caizhi''s face, his eyes couldn''t help but flicker toward the writhing mass of olive-skinned appendages below her dress.


    For half a minute, the chamber remained silent. Lady Caizhi observed him from head to toe at an excruciatingly slow speed while his pupils jerked right, down, left, down, up, down...


    "I hail from a mixed race of underwater creatures, a well-established faction in the Superbeast Society. This isn''t my natural form. It simply makes it easier for me I communicate with humans."


    Her gravelly voice brought him out of the stupor. For the first time, he managed to focus properly on her face, which was quite ordinary by human standards. He couldn''t see any signs of something extra in her features. As long as he didn''t look down, it was easy to treat her as a human.


    "Thank you for answering my unasked question. I am Han Xuhan, a disciple of the Crimson Snow Sect under the tutelage of Elder Kong Ye. Pleased and awestruck to meet you!"


    He added an honest, shy smile at the end of the introduction. Her subtle nod at that made him feel at ease, finally.


    "Elder Kong Ye? I''m not sure I''m acquainted with him. Anyway, I shall not waste your time. Your martial brother Mu Ran...what is your impression of him, youngling?"


    Han Xuhan''s brows creased. "How did you know he''s my martial brother, lady Caizhi?"


    The woman flashed him a rather inhuman smile.


    "I''m a cultivator, youngling. My eyes and ears pick up lots of things that ordinary humans cannot."


    That explained fucking nothing...But Han Xuhan knew better than to make a fuss over it.


    "My impression of my martial brother is very simple. I think of him as a strong-willed, unpredictable, driven, confident, resourceful leader. He''s the best friend a talentless cultivator like me could ask for!"


    Due to his long experience in slathering his boss with praises, Han Xuhan''s answer came as naturally as any truthful reply.


    Lady Caizhi didn''t look quite convinced, for some reason. Eyes narrowing, she said, "A normal friend''s answer to a question like that would usually contain traits like honesty, loyalty, kindness, and virtue. You call him unpredictable, but not clever. You call him strong-willed, confident, and driven, but not charismatic or thoughtful. Confident, resourceful, all of these compliments sound rather backhanded to me, youngling. Is it intentional?"


    Seeing her eyes gleaming sharply, Han Xuhan swallowed audibly.


    "You''re reading too much into it, Lady Caizhi. I didn''t mean to insult him through my compliments. Those are just my martial brother''s most notable qualities."


    Lady Caizhi snorted.


    "Do you know why that doesn''t convince me, Han Xuhan?"


    He shook his head, increasingly feeling that something was odd here.


    "Because your martial brother is an absolute scourge, a being made for destruction, suffering, and hungry rampage upon this world. Not killing him was the biggest mistake our master ever made. So it makes sense that as someone close to him, you''d compliment him in a backhanded way."


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    "...."


    Han Xuhan''s expression was indescribable. He took a long time to process her words, his face shifting every moment.


    This was stupefying. He had been jarred to his very core. What the hell was this woman talking about?


    In the end, he could only say, "Goodness! That''s so far off my impression of him that I''m not sure we''re talking about the same person here."


    "Then let me show you," Lady Caizhi replied fiercely. Before he could react, one of the tentacles below her dress sprang at his neck and coiled around it in the span of a decisecond.


    Han Xuhan''s scream was killed in his throat. The head of the tentacle reached around and faced him closely like a sentient creature. With a terrified shiver going down his spine, Han Xuhan realized that the top of its head was opening up, revealing a star-shaped, toothless mouth.


    "Mphmph!"


    That yelp marked the end of his struggles, because the mouth of the tentacle clamped over his head, reaching as far as his eyes in one bite.


    The bite didn''t hurt, but it made him inexplicably dizzy.


    A vibration shook his consciousness as if his thoughts, senses, and perception of reality were being infiltrated, polluted by a foreign insertion.


    Suddenly, the damp darkness his eyes were being forced to adapt to disappeared, replaced by a bright light. His senses began to perceive an array of inputs that vastly differed from his current situation. He couldn''t feel the tentacle wrapped around his throat, trying to swallow his head. What he could feel was warm sunshine on his face, a ticklish sensation under his feet, and the dull torrent of thoughts flooding his mind uncontrollably.


    He was familiar with this feeling!


    This felt just like that memory transfer technique that Kong Ye had taught him. He could only use it inside his dao tower, on his minions with whom he shared a deep mental connection. But this Lady Caizhi was doing it in the real world!


    His eyes gained focus. He was standing in the middle of a field, watching several children playing around cheerfully. Each time his eyes focused on a child, a wave of data appeared in his mind.


    Ning Xueshi. Six years old. Daughter of widow Ning. Not much talent for cultivation. Loves to play with dolls and recite small poems.


    Bai Ling. Eight years old. Daughter of the village carpenter. Already learning her father''s craft. Despite her poor aptitude for cultivation, she is extremely intelligent and perceptive to supernatural activities around her. Probably the result of a recessive bloodline factor due to her ancestry.


    Qing Ya. Seven years old. Daughter of the rich merchant next door. Extremely talented, with a special physique that enhances her potential further. But to make full use of it, she needs a person who has a physique that compliments hers. The ancient records label this as the Twin Devil Physique.


    Mu Ran. Seven years old. The second son of the Mu household. The Mother died at birth, the father was killed mysteriously soon after. The boy often displays bizarre behavior whenever things don''t go his way. But the most important thing about him is his talent. Simply a peerless aptitude for cultivation, be it his ancestry, his physique, his soul stability, his perception, his character, or his intelligence when it comes to dealing with the world beyond mortals.


    For several years now, ''she'' had been slowly experimenting on them, testing them in the hope of finding her next disciple. Between Mu Ran and Qing Ya, she couldn''t choose, often thinking to herself that she''d take in both of them eventually.


    "Ya! I found something! Look!"


    Mu Ran''s juvenile voice attracted many of the children. However, he hid it from everyone and rushed towards Qing Ya, fists clutching whatever he had discovered in the grass.


    Qing Ya curiously approached him. "It better not be another dead grasshopper!" her voice shook as she recalled an unpleasant memory.


    "No! Look, it''s a weird...fat leaf. I found two and ate one because it looked so juicy like the starfruit leaves. It''s even more yummy than the starfruit leaves. Try it!"


    The little boy looked on with great enthusiasm as Qing Ya put the leaf in her mouth and began to chew slowly.


    Han Xuhan, or whoever it was whose memory he was experiencing, was about to look away, but suddenly, a small, weak stream of information appeared in her consciousness.


    This information set felt different from its predecessors. It was harder to process, nearly incomprehensible, but the words that uncontrollably spilled out of her mouth in reaction to the information helped Xuhan.


    "That''s a leaf of an Ageing tree. How did he find it in the middle of this field? That accursed thing would''ve sucked out the vitality of everything around it for miles!"


    Half a second later, her consciousness poured over the field, scouring every inch of its soil. The stream of data appearing in Xuhan''s mind informed him that her search hadn''t borne any fruit.


    Instantly, she was standing behind the two children, a hand grabbing the remaining part of the leaf for a second look before she could confirm her suspicion.


    "Little Ran, did you really find it over there?" she asked in a sweet, motherly voice.


    Mu Ran looked up at her with a pair of bright, innocent eyes, appearing confused.


    "Yup!"


    "And you ate the other one?"


    "...Yeah!"


    She caught the slight hesitation. He''s lying. Why?!


    The more she observed him, the more she realized that his body didn''t show any of the side effects of eating a leaf from the Ageing Tree. In the meantime, Qing Ya was already starting to look dizzy on her feet.


    "I''m feeling so hungry. I''ll go ask Mother for something, Ran! Bye!"


    Her departure was quick, and even Han Xuhan could see the lack of vigor in her footsteps as she trotted away, heading home.


    Mu Ran waved at her, seemingly not aware of the intense gaze observing his every move.


    What''s this supposed to be?


    Han Xuhan was confused. He couldn''t see the point in this memory.


    But the scene changed once more. The bright sunlight was gone, replaced by the weak radiance of two half-moons.


    ''She'' was standing on top of a thatched roof, her eyes tracking a three-storied building not too far away.


    A lone silhouette was climbing up on the third floor of the building. The data stream in Xuhan''s mind informed him that this was Mu Ran, and the house belonged to the rich merchant next door.


    Mu Ran reached a small balcony on the third floor and knocked on the door to the room adjacent to it.


    Suddenly, Han Xuhan felt the stream of data in his mind increase in terms of volume. There were way more sets of data suddenly in the stream.


    Immediately, his ears began to pick up sounds from that building, as well as every other house nearby.


    So this data stream really was just the input signal by ''her'' perception! She must have used some technique to enhance her auditory senses. Since she could now hear more, the input signal was naturally bigger.


    ''She'' directed her focus on Mu Ran''s silhouette, blocking out the rest of the sounds from her mind.


    "Brother Ran? What are you doing here?" came a whisper from inside the room on the third floor.


    "Ya, I heard you were sick. So I brought you this secret medicine from my father''s collection. Take a spoonful before each meal, and you''ll be totally fine in a couple of days!"


    Mu Ran didn''t give her an opportunity to protest and left, leaping out of the balcony. His climb down didn''t look hesitant or careful. Clearly, he had done this before.


    Before the door to the balcony could open, ''she'' appeared there and held up a hand to block the door. Then she cautiously examined the bottle left by Mu Ran.


    Qing Ya attempted in vain to open the door on the other side.


    A new stream of data appeared in Han Xuhan''s mind as she finished her examination.


    A mixture. The contents were; a paste of Ageing Tree leaves, digestion enhancement solutions, essence of several rare body-nourishing fruits, a weak toxin, and some miscellaneous elements that she couldn''t identify.


    A mixture like this, coupled with her previous observation, opened her eyes to the only plausible conclusion.


    "Mu Ran is trying to awaken her Twin Devil Physique in advance!"

 Chapter 212: Secrets Behind Secrets Behind Secrets

    This new revelation was still not enough for Han Xuhan to reach the same conclusion as Lady Caizhi. How could this act of awakening someone''s physique earn Mu Ran the label of a scourge? Why would he deserve death because of it?


    But the next sequence of memories followed before his thoughts could develop further.


    This time, the owner of this memory sequence was sitting inside a cellar, hands rummaging through tomes of old scrolls. Han Xuhan''s eyes caught several titles and diagrams on the opened scrolls that eventually clued him to what she was researching.


    Rare physiques recorded by historians since time immemorial!


    In the archive of the Crimson Snow Sect, he had never seen such a collection. Most of the knowledge on this topic was preserved for the elders or disciples of senior generations.


    Soon, she seemed to have found what she was looking for. One of the most decayed, blurrily written scrolls was gently spread on the top of the pile. Her fingers traced the human-body diagrams drawn on it, the calculations made beside the drawings, the notes describing intricate, complex details beyond Xuhan''s understanding.


    Even the flow of information he was receiving as a part of her memory didn''t help much in understanding the concepts discussed there.


    However, he could decipher some of the keywords, and the title of the scroll that was written in ancient cursives.


    The Dragon Reverend Physique.


    Han Xuhan''s thoughts exploded into a chaotic state. The Twin Devil Physique, the Dragon Reverend Physique...


    He recalled the day he had officially become Mu Ran''s underling. That day, inside the technique Library section of the Archive Pavilion, he had heard Mu Ran mutter the name of his own Physique.


    The Twin Dragon Devil Reverend Physique!


    At that time, the name had felt cheesy, but befitting a protagonist-tier character, a man blessed by the heavens. But he had believed it.


    But now, that one name seemed to be divided into two here. Half of it belonged to Mu Ran, and the other half to Qing Ya.


    Right then, he felt the flow of data in his mind disappear. The foreign sensations were cut off.


    With dizziness, his eyes opened, and he found himself inside his real body.


    The tentacle that had been wrapped around his upper body had disappeared.


    Relief mixed with dread enveloped his heart as he slowly backed away from the octopus-lady.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Lady Caizhi appeared unbothered by his distrustful look.


    "What do you know about Physiques, youngling?" she said softly.


    "...Nothing. Absolutely nothing."


    "You''ve made it a habit to lie instinctively. Strange!"


    "...I-"


    She held up a hand to silence his protest.


    "I do not believe that the Crimson Snow Sect would refrain from informing its disciples of their own rare Physiques. As an owner of one, you should know at least the basics."


    "...." Once again, Han Xuhan found himself unable to reply.


    In his short life as a cultivator, he had faced a handful of powerful experts. Xuan Zi, Fang Xie, Kong Ye, Brother BB, and Luo Yi¨C all of them had their unique personalities.


    Xuan Zi''s unpredictability, Fang Xie''s insanity, Kong Ye''s resourcefulness, Brother BB''s scheming, Luo Yi''s egotism...each trait had left a distinct impression on his mind.


    And this Lady Caizhi was quite different from all of them. No matter how he spoke, she seemed to be able to filter out the lies from the truth immediately. If it was just limited to that, Han Xuhan would''ve chalked it up to her experience and enhanced perception...but it was not.


    Not only did she have the power to see his lies, she could even see the secrets he was guarding behind those lies, which made it very, very troublesome for him to communicate with her naturally.


    Once again, Han Xuhan realized the horrific depth of the world of cultivation. Any random expert he met had so much power and advantage over his being that it suffocated him to even think about it.


    "I was only told of the characteristics that make my physique ''rare''. All I know is that my meridians are too delicate and malformed to function properly for a long time. My journey as a cultivator may end soon, probably. And that there is no solution at all."


    As horrified as he was, Han Xuhan still took the opportunity to fish for his interests. Perhaps this cultivator from a foreign race might know of a solution to his problem...?


    "I don''t think you trusted their statement much. You seem to be pretty hopeful that there might be a way to resolve your problematic Physique."


    Her words made him bite his tongue. But he persisted.


    "Of course I am hoping so. Who wouldn''t?"


    "Makes sense. Humans are often too stubborn to accept the truth when it is against their wishes. But in your case..."


    The way she trailed off thoughtfully made Han Xuhan''s thoughts pause.


    Could it be? Could it be? Was there a way?!


    "In your case, you need not lose all hope."


    Han Xuhan''s heart almost leaped out of his chest. He had to take a couple of deep breaths to steady his mind. The rabbit-hole of Mu Ran and Qing Ya''s childhood secrets took the backseat in his head. Those things could wait!


    With considerable effort, he leveled his tone and spoke.


    "How? I''d love to have your guidance, Lady Caizhi."


    "The rare Physiques of cultivators all over the world could be considered blessings from the celestials, making one an anomaly of nature. An ordinary human''s natural form has neither meridians capable of influencing qi, nor special Physiques to enhance their talent in fields that their body isn''t equipped to delve in. Elemental control, mutated meridians, extraphysical senses, perception of the supernatural world, sensitivity to qi, overbearing mental capacity, comprehension of the way of heaven and earth, affinity to bodily enhancement, affinity to soul strengthening, capability to inherit ancestral talents, factors to empower bloodlines, ability to thrive beyond our totality, and the ability to adapt to mutations¨C these traits are the most common when it comes to the recorded history of rare Physiques all across the world of cultivation.


    "A cultivator with such a Physique will always be treated like an opponent, like an eyesore by the heavens. Because they are more likely to ascend to the throne of an existing celestial, thus shaking the status quo, the existing balance among the living beings of heaven and earth.


    "For a better understanding, think of how you''d treat a village brat who has been chosen by the emperor to preside over your sect, replacing an Elder. The brat is a foreigner, his intentions and aims are unclear to you. He doesn''t know the political relationships among your mountain peaks. He''s bound to shake some foundations, create trouble, make enemies, and offend disciples and elders alike, no matter how perceptive he is. After all, he doesn''t understand the lives of cultivators as an outsider.


    "In the same way, the celestials have an unfavorable attitude towards an ascendant, even though most of them used to be in his position once."


    "Wait, wait, wait... at the beginning of your explanation, you said that the rare Physiques are blessings from the Celestials, making the receiver an anomaly of nature. But if such a blessed person can dethrone a Celestial, why would they create bless mortals with the Physiques?!"


    Han Xuhan, who was about to lose himself in the flow of her descriptions, broke out in cold sweat as he noticed the massive contradiction.


    Lady Caizhi grinned as if she had been expecting the question.


    "Do you think the Celestials are selfless beings without personal interests, ambitions, and schemes? The Heavenly authority doesn''t represent the interest of a single person.


    In the magnificent Heavenly Court sit innumerable Celestials on usurped thrones. Humans, humanoids, and non-humans¨C all have their own agenda. The scale of conflict that takes place therein is beyond your comprehension, youngling. So, why do you think would a Celestial''s blessed child be spared the wrath of his opponent?"

 Chapter 213: Fusion Of Blessings

    Han Xuhan''s heart was in turmoil as the implications behind her words hit him.


    So the Celestials were fighting among themselves over conflicts of interest, and his terrible Physique was one of the outcomes of such a conflict?


    Heavens!


    "How do I know if my Physique is a result of this infighting in the Heavenly Court?" he asked, not quite believing how she was speaking of such an immense scale of power so casually.


    "You don''t, at least not now. Not all physiques are the result of Celestial Interference, after all. Some are produced by nature on its usual course, some by accidents, and many by coincidental circumstances. There''ll be ways to tell which category your physique falls in if your cultivation level reaches a considerable height. For now, your concern lies in how to achieve that." Lady Caizhi''s answer was somewhat expected.


    "And how do I do that?" he asked patiently.


    "By changing your body, of course! Your current body can naturally no longer function as the body of a cultivator. So change it!"


    "..."


    Han Xuhan wore a sour expression as he matched her unblinking stare. A long moment passed in silence.


    "Why do you look so displeased with my suggestion, youngling?" she finally broke the silence.


    "What exactly was my reaction supposed to be? Delighted? Enlightened?" Han Xuhan said rather rudely.


    Lady Caizhi sighed.


    "Maybe! You should be delighted because it''s a simple solution to your problem, and you should be enlightened because you hadn''t thought of the idea before."


    "Oh no, I was offered a similar solution, actually," Han Xuhan spoke in an unenthusiastic tone. "The offer was to turn me to the path of ghost cultivation which doesn''t rely on meridians at all! Suffice to say, I refused!"


    "I''m not telling you to change into a ghost, youngling! Just change the body, and possess a new one capable of cultivation. It''s fairly common among my people. The privileged children who are unable to cultivate due to their unsuitable bodies buy suitable bodies at sky-high prices. It is a huge market in the Superbeast community!"


    "Well, I don''t know how much you know about human markets, but bodies aren''t sold for permanent possessions there. Nor is the concept seen as a righteous practice," Han Xuhan said.


    The Spirit Beast Society sounded so wild. What an odd practice!


    Lady Caizhi laughed derisively.


    "Cultivators as desperate as you never really follow the righteous path, youngling. I wonder how long you''ll stick to those obsolete mortal ways of thinking. It just makes you lot look hypocritical."


    "Are you saying you''re not a member of the righteous faction of the world? Are you siding with the demonic practitioners?" Han Xuhan asked with an evil smile.


    "No, I''m saying that my interpretation of the righteous path is different from you humans. If a poor person wants to sell the blessing he was provided with by a Celestial, why should someone deprived of such a blessing not take it? He is blessed with a rare Physique, while whoever purchases his body is blessed with rich parents. His Physique, his choice! Why would you look down on it?"


    Han Xuhan could not answer her. But there was an innate sense of rejection in his heart as he entertained the idea.


    It was odd. He had always been fairly open-minded back on Earth. Why was the mere concept of body possession inciting so much distaste in his heart?


    Maybe it was the result of the PTSD he had gotten from his adventure in the Holy Land of Laws. Brother BB''s body possession scheme had sure left a deep imprint in his mind!


    "Not interested right now, I take it? Forget it, you''re not the first one to refuse the solution due to your prejudice." Lady Caizhi waved her palm lightly. "In that case, I cannot help you. There''s another way...perhaps, but it''s even more problematic than the first one."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "I''d like to hear it, though," Han Xuhan said.


    Lady Caizhi rolled her eyes. "I know you would. That''s why I summoned you here. Let''s discuss the topic you were brought here for."


    Han Xuhan''s mind was brought back into focus by those words. What did she mean by that?


    "Now that you understand the origin of rare Physiques, let''s talk about the situation Mu Ran and Qing Ya were in during their childhood. Qing Ya''s Physique is known as the Twin Devil Physique, while Mu Ran''s Physique was titled The Dragon Reverend Physique. But do you know that Mu Ran''s current Physique is no longer the same one as before?"


    Han Xuhan swallowed a gulp audibly. Lady Caizhi smiled thinly.


    "It seems like you do. His current Physique is the result of an artificial fusion, forced by a pill formula and a Dao formation beyond our comprehension. Do you realize the implications of that?"


    Han Xuhan chose not to answer her, much to her annoyance.


    "For your understanding, I''ll explain it as simply as possible. He used the Ageing tree leaves to forcefully increase the speed of Qing Ya''s physical maturity. This, in turn, forced her innate Physique to manifest earlier than the proper mental development required to adjust to the changes. This created an imbalance between her body and mind. By the time our master discovered it, it was too late. This...poisoning had been going on for years without her notice. Mu Ran''s carelessness near the end revealed his scheme to master. She could do nothing but observe, curious to see his plan play out.


    Mu Ran took advantage of the illness of Qing Ya''s body and mind to propose a solution to her family. He claimed to possess a secret technique passed down in his family, the basics of which he revealed partially. Even someone as illustrious and knowledgeable as our sect master was shaken by the profound principles of the Heavenly Dao hidden in that small portion he revealed that day. Despite knowing that he was perhaps the one behind her illness, nobody could do anything but agree to his proposal."


    Han Xuhan raised a hand to interrupt her.


    "Why did your...master not propose the solution you offered me? Why not have her possess a different body?"


    Lady Caizhi chuckled.


    "I finally realize why you''re so stubborn to see the truth out in the open. You''re a bit too clever for your own good. You''ve somehow forged a beneficial relationship with him, haven''t you? Any serious allegations made against him are sure to hurt that relationship! Hah, just like I said before, humans are too stubborn to see the truth when it is against their wishes."


    "You''re avoiding the question," Han Xuhan scowled.


    "My master did not propose that solution because the technique doesn''t work on the basis of discarding a celestial blessing. Instead, it works on the basis of absorbing the blessing of another passive party, thus taking over their body. Moreover, where would her family find someone with equal potential as her, willing to sacrifice themselves for Qing Ya? Money cannot do all the work there, for the Body Possession Process requires many precious, rare items alongside some minor sacrifices made by multiple aiding cultivators."


    Han Xuhan gave her a blank look.


    "Your master controls the Abyss Guild, one of the top sects of the planet. Couldn''t she afford one of those willing participants from your Superbeast Society where such practice is prevalent?"


    Lady Caizhi shook her head.


    "If Qing Ya wanted to survive that way, she''d need to cast aside her humanity and change into a spirited beast. A child doesn''t have the mental capacity to understand how it will affect her life when she grows up, and our master knew better than to try to convince her. The smallest bit of regret around that possession could permanently destroy her potential as a cultivator, giving birth to heart demons and special tribulations during breakthroughs."


    "But she allowed Mu Ran to execute his scheme?" Han Xuhan snorted. This entire story didn''t quite add up, even though he had witnessed some first-hand evidence. There were too many things Lady Caizhi was trying to hide.


    "She allowed it, yes. Because, firstly, Mu Ran''s method did not really affect Qing Ya physically, or spiritually. She would stay the same after the process. And secondly, Qing Ya and her family took an immediate liking to his solution."


    Han Xuhan could no longer hide the curiosity burning his thoughts. Leaning forward with bright gleaming eyes, he asked, "And what was this solution?"


    "I''ve told you already. The solution he proposed was to ''steal'' and ''absorb'' her Physique. That was how the concepts were summarized in his technique. Concept-wise, both the Body Exchange technique and Mu Ran''s solution sound similar, but they are actually polar opposites, because Mu Ran''s technique simply steals the other party''s physique instead of performing a mutual replacement between the two participants. Both techniques are considered forbidden by the heavenly dao, but Mu Ran''s technique is a gross violation of natural law compared to the Body Exchange policy."


    Han Xuhan scratched his head trying to rationalize these absurd ideas. Undeterred by his confusion, Lady Caizhi went on.


    "He robbed her of the blessing of a Celestial, fused her Physique with his own to boost his cultivation potential, and this left her as an ordinary little girl, devoid of any particular specialty. Out of pity and anger at herself for not being able to stop him, the Guildmaster decided to take her in as a disciple, separating her from your martial brother. Had she not suffered enough in his hands? That audacious brat even had the idea to take her in as a concubine! Truly hopeless! Truly a scourge! He deserved a painful death for his crimes, but alas..."


    Han Xuhan felt suffocated facing her tirade. But still, he did not move back an inch. In a struggling tone, he pointed out the most illogical part of her explanation.


    "Since your master had the proof of his transgression, why did she not confront him? Why are you putting on this righteous air now?"


    "Because..." Lady Caizhi trailed off, looking hesitant. But seemingly having made her resolution, she continued.


    "Because she couldn''t."


    "...What? Why?!" Han Xuhan said, flabbergasted.


    "She wouldn''t say. But from what I know, she spent a few years in recuperation after she returned from that town. Evidences say she suffered spiritual injury...that''s all I know."

 Chapter 214: Two Silhouettes In One Body

    "...So what did you think I''d do with this information? My martial brother exploited his childhood sweetheart. Okay, terrible thing to do indeed. So?"


    Han Xuhan said with a sigh, not sure what else to reply with.


    Lady Caizhi''s expression turned grim.


    "He robbed her of a Celestial blessing! How biased must your judgment be to side with him by making light of this crime?"


    Han Xuhan laughed woodenly. "I''m not making light of his crime, Lady. I''m trying to say that this is his personal business, in which I have no reason to implicate myself. And my martial brother has also tried to take responsibility for the offense by trying to enter into a marital tie with sister Qing Ya. It''s not like she''s some country-toppling beauty from a rich background. Without her special Physique, she''s as ordinary as every other typical cultivator, be it her talent, potential, or appearance. Brother Ran can easily choose a better Dao Companion in all of these aspects, yet he still went for her. He wishes to marry her even now. I do not know whether this stems from his guilt or genuine affection, but you can''t just spin it around as something incriminating!"


    Lady Caizhi snorted in disappointment, leaning back on her seat once more. Her eyes stared outside through the window, the faraway look in her gaze causing Xuhan to grow more cautious.


    "I suppose I must reveal the last piece of information to convince you," Lady Caizhi spoke slowly.


    Xuhan raised a hand to make her pause.


    "To convince me to do what, exactly? This is very strange. Why are you telling me all this? None of these facts and incidents are in any way related to me. What''s your goal here? Clear that up for me, please. Otherwise, I don''t see any reason to keep digging into my martial brother''s personal life."


    "The goal of telling you about it is to test your martial brother," Lady Caizhi replied, surprising him.


    "Simply said, we wish for you to go strike a deal with him, a deal that is both a test and a possible salvation for Qing Ya."


    Han Xuhan leaned forward, mouth contorting into an inquisitive smile. "Do elaborate, please."


    "Ask Mu Ran if he''s willing to return Qing Ya''s Celestial blessing, the Twin Devil Physique. If he agrees, it''ll prove that he truly has genuine affection for her. Otherwise, it would prove that he''s really just another selfish villain who deserves-"


    "Being selfish doesn''t earn him a death sentence. Nor do I think my martial brother''s exploitation of Miss Qing Ya deserves a punishment that severe," Han Xuhan said, interrupting her midway.


    Seeing her eyes burning with anger, he hurriedly added, "But your suggestion is reasonable, Lady Caizhi. Since he has committed the crime, he must shoulder the responsibility of compensation. I agree to confront him about this transgression of his and offer him your deal. We''ll see how that goes."


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Han Xuhan would have never dared to speak to a powerful senior in such an overbearing manner had he not been standing on his home turf. This was the power his sect had provided him with, the power to stand tall against one of the most powerful factions of the planet fearlessly!


    The two occupants of the cabin held each other''s gazes without backing down for a long moment. In the end, Lady Caizhi was the one to break the silence.


    "I have not yet given you the entire picture to consider, youngling. It was for your own good, because, as you''ve claimed multiple times, it would be pointless to involve you in a conflict outside your scope of interest, beyond your capabilities. Since you''re so obstinate about siding with him, I suppose I should let you see the full truth merely to warn you. It will make you more involved than you want to, but it might just be a protection barrier you can rely on in the future."


    Lady Caizhi''s words gave birth to a sense of dread inside Xuhan''s heart. But he could only steel himself as one of her tentacles reached out towards him once more, this time far more gently, knowing that he wouldn''t instinctively resist.


    As it opened up above his head and clamped down around the top half of his skull, Xuhan''s mind sank once more into the flood of a foreign data stream.


    ''She'' stood over a small bed upon which lay a familiar young boy, eyes closed, deep asleep.


    Her hands reached around his temples to stroke his skin lightly, and Xuhan sensed the movement of qi around her fingers, slipping through her meridians with incredible fluidity.


    The sleeping Mu Ran groaned in a muffled tone, appearing disturbed. But his breath soon turned back to normal. Changing his position slightly to turn over, his sleep continued.


    A few seconds passed in silence. ''She'' slowly backed away noiselessly, slipping out through the open door, which she locked on her way out.


    Had he not been experiencing this from her own perspective, Han Xuhan would have never realized that she had left something inside as she was closing the door. But even then, he could not tell what it was, only that it was alive, and ''she'' had formed a mental connection to it in the same way Lady Caizhi had formed a temporary mental link with him.


    Less than a second later, Han Xuhan found himself standing outside under a dark, moonless sky.


    With a glance at the surroundings, ''She'' closed her eyes. Seconds later, Han Xuhan felt his perception of the surroundings suddenly change. Gone were the minute sounds everywhere, gone was the cold, gentle wind. Even the mental links to ''her'' limbs seemed lost.


    What he had gained in exchange was a new type of dataset flowing inside his brain.


    The new dataset slowly formed into a strange picture. He was now in a humid place, the surroundings unfamiliar. The ground beneath was quite rough, as if it was constructed with unpolished stones. In every direction he looked, this floor seemed to stretch for miles and miles. At the horizon, where his sight could barely make out rough silhouettes, gargantuan shadows stood tall and still.


    Han Xuhan found something oddly familiar in those huge shadows. For a second, his thoughts came to a pause, trying to guess the reason behind this sense of familiarity.


    Wait...was that a chair?


    Shock flooded his heart. But before he could analyze the situation further, he felt his wings beginning to vibrate...wait, what? Wings?


    WINGS?!


    Multiple pairs of wings on his back shivered up and down at least twenty times per second. His light body began to rise up smoothly, leaving the uneven floor far below.


    As he rose higher and higher, Han Xuhan realized where he was despite his current shadowy, blurred vision.


    He had just left this room a few moments ago, inside the body of his previous carrier. The current body, the current memory sequence he was experiencing was of the living being ''she'' had left inside the room discreetly just before closing the door.


    Instantly, a chain of logic formed in his mind to establish the explanation behind this. His other carrier, the woman in all the prior memory trips, who he assumed was the master Lady Caizhi spoke so highly of, had left behind some type of an insect to act as her drone. She had now possessed it to secretly observe Mu Ran without alarming anyone.


    This made him wonder about another issue. If she truly was as capable as Lady Caizhi made her out to be, why were her actions and techniques so ordinary?


    She had to have unfathomable cultivation to be called ''master'' by someone as powerful as Lady Caizhi. The incidents in the memory sequences took place merely ten years ago. Why would she feel so weak?


    Maybe she was recuperating right now, like Lady Caizhi had stated a while ago.


    Meanwhile, the drone which this woman was possessing right now (whose memory Xuhan was experiencing) buzzed its way forward, flying towards a certain direction.


    Through the drone''s senses which were transmitted to its possessor and in turn which was transmitted to Xuhan, he realized that the drone had sensed something incredibly stimulating, something familiar, something that made it fly as fast as it could.


    Using the blurry silhouettes it was passing by, Han Xuhan briefly managed to determine its target. The drone was headed to the center of the room where Mu Ran''s bed was.


    As it reached closer, Han Xuhan felt the drone''s sight clear up, forming a better image of the bed and its occupant...s.


    That''s right.


    In the drone''s eyes, two pitch-black silhouettes lay on the bed, each transposing, superimposing, and overlapping the other in bewildering ways constantly.

 Chapter 215: Soulrot Toxin

    While he was still reeling from the shocking discovery, the drone insect shot towards the juxtaposed bodies like a bullet, the odd urge in its mind growing more and more powerful.


    A second later, the insect landed on Mu Ran''s feet where his blanket hadn''t been able to cover him fully.


    A second creature was sitting there, humming to itself. The drone landing beside it didn''t seem to alarm this creature. With a start, Han Xuhan realized that this creature was actually a mosquito, and as he compared its characteristics with his own body, he guessed that the drone he was possessing right now too was a mosquito.


    But why did an arthropod like this have such a clear, humanlike vision? And why did it perceive two people lying still below it, inside the blanket?


    As the secrets revealed in these memory sequences expanded in scale, Han Xuhan''s confusion grew explosively.


    The drone mosquito shook its head and leaned downward, its mouth reaching the surface of Mu Ran''s skin. Han Xuhan couldn''t see any sucker protruding from his current body, but he felt an odd sensation around the oral orifice.


    The sensation spread deeper into his body, reaching his stomach. And then...


    QUUUUAAACK!


    The sound the drone emitted was faint, but the outcome of the sound was unforgettable for Xuhan, because his entire body fell into a seizure as a pile of gooey substance crawled out of his mouth, dropping on Mu Ran''s skin.


    The drone was vomiting!


    With a close inspection, he realized that this tiny drop of grey fluid was immediately beginning to seep into Mu Ran''s skin.


    QUUUAACK! QUUUAAACK!


    As the vomit-inducing seizures repeated themselves, Han Xuhan''s mind fell into disarray.


    He knew what type of mosquito he was possessing indirectly right now.


    This was a mutated disaster from the Mosquito Apocalypse Era!


    Almost sixty years ago, the remnant mosquitoes of the apocalypse had been hunted down and exterminated by the coalition of innumerable sects all over the planet.


    Historical records spoke of dozens of types of mutated mosquitoes that had once terrorized the human civilization for almost a decade.


    The one which he was possessing right now was one of the most common species of that era-- the Soulrot Scourge!


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The fluid it had just vomited out on Mu Ran''s skin was the mutation that made it so dangerous. This liquid contained a poison that directly attacked the soul, corroding it slowly until the victim lost his sanity, turning into a rabid creature that would attack every living being it saw.


    And that wasn''t the end of the horror. If enough poison managed to seep into the body of the victim, then his soul would experience a complete breakdown, and the Soulrot mosquitos nearby would begin to suck out these broken units of his soul by reabsorbing the fluid. This was their sustenance.


    This process allowed a small number of mosquitoes to gain sentience through the absorption of the soul-shards!


    It is needless to say how terrifying this mutation was.


    Shock after shock after shock seemed to have numbed Xuhan''s brain.


    He could only watch as the poisonous fluid was slowly absorbed into Mu Ran''s skin. His current vision could still see the two superimposed silhouettes shuddering inside Mu Ran''s body.


    Suddenly, one of the silhouettes jerked violently, and Mu Ran''s body jumped up with a muffled scream.


    "Ghhhhh! Soul toxin! How dare you!"


    Flailing his limbs wildly, the young Mu Ran stood up on the bed, looking around furiously.


    "Old hag, just because I avoid you, it doesn''t mean this prince is afraid of you! You want to play dirty? You can''t imagine the price you must pay! I''LL FUCKING OBLITERATE YOUR SOUL!"


    The loud howl in the night went unanswered. Mu Ran massaged the area of his foot where the Soulrot Mosquito had ''bitten'' him. But the mosquito had long flown off his body, buzzing around a corner of the room cautiously.


    Through its eyes, Han Xuhan watched Mu Ran calm down as the violently shivering silhouette inside him became somewhat stable.


    "That bitch should understand that I''ll know she''s behind this...it might not be her. But who else..."


    Mumbling inaudibly, Mu Ran examined the poisoned area and contemplated the situation.


    A long time passed in silence. Han Xuhan, or more accurately, the mosquito he was possessing, slowly gained enough courage to fly closer and closer, spinning in circles around its target.


    As it came within a couple feets near him, he heard Mu Ran mumbling to himself.


    "No! We need to establish a rule. Even if you suffer attacks targeting our souls, you cannot just come out howling like that!"


    "That hag clearly knows something about us. She used this toxin attack to test us! Stop overreacting. She wouldn''t see anything more than what we allow her to see."


    "But if she manages to guess your identity-"


    "Without solid proof, what can she accuse us of? Not even the Celestials can separate us unless we wish to. It''s not as if she''s the first to notice me! And she''s too weak right now to do anything about it!"


    "How long will she stay weak? Someone like her must have connections.."


    "She''d have used them ages ago if she could. By the time she recovers, she won''t be able to reach us."


    "But I don''t want to join any sect!"


    "I do! We have to! There''s no other choice! When she recovers, she won''t spare us! Not to mention, the abomination inside the Holy Land of Laws is still growing! Only a sect can provide us with enough resources and backing to deal with all of our problems!"


    "If she knows our plan to leave, she''ll try to stop us."


    "Don''t forget which sect we have chosen. She can not even touch us! We are under that old fart''s protection."


    "...So do we just let this slide? Ignore the toxin?"


    "The toxin harms your human soul, not me. I''ll suppress it within a week. Just bear with the pain."


    "So long?!"


    "Don''t complain to me! I wasn''t the one who poisoned you. When you''re this weak, so defenseless, you have to grit your teeth and bear some injustice! Do you think I wanted to reveal my family''s Destiny Robbing Scripture to humans after so many millennia of secrecy? Some sacrifices have to be made for the greater goo-"


    The whispers suddenly came to a stop.


    SPLAAT!


    Han Xuhan didn''t know what happened, but the familiar clapping sound was enough to guess.


    The mosquito had been discovered and killed, despite the cover of the darkness.


    The foreign stream of data flooding his mind disappeared, returning Xuhan''s consciousness back inside his own body.


    The tentacle over his head slackened, returning to its owner.


    Lady Caizhi returned his imperious stare.


    "So my martial brother has a second personality, or something like a soul inside his body. Big deal!"


    It took an impressive amount of effort to keep his voice calm and disinterested. Even Lady Caizhi looked impressed, her mouth opening and closing like a fish struggling to breathe outside water.


    "For a second, you nearly convinced me that Mu Ran has already revealed this secret to you. Your composure is enviable, youngling."


    Han Xuhan shrugged noncommittally, neither confirming nor denying her suspicion.


    "But on second thought, I think you just don''t realize the full gravity of what you''ve witnessed. It is understandable, given your age and lack of experience. I''ll help you comprehend the most crucial one, though. It should bring some change to that attitude."


    Lady Caizhi smiled gently, sending chills down his spine.


    "Soulrot toxin doesn''t take a week to suppress, especially if a powerful soul can assist the afflicted soul. It can be eliminated within an hour."

 Chapter 216: How Does A Skeleton Drink?

    "Alright. It seems impossible for me to sit idle and let things flow as it is. So you want me to convince Mu Ran to return Qing Ya''s Celestial Blessing? I''ll do my best. But how does that help my martial brother? The foreign soul inside him, whoever this so-called prince is, has been harming him with unknown motives. Returning Qing Ya''s blessing doesn''t seem like something it would appreciate. What if that soul further harms my martial brother?"


    "A valid concern," Lady Caizhi replied. "But let me ask you, do you think Mu Ran will agree to return the blessing?"


    Han Xuhan contemplated for a few seconds and shook his head.


    "I think your master has already tried it. Proving one''s affection by sacrificing a treasure like that isn''t something any adult cultivator would fall for. She had to have challenged the young Mu Ran after realizing what he was doing to Qing Ya. If that didn''t change his mind, nothing I say will either."


    Lady Caizhi laughed appreciatively.


    "Then I''m sure you can take a guess at why I asked you to still try it."


    Han Xuhan stared back at her for a long ten seconds before his eyes narrowed.


    "You want the Blessing-robbing method, don''t you? If Mu Ran refuses to return the blessing, it gives you a chance to demand the technique with the excuse that Qing Ya can rob someone else''s Celestial Blessing using it."


    "...You''re fast. I like it!"


    "And you''ve orchestrated this entire meeting so that you can convince ME to make that request, because, firstly, Mu Ran wouldn''t give a fuck if you demanded it."


    Lady Caizhi''s laugh faded a bit, but Han Xuhan continued.


    "And secondly, I just also happen to have a crippling ''blessing'' that I''d either love to get rid of, or improve by taking another person''s blessing. As Mu Ran''s martial brother, my motivation and influence would be unquestionable. Mu Ran would never suspect that I''m actually working for you when I ask him for the Blessing-robbing method for my personal use."


    "...A tad too fast, but that''s the gist of it, sure."


    Lady Caizhi''s smile now contained less mirth and more discomfort. She didn''t seem to like how fast her motive had been pointed out.


    "So are you willing to do it? It''s a win-win for all three of you. We can help you use the method to change your physique, we can help Qing Ya finally attain a new blessing, and I''m sure you understand how grateful Qing Ya would be to him if that happens. She still has some affection for that brat. If he really asks for a marriage at that time, she''ll probably agree."


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Han Xuhan threw his head back and laughed uproariously.


    What an insidious trap! Impressive, very impressive!


    He didn''t believe a single word she had said, with good reasons for that. But for now, pretending to trust her would be more...beneficial.


    "Alright, I agree," he said with a shark-like smile, making Lady Caizhi let out a relieved sigh. Just as her guard went down, he added something else.


    "On one condition."


    Alerted by the predatory look in his eyes, Lady Caizhi seemed to contemplate the deal for a while before she agreed.


    "Depends on how reasonable your condition is. State your term."


    "I need that Body-possession technique that you offered me five minutes ago, along with the memory sequence of a person who has used it so that I can fully understand its essence."


    Han Xuhan walked out from the Captain''s quarters ten minutes later with unsteady steps, eyes dazed. Qing Ya, who had been waiting right outside, seemed to have expected a similar outcome.


    "Did she show you the memories?" She said in a cold voice.


    "Oh yeah, she did. I must say, sister-in-law, you looked very cute as a child."


    Qing Ya had taken her goggles off at some point during the wait. Han Xuhan saw a flash of anger crossing her gaze at his words.


    "But your martial brother sure wasn''t swayed by cuteness. He still went through with his ambitious plan, didn''t he?"


    "Hey, maybe he just wanted to be a better husband, a more powerful protection provider for you," Xuhan stoked the fire with unsuppressed glee in his tone.


    "...." Qing Ya seemed to notice that. Eyes narrowing, she couldn''t help but say, "Why do you look so happy about this whole thing?"


    Han Xuhan tucked his chin up and laughed superciliously.


    "Sister-in-law, let me offer you a piece of advice. Where lovers quarrel, there''s always room for profit!"


    Leaving a flabbergasted Qing Ya behind, Han Xuhan staggered his way through the central hallway of the ship.


    Outside on the deck, Lady Luo Yi was being served with trays of delicacies by one of the members of the invasion team. Seeing him returning, she quickly pulled the tray towards herself, clearly unwilling to share.


    "They have better food inside," Han Xuhan told her out of spite. "I ate something so stimulating in the Captain''s cabin that my head''s still spinning. Too powerful!"


    Casting a disdainful look at her tray, he crashed on his seat and waited for the arrival of the messenger who had left for Abyss Guild''s island.


    They didn''t have to wait very long. Soon, a disciple popped out from a corner of the island below and flew straight up toward the boat using the same technique Qing Ya had displayed an hour ago.


    "I''m back! Guildmaster permitted it. I have the memory sequence stored in here."


    He handed Qing Ya a box. Luo Yi and Han Xuhan watched curiously as the box was opened, revealing two vials full of yellow liquid inside.


    "Converted information!" Luo Yi gasped audibly.


    "...What?" Han Xuhan enquired.


    "The memory sequence is nothing but a set of information to be transferred. And humans are capable of receiving information in countless ways. Powerful cultivators at Guildmaster''s level can convert any set of information into their preferred state, mix them with other miscellaneous information to hide the content, and even use retrieval methods to recreate the same information from the mix. The yellow liquid in the vial is probably capable of creating hallucinations in the consumer''s mind. The Guildmaster has mixed the information of the memory sequence inside the possible array of hallucinations this liquid can induce!"


    "....What?" Han Xuhan repeated the same question even after hearing her explanation. Because it was too wild to accept.


    His dumbfounded face earned him looks of disdain usually reserved for country bumpkins. But being too used to such looks, he asserted his view without hesitation.


    "How can a hallucination show us something if our brain is incapable of forming the images? I have never seen or heard anything related to this tracing technique. You''re telling me that snorting a hallucinogenic drink can make my brain create completely foreign scenarios just because someone added the memory sequence to the drink in the form of information?"


    "Yes." Luo Yi replied, seemingly enjoying his struggle to come to terms with this revelation.


    "Now come here. Enjoy the taste and receive our Guildmaster''s creation!"


    "Wait, wait, give me a second," Han Xuhan snatched his arm away from her loose grip.


    "I''m still too inebriated due to the feast I had inside the Captain''s cabin. I can''t join you in drinking that to evaluate the legitimacy of the tracing technique. My head''s still spinning."


    "Wait, did you really eat something that good in there? I thought you were just being jealous-"


    Luo Yi was cut off by the red skeleton that leaped out of Xuhan''s back, landing on the deck cautiously.


    "My minion can do this job just fine," Han Xuhan said, leaning back into his seat like a king.


    "...."


    Silence greeted his declaration. Everyone took some time to get used to the odd being standing in front of them. Luo Yi recovered before the rest, of course. She said,


    "But how does a skeleton drink?"

 Chapter 217: Skeletons Are People Too...Right?

    "Show them, Zhanxian. Let these simpletons experience something new. Let them see how a skeleton can drink!"


    Upon receiving the order, Zhanxian picked one of the vials presented to him.


    "This isn''t poisonous or something, right?" he wondered aloud. "I swear, boss, if you''re using me as your poison tester, I''ll...I''ll steal all your money."


    Usually, Zhanxian''s threats never bothered Han Xuhan. But this one made his hair stand up straight.


    Heavens, these minions were beginning to grasp his weaknesses!


    He hurriedly explained the situation, ignoring the numerous looks of disdain being cast at him for being so weak that even his own minions didn''t respect him.


    "Look at Madam Yi, Zhanxian. She''s gonna drink from the other vial too. Of course it''s not poisonous! In fact, this is a precious opportunity that Tun Shi Tian would die for! Just drink it and see!"


    Assured by that, Zhanxian ''gulped'' the yellow liquid down. As there was no throat below the oral cavity, the liquid splashed into his cervical vertebra and began to seep into the red bones, defying physics like any normal day.


    Everyone, even Han Xuhan watched the process attentively. Despite having witnessed Zhanxian''s eating technique before, Han Xuhan still got a kick whenever he saw the liquid being absorbed into the bones. For solid food, the case was a bit different. Zhanxian put solid food and resources inside various sockets of his body, such as the eyes, nostrils, and even the vertebral foramen, where they were digested at a much slower speed than the liquified food.


    Right when the last drop of the yellow liquid passed through his ribcage and got absorbed into a groove in his waist, Zhanxian let out a hiccup end fell on his back like a dead log, seeming to have fallen unconscious.


    A bit worried, Han Xuhan waited with the rest of the audience, watching Zhanxian''s limbs occasionally twitch like someone was giving him the shock therapy in the hallucination he was going through.


    Ten minutes passed that way. Suddenly-


    "Noooo! Don''t leave meeee!"


    Zhanxian yelled out at the top of his lungs, jumping to a sitting position with his arms stretched forward, coming face to face with a startled Han Xuhan.


    "Fuck! Not you! Where is she?!"


    Zhanxian looked around like a skeleton possessed, obsessed with whoever this lady in his hallucination was.


    "She''s not real! Stop searching for her!" Han Xuhan slapped the top of his skull and rattled the skeleton back to cruel reality.


    "Tell us what you saw in there, aside from this woman. And who is she, by the way?"


    "He saw our Guildmaster, of course. She''s a renowned beauty. Reactions like this are normal whenever she reveals herself to men," replied Qing Ya from a corner of the deck.


    "She must have created a new memory sequence by reiterating the concept of the technique herself to give the recipient of the message get a good understanding of it. Your skeleton minion should feel honored."


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    "Well he''s feeling something, alright. It sure as hell ain''t honor, though." Han Xuhan laughed vulgarly and turned to look at the distraught skeleton.


    "Get over it, Zhanxian. You don''t have what it takes to chase after the Master of Abyss Guild. Heck, you don''t have what it takes to chase after ANY woman. Kill your dreams!"


    His harsh words seemed to do the trick. Zhanxian snapped back to his senses, beginning to calm down slowly. Han Xuhan felt rather curious to know how the mere sight of a woman could reduce his minion to this state. Was she really that good-looking? Was she perhaps one of those country-toppling jade beauties waiting to be conquered by an underdog protagonist?


    If that was so, then it''d be in his best interest to never, ever, go near that woman in the future. Mu Ran could no longer be trusted as a protagonist. So he couldn''t rely on that guy''s potential to try anything he felt curious about. If he, Han Xuhan, lost his rationality like this minion in front of him upon meeting that lady, it would draw the curtains to his short life right there.


    "What did you learn, Zhanxian?" Xuhan asked once again after a minute, seeing that his minion looked more stable than before.


    "The treasures that each sect is supposed to protect and rob from other sects are actually not something that belonged to the three organizer sects. Back when the Archipelago was discovered, countless sects from around the world were attracted to it, prompting them to send their experts to explore its secrets. These treasures were found lying all over the Archipelago, as if someone had intentionally thrown a number of them in each folded region of the archipelago. But nobody could figure out what the purpose of these treasures was. Each of them appeared different from the rest, and the only clue connecting them was the aura. The treasures were very easy to track down because each treasure had a terrific aura emanating from it that any cultivate above the Physique Transformation realm could sense easily.


    "The Guildmaster who was in charge of Abyss Guild at that time wanted to use this opportunity to test his disciples who had just begun cultivating. The current guildmaster of Abyss Guild was one of those disciples. In order to win her master''s favor, she desperately ran many experiments on the nature of these treasures, and created a tracing technique in the end.


    "While preparing for this tournament, the Beasthaven sect suggested that every sect use the treasures in their hands as a wager. Whichever sect managed to rob the treasures this round gets to keep them, no matter how many or how few. All the sects agreed, because there isn''t really much use for the treasures, except for that aura which can at most, be used for decoration. The Guildmaster agreed with more enthusiasm than the rest, because she knew that many of her disciples were familiar with the treasure. Her sect could use this technique to win the round."


    Zhanxian''s, or more accurately, the Abyss Guild''s master''s introduction to the technique sounded pretty interesting. Han Xuhan''s entire attention was on his minion, but Luo Yi suddenly interjected herself into it.


    "You know, now that I really think about it, this is bordering on the rulebreaking line. Sects aren''t supposed to help each other like this, and neither is it allowed for a sect master to teach a precious technique to-"


    "Madam Yi, please remember that this is being done to settle a dispute peacefully. Once the dispute is settled, one side will clearly be labeled as the wrongdoer and be penalized for their offense. Do you think any sect would get into this situation willingly? At least let us solve the problem peacefully, or do you want the current stalemate between Abyss Guild''s attacking team and Crimson Snow sect''s defending team to last till the end of the tournament?"


    Han Xuhan was so irritated by her interruption that his reply became loud enough to reach the assembly sitting impatiently below on the floating island. Instantly, countless voices began to shout, infuriated. Luo Yi grimaced, but her defiant expression didn''t recede.


    "The deal was to let one person from the Crimson Snow sect learn the essence of the technique to judge its authenticity. I would act as the impartial judge as well, and a decision could be reached after that. Now, one person from the Crimson Snow sect has already been taught. I don''t see why he needs to reveal it to you, kid."


    "Zhanxian isn''t a person," Han Xuhan said.


    "He sure is! We at the Abyss Guild even consider our pets as persons. The rulebook of the Tournament also judges summoned creatures as a member of the summoner''s sect, a rule which has settled many disputes in the past. So that qualifies your minion, regardless of your opinion. Hahaha, you really thought you were going to fool me by abusing the notion that a minion can''t be considered a person? What an idiot!"


    Hollering disdainfully, she gestured at Zhanxian to continue the explanation, saying,


    "Since your master deemed you capable of representing the Crimson Snow sect, he can''t go back on his words now. You don''t need to repeat anything you learned inside the dream. Just tell everyone what you think. Is the technique authentic or not?"


    Zhanxian nodded slowly.


    "My judgment says it is. A fairy so mesmerizing cannot possibly lie over an issue so mundane! She has to be a free spirit, untouched by the filthy schemes of evil men, beyond petty conflicts of interests; a goddess, pure and simple!"


    "....Zhanxian, you''re embarrassing me, man," Han Xuhan said in a choked tone.


    Luo Yi laughed victoriously. She seemed even happier than the attacking team of Abyss Guild upon Zhanxian''s admission.


    "Now, my turn."


    Taking the remaining vial, she gulped its contents down in one go and sat to meditate. Unlike Zhanxian, she only took half a minute to break out of the hallucination, her composure a bit pale, but unreadable.


    Han Xuhan deeply suspected whether she had seen the memory sequence at all. It seemed pretty evident that she might not even care about the authenticity of the technique if that allowed her to get back at the Crimson Snow sect.


    After regaining her senses, Luo Yi jumped up on the side rails of the ship, looking down at the mass below on the island. Many disciples were still clamoring down there, pointing fingers and shaking their heads. Laughing at them in scorn, Luo Yi shouted her judgment.


    "We have reached a clear conclusion, with both votes in favor of Abyss Guild! I hereby declare the Crimson Snow sect guilty of cheating in the first round of the tournament!"

 Chapter 218: Crouching Schemers, Hidden Plots

    Without any protests from Sect master Xuan Zi, Luo Yi managed to suppress the storm of outcry that rose amidst the assembly.


    "If you keep trying to refuse your fault, a more severe penalty shall be awarded. I''d like to see that, though. So by all means, keep yelling."


    With an ironclad approach, Luo Yi chose to show no mercy even as the defending team begged her.


    "Sect master Zi, do you have any recommendations for what kind of penalty I should award to your sect?" Luo Yi said, ignoring their tearful requests.


    "None at all! Since it is up to the counselors to judge and punish the rule-breakers appropriately, I''ll leave it to you. But..."


    "But?"


    "But if you really want my opinion to help you choose a penalty, I''d say that you can allow the Abyss Guild''s attacking team to take away the treasure without a fight."


    Countless disciples gasped. That harsh? Sect master, whose side are you on? Do you want us to lose in the tournament?


    Luo Yi, on the other hand, laughed uproariously.


    "Sect master Zi, how can you take advantage of our good friendship like that? Such a light penalty! Is it not certain that the Abyss Guild''s team could''ve taken away the treasure easily anyway? Your defending team looks terribly unprepared to handle the challenge, resorting to tricks to try to fool us. I say, we should allow Abyss Guild to not only take away this treasure, but also the rest of the treasures that your sect had managed to gather during the exploration of the Archipelago. That should be an appropriate penalty!"


    The disciples gasped once more. Even the disciples of Abyss Guild looked a bit dumbfounded by the possibility of getting such a huge reward.


    "Madam Yi, you''re being too harsh," Xuan Zi replied.


    "Such intentions need to be punished harshly, or more may begin to foster and grow. This is a competition among righteous sects. How can we allow trickery?"


    Luo Yi refused to listen, passing that judgment as the official penalty.


    Sect master Xuan Zi didn''t try to dissuade her further, allowing her to leave the assembly.


    While all the disciples watched with red eyes, Elder Shen sent someone to fetch a box from the treasury. Five minutes later, Abyss Guild''s ship began to rise up in the air, with all of its disciples on board.


    Han Xuhan could see the jeering looks on the faces of those disciples as their ship carried them far above, until with a sudden pop, it disappeared into an overhead spatial crack.


    As he looked down at his peers, he suddenly realized that many, many unfriendly gazes were being cast his way. This time, their target was him, specifically, not Mu Ran.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The realization struck him. His minion had represented him and cast the vote in Abyss Guild''s favor. Although they weren''t clear on the details, they knew that he had basically ruined it for everyone.


    His martial siblings, however, didn''t give a fuck. Noticing the animosity-filled gazes, Mu Ran even pushed his chest out and snorted at some groups nearby.


    "What are you looking at, trash? Never seen an impartial judge before?"


    Han Xuhan felt touched. This was the Mu Ran he knew. This was the Mu Ran who''d defend him. This wasn''t the man who was grooming children since his childhood. This wasn''t the villain who could scheme against his childhood sweetheart, craving her blessings.


    Who the fuck was the other persona hiding inside Mu Ran?


    "Disciples, I understand that you''re feeling indignant. Now try to use all that rage and information for something useful, for example, robbing other sects to bring back some treasures here. I believe you have the ability to take our sect to the very top of the rankings! Your masters shall inform you of your group allotments, all except the Heavenly Hailstorm peak, of course. The disciples of this peak will need to achieve the goal I''ve set for them by themselves. See you tomorrow!"


    Sect master Zi too, took his leave. The Elders came down to the assembly of disciples and divided them into groups of tens, after which, they bade them farewell for the day.


    Han Xuhan and his martial siblings were about to discuss their strategy when they realized that almost every group was staring daggers at them.


    First, it had been Han Xuhan''s transgression. This time, they were feeling dissatisfied with being added to groups of unfamiliar disciples while the four of them got the special privilege.


    A conflict with his peers, it seemed, was inevitable today.


    "Han Xuhan, you better have some answers for the rest of us here!" shouted a tall youth, his hands holding a sheathed sword.


    "Do you think you''re better than the rest of us somehow?" Another guy yelled angrily.


    "You must have accepted a bribe to cast the vote in their favor!"


    "These guys are always breaking the rules. But they manage to evade punishment because of their Elder''s good relationship with the sect master."


    "That Xuhan guy is always entering the treasury and taking away so many resources. I heard he doesn''t even pay!"


    "Him and Mu Ran, these guys need to be straightened out. Come, brothers and sisters!"


    Han Xuhan watched them closing in with a pensive expression. All the pent-up frustrations, every malicious rumor, each slanderous accusations ever made at them were beginning to accumulate into a crescendo right here.


    He was sure that if Mu Ran couldn''t protect him, he''d be beaten black and blue today. Yuen Zhou might not even interfere, and Xiao Wu wouldn''t be able to even if he tried.


    Suddenly, several figures broke through the encirclement and surrounded the four martial siblings...with their backs facing them, as if they wanted to join forces to save Han Xuhan and Mu Ran from their inevitable fate.


    Everyone froze...because these guys turned out to be the members of the defending team.


    "Wh-what the hell are you all doing? He cost you more than the rest of us! Why are you shielding him?"


    "Have you gone mad?"


    "Don''t try to stop us out of goodwill for those brats! They deserve every punch and kick we''ll be rewarding them with!"


    "Get out of the way!"


    But the members of the defending team did not move. Instead, their leader, the girl who was still holding the empty treasure chest, raised a hand in the air to quiet the voices.


    "Brother Xuhan cannot be faulted for his judgment...Because we indeed cheated today."


    Her voice wasn''t loud. But it sent tremors throughout the assembly. Even Han Xuhan was dumbfounded.


    What the hell was happening here? His unasked question was the same question in everyone''s mind.


    The girl began to explain.


    "Yesterday, at midnight, the sect master handed us the treasure inside this chest to protect from the invading teams of other sects. But as you can all see clearly, none of us have a very high cultivation, or even a foundation powerful enough to achieve anything in this tournament. This was the reason why we ranked at the bottom in the competition to check out the spatial cracks around this floating island!


    "We knew that even if we managed to hold out against the first few teams, we''d begin to lose treasures every time they are given to us for protection. The sect''s collection would be emptied by the end of this round."


    "But the rest of us wouldn''t be spending our time sightseeing! No matter how many treasures you lose, we''d bring more back from other sects!" One of the leading disciples from the crowd shouted angrily.


    "How?" the leader of the defending team replied. "Elaborate how you''d go about doing that, brother Chong. What''s your plan?"


    "...Erm..."


    "Right, thought so. Anyone else got an idea how to track down treasures inside the territories of the foreign sects? Please, feel free to share."


    Her voice was akin to an executioner''s axe. It killed the wrath of the crowd, silencing every whisper, wiping out every determined expression. All that was left, was the aura of defeat.


    The disciples of the Crimson Snow sect looked beaten by harsh reality.


    But a smile was beginning to crawl into Han Xuhan''s face. Because, he had figured out what she was going to say next.


    Truly, the world of cultivation was a place full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons...

 Chapter 219: I Stand Atop Hundreds, Untouched

    "That is why we decided to cheat, based on one certain condition. If the invaders who approach the island of Crimson Snow sect appear to have a method to track down where the treasure is, only then we''d cheat in order to make them reveal how they were doing it."


    Her explanation confused many disciples. Seeing the confusion apparent on their faces, she elaborated further.


    "Look, when the invading team realizes that we''re cheating in order to hide the treasure from their tracking technique, they''ll definitely complain to the only person on the island who can punish us for it, in other words, Counselor Luo Yi. But Counselor Luo Yi has little possibility of knowing what technique they''ve been using to track the treasure, or whether they''re able to execute the technique with accuracy. So she''ll interrogate us first. We planned to use this interrogation as an opportunity to lead the outcome toward our target, the tracking technique. And you''ve seen very well how that worked!"


    "...But-but, you''re saying that you knew Han Xuhan would be chosen to represent the Crimson Snow sect?" A disciple sputtered in disbelief.


    The leader of the defending team shook her head.


    "That was the only mishap with our plan. We planned to let someone else take up that role. Brother Yue from our mountain peak has exceptional memorizing skills, which we had planned to use here, hoping that when the Invading team is forced to demonstrate the technique to him, he''d be able to memorize it all and propagate the technique to every other discipline of the Crimson Snow sect. That way, we could afford to lose the few treasures that our sect had amassed from the Archipelago during its discovery. Because every disciple in our sect would be able to track down the treasures hidden in the islands of the sects they invade as a team. Don''t you understand? The greatest asset in this round of the tournament isn''t the treasures, but the way to discover them! No sect can infinitely defend against team after team of invaders from other sects. There are plenty of sects that can amass teams strong enough to go toe to toe against even the most powerful sects'' defending teams. The key to winning in this round is to learn how to bring more back to our sect than the number of treasures we''ve lost! And we were so lucky to meet the Abyss Guild''s team before any other sect! They had the technique we were looking for!"


    For a good ten seconds, the crowd was frozen in shock as the realization set in. However, the first person to recover was one of the disciples who had wanted to beat Xuhan up.


    "Well, your plan didn''t work out, did it? While I must commend the stroke of brilliance there, I''ll also have to hold Xuhan accountable for screwing things up for us! Even if he couldn''t keep the technique memorized, he should have known not to blindly vote in their favor just because the technique is legitimate!"


    "If you insist on being obstinate, I''ll just have to beat it out of you," Mu Ran growled back, cracking his fingers loudly in preparation for a fight.


    "Oh, I''d like to see what gives you that confidence, asshole!" The stocky guy pulled out his sword from its sheath swiftly.


    The leader of the defending team attempted to cool the situation down anxiously, shouting, "Brothers, this isn''t the time to get into a meaningless squabble! First, we should see what Brother Xuhan can recall-"


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Get the fuck out of my way, wench! First, we need to beat some sense into these two. Maybe a head injury and bed rest will make him recall the details better," the stocky guy pushed her out of the way and began to approach Mu Ran and Han Xuhan.


    But as his eyes flickered past the excited Mu Ran, he noticed the look of amusement in Han Xuhan''s eyes. Han Xuhan was grinning like a madman, not at all bothered by the fact that the entire sect was about to band together to beat him up.


    "I''ll wipe that laugh off your face, you insufferable runt," he shouted furiously, feeling that Han Xuhan wasn''t taking their anger seriously.


    "In times of strife, the guilty ones tend to make the first move. I suppose you''d like to wipe off more than just a smile, huh?" Xuhan shouted back, completely relaxed.


    "What the fuck are you talking about?" he said, puzzled.


    "You know, you really fit the profile of the spy Abyss Guild has in our sect," Han Xuhan explained with a warm smile.


    "Spy?!"


    "What?!"


    "Did he just say-"


    Gasp after gasp was followed by shout after shout, the entire assembly once more thunderstruck by the exchange happening at its center.


    Too many twists and turns were happening here, too fast to keep track of, too wild to make sense of.


    The youth who was being accused of spying for the Abyss Guild looked dumbfounded.


    "...Crazy! You''re crazy, bastard! Do you think you can get away by putting false labels on us like that?"


    Growling like a wounded lion, he rushed towards Han Xuhan at a blinding speed. He must have been at the late stages of the Physique Transformation Realm, because Xuhan didn''t even realize that his neck was suddenly in danger of being cut off. His eyes had barely managed to track the movement of the opponent, signaling to mind that he needed to move back or something...he wasn''t really sure what to do in a face-to-face fight like this out in the open.


    But just before his opponent''s sword could hit Han Xuhan''s shoulder, a foot reached out like a coiled spring, hitting the assailant''s forearm mercilessly, powerfully.


    Thump!


    The sword was knocked back at the last second, its owner staggering back a step...just one step which left a couple inches deep imprint on the ground.


    Mu Ran had come to the rescue at the last moment. All Han Xuhan''s mind had registered during that physical exchange was the gust of wind caused by the botched attack.


    The wind felt nice.


    Han Xuhan put his hands behind his back and closed his eyes, face upturned like a saint no longer bothered by the trifling matters of the mortal world. While his opponent got ready to attack once more, he began to speak loudly enough for all to hear in a serene tone.


    "Upon entering the flying ship of the Abyss Guild, I was taken to meet the captain of the ship, a person they address as their Dao Instructor, an equivalent of the term Master in our sect."


    His sheer nonchalance seemed to fuel not only the accused youth''s fury, it also spurred several other aggressive disciples into taking action.


    "Brothers! This guy will keep on blabbering to make himself seem righteous! But he has already started preparing irrational rumors, going as far as calling brother Xue a spy!"


    "Yeah! What are the chances that he won''t do the same to the rest of us to save his skin?"


    "No matter what he says, the fact remains he sided with Abyss Guild during the vote! Yet he has the galls to call others spies? He''s the spy, more likely!"


    With their furious tirades, they approached Han Xuhan from all four directions, determined to teach him a lesson.


    Han Xuhan remained unaffected.


    One youth wielding two fist-sized hammers threw one at his back while running. Right when the whirling hammerhead was about to knock Xuhan''s spine out of his body, a hand holding a dagger knocked it away casually.


    CLANG!


    The hammer flew towards another assailant, who was just about to finish his fire-whip conjuring spell. Before he could put up his defense, the hammer hit him in the chest heavily.


    "This Dao Instructor of theirs, named Lady Caizhi, had apparently summoned me to offer me a...salvation. As most of you are aware, my meridians are about to be crippled permanently very soon. She offered me a remedy," Han Xuhan continued to speak unbothered.


    A fourth attacker had leaped upwards to not be blocked or disrupted by any combatants. She spread out her hands in mid-air, creating a strange wave of green frost that fell on Han Xuhan like rain.


    A human-sized chunk of soil suddenly rose into the air, right above Han Xuhan''s head, blocking the rain of the famous poison frost.


    "But if you think about it, how did she know it? How did she know beforehand that I would be the most suitable person in the sect for her offer? That I would be the only one desperate enough to listen to her and betray my brothers and sisters? From me being chosen by the Leader of Abyss Guild''s invasion team ''randomly'' to fit their narrow requirements, to their Dao Instructor offering me what I seek the most in this world...do you not think that someone may have prepared a script for it all?"


    Han Xuhan posed a question that made even his attackers pause.

 Chapter 220: My Decree Is Unquestionable

    A disciple from the crowd shouted once more, dispelling the silence that had encompassed them for a moment.


    "Ridiculous! Following your line of reasoning, the biggest suspect behind such a scheme could only be sister Su, the leader of our defending team! She was the one who planned the whole thing, starting from preserving the sealing arrays on the treasure that kept its aura untraceable, to manipulating the argument into heading towards the outcome where they would have to reveal their technique to one of us."


    Han Xuhan nodded.


    "It indeed seems that way. But you''re ignoring the fact that it wasn''t sister Su who chose me as the representative of the Crimson Snow Sect. Nor was it the team leader of Abyss Guild. It was you. You, you, you, you, all of you chose me when the requirements for the ideal representative were declared.


    A finger pointed at the crowd, Han Xuhan unleashed his entire arsenal.


    "To the spy, it didn''t matter who gets chosen for the role of the representation, so long as it isn''t the person sister Su has chosen, so long as it is not Brother Yue who has exceptional memorizing skills. But the spy chose to go a step further, helping them attempt to make a personal attack on my martial brother Mu Ran by informing the team leader of Abyss Guild exactly which requirements could make me one of the best candidates to choose from. Luckily for them, these requirements would sound very reasonable to anyone watching without knowing the full story behind, and by anyone, I mean all of you."


    He gave them a moment to digest that twist of logic before continuing.


    "Facing Instructor Caizhi, I realized through several small details in her words that she knew way more about me than it is normally possible for one to learn from a minute''s observation. When I asked her how she knew such details, her answer was so vague that it raised my suspicion. And since then, I''ve been thinking. Who could this spy be? Who would sell information to Abyss Guild? How do I find them and confront them? But it looks like my worries were unnecessary...because, here you are, making the first move to eliminate a possible confrontation in the near future. After all, if you can give me a fatal injury, a fourth-layer practitioner like me would have to recuperate for a long time. Maybe for the rest of the tournament, I might end up being bedridden. Lucky for you, you have an excuse for such an attack too. Your excuse is that I didn''t cast my vote in favor of the liar."


    As his impassionate eyes met the distraught gaze of the disciple surnamed Xue, the stocky young man took a step back subconsciously.


    Han Xuhan flashed him his favorite smile, the smile of a shark that has smelled blood.


    "Gonna surrender? Or do you want us to make you confess first? I''ve always been curious about how interrogation torture affects a cultivator."


    Right now, not even the other disciples who had passionately attacked Han Xuhan alongside disciple Xue had the guts to defend their compatriot. Anyone who tried to argue on his behalf would be opening themselves up to the label of ''spy'' too.


    Seeing the situation turning against him, Brother Xue made one last-ditch counter.


    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    "Why does it sound like you''re the one who has the plan to assist Abyss Guild and profit from it? After all, you let them win all the treasures our sect possessed by casting that crucial vote! And now you''re using our angry reaction to your wrongdoing by dumping the dirty water on us. Are we wrong to feel that you shouldn''t have cast a vote for their side? It''s not like you''re a Saint who has never lied in his life! What wrong would there be in lying for your sect? Only the spy who would gain to profit from the incident would cast their vote in Abyss Guild''s favor."


    Han Xuhan began to clap in admiration.


    Wonderful counter, truly wonderful. Unfortunately for Brother Xue, he had made one fatal error in his judgment.


    "You are correct, absolutely correct," Han Xuhan declared loudly before anyone else could join Brother Xue''s passionate tirade.


    "However, would the spy helping the Abyss Guild promise that he can teach the technique of tracing the treasures to all of you? Would that not be a direct betrayal of their interest? Would the Abyss Guild choose to sacrifice their unique technique just for a dozen sets of treasures?"


    "...."


    This time, not even Brother Xue could speak a word to contradict him. Pretty much every disciple who had heard Han Xuhan speak was staring at him, wide-eyed.


    "You mean to say, you''ve learned the technique they showed you? And you''re confident enough to teach everyone else? If that works, then our plan would be an absolute success!" sister Su cried out in disbelief. Han Xuhan nodded at her with an honest smile and saw her begin to tear up.


    She had taken a huge risk by concocting the cheating scheme. As that hadn''t paid off due to the last-minute mishap, she had been feeling an enormous sense of pressure and guilt. But now, she could see hope once more!


    Meanwhile, Brother Xue immediately sheathed his sword, surprising Han Xuhan.


    "If you can really do that, then it doesn''t matter which side you cast your vote on. I''ll not hold it against you. I''m sure no one else will, either. Now prove it, and I''ll apologize publicly if your claim is true."


    Not just him, even the others who had attacked him just now nodded, expressing the same sentiment.


    Han Xuhan felt his heart lurch.


    What the hell?! Why was this guy not sticking to his character template? Why did he suddenly become so reasonable?


    This didn''t make sense. Isn''t this sudden change of behavior a bit too mature for a random side character in a typical xianxia world? Isn''t he supposed to act obstinate till the end?


    "At the heart of the matter, the only reason we were angry was because you made our sect lose. If you can turn that situation around, naturally, we have no complaints. We will apologize, all of us," said another fellow.


    Han Xuhan realized it suddenly. He had forgotten that this world could hardly be called typical. The recent developments indeed proved that. Even the righteous protagonist wasn''t exactly a good person, probably still under the evil influence of a spirit grandpa.


    Flashing them a thin smile, Han Xuhan chose to compromise. He had no concrete proof that this guy was working for the Abyss Guild. There would be nothing to work with even if he took the matter to the elders. For now, only the label of suspicion was the best he could do. The rest would depend on their future run-ins with the Abyss Guild.


    "It''ll take me a couple of days to fully comprehend the essence of the technique. I have only memorized its contents. Until then, I suggest all of you do your best to explore the neighboring sects. There is no need to rush the treasure collection process. The deadline for this round is still a week away. As long as we know our way around the Archipelago, we can successfully qualify even if we begin robbing the treasures in the last couple of days. All of you know the side missions the sect master has imposed upon us. For these two days, focus more on those. Learn about the pathways among the floating islands. Practice invading the islands, but take no risks. Once I''ve thoroughly comprehended the technique, I''ll call an assembly."


    He made his plans known to everyone and awaited any further accusatory questions. But none came, as it seemed that his revelation that he could teach them the technique had made everyone wary of instigating him for now. Or maybe everyone right now was just scared of being accused as the spy, heh.


    "Alright, everybody. You''ve heard Brother Xuhan. Let''s go tackle the side missions first! My team will stay here to defend, while the rest of you need to spread out and survey the situation on other sects. Go, go, go!"


    Under Sister Su''s urging, the assembly broke down into teams of ten members, everyone running back to their huts to prepare for the missions.


    Sister Su turned to look at him after making sure everyone was out of sight.


    "Brother Xuhan, are you sure you can-"


    "Yes. I am," Han Xuhan interrupted her confidently.


    "Alright," she said with a nod, and took her teammates back to their mountain peak.


    Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu were still standing beside him. Turning back, Han Xuhan said, "Thank you for defending me."


    "It''s part of my job as the boss, underling. What is there to be thankful about?"


    "You''re welcome. I hope you''ll do the same if I am in your shoes one day," Yuen Zhou replied.


    "Who wouldn''t defend their friend?" Xiao Wu rolled his eyes and slapped him in the back. But now, Han Xuhan was strong enough to not be thrown a couple steps forward from the big guy''s casual slaps.


    It felt good to wield power. Too good.

 Chapter 221: A Sect That Isnt Supposed To Exist

    "Alright, first side mission: Defeat four disciples of another sect in combat...How do you propose we go at it?" Xiao Wu said, rubbing his palms together while standing at the edge of the floating island.


    Tun Shi Tian had been dispatched below to look for a spatial crack on the other side of which, there would be a not-too-powerful sect. Han Xuhan was busy constantly summoning and unsummoning the owl.


    "Easy. We go down, land on an island, and yell at them a challenge the same way Yaya shouted at our sect. Then we beat them up!"


    Needless to say, this was Mu Ran''s plan, and neither of his three martial siblings agreed to that exact plan of attack.


    "Since this is our first day, I suggest we play it safe. We need to sneak around the island and locate smaller groups of disciples. While one or two of us stands guard, the others will fight. If anyone among us loses, or faces the possibility of getting fatally injured and captured, we retreat immediately. Together, we only need to win a total of 16 rounds of fighting."


    Yuen Zhou''s suggestion was quite reasonable. Even Mu Ran had to agree to it, grudgingly.


    Han Xuhan chimed in with his contribution to the plan.


    "Sneaking around will give us another advantage. We have other side missions too, remember? Brother Wu, what were the other three missions again?"


    Xiao Wu read them out from a list.


    "Carry back weapons, foods, resources, or other treasures weighing over 100 kilograms to our sect. Demolish a house. And if you face the disciples guarding the target treasure sets, then make at least one of them chase you for a minimum of 30 seconds before you attempt to rob the treasure or escape."


    Han Xuhan nodded along. "See? Sneaking around the foreign sects will provide us with a massive opportunity to complete three of these side missions. Boss, if you want, we can always join the defender team of our sect and show off our real power openly. But in the territories of others, we need to be smart! I know you''re not foolish enough to not comprehend this! A great man like you must know when to be flexible!"


    Mu Ran''s expression grew dark.


    "Flexible?! Why would a man need to learn to be flexible? That''s a woman''s-"


    "Mentally, boss. I''m talking about flexible strategies, and plannings!"


    Face sour, Mu Ran nodded. "Alright. I''ll see how effective that plan is. If it doesn''t produce results...hmph! We''ll do it like real men!"


    All three of his martial siblings shared a complex look among themselves and walked to the very edge of the island, peeking below.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    A moment later, Xuhan canceled Tun Shi Tian''s summon and summoned him once again.


    "What was inside this one?" he said as soon as the owl flew out of his back.


    "Not too many disciples. The island itself seemed kind of small too. I couldn''t see any of the elders, but the disciples looked pretty disorganized, running to and fro, yelling among themselves. Some of them were fighting too."


    Han Xuhan nodded in satisfaction.


    "A chaotic situation like that is perfect for us to blend in. Which sect was it? Did you see any flags or insignias? Any odd elements on the island?"


    Tun Shi Tian thought for a second before replying, "Yeah...I think I saw some of them wearing white bandanas that have a blue star drawn on them. Yup! That''s it!"


    Han Xuhan, Mu Ran, and Yuen Zhou simultaneously turned to look at Xiao Wu. He was the only one among them who actually knew something about the world of cultivators outside their sect, a benefit of being born in clans of cultivators.


    Xiao Wu pulled out a booklet from his pocket and went through it for half a minute or so before he shouted, "Yeah, looks like that sect is known as the Stardust Sect!"


    Han Xuhan was about to nod with the rest of his martial siblings when a shard of his memory hit his heart like an arrow.


    "Star...Stardust Sect? That sect actually exists?!"


    "Do you know this Stardust Sect?" Mu Ran said, puzzled at his reaction.


    "Not just me. You do too," Han Xuhan replied.


    Mu Ran''s face scrunched up as he tried in vain to recall any such memory.


    "Boss, remember back when we entered the Holy Land of Laws for the first time and faced a zombie?"


    "...Yeah, and?"


    "The people who helped us at that time said they were from the Stardust Sect."


    "....Oh!" Mu Ran''s eyes lit up. "Didn''t those bastards plan to use us as meat shield scouts? At that time, it was you who saw through their intentions, underling. I remember!"


    Yuen Zhou suddenly intervened and said, "Why did you question its existence, then, brother Xuhan?"


    Han Xuhan laughed awkwardly.


    "Those guys told me they were using a false name to tool people. That there is no such sect named the stardust sect."


    Yuen Zhou snorted.


    Mu Ran grinned with relish. "We''re gonna have so much fun exacting our vengeance for that night!"


    Han Xuhan wanted to ask why he would seek vengeance for a mere plan that those guys hadn''t even had the chance to execute. But then he realized how futile an attempt that would be. Mu Ran wouldn''t care that no actual crime against them had been committed.


    "Alright. We need to hurry if we want to invade that sect. The spatial fissure will probably move if we don''t make haste. Let''s go!"


    Tun Shi Tian received Han Xuhan''s order to hover over the spatial crack that led to this Stardust Sect so that they could determine the exact trajectory of their leap below.


    The first person to jump was, of course, Mu Ran. Yuen Zhou followed him after seeing his successful disappearance below Tun Shi Tian.


    Xiao Wu took his time to muster up the courage. Once he had disappeared inside the invisible fissure, Han Xuhan looked around shiftily, making sure no one was nearby.


    "Tun Shi Tian!"


    "Yes, master?"


    "You can tell me about what the scroll showed you during your mission."


    He hadn''t had the chance to chat with the owl since sending him off on the mission to uncover who Fang Xie''s target was among the disciples of the Abyss Guild. After seeing his martial siblings off, he had finally gotten the chance to speak to the minion alone.


    Tun Shi Tian flew up a bit closer to him and replied, "Some woman named Qing Ya. The scroll also showed her cultivation level, the name of her cultivation technique, and her usual fighting style."


    "...Oh?!"


    "Yeah. She''s apparently at the peak of the Seventh Layer of the Physique Transformation Realm. She cultivates a technique titled Abyss''s Breath, which makes use of a concept called...Buo...Buo...."


    "Buoyancy?" Han Xuhan said sympathetically.


    "Yeah, THAT! Who the fuck comes up with a word like that? Fuck his ancestors!" Tun Shi Tian vehemently cursed.


    "Anything else?"


    "She has mastered fighting with daggers, which makes her a formidable opponent in close-quarters combat."


    Han Xuhan knelt down on one knee, expression complicated.


    Fang Xie wanted to control the minds of young, talented disciples of powerful sects. It wasn''t unusual that Qing Ya ended up becoming his target. Rather, what made his hair rise up was the fact that despite losing her Celestial Blessing- the Twin Devil Physique, Qing Ya could still become one of the most talented disciples of the Abyss Guild, leading their invasion team from sect to sect.


    Back then, Lady Caizhi had told him that the reason their Guildmaster had taken Qing Ya in as a disciple was because of pity and guilt.


    At that time, Han Xuhan had trusted that fact. Indeed, why else would a renowned, powerful sect master take in a mortal as her personal disciple after she had lost the only thing that made her special? The only factor that gave her unlimited potential as a cultivator?


    Now, seeing Fang Xie''s heavy evaluation of Qing Ya''s talent, Han Xuhan realized why.


    The Celestial Blessing in the form of a rare Physique wasn''t the factor that made Qing Ya special. There was something else...something that Lady Caizhi had hidden very well, or something that not even she knew.

 Chapter 222: Three-Layered Floating Island

    Han Xuhan landed rather disastrously on the very edge of the floating island belonging to the Stardust Sect.


    He didn''t immediately get up from the ground, opting to survey his surroundings and assess the situation first.


    Despite following the same route and entering the same spatial fissure as his three martial siblings, he had ended up landing separately. Perhaps by the time his conversation with Tun Shi Tian had ended, the spatial fissure had moved. Or perhaps he had spent way too long a time inside the void between the front and back of the fissure, leading to a delay in appearing on the other side. His martial siblings were nowhere to be seen.


    Han Xuhan distinctly felt the need to create an industry to make wristwatches. Having access to the time anywhere would be fairly advantageous while exploring mysterious places like this archipelago.


    The place he had landed on was filled with short, well-maintained grass. He couldn''t really hide anywhere here. Realizing the danger of being detected, Han Xuhan began to crawl like a gecko towards what appeared to be a beautiful garden surrounding a small pond just a couple dozen yards away.


    There were several tall, bushy herbs in the garden that made it convenient for him to stand up. Not too far away from him, a single row of identical houses had been arranged side by side neatly, with short gaps to walk through between each two. The design looked quite pleasing to the eye, almost bordering military barrack arrangements.


    Right now, all the houses had their doors closed and windows shut, something that made Han Xuhan breathe in relief.


    A perfect place to tackle side mission number three: Bring down a house.


    But first, he wanted to have a proper look around the island.


    The barrack-like buildings were single-storied but pretty tall, reaching almost five meters in height. But rather than feeling humbled by the challenge, Xuhan felt excitement, confidence even.


    He knew he could make that leap. He was no longer a weak mortal who would need a ladder to reach the roof of those buildings.


    Kneeling for a moment, Han Xuhan rushed forward, leaving prominent prints of his shoes on the soil. Right when he was about four meters away from the wall of the building he had targeted, he exerted every bit of power in his legs and back to jump up.


    "...Hngg-Fuck!"


    He had successfully reached the roof but landed on what appeared to be a pool of boiling water.


    "Ouch! Agh! Fuck this!"


    Han Xuhan was forced to jump on top of the brick wall that shielded the roof from prying eyes. These walls were being used to hold a large volume of water here, as it turned out. The entire roof had been transformed into a sparkling clean pool of knee-deep water, at the center of which floated a...metallic ball.


    Xuhan swiftly checked his blistered feet. It wasn''t clear why the water in the pool was so hot. Maybe it had something to do with the metal ball. Nevertheless, the accident didn''t deter him at all. His burnt-red skin was already beginning to heal, slowly reducing the pain in those areas.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Grimacing, Han Xuhan surveyed all that he could see from the rooftop, hunched over on top of the wall like an owl.


    What he saw...however, left him stunned.


    Tun Shi Tian had neglected to describe some very important details, it seemed.


    Han Xuhan summoned the owl immediately.


    "Again? Dammit! You won''t let me rest, you won''t let me fly-"


    "Shut the fuck up, little Tian!"


    His boiling tone snuffed out the minion''s annoyed yell. "What is it?" the owl asked weakly.


    "Why didn''t you tell me this sect looked like THIS?!"


    Han Xuhan pointed furiously at the massive structure ahead, comprised of three ring-shaped islands, or more accurately, one floating island that had been divided into three circular layers where the outer layer was the narrowest, the middle layer was the most populated, and the inner layer was the most elevated area of the island.


    These three island-rings were connected to each other with narrow bridges, while slowly spinning around a central axis in the inner layer that consisted of a tall, white tower.


    "...Is that important? It just looks cool, that''s it. This is no different from our sect," Tun Shi Tian grumbled.


    "No different from our sect? Birdie, I can''t even walk in any direction in this sect without the risk of falling down! Do you see the bridges connecting the rings? They''re like...two feet wide!"


    Tun Shi Tian cocked his head in a puzzled manner. "Fall down? Why would you...Oh!"


    "Oh, you finally noticed that I''m not a bird? That I can''t fly?"


    "Seems like an YOU problem, master."


    Han Xuhan felt like locking the owl in a cage and throwing him off the island, but he was forced to control his anger. This wasn''t the time to be thinking about punishments.


    Now that he thought about it, it made sense for most sects to have unique builds. Even if they didn''t, here in the archipelago, they''d try something using the Celestial Gateway technique''s domain system.


    No wonder he had landed in a spot far away from wherever his martial siblings were! The fastest-spinning part of the island was the peripheral ring, filled with a single row of barracks for the disciples, presumably. By the time he had come out of the spatial fissure, the spot where Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu had landed must have spun away from the mouth of the fissure.


    Han Xuhan looked at the sky and tried to measure which direction and how far his martial siblings had been carried away.


    The revolution speed was difficult to measure, because not only the peripheral ring, but also the middle ring and central island were spinning on the same axis in different directions constantly. There was no way to tell when a full revolution of the rings would be complete.


    "Which insidious bastard thought of such a design? I should befriend him..."


    Half annoyed, half amazed, Han Xuhan surveyed the chaos in the middle ring curiously. Tun Shi Tian hadn''t been wrong about this.


    These guys appeared to be absolutely indisciplined.


    At least one-third of the disciples were fighting each other, while another third watched the fights. The remaining third were fervently discussing something around a large table, on top of which sat a fat spirit beast that he was all too familiar with.


    It was a brother of Luo Yi''s pet, Meatball...or sister, he couldn''t tell. It was in its transparent form, showing the rankings of the sect. Han Xuhan had seen the rankings just half an hour ago. The cockroach sect was still holding the topmost position with absolute dominance in terms of points.


    They had asked Luo Yi about this mysterious sect that had popped out of nowhere to snatch the position of the new champion of this decade, but she kept smiling mysteriously without providing an answer. The same situation applied to all of their elders. No one would talk about it for some reason.


    Shaking his head, Han Xuhan focused on the tower at the center of the floating island...s.


    The central ring was more like a disc, surrounding a tower that floated by itself, untouched by the soil of the island. The walls of the tower were an unnaturally bright shade of white, shimmering under the sunlight. From the angle of his vision, he could see its floors going down below the surface level of the island as well as above. If he could get a glimpse of the bottom of the island, he would probably be able to tell how many floors were there in total on the tower. He could see at least a dozen above the surface.


    Fortunately, the hundred-something disciples of the Stardust sect were too occupied with whatever they were doing to notice a lone man hunched on a rooftop at the peripheral ring of the island, sitting behind one of many metal balls.


    After surveying the situation for a while, Han Xuhan took out Fang Xie''s magic-infused hit-list from his pocket.


    Unfurling the scroll, he looked for any signs of ink appearing on it. But the yellowish blank page indicated that he needed to get closer to the disciples to get proper results. This sect looked rather impressive, and Han Xuhan distinctly recalled Brother Feng Jun''s craftiness inside the Holy Land of Laws.


    Fang Xie should definitely have a target here.


    Keeping the scroll in hand, Han Xuhan jumped down from the roof and checked the houses one by one until he found his target- a house with an unlocked window.


    Tun Shi Tian had to go through some stretching and squeezing to enter the house.


    Five minutes later, Han Xuhan was garbed in the white uniform of the Stardust sect, with the bandana around his forehead hiding his hair, ears, eyebrows, and half of his eyes too.


    Pulling the collars up, Han Xuhan walked towards the closest bridge between the outer and the middle ring confidently.

 Chapter 223: Factions In Conflict

    Crossing the bridge was harder than he had assumed, and he had assumed the worst.


    On both sides of the two-foot-wide bridge, nothing except a three-hundred-meter expanse of emptiness existed. Added on top of that, the bridge wasn''t even flat, but cylindrical and slippery, decorated by a layer of green grass.


    The fresh state of the grass told Xuhan that these bridges weren''t regularly used by the disciples of this sect. If two hundred people regularly walked on these bridges, the grass would be flattened and killed within a day.


    That meant that if anyone was watching him right now, they''d find it strange that he was using the bridge to cross over to the middle ring.


    Han Xuhan quickly rushed forward, eager not to be noticed. It would''ve been another good idea to unite with his martial siblings who were probably still on the peripheral ring, but that would make them even more easily noticeable. Especially, Mu Ran''s presence in any team would make that team unable to blend in anywhere at all.


    For now, he didn''t want to get into a frontal confrontation.


    Han Xuhan''s presence was noticed almost immediately once he finally crossed the bridge and set foot on the middle ring. But his nondescript face came into the equation, and no one spared him a second look after noticing the uniform.


    Nonchalantly, Xuhan squeezed his way into one of the dozen crowds observing people furiously dueling each other .


    "Feng Taishang! As long as a single breath remains on my body, I''ll oppose your faction!"


    This yell was made by a frail looking girl who was holding a giant staff twice her height. She looked battered, bleeding from mouth, nose and several lacerations on her limbs. But her eyes shone with a determined light.


    Feng Taishang, her opponent, was an unusually tall, pale, skinny youth who wielded a handleless blade. It was almost half a meter long, but with only an inch of width. Streaks of blood colored the silver body of the blade.


    Frowning, Feng Taishang said, "You''re being too unreasonable here. Just because we want to lead the sect doesn''t mean we will kill you to get that position of power. You''ve already been fatally injured. Stop harming yourself further. This tournament is not the appropriate place to settle a dispute this way. We need better leaders, and we need them now."


    "I said what I said," replied the girl. "The timeframe allocated to our faction has yet to end. There''s no way any single member of us would step down. Brother Feng will return soon. Mark my words."


    Xuhan''s eyes narrowed into slits as the overall situation in the Stardust sect began to take a comprehensible shape inside his mind.


    "Well, without him, you can obviously not lead us to the future rounds of the tournament which will eventually get harder and harder to reach. We''re not waiting for things to go beyond saving. Just stop being stubborn and step down, Xueshi."


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    A chorus of shouts from the crowd assisted his momentum.


    "Yeah! We''ve already lost one of our treasures. We don''t have many of them to begin with."


    "Stop making a scene and let Taishang''s faction take over. They are the only ones capable of leading the sect for now."


    "You''ve failed way too many times already, Xueshi!"


    The girl completely ignored the shouts, raising her chin stubbornly to display her stance.


    Feng Taishang sighed and raised his blade, pointing the narrow head in her direction.


    "Don''t blame me for being heavy-handed."


    Han Xuhan didn''t even see what happened. But a gasp ran through the crowd as a low, thin whistle cut through the air.


    Crack!


    The staff the girl was holding cracked in the middle as if a greatsword had struck it.


    A gash appeared on her midriff, tearing through her leather armor and the flesh beneath, even denting her ribcage.


    "The Seventh Stroke!" a girl in front of Xuhan whispered to the guy standing beside her.


    "Looks like his Space-breaking technique has been greatly amplified by that weird weapon," someone else muttered in a low voice.


    "Told y''all we should ally ourselves with Taishang''s faction for now. Luck has favored him greatly in this Archipelago," another faint whisper could be heard coming from the back of the crowd.


    "It''s like he was prepared for the tournament!"


    The comments from the peanut gallery were of great help to Xuhan in figuring out what exactly was taking place here.


    As the crowd broke up while some disciples carried the unconscious girl to the infirmary, Han Xuhan nonchalantly slipped inside another crowd not too far away. He wasn''t the only one to do so either. It was easy to not be noticed.


    The center of attention of this crowd wasn''t a duel. It was a contest of skill between three parties, two guys and one girl. With a careful examination, Xuhan realized that the bandana worn by the girl was somewhat different than the two boys. The blue star on her bandana had a white circle painted at its center.


    He looked around in the crowd and noticed that only three out of the two dozen disciples there had the same marking on their bandanas. He recalled the duel he had just witnessed and realized that the girl who had lost, named Xueshi, had a similar circle drawn on her bandana too.


    It seemed that these bandanas were the way to tell apart the disciples belonging to different factions. From what he had seen and heard so far, the faction with the circle drawn on their bandana had been in power until now. Due to their incompetence, the other factions in the disciple body were trying to make them step down.


    But why were all the members of the faction in power girls? Was it an all-woman faction?


    A bit confused, Xuhan decided to watch the contest for now.


    All three of them were hunched over a low desk, on top of which sat large books and charts full of numbers and diagrams. Every few seconds, they would shift their focus from one book to another, all the while muttering incessantly under their breaths.


    Suddenly, one of the two boys let out an excited hoot and began to run his finger through the air randomly, as if he was trying to inscribe an invisible pattern.


    A gasp ran through the crowd.


    "He did it! He completed the calculation!"


    "Sister Mi won''t be able to catch up, heh!"


    Unfortunately, no one explained what technique they were performing. Even though he was burning with curiosity, Han Xuhan wasn''t foolish enough to ask someone. This appeared to be a common technique of their sect. Enquiring about it would make him the focus of everyone''s suspicion.


    He watched, enraptured, as the air around the finger of the boy began to brighten up. The tip of his index finger left a bright blue, smokey trail behind as he moved it in every direction constantly, shaping the smoke into something more meaningful. Only, Xuhan had no idea what the pattern formed by the smoke meant.


    It certainly had to have a meaning, because every disciple watching it had an excited glow in their eyes.


    The electric blue pattern consisted of numerous 3-dimensional geometric shapes, taking up almost one cubic meter of space. Its components were moving around, some rotating seamlessly on their individual axis, some shifting right and left, some breaking apart and getting reattached.


    It reminded Xuhan strongly of the Seal of Myriad Laws he had been suppressed by in the Holy Land of Laws. That seal let its controller manipulate many elements of that world fragment.


    What was the function of this thing?


    With a stylish stroke, the boy stopped moving his finger and began to spew gaseous qi through his mouth, as if he was trying to put out a candle.


    The three-dimensional spinning pattern received the flux of the gaseous qi...and absorbed it!


    Where was the qi going?


    Han Xuhan''s eyes got wider.


    The moment the boy finished blowing out the last bit of qi in his meridians, his eyes began to glow with the same electric blue light.


    The pattern began to break apart, each of its components hurling itself in different directions one by one until nothing was left behind.


    The glow in his eyes faded away, replaced by a sharp look of clarity. He bent down over the books and charts in front of him and took out a blank page from there. Looking around with a shifty expression, he wrote something on it and placed it on the desk.


    "The result of my reading...I submit it!" He shouted confidently.

 Chapter 224: The Right Prediction And The Wrong Prediction

    Xuhan''s confusion only grew as the other two disciples competing with this fellow submitted their ''readings'' in scrolls as well. With all three scrolls presented on the desks, it was time for evaluation.


    One disciple walked out of the crowd, carrying a bizarre object in his arms. Han Xuhan had assumed that was a rock until then. But once the disciple held it up to be carried into the center of the encirclement, he realized that it was probably some sort of a treasure belonging to the Stardust Sect.


    All the observers except Xuhan clearly knew what it was. But much to his annoyance, no one explained its name or function. He could only rely on guesswork.


    The object bore much resemblance to a pagoda, except it was inverted and hollow inside. It had been carved out of a large white stone, polished to the point where its smooth surface reflected sunlight.


    The sturdy youth placed the heavy inverted pagoda onto the ground. Its narrowest part, the bottom layer of the pagoda slightly sank into the soil. All the disciples, including Xuhan, could see the hollowed insides of the pagoda. Placed like that, it looked like a round staircase leading to a palm-wide stadium at the bottom.


    "Place your readings. You know what to do," the carrier said as he took several steps back stiffly.


    The first disciple to submit his ''reading'' grasped his scroll and walked over to the dazzling white treasure. Extending his hand forward, he held the scroll over the meter-wide mouth of the treasure and began to shout.


    "Having read the stars, I predict that our first opponent in this round of the tournament shall be a team of disciples belonging to a sect of Continent Lou."


    He dropped the scroll down to the mouth of the treasure. Instead of falling to the bottom like it was supposed to normally, the scroll stopped at the topmost floor of the inverted pagoda and began to float there as if on water.


    On the exterior of the pagoda, the highest, and also the largest floor lit up like a heated iron furnace. It became a half-foot-wide circular wall emitting a burning red light. The rest of the floors below showed no changes.


    While he was expecting a gasp to run through the crowd once more, what he heard was a collective, disappointed sigh.


    One of the girls sporting the special bandanas on her head snorted loudly enough for the entire crowd to hear. She must have used her entire cultivation base behind the power of the snort to be heard amidst the chaos all around them.


    "A prediction that barely qualified for the first floor, ahahah! Look! It wasn''t even able to light up the full circle of the Mouth of Destiny. Only three-quarters of the first floor is shining!"


    Han Xuhan craned his neck and stepped a few feet to the side alongside those standing near him to see the other side of the inverted pagoda.


    Indeed, there was a portion of the top floor that wasn''t radiating any red light.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    However, the young man who had submitted his scroll for evaluation appeared unfazed. Hands folded behind him, he shouted, "I wasn''t finished. This was only the first part of my prediction."


    The girl''s countenance grew grim. But the crowd''s disappointment was dispelled immediately.


    These guys really hated the all-woman faction for some reason.


    The young man shouted once again.


    "I predict that the first team to invade us today shall be a team of four members!"


    Han Xuhan nearly choked on his own spit.


    What the fuck?


    The red light emitting from the wall of the first floor of the pagoda brightened, and the previously dull portion of the floor lit up as well, forming a full, burning red layer. The entire first floor now took on the appearance of a red crystalline belt. They could almost see the silhouette of the floating scroll through the walls.


    "A prediction that was able to fully clear the first floor. Well done," said the guy who had carried the treasure over.


    The young man proudly took out the scroll floating within the pagoda and stepped aside, making way for the next disciple to submit his own prediction for evaluation.


    The top floor of the pagoda lost its transparency and bright light, returning to the original metallic sheen.


    A foreboding feeling enveloped Han Xuhan as the second disciple, the girl, walked to the pagoda and dropped her scroll inside, shouting her prediction for all to hear.


    "I predict that the first foreigner disciple to set foot here on our island today shall be a male."


    Half of the top floor of the pagoda lit up with the familiar bright red light.


    "The second disciple of that attacking team will be a woman."


    The other half of the pagoda lit up as well. But the walls of the floor didn''t turn crystalline like before.


    Wincing, she added another line.


    "And both of these disciples would have a cultivation base below the Eighth Layer of the Physique Transformation Realm."


    This time, Han Xuhan gasped along with the crowd, watching the walls of the top floor turn crystalline red, after which the smaller floor right below it began to radiate a different color of light¨C a blinding orange glow.


    The level of her prediction wasn''t enough to turn the second floor crystalline as well. But it still far outstripped the achievement of the first oracle. That young man looked visibly frustrated.


    Han Xuhan did his best to glean the contents of the whispers around him.


    "Sister Mi took more time than him to finish her reading. But the accuracy of her prediction is also way above his. Not bad."


    "In their circle, she is one of the remaining disciples who can be called competent."


    "Yeah. But one person isn''t enough to keep a faction in power. They need to stop making things difficult for the rest of the disciples."


    "Uh, guys? Did you forget that Brother Leng hasn''t yet submitted his scroll?"


    "He''s a novice at this. I doubt he could even make the first floor light up."


    The whispers once again died down as Sister Mi took out her scroll and the last participant of the contest walked over to the inverted pagoda and...stopped, appearing hesitant.


    "What? Drop it inside," said the guy who had carried the pagoda over.


    The boy''s face took on a shade of red from embarrassment as he replied, "Uh, I''m sorry, but I think something went wrong with my reading. The results of my prediction are...well, it doesn''t match anything they said."


    Seeing him pointing at the first two contestants, the crowd let out a disappointed sigh.


    "Still, you must have gotten something. Why so hesitant? Everyone gets a fact or two wrong sometimes. Did you discern anything new, at least? Anything outside their predictions?"


    The young man shook his head. "The result of my reading was quite bizarre. I don''t want to humiliate myself by shouting it out in front of everyone. And my lacking skills didn''t allow me to read any deeper than my two seniors here. I just thought it would be fun to compete. I''ll get it evaluated later on."


    The way he made it sound fired up the crowd''s curiosity instead of concluding the competition. To his horror, everyone around him except his competitors began to cheer him on.


    "Submit it!"


    "Submit it!"


    "Do it now!"


    "No shame in failures, brother!"


    "Yeah, we know you''re a novice stargazer. We won''t discourage you."


    "Just let us hear what you''ve managed to read."


    "The wrong predictions are always the funniest shit."


    "Submit NOW!"


    Someone from the crowd jumped out, snatched his scroll, and threw it into the mouth of the pagoda.


    Dumbfounded for a brief while, the young man caved in under the pressure. Exhaling, he began to speak.


    "I predict that the first team to invade our island today shall be a team of NINE members, not four."


    The first contestant instantly broke out in a hollering laughter.


    "That''s way too large a gap in the math, brother Leng! The Mouth of Destiny has already recognized my reading to be accurate. No wonder you didn''t want to get yours evaluated!"


    But while he was laughing his head off, he realized that an odd quiet had spread across the crowd. Every disciple was staring at the treasure with a confounded expression.


    He turned to look at the Mouth of Destiny...and saw the first floor of the pagoda turn entirely red, its walls growing as transparent as the most exquisite glass.

 Chapter 225: The Second Prey

    "...How does that even work? Two predictions can''t be correct at the same time." The first contestant was torn between confusion and humiliation.


    "The gap in their readings is also too wide. If it was just a difference of one or two points of numerical value, such a reaction from the Mouth of Destiny could be considered normal. After all, one can never fully predict every detail. As long as the prediction is sufficiently close..."


    Sister Mi, the second contestant, trailed off halfway through her sentence, appearing as puzzled as the rest of the audience.


    While everyone was exchanging unsure looks with their peers, the young man whose scroll was being evaluated inside the treasure coughed awkwardly.


    "...Uh, guys, I wasn''t finished. There''s more to the reading."


    Han Xuhan found himself facing a crisis. If these predictions got any more accurate and detailed than this, it would not bode well for their team.


    He needed to warn the other three of his martial siblings. Surreptitiously, he tried to tiptoe backwards into the crowd, only to find that feat impossible. The crowd was rooted to the spot, each disciple in it unwilling to move a muscle or blink. Nobody wanted to miss a second of what was coming.


    Even his fourth layer of cultivation didn''t provide him enough power to force his way out through them. And he didn''t want to make a scene doing that either. That would just get him caught faster.


    Distraught, he listened to the young man declare the next part of his prediction.


    "I predict that the Phoenix Faction shall collude with the invaders."


    Absolute silence.


    The young man''s finger was pointed at the second contestant, the girl surnamed Mi, letting Han Xuhan learn that the current faction of disciples in power was titled ''The Phoenix''.


    However...what did that prediction mean? Surely not...


    As Han Xuhan''s thoughts raced, an orange glow attracted his attention.


    The second highest floor of the pagoda was once more radiating light. Like a vibrant dancing belt of fire, its illumination overtook the bright red coil of the top floor.


    But unlike the first previous one, this prediction not only made that floor light up, it also made its walls as transparent as the top floor!


    What did this signify?!


    Even Han Xuhan, a complete stranger to this sect, could understand the implications.


    The most high-quality prediction in this contest was this!


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "This is....this...you''re framing me! You lot are trying to frame our faction!" Sister Mi roared furiously.


    The guy who had carried over the treasure to the center of the crowd seemed to hold some authority among the disciples. The moment he raised his palm gently above his head, every disciple who wanted to retort against her words closed their mouth. Even the girl stopped halfway through whatever else she wanted to say.


    "Shen Mi, the Mouth of Destiny isn''t something we disciples have the skill to manipulate. Otherwise, it wouldn''t have been treated as the most reliable teaching tool for the Starseers across the last century."


    Shen Mi took a deep breath and calmed her tone.


    "Then do you mind explaining why would we, the faction in power, stoop so low as to collude with foreigners? We have no motive to resort to such a crime."


    "Oh but you do have a motive, a very strong one at that too," interjected the first contestant loudly.


    All eyes turned to him as he explained.


    "Right now, the Phoenix faction is in danger of being overthrown after their decade long reign. Obviously, none of you want to give up that seat of power. Which is why, you may have concocted a scheme to suppress the rebellion against your rule by colluding with the invaders from foreign sects. Using a new enemy to unite your own people is, after all, a very effective strategy, which history stands to prove. This makes perfect sense!"


    His words were so logical, his analysis so fitting, momentum so powerful that even Han Xuhan was convinced that their team was somehow in cahoots with this Phoenix faction.


    "Absurd! We would never do such a thing! Not a single disciple of our faction has ever been accused of misconduct so severe! And you wish to declare our entire faction a den of betrayers?"


    Shen Mi''s eyes were red, partly from rage, partly from humiliation.


    "No." The first contestant shook his head.


    "We wish to declare nothing. It is the Mouth of Destiny, this lifeless treasure that has declared your intent, your schemes. I say we should involve the Elders in this. Such a crime cannot go unpunished."


    The crowd began to seethe in rage. All around Xuhan, the sentiment of the first contestant echoed out.


    "How disappointing!"


    "The little respect I had for the Phoenix faction has been destroyed."


    "Despite being in power for so long, you still want more? You''ve failed, and yet you would employ underhanded tactics to keep ahold of your luxury? Do you lot even treat us as your peers? Your equals?"


    "This seals it! We must oppose their commands at every step from now on!"


    "Yes! No more compliance! No compromise can be made with this pack of backstabbers!"


    "Disgusting!"


    Han Xuhan didn''t know how many factions there were among the disciple body of the Stardust Sect, but each and every member of these factions looked ready to fight it out with the Phoenix faction.


    "Everyone! Quiet!" roared the other guy, his hand still raised.


    There has been no crime committed...yet. One who hasn''t committed a crime cannot be punished. And a destiny that has been read is a mere possibility, nothing else. Since the matter has been raised, the destiny has been declared, and the potential wrongdoer has been made aware of the consequences, we shall not interfere further. This is the golden principle. No need to make an exception here. We will treat this prediction the same way we treat every other prediction."


    "Thank you, big brother Ao," Shen Mi said in a low tone.


    "More than a thanks, I would appreciate it if that prediction is thwarted. Regardless, I think we are all forgetting an even more important matter," the young man surnamed Ao shouted.


    "Right! The result of this contest has to be registered with the leaders," the first contestant piped in even though he had performed the worst in the competition.


    It seemed like he was just happy to see the Phoenix faction lose.


    Brother Ao took out the last scroll from the Inverted Pagoda, returning the treasure to its original colorless state.


    "The winner of this contest is Leng Qing, a member of the Infinity Faction. His reading has outstripped both of his opponents'' predictions, reaching the second tier of the Mouth of Destiny. The Phoenix Faction has now lost two out of three contests. If they also lose the third...the conclusion of the meeting between the Leaders shall reflect the wishes of the other four factions."


    Gritting her teeth, the girl named Shen Mi stormed out of the encirclement of the crowd, with boos and jeers following her trail.


    While the rest of the throng moved towards the third contest being held just a hundred meters away, Han Xuhan began to put some distance between himself and the rest of the crowd.


    He had little interest in seeing what the third contest was about. He had more concerning matters to attend to. Nonchalantly, he took Fang Xie''s hit list out of his robe while walking.


    A detailed painting had appeared on the scroll at some point, showing a familiar young man.


    Target: Leng Qing


    Cultivation Base: Fifth Layer of Physique Transformation Realm


    Cultivation Technique(s):


    1. The Starseer Manual: grants the ability to predict the future


    2. The Starheart Manual: A physical attributes enhancing technique


    Remarks: This brat is someone who can predict your moves in a fight if you give him enough time to prepare. So don''t do that, and keep in mind that he is what you''d call a body cultivator. His physical attributes are much more extreme than ordinary cultivators in the same cultivation base. Don''t try to engage in direct combat with him. Find alternative methods to inject the Mindkiller potion into his body.


    Sighing, Han Xuhan began to walk in the same direction as Shen Mi.

 Chapter 226: I Cannot Be Touched, No Matter Where I Stand

    "Hello, there, which faction are you from, brother?" said someone from Han Xuhan''s back, his voice filled with doubt.


    Han Xuhan winced and turned around slowly. No matter how chaotic the situation was in the Stardust Sect, someone was bound to acknowledge his unfamiliar face eventually.


    Plastering an unfriendly look on his face, Han Xuhan said with a snort, "Not the Phoenix faction, if that''s what you''re looking for."


    The guy who had stopped him chuckled at that reply and punched his shoulder lightly.


    "With how fragile their position has grown, I wouldn''t reveal that I belong to their faction even if it was the truth. Where are you going, by the way? The third contest is taking place over there on the other side of the ring," he said, pointing to the distant crowd.


    "Shen Mi owes me some spirit stones. Since their faction is going to be dethroned, I thought I should ask for my money before they end up spending all of it," Han Xuhan replied, his countenance rather insidious.


    It made the guy''s eyebrows jump. No matter how bad the situation was, it was a bit heartless to go ask for payments of old debts to someone in trouble, especially so when the said debtor was a pretty young lady who had just rushed away with tears in her eyes.


    There was no need to be this vicious in an issue of internal strife between peers. All of them were disciples of the same sect. What good could come out of needless antagonistic behavior?


    This was not the time to settle personal debts. This was the time to contemplate the greater good, to think what would get their sect across this round of the tournament. Any smart man would know not to get all chummy with a peer who couldn''t understand the limits to pushing boundaries.


    With a fake smile on his face, the young man walked off, leaving Han Xuhan to attend to his business.


    Turning around once more, Han Xuhan hurried on his way following Shen Mi''s tracks. She took a wide detour to avoid meeting anybody, which suited his purpose perfectly. Gradually, they left the vicinity of the general populace, walking further and further toward the outer edge of the second ring.


    The moment she reached the edge, Han Xuhan realized why the narrow, floating bridges connecting the three ring-shaped islands didn''t look used.


    Shen Mi simply stepped forward on empty air...and didn''t fall down into the sea.


    As if an invisible force was pushing against her soles, holding her body up in the air, she walked across the void between the middle ring and outer ring casually. It didn''t even seem like she was casting a spell. Han Xuhan couldn''t sense any movements in qi nearby as he watched her reach the outer ring and jog towards the barracks.


    So this was how they crossed from one island ring to another?


    Han Xuhan took a moment to digest the scene. This method of walking on air closely resembled how Qing Ya relied on the buoyancy of the air to stay afloat, moving freely in any direction.


    Unfortunately for him, this meant that he could no longer follow her trail. There wasn''t a bridge nearby to help him move over to the outer island ring.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Quickly, he summoned Tun Shi Tian and ordered, "Follow that girl. Be sneaky about it. All you need to find out is which house she enters."


    Tun Shi Tian saluted like a devoted soldier and hurtled towards the outer island ring, using the neatly planted trees on the edge of the islands to hide himself from wandering eyes.


    "Damn, this bird really became obedient after sensing genuine malice..." Han Xuhan muttered, watching Tun Shi Tian''s flawless execution of the mission.


    He himself wasn''t planning on sitting around doing nothing. He trekked along the edge of the middle ring to look for one of the floating bridges. It didn''t take long to locate one. But it proved to be an arduous task to reach it. The ring''s constant rotations in random directions were one factor, which was complemented by the discovery that the bridges weren''t stagnant in their positions either. Try as he might, he couldn''t figure out any pattern to the spinning. What flummoxed him even more was the fact that despite the ceaseless, fast spinning, none of the occupants of the islands, including him, felt any nausea, motion sickness, or a sense of imbalance.


    In fact, it didn''t even register in his senses that the ground he was walking on was moving itself. Perhaps the technique behind this supermassive island structure was emulating the planet''s spinning, or the movement of an airplane.


    Finally reaching a bridge, he hopped onto it and cautiously crossed the dozen-meter-wide expanse. Indeed, even on top of the bridge, he couldn''t sense whether it was moving or not. Unless the bridge suddenly sped up, it would be difficult to discern with his eyes as well.


    The moment he reached the other side, he surveyed the region behind him, hoping that no one had seen him use the bridge. Thankfully, due to its odd structure, the breadth of the island was enormous, to begin with, and it wasn''t a full flat expanse either. Training courses, duel stages, large fortified tents, plenty of obstacles were in the middle ring to block a full 360¡ã range of vision.


    Relieved after his survey, Han Xuhan turned around...and found himself surrounded by three disciples of the Stardust Sect. None of them seemed friendly, considering the weapons they were pointing at his face.


    One male, the other two females, all three of them were exuding an aura fairly above his own cultivation base.


    Han Xuhan immediately knew not to do anything that involved violence at the moment. That would just backfire on him, not to mention that he was standing right at the inner edge of the outer island. The bridge behind him had already shifted several meters away. He would fall straight down if he took one wrong step.


    "Brother Ao is looking for you three," Xuhan said without missing a beat. The three disciples of the Stardust sect looked unperturbed, though.


    "You''re an outsider," one of them replied, making the situation clearer for Xuhan.


    "Yeah, I know. That doesn''t stop Brother Ao from looking for you," he retorted calmly, as if stating the obvious.


    For a brief fraction of a moment, uncertainty flashed in their eyes as their gazes flickered toward the middle ring behind him.


    "Brother Ao can afford to wait. For now, you need to come with us. Put your hands forward," one of them said with a hint of aggression in her tone.


    Han Xuhan snorted. "To let you cuff me? Why would I do that?"


    "Do you understand your position here, right now? We can just kick you to another sect, or maybe even down to the sea as long as we want to. You''re not gonna escape with that puny cultivation base."


    Han Xuhan nodded at that answer.


    "Very well explained. But for you to be able to attack me, you need to be members of the defense team of this sect. Are you?"


    The rules of this event were quite clear.


    Assaults on the invasion team without prior provocation were not permitted. This was one of the reasons why Han Xuhan had the guts to walk around in enemy territory so confidently. No matter how numerous or powerful the disciples of the Stardust sect were, his opponents were only ten in number.


    "That''s funny," said the girl with a somewhat insidious smile. Han Xuhan found her smile rather familiar. It was a smile he himself wore often.


    "Unfortunately for you, we haven''t yet decided to form a defense team due to the political problems among our factions. But now that we''ve managed to catch an invader sneaking around, I suppose we have no choice but to do so. Alright, I declare me and my two martial brothers here as members of the defense team of the Stardust Sect. Now, if you don''t want to get kicked between the legs, surrender."


    The seamless, fluent declaration made Han Xuhan''s brows jump up.


    Hoh...seems like the Crimson Snow Sect''s defense team wasn''t the only one who had decided to take advantage of the loopholes in the rules of the new event. And these guys had chosen quite a different method of doing that as well.


    Unlike an invasion team of powerful, well-known sects like the Abyss Guild, the disciples of most other sects would choose to execute their invasion missions in secret. This would make it difficult for the defense teams to track down the invaders and attack them before they could find out the traces of the treasure hidden on their islands.


    Other than the members of the defense teams, no one could actively make trouble with the members of the invasion teams.


    So the disciples of the Stardust Sect had chosen this sneaky method to delay their selection of members for their defense team. Once any disciple of their sect managed to identify an invader on their island, they could just call everybody nearby to beat him up while declaring themselves members of the defense team that had been elected on the spot.


    So damned smart!


    With a helpless smile, Han Xuhan put his arms forward, surrendering to their successful scheme. He didn''t want to get beaten up.


    But the moment one of them approached him to tie his hands up, a lightbulb lit up in his mind.


    He retracted his hands and said with a warm smile, "None of you three are members of the Phoenix Faction. It doesn''t make sense to allow you insignificant disciples to make such important decisions that can affect your entire sect. So unless I see an influential disciple of the Phoenix Faction ratifying your decisions to become members of the defense team, it seems like you cannot touch me."

 Chapter 227: The Hostage Is Also The Negotiator

    Han Xuhan was immensely relieved to see that his obstinacy, coupled with the instability of the factional disputes in the Stardust sect was working its charm. Despite having him surrounded, his three opponents decided not to risk breaking any rules.


    "Well, it''s not an issue to get the official recognition. We just need to call some disciples from the middle ring," one of the girls said in a cautious tone.


    "Let''s use the flair," the other girl agreed.


    "Oh you don''t need to waste a flair on an insignificant opponent like me," Han Xuhan quickly interrupted them before the situation could go spiraling out of his control.


    "Just call your martial sister Shen Mi. She''s right there."


    The three disciples of the Stardust Sect were stunned once more as their gazes swiveled in the direction he was pointing at. Han Xuhan had seen Shen Mi disappear behind one of the houses in that area.


    "...And how do you know that?" the male disciple enquired in a suspicious tone.


    Han Xuhan beamed joyfully.


    The fish was right where he wanted it to be.


    "Haven''t you heard? Your Phoenix Faction has been accused of colluding with disciples of foreign sects. And rightfully so."


    All three disciples looked stunned for a moment.


    "...Nice try. Do you think you can incite an infighting among the factions just because we are in the middle of a conflict?"


    "The Mouth of Destiny, your trusted treasure, confirmed it," Han Xuhan said plainly, wiping off the derisive expressions of his three opponents.


    "If you don''t believe me, just call her over."


    Seeing his relaxed, fearless countenance, the seed of doubts in their hearts grew. One of the girls finally relented and strode away to call Shen Mi over.


    The other two disciples became extra cautious in their battle stances. One versus three was a hard confrontation to get out of, especially when the outnumbered party also had the lowest cultivation base. But a two versus one fight was too unpredictable due to the variety of cultivation techniques available.


    Han Xuhan, however, had no such intentions. He placed his hands behind his back and stood with his face upturned, exuding the demeanor of an otherworldly expert.


    Hardly a minute had passed that way when the sound of something exploding came from behind.


    Boom!


    All three of them turned to look at the middle ring from where the sound seemed to emanate from.


    "A thunderstorm trial?" said the remaining girl to her compatriot in an unsure tone.


    "Doesn''t sound like it. Those trials are visible from any part of the island," he replied.


    At that moment, they sensed a huge wave of qi rolling over towards them like a tsunami tide. Both of their expressions turned somber.


    "Seems more like two cultivators at the late stages of the Physique Transformation realm are fighting," the boy said.


    "His teammates must have been caught." The girl sounded hopeful.


    "Then we don''t have to worry about any of his teammates coming to save him," the boy said somewhat maliciously. "I hope you don''t mind some...interrogation tactics, brother."


    Han Xuhan turned to flash him a grin before looking back at the middle ring island, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever was taking place there.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Not at all. I am a very honest man. You can trust everything I say," he muttered.


    Destructive sounds continued to come from that direction, accompanied by sensations of chaotic qi.


    Boom!


    Gong!


    The sound of a large bell being struck seemed to have implied something, because both of Xuhan''s opponents gasped audibly.


    Seeing them exchange a nervous look, Han Xuhan''s heart relaxed.


    Even in a three versus ten fight, his martial siblings weren''t bound to suffer a loss. Worrying about them wasn''t necessary.


    Suddenly, a giant boulder was thrown up in the sky above the floating island, reaching as high as the top of the white tower in the central ring. But dozens of swords materialized around the boulder as if they were waiting for this to happen. Each of the swords swung out in precise arcs, leaving deep cuts on the boulder one after one until the last strike which reduced it into countless bits and pieces.


    The entire process barely took five seconds. Han Xuhan recognized the flying swords. He had seen Yuen Zhou practice them back in their sect, right before the execution of the Celestial Gateway Technique.


    "What''s going on here?" shouted a familiar voice.


    The attention of all three shifted towards the newcomer accompanied by the third member of the trio of disciples who had caught Han Xuhan.


    "Hello, sister Mi. Short time, no see," Han Xuhan said with a cheerful wave.


    "...Who the fuck are you and how do you know me?"


    Shen Mi didn''t seem to be in a good mood, which was reasonable in her circumstances.


    "How surprising...has she not shouted at your face upon finding you that a person from another sect has come to fulfill the prediction made by Brother Leng Qing?" Han Xuhan pointed at the messenger girl with his chin.


    Shen Mi''s countenance turned uglier. With a burst of incredible speed, one of her hands clasped Xuhan''s throat, pushing his body up in the air and moving him a foot past the edge of the island.


    "So you''ve witnessed the contest and thought you could take advantage of us? Have you wondered what would happen if I dropped you right now? There aren''t any subspace gateways below for you to safely land on another sect. Throwing you into the sea should clear our name, right?"


    Han Xuhan tried in vain for the first few seconds to detach her grip from crushing his windpipe. But her cultivation was way above his own. Finding the pursuit futile, he chose to take the gamble.


    There was only one reason why he had followed this girl to the outer ring.


    "Feng Jun needs your help," he said faintly.


    Gong!


    A tall wave of wind and dust rushed past them from the middle ring, the sounds of battle nearly submerging his words.


    The change that sentence brought was immediate, and impactful.


    Her grip lost its viciousness, her stance faltering. For a second, he was afraid that she would drop him from the shock. But she recovered quickly.


    Han Xuhan was shakily thrown away from the edge. Landing on all fours, he couldn''t help but laugh silently in relief.


    The gamble had paid off!


    As he stood up, he realized that the other three disciples of the Stardust Sect were wearing a similar expression-- confounded, alert, and alarmed.


    Shen Mi was breathing heavily, her teeth gritted.


    "I swear to the heavens, if you''re lying-"


    "I''m the last person to see him before his disappearance," Han Xuhan said, interrupting her threats midway.


    "If I remember correctly, around twenty to twenty-five of your peers banded together to explore a world fragment half a year ago. Out of that team, less than five members made it past the first test while the rest were either forced to return, or disappeared in the deadly fog, or killed, I''m not too certain. What I''m certain of is that Feng Jun didn''t die. He was one of the few who managed to forge a way deeper into that world fragment, from where he never returned. Am I wrong?"


    "...."


    With each sentence he uttered, Shen Mi''s face became a shade paler.


    Boomboomboom! Boom!


    The tempo of the fighting in the middle ring seemed to have reached its climax. Even Xuhan began to feel a bit concerned.


    The three other disciples exchanged complex looks among themselves.


    "So you were there? Deep inside that world fragment? How did you return when Brother Feng Jun couldn''t? At that time, his cultivation was about to hit the late stages of the Physique Transformation realm already. Judging by your current cultivation level, you should''ve barely been at the early layers."


    This came from the male disciple, who was clearly more experienced than his two sisters. But Han Xuhan had been expecting that question since he had decided to confront Shen Mi.


    "I wasn''t alone, neither was I as defenseless as your brother. And nor was I as greedy as him."


    "Greedy?" Shen Mi repeated after him.


    "Yes. He was unable to control his greed for a mysterious inheritance left by a ruined sect. What that resulted in is his permanent imprisonment inside that world fragment. I''m pretty sure he''s still alive, though. From a source of information I left inside that world fragment, I''ve learned that he reached the eighth layer of the Physique transformation realm last month."


    The last part of his revelation seemed to hit all four of them like a brick.


    "So it was true. Her reading wasn''t wrong," Shen Mi muttered to herself, her eyes glowing with joy and relief.


    In contrast, the countenance of her three peers wasn''t so good.


    "Sister Mi, are you thinking about compromising with the enemy? Now?" one of the girls said in a tone of warning.


    "Yeah, he just said that Brother Feng Jun has been permanently imprisoned inside that world fragment. And those who managed to return from that mission also confirmed that there isn''t a way to open up the portal leading into that place. Please don''t make any concessions in such a vain hope of rescue. He''s clearly trying to take advantage of you!" shouted the other girl.


    But from the corner of his eyes, Han Xuhan noticed that the boy was gesturing at the girls subtly to shut up.


    "Sister Mi, I think rescuing Brother Feng Jun is more important than winning this useless competition. It''s not like this is the last time this inter-sect competition will be arranged. I say, we should listen to him first and see if it is possible to rescue Brother Jun and anyone else who might be trapped in that world fragment,"


    While Shen Mi seemed absorbed momentarily in her own world of thoughts, Han Xuhan sent a cautious look at the young man who had apparently transcended beyond the political scuffles of his sect. The sincere look on his face, combined with the rational logic in his words could convince anyone that he was thinking about the greater good, that he wasn''t at all scheming to use Shen Mi''s decision as an opportunity to dethrone the Phoenix faction.

 Chapter 228: The Businessman Who Doesnt Take Your Money

    While the two girls looked somewhat confused as to why their martial brother was playing the devil''s advocate, Shen Mi seemed to reach a decision. Looking at Xuhan, she said, "Brother Shang Kexi is right. A measly competition isn''t worth Brother Feng Jun''s safety. If collaborating with you foreigners can guarantee that Feng Jun and whoever else has been trapped there can return to our world, the trophy of this competition would hardly be counted as a big sacrifice."


    The male disciple named Shang Kexi nodded along with her words like a chicken. For the sake of his own safety, Han Xuhan mirrored the action, fully showing his support for her decision.


    "Well, I can facilitate an exchange of information between you and your trapped peers in that world fragment."


    "What''s in it for you?" Shen Mi said suspiciously.


    Han Xuhan flashed her his most honest smile.


    "Brother Feng Jun''s gratefulness, and a future partnership over mutual interests with your sect. I haven''t really given much thought about my gains, to be honest. Feng Jun and his compatriots'' situation is quite dire, from what I''ve gleaned so far."


    A long moment of silence passed between them, at the end of which, Shen Mi nodded, looking unsure of herself.


    "To a happy collusion-I mean, collaboration, CHEERS!" Han Xuhan shouted loudly.


    Gong! Doooommmm!


    "What''s with the racket?" she grunted in annoyance, perhaps for the first time realizing that something very tumultuous was taking place in the middle ring.


    "That would be his teammates, sister Mi. Did you forget? This guy didn''t come alone. Each invasion team has ten members. His other nine compatriots are fighting our defense team for the treasure," Brother Kexi explained.


    "And that reminds me," added after him one of the girls. "What do we do with him? We can tie him up and use him to threaten them, thus diffusing the situation and foiling their attack plan. Each team can only attack each sect once a day. So forcing them to accept the defeat means we have one less opponent to worry about. It''ll probably boost our ranking too."


    Shen Mi exchanged a thoughtful look with her and then stared back at Xuhan.


    "What do you think? If you want me to trust your words, how about collaborating with us to gift your team one defeat? Just go attack another sect, okay?" she said with a sweet smile.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Han Xuhan cursed under his breath.


    Shit! Why was every random stranger he met so insidiously intelligent?


    While Brother Kexi was trying to get Shen Mi to make a deal with him using which he wanted to attack the Phoenix Faction, Shen Mi was trying to use the deal to give the Phoenix Faction an advantage for all to see!


    How would anyone dare to attack the Phoenix Faction over a collusion which benefitted their sect in more ways than one?


    But both of them didn''t understand a very tiny fact.


    He, Han Xuhan, would have never stepped into their trap without an equally insidious plan of his own.


    You want to use me? Fine, I shall let you.


    Han Xuhan put his hands up, this time in a genuine gesture of surrender.


    "Okay. Since I''m the one proposing the deal, I guess I''ll need to show my sincerity."


    Shen Mi''s face lit up in delight. Her little scheme had borne the perfect result! Now, even though Leng Qing''s prediction had come true, nobody could attack the Phoenix Faction over it!


    "Brother Kexi, tie him up," she said gently.


    Expression dark, the male disciple walked over, producing a short coil of rope from his pocket.


    Why would anyone carry around that thing?


    Han Xuhan couldn''t help but be puzzled.


    Right when Brother Kexi was about to put the rope around his wrists, Han Xuhan said, "You know you''re breaking the rules of the event by doing this, right?"


    All four of them froze.


    "...What are you talking about?" Shen Mi said, trying to sound confused. Han Xuhan could clearly see her eyes darting around, a sign of someone trying to improvise quickly.


    "None of you are from the defense team. Who gave you the right to touch me?" he answered with a question of his own.


    "This again..." Shang Kexi sounded exasperated.


    "Well, I can give them the right. I, Shen Mi, on behalf of the Phoenix Faction, bequeath Shang Kexi, Shang Wenjie, and Liu Xiang with the responsibility to-"


    "Wait, wait, wait," Han Xuhan interrupted her midway. "How can you be sure that there are three spots left for them in the defense team? My brothers and sisters are already fighting your sect''s defense team in the middle ring there. How can you guarantee that they haven''t already chosen ten members of the defense team to fight off my teammates?"


    "...."


    Shen Mi looked stunned. Even Shang Kexi looked caught off guard.


    "We could just go there," one of the girls suggested meekly.


    "What good would that do if all ten members of the defense team had already been selected? None of you would be able to use me as a leverage against my teammates without breaking the rules and getting penalized heavily for the offense."


    "...You sound like you have a suggestion ready already," Shang Kexi said, his eyes growing narrow.


    Han Xuhan leaned forward and placed his hands inside the noose in his hand.


    "Of course I do. The only way for you to be able to detain me right now is to make ME do something that would allow you to detain me."


    Shang Kexi''s eyes snapped wide open.


    "You need to allow me to attack you, and that''ll make me lose the immunity I have provided by the rules of this event," Han Xuhan explained.


    "Oh! That''s easy. Just punch Brother Kexi once. That''ll do the trick," Shen Mi said in relief. Shang Kexi, however, wore the opposite expression. He was looking at Xuhan with a gaze one would use on a rare, dangerous beast, half-scared, half-marveling.


    "Yes, it would. But I may be the one getting penalized for the offense then. I have already made a compromise by agreeing with your scheme against my team, my sect. I''m not suffering two losses in a row over a deal that is purely advantageous to you."


    "State your condition," Shen Mi said, getting impatient with his roundabout routine.


    "I knew this guy couldn''t be trusted. He wants something from us. He must have been scheming since the start," one of the girls growled.


    "Well, I can''t deny that your help in a certain mission of mine could be quite useful," Han Xuhan said with a sigh.


    "And that is?" Shang Kexi almost whispered, his eyes shining for some reason.


    "Give me the accurate measurements of every subspace gateway around this floating island," he answered plainly.


    "....."


    "....."


    "....."

 Chapter 229: Combat Calculators

    "What do you understand about the subspace gateways? Where did you learn the exact terminology from?" Shen Mi said, her voice filled with suspicion.


    Han Xuhan coughed. "From you."


    "...."


    "Whatever the terminology is, I couldn''t care less. Just give me the measurements and we''re even."


    Somewhat puzzled, yet mollified upon learning that he wasn''t trying to make any excessive claims, Shen Mi agreed. Even the other three disciples of the Stardust Sect couldn''t find anything to complain about.


    "I''ll make sure you get that. Now, come. Hit Brother Kexi."


    Before Shang Kexi could prepare himself, a fist hit him square in the chest, emitting a thumping sound.


    Shang Kexi grunted, his feet staggering back a couple of steps. Han Xuhan retracted his fist and massaged it, his expression stiff.


    He had used every bit of his strength behind that punch, and all it had been capable of was to send a cultivator at a late layer of the Physique Transformation realm two steps back even though he was caught off guard.


    At least the disparity wasn''t so huge to the point of him being the one to get hurt from his own punch. In typical cultivation stories, one or two minor realms were synonymous with invincibility.


    This was the first time he had tried to hit an average cultivator with the entirety of his enhanced strength. It was an enlightening experience. Practicing with Mu Ran or Yuen Zhou wasn''t really something he could use as a reference in typical situations.


    "Thanks for holding back," said Shang Kexi with a relieved expression.


    "....Haha, you didn''t think I''d actually try to hurt you, brother, did you?"


    Han Xuhan did his best to hide his harrowing sorrow behind a winsome wink.


    After his hands were loosely tied up, Shen Mi led the way to the middle ring...by walking in the air between the rings again.


    "Uh, guys, I don''t know how to do that, if you''ve forgotten. Can we wait for the-"


    Shang Kexi gave him a measured glance and dragged him over to the void with the rope, cutting off his complaint.


    Han Xuhan was carried over to the middle ring just that way. Shang Kexi walked, with him dangling dangerously a few feet below.


    Despite looking desperately for any signs of qi manipulation or artifact usage around the four youths, Xuhan still had no idea how they were doing it by the time his feet landed on solid ground once more.


    The sounds of combat grew in volume as they approached the plain in the middle ring. They began to hear shouts, warcries, and intimidating names of magical techniques alongside the occasional rumbles of soil being caved in, gongs of giant bells, and clangs of breaking steel.


    "Damn, how many of them are fighting there?" Han Xuhan cursed under his breath as they reached close enough to get a clear look.


    An enormous crowd had surrounded the spectacle. But one command from Shen Mi was enough for the crowd to part, making space for their team of five.


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    In a flat combat ground no less than five thousand square meters in size, ten people were fighting. Three of them belonged to the invasion team, and the other seven were probably the recently selected defense team members.


    Three more disciples were sitting at the edge of the crowd, performing what appeared to be a superfast calculation. Han Xuhan could barely see their hands moving on the documents in front of them. Scrolls, charts, and thick books were being tossed around like ping-pong balls among the trio.


    Suddenly, one of them stood up and shouted something at the combatants.


    Han Xuhan strained his ears to catch his words.


    "The Flying Sword formation cannot be activated beyond three times in a row. She has only one use left. After that, you can use the airborne assault methods freely!"


    His enhanced audiovisual senses came into use, helping him fill in the gaps in his hearing with a seemingly accurate lip-reading despite the distance between them.


    They were using their divination technique to predict the battle scenarios and map an ideal combat sequence!


    Sure enough, the moment the advice left his mouth, the atmosphere of the battle transformed.


    One of the seven defenders left the battle formation, leaving his six peers to fend off the ceaseless attacks of the three invaders. He stopped his retreat some distance away from the hotspot of violence.


    Around his feet were chunks of rocks protruding from the soil. These rocks hadn''t been touched yet by the combatants, very much intact in their size and shape, unlike those tiny, scattered stones near the center of the battlefield.


    The defender was close enough for Xuhan to sense his usage of qi. And the moment the result of that use became apparent, he realized what they were trying to do.


    They were using the Celestial gateway formation''s domains to exert control over the soil of the island, much like Mu Ran had done during the invasion by the Abyss Guild.


    Several rocks enormous in size rose up from the depths of the loose soil as if attracted by a magnetic force. One by one, the defender began to spin them around himself, controlling the momentum and power behind the rocks to shoot them at the center of the battlefield.


    The six of his peers seemed to have eyes behind their heads. They leaped away to safety the moment the spinning rocks reached their vicinity, leaving the invader team to face the rocks.


    It went to show that both parties were keeping things safe as much as they could. If cultivators at their level went full hurt-anything-in-sight mode using their main cultivation techniques, the death count in this tournament would be too high. Using secondary techniques like the Celestial Gateway Domains to attack and defend was a much safer method of determining which party had more skill. Of course, not all sects would be this lenient on invasion teams.


    Once again, Yuen Zhou''s instantaneous sword formation came into view, appearing in the way of the flying rocks to hack them into pieces. However, right after the utter demolition of the first one, the airborne formation disappeared, letting the rest of the rocks fly at their target unimpeded.


    Mu Ran jumped forward and shielded Xiao Wu and Yuen Zhou, and then punched the second rock the moment it reached him.


    Boom!


    The rock cracked apart, and Mu Ran used the larger broken pieces to construct a dome by planting them into the ground with all of his strength.


    For someone at the peak of the sixth layer of the physique transformation realm, he was unusually strong in terms of physical power, and this factor showed its face right then.


    Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu took shelter below the makeshift dome as the third and fourth rocks smashed into it.


    Boom!


    Boom!


    The dome, along with its occupants, was buried beneath. For a moment, the battlefield fell into a stretch of silence as dust and ruin occupied everyone''s vision.


    Han Xuhan, alongside the disciples of the Stardust sect, held his breath, waiting for something to happen.


    *Clunk*


    *Clunk*


    Two half-ton heavy rock shards were pushed out from beneath the heap slowly. As the dust cleared up, the team of three emerged out, looking relatively fine.


    At that very moment, the team of seven defenders used their control over the domain of the Celestial Gateway formation to rip out multiple chunks of soil and rocks from the ground. They towered over the middle island like miniature satellites. From all four directions, Han Xuhan''s peers were surrounded.


    "If you do not surrender, you will suffer fatal injuries. Please do not blame us for being heavy-handed," shouted one of the seven defenders.


    "Hahaha!"


    This laugh, surprisingly, came from Yuen Zhou. At that moment, Han Xuhan distinctly felt like sister Zhou was giving off a much different aura compared to her usual restrained self. The battle seemed to have unlocked something peculiar inside her.


    "If that prediction had any word of truth in it, you wouldn''t be the one to tell us. Your clairvoyants would have done so," she yelled back.


    "Clairvoyants?" Shen Mi muttered in confusion.


    "I think she''s talking about the stargazers," Shang Kexi explained hesitantly.


    Meanwhile, the team of defenders was clearly enraged by her blatant disrespect. All of them began to rotate the mini-hills above their head, aiming for the center of the battlefield.


    Mu Ran walked a step forward and said something to Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu. Both of them tensed up, even more alarmed than before. Han Xuhan felt the hair on his neck rise straight up.


    Right when the dozen balls of rock and earth were about to head out in a frenzy towards him, Mu Ran spread his arms wide, making a gesture that Han Xuhan was all too familiar with.


    Surreptitiously, he took a step back and hid himself behind an enraptured Shang Kexi.


    "ASTRAL HEATWAVE!"


    A golden radiance erupted from the center of the battlefield, surpassing the bright sunlight, and suppressing the sight of every living being on the island.


    Unlike Mu Ran''s prior attempts at executing this spell, the heatwave that formed around him this time spread out like an explosion, engulfing everyone and everything like an unstoppable tide.


    Even Han Xuhan wasn''t spared despite using Shang Kexi as a meat shield. This strange spell relied on the spectrum of the Astral Totality to traverse space, just as he suspected since hearing Kong Ye''s lecture. Few material objects in their macrocosm could affect its advance.


    Dizziness encompassed his senses as he fell with the rest of the crowd.


    But his consciousness remained active long enough to curse out loud.


    "Fucking idiot! Now everyone can attack you!"

 Chapter 230: Imposing Ceasefire

    Han Xuhan woke up to a stinging sensation crawling all over his face.


    Had someone slapped him awake?


    Probably.


    The sky looked a bit off, he realized upon opening the crack of his eyes by a mere millimeter. The bright blue expanse was covered with a greyish drape, almost see-through in terms of material, but still prominent enough to exude a constant, heavy presence on those below its shadow, blocking them from seeing anything overhead clearly.


    Staring at the airborne drape for a long, long time, Han Xuhan gingerly sat up, feeling his spirit protesting against any kind of movement at all.


    He had no idea how the principle behind the Astral Heatwave spell worked, but it wasn''t so powerful in his memory.


    Now it made sense how Mu Ran was able to casually catch spirited beasts from the sea when there weren''t many options to take to catch ordinary fish. His skillfulness in executing this technique had skyrocketed over the last couple of months!


    Looking around, he realized that he must have been the last one to recover from the spiritual attack. All around him, people were awake, though not having fully recovered.


    Shang Kexi was the one who had slapped him out of his unconsciousness, it seemed. Shen Mi looked too pale and weak to have done any such thing, sitting a bit further away with a grotesque expression on her face. The other two girls were still lying on their backs, appearing groggy.


    "Get up, we need to end the fight." Shang Kexi tugged the rope around Xuhan''s wrists, helping him stand on his feet.


    Shen Mi jumped up unsteadily and rushed into the fray with the two of them tagging behind.


    Mu Ran''s AOE spell had affected all ten defenders, causing a great disturbance in their Astral Bodies, thus rendering them temporarily incapable of using techniques that relied on their spiritual capacity. The Celestial Gateway spell, for this reason, was not something they could use to their advantage now.


    But that hardly meant the defense team had been declawed. Each member of the team had a cultivation base at the late stages of the Physique Transformation realm. They had their own cultivation techniques, be it their primary pursuit or secondary skill. And right now, they were resorting to those techniques with full force.


    Shen Mi, Shang Kexi, and their ''prisoner'' Han Xuhan had to stop moving forward once they reached close enough to be affected by the techniques being cast one after one in the combat.


    Han Xuhan couldn''t even see the fights clearly. He could only observe someone when they stopped for breath or posed for a heavy physical attack. It turned out to be a fight of three against seven. Perhaps the three other stargazers of the defense team weren''t that good at fighting, or perhaps they had been affected too severely by Mu Ran''s spell, because none from that trio joined the violent tempest, opting to stand at a distance and observe instead.


    No spells were being cast here. Every conflict was a short, impactful brawl that lasted less than ten seconds before the combatants separated to recover their strength. Each dozen-second-long conflict consisted of at least a hundred attempts at injuring the opponent.


    Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were taking on three opponents each with ease, attacking left, right, and behind them with mechanical precision. How they had gotten so good at fighting was a mystery. And they were so good at it that the Stardust Sect''s defense team was beginning to cave in from the pressure despite their advantage in numbers.


    Xiao Wu had been left to deal with the seventh opponent. But his low cultivation base was dragging him down slowly. Despite his naturally gifted physical prowess, he was losing the fight against the passionate saber user. Xiao Wu preferred to use a traditional heavy sword in combat. Already a slow weapon by its merit, the sword quivered more and more in his hand until with one sudden cut of the saber tearing into his palms made him drop the sword.


    Saber laid across his neck, Xiao Wu surrendered.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "You two better stop resisting if you don''t want me to-"


    The saber user didn''t get to finish his sentence when a random flying dagger suddenly appeared in front of them, about to stab into Xiao Wu''s chest!


    Shocked, the young man moved his saber to knock the dagger away. And Xiao Wu seemed to have been waiting for this exact thing to happen. He leaped away from the young man and ran out of the fray. Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou adjusted their positions immediately to block the young man from giving chase.


    Now it was a two-to-seven fight, and yet still, both of them continued the combat without a care in the world.


    Due to Han Xuhan''s stolen garments, none of them realized that the fourth member of the invasion team was standing right there, tens of meters away from their combat zone.


    Shang Kexi took out a tiny packet from inside his robe and whispered, "Seems like your teammates aren''t willing to back down easily. Cooperate with me here for a bit. Act like I''ve poisoned you and this packet has the antidote. Unless your team surrenders, you''ll suffer severe harm within minutes."


    Han Xuhan shrugged and complied with a terrified look on his face as Shen Mi shouted to the combatants.


    "I''ve caught your other teammate here. If you do not surrender, prepare to carry a living corpse back to your sect."


    All nine combatants paused, turning to look at them. Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou both groaned simultaneously upon recognizing Han Xuhan.


    Han Xuhan tried his best to look helpless, wearing a stiff, embarrassed smile.


    Yuen Zhou''s gaze bore into his own, as if trying to sense the degree of truthfulness behind their threat.


    "Brother Xuhan, are you okay?" She said unhurriedly, her daggers still raised and ready to slash out.


    "Underling, what were you thinking, separating from our team like that?" Mu Ran sighed despondently.


    "This island isn''t stationary like ours. I couldn''t find you three and got caught on my way out." Han Xuhan didn''t want to prolong the conversation. He sent a very subtle shake of his head towards Yuen Zhou, pupils moving left and right to signal a less-than-ideal situation. She was perceptive enough to get the hint, thankfully.


    Mu Ran, however, didn''t lower his sword. He looked offended when Yuen Zhou stowed her daggers back into her sleeves in a gesture of surrender.


    "Underling, would you mind if I...uh, took a small risk and tried to kill that guy standing behind you? He''s the one who has taken you hostage, right?"


    Shang Kexi looked dumbfounded.


    "...I would definitely mind, boss. That''s not a small risk, and killing this guy isn''t really going to solve anything either. I''ve been poisoned. They''ve agreed to hand me the antidote as long as our team surrenders and calls this attack a failure."


    Mu Ran stomped hard on the ground and sheathed his sword.


    "Alright, alright. I, the leader of the Crimson Snow Sect''s Invasion Team, officially annou-"


    "Now wait a damn second!" A new voice interrupted the negotiations just before their plan could succeed.


    All of them turned to look at the speaker, who turned out to be one of the defenders. Han Xuhan recognized him at a glance. This guy was named Feng Taishang, the one to defeat Miss Xueshi in the first contest he had witnessed here in the Stardust Sect. His incredible ability with the handleless blade that could supposedly break space to strike an opponent had left a deep impression on Xuhan.


    Feng Taishang had been watching the sudden turn of events from the sidelines until now. Seeing the sweetness of victory arriving so easily should have relieved him. But his countenance told another story.


    "We can''t just end this battle because you''ve chosen to surrender! You''ve caused us to suffer some irrecoverable damages. Two of my fellow brothers have had their prized artifacts broken during the fight. The entire body of disciples on this island has suffered spiritual injuries. And right after breaking the rules of battle by attacking everyone indiscriminately, you want to take advantage of the rules to make a clean getaway? I don''t think so!"


    His seething rant, combined with the image of his raised blade gleaming under the filtered sunlight roused each and every disciple who could see and hear him.


    From all four directions, a cacophony of furious voices, twirling, clanking steel, and searing radiance of spells being prepared assaulted their perception at once. Technically, Mu Ran was now an opponent who could lawfully be attacked by every disciple who had been assaulted by the Astral Heatwave spell. They were more than ready to teach him a lesson. They had been waiting until now only to see if whether their defense team could do the job themselves, but that didn''t turn out to be likely from the current development.


    Han Xuhan felt rather overwhelmed by the sheer deadly intent surrounding them. And that boosted the speed of his thoughts immediately. Despite being of the opinion that Mu Ran deserved a proper beating in the hands of the furious mob, he couldn''t let that happen.


    "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" he shouted at the top of his voice, attracting everyone''s attention.


    "Is that jealously I sense there, brother? No wonder all of you were fighting between yourselves when we landed on your island. Clearly, these guys caught me and they are about to get the credit for diffusing an invasion that your team would very obviously lose otherwise. So you''re trying to create an unrest and subvert the situation for your personal gains? Heavens!"


    The ridicule in his tone wasn''t hard to insert. He was pretty sure that this was indeed a part of Feng Taishang''s motive. Shen Mi, a member of the Phoenix Faction, was about to be credited for not only saving their sect from a defeat, but also be clearing the smear Leng Qing had thrown on their faction via his prediction of betrayal.


    Feng Taishang was smart enough to figure it out in a mere half-minute! So cunning!


    Han Xuhan couldn''t help but be impressed at how quickly he had reacted.


    Feng Taishang''s expression darkened further upon being called out like that. He pointed his blade at Xuhan.


    "You seem to be trying hard to imply that I would betray my sect for personal benefits. Yet you are an outsider who also happens to be the source of the trouble. Whatever comes out of your mouth, it is painfully apparent that you''re trying to sow discord here. Which fool would listen to you?"


    "If I was trying to sow discord in your sect, I wouldn''t have agreed to help you rescue those brothers and sisters of yours who are till today trapped inside a world fragment detached from our plane."


    Han Xuhan dropped the bomb so casually that for a moment, not even Shen Mi knew how to react. Feng Taishang, who had never expected such a development, stared wide-eyed, slack-jawed as she recovered her bearings and shouted in support of his revelation.


    "That''s right! The Phoenix Faction hereby declares its partnership with the invasion team of Crimson Snow sect! The objective of this partnership is to recuse our friends and family! We will do everything in our power to help them return!"


    The blade dropped from Feng Taishang''s loose grip.


    The fury of the crowd was thus rendered immobile. Han Xuhan noted with satisfaction that most of them looked delighted, excited even that their friends could still be alive and make a grand return.

 Chapter 231: Reflections Of A Design

    "Okay, what the hell is happening here?" Mu Ran demanded while the four of them stood at the center of the ruined battlefield, waiting for Shen Mi to perform her part of the deal.


    Taking a long breath, Han Xuhan explained the situation to his three martial siblings.


    "Wait a minute, you''ve still kept in touch with those guys? How?"


    Mu Ran looked apoplectic for some reason. The fact that he hadn''t helped his underling remove the slave seal of the Holy Land from his dao tower seemed to have slipped his mind entirely.


    Han Xuhan groaned and explained further, telling them about the exchange deal between their sects and how he had been forced to become the middleman.


    "So Feng Jun is still alive! No wonder! You actually thought so far ahead since the beginning?" Mu Ran exclaimed once he was finished. "Here I was thinking you were just messing with those pretty girls..."


    His eyes were glued on the two girls who had caught Xuhan alongside Shang Kexi. Both of them were close enough to overhear the conversation, and the look they sent at Mu Ran and Han Xuhan was filled with contempt.


    Xuhan couldn''t help but complain internally. Why was he receiving the same look as his boss? Then he recalled a certain sentence the head of his orphanage used to say.


    When a crow accompanies a dove, the dove gets caught stealing too.


    "It wasn''t a result of foresight. I just heard one of them lament the absence of a guy surnamed Feng and guessed that it might be our acquaintance Feng Jun. It was worth a shot," he mumbled.


    "It''s fine. At least we won''t leave empty-handed from this invasion attempt. Our plan of action requires some tweaking for the future invasions. This time, we messed up by letting ourselves be discovered due to our carelessness," Xiao Wu said, glaring at Mu Ran the whole time.


    Mu Ran wasn''t bothered in the slightest. "This plan is fine too, if you ask me. Why bother sneaking around when you can just beat every defense team into submission?"


    "Well, I can''t, for one thing," Xiao Wu hissed. "And neither can Xuhan, if you haven''t realized it yet. With your plan, it is just going to be a series of two versus ten battles. This Stardust sect barely qualifies to stand amidst the top-ranked sects in terms of power and influence. Do you think every fight we have ahead of us is going to be this easy?"


    Then he cast a sideways look at Yuen Zhou, who as usual had refrained from adding anything to the argument.


    "Sister Zhou, are you willing to continue with the current...well it''s not even a plan. We were just winging it the whole time."


    Yuen Zhou considered the question for a long time before answering.


    "You and Xuhan can take the sneaky route the next time we invade a sect. Mu Ran and I will make a ruckus to attract the attention of the defense team. You can look for the treasure in the meantime. It''s not like we need to have a perfect plan from the start. We have the option to experiment with different types of approaches for the next two days. By then, Brother Xuhan will have the tracing technique ready, right?"


    She seemed to have given the conundrum a fair amount of thought despite appearing disinterested the whole time. Her approach made sense too.


    All three of them stared at Xuhan for confirmation immediately, who shrugged and said, "I''ll do what I can. Zhanxian still hasn''t fully recovered from the shock of the information injection. Plus, we need to ensure that we produce some results within tomorrow to avoid being penalized by the sect master. With the map of the spatial fissures around the Stardust Sect in our hands, our team doesn''t need to worry about deadlines and penalties too much for the time being. I''ll not be participating in the next few invasion attempts so that I can focus on refining the technique from Zhanxian''s memory. I suppose none of you would have a complaint about that?"


    All three of them shook their heads, Xiao Wu looking the most reluctant. With Xuhan gone, the pressure on him would increase.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Right then, Mu Ran casually asked a question.


    "Xuhan, did Qian Yun really tell you that the dra-I mean, that this Jin Tuyi was taken away from the world fragment to somewhere else? Did he say where they might have gone?"


    Han Xuhan shook his head.


    "No. The prime disciple Jin Tuyi was confined inside the coffin. The old man who visited the world fragment after we escaped took the coffin away after trashing the place. Qian Yun thinks that he might have injured Jin Tuyi''s spiritual existence outside the coffin because every disciple who had been puppetized by him fell unconscious during the process. By the time they woke up, both of them were gone, the few parts of the holy land that used to be intact had been damaged, and that included the construct that operated to open the doorway to our macrocosm from that world fragment. Qian Yun and his puppetized friends were trapped. That''s it."


    "Wait a second, didn''t Qian Yun, Feng Jun, and a dozen other puppetized cultivators chase after us while we were escaping?" Yuen Zhou asked.


    "Yeah, they returned when they found the intruder attacking the area where Jin Tuyi was imprisoned in," Han Xuhan told her the same answer Qian Yun had given him when he had asked the question.


    At this moment, Shen Mi reappeared on the edge of the middle ring, having been inside the white tower of the central ring until then. She was clutching a scroll in each of her hands. Han Xuhan and his three martial siblings, alongside the crowd of curious onlookers, waited with bated breath for her to reach them and strike the official deal.


    Shen Mi threw one of the scrolls at Xuhan. He unfurled it quickly and went through the contents of the scroll.


    It really was a list of the spatial fissures, or in the terminology used by this sect, the subspace gateways. The list didn''t seem to have been compiled in haste. There were classifications based on sizes, shapes, and movement patterns too.


    Han Xuhan felt his pulse quicken. This list was absolutely priceless for one who wanted to investigate deeper into the ever-elusive structure of the archipelago!


    Right as he was about to pocket the scroll, a thumping sound came from behind them.


    The crowd parted to reveal a giant ball of meat tumbling towards them at an impressive speed.


    The spirit beast left by the counselor of the Stardust sect had been attracted over by the exchange!


    The mass of meat came to a stop right in front of Xuhan and Shen Mi. While they waved off the dust and dirty air that had assaulted them due to its movement, the skin of the beast turned transparent once more.


    But this time, the contents inside the belly of the beast weren''t the list of rankings of the participant sects in the tournament.


    A scowling man in a grey robe stood inside the belly of the beast. For a second, Han Xuhan got the impression that the man had been hiding there all along. But thinking about it rationally, he felt that this should be a virtual image constructed by the spiritual connection between the counselor and his spirit beast.


    He looked at Xiao Wu for a clue, who explained it hurriedly.


    "The owner of this type of spirit beasts can take over their body and perform the same functions as the beast. And as you''ve seen before, one of the abilities of this creature is to echo an image from a faraway place as long as it has some connection to it."


    "Ahem!"


    The man coughed loudly enough to pull their attention back to him. Shen Mi, for some reason, looked guilty.


    "Did you just break the most important rule of the tournament?" the counselor shouted using the deep voice of the creature.


    "Disciples of different sects are not allowed to help each other. Between two sects, only healthy competition is permitted."


    Han Xuhan cast a disapproving look at Shen Mi. This girl really wasn''t fit to represent a faction holding substantial power. She had been intimidated too easily.


    No matter. Since his personal interest was involved here, he wouldn''t let that happen.


    "Excuse my ignorance if it exists here, but where and how exactly did we break any rule at all? Were you watching the whole thing? Then you should be aware that we have not transgressed any such rule," he said, unabashed despite holding the result of his rulebreaking right in his grasp.


    He didn''t really think he was in the wrong there. So the confidence came naturally.


    "You have struck a deal with her faction to help them in exchange for something you want. Sounds like a mutually beneficial contract to me, and within the timespan of the current event, that definitely counts as breaking the rule, ignorant brat," the man said in irritation.


    "Miss Mi, I expected better from a faction leader of a sect of this caliber." He went back to attacking Shen Mi.


    "Just because you''re an interim holder of the chair doesn''t mean you can act like a tyrant, breaking rules left and right."


    Shen Mi''s face went from red to purple in humiliation. The snickers arising from the crowd didn''t help her recover.


    "That is an arbitrary interpretation. If you hadn''t slacked off in your job as the observer, you would''ve known that the list she has handed over to me wasn''t exchanged for me helping her sect reconnect with their lost disciples. I agreed to do that for free. What this list actually was exchanged for was the subsequent surrender of my invasion team, which was only possible because I convinced them to. There is no mutual benefit involved in this case, as we could''ve won the fight anyway. This was the price the Stardust Sect was forced to pay under circumstances that allowed them no other avenue. Or would you contend that they should have continued the battle they would clearly lose and suffer further when a remedy to them was available for cheap? This is basically nothing but an exchange that aims to protect them against physical injuries, spiritual attacks, and loss of valuable combat artifacts. Doesn''t the tournament allow every sect to charge payments to liberate the disciples of foreign sects who have been caught and confined during invasion attempts? This is merely its extended, inverted form."


    For a long moment, absolute silence reigned after he was done. The man opened his mouth several times, but he seemed lost for words.


    "If you still disagree, we can take this to the higher authorities. My sect master would be more than glad to persuade them until an equitable, rational conclusion has been reached," Han Xuhan said with the smile of a man who knew he had backers to rely on.


    "...No need. What you said makes sense. Carry on," the image of the man inside the spirit beast disappeared immediately with those departing words of permission.


    "That was easier than I thought it would be," Xuhan mumbled under his breath.


    "Those who get used to exerting arbitrary power over their inferiors will be cowed easily when facing those superior to them. Not unexpected at all, I would say. This tournament has a very interesting structure. It seems to have been designed for the disciples to learn to not only fight with their fists and brain, but also with their spirits and creativity. It makes sense now why the rules of the tournament are hidden and the counselors have been given the power of judgment over these issues. There are no rules of survival in real life either. You have to ensure you don''t cross invisible lines around unfathomable, arbitrary powers. But you cannot give up your dues owing to caution and fear."


    Yuen Zhou voiced her thoughts just loudly enough for all four of them to hear. And what she said made all of them fall into layered reflections of their own.

 Chapter 232: I Happen To Be An Expert Negotiator

    "Since you claim to have a way to send things to that world fragment, help us convey the message inside the scroll to martial brother Feng Jun. Only when we see his reply can we rest assured and facilitate a rescue project."


    Han Xuhan took the sealed scroll from Shen Mi and waved the crowd goodbye with a wide smile on his face. Tun Shi Tian had already scouted ahead, figuring out which spatial fissure led back to their sect.


    One by one, all four members of the invasion team jumped down toward the sea, disappearing just a dozen meters above the water level.


    When Han Xuhan recovered his senses, he was crouching on familiar soil, sitting at the edge of the floating island belonging to the Crimson Snow Sect.


    "What''s the plan now?" Xiao Wu said, having regained his bearings already.


    "I''m going back to your house. You three go ahead and explore the rest of our neighboring sects. Tun Shi Tian can help you, so I''m leaving him here," Han Xuhan replied, feeling rather tired from the adventures since the morning.


    "Underling, I don''t think we should take the owl with us for scouting," Mu Ran commented in a thoughtful tone, making Xuhan pause in his stride.


    "What?...Why?"


    "Hearing sister Zhou''s analysis of the nature of this tournament, I feel like we should take this opportunity to test ourselves in more extreme situations. Scouting ahead means we will become choosy with which sect we land on. We will also begin thinking about optimal plans from the get-go, which will decrease the tension and intensity of the invasions for us. The invasions will become just another boring routine. It would be much better to land on foreign sects, completely blinded in terms of foreknowledge, and then learning how to improvise, adapt, and overcome on the spot! This would be a challenge worthy to tackle even while being a repetitive routine! I believe it is the essence of this tournament, to be caught in alien circumstances and learning how to deal with them."


    Han Xuhan listened to him with his mouth open.


    That was quite possibly the stupidest thing he had heard coming out of Mu Ran''s mouth. And judging by the befuddled look on both Xiao Wu and Yuen Zhou''s faces, they shared the same sentiment with him.


    "...Alright," Han Xuhan said after waiting an uncomfortably long time to see whether they would oppose Mu Ran''s brilliant observation. But it seemed like both of them had their own reasons to not want Tun Shi Tian to tag along.


    Feeling rather miffed, Xuhan canceled the owl''s summon and jogged towards Xiao Wu''s hut.


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Watching his back disappear from view behind the mountains, Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu looked at each other simultaneously, their gazes alert.


    "That Leng Qing guy was right. Underling Xuhan really is trying to keep a tab on all of us to learn about our fighting methods," Mu Ran whispered.


    "That doesn''t prove much. He could have just been concerned about our safety," Xiao Wu remarked.


    "Whatever the reason may be, the fact is that Leng Qing was able to predict what he would do. Now we need to consider whether the later portions of his prophecy would turn out to be correct as well," Yuen Zhou said emotionlessly.


    "That he will betray all of us? Doesn''t yet seem believable..." Mu Ran trailed off, lost in his own thoughts.


    * * * * * *


    The journey to his dao tower took slightly longer than what he was accustomed to, further signaling at the deteriorating state of his control over it.


    As soon as he appeared inside the expansive hall, he found himself caught beneath a rain of dry, blood-red ink.


    The letters of laws were descending endlessly from above, falling on the ground in a way that screamed of external control.


    Patter, patter, patter...the letters fell into patterns consisting of familiar strokes, arcs, and shapes.


    A sentence written in English was born amidst the chaos.


    "To await all hope to be lost before making a choice is a fool''s mark."


    He read the sentence aloud and laughed.


    "So is making a choice with another''s guidance, senior. Between the two, at least I''m in control of the former."


    The blood-red words on the floor broke apart and rearranged themselves immediately.


    "You are in control of nothing."


    Han Xuhan felt his mood go sour. He couldn''t counter that, could he?


    Harrumphing, he shot upwards, slipping inside the dome at the center of the ceiling. Upon focusing on the circular imprint there, he was transported to the Realm of Laws, popping into existence inside his origin point.


    After a good look around, he went up to the mouth of the endless tunnel attached to his ''room'' and shouted.


    "Ey, Brother Yun, we need to talk! Respond immediately if you''re there!"


    A brief moment later, Qian Yun''s tired voice sounded from the other side.


    "...Is this about the broken spear? We''ve found it. But if you want it, you need to uphold your part of the deal."


    Han Xuhan was taken aback.


    He had just told Qian Yun about it last night!


    They had managed to locate it so fast?


    "Are you sure it''s the one? I''m not sure whether to trust that kind of efficiency or not..."


    Qian Yun roared from the other side, "Don''t you dare try my nerves now, asshole! I will-"


    "Okay! Okay! Cool down, fellow cultivator," Han Xuhan quickly stopped him from spiraling into one of his long-winded rants. Being locked up inside that world fragment was about to drive this guy insane. Even he felt a bit bad for pushing his buttons at this point.


    "Cool down? I''d like to see you trying to cool down when you have an insidious predator hunting you ceaselessly! Do you know how much we had to risk for your stupid weapon? Two of us almost got killed!"


    A smile crawled onto Xuhan''s face as Qian Yun complained.


    "Are you talking about the mutant zombie? Well, in that case, you should definitely cool down, Brother Yun; because I have already found your solution!"


    "...What?" Qian Yun was caught off guard for a moment. But he recalled their previous conversation soon enough.


    "Your martial sister...Did she really agree? Does she have a way to kill that zombie?" He shouted, excitement bubbling up inside his voice.


    "Kill? Why would she kill something she nurtured herself?" Han Xuhan used the same tone Yuen Zhou had used with him.


    "Then what? What''s your solution?"


    "My martial sister has a way to control the zombie remotely. She can make it treat all of you as its allies, not enemies. That means you shall no longer be hounded by this remaining undefeatable foe. The entire Holy Land will become safe for you to explore. Hell, you''d actually have an additional power to rely on, depending on whether you agree to the condition she imposed, of course."


    For a long minute, Qian Yun remained silent. Han Xuhan had no idea what was going on inside his head, but his eventual reply made him feel a sense of relief.


    "State the condition. If she can control it to the point it becomes totally harmless, we will consider the offer."


    Han Xuhan recalled the memory of this morning, when HE had been the one to suggest this condition to Yuen Zhou. Stifling a victorious howl, he said, "You need to teach her zombie how to cultivate."

 Chapter 233: The Five Factions Of Stardust Sect

    "Teach a zombie how to cultivate? Isn''t it already cultivating itself? It got stronger by preying on other zombies and the few living creatures in the corners of this world fragment."


    Qian Yun sounded flabbergasted.


    "Cultivate...as in, cultivating like a human would. And in your Holy Land, it has the perfect atmosphere to learn the language of laws like you''ve been learning. Just impart some of that knowledge to the zombie. Easy, isn''t it? You''re in a win-win situation here, Brother Yun."


    Han Xuhan did his best to shill for the deal.


    "That zombie is already powerful enough to make a stand against any of us. How stupid would we have to be to teach it how to get stronger?" Qian Yun hissed.


    "I don''t know, but you''d have to be pretty stupid to not nip the issue in the bud when you had the chance. When you deny a beneficial deal with an equal, prepare to stand in a position of vulnerability in the future. Do you think the zombie won''t be able to keep hunting you and your friends if you don''t agree to the deal? You''ve got nothing to lose, idiot."


    Qian Yun didn''t reply for a long time. Han Xuhan patiently waited, knowing that the more time he took to make the choice, the less the possibility of denying the deal would be.


    Thinking of choices, he was reminded of the message conveyed to him by the entity hiding inside his dao tower.


    To await all hope to be lost before making a choice is a fool''s mark.


    In making that choice, he was acting just like Qian Yun. The only difference between the two situations was that he had alternatives to choose from: The fusion technique to become one with his minions, the Ghost Cultivation pathway to reduce the stress on his meridians, and the Body-possession procedure to begin his cultivation from a new standpoint.


    Each of these routes was equal in terms of danger and potential. In every case, he had to blindly make a choice to trust someone he didn''t find trustworthy at all.


    He felt like a man dying of thirst being offered boiling pus. He knew he would eventually succumb to the instinct of self-preservation, but he couldn''t bring himself to make a choice consciously.


    "Alright. We agree. So how do we make this deal work? How is your martial sister going to control the zombie remotely?"


    Qian Yun''s sudden interruption broke him out of his personal hell. Sighing, Han Xuhan gave him the details he had learned from Yuen Zhou.


    "I''ll send you a potion and a scarf through the resource exchange channel we''ve been using. Leave them in a place you expect the zombie to tread. You''ll receive the answer soon enough."


    "What''s in the potion?" Qian Yun said immediately. "Some kind of mind-control poison?"


    "I don''t know," Han Xuhan replied. He suspected that the potion was probably a container of some kind of information from master to slave. Back when Yuen Zhou had refused to answer his query, he hadn''t given it much thought. But after seeing Zhanxian undergoing the information reception through the drink offered by Abyss Guild, he was beginning to see how that might be an actual possibility.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    The problem was, he was quite certain that not even the elders of their sect had a cultivation base high enough to transform information into matter and let the receiver learn the coded information by being in touch with the infused matter.


    If this indeed was Yuen Zhou''s method of controlling her zombie''s behavior, then she would need the help of someone more powerful than the elders to make the potion, someone like the sect master himself. But she clearly didn''t have any connection to Xuan Zi, at least not well enough to make him do her that favor.


    Putting his puzzlement aside for now, he finalized the details with Qian Yun and eased into the most important subject he was here to discuss.


    "Brother Yun, Can I talk to Feng Jun?"


    "...Feng Jun? Why?" Qian Yun was half suspicious, half bewildered.


    "I stumbled upon his sect in the tournament. I''d like to have a word with him regarding the current situation brewing in his sect. He should probably have some concerns."


    After a moment, Han Xuhan felt a change taking place inside his globular origin point. Just a dozen feet away from the mouth of the tunnel that connected him with Qian Yun, a second hole opened up on the white wall, revealing a similar tunnel stretching infinitely beyond his scope of vision.


    "Was that always there?" he couldn''t help but wonder.


    "No. I connected you with Feng Jun''s origin point. He can listen to you now," Qian Yun explained.


    Readying himself, Han Xuhan floated toward the second tunnel and shouted.


    "Brother Feng Jun! Remember me? I''m supreme demon Shen Kai!"


    "...Should I believe a single word that comes out of your mouth, fellow cultivator Xuhan?"


    A vaguely familiar voice rang out from within the depths of the white tunnel.


    "Of course, that''s entirely up to you. I''m just here to inform you of something you must be eager to know. Whether it is a lie or a truth, decide that yourself," Han Xuhan replied.


    "Is it about the decline of my faction from the seat of power?" Feng Jun said in a light tone.


    Han Xuhan choked on his own words.


    How did he know that?


    Perhaps the pregnant silence between them stretched on for far too long, because Feng Jun took the initiative to explain himself.


    "There are five major factions in our sect; the Dragon, the Phoenix, the Tiger, the Turtle, and lastly, the Infinity faction. The distribution of power among these factions isn''t balanced as a result of century-long political disputes. For the last decade, the Phoenix Faction has been holding the seat of power, in other words, the highest authority among the disciples due to the merits of our senior disciples. But all of those disciples are cultivators with immense potential. They''ve gone down their own paths to pursue higher peaks of power, leaving the result of their accomplishments in our hands. But we...we have not been able to maintain that influence after their leave."


    Feng Jun paused to breathe. Curious, Han Xuhan enquired, "Is this seat of power related to individual strength or cultivation level or something along those lines?"


    "No. It''s got more to do with business management, the ability of the average disciples of each faction, and foresight. The faction system has virtually placed the disciples of my sect in an endless cycle of conflict for limited resources. Those who stand at the helm of each faction have little time to focus on cultivation. And I, being placed in such a position, had fallen far behind my peers in terms of cultivation as well. That was why I decided to go out seeking fortuitous encounters. I knew that state our faction was in. Conflict was brewing endlessly, conflicts that couldn''t be solved. Once my faction falls, which I knew was but a forgone conclusion, I would be in danger. My desperation took me deep into the prison I am trapped inside right now. So tell me, Brother Xuhan, how long has it been since the fall of my faction? What did you witness there?"


    Hearing his story, Han Xuhan felt a great sense of regret. If only he had ended up being recruited into the Stardust Sect...


    He''d be living a luxurious life now!


    A sect that didn''t strictly require its disciples to make regular breakthroughs? He would be like a fish in the water there!


    A sect that allowed disciples to use political power and business tactics to get rich?


    He would not just be a fish in the water there, he would be a shark in the sea!


    "Brother Xuhan? Are you even listening?" Feng Jun''s voice drifted in through the tunnel.


    "Cough...yeah, where were we? Right, you wanted to know the state of your faction right now. You''ll be happy to learn, Brother Jun, that your faction hasn''t yet fallen from power! It''s very close to that edge, though."


    "...What? It''s been more than half a year! That shouldn''t be possible...unless..."


    Feng Jun trailed off.


    Han Xuhan distinctly felt that the last part of his sentence had been laced with a sense of dread.


    "Brother Xuhan, describe in detail what you saw in my sect."


    Detecting the urgency in his tone, Han Xuhan recounted his experience on the island of the Stardust Sect from start to finish.


    For a long time, no sound game from the other end of the tunnel.


    "Brother Jun?" Xuhan prodded nervously.


    "Brother Xuhan, it seems like there has been a gross miscalculation on my part," Feng Jun replied in a grave tone.


    "The Phoenix faction isn''t just in danger of being dethroned from the seat of power. In my absence, a certain person has been pushing it to the brink of extinction."

 Chapter 234: History Repeats Itself For Idiots

    When Han Xuhan returned from his trip to the Realm of Laws, his expression was somber.


    The world in his scope of vision was being broadened every single day he survived, every single time he met someone new, and every single damned time he stumbled upon the conflicts of cultivators just beneath the calm surface in his perception.


    The situation in the Stardust Sect was more complex than he had thought, by a huge margin, actually.


    Under ordinary circumstances, this problem would hardly be his concern. It wasn''t his job to go around poking his nose in every little conflict.


    However, Feng Jun had made it his business...by offering him an opportunity, an opportunity he had been desperately looking for since the beginning of their exchange.


    In the grand scheme of things, poking his nose there and making it his business would be the better choice, and Han Xuhan hadn''t shied away from making the choice despite the potential risks involved.


    Spending some time absorbed within his plethora of plans, Han Xuhan left the house, heading towards the central plain of the island.


    Elder Shen was not inside the treasury, a common phenomenon these days. But the disciples working under him recognized Han Xuhan in a flash.


    To them, he was as terrifying as any powerful elder of the sect, and equally infuriating due to his actual strength compared to his standing. All of them were peers of the same generation, and yet, Han Xuhan had managed to acquire such favor from the sect master that he was basically the same as any prodigal son of a powerful clan, spending resources with every breath.


    After the disciples begrudgingly accepted his list of ordered products, Xuhan left Zhanxian in charge of carrying the bags back to the hut.


    For the second time that day, he visited the area where Luo Yi''s tent had been placed. He had no intention to see her, though. He was more interested in the spirit beast that was sitting lazily beside the tent, its body in the transparent mode.


    Sticking his face as close as possible to the surface of the beast''s hide, Xuhan scanned the floating sigils inside, reading the numeric values attached to them.


    The cockroach sect was still at the top, holding a score of 50,233 points. Just two nights ago, it had been around 33 thousand.


    "What the fuck are they doing over there?" Han Xuhan couldn''t help but curse. It didn''t make sense for a sect so unknown to be amassing points so fast.


    His eyes tracked down the sigil of Crimson Snow Sect soon.


    Score: 2,337 Points.


    They had only progressed by two thousand points in the last 48 hours. The disparity was too huge!


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Feeling miffed, he was about to turn around and leave...only to suddenly feel his curiosity burning.


    What was the score of Abyss Guild? Those guys were part of the organizers, not to mention being one of the most powerful, advanced sects on the planet.


    He was familiar with their sigil as well. The Black Lobster turned out to be surprisingly difficult to track down, though. He repeatedly searched the top ranks.


    It wasn''t there.


    Then he searched the middle ranks.


    It wasn''t there either.


    And then with a foreboding feeling, he looked at the very bottom of the body of the beast, where a few dim sigils were flickering weakly.


    Abyss Guild. Score: 1,009 points.


    His suspicion gathered like clouds in a storm.


    He examined the rest of the sigils floating in that area.


    One was a black flag that contained a circle filled with the color green within. Even he, a complete rookie cultivator knew that flag. It belonged to the Beasthaven Sect.


    Score: 997 points.


    That was all he needed to see. Despite not recognizing the rest of the few sigils at the bottom, he understood that all of these sects had to be top-grade.


    On his first day in the Crimson Snow sect, he recalled being tricked into taking a loan. That day, he had applied for a 1-star tier curriculum, thinking it was of the lowest value.


    As it had turned out that day, the 5-star tier was the lowest one.


    "I''m a fucking idiot," he muttered to himself before heading back to the hut.


    A lot of inconsistent details now finally made sense upon realizing what the scoring system meant.


    The numbers below each sect''s sigil indicating their points weren''t the amassed totals. Rather, the numbers were highly likely to be the indicators of the number of points each sect had lost since arriving in the archipelago.


    He recalled the first time Luo Yi had made her appearance as their counselor. She had described at that time a system of negative points based on the poor performance of any sect in each natural disaster trial. Although those rules and the trial system had been modified later on by the organizers, giving rise to this new battle royale event, the scoring system had not changed. They were still being charged with negative points every time they screwed up, every time they suffered a loss, every time a disciple broke a rule.


    Now, casting a look at the ranking list once more gave off a whole new feeling. Of course, all the unknown, weak sects were at the top, laying claim to their natural positions with dominance and momentum. The cockroach sect was unrivaled in its glorious ascension!


    And at the bottom of the ranks, one would find the real big shots if they were knowledgeable enough to recognize the sigils of foreign sects from distant continents.


    The Crimson Snow Sect was at the lower-middle section, which wasn''t an awkward sight to behold anymore. They weren''t the strongest bunch, but they could still make it to the big league with ease.


    As for earning more positive points to lower their position in that list, Han Xuhan had little idea how to amass those. Winning the current event would likely generate some. Not suffering losses in natural disaster trials might be another source.


    "I should inform the rest-no, wait...wouldn''t that contribution push me higher to the position of the champion of this sect? That''s just inviting trouble."


    He was already too far up on that list for his liking. So he decided to save his own hide first.


    Silently, he walked back to his own house, his mind filled with difficult choices. The half-destroyed building was a heartbreaking sight under daylight. There wasn''t much to salvage here. Walking around to the backyard, he dragged a tool over and sat under the bright sunshine.


    By the time Zhanxian returned, carrying on his back several large sacks filled to the brim with precious resources and food, Han Xuhan felt the confusing fog in his mind recede a lot.


    He was on the cusp of making a choice.


    "Put them down on that formation over there," he directed the minion. Then with his help, they activated the gateway to exchange materials through the Displacement Spell. Soon, a pile of mud, dirt, and stinky garbage appeared inside the formation where the resources and the scroll containing Shen Mi''s message had been laid a minute ago.


    Han Xuhan broke out of his mediation and ordered Zhanxian to go through the garbage, who didn''t sound very happy about it. But it was hardly a risky task, and Zhanxian could tolerate any humiliation so long as his tasks remained risk-free.


    "Master, is this the thing you''re looking for?" Zhanxian shouted a moment later after digging through the pile. Eyes watering from the stink, Han Xuhan examined the long, metallic shaft being pulled out by his minion.


    "Yup, that''s the one. Now go look for a scroll."


    It took a while, but they eventually found it. He was stopped from going through its contents just like how he hadn''t been able to open the scroll Shen Mi had handed him. A magical lock protected both scrolls, the secret to opening which seemed exclusive to the disciples of the Stardust Sect.


    Recalling the deal between him and Feng Jun once more, Han Xuhan sighed and summoned Tun Shi Tian.


    "Birdie, go give this to that girl I told you to follow in the Stardust Sect. Remember, you can''t hand it to anyone else, only her!"


    As Tun Shi Tian flew away with the scroll, Xuhan turned to his first minion.


    "Let''s go inside the tower. You and I need to have a chat."

 Chapter 235: Making Important Choices Ahead Of Time

    In the vast white hall, the minion sat in front of the master obediently, letting him experience its memory without interruption.


    The actual length of the memory sequence was not too long, but Han Xuhan spent over an hour of time analyzing and rewatching the explanation of the tracing technique.


    "Very interesting," he mumbled upon his return to the dao tower.


    "Indeed she is," Zhanxian said in support, finding a trace of joy and hope in its master''s curious reaction.


    "I wasn''t talking about her. The principle behind the technique itself is what interests me," Han Xuhan replied in annoyance.


    "Are you even a man?" Zhanxian raged. He couldn''t bear to see the dignity of his goddess be sullied through mere uncouth words of a simpleton.


    "Are you?" Xuhan asked back, making his minion''s tirade get locked inside its throat.


    Han Xuhan decided to leave the tower to work on the tracing technique, but as his gaze stopped on the dome overhead, his thoughts flickered in a different direction for a moment.


    "Zhanxian."


    "...Yes?" responded the skeleton in a displeased tone.


    "Run me through the memory sequence of that time you visited the burning world again. The part inside the cavern will do."


    Zhanxian''s surprise was palpable, but the minion didn''t hesitate. With a thought, followed by an ethereal touch, Han Xuhan found himself back inside the gigantic cavern, surrounded by mosaics that formed infinite loops of patterns, enough to make one lose himself in an unending, ever-changing motion of colors, shapes, and strokes.


    This time, he was there with a purpose in mind. Diverting his focus from the attractions competing for his attention, he studied the specific pattern he was there to study.


    The fusion glyph.


    Han Xuhan understood little about glyphs. From his limited knowledge, he thought of glyphs as compressed formations that operated in the mental world of a cultivator.


    Among the innumerable disciplines of harnessing the power of nature and oneself, the way of glyphs stood in the esoteric, mysterious category, where few dared to venture. In the Crimson Snow Sect, no Elder could boast of more than a preliminary knowledge of this path.


    No...perhaps, one man could. And that was the idea that had spurred Han Xuhan to finally cast his dice. That notion of shelter had helped him choose among the three options available to him in order to retain his status as a cultivator, as a disciple of the Crimson Snow Sect, as someone with a future worth struggling for.


    To be able to use a glyph''s functions, one had to be able to visualize the entire pattern in his mind. This was not an easy thing to do, because any glyphs worth using were complex, three-dimensional, hallucination-inducing, non-stationary constructs.


    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    But through Zhanxian''s eyes, Han Xuhan felt a faint sense of familiarity with the puzzling maze of shapes presented in front of him. Even though he didn''t hear the ''instructions'' Zhanxian had apparently received during his adventure, he could still feel an invisible hand of guidance. It was as if the way Zhanxian''s perception of the glyph changed according to the teaching of this instructor influenced Han Xuhan in turn, letting him perceive the meanings hidden in the depths of the dancing shapes and colors.


    To understand is to learn. To learn thoroughly is to gain the ability to visualize. And to be able to visualize was the key to harnessing the powers of a glyph.


    Repeatedly, Han Xuhan made himself undergo the memory sequence, learning different aspects, different fragments of the patterns, and every change that took place inside the glyph.


    He didn''t know how long it took, but finally, he could sense a feeling of completion.


    He withdrew from the memory sequence, finding himself back inside the dao tower.


    "Did you do it? Were you able to-"


    Zhanxian couldn''t finish his sentence, because Xuhan had disappeared from the tower.


    As he groaned in annoyance, a black object dropped on his head from above.


    Zhanxian stepped back and watched pensively as a shower of red ink colored the spotless white floor.


    "Worry not. He has made his decision, and his decision will benefit all," he read aloud the sentence formed by the ink.


    Shivering slightly, the minion rushed back inside his ''room'' and chose to hide there until Tun Shi Tian returned.


    The surprise Han Xuhan got upon breaking out of his meditation brought him little comfort. When he had entered meditation, it had been noon. Now, the sunlight was like a dimming lamp, barely able to fight the advent of darkness.


    From within the stuffy darkness of the hut, Han Xuhan walked out and cast a look around. His three martial siblings, wherever they were at the moment, must be occupied if even the setting sun hadn''t made them return and rethink their strategies. The chance of them being caught and imprisoned temporarily was low. Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were too resourceful and skilled when it came to the way of violence, and Xiao Wu, despite his glaringly low cultivation, had his inborn overwhelming strength to aid him. Neither Mu Ran nor Yuen Zhou would tolerate it anyway if his lack of ability compromised their missions. So Xuhan had nothing to worry about for now.


    Hai Yin Zhe was playing around the yard as usual. The trees, especially the larger ones, were beginning to wane in health, as expected. There was no direct water source beneath the soil to keep them alive and thriving. Perhaps one of those flood trials would do them some good, saturating the soil of the floating island with the aura of life once more.


    "Yinzhe, come here," Han Xuhan called faintly.


    Despite hearing the call, the snake wasn''t deterred in her playful movements. After a few more tired shouts, she finally relented and scooted over at an impressive speed.


    "What is it, Papa?"


    Han Xuhan picked her up and pulled out a certain ''toy'' from his pocket.


    "Didn''t you make a fuss to get this from Auntie Zhou? Why don''t you try playing with it?" he said, showing the teeth set to the snake.


    "Ooooh! I forgot! Give me! Give me! Gimmegimmegimme!"


    Han Xuhan was more than happy to attach the teeth set inside her mouth. His suspicion about it came true as soon as the final adjustment was made.


    The teeth set, despite having the appearance of human teeth until now, suddenly altered itself automatically, molding into Hai Yin Zhe''s sharp, barb-like fangs.


    Just like the armors he was wearing, this teeth set from the void was capable of adjusting itself to any wearer!


    Unless one knew the insides of Hai Yin Zhe''s mouth before the teeth set was attached there, they would be unable to distinguish any anomaly there. Only Han Xuhan could tell what had changed, and how much had changed.


    Hai Yin Zhe''s teeth were now thicker, sharper, stronger, and by a small margin, longer than before. If a bite from the previous Hai Yin Zhe could tear off one''s flesh, the same bite now could leave some marks on one''s bones.


    "Whoaaaa!" Hai Yin Zhe gasped in amazement, clicking her teeth repeatedly.


    "Is it comfortable?" Han Xuhan asked.


    "What''s that papa?" she asked in an innocent tone.


    "...Er, never mind. Are you happy? Do you want to keep wearing it?" Han Xuhan asked.


    She nodded her triangular head up and down. Just as Xuhan was about to let her down on the ground to resume her games, he sensed a sudden surge of movement in the air around the snake.


    All the qi inside the artificial channels dug across Hai Yin Zhe''s bones were rushing towards her head. Within a second, Hai Yin Zhe''s body became devoid of any qi.


    The snake opened her mouth wide, her jaws forming nearly a 150¡ã angle.


    "Hissssss....!"


    A spray of black liquid shot out of her fangs, crossing more than thirty meters and splashing onto the thick trunk of a Birch.


    Under Han Xuhan''s stunned gaze, the bark of the tree melted away as if touched by a powerful acid. He rushed forward to check the splash zone, examining the way the black liquid eroded its way down the tree''s body. A minute later, several inch-deep grooves appeared on the trunk, resembling scars made by powerful claws. Wherever the liquids had touched, the wood had been blackened and charred.


    A burnt stink perforated the air as vague tendrils of smoke were blown away by the gentle evening wind.


    Was this the special ability of the teeth set? Consuming qi to create deadly poison? Just like how most of his newly acquired armor parts had their own uniqueness.


    "Looks like sister Zhou has been quite sincere in returning favors..." Han Xuhan muttered to himself.

 Chapter 236: Preparations For The Climax

    Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou returned together half an hour after sunset. Both of them looked exhausted, sporting injuries all over their bodies.


    Some of sister Zhou''s hair was missing, either burnt or cut. A deep gash on her forehead was slowly healing. Her sleeves had been completely discarded at some point, revealing forearms full of bloody scabs. But compared to Mu Ran, she appeared unharmed.


    Both of Mu Ran''s hands were bandaged. Streaks of blood seeped through the gaps unceasingly, hinting at serious damage. His nose must have been broken and healed at some point, judging by the crooked shape. One of his eyes had turned murky, the white parts dotted with bloody spots. As for the rest of his body, Han Xuhan couldn''t tell much because of the intact clothing, which he must have stolen recently. He hadn''t been wearing those the last time time Han Xuhan had seen him.


    The questioning look on Han Xuhan''s face must have been apparent, because Mu Ran hurried to answer before he could even speak.


    "Xiao Wu got caught in a trap with a very insidious design. Even the defender who built the trapping formation doesn''t know how to forcibly unlock it. We can only wait it out. The source of power running the trap should be emptied by tomorrow morning. Until then, Xiao Wu will have to spend the night inside the formation."


    That threw a wrench in Xuhan''s plans. Face sour, he readjusted some schedules in his mind and turned to look at Yuen Zhou.


    "Does the teeth set have any latent problems with it that I should know? With that useful poison spray ability, it seems like something too precious to be traded away as a favor."


    While Mu Ran looked between the two of them in confusion, Yuen Zhou shook her head.


    "Useful to you, maybe. At my current cultivation level, the poison can''t even harm me as long as I take some precautions."


    Han Xuhan was flabbergasted.


    At her level? She was just two...or three layers above him in terms of cultivation. Was the difference really that great?


    Oh well, maybe she was secretly practicing some physique-enhancing technique. The same could be said for Mu Ran. Not counting his Astral Heatwave Technique and her flying sword formation, both of them had chosen to cultivate their bodies. He wasn''t privy to the details, of course. But it wasn''t difficult to figure out from their combat styles and strategies. Even facing cultivators above their level, both could suppress their opponents with raw physical ability.


    "Regardless, I appreciate the sincerity. I''ll try my best to deliver my part of the deal," he said with a nod.


    Yuen Zhou wore a satisfied expression as she left for her hut. Hai Yinzhe let out a cheerful hiss and shot out of the yard, following her trail.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Underling, what was all that about?" Mu Ran said in a low tone, unable to repress his curiosity any longer.


    "Same as you. Sister Zhou wanted something in exchange for a treasure. I am helping her acquire it. She doesn''t know the right people, you see?"


    "Oh? What does she-no, wait a minute, what do you mean ''same as me'' ?"


    Smirking, Han Xuhan took a couple of steps back and revealed the spear laid on the table behind him, the one he had just salvaged from the Holy Land of Laws.


    Mu Ran''s eyes went wide. He leaped past him, grabbing the shaft. Han Xuhan recalled what kind of dump Zhanxian had pulled it out of and pressed his lips into a thin line.


    Hopefully, Mu Ran wouldn''t notice the faint stink of rotten carcass. Even a thorough washing hadn''t been able to clear the stink away.


    In his excitement, Mu Ran hugged Xuhan''s shoulders with one hand, twirling the shaft in his other palm.


    "I can''t believe it! You actually did it! You-you..."


    Seeing him lost for words of praise, Han Xuhan chose to strike.


    "Boss...I need a favor."


    A happy Mu Ran was a generous Mu Ran. From his experience with dealing with his boss''s antics, Han Xuhan understood this principle very well.


    Convincing him to let Zhanxian learn the Fifth Limb Form of the Tentacle Monster Manual alongside him was an easy accomplishment. In his delight, Mu Ran even promised to teach the more difficult bits of the technique to Zhanxian whenever it was needed.


    It raised a creek of doubt in Han Xuhan''s heart. Was this broken spear really that precious? If it was so powerful, why did it break during their very first adventure?


    Mu Ran refused to explain despite his indirect probing. So he could only give up.


    That night, while Mu Ran was busy imparting the basics of the technique to Zhanxian, Han Xuhan went to the Sect''s kitchens to purchase some cooking materials.


    What he came to know there was alarming.


    "Just as I had feared...now we''ll need to rely on new sources for food."


    The kitchen had run out of many materials, and the reserve of meat, fish, salt, and rice had declined to a dangerous level. The sect could feed its hundreds of members for maybe another day, at most.


    Stealing from other sects wasn''t exactly a viable option. Every sect had its own mouth to feed. Within a couple of days, everyone would run out of reserve food no matter how much they managed to rob or protect.


    Han Xuhan''s gaze flickered towards the edge of the floating island as he walked out of the kitchen with some leftovers.


    The sea. That was the only option left for all participants now. It wouldn''t offer the abundance of spices and exotic meals, but it had enough inside it to keep everyone''s stomach filled.


    On his way back to the hut, Xuhan couldn''t help wondering which realm of cultivation one needed to be in to be free from mortal limitations such as hunger. It had to be beyond whatever realm the Elders of his sect were in. Because those guys never missed a meal on a regular day. Many of the Elders even dined during lectures, imparting the dao through mouthfuls of delicacies.


    Their dinner that night brought great disappointment to Mu Ran.


    "How am I supposed to recover my peak shape with such a poor diet?" he complained.


    "You could always go fishing again, boss," Han Xuhan replied eagerly. He was looking forward to the next time Mu Ran brought a spirited fish back with him. He''d even eat the bones if that''s what it took to enhance his physique.


    "Right now I''m too injured for another fight. I think even my astral form has suffered some minor damage from all the heatwave spells I cast today. Let''s try fishing tomorrow."


    Unsatisfied, Mu Ran went to bed. Han Xuhan took another look at the message Tun Shi Tian had returned with from the Stardust Sect.


    "We can help you, provided that you explain what your objective is. Why do you need our help in subduing someone at the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm? Can''t you ask for help from your martial siblings? Who is your target?"


    Shen Mi''s suspicion wasn''t unwarranted. But if only it was that easy to explain.


    "Zhanxian, Tun Shi Tian, you two need to learn something within tonight," he said in a serious tone. Both minions instantly became vigilant.


    "I''ll provide you two with some memory sequences inside the dao tower. Go through them repeatedly and master the concept. It''s not too difficult. The workload will be divided between you two. So all you need to pay attention to is mastering what comes after what and what to do in some specific situations that will take place tomorrow. Any questions?"


    "...Yeah."


    "A lot."


    "Too bad. I can''t answer any of them. Now, come, let''s learn the art of formations!"


    Han Xuhan felt like he had become better at reading the skeletal version of expressing emotions. Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian looked super worried as he canceled their summons.

 Chapter 237: Being Exposed By The Oracle

    What a beautiful sunrise it was, bringing tears to Han Xuhan''s restless eyes. He hadn''t slept much last night, opting to reassess his future, his plans, and the little heist he was hoping to pull off today.


    He sincerely wished to see the next sunrise, and all the sunrises after that too. One botched move today could, however, bring upon him the worst outcome.


    The sect''s bells rang with the transition of the dawn into the morning. Han Xuhan slowly climbed down from the highest peak of the Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain, heading to the central plain.


    Sect Master Xuan Zi kept the assembly short. First, he addressed each team of ten who had been issued with tournament missions along with the side missions imposed by the sect master himself.


    Out of seventeen teams, only three had managed to find a treasure set from the foreign sects. Even Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou hadn''t been able to track down any treasure despite their lengthy, violent search yesterday. Those who had succeeded were just fortunate, perhaps. So the Crimson Snow Sect now had three new sets of treasures.


    However, this news failed to bring any semblance of joy among the disciples, because while they had acquired three new sets, their defense team had also lost four sets of treasures in one day. These four originally belonged to the Crimson Snow Sect, to begin with. So, on the whole, the first day of the tournament for them could be evaluated as a day of losses.


    Luo Yi, who had come to accompany Xuan Zi to the assembly, stepped forward to explain how their failed invasion attempts, numerous defeats in combat, and weak defense tactics had placed them at the bottom rungs of the ranking system reserved for this round in particular. Just as Han Xuhan was contemplating whether to reveal the ''trick'' with the ranking system, Meatball, her spirit beast, was summoned in front of the assembly to display a new ranking, a plain table of amassed points.


    The ranks were sorted normally in this table! The teams with the highest points were indeed placed at the top!


    But it was also a table that didn''t distinguish between sects. Any team belonging to any sect could be placed at the topmost ranks as long as they had enough success in acquiring treasure sets. But this also pointed to the fact that if anyone wished to stay at the top ranks, they couldn''t break away from the team and join a new one!


    Disgruntled, Han Xuhan decided to make sure no more tricks were being set up in the background while they were trying to make sense of such roundabout rules and regulations.


    "How does this new ranking system affect our original ranking in the tournament? You just said this table is applicable only for the first round. So..." He didn''t finish his sentence, watching her reaction.


    A shadow of a smile flashed across Luo Yi''s face, as if she was aware of his thoughts.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "The total points acquired by each team will be added after this event ends officially, closing the first round of the tournament. So the more successful teams your sect has on the table, the higher your overall ranking will be in the original system," she explained.


    Wasn''t that advantageous to sects with high disciple count?


    Just as the thought occurred to him, Han Xuhan realized that such a phenomenon was unavoidable. The larger, more influential sects were bound to be more powerful anyway. Since this round was hardly about the individual capacity of the disciples, there was no reason to implement rules to put large sects at a disadvantage.


    If the teams were skilled enough, their sect deserved to be ranked higher.


    Meanwhile, Luo Yi went on to the length of criticizing Xuan Zi for his choice in selecting the members of the defense team, most of whom were the weaklings of their generation. Xuan Zi looked unperturbed, though.


    As these statistics were being mentioned, many eyes flashed toward Han Xuhan and his two martial siblings. Nobody had forgotten his promise yesterday. Han Xuhan wore a completely unperturbed expression as the Sect Master droned on, moving over to the statistics of side missions.


    "Disciples, the results of your event missions were all recorded by the observers in each sect and then compiled together. But the same cannot be said for the secondary objectives that I asked all of you to accomplish. So it''s time we inspected your performances in that field. Come, submit your reports!"


    In front of the sect master''s scrutiny, no one had the guts to lie, not to mention, the infamous elder Wudi was standing right behind him. This Elder had a reputation for being something akin to a mind-reader.


    Apparently, the last time a disciple had spoken too casually with him, the elder had discovered through him a huge chain of business pumping out ''illustrated epics'' which had been banned in the sect for immoral content. All the senior disciples had advised the younger generation to avoid speaking around this man as much as possible, maintaining a highly focused mental state the whole time.


    Xuan Zi nodded in approval when Han Xuhan handed him the scroll he had acquired from Shen Mi. He had taken a cursory look at the contents of the scroll. It was just a list of roughly 100 fissures, categorized according to their sizes and shapes. Xuan Zi''s eyes showed immense satisfaction as he went through the list.


    "Excellent work, disciple Xuhan! I''m assuming you didn''t compile this by yourself? Where did you find this?"


    Han Xuhan explained his deal with the Stardust Sect''s Phoenix Faction, not bothering to hide anything, really. Xuan Zi seemed to appreciate that.


    "It''s gratifying to see that you valued the mission I gave you more than your own interests, disciple." Xuan Zi sighed at the end of his story.


    "As a reward for your sincerity, I''m giving you a day''s immunity from the side missions I''ve proposed. Use the time in any way you want to."


    Was the sect master giving him an opportunity to focus on learning the treasure-tracing technique? It did seem so.


    Thanking the man, Han Xuhan walked back to where Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were standing, both appearing all fidgety.


    "Alright, now that we''re done here, it''s high time to get on with the rescue mission. Xuhan, are you coming?" Mu Ran said eagerly.


    "I have yet to master the tracing technique, boss," Han Xuhan answered somberly.


    "Then sister Zhou and I will be leaving. Take care!"


    Mu Ran pulled out his spear with a swish. At the previously broken end, he had attached a large butcher''s knife at some point. It did look intimidating, but it did not have a speck of the aura of a genuine spear. Han Xuhan was forced to reassess why Mu Ran thought so highly of this seemingly useless weapon.


    Yuen Zhou didn''t seem to share the enthusiasm. She had a distant look on her face as she bade him goodbye.


    Watching Han Xuhan''s quick-moving figure crossing the plain, Mu Ran''s cheerful smile disappeared.


    "What do you think, martial sister? Was Leng Qing really boasting when he said he''d unmask Xuhan today?"


    Hearing his heavy tone, Yuen Zhou shook her head lightly.


    "Martial brother Xuhan has too many interests tied with his hands to act recklessly. He has orchestrated his rise to his current position, and that points to the fact that he values these ties. I doubt an outsider like this Leng Qing can point out any suspicious dealing he''s been in touch with for which he''d not have a reasonable explanation. I''m more curious to know how, and why fellow cultivator Leng Qing is so interested in taking martial brother Xuhan down. Why is he so insistent on driving a wedge between us and brother Xuhan?"


    "Well, it can''t hurt to lend him an ear today," Mu Ran replied, unconvinced with her rationale. "If Xuhan really plans to attack him today to silence him, I''d say Leng Qing might not be entirely wrong."

 Chapter 238: Tracing The Enemy Through Traps

    Han Xuhan put on the armor parts he had purchased from his fellow disciples. It was an odd sensation, having them sticking seamlessly to his skin. His skin could not feel their slim presence, but he could see and touch them if he wanted. No odd behavior from them had been detected so far, which meant that he could equip them during combat.


    He took his time to feed each part with his entire qi reserve while refilling his meridians with the help of expensive gadgets meant for assisting children in their cultivation sessions.


    Then he pocketed some materials he hoped to use today. From cheap spiritual treasures to rare herbs to exploding knives, the variety of objects jingling in his robes could overwhelm any ordinary man. But his enhanced body, combined with the fact that the robe was specially made for such occasions, made it easy for him to wander around unimpeded.


    His preparation done, Xuhan walked out of the hut with a confident gait. By this time of the morning, the island was virtually empty except for the elders and the team of defenders. Every disciple had leaped down into the spatial fissures beneath the island to go invade other sects. Han Xuhan''s trek to the edge of the island behind the Heavenly Hailstorm peak was uneventful.


    "Tun Shi Tian," he called faintly.


    The summoned owl knew what was coming. It flapped its bony wings and swooped past the edge of the island, heading towards the sea.


    It took several attempts to find the fissure that would lead to the Stardust Sect. After pinning down its exact location in the air, Han Xuhan jumped down without fear or hesitation. The three-hundred-meter of fall didn''t even raise his heartbeat too high. He was slowly getting used to the excitement of a cultivator''s deadly adventures.


    The void between the two mouths of the fissure greeted his senses as usual. But for some reason today, the wait to reach the other side seemed exceptionally long.


    The sensation of being dropped inside a bowl of slippery noodles continued to assault his mind. His limbs felt stretchy. A dull throb began to beat inside his head with each passing moment.


    Suddenly, he felt a shockwave go through his head, as if someone had smashed a blunt object on the back of his skull. A moment later, his body appeared on the other side of the fissure, dozens of meters above the island of the Stardust Sect. The pain he expected to accrue from the heavy hit didn''t, however, appear. As he fell to the ground slowly, only a dull throb of pain remained.


    What the hell was that?


    Upon regaining his balance, Han Xuhan quickly checked the back of his head. But nothing there indicated any semblance of being hit.


    Could it be a spiritual attack? The headache was indeed one of the indicators of such a possibility.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    What could there be hiding inside that void that could send out spiritual attacks?


    Han Xuhan recalled his last theory about the nature of the void zone. He had hypothesized that due to the spatial distortions caused by gravity affecting the space-time continuum, there may be a time dilation inside the void zone. It would explain many of the phenomena related to the void zone.


    Speaking of the phenomena, the armor parts he was wearing right now were from the void too. This strange incident couldn''t be related to them, right?


    Panicking, Xuhan examined the armor parts all over his body again. But nothing seemed out of sorts with them either.


    Puzzled, he massaged his temples and made his way towards the barracks. Tun Shi Tian, having previously delivered messages for both him and Shen Mi, knew where she lived. Following the owl''s lead, he reached her cabin easily.


    Just like the disciples of the Crimson Snow sect, nobody in the Stardust Sect was willing to sit around cultivating. Almost every cabin was empty, their occupants having left for adventures in foreign sects. Unlike yesterday, they knew they couldn''t just rely on tricks to fend off invasion attempts. Just Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou alone had nearly defeated their entire defense team.


    Shen Mi''s cabin was one of the few exceptions. In the front yard of her cabin, over a dozen disciples were sitting with impatient expressions. The moment their eyes fell on Xuhan, all of them jumped to their feet.


    Han Xuhan surveyed the team. All of them belonged to the Phoenix faction, judging by the bandanas over their foreheads. And judging by their aura, he could sense that most of them were at the later layers of the Physique Transformation realm.


    Perfect.


    Shen Mi walked out of the yard, standing face to face with him, her eyes cautious.


    "You still have some explaining to do. You''ve received my message. Which fellow disciple of yours are you planning to subdue with our help?"


    Han Xuhan took a deep breath. Here it begins...


    "Not my fellow disciple, actually," he replied with a mysterious smile. "I''m planning to confront one of YOUR fellow disciples, who I believe is not quite what he seems in your eyes."


    Shen Mi''s pupils shrank. An invisible tension spread across the disciples standing behind her. They weren''t certain whether to trust a stranger''s words enough to attack one of their own peers. Heck, in their shoes, Xuhan wouldn''t either. But that was where the brilliance of his plan lay.


    The Phoenix Faction was now at the edge of a violent collapse. Their most talented martial siblings, alongside the prodigal leader Feng Jun''s fate were dependent on Han Xuhan''s mere whims. The reason why he hadn''t used that card as an excuse to blackmail the Phoenix Faction was because turning it into a contractual exchange would make him obliged to perform his part in the deal.


    He had told them he was helping Feng Jun and his followers out of goodwill. He had proved it with his actions, too. Feng Jun had exchanged some information with his current faction members through Han Xuhan, ascertaining his words.


    Who could force him now to act other than the way he intended to act? He owed nobody here.


    Now, in the last message he had sent to Shen Mi, he had told her of an enemy she had to watch out for. Then he had asked her for enough manpower to take down someone at the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm.


    Shen Mi must have had her suspicions. But she hadn''t probably expected him to be so direct about it.


    "One of MY fellow disciples?! You''re trying to say that this enemy you spoke of in your message belongs to the Stardust Sect?"


    In all honesty, Han Xuhan felt that Shen Mi was a bit too naive to be running a faction. It made sense that as an interim leader, she hadn''t been able to lead the Phoenix Faction out of their predicament.


    "Yes. You''ll surely recognize him by his name alone!" he answered, drawing out their anticipation and disbelief.


    "His name is Leng Qing. He was the stargazer who defeated you in the competition yesterday with a prediction that reached the orange floor of the Mouth of Destiny. Do you remember?"


    A collective series of gasps and whispers took birth the moment he named his target. Shen Mi was taken aback as well, but she replied fast.


    "Just because he defeated me in stargazing doesn''t mean he harbors ill will towards us. Since you seem to have witnessed the competition, you''d know very well that he didn''t even want to evaluate his prediction in front of us initially. We were the ones who forced him. Do you have any other reasoning behind such an accusation?"


    Han Xuhan nodded. The mysterious smile was still plastered on his face, and that confidence was clashing with her belief in her peer.


    "Of course. Whether he wanted to submit his prediction or not is just a matter of appearance. In substance, he did submit it. And in consequence, you were defeated. But that''s really not enough to incriminate him. What incriminated him was the very prediction be submitted!"

 Chapter 239: The Prophecy Fulfilled

    "What? How?!"


    Shen Mi''s astonishment was understandable. Han Xuhan didn''t keep her in suspense and explained immediately.


    "Leng Qing predicted that there would be NINE members of the invasion team from my sect, not four."


    Shen Mi''s eyes widened. Indeed, she hadn''t given any thought afterward to Leng Qing''s prediction. But when Han Xuhan and his team revealed themselves, there turned out to be only four of them, corresponding to her own prediction.


    If she was the one with the correct prediction, how did Leng Qing''s prediction light up two floors on the Mouth of Destiny?


    "You''re saying that Leng Qing cheated?! By some unknown method, he manipulated the Mouth of Destiny?! Impossible!"


    Her shout alarmed the dozen disciples who had gathered in her yard. Han Xuhan''s mysterious smile got wider.


    The Mouth of Destiny was one of their most revered treasures! It was nearly inconceivable to them that someone would be able to manipulate its evaluation according to his will.


    But the facts of the circumstance proved to be pointing in that very direction. Despite giving a false prediction, Leng Qing had been able to get the recognition of the Treasure.


    One of the sharper disciples immediately argued back, though.


    "Leng Qing didn''t lie about the second part, if I remember correctly. We are really colluding with you in a sense. So why would he need to lie about the first part?" she said. Her words were logical, earning her nods from both her peers and Han Xuhan himself.


    "That''s the brilliant part of his plan. He was trying his best to weaken your faction. But he knew that a mere prediction would not have much of an impact. He needed attention from the entire sect. He needed the trust of every opposing faction here. And he needed a catalyst to cement the concept of the Phoenix faction''s collusion in everyone''s mind! So that was why, despite not being an experienced stargazer, he joined the competition ''to have fun''. He used your predictions as a springboard, not only proving you wrong by manipulating the evaluation system, but also using that falsified momentum to throw out his real trump card, the accusation of collusion. Hahaha!"


    His explanation stunned the disciples of the Phoenix faction. Slowly, they began to whisper among themselves, exchanging wary, meaningful looks.


    "If you think about it, even the phrasing is suspicious. Is this really a collusion, what we''re doing? I''m helping your faction out of my goodwill, without asking for anything in return. I''m helping your sect get its talented disciples back, hopefully. So, why would any disciple of this sect label this as a collusion? That''s a pretty odd word to choose, out of so many options, is it not?"


    When one''s own interest was in danger, their visions would narrow. Han Xuhan was using this principle to its utmost degree. These guys wouldn''t care too much about tiny logical loopholes and alternative explanations when a scapegoat for their failures has been found.


    In actuality, the reason why he found Leng Qing suspicious was because he had managed to detect the existence of the foreign entity hiding inside his dao tower, one of the prisoners of the burning planet.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Even if Fang Xie hadn''t forced him to target Leng Qing, Han Xuhan would have investigated him. He didn''t believe that a mere cultivator at the fifth layer had the ability to trace what was hidden inside his dao tower.


    He was trying to hit two birds with one stone. Not only would Fang Xie''s orders be taken care of, he could also figure out how Leng Qing knew of his not-so-apparent possession.


    It didn''t take much more convincing to make them believe that Leng Qing really harbored some evil intention. Perhaps even Feng Jun had warned them of hidden enemies in the sect last night in his secret message. Seeing their steely look, Han Xuhan nodded to himself with satisfaction and asked them to lead the way to Leng Qing''s cabin.


    "Fellow cultivator Xuhan, I think we should clear some things up before we confront Leng Qing about his misconduct, as well as whatever scheme he might have behind it," Shen Mi said from his side as they walked by the edge of the outer ring island.


    "Sure, sure. Go ahead, speak your mind." Han Xuhan was in his most agreeable mode.


    "Just because Leng Qing might possibly be scheming against our faction doesn''t mean we can simply apprehend him with the accusation. Even if he is, he hasn''t committed any crimes other than manipulating the result of the Mouth of Destiny. So I believe we should talk it out with him, first of all. Brother Feng Jun also explained in his message that he isn''t sure whether Leng Qing is the mastermind or someone else has been using him as a front to attack our faction. Regardless, we cannot attack him over factional disputes when there''s no proof of major crimes."


    Han Xuhan hadn''t expected much more than that, in all honesty. He was happy enough to have a dozen strong cultivators accompany him on the way to Leng Qing''s house. He hadn''t actually planned to use their abilities in the upcoming confrontation with Leng Qing anyway.


    "It''s okay. I understand your position. I''m also hoping that the meeting doesn''t turn violent. To make sure that Leng Qing doesn''t misunderstand anything, all of you should stay hidden outside while he and I meet. Even if he''s guilty, he won''t admit anything if he''s surrounded by his opponents and can be overpowered easily. With just me, however, he''ll be a lot more relaxed. I''ll do my best to dig out whether he''s truly the culprit or who the real mastermind behind him is." Xuhan explained the plan to them in a light tone.


    Shen Mi and her team looked quite touched by the sheer length he was willing to go to help them.


    "Fellow cultivator, I really do not know why you''d be so selfless, doing your utmost to help us when you have nothing to gain..." One of them spoke in a heartfelt tone.


    Han Xuhan cursed her in his mind. The way she put it might just raise any sharp-witted person''s suspicion.


    Laughing woodenly, he quickly dispelled any seeds of doubt that might have sprouted among his dozen followers.


    "Don''t get it wrong, fellow cultivators! I''m merely investing. I do expect returns, just not now. I have great faith in Brother Feng Jun''s capabilities. If we can get him out of that world fragment, I''ll have a great ally here in your sect. The gratitude of an entire faction of a famous sect like yours is nothing to scoff at!"


    His words did little to downgrade their view of him, but it was just enough to make them not find his unknown motives a source of potential danger. When someone spoke so clearly of his impure motives, not even the most unsuspecting man would be in any doubt of his suspicious character. But at this point, the arrow had been shot. They needed a place to start the investigation from, and Leng Qing was their only lead. Whether Han Xuhan had other plans in mind took the backseat in their list of concerns.


    With that issue resolved, they reached Leng Qing''s cabin. The door turned out to be ajar, signaling that unlike most of his fellow disciples, Leng Qing had not left to seek glory in the heart of the archipelago. Seeing the opportunity from a distance, Han Xuhan stopped in his stride.


    It was truly convenient. In fact, Han Xuhan distinctly felt that it was a little too convenient...how everything had worked out for him so far.


    Finding the sight of the open door suspicious for some reason, he shook his head and gestured at his dozen companions to stand guard outside.


    "Suppress your auras. Only come in if I shout for you to. Otherwise, don''t reveal a single trace of yourself, no matter what! The situation inside might get heated. Do you have any ways to peek at what''s happening inside without alerting him?"


    What Han Xuhan actually wanted to know was whether any of his actions inside the house could be sensed or seen by these fellows.


    Two of them nodded. One of them apparently had a cloaking technique to turn himself invisible. It made peeking through windows and doors rather convenient.


    The other youth said he could track living organisms inside a limited area around his body. He would be able to sense anything they did inside the house as long as he could stand close to the house.


    The others would just rely on their enhanced auditory capabilities to eavesdrop on them.


    Han Xuhan let them pick their positions. Now that he knew who were watching and how they were watching the spectacle, he could act out his plans properly.


    Just before entering the yard, he summoned Tun Shi Tian and called the guy who claimed he could track all living organisms inside the house.


    "Can you sense this owl skeleton?" he asked.


    For a brief moment, the disciple seemed to put all of his focus on Tun Shi Tian''s body. Confusion appeared in his eyes soon.


    "It''s...very vague. Almost like a shadow. Strange!" he muttered in wonder.


    "Can you sense him?" Han Xuhan repeated himself.


    "Almost, but not as clearly as a regular living organism. If I don''t focus on it actively, I won''t be able to sense it or keep tracking the bird''s movements."


    Han Xuhan nodded gratefully and carried Tun Shi Tian on his forearm, stepping inside Leng Qing''s yard brazenly.


    The game began at that very moment.

 Chapter 240: Han Xuhan Versus The Oracle

    Leng Qing''s cabin consisted of three rooms lined up straight, their doors and windows perfectly symmetrical. Han Xuhan stepped past the front door and found room number one to be empty. He placed Tun Shi Tian on a table and handed a bag to the bird.


    Tun Shi Tian had been instructed on what to do when shit went down.


    Somewhat hesitant, he coughed loudly to alert the prey. What he did not expect, however, was the response his cough got him.


    "Come in, fellow cultivator, come in."


    Leng Qing''s voice floated out of the middle room. From his tone, it didn''t quite seem like he was surprised.


    Immediately, Han Xuhan''s mind went into overdrive.


    Leng Qing had addressed the intruder as a fellow cultivator, not with any titles used for one''s fellow disciples. Could he perhaps be aware of what was going on?


    He recalled the first time he had laid his eyes on this young man. At that time, Leng Qing had predicted some events and facts that he had no business being privy to. If a simple power of prediction could let a rookie cultivator learn of the existence hiding inside another''s dao tower, powerhouses like Xuan Zi and Kong Ye would have perceived the threat long ago. There was definitely something else that this guy was relying on to pry into secrets so deeply hidden.


    With such thoughts clouding his mind, Han Xuhan walked into the only bedroom of the cabin where he found Leng Qing leaning lazily on a recliner, enjoying the faint sunlight coming through the only window of the room.


    Leng Qing wasn''t the most impressionable fellow. Even his status as a body cultivator seemed dubious. His features were plain, with short, brown hair, straight brows, and thick lips that didn''t quite complement his olive complexion.


    Their eyes met, and both of them perceived the hint of anticipation and caution mixed inside their gazes.


    Han Xuhan was not the only one who had planned for this meeting, it seemed.


    "Fellow cultivator Han Xuhan, please take a seat."


    Leng Qing''s polite gesture set off a storm in his head. But he contained the chaotic flow of thoughts and took his seat, coming face to face with the young man. Between them was a low table, meant for serving tea. Two cups and a copper flask sat on it, the cups filled with a steaming green liquid.


    "It isn''t poison, fellow cultivator. Drink it if you want to. That cup on your end has been filled for you," Leng Qing said lightly.


    Han Xuhan''s eyes twitched.


    It wasn''t poison?


    What an awfully coincidental subject matter. He couldn''t help but touch himself on the waist where the tubes of the Mindkiller poison were hidden.


    A shadow of a smile flashed by on Leng Qing''s face at his twitchy response. Han Xuhan recovered his bearing and picked up the cup on Leng Qing''s end.


    "Look at this, brother Leng Qing. I just overthrew my fate by not choosing the cup of tea that was meant for me," Han Xuhan said as he took a light sip from the cup.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Leng Qing burst out laughing. It didn''t seem like a fake laugh either. There was genuine mirth in his eyes.


    "Fellow cultivator Xuhan, you''re as interesting as always," he said between his laugh.


    Han Xuhan''s brows furrowed.


    "You sound like you''ve met me before this, but I don''t quite recall-"


    "I haven''t, I haven''t," Leng Qing said hastily. "I have watched you diffuse the situation yesterday. Maybe you didn''t notice me in the crowd. I saw the whole thing and found you quite interesting."


    "...Oh."


    Han Xuhan placed the cup down and leaned back in his seat, mirroring Leng Qing''s posture.


    "And how did your observation of my magnificent self cue you into preparing for my arrival today?" he asked with impatient curiosity.


    Leng Qing''s smile did not fade, contrary to his expectations.


    "I predicted that the Phoenix Faction would latch on to you. I also predicted that there would be nine members in your team. Anyone who remembers my impactful prediction will realize that five members of your team were missing from the equation. Most of those who realize this will treat it as a minor mistake. I am, after all, a novice stargazer. As for why the Mouth of Destiny evaluated my first prediction so highly, it could be due to many reasons. For example- perhaps there are actually nine members in total in your team, but not all of them entered our island. Perhaps five of your fellow disciples were hiding in the crowd and didn''t plan to reveal themselves unless the situation grew nasty. Reality is often so complex and varied when looked at from the eyes of an oracle."


    At this point, Leng Qing''s smile grew wider.


    "However, only you, fellow cultivator Xuhan, would not treat my first prediction as a minor mistake of details, a variant possibility."


    Han Xuhan''s hands slowly retreated inside the folds of his robes.


    The guards he had left outside were listening right now. He couldn''t exactly stop Leng Qing from speaking. He could only listen along with them, feeling shaken to his core.


    "You, Han Xuhan, would be concerned. You''d come running, investigating the mystery behind that ''botched'' prediction of mine. You might even bring with you a mighty force, more than enough to suppress me. More than enough to snuff out any leakage of your secrets. Because you know that my prediction is true, too true."


    Han Xuhan''s limbs were growing colder by the second. But he held his nerve under Leng Qing''s dull gaze.


    "...Fellow cultivator Qing, you have a talent for making absolutely harmless matters sound sinister. Have you considered taking up the career of a novelist?"


    Leng Qing snorted, his expression turning blank.


    "It''s interesting how the revelation doesn''t faze you at all. You''ve prepared very well for our meeting, haven''t you?"


    Han Xuhan shook his head ruefully.


    "Prepared? What''s there to prepare? The so-called revelation you''ve been toying with is actually just my cultivation technique. I create undead minions who hide in my dao tower. Even though they are undead, their existence is perceivable under the spiritual senses of any decent cultivator. The five missing cultivators you speak of are just my five undead minions. Obviously, I don''t like to go around advertising that fact. You''re just taking advantage of this to spout nonsense, hoping to protect your skin."


    He was disappointed to see no trace of embarrassment or surprise surfacing on Leng Qing''s face. Rather, Leng Qing rolled his eyes as if the explanation had annoyed him more than anything else.


    What the hell did this guy know? And how?


    "Fellow cultivator Xuhan, was that explanation for me? Or was it for the guard dogs you''ve placed outside hoping I''d admit some crime I haven''t even committed?"


    ...Fuck.


    Han Xuhan''s mind came up completely blank. With every sentence had uttered, it was as if he had handed Leng Qing a weapon to use against him. No matter how he tried to snatch the momentum back and lead the conversation to a direction he had planned for, Leng Qing dragged him back to square one where he could only wonder about the depth of Leng Qing''s grasp on the situation.


    "You seem to be of the opinion that there''s more to it...?" Xuhan spoke slowly, his mind working simultaneously on moving the qi inside his meridians.


    "Yes, indeed. You claim to have five minions inside your dao tower. That would certainly clear the equation if it were true. But it''s not."


    "I can prove it," Han Xuhan said. "Watch me summon them one by one."


    "Huh? Sure, go ahead. I''ll keep count," Leng Qing said, rolling his eyes again.


    Han Xuhan entered the familiar meditation cycle, but not the one for summoning his minions. He slipped inside his own mind within the infinite depths of which surfaced a vague tower surrounded by mist.


    A moment later, he stood inside the tower, where Zhanxian was sitting idle and Hai Yin Zhe was zooming around the hall like a rocket, chasing after some law alphabets that had fallen from the dome above.


    "Zhanxian, Little Zhe!"


    Both of them responded immediately, coming to a halt in front of him as fast as they could. Little Zhe had guessed that her papa would take her out to play. And Zhanxian had guessed that he would be given an important mission.


    "Zhanxian, I need you to play along with my act outside. I''ll accuse you of some things. The content may vary according to the situation. You need to act like you''ve really done them. Act like an evil mastermind, that would be enough."


    Stunned by the orders, Zhanxian scratched his skull. Han Xuhan turned to look at Hai Yin Zhe.


    "Little Zhe, didn''t Auntie Zhou help you get the blue colors back in your body? You haven''t used them up like yesterday, right?"


    Hai Yin Zhe took a moment to reply.


    "I haven''t! I haven''t! I tried to but I couldn''t do it! Do you want me to, Papa? Eeeeeeeegghhhh..!"


    The snake bared her tiny fangs and tried to emulate what she had done yesterday. But she wasn''t smart enough to realize that the teeth set had been attached to her real form. With her avatar here, she couldn''t use its functions.


    "Not here!" Han Xuhan stopped her. "I''ll take you out and give you that toy from Auntie Zhou. Then I''ll hold your head and point you in the right direction. That''s when you need to do it."


    He had to repeat himself several times for the snake to grasp the whole plan. They even acted the motions out a couple of times there to get her some practice.


    "Come, let''s go teach somebody a lesson," he said before disappearing from the dao tower.

 Chapter 241: Hiding The Needle In A Haystack

    Han Xuhan opened his eyes and met Leng Qing''s dull gaze.


    "Get ready," he said. Then he proceeded to summon Zhanxian, who appeared behind his seat like a ghost.


    "Go stand over there. Make room for the rest." With Han Xuhan''s pointer, Zhanxian took a couple of steps to the side and partially blocked the view from the only window of the room.


    "That''s one," Leng Qing counted like a drone.


    Han Xuhan closed his eyes and summoned Hai Yin Zhe, who came out of his back with an excited yelp.


    "Come here, Yin Zhe. Don''t run around."


    He scooped the snake up like a kitten and placed her on his lap. His right hand stroked Yin Zhe''s bony neck, restraining the snake''s excited wriggling.


    "Two," Leng Qing mumbled. Meanwhile, Xuhan brought something out of his pocket and put it inside the snake''s jaw playfully.


    "Is that it?" Leng Qing raised his eyebrows, unimpressed.


    Han Xuhan canceled Tun Shi Tian''s summon and then re-summoned him inside the room. Not having expected that, the owl hooted around furiously for a second before realizing the gravity of the situation from Han Xuhan''s somber countenance.


    With Tun Shi Tian settled, Han Xuhan turned to look at Leng Qing and explained. "My fourth and fifth minions are still in the construction stage So I can''t summon him at the moment."


    Leng Qing laughed grimly. "What a convenient excuse! Do you take me for an idiot? Golem-creation-type cultivation techniques are very specific and methodical. Your technique doesn''t give you the ability to simultaneously work on creating multiple minions. At best, there''s a fourth minion, unfinished, inside your dao base. However, that too is a suspicious explanation, because if it hasn''t been given life, I would not be able to predict its existence ahead of time. It''s just a dead object at the moment. Even these three minions of yours are barely perceivable as ''living'' beings, a step away from a corpse.


    "There''s no reason for my divination spell to treat your unfinished fourth minion as a sentient being. And setting that aside, the math doesn''t add up at all! What about the fifth ''minion''? There''s no way it exists inside your dao base! So what did my prediction count as a living being? Who is the ninth member of your team? You''ve just claimed that it''s your minion. Now don''t go about denying that! You''re covering up for somebody. Which also means you''re hiding a lot of secrets from even the Phoenix Faction whom you claim to be helping unconditionally!"


    Han Xuhan shrugged helplessly. "I have no plans to harm them. That''s the only reason Feng Jun has been cooperating with me. If he had a shred of doubt about my motives, he wouldn''t have done so. As for the inconsistent math, yes, I indeed am covering up some secrets. But they concern you or your sect in no manner. Why are you so worked up over them? It''s almost as if you''re catching at every straw before your eventual downfall."


    Leng Qing opened his mouth to speak, only to go rigid as if something had occurred to him.


    Han Xuhan knew what it was.


    Leng Qing had realized that his opponent had surrendered too quickly. That could only mean that Xuhan''s real counter would not come from that avenue.


    Leng Qing''s pupils shrank into pinpoints as his gaze flickered towards Zhanxian standing ten feet away from them.


    But Zhanxian was entirely harmless in his appearance. He wasn''t even moving. Less than a decisecond later, Leng Qing heard a soft hiss.


    Every sensory nerve in his body suddenly recoiled, signaling that an overwhelming danger was a hair''s breadth away from him. Leng Qing''s instincts screamed for him to move!


    From the corner of his frozen eyes, he noticed a....spray of black fluid flying towards him, their source being the skeleton snake''s outspread maw.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Leng Qing''s first identity was a body cultivator. Even at the fifth layer, his agility and reflexes were almost unmatched among ordinary cultivators around his level.


    From the lazy sitting posture, Leng Qing couldn''t move forward to make room for his body to dodge, because that would only shorten the distance between him and the black liquid.


    Leng Qing kicked hard with his right foot which had been placed at the bottom of the table between them. The sheer force he employed behind the kick left a crack in the floor. As his foot crashed flatly into the bottom edge of the table, the entirety of that power was channeled into its body impact fully, and it rose into the air before even the sound of the impact could be heard.


    Meanwhile, his left foot wasn''t idle. The bottom of his feet bent slightly towards the left and kicked the floor hard enough to launch his entire body in the air.


    The left half of his seat broke apart like a biscuit as his body bent sideways and used the force created by his left foot to crash through it.


    Within just half a second, the scene inside the room had shifted to the point of becoming unrecognizable.


    Faint splashing sounds came from the spot where the spray of black liquid had landed. It was the table which had blocked most of the spray, jumping into the air while Leng Qing took cover behind it.


    A few drops had managed to slip past the table, but they landed unsuccessfully, hitting the remains of the recliner that Leng Qing had titled over during his fall.


    But before Leng Qing could recover, a scream resonated through the room.


    "Aaaahghgh! Zhanxian!"


    Han Xuhan fell along with his chair as if the one to have been attacked wasn''t just Leng Qing, as if his minion wasn''t the one who had initiated the attack under his command.


    Furious, Leng Qing pushed his body off the ground like a coiled spring, getting to his feet in a second.


    "You-!"


    He could not finish his words, because he heard a whistling sound behind him, its source closing in on his back.


    An arrow?! Who was it?


    Leng Qing whipped around and bent his body like a snake in mid-air. But at such a close range, he wasn''t able to avoid the weapon completely. A very small tear appeared on his back as the source of the whistling sound passed by his spinning body, sinking into the wall behind them with a dull click.


    Leng Qing landed on his feet and looked for the weapon...which turned out to be a crossbow bolt.


    It took him less than a second to trace the trajectory. The bolt had come from the direction of the front room. The door between both rooms has been open the whole time. Shooting from that room would be easy.


    Who was hiding there? Leng Qing had not sensed anyone entering except Han Xuhan.


    Had the powerful members of the Phoenix faction grown so bold and uncaring? He, Leng Qing, was clearly about to win the argument against this foreigner. Yet, that chose to side with him?


    No matter, this was still within his calculations. His objective behind this planned confrontation wasn''t something even Han Xuhan could foresee.


    Leng Qing quietened the burning anger and indignation in his heart. Just as he was about to turn towards Xuhan, he realized something.


    Where the hell was the bird skeleton?


    Right at that moment, a sense of chilling numbness appeared around his neck. Leng Qing touched the skin there and found the only injury he had sustained throughout the five-second-long ordeal.


    The thin laceration made by the crossbow bolt didn''t emit any sensation of pain. And that was the problem. Leng Qing rubbed the wet skin there and brought his fingers back to inspect.


    It wasn''t just blood that came with the fingers. Leng Qing could smell the stink of medicine on them. The color of the blood was also deeper as if something else was mixed with it.


    The bolt was poisoned?!


    Leng Qing was stunned, but only for a moment. The fact that someone was willing to go that far meant that the situation was beyond saving. Violence was the only option now.


    Right at that moment, Han Xuhan managed to sit up on the floor and screeched, "Zhanxian! Why did you tell Tun Shi Tian and Hai Yin Zhe to attack him? I didn''t signal anything!"


    Under Leng Qing''s cold stare, Han Xuhan turned to look at the snake in his arms.


    "Yinzhe! How many times do I have to tell you not to listen to Zhanxian?! You''re grounded!"


    Before the snake could protest, Han Xuhan''s hand clamped down around its mouth.


    "Tun Shi Tian! Come out and admit your fault!"


    The owl slowly hopped into the room. Leng Qing realized who had shot the crossbow now! It was this owl!


    But how did it do it so fast? And where did it find a crossbow inside his front room? He clearly remembered that when Han Xuhan had summoned the owl, it didn''t carry anything with it.


    It must have snuck out during their conversation and picked up a crossbow from somewhere. Thankfully, he had been vigilant and experienced enough in close-quarters combat to avoid suffering fatal injuries.


    "Sorry, master," the owl said. "Zhanxian was very insistent with his signals."


    "Zhanxian!" Han Xuhan yelled angrily. He looked even more angry than Leng Qing himself was.


    "Explain yourself!"


    The red human skeleton shrugged after a moment of silence where its focus repeatedly darted between Han Xuhan and the owl. Leng Qing could almost see its mind running to make up an explanation.


    "Er, master, he was...uh, he was being very annoying. I couldn''t see any point in the accusations he was constantly making. And then what you said really put an end to the argument. But he looked like he still wanted to argue back. So I thought I would teach this punk a lesson..."


    The explanation was so painfully slow that anyone would suspect its authenticity. The skeleton seemed to be trying his best to emulate the speech pattern of a playground bully.


    Snorting in disbelief, Leng Qing interrupted their act.


    "What the fuck did you put on the crossbow bolt, fellow cultivator? I do hope it''s not poison!"


    Han Xuhan visibly flinched. With tremendous hesitation, he slowly replied, "It is."


    "No wonder my entire neck has gone numb..." Leng Qing growled helplessly.


    "Fellow cultivator Xuhan!" Shouted a girl as she rushed into the room. Following her was a team of twelve disciples who looked as stunned as he was by the entire fiasco.


    "I told you we aren''t going to attack him before verifying the truth! I don''t care whether it was unintentional or not, but I hope you''ll excuse us for not entertaining your request further!"


    Shen Mi looked wary, angry even. Even to her inexperienced eyes, it was clear that Han Xuhan had planned to finish off Leng Qing in one go. At least, he had played some part in orchestrating the attack.


    Han Xuhan looked crestfallen. Lowering his head, he apologized repeatedly, insisting that he had no idea that his minions would launch a surprise attack on his opponent. It was truly laughable, Leng Qing felt.


    "Give him the antidote first!" she yelled angrily.


    At least my sect members haven''t betrayed me...Leng was touched by the sentiment.


    Wearing a guilty expression, Han Xuhan brought out a vial filled of colorless liquid.

 Chapter 242: Everyone Is Hiding A Scheme

    On top of the highest summit belonging to the Gladiator Guild, three figures sat amidst a pile of motionless bodies. The brown soil was painted with fresh blue blood, the sources of which were the dozens of wounded bodies.


    "Martial brother Wu, how did your night go?"


    Xiao Wu didn''t seem to appreciate the mirth in her tone. He replied snappily.


    "I almost died several times throughout the last night. martial sister. Would it hurt you to not sound like you''re enjoying my misfortune?"


    Yuen Zhou''s grin got more pronounced. "I told you to obey my orders yesterday. Serves you right to be confined within that trap. You''re already lucky enough to not have entered any of the restricted zones in the void. Death would be the only outcome in that case."


    Xiao Wu''s countenance turned somewhat fearful as he recalled his experience inside the trap arranged by the disciples of the Gladiator Guild.


    "You can''t trust anyone''s appearance these days," he muttered to himself. "Even those brutish fellows can set up such elaborate traps...it''s unbelievable!"


    At this moment, Mu Ran, who had been meditating calmly until now, opened his eyes abruptly as if alerted by something.


    Both Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu turned to look at him as he leaped to his feet and pulled a green metal tube out of a pocket of his frayed robe. The tube was as thick as a finger. Both ends of the tube were open, but they could see an unnatural array of colorful lights dancing inside the tube.


    "Looks like it''s started," Mu Ran commented in a grave voice. "We need water, something transparent, at least."


    Xiao Wu sprinted away, returning ten precious seconds later with a bowl. Mu Ran looked at the bowl he was being presented with. His expression turned gloomy.


    "I asked for water, Xiao Wu," he said in a voice that was struggling not to rise to its highest, strongest pitch.


    "I know that. But if you need water, you''ll certainly need something to hold the water, right?" Xiao Wu replied.


    "Good job. Now we''re just missing the most important element of the spell...the water."


    Xiao Wu''s short temper flared up once again as he perceived the authoritative disapproval in Mu Ran''s tone.


    "Why don''t you piss on it, martial brother?" he growled. "Xuhan told me you love pissing on random objects. I brought the bowl, now you provide the main element since you''re apparently the boss here."


    Mu Ran sent him an incensed look. Had he not been overly concerned with what the metal tube would show them, he would have beaten some sense into Xiao Wu right then and there.


    But this was not the time to argue. He looked around for sources of water, only to find Yuen Zhou holding a wine gourd in her hand.


    "This will do," she said while snatching the bowl out of Xiao Wu''s hands.


    Once the wine filled the bowl to its brim, Mu Ran held the green tube vertically one foot above the still liquid, just as Leng Qing had instructed them to.


    The dancing colorful rays from within the tube fell on the wine. Slowly, a picture formed inside the wine. Instead of reflecting the three faces towering above the bowl, the wine showed the reflection of a brightly lit room.


    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    It was as if someone had opened a window that connected the room with the Gladiator Guild''s highest arena! They could see and hear everything that went on inside that room from here!


    They could see the entire room from their vantage point. One young man occupied a seat by the bed, his eyes focused on the door as if expecting somebody.


    To seemingly nobody in particular, the young man suddenly whispered, "A game begins... now."


    Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu knew who the words were meant for. Their focus gathered on the door of the bedroom.


    From beyond the door, someone coughed loudly.


    "Come in, fellow cultivator, come in," Leng Qing said from his recliner. His eyes flickered towards the magical ''window'' through which the three martial siblings had become an audience to this destined meeting.


    All three of them took a sharp breath as Han Xuhan walked in through the door.


    * * * * * *


    As Han Xuhan handed the vial to Shen Mi, he noticed a stiff look taking shape on Leng Qing''s face. Whether it was because of the poison acting up inside his bloodstream or something else...he did not know.


    What he did know was that if Leng Qing''s ability to predict the future so intricately was real, then he would have been able to predict this ambush as well.


    But he had not managed to do so. Leng Qing had jumped right into the trap Han Xuhan had set.


    Shen Mi pushed Leng Qing down on the recliner and examined the small wound on his neck for a moment before grimacing. She probably didn''t know what poison Han Xuhan had used on the crossbow bolt.


    It had been worth it to purchase a bundle of that unique sedative from the treasury yesterday. Grown only in the herb gardens with an improvised formula, this heavy sedative could even knock out tonnes-heavy elephants.


    Elder Shen had been so happy with the fact that he had finally paid for an item that he hadn''t even enquired what he would do with such a powerful medicine.


    Shen Mi uncapped the vial and practically forced Leng Qing to drink up. Leng Qing''s eyes flickered a couple of times to the window beside his recliner as if expecting somebody to come and rescue him from his current predicament.


    Ten seconds after the first mouthful went down his throat, Leng Qing''s eyes lost focus. His pupils rolled back and his muscles relaxed suddenly. To Shen Mi and her team, Leng Qing looked no different from someone who had been knocked out.


    Sensing their aggressive questioning gaze, Han Xuhan didn''t bat an eyelid to reply, "The antidote won''t take effect so fast. The poison in the crossbow bolt can paralyze those with a weak physical constitution. But don''t worry, he''ll be fine since he has had the antidote. We''ll probably need to wait several hours to see him recover, though."


    "Those with weak physical constitution? Leng Qing is a body cultivator! A weak physical constitution is the last thing he needs to worry about!" One of Shen Mi''s teammates expressed her doubts directly.


    Her rebuttal was supported by the rest of the team. It was indeed rather suspicious to hear that a body cultivator had fallen to poison.


    Han Xuhan wore a disdainful look on his face.


    "Do you guys have some misconception about what''s considered ''weak''? The poison in my crossbow isn''t something a mere body cultivator at the fifth layer can counter. If he was at the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm, perhaps the result could have been different."


    Shen Mi and her fellow disciples looked flabbergasted. Perhaps the scene of an early fourth-layer cultivator calling a fifth-layer body cultivator a weakling didn''t quite seem right to them.


    That''s okay. Han Xuhan was more than glad to show them the errors in their worldview.


    As they simmered in anger and frustration, Han Xuhan turned toward his minions and began to lecture them about the grave consequences of not obeying orders. Although everyone in the room was giving him looks of mild disbelief, Han Xuhan persisted in his effort to make himself be portrayed as a mere bystander to the entire ambush.


    Almost half an hour passed by. Leng Qing showed no signs of waking up. Appearing rather nervous by his lack of improvement, Han Xuhan suggested something reasonable.


    "Guys, should I return to my sect and ask the healers whether there''s anything else we could do?"


    Shen Mi gave him a doubtful look.


    "You''re not planning to escape responsibility if something happens to Brother Qing, are you?"


    "Do you think Feng Jun is going to forgive me if I do that?" Han Xuhan replied.


    "...I guess not."


    Han Xuhan gathered his minions and walked out of the room. Behind him, Shen Mi subtly nodded at one of her teammates, who immediately got the hint and turned invisible to the naked eye.


    Silently, he followed the foreigner named Han Xuhan.


    As soon as Xuhan crossed the front yard of the cabin, he took out a paper talisman from inside his robe and placed it on the ground. Then he drew an arrow on the soil, pointing towards the cabin.


    The young man silently following Xuhan clearly saw the whole thing. Once he realized that Han Xuhan was heading towards the edge of the island to jump off, he returned to the cabin in a hurry and informed Shen Mi and the rest about the strange incident.


    "Where is it? Have you brought the talisman with you?" Shen Mi said anxiously. All of them had grown alarmed by Han Xuhan''s odd actions. It was clear to them that he had other plans unbeknownst to everyone.


    "No. It''s right there, outside. I didn''t touch it fearing that might trigger something," he answered.


    "Talismans are complex constructs. It''s good that you thought of that."


    All of them rushed out of the cabin to see what Han Xuhan had left in the yard. The talisman was still where he had left it, glowing dimly with a green light along the patterns drawn on it, powered by heavily compressed qi and qi conduits.


    They surrounded the paper and observed its patterns.


    "What do you think, sister Xueshi? You know the most about talismans among us," Shen Mi said uneasily.


    "...This...it looks like a signal-type pulsar formation," Ning Xueshi said slowly, her mind racing to judge its characteristics.


    "Signal? Of what?!" Shen Mi wondered aloud, echoing everyone''s thoughts.


    Right then, a final pulse spread out of the paper on the ground, enveloping all of them. As the bright light faded, they discovered that.... nothing had happened.


    Whatever this signal was meant for, they couldn''t see any results.


    Yet, Shen Mi couldn''t shake off the feeling that something was off.

 Chapter 243: Fish Inside A Net

    Right when she was about to give up on expecting the talisman to do anything at all, one of her teammates yelped.


    "There''s an invisible person around us! Careful!"


    The one who had shouted was well-known for his ability to perceive the auras of any living organism around him, making him one of the hardest disciples in their sect to sneak up on. Since he had said so-


    All thirteen of them immediately leaped closer to each other, forming a tight circle as they faced outward.


    "Jingchun, can you sense his approximate position?" Shen Mi said.


    "No. This person was very fast. I only sensed his presence for half a second when he passed by my perception field. But I''m pretty sure..."


    "Yes?"


    "I''m pretty sure he was heading towards the cabin," Jingchun whispered, finding his own conclusion difficult to swallow.


    For a moment, all thirteen of them exchanged tense looks among themselves.


    "Your shout had to have alerted him. Will he enter the cabin now?" Ning Xueshi whispered.


    "I''m not sure. But he definitely isn''t near us at the moment. If he has some urgent business in Leng Qing''s cabin, then I doubt he''ll waste his time when he has already been discovered."


    "Could it be that Xuhan?" Shen Mi wondered. "He left under the guise of returning to his sect and came back here with some sort of invisibility formation?"


    "Why would he leave that signaling talisman here in that case?" Jingchun retorted.


    "It''s definitely somebody else. The aura I felt wasn''t inferior to any of us here. This invisible opponent is definitely at the peak of the Physique Transformation realm!"


    All of them fell silent as they contemplated whether to rush into the hut to search for this invisible enemy or be passively defensive. None of them had ever encountered someone who could fully turn invisible, at least not in a situation where one wrong move could lead to fatal injuries.


    Right then, one of them said, "Sister Mi, do you remember...that Han Xuhan asked you to gather enough manpower to suppress someone at the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm?"


    "...."


    The implication wasn''t lost on any of them. Shen Mi became pale as she recalled the contents of the letter she had received from Xuhan last night. At that time, she had assumed that he wanted some backup to deal with some hidden enemies of their faction whom he had discovered, for example- Leng Qing.


    But Leng Qing had been dealt with unceremoniously by Xuhan himself under some very suspicious circumstances that had led her to hold an unfriendly attitude towards Han Xuhan.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Yet now, Leng Qing''s cabin had received an invisible guest. Han Xuhan had left a signal-type formation. Leng Qing himself was knocked out-


    Shen Mi''s pupils shrank.


    Could the truth be that Han Xuhan was using Leng Qing as a bait to draw out the real mastermind planning the downfall of their Phoenix Faction?


    As soon as the idea took birth in her mind, it took root, spreading its branches in many directions.


    Shen Mi felt like she had reached the closest conclusion to truth. Although there were some vague aspects, what else could be a more likely face of this disjointed mess of incidents?


    "Whoever it is, we can''t let them harm Leng Qing! Move!"


    Her steps as powerful as a stomping dragon, Shen Mi sprang towards the cabin, disregarding her personal safety, not caring if this invisible opponent had laid a trap for them upon learning that he had been discovered.


    Behind her, most of her teammates followed...all except one, in fact. In their rush to save Leng Qing, none of them noticed one of their fellow disciples hanging back, face uncertain.


    "None of these are parts of the plan. Who the hell might this be? Are they trying to frame us? How?"


    This disciple seemed to have reached a decision after a moment.


    "We need to unmask this fellow, whoever he is."


    As the disciple followed the rest of the team to enter the cabin, a fast silhouette swooped down from above, landing gracefully in front of the cabin.


    This was a red skeleton of an owl. It held in its beak a pouch.


    In the backyard of the cabin, a human skeleton crouched behind a shrub. In front of him, precious items used in fueling high-level formations were laid out.


    If one were to look outside through the only window of the bedroom of the cabin, they''d see a human standing not too far away, beneath the canopy of a large tree. He was holding a skeleton of a snake in his arms, his eyes trained on the cabin intently.


    "The second layer of the game is afoot, Yinzhe," he said in a low voice. "Do you think Papa will win this time?"


    The red snake skeleton in his arms squirmed. "A foot? Why do I not have a foot, Papa? Why? Can I have a foot like you? You have not one, but two feet! Give me one, Papa! Pwease!"


    "It''s nature, Yinzhe. Some things in nature cannot be forced. Just like how some people can''t be forced to go against their nature."


    The first concern Shen Mi and her team needed to address was to ensure Leng Qing''s safety. Leng Qing''s cabin was not large, at least not enough to let thirteen people move around comfortably. One after one, they rushed into the bedroom where they had left him seated on his recliner.


    Whoever this invisible person they were facing was, he couldn''t have done anything so fast. Surrounding Leng Qing''s recliner from all four directions, Shen Mi began to give out orders.


    "Brother Cui, Sister Zhen, you two check the last room. Brother Shan and Hui, you two take the front room. Don''t leave a single inch of area unchecked."


    The four disciples nodded and moved out methodically, their limbs taut and ready to explode into motion at the shortest possible notice of any anomaly.


    "Brother Jingchun, begin meditating. Try your best to cover the entire cabin with your consciousness."


    The disciple whose specialization was to perceive all types of life around him was their biggest asset in this confrontation. But that didn''t mean he was the only card they had to rely on.


    Shen Mi glanced casually at one of the remaining disciples in the room as she began checking Leng Qing''s body for any abnormalities. Imperceptibly, a thread of invisible qi slithered out of the body of the disciple, heading towards the ceiling. This qi seeped into the roof, stimulating the construct that had been placed above, a feature common to every cabin on the outer-ring island. Unseen to all the occupants of the cabin, the large metal ball at the center of the roof began to heat up, emitting a lava-like red sheen. Crimson cracks began to appear across its smooth exterior, forming complex patterns that covered the entire metal sphere.


    This was Shen Mi''s biggest trump card. Their current situation could no longer be categorized as a simple tournament scuffle. Although she did not know what game Han Xuhan was playing here, it was apparent enough that the invisible enemy around them had no good intentions. This could escalate to the level of inter-sect conflict. Involving their elders from the get-go would be the best route to take, she believed. And that was what the Data Container on the roof would accomplish!


    Of course, it would be the best outcome if they could apprehend this infiltrator by the time the elders were alerted and came to intervene. So Shen Mi did not slack off in her attempts to trace this fellow. After checking Leng Qing''s vitals, she switched her focus back to the room.


    Qi Jingchun was fully absorbed in meditation. If the invisible opponent understood the situation here, the first person he would target would undoubtedly be Jingchun. Shen Mi understood this, as did Jingchun himself. But he trusted her though to surrender his safety in her hands.


    Where could this enemy be...? And what was their motive?


    At that very moment, Shen Mi felt an alien sensation wash over her. It felt as if every bit of qi inside her body had gone out of control, falling into a chaotic outward flux.


    And it wasn''t just her. Qi Jingchun yelped as he was wrenched out of his meditation by dint of the failure of his qi cycle. The fellow disciple who had been sneakily sending his qi to the Data Container on the roof went pale as his mental connection to the qi outside his body received a massive backlash. All of their qi, it seemed, were being sucked out by some type of formation around them.


    However, none of these phenomena were as important as the discovery they made at that moment.


    An unfamiliar man was standing right behind Leng Qing''s recliner, unbeknownst to all of them until now. He looked as dumbfounded as the rest of them upon discovering that his invisibility had worn off somehow.

 Chapter 244: One Versus Thirteen

    A lot happened in the span of the next dozen seconds.


    Shen Mi, the quickest to recover from the shock, lashed out with a side kick aimed at the man''s chest. She was the closest to this unforeseen opponent, and engaging in a battle fueled by qi was simply not possible when the distance between the opponents was as short as six feet.


    The disciple who had been assaulted by the backlash while trying to send a signal to their Elders jumped to his feet.


    Qi Jingchun staggered on all fours while trying to recover from his own backlash. The injury he had suffered wasn''t as light as the other fellow. His brain was in disarray. Even though he had recognized the danger they were in, he failed to respond to the situation.


    There were six more disciples inside the room. Half of them immediately sank their consciousness inside their meridians, their qi rolling through their body to form cycle after cycle. The other three rushed towards the physical altercation taking place a dozen feet away.


    As Shen Mi''s powerful kick crashed into the man''s chest with a resounding ''THUMP'', she felt like she had kicked a rubber dummy. As she was a cultivator whose focus in cultivation was in the mysticism field, the power carried within that kick couldn''t perhaps be considered impressive at the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm. However, it was still a kick that could break the ribcage of somebody at the eighth or seventh layer if they took it head-on. Yet, Shen Mi realized that her kick had barely been an annoyance to the man. His body bent backward a little as if neutralizing the force behind her kick. But he straightened up immediately and grabbed her ankle before she could retract her foot. The speed of his movement, reflexes, and the sturdiness of his body provided two sets of data to Shen Mi at that moment.


    One: this opponent was at or above the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm himself, and he had some skill in close-quarters combat.


    Two: the opponent wasn''t in the ninth layer, but he was close to it, and the sturdiness of his physique was a result of focusing on body cultivation.


    Neither of the two possible situations boded well for Shen Mi as his opponent. And she got the proof of that first hand as the man''s vice-like grip tugged her off balance, forcing her upper body to lean to a side. As fast as lightning, his second move, a kick just as fierce as hers hit her chest.


    Shen Mi crashed into her three teammates who had just appeared behind her to assist her in taking the man down. Two of them couldn''t avoid her body, while the third disciple was only slowed down by a fraction of a second.


    In that fraction of a second, the man followed up his first kick with a second flying kick which the disciple had no way of avoiding.


    However, this disciple hadn''t come rushing without a reason. He was a well-rounded combatant whose focus lay in martial arts. His body had already gathered a strange momentum during his short sprint, which he channeled into his right hand.


    A hand chopping down met a foot spearing forward. The resulting clash forced the stranger to wince, but the power behind his kick wasn''t so easily mitigated. The foot still crashed into the disciple''s chest, sending him staggering back a couple of steps.


    From start to finish, this exchange took less than three seconds, and half of this timespan had been spent on reacting to moves and planning to move.


    The man didn''t follow up with a third attack. Instead, just as Shen Mi had feared from the start, he grabbed the unconscious Leng Qing''s face.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "One of my fingers is all it would take to take this young man''s life," he spoke in a cold tone. "And I''m sure I don''t need to explain what might make me move my finger."


    The two disciples who were about to take their martial brother''s place as combatants froze.


    Shen Mi, having just gotten up from the floor, glanced at her other three teammates who had been channeling their qi to make use of their cultivation techniques.


    However, all three of them opened their eyes, face pale. From four feet away Qi Jingchun answered the unasked question in her heart.


    "All qi inside this cabin has become subject to a foreign control. Nobody can resort to cultivation techniques here right now."


    From the front room, two figures rushed in, only to freeze at the entrance of the room as they took in the shocking picture inside the room. Almost simultaneously, the scene repeated itself at the opposite end of the room where the disciples who had gone to examine the kitchen stood in stunned silence.


    At one end of the room, one man stood beside an unconscious boy on a recliner, his hand covering the boy''s skull in a threatening manner. In front of them was a recently overturned table. The wooden floor around the table had been burnt pitch-black by acidic poison. This damaged area seemed to be the line separating the two from the rest of the room which held thirteen cultivators, none below the impressive eighth layer of the Physique Transformation Realm. Yet at the moment, they looked as helpless as doormats.


    The stranger, an adult man who was definitely not a disciple of their generation, surveyed all thirteen of his opponents without a trace of fear on his face.


    "Not quite how I was expecting this to go. You can''t trust anybody these days...not even those left with no choice but to obey orders, tsk tsk tsk..."


    Invigorated by the barely repressed fury in his voice, Shen Mi chose to backtrack her thoughts a bit and asked, "Senior...why are you attacking us juniors? Is this a feud between your sect and ours? Surely, an Elder like you would not dishonor himself by involving himself in a scuffle with junior disciples such as us?"


    A gaze devoid of emotions fell on Shen Mi''s face. The man replied after a second of silent contemplation.


    "A scuffle? This is not a scuffle. This is...a wipeout."


    Shen Mi''s eyes widened in disbelief. She had seen her fair share of bullies. She had met more than a few shameless opponents. But she had never faced an Elder who would beat up some rookie disciples and call it a wipeout so proudly!


    The man seemed to have gleaned her outrage. With a mocking smile, he added, "Not the kind of wipeout you''re familiar with, though. It is a shame that your defensive maneuver is so meticulous. If you hadn''t stripped me of my ability to control qi, I would have made this painless for you in order to not leave a trace. Now...you''re just forcing me to hurt you."


    Alarm bells went off inside Shen Mi''s brain. Several factors jumped out, forming clues that trapped her inside a maze of confusion.


    They had no idea why everyone inside the cabin had been forcibly dispossessed of their qi! Until now, she had assumed this stranger was behind the obstacle! But if even he was a mere victim...who was in control?


    Then again, why did this strange Elder sneak into their sect in the first place? What was inside Leng Qing''s cabin that he wanted? Judging by his actions...could his target be Leng Qing himself?


    And the person who had practically set the stage for this entire confrontation...what relationship did that Han Xuhan have with this Elder? Could he be from the Crimson Snow Sect too?


    Yet she was not given the time to contemplate the possible conclusions to these clues, because the man holding Leng Qing hostage suddenly dragged out a set of long needles from his sleeve which he threw at them indiscriminately.


    Four disciples were not fortunate or agile enough to dodge in time. Three of them had comparatively weak physical constitutions. The needles that struck them sank into their flesh by an inch or more. The other disciple, the one who had already exchanged blows with the Elder, had used the familiar chopping technique to slap the needle away just as it was about to plunge into his eyeball.


    Shen Mi and the other eight disciples were relatively further away. Their enhanced reflexes allowed them to move away or use something to deflect the needles hurled at them.


    To their horror, barely had the needles they had avoided fallen on the floor when another set mysteriously appeared in the man''s palm.


    Another barrage later, the number of disciples untouched by the needles was reduced to six.


    At this moment, the first disciple to have been hit by a needle, the dizzy Qi Jingchun, showed them why they needed to avoid being hit.


    Just like Leng Qing, his body went limp, falling face first on the floor. Following him, more bodies fell, but those standing had little opportunity to care. Because the number of needles this man had hidden inside his sleeves was turning out to be impossibly high.


    Three of the four walls of the room were completely riddled with needles. It was a testament to how powerful and fast this man''s skillfulness was in this type of combat. Barely a dozen seconds had passed and he had used nothing but his own hands and feet to suppress thirteen top-grade disciples of a sect into cowering behind furniture.


    It wasn''t that these disciples didn''t know how to use weapons themselves. But locked inside a room with a man whose physical constitution was certainly better than any of them, they hadn''t even had the chance to draw their weapons. If Leng Qing''s body wasn''t in the way, perhaps they could have retaliated with powerful martial skills. But this entire time, the man hadn''t slackened his grip over the boy''s face.


    Once the man realized that none of them would come out from the safe covers they had chosen to take using the sturdy furniture of the room, he began to shoot lengthier, heavier needles.


    Shen Mi had been ''hiding'' behind the door to the front room. A needle smashed through that three-inch-thick slab of rockshard wood and stapled her shoulder to the door.


    The last thing she heard before losing track of her body and mind was a victorious, snide laugh, followed by a surprised yelp.

 Chapter 245: Face Off

    "Meteor dust as a shield from the sky, abyssal rocks as a shield from the earth, crushed sunshine pearl to block out prying eyes, and incense of Yin-devourer grass to blind all trapped spirits..."


    One by one, Han Xuhan went through the materials his minions had set up around the cabin. A vague film of red dust surrounded the cabin which one wouldn''t notice unless they were in close proximity. No sounds, nor any clues would travel out as to what was happening inside the cabin.


    "The highest grade of Soulshaker pill to rattle all souls, the soul purification talisman to blow them out of body..."


    Han Xuhan glanced at the tiny hourglass he had placed at the edge of the formation that surrounded the cabin. It was just about time he made his entrance.


    Just for good measure, he picked up a set of exploding knives to throw around in case the situation spiraled beyond his control.


    "Zhanxian, Tun Shi Tian, you know what to do if you see my signals. Keep little Zhe in check."


    With that said, Han Xuhan took a deep breath and stepped inside past the boundary of the formation.


    The moment both of his feet touched the ground inside the formation, he felt as if the world around him had turned into a chaotic whirlpool of colors. It was akin to having a colorful hypnotic picture pasted in his visual perception, quite similar to using his secondary mode of vision, the Ghostsight.


    Familiar with the dizzy sensation, Han Xuhan put his focus into changing the mode of his vision. He had practiced it several times in the last twenty-four hours. Even without any external stimulations that made his Ghostsight act up uncontrollably, he could activate it if he focused hard enough.


    Slowly, the chaotic flashes of colors faded from his eyes, replaced by the constant, vibrating world of threads. Han Xuhan found himself looking at a nearly black-and-white world, and despite being very, very nearsighted in this mode of vision, he could vaguely see the outline of the cabin ahead.


    Step by step, he walked up to the front door and entered the cabin with his hands outstretched like a blind man.


    He stopped for a moment inside the front room, mapping out some potential traps to use on his targets. The room was empty, but the open door ahead gave him a good look at what had happened there.


    Although he had heard the sounds of fighting and glimpsed some scenes through the bedroom window, the fight had been so fast that he could only guess what was going on. Only when the sounds of battle died down had he made his final move, activating the soul-trapping formation.


    As he stepped into the bedroom, Han Xuhan was greeted by a rather impactful sight.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Bodies lay all over the room, crouching in humiliating positions. It was clear that none of them were conscious...and perhaps not even alive. Han Xuhan couldn''t predict whether a crazy man like Fang Xie would stop himself from delivering killing blows.


    Almost the entire floor was dyed with a black liquid that was increasing by the moment. After a moment of confusion, he realized that this black liquid was the blood of the combatants.


    As for what this blood had been spilled by, it was obvious. His hands which were touching the door came into contact with dozens of sharp metal needles that had perforated the door, the walls, and pretty much everything in the room.


    Han Xuhan felt like he was inside a sketch painting depicting the aftermath of a massacre. And the man who had committed the massacre was standing just a dozen feet away, his hands raised in a manner that signaled that he was about to throw something.


    Unfortunately for Fang Xie, he could not see Han Xuhan. The formation that had been set up around the cabin had ensured this. Not a single living being inside the formation was now capable of ''seeing'' in the ordinary sense. Of course, if they had auxiliary means of vision such as Han Xuhan''s Ghostsight, then that would help them perceive their surroundings spiritually.


    But Han Xuhan didn''t find that possibility to be likely.


    He stood absolutely still, taking his breathing to such a minuscule level that his chest barely rose and fell.


    Yet still, Fang Xie''s senses caught his position almost perfectly. The moment one of his feet placed itself past the door to the bedroom, Han Xuhan noticed a black blur whipping past his nose and sinking itself a couple of inches into the door.


    A stinging sensation traveled up from the tip of his nose. Fang Xie''s aim was scarily accurate. It was no wonder that all thirteen of the meat-shields he had left for him to fight had been defeated miserably. These poor fellows hadn''t even been able to injure the man.


    Han Xuhan brought his nose towards the door decorated with dozens of needles and sniffed the air.


    Just as he had thought, Fang Xie had used some kind of poison on the needles. As for what kind of poison it could be...


    Han Xuhan did not care!


    He reached into the pouch on his waist and took out a couple of vials of antidote. One of them had been prepared by the best alchemist Elders of the Crimson Snow Sect. The other vial contained the antidote to the Mindkiller Poison which Master Kong Ye had given to him as a gift the other day.


    He took a sip from both vials, just to be on the safe side.


    As he was calmly going through the safety measures, Fang Xie perceived his movements and began to hurl needles one after another. Han Xuhan cautiously took a step back behind the doorsill and allowed the needles to crash into the door, inches from his body. Due to the inconvenient angle, Fang Xie really wasn''t making it easy for himself by shooting the needles from his original position in the room. But he had his reasons not to move. Leng Qing''s body was his main card in this contest. If the situation went awry anytime, he could always use the boy as a hostage to turn things around.


    Especially right now, the situation really wasn''t under Fang Xie''s control. He had assumed that there were only 13 disciples of this sect whom he had to defeat in order to neutralize any threats to his mission. Yet, even though he had accomplished this without letting them contact anybody, someone else had barged in to interfere!


    In his fury, Fang Xie began to spend the very last set of his poisoned needles to try to hit this newcomer. But despite being able to sense this person''s presence right ahead, none of his needles seemed to hit him, which could only mean that the new opponent hadn''t yet chosen to enter the bedroom fully. By analyzing the faint sounds of footsteps receding every time he shot a needle out, Fang Xie realized that his opponent was repeatedly cowering back inside the front room of the cabin.


    In fact, now that Fang Xie rationally thought about it...this newcomer had to have been present for a while now. He was certain that the entire cabin had fallen under the effects of a highly dangerous, unstable formation. He had suddenly lost his vision, only able to see a swirling mass of colors and flashes of light. He could even feel some kind of weak spiritual disturbance in the air around him, as if the very air was trying to come into contact with his soul. The strange sensation was very much similar to the times he had spent outside his physical form when cultivating at the Soul Reformation Realm.


    To set up something of such scale, one needed a lengthy period of preparation. Even if all the elements and precious materials were present, it would take a few minutes to place them in the correct positions and integrate them into one singular structure.


    But Fang Xie was certain that there were only thirteen disciples....wait...


    "HAN XUHAN?!"


    The rage and disbelief in that roar he let out was met by silence. Just as he was about to give up on getting a reply, a meek voice floated over from the other room.


    "Good guess, Inspector Xie. I sure hope you''re done shooting those needles! Can I come inside and chat? The situation right now warrants a discussion!"

 Chapter 246: The Simple, The Complex, And The Compound Plan

    As he confirmed his own identity, Han Xuhan threw away the magical scroll he had been carrying until now. This scroll was supposed to function as a hit list for him, but Xuhan would not be surprised if the scroll had other functions that he didn''t know of. The fact that Fang Xie had handed it to him was enough of a red flag in itself.


    "Come in," Fang Xie said in a voice barely suppressing fury. "Come in and explain yourself, boy, and you better hope it''s an explanation I like. If you thought you could get away after interfering with my work by relying on Xuan Zi, you''re in for some disappointment!"


    While he kept spewing his rage through such threats, Han Xuhan gingerly made his way into the room while carrying a small metal in front of his chest, which he had found inside the cabin. Judging by the vague imprints of fists on it, Han Xuhan guessed that Leng Qing tested out the results of his body cultivation on it.


    To leave fist shapes on inch-thick plates...Han Xuhan knew he was no match for such strength. It was a good thing that he had put the boy out of the equation before making his move.


    "ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?!" Fang Xie''s sudden roar startled him.


    "Yes! Yes, of course!" He immediately answered while positioning himself close to the only window of the bedroom. Right now, the distance between him and Fang Xie was about twelve feet. His slowly growing ability to see through the Consciousness Matrix was just enough here to give him a clear vision of his opponent from this distance.


    "I have yet to hear the explanation on which your life depends, boy!" Fang Xie growled. Han Xuhan observed the man''s Celestial Body In the Consciousness Matrix with much curiosity.


    Just as he had suspected, Fang Xie''s body was a mass of swirling, tangled colors. In the black-and-grey world of Ghostsight, his silhouette was incredibly prominent and detailed. Han Xuhan looked at his own body which could be considered almost similar to Fang Xie''s in the Consciousness Matrix and a trace of relief washed over him.


    "The explanation you''ve been waiting to hear goes somewhat along these lines," he began to speak in a low voice.


    "I, Han Xuhan, am destined to be a cripple. In the brutal world of cultivation, that is essentially a seed of a painful future. Nobody in my shoes would be willing to submit to such a fate."


    "...What the fuck does that have to do with anything?" Fang Xie asked after a second of dumbfounded silence.


    "Then you made your appearance in my story, Inspector Xie. You threatened to mutilate me to death if I did not submit to your orders and assassinated some youngsters from foreign sects."


    "So your kind, lawful heart gave you the idea to rebel and ambush me here?" Fang Xie said in disbelief. "Quit the drama, boy. We both know you don''t give a fuck about anybody other than yourself and your own interests!"


    Han Xuhan shrugged. "Indeed, I do not. But I do mind it when I''m being coerced into doing something that I would not normally do. If you had just asked me to beat these kids like Leng Qing and Qing Ya up, I would have done it without even thinking about it. It is natural to submit to those who hold the highest power in the hierarchy, in this case which is you. I would not find it to be a distasteful task that I''m being forced to do. I''d treat it as a challenge. However, two factors made me deviate from that line of thinking. Firstly, this is literally assassination, what you''re making me do. I have nothing against these kids. Why would I be willing to make them your puppets for reasons you''ve never even bothered to explain? It could very well spell their deaths, now in mind, later in flesh!"


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Fang Xie chewed on his own tongue for a while as Xuhan stopped to breathe. It seemed like he wanted to explain something, but he decided against it in the end and chose to ask, "And your second reason is?"


    Han Xuhan laughed derisively.


    "That''s an even more convincing one, in all honesty. I merely cast my sight into the distant future where I shall have long become a crippled mortal. How difficult would it be to make Xuan Zi lift the protective shield he has been holding over me as a Sect Master? Since you have enough power to coerce me to do terrible tasks right in front of him, I assume you also have enough power to coerce HIM into overlooking the safety of a long-forgotten outcast of his sect, no longer an official disciple. So in the end, not only would you get your hands on me, you''d also make use of the little time I have left as a cultivator to squeeze out the maximum benefits off my existence. It is a beautifully crafted plan, is it not? Hahahaha! I was impressed, I was!"


    For a long time, silence echoed in the cabin. In the end, it was broken by a long sigh from Fang Xie.


    "I suppose that''s a reasonable view to have. Actually, I did plot that scheme. But your sect master thought of the possibility the very day I entered your sect to look for you. He was quite adamant about his stance. The only way I could get to make you enter this little contract of ours was to promise him that I would not pursue the issue I have with your very existence due to my spiritual perceptions. I even swore an oath on my dao heart that morning, just before you came running to your sect master''s mountain."


    Fang Xie sounded so depressed when he spoke that Han Xuhan was convinced of his honesty at that moment. Of course, if he could foresee the possibility, so could Xuan Zi, the wily old sect master. And it would not be out of character for that man to go to such lengths to protect Xuhan either. Despite his strange character, Han Xuhan had never sensed a drop of insincerity in that man''s conduct around him, or any disciple for that matter.


    "You don''t believe me?" Fang Xie asked.


    "I do, I do. But the dice have been cast. We''re already here. There''s no way to turn back time and change the chain of events that led to our current positions. You''re standing over there, holding Leng Qing hostage. I''m over here, explaining that I''m not planning to cooperate with your ambitious plans. Both of us are inside a trapping formation, but only one of us is trapped. Can you guess who that is?"


    Fang Xie started to chuckle, much to Xuhan''s surprise.


    "So, this entire time, your target was never Leng Qing. You used him as a bait to get to me, the real target! You know, I thought you had some kind of sophisticated plan up your sleeves, boy. But if this Visual Perception Blocking formation is all you''re trying to rely on to deal with me-"


    Without finishing his sentence, Fang Xie sprang forward at a speed far beyond Han Xuhan''s ability to react to.


    Han Xuhan felt a numbing sensation throb through his chest. He slowly looked down and noticed a hand sticking below his right shoulder!


    The numbing sensation slowly began to burn, turning into a searing source of pain. All five of Fang Xie''s fingers had sunk into his flesh, scraping the thick bones and joints around his clavicle. Perhaps one soft tug was all it would take to separate his right arm from his torso!


    With immense willpower, he stifled the scream trying to crush his windpipe. Instead, Han Xuhan looked up at the colorful face of the man who was literally holding his life in his palm.


    Han Xuhan pulled a weak fist up and punched Fang Xie. The punch did about enough damage as the air around them. Fang Xie didn''t even blink as his fingers slightly contracted inside Han Xuhan''s shoulder, sending heavier waves of pain.


    Blood spluttered out of his ripped flesh, splashing the floor and mixing into the bloody pool that had formed out of the bodies of the other thirteen victims of Fang Xie.


    One of his feet inched back lazily and formed an arch. Fang Xie sensed his second vain attempt at hurting someone so far beyond his realm and couldn''t help but smile mockingly.


    Mentally, he gave a simple command that did not require an iota of qi.


    Overdrive Kick!


    The speed at which his foot sprang forward wasn''t anything to boast of. Even Han Xuhan could track its trajectory with his eyes, which meant it was probably not much faster than a snail in Fang Xie''s perception.


    But just because it was slow by the standard of a powerful cultivator did not mean it lacked power, or the momentum to carry out destructive force.


    Despite being only able to see the outlines of Fang Xie''s facial features, Han Xuhan could acutely sense the man''s disbelief as soon as his foot made contact with his skin.


    It was a bit too late to dodge, at this point. Fang Xie could only endure the stinging sensation that traveled through his left ankle where Han Xuhan''s foot had crashed into.


    A puny fourth-layer cultivator had injured him!


    Both combatants slowly looked down, both of them equally astonished that the attack had been effective. Fang Xie couldn''t glean much with his current botched vision, but Han Xuhan could appreciate his own handiwork just fine.


    One of the armor parts he had purchased from his fellow disciples- the shoe, had helped him launch a kick with the power of someone at the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm.


    But a mere kick wasn''t enough to make someone bleed so profusely. So Han Xuhan had attached an outer layer of tiny, steel spikes above the shoe before leaving his hut. The resulting kick had damaged both of their feet. But his prime purpose of this confrontation, which was to make Fang Xie bleed, had been achieved. And that was all that mattered.


    The moment their combined blood came into contact with the pool of mixed blood on the floor, both Han Xuhan and Fang Xie felt a blunt, spiritual shock gallop through their senses.


    The Soul-Confusing formation around the cabin was the first step of his plan.


    Now, the second step, the Blood-Contract formation has been established!

 Chapter 247: A Secret With Five Clues

    A red light flashed from Han Xuhan''s sleeves, illuminating the entire room. However, neither Fang Xie nor he could see it.


    Outside the cabin, Zhanxian, Tun Shi Tian, and Hai Yin Zhe were running around the yard placing formation fuelling materials everywhere. In just a matter of minutes, thousands of spirit stones had been spent on this small construct. The older minions knew they couldn''t afford the consequences of a failure.


    The moment the red light flashed, Tun Shi Tian noticed it through the window and screeched.


    "Master has sent the signal! Third step!"


    Zhanxian pulled out a scroll from the pouch Han Xuhan had left him. The law alphabets drawn on the scroll were both familiar and alien to the minions, but they knew what to do.


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian told Hai Yin Zhe to keep an eye on the cabin before cranking up the power of the Soul-Confusion formation. Then the two of them sent a trace of their qi inside the scroll. A moment later, both of them felt a tumultuous heave of suction force draining the qi from their skeletal forms!


    "Keep replenishing! We need to keep supplying him with our combined mental strength inside that formation!" Zhanxian roared.


    Both minions became flux junctures of qi. All the qi from their surroundings were being drawn into their bodies and then being injected into the scroll.


    Inside the cabin, the scene was much more serene.


    Han Xuhan''s consciousness was ripped out of his body brutally the moment the power of the Soul-Confusion Formation was turned to its maximum.


    Perhaps a moment later, or perhaps after a long, long time had passed, Han Xuhan distinctly felt aware of himself.


    But his senses, his perception, his very existence felt different. He couldn''t feel his body or his sensory organs. Rather, he felt like he was inside a lucid dream where he knew everything about the world around him without even ''seeing''.


    A brief time was spent this way with him trying to make sense of his current form of existence. His memories, plans and concerns began to grow coherent and cohesive, strengthening his perception of himself and the world around him.


    He realized that he could perceive all 360 degrees around his existence as if his current form was filled with countless eyes. This strange mode of vision wasn''t at all jarring to him somehow!


    However, although he could ''see'', the world around him had changed so drastically that he couldn''t recognize any elements in his surroundings except one.


    Apart from him, there were a total of fifteen large masses of colors pulsing like boiling water nearby. Fourteen of them were spherical in shape, while the remaining one was more akin to a blooming rose, each of its petals of a different color while the center of the rose was a ball of purple lightning cackling continuously. The rose petals spun around the ball of lightning slowly in an organized manner. Amidst the other fourteen chaotic masses of colors, this one was too eye-catching to ignore.


    Han Xuhan''s curiosity made him strive to ''see'' himself. But it seemed impossible, given that he wasn''t inside his actual body and his eyes, head, or neck weren''t even here to assist his vision. Moreover, he could also feel a faint disturbance in his current state of existence. This dream-like scene wasn''t exactly stable, and he was losing focus too often, much like a dream gradually growing out of control.


    By now, his thoughts had become more stable and anchored. He knew he had only one chance to make this work, a very brief window of opportunity.


    "...Senior, there are fifteen bodies here for you to choose from. Please leave me be and possess somebody else''s dao foundation."


    With much effort and short-lived bursts of focus, he managed to speak in his current form.


    No reply came.


    "...Senior, I know you''re here. This is a temporary domain of our spiritual selves. Every person inside the cabin has been trapped inside the Soul-Confusing formation to be blinded and separated from their physical form. As long as you''re connected with my soul, you can hear me, I''m sure."


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    After a moment, a tired sigh came from within the depths of his perception, as if blocked by a layer of walls. The voice was unfamiliar, as Han Xuhan had never actually heard this senior speak to him directly.


    "Young man, you''re quite stubborn. Unnecessarily so, I say."


    Han Xuhan chose not to reply. The aged voice continued to speak.


    "I had not imagined I would see someone capable of arranging a Concealment Formation so sophisticated on this barren planet, so far away from the true civilizations of cultivators. Meteor dust as a shield from the sky, abyssal rocks as a shield from the earth, crushed sunshine pearl to block out prying eyes...truly innovative. Where did you learn this from, if you don''t mind me asking?"


    Han Xuhan was silent for a moment.


    "Senior, I thought you could read my memories...? Surely, you know the source of this formation."


    The senior sounded flabbergasted as he replied, "What? Reading memories isn''t that easy! Besides, I can''t leave any trace of myself in the current world without incurring the wrath of the Celestials. Why would I go through your memories at the risk of exposing myself?"


    It was Han Xuhan''s turn to become confused, but he chose to set the issue aside and focus on the matter at hand. The window of opportunity was almost running out!


    "Let''s not talk about that. Senior, you told me you were open to the option of choosing other bodies to hide in. Look, there are fifteen options here, all better than me. With the Concealment formation hiding us from the heavenly eyes and earthly ears, and the Soul Confusion Formation blurring the identities of the occupants of this formation temporarily, and the Blood Contract Formation connecting all sixteen of us inside the formation, you can easily move from one soul to another! Then, after the formation is deactivated, all souls here will return to their bodies, and with your newly possessed host, you''ll be able to burrow into their original body too! Hide in there! Would that not be much better than hiding inside crippled little me?"


    "...Impressive! How impressive!" the old man grunted. "I''ve been observing your actions since the start of this conflict. So your real target was never Fang Xie, but me! You used Leng Qing as a bait to lure over Fang Xie into a formation where you could trap him! Now you hope for me to possess that man so that I can neutralize the threat he represents for you, as well as remove myself from your list of threatening existences! Moreover, to confuse the heavenly dao, you established the Concealment formation and dragged in a dozen other victims to ensure that no hint of our exchange could be traced amidst so many disturbed souls. Judging by the fact that we haven''t been struck dead by Erasure grade Heavenly Calamities, I''d say this plan of yours is a tremendous success so far!"


    Han Xuhan groaned in frustration and requested once again.


    "Senior, your assessment is correct. Fang Xie is indeed the host I planned for you to possess! Out of all the participants in this formation, he has the highest cultivation! He meets your requirements almost perfectly!"


    "...And how do you know that?" the old man asked, curious.


    "You told me you needed someone beyond the Soul Reformation Realm, tied up and unable to retaliate in any manner, physically or spiritually. The latter half of the requirements is apparent. As for his cultivation, Fang Xie was originally a very powerful cultivator capable of feats such as long-distance teleportation, memory erasure, and much more, at least enough to oversee the affairs of the cultivators of this entire planet. However, he ended up suffering from a backlash half a year ago, just before I entered the world of cultivation. Since then, his powers have been declining erratically, reducing his actual strength lower and lower until he is barely around the benchmark of the Soul Reformation Realm. Here inside the formation, I have activated a ready-made trap known as the Minor Seal of Myriad Laws. Its ability is to fuel itself by stripping all cultivator of their qi. Nobody in the Soul Reformation Realm or below it can control any qi here. So he can only rely on his body to counterattack here, which is immobile now that his soul has been separated from it."


    "...That''s as meticulous as it can be, but how do you know so much about Fang Xie''s cultivation and this strange backlash?" The old man asked. Han Xuhan had his reply ready to be fired.


    "I was accompanied to the Crimson Snow Sect for the entrance test by a senior who had some connections in the world of cultivation. I overheard him speak to his companion guards several times about some powerful Inspector suffering a backlash during a critical juncture of his cultivation. This was the first clue, although I did not think much of it at that time.


    "The second clue was unearthed when I first met Fang Xie. He spoke to me like a madman in public and ran away. But except me, not a single person around us in that busy street remembered him or anyone with his overly prominent appearance. I linked this ability of his to the power of memory erasure.


    "The third clue came to me when I sent out investigation missions to learn about him. It was certain that some people, be it cultivators or morals, remembered him. That he was frequently sighted in some areas meant that he didn''t always erase the memories of those around him. Or was it because he was unable to? His behavior certainly isn''t stable! Why bother memory-wiping some people while sparing others? The investigation report also ascertained the fact that he is suffering from mental demons after failing to break through in cultivation. It said that Fang Xie was originally a cultivator of a realm called the Dao Integration Realm, but his insanity was surely affecting his cultivation!


    "The fourth clue was given to me when I was looking at the weight allotment scheme of our sect in the massive Gateway spell that teleported us to the venue of the tournament. On sect master Xuan Zi''s mountain, I saw a black dot that signifies the existence of a fourth or fifth layer disciple hiding in sect master''s mountain. But the only other person whom I''ve seen hanging around that mountain other than Master Zi is Fang Xie himself! Could this mean Fang Xie''s actual cultivation level was so low that he could be grouped in the same level as trash like me?


    "No! The answer lay hidden in the mechanism of the Weight Allotment Map! This mechanism helps the talented disciples carry their less powerful, less talented fellow fellow disciples in their own mountain peaks. But Fang Xie isn''t a disciple of our sect, nor an Elder! Since he has accompanied us here, it means someone accommodated his existence in the Map, which could only be Sect Master Zi himself! So Sect master Zi was using his own cultivation to hide Fang Xie''s cultivation level.


    "But the weight allotment map doesn''t offer so much of a space that one talented disciple can host another disciple of his caliber in his slot. He can only carry those far inferior to him in terms of their cultivation of the Stub-type Gateway technique. This meant that Fang Xie''s cultivation was far, far below Master Zi''s realm. Otherwise, there''s no way the meager slot space could hold both of them! And since the map showed him to be in the middle layers of the Physique Transformation Realm, I assumed that he had to be around the middle layers of the Soul Reformation Realm or below to fit into master Zi''s slot.


    This also supported the theory that Fang Xie was slowly losing his cultivation! From this unknown Dao Integration Realm, he had fallen down to the Soul Reformation Realm! I may not dare face a man in the former real...but someone just one major realm above me can be managed with external help, as you can clearly see.


    As for the final clue, it was when I activated my Ghostsight and scanned his body just before he attacked me inside the formation. Without his qi assisting him, his spiritual body was almost identical to mine except being slightly more organized...unlike the Elders in my sect whose Celestial body I can''t even perceive with Ghostsight. This meant he was barely near the Early Soul Reformation Realm, which only spurred me to take him on and activate the final phase of my plan."


    Han Xuhan completed his explanation with much more enthusiasm than he had started with. It felt good to boast about his accomplishments!

 Chapter 248: A Trap Beneath A Trap Beneath A Trap

    "If you don''t mind me asking...how are you maintaining the clarity of your soul when the rest of the participants in this formation are not even able to stay conscious of themselves? Even someone with a reformed soul like Fang Xie is having trouble staying awake, from the looks of it," the senior enquired with curiosity.


    Han Xuhan thought for a moment and decided to throw out a bait.


    "Senior, I''m doing this through the use of an artifact I purchased from my sect during the initial period of my cultivation. It helps the carrier overpower all spiritual influences within a small area. Inside the formation, I''m safe as long as I wear this gauntlet," he replied, pointing at his right hand.


    If Fang Xie was still conscious, or hiding his claws to wait for an opportunity, Han Xuhan wanted to force those claws out before the next stage of his plan could be initiated. Now that he had put his biggest trump card on the table-


    Han Xuhan felt a tremendous vibration within his very being. For a moment, he lost his perception of this strange world of spiritual bodies. But he was jerked back to it a moment later.


    Had Fang Xie really attacked him the moment those words came out of his mouth? Then why was he still fine and intact? Any attack from Fang Xie could reduce him to small piles of meat and bones as long as he meant it!


    Then he heard the old voice chuckle inside his consciousness.


    "Clever child, your instinct for traps never ceases to impress me. But, this time you were too reckless. If the attacker was Fang Xie...even my interference wouldn''t have been able to stop your demise. Consider yourself lucky. The girl who tried to snatch this nonexistent artifact from you has been dealt with. And on that note, don''t you exercise? Practice some martial arts, child. It was truly difficult to counter her moves with your stagnant muscles."


    For a moment, Han Xuhan sank into a dumbfounded stupor. It wasn''t Fang Xie who had taken the bait?


    "...Who was the attacker?"


    "The girl named Xueshi. I''m not sure how she had managed to stay awake and peep into our conversation in this spiritual prison. Maybe her soul contains some abnormalities. I can''t detect it relying on your perception. But the soul that belongs here among these fifteen should certainly be a novelty!"


    Han Xuhan glanced at the fifteen spiritual bodies around him. Other than the obvious flower-like form that belonged to Fang Xie, he couldn''t sense much of a difference among the rest of the bodies. Each of them had their own unique traits, but they were too minor for him to glean anything, not to mention, he didn''t really know much about such abstract concepts either. But it wouldn''t hurt to know.


    "Which one is hers, senior? Can you point it out to me?" he asked.


    "What? You want to damage her spiritual body in an act of revenge?" the senior replied.


    "No. I''m just curious to see which disciple of the Phoenix Faction has been hiding her strength. It helps me...orchestrate things."


    The old man chuckled again and pointed it out to him. Han Xuhan closely examined the spiritual body. Apart from the common trait of being a mass of swirling colors, this body also contained some small, pitch-black holes that moved around the swirling mass like bubbles.


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    As he memorized every detail of Ning Xueshi''s spiritual body, the old man suddenly said in a stiff voice, "That little bait you threw out for Fang Xie wasn''t just for him, was it?"


    In a tone full of puzzlement, Han Xuhan denied the accusation.


    "I''m not sure what you mean, senior?"


    "You wanted to test my reaction to any potential danger to your existence that you can''t handle yourself," the old man said grudgingly.


    "Unlike most of the threats you usually deal with, this was much more quick and direct, and you already had me engaged in an exchange, ensuring that my actions inside the formation could be unfettered compared to outside. You were testing my willingness to take control over your body in case the question of my own self-preservation came up and I wasn''t constrained by the threat of being detected by Celestials. Tsk, tsk, tsk...such cunningness at such an age!"


    "...It is flattering that you think so highly of my intellect, senior. But you''re overthinking it. My decision to lay a trap was a spur-of-the-moment thing, not a plan of such complex depth."


    "Hahaha, I''ve been inside your body for so long, watching the world through your paranoid vision. You can''t fool me that easily."


    The old man didn''t exactly sound displeased with the fact that he had been baited into revealing something so crucial. But Han Xuhan was concerned that time was running out for both of them. He chose to sideline the issue and began his sincere volley of requests again.


    "Senior, I''ve already explained everything to you. Since Fang Xie is merely suffering from a backlash, he has a good chance of recovering his peak cultivation sooner or later. Whichever it is, you''ll be much safer inside him than my broken dao tower. So please...leave me be and possess him."


    A long stretch of silence appeared following his request. In the end, it was broken by a tired sigh.


    "I do not want to, child. Moving over to his dao tower would mean I would lose my connection to that burning planet you''ve seen your minions traversing. This formation you''ve set up, while being impressive for someone like you, is too rudimentary to be likely to fool heaven''s eyes for long. There''s a good chance that I might be discovered and ''erased'' from existence alongside my new host, Fang Xie. In fact, I''m afraid you''re even hoping for that possibility to happen. Perhaps just when I''m in the process of possessing him, you''ll lift the formation and expose me to the Celestial''s gaze. And then...two of your most powerful opponents will be erased from existence!"


    "Senior, I hold no malice towards you! And you know me! Have you ever seen my go out of my way to harm anybody who hasn''t tried to hurt me first?" Han Xuhan protested weakly.


    "Of course I have. Look around you. There are fourteen examples of that very crime you deny."


    "...None of them were harmed by me! And none of them are actually fatally injured either. For cultivators at their level, some nails through the body aren''t even enough of an excuse to skip lessons!" Frustration began to chew at his nerves as he started shouting.


    "If you want, I''ll swear a dao heart oath! I promise not to do anything that exposes your existence to the outside world! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"


    "I refuse. Good attempt at enticing me out of your body, but you''ll need a better offer to make me actually do so. Goodbye for now. I suggest you escape before your enemies here recover their senses."


    As the old man''s voice began to fade, Han Xuhan''s rage finally crossed all thresholds of tolerance. In a cold tone, he mumbled, "Do you remember that you asked me about this formation and how I came to learn something so sophisticated, old man?"


    No answer came. But he wasn''t bothered. He knew the old fart was listening.


    "Since you claim to be unable to read all of my memories, it is natural that you wouldn''t know. To be honest, it happened right under your nose."


    Right then, the voice suddenly returned and interrupted him.


    "Whatever it is, I don''t really care at this point, lad. I just checked your dao tower and it seems like the connection through which your minions have been supplying you with enough mental power to withstand the influence of the formation is almost about to be lost. Also, the materials you''ve placed around the cabin to create the formation, including the Blood-based Sentient Contract beneath the overturned table, have almost reached its end. You have less than ten seconds here in this artificial realm of spiritual forms. I''m not saving your butt when all of them wake up."


    "Oh, that''s okay," Han Xuhan said faintly. "Since you''ve denied my sincerest offer, I suppose I should show you what the insincere offer looks like too. Unfortunately for you, unlike the sincere offer, the insincere one doesn''t give you a choice!"


    "...Was that supposed to terrify me, Child?"


    Right at that moment, Han Xuhan''s consciousness was tugged out of the world of spiritual bodies. He found himself back inside his physical body, his vision having reverted back to the Ghostsight mode. He had laid down at some point, and his entire body was in pain. Fang Xie was lying frozen several meters away. The girl who had attacked him, Ning Xueshi, was probably the silhouette lying just beside him.


    Kneeling down, Han Xuhan produced a scroll from his pouch and dipped some of Fang Xie''s blood in it. Then he silently read out the incantation.


    With this separate sentient contract of blood, the two connected souls are placed on each end of the formation!


    With the eye of heaven shut and the ear of the earth blocked, the Head of the formation and the Tail of the formation are reversed!


    With a dozen sacrificial lambs offering up their blood essence, the reversion is carried out!


    With the selfless protection by the permanent, inseparable spiritual connection between him and his two dao protectors outside, the reversion is safely completed!


    The popular Body Possession Technique of the Superbeast Society had taken effect!

 Chapter 249: Celestials Wrath

    Han Xuhan had spent an extensive part of his recent days contemplating possible routes to take that would overturn his fated downfall.


    Before the advent of the tournament, his plan had been to become a clerk or manager of one of the administrative organs of Crimson Snow Sect. With Xuan Zi, Kong Ye, and Mu Ran''s goodwill, he could have led a decent, short, mortal life.


    This was his best backup plan, and this was also his worst plan for his future self in another way. As someone so fascinated by the concept of wielding superhuman power, exerting political influence, and brandishing magical abilities, being forced into the shoes of an ordinary mortal in this world was tantamount to a life of mental torture for him. If there were other options, he would never choose that life.


    And other options there were.


    The first option, to turn into a Ghost cultivator, was not reliable due to its potential impact on his current life. He knew little about Ghost cultivation. But he knew that choosing that road would force him to cast aside much of his current life. Moreover, he was unwilling to put the control of his cultivation over to someone he did not know.


    So he had put the option inside his pocket and moved on.


    The second option turned out to be something he had wondered about frequently, turning away each time due to the unsavory concept. To possess someone else''s body, a healthy body suitable for cultivation, was an irresistible notion for someone in his shoes. So he had not wasted the opportunity to exploit his ''customer'' and squeezed the method of possession out of Lady Caizhi that day.


    Lady Caizhi hadn''t held back when showing him the memory sequences of her brethren undergoing the process. He had learned exactly how to use precious materials to set up a formation that could fool heaven and earth, inside of which an exchange of souls would take place between two bodies.


    It had left him shaken at the time. The materials needed were expensive, and the exchange of souls couldn''t be done without some sacrifices either.


    Firstly, both participants would lose all spiritual aspects of their cultivation after taking over the other body. They would only have their enhanced bodies left to rely on.


    Secondly, the blood essence of talented, strong cultivators would be needed to sustain the exchange of souls. This could only be done with the help of complex instruments or formations that Han Xuhan had no way of acquiring by himself.


    But he excelled in acquiring resources. It had been but a simple task to venture into the realm of laws and ask Qian Yun and Feng Jun for a favor. The Holy Land of Laws may be ruined, but it still carried enough in its wreckage to assist some talented young acolytes in creating some Sentient Contracts and Law Fragments for specific purposes.


    These alternative instruments had done the most work today. Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian had merely run around supplying the formations with more materials and fuel. Thus, a compounded array of laws and rudimentary formations had fallen into his hands, capable of accomplishing exactly the same thing as the formation he had seen in Lady Caizhi''s memory.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    As for the blood essence supply, Han Xuhan had grudgingly chosen the Phoenix Faction disciples for this purpose. The process would not kill them, but it would probably do enough internal damage to cripple them temporarily. Blood essence, the most important enhancement of a cultivator''s body, was recoverable with enough time, rest, and expensive medical treatment.


    The third sacrifice to be made was to form a permanent mental bond with at least one cultivator who would assist the active soul in completing the transfer and maintaining clarity under the Soul-Confusion formation. This mental bond was so easy to abuse that unless a person trusted another with his life, they would not resort to forming the bond. But Han Xuhan had nothing to worry about here. Both Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian were already connected to his mind through his dao tower. How much more deeply could they be linked to his mind? Not to mention, after the soul transfer took place, his cultivation would be lost, which means his dao tower would no longer exist.


    How could Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian abuse the mental bond if they ceased to exist?


    That''s right. Han Xuhan had been fully prepared to lose his three minions, alongside the old monster hiding in his dao tower when he entertained the idea to choose this path.


    As for the third possible route he could have taken, the fusion between him and his minions was out of the question. He didn''t want to be turned into an abomination physically and mentally just to keep cultivating. And he definitely didn''t trust that old fart hiding inside his dao tower. Who knew what kind of sinister scheme lay hidden in this dangerous route?


    The arrow had been shot. Now he could only await the result.


    The result of performing the last requirement of the Body Possession method, which could also be termed a Soul Exchange technique, was apparent immediately.


    A searing pain that couldn''t quite be associated with any part of his body exploded inside his nerves. Following that, he lost track of all five of his senses once more.


    But a new type of sense formed inside his consciousness, making him perceive again the familiar world of shimmering colors and flashing lights.


    Something seemed to click inside him, instilling a sense of correction in his mind.


    Vaguely, he seemed to hear something.


    He could hear!


    Gradually, he realized that not only could he hear again, his eyes were also beginning to work normally. The world of colors had disappeared, giving way to the normal world. He could see the ceiling becoming clearer and clearer every moment.


    One after another, he felt a continuous series of things falling into order inside his consciousness. It was almost like a displaced limb being forced into its correct position. Only, the entire process appeared spiritual instead of physical.


    Vision, hearing, smell, touch, and taste, all returned. But the distinct difference in his renewed perception made Han Xuhan shudder.


    His vision was unbelievable! It almost made his head hurt; the sheer focus, strange shades of colors he had never seen, the speed and fluidity with which he could move his eyeballs, and the overwhelming mountain of details popping into his mind every time his focus moved onto something new.


    And this was merely one of his five senses. He could smell practically everything in the room. The scent of blood, furnished wood, burnt wood, a bundle of unique scents that strongly reminded him of sweat and tears, the stink of cold metal dipped in heavy medicine, and many more that he couldn''t recognize!


    And now that his hearing had fully recovered, he realized that the sounds he had been hearing were someone''s coughs. This person seemed to be in serious pain as he continued to retch and gasp for breath.


    Han Xuhan took a deep breath and tried to sit up. As he pushed himself off the wooden floor, it creaked and began to cave in, although the change was very minuscule. Han Xuhan noticed the areas where his nails had been placed on. The wood there looked like it had been chopped on by a dull knife.


    And his hands...his clothes...


    Eyes widening, he examined his body. Then he looked at the only source of the sound in the cabin.


    His own familiar face looked back at him, pale and visibly terrified.


    "...It worked!" Han Xuhan roared jubilantly in Fang Xie''s deep voice.


    He had possessed Fang Xie''s body! And in turn, Fang Xie had been forced into his old body! He had actually pulled it off!


    "Indeed, it did," said an unfamiliar, choppy voice from behind.


    Both Han Xuhan and Fang Xie whipped their necks towards the source of the voice, expecting to see one of the fallen disciples who had been sacrificed for the formation.


    A pitch-black humanoid silhouette sat lazily in a corner of the room. If one had not focused on that area closely, they wouldn''t have noticed it. Seeing their astounded faces, the shadow stood up.


    "I never imagined I would have to intervene, Inspector Xie. But it seems you''ve lost. In fact, you''re well on the track to losing your life too. Truly humiliating for someone of your stature, if you ask me."


    Fang Xie ignored the jibe and asked the question that had arisen in both of their minds.


    "What do you mean by that? Why would I be on the track to lose my life?"


    The shadow cocked its head and said in a low whisper, "Listen to the sky."


    A bright red light flashed through the window, illuminating the room for a second. Through the window, a sky torn by blood-red lightning froze their gazes. And the following explosive thunder made the entire floating island of the Stardust Sect vibrate.


    "That is the wrath of a Celestial," the shadow whispered.

 Chapter 250: Unforeseen Consequences

    "A Punishing Tribulation?" Han Xuhan yelped in shock, having recognized the characteristics of the lightning tearing up the sky.


    "Correct. Did you really think your amateurish hands would be enough to create a formation that could fool heaven''s eye? This Soul Exchange method you''ve used was a success by the merit of the materials and intricate instruments you''ve dumped behind it. But at the end of the day, you''re a rookie who knows next to nothing of the dao of formations. It''s quite audacious of you to think that you could get away with it without a trace. Now, prepare to bear the wrath of the Celestials for breaking the natural order. Prepare...to die."


    The shadow spoke of their imminent demise in an easygoing tone.


    Boom!


    Boomboomboom!


    Boom!


    Daylight waned as red clouds surged far above the floating island. The sun disappeared, and the only source of light became the explosive lightning covering the sky. But even the bright red surges of the lightning weren''t able to illuminate a single inch of the dark silhouette standing ten feet away in the room.


    "Who are you, senior?" Han Xuhan asked, his voice shaky.


    "An associate of your victim, Inspector Xie," the shadow replied with a nod towards his old body. Trapped in that body, Fang Xie''s rage and helplessness could only be expressed through his face. Lips twisted, teeth gritted, fingers balled into fists, Fang Xie looked ready to launch a suicide attack on Han Xuhan. But he himself had injured that body just five minutes ago. He could barely stand up, let alone attack someone.


    But just because he had been rendered helpless didn''t mean he had nothing to rely on.


    "Are you just going to stand there and talk uselessly? Do something!" Fang Xie snapped towards the black silhouette.


    The shadow put its arms up in a motion of surrender.


    "The only way you two can survive right now is by correcting the mistake you''ve made."


    Pointing a finger at Han Xuhan, it added, "That means, you need to reverse the exchange of souls. If you''re quick enough, whichever Celestial is about to wipe you two off might just be willing to overlook the slight. It''s not easy dealing with the natural repercussions of such tribulations."


    "...." Han Xuhan couldn''t quite come up with a reply. He cast his eyes down and looked at his new body. In his mind, he could sense the existence of his incredibly well-structured meridians. Actually, it seemed quite different compared to a typical meridian system. The sheer complexity of the structure, additional pathways that he hadn''t ever seen in a chart, strange coils with unknown purpose, and the smoothness with which qi could flow inside it were evident. It reminded him of compounded Logic-Gate structures in electronic circuits.


    What wonders could he accomplish if he had a physique like this? Would he ever need to rely on so many external elements if his own cultivation could stand tall against his adversaries?


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Yet, here he stood, about to face a wipeout the moment he had had the opportunity.


    All roads ahead had been erased, replaced by a choice, a compromise to make between two doors.


    "Looks like he''s choosing death," Fang Xie said impatiently, glaring at the shadow. "Didn''t you say you were going to intervene?"


    Before the shadow could answer, Han Xuhan held a hand up, his face filled with a regretful smile.


    "The way I see it, either I can choose to die right now under the heavenly tribulation, or die later under Inspector Xie''s hand when he recovers his body. Which option do you think would be less painful?"


    Fang Xie and the shadow exchanged a nearly imperceptible look.


    BOOOM!


    This time, the thunder was close, dangerously close. It wouldn''t be long before it descended upon them.


    Fang Xie reached his decision as fast as the lightning above.


    "I swear on my dao heart, I swear under the heavenly authority, I shall not harm you, Han Xuhan, the original owner of my current body, directly or indirectly, or even entertain the idea of harming you in any manner so long as you do not ever try to harm me in any manner. With the Celestial gaze already above us, the validity of my oath can be taken for granted."


    Han Xuhan grimaced. This wasn''t enough.


    "There''s a couple of contracts inside the pouch on your waist. Sign them," he ordered.


    Fang Xie gritted his teeth and followed the command obediently. Satisfied, Han Xuhan shook his head and said something that confused both Fang Xie and the shadow.


    "Senior, if you do not wish to die with the two of us, show some sincerity."


    Boomboomboomboom! BOOOOM!


    The roof of the cabin suddenly cracked and caved in, as if a force of several tonnes had smashed down on it. Even Han Xuhan, possessing Fang Xie''s fully enhanced body, felt his eardrums buzz painfully.


    While both Fang Xie and the shadow looked around the room, expecting to see someone else hiding here, the person Han Xuhan had addressed made himself known...but from a place that Han Xuhan hadn''t expected.


    Fang Xie suddenly retched as if something was coming out of his mouth. Then a slightly different voice came out of him while his eyes widened in terror.


    "You think you''re so clever, boy. You''ll live to regret this for a very long time. You have no idea the sheer problem you''ve created for yourself by going through this."


    Han Xuhan gaped at his old self for a moment.


    "Wait..you didn''t travel over along with my soul? You''re still fine?!"


    That senior hadn''t been harmed by the Soul Exchange! Wasn''t it a principle of the Body Possession technique that everything apart from his soul would be separated during the transfer?


    While he hadn''t expected the process to exterminate the powerful, parasitic senior, he had not expected him to be alive and well inside his old body either.


    This didn''t bode well. A shadow of doubt began to emerge in his heart as he contemplated the implications of this strange development.


    While Fang Xie continued to gasp for breath and kept casting terrified looks at the frozen shadow, the senior inside his body replied in a gloomy tone.


    "Do you think that little Abyss Butterfly gave you a wholly accurate Body Possession Technique? Knowing how careful you are, I didn''t expect you to fall into her trap. Since she wanted you to do something for her, obviously, whatever she ''gifts'' to you would be laced with poison! I suspected that she had left some loopholes in the technique while walking you through the memory sequences. And I was correct! From what I''ve gleaned judging by this method you executed, it''s easy to point out what went wrong. At the lower stages of cultivation, a cultivator cannot just be separated from his body without losing his foundation. So I assume you thought you could get rid of me and your troublesome minions this way!


    But instead of cutting off the existence of your dao tower the moment you possess another body, the version of the technique she gave you makes your dao tower exist independently of your existence! So now, you possess a new body, but if you begin cultivation again, your soul and consciousness will end up in a dao tower that doesn''t belong to you anymore, nor connected to your physical form! One person can only have one dao tower by the heavenly mandate! As long as your previous dao tower hasn''t been fully destroyed, you can never freely cultivate anew! So you''ll be tied to the new owner of this body forever!


    This was her way of luring you into a corner. Now, you can only go to her to ask for help, and in return, I bet she''ll ask of you much more than she did on your first meeting!"


    "...What the fuck?!"


    Han Xuhan was so dumbfounded that he didn''t even manage to evade as the roof got smashed into smithereens by another striking lightning. The stink of burnt wood spread across the cabin, covering it in smoke and dust.


    "What the fuck do I do?" he whispered, finally feeling truly powerless in this absolutely brutal world of immortals.


    The man speaking through Fang Xie''s current body sighed.


    "You asked me to show some sincerity. I''ll show you some. Trigger the reversion of the possession, and I shall leave you alone like you wanted me to. Clearly, you can''t recognize a blessing even if it smacks you in the face. I wish you luck in figuring out the abomination of a dao tower you''ll find yourself possessing...if you survive this. Goodbye! HURRY!"


    As the voice faded, Han Xuhan made his decision while looking up at a furious tide of blood-red lightning approaching the ruined cabin from thousands of feet above.


    "I''ll order my minions to assist me again. Help me restart the formation, seniors."


    "That can be arranged," the pitch-black shadow said in a relieved tone.

 Chapter 251: Returning To The Past

    The shadow waved a hand and created a glowing, fluid seal in the empty air where the ceiling used to be, which seemed to block out the oncoming waves of lightning. Surge after surge of red streaks hit the top of the small seal, as if attracted by it.


    "This will buy us a minute, at most," the shadow said in a strangled tone.


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian also had no idea what exactly was going on here. Xuhan had had to convince them that it really was him inside Fang Xie''s body by calling Zhanxian a neutered dog lusting after swan meat.


    The salvaged materials from the remains of the prior formation were barely enough to restart another exchange of souls. But the humanoid shadow, whoever he was, surprised both Xuhan and Fang Xie by producing similar materials out of thin air.


    When asked about the source of these materials, the shadow replied, "Stole them from this sect''s treasury just now."


    Han Xuhan found himself unable to retort. There was little time to do this.


    With each of them standing at each end, the formation was re-enacted. The blood essence of their sacrifices hadn''t yet been depleted. Han Xuhan used the Plan-B contract paper he had hidden in the front room of the cabin just in case his first contract attempt with Fang Xie didn''t work out.


    Once the sentient contract provided by Qian Yun was marked by the blood of both participants, this time willingly, they fell unconscious again, finding themselves back inside the realm of spiritual bodies.


    The familiar series of sensations came and went, like locks and keys falling into their proper fitting place. And soon, Han Xuhan opened his eyes to see an empty sky overhead. Gone were the streaks of red crisscrossing the sky, taking with them their thunderous roars. Gone was the power saturated in his muscles, ready to explode with destructive force beyond his wildest fantasies.


    Instead, it was just the old him, weakened, injured, and pushed to the point of utter helplessness.


    Even as waves of physical pain attacked his brain, he endured it all silently by the sheer merit of the emotional grief he was experiencing. All that planning, so many resources spent, so much sacrificed, and for what?


    He was back to square one, and he would very soon be back outside the game when his meridians broke down. His naive self in the past might have believed that being reduced to a mere mortal''s position wasn''t too bad, but his current self had learned firsthand how deep the water ran in the world of cultivation, and how filthy, murky, and powerful the current was.


    Hearing Fang Xie beginning to recover and curse everything in existence was the straw that put him back to his feet. With shaking limbs, he stood up and surveyed the room.


    "I suppose I should take my leave. Deal with the mess, you two," he said faintly. "Unless the Elders of the Stardust Sect are blind, deaf, and crippled, they surely have noticed that the situation here on the outer ring island isn''t exactly a play-fighting scenario. As for these... ''sacrificial lambs''," he said, pointing at the fourteen bodies lying on the floor of the cabin, "Do you have any methods of making them forget their recent memories?"


    Fang Xie looked at the shadow, obviously hoping to rely on him to get things done. The pitch-black person, however, was more interested in something else.


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "Why would WE clean up a mess you''ve made, young man?" he said, sounding disgruntled.


    Han Xuhan pulled out one of the scrolls from his pouch. Both Fang Xie and the shadow recognized this manifestation of law-type cultivation techniques, specifically, a sentient contract.


    "Because your partner in crime is bound by the contract paper he signed on. Do you think I planned so much violence without planning for somebody else to take the blame? Deal with it yourselves. Goodbye!"


    As Han Xuhan left the cabin, limping his way to the edge of the island, the two awake individuals behind him looked at each other with what seemed to be part awkwardness and part helplessness.


    "Did you isolate this whole area before making yourself known?" Fang Xie asked in concern after a moment.


    The shadow laughed silently. "Looks like the incident has really rattled your soul, Inspector Xie! Just because you''re prone to making rookie mistakes doesn''t mean we all succumb to the vice of irrational decisions."


    Fang Xie squinted at the shadow, as if trying to figure out his true identity behind the mask of darkness.


    "For a mere scout of the Nocturna Vanguard, your cultivation is a bit too high, Master Mo. The number of people on this planet who can do the task you''re so nonchalant about shouldn''t exceed a dozen."


    The shadow, named Mo, shrugged and replied, "A dozen capable enemies are still a respectable force for a planet so alienated. So we need to be careful about how we plant the seeds. I''m not the one cutting corners here, so you better get yourself together and speed up the mission."


    While speaking to Fang Xie, the shadow continuously made strange gestures with his hands. Each gesture seemed capable of reversing time itself, although in Fang Xie''s experienced eyes, it was a complex technique of using nature''s energy to manipulate and restore order.


    Broken furniture were rebuilt as countless pieces flew around in the air to place themselves where they originally belonged. The shattered chunks of the roof flew back up and sealed itself into a perfect replica of its past self.


    But these parlor tricks wouldn''t be suitable for living organisms, less so on cultivators... And they had thirteen of them to deal with.


    Fang Xie produced some healing medicine from his sleeves and fed a pill each to the thirteen fallen disciples. The medicine wouldn''t do much for their lost blood essence, but it could help them recover slightly faster, both physically and spiritually.


    "Master Mo, I can''t help insisting again that you take the matter in your hands from the start. As you can see, I''m not the best fit to play assassin with children," Fang Xie said despondently as he watched color return to their faces.


    "Clearly. You couldn''t even win in a spiritual battle either when the strange entity possessing the boy''s body took over either." Master Mo nodded heavily in agreement, not caring at all how incensed Fang Xie was becoming.


    "That was different! That...that thing, whatever it is, has to be beyond the Soul Reformation Realm in terms of spiritual aspects! Its mere presence was enough to overpower my control!" Fang Xie shuddered, recalling the memory of being used as a medium of communication.


    "I wonder what deal the entity made with the boy..." The shadow said in a low tone. Meanwhile, Fang Xie, having recovered his bearings, restarted his petition.


    "Think about it, if you hadn''t sat back today doing almost nothing of value, we would be celebrating a grand success by now. All you did was jump out at the last second and talk with the boy, stating some facts that were obvious to everybody. Can''t you do something to ensure that such situations don''t occur?" He said, pointing at the piled bodies in the cabin.


    The black silhouette snorted. "Oh yeah? Do you think the Heavenly Tribulation that found you two undergoing forbidden spiritual operations was run by some gentlemanly Celestial? The lightning strikes were really conveniently timed and placed, offering you two just enough time to strike up a new deal and rectify your mistake, all the while building up a sense of pressure by coming closer and closer every second! Since when have the Punishing Tribulations been so helpful, huh?"


    "...." Fang Xie looked stunned for a second. "You mean that was an illusion? Impossible-!"


    "It wasn''t. The Heavenly Eye indeed found you two. But don''t forget that this archipelago is a region severely affected by the Great Sundering incident. The space, the laws, and natural elements here are too fragile, volatile, and intimately connected to the Subspatial Void. Layer after layer of space has twisted themselves around the Subspace Gateways here. Even a tribulation cloud would be slowed down by the layered regions. I simply took the vision of the nascent tribulation forming in a distant region above and magnified it by tenfold so that the boy doesn''t have a choice but to agree to the reversal of the Body Possession Technique. You''re lucky that he''s so young and inexperienced as a cultivator; otherwise, he would definitely have suspected the authenticity of that tribulation."


    "....Killing that boy might have been the better choice, after all," Fang Xie muttered under his breath.


    "Yeah, try doing that in front of your old buddy Xuan Zi''s face. He already warned you once not to interfere with the development of his little sect. And now you''re probably bound by those contracts too, completely neutered," the shadow said in an annoyed tone.


    Shaking his head, Fang Xie walked over to Leng Qing''s unconscious form and began to initiate a mental connection, just as he had wanted to in the first place.


    The moment he dipped into his own dao tower, he realized that something was off.


    The continuous decline of his cultivation level had reduced his dao tower to its early phase, just a bare hall filled with a dozen or so seats. At one end of the hall, a throne stood towering above the rest, reserved for his main cultivation technique.


    But instead of the usual emblem of a crimson circle, the throne was occupied by an...old man.


    "Hello, Grandson," the senior said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

 Chapter 252: Breakdown Of Suspicion

    Strangely enough, none of the elders of the Stardust sect seemed to have been alerted by the sudden appearance and disappearance of the Punishing Tribulation which supposedly only appeared when someone broke a huge taboo or violated natural order. But that was a good thing for Han Xuhan. It meant he had just the perfect opportunity to escape any blame and liabilities stemming from it.


    He did not care a whit whether Fang Xie and his partner-in-crime had the ability to deal with the aftermath. At this point, he cared little about anything.


    As soon as Tun Shi Tian managed to locate the Spatial rift leading back to their sect, Han Xuhan didn''t hesitate to jump down. Instead of canceling the summoning spells of his minions, he made them accompany him physically, much to their astonishment.


    However, they also understood that the failure to take over a new body had pushed their master one step away from a fitful tantrum. Although they didn''t really understand the chain of events that had led to their failure, they knew that it had been a close brush with success, having been forced by a third party in the end to give up on the prime objective.


    "Hey, Zhanxian, did you feel any weird tremors in your mind when we executed the last part of the Body Possession Technique?" Tun Shi Tian whispered as they followed Han Xuhan back to the Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain Peak.


    Zhanxian nodded vaguely, but shushed the skeleton owl, gesturing silently towards their grimacing Boss.


    Even Hai Yin Zhe, mentally almost a toddler, had noticed the aura of gloom radiating around her Papa. The snake refrained from making a ruckus and slung itself on Zhanxian''s bony waist patiently.


    A surprise was waiting for them in front of Xiao Wu''s hut. Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu were sitting on the porch, covered in medicinal pastes and bandages. All three of them perked up the moment they noticed Xuhan''s appearance.


    "Underling, those are some impressive wounds!" Mu Ran remarked in wonder, eyeing Xuhan''s bloody shoulder and scabbing foot.


    "Weren''t you going to stay here and comprehend the Treasure Tracing Technique? What happened to that?"


    Something in Mu Ran''s voice prodded at Xuhan''s senses. He could feel a tinge of barely hidden hostility flowing beneath the inquiry. Immediately, Han Xuhan shed the skin of a defeated dog, eyebrows raised, mind racing.


    "That was indeed the original plan, yes. But there was another business I needed to attend to. Thankfully, I managed to take care of the matter for good. What about you three? Your injuries look ten times worse than mine," he said in reply, doing his best to cover up and divert the conversation.


    However, Mu Ran completely ignored his question, sticking to his own line of thought stubbornly.


    "What business was this, if you don''t mind me asking? Surely, it couldn''t have been more important than the Treasure Tracing Technique, right?"


    Han Xuhan glanced at Yuen Zhou, who hadn''t removed her scrutinizing gaze from him since the start of the conversation. Xiao Wu hurriedly looked away the moment their eyes met, further stoking the spark of suspicion in Xuhan''s mind.


    These guys knew something... something he had not leaked himself. But how?


    "...It was equally important, boss. But like I said, it doesn''t really matter anymore now. I did what needed to be done. It''s not anything you should be concerned about-"


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    "Really?" Mu Ran said, interrupting him midway. "My underling visiting another sect to assassinate a disciple there is not something I should be concerned about? Xuhan, how about you come clean?"


    The awkward smile he had been holding up vanished as he heard Mu Ran''s accusation.


    Other than Xuhan himself, every person involved in the case was still inside the cabin.


    There was no way anyone could have contacted Mu Ran to inform him of his recent activities in the Stardust Sect, not so fast. If someone other than the thirteen disciples of the Phoenix faction had been present at the crime site, they would have to witness the attack that had taken down Leng Qing first-hand. Then they would have to contact Mu Ran with a magical technique that did not rely on qi, because Han Xuhan had used the Minor Seal of Myriad of Laws to control all the qi around the cabin. Then they would also need to hide from Fang Xie''s scary perception and the incredibly powerful Shadow who had been lurking unseen around the cabin the whole time.


    This was quite a tall order. No random disciple hiding nearby could accomplish such a feat.


    At that moment, Han Xuhan recalled the special cultivation technique most widely practiced in the Stardust Sect. To be able to predict the future actions of someone else down to very accurate details...


    What if someone had predicted that Leng Qing might be attacked? It wouldn''t be far-fetched, considering that Leng Qing had predicted a day ago that he was carrying four hidden entities on his body.


    Scene after scene, a chain of thoughts locked on each flashed by in Xuhan''s mind.


    This morning, when he had entered Leng Qing''s cabin, he had received a warm welcome, clearly an indication of the fact that his arrival was expected. Leng Qing himself had confirmed so.


    Then, could the person who had predicted his plan to attack Leng Qing and then informed Mu Ran of this yet-to-happen attack be Leng Qing himself?


    Mulling over the situation for a moment, Han Xuhan decided to really come clean, just as he had been asked to. He didn''t have the energy to make up another elaborate tale right now.


    He sat down on the ground and chose to begin by hammering down on Mu Ran''s suspicion.


    "This is a complicated story, so I hope you''ll listen to the whole thing before judging me. It all began when I first discovered that I would not be able to cultivate for very long."


    The beginning confused all three of his audience. But they held their questions back and kept listening.


    "Desperate to not be reduced to a life of mediocrity that I am destined for, I began my search for alternate ways to secure my status as a cultivator, a cultivator with a future to look forward to. But in every direction I pursued it, I ended up in front of a dead end or a dark maze of vague possibilities. So I began to lose all hope.


    Coincidentally, the tournament was arranged just when I realized that there really was no way for me to tread forward. When I heard that pretty much every well-known sect would gather here, the hope in my heart was revived. Perhaps some foreign sect may have a solution to my problem, I thought. And I was correct!"


    Yuen Zhou''s brows jumped up. Mu Ran looked surprised too. Xiao Wu scratched his head, still trying to find the connection between the tale and the accusation.


    "However, these are foreign sects we''re talking about. There is little reason for them to assist me in solving my issue. My existence on its own means nothing to them..."


    As he trailed off, Yuen Zhou''s pupils shrank, flickering for a moment towards Mu Ran.


    "Perhaps sister Zhou already understands," Han Xuhan said lightly. "My existence isn''t worth much, but when tied tightly to people like you, boss, the equation becomes different."


    Confusion brewing in his heart, Mu Ran couldn''t help but ask, "What are you even talking about?"


    "That I ended up ambushing Leng Qing today, was both directly and indirectly caused by the relationship between you and I; a relationship of dependence and mutual benefits, a relationship of trust and friendship!"


    "...?!"


    The mute expression of surprise and disbelief was mirrored by all three of his martial siblings. Laughing, Han Xuhan put up two fingers.


    "You can see it from two angles. The first one requires some information you had no way of knowing. Let me explain...


    A few days prior to the declaration of the tournament, I had a... minor disagreement with a foreign cultivator. This man turned out to be extremely influential, to the point where he successfully forced our sect master to permit an unreasonable, illogical contract between him and me."


    This time, all three of them went pale. A cultivator who could force Xuan Zi to act subservient was someone so far up in the power spectrum that the very notion seemed absurd in their minds. Even the powerful sect leaders of the top-notch sects of the planet couldn''t boast of such influence over the Crimson Snow Sect.


    "Who is this cultivator?" Mu Ran asked in a hushed tone.


    "What''s his cultivation level?" Xiao Wu asked.


    "What''s his background?" Yuen Zhou whispered, wide-eyed.


    Han Xuhan sighed. "He is at a realm titled the Dao Integration Realm. His background is mysterious and beyond anything anyone on our planet can counter. But he has recently had some problems with his cultivation, pushing him to the brink of the Soul Reformation Realm. Even then, sect master Zi could not go against his arbitrary, unfair wishes."


    Only Yuen Zhou seemed to realize what this Dao Integration Realm was. Han Xuhan noticed the momentary panic in her gaze while Mu Ran and Xiao Wu looked more intrigued than anything.


    "What kind of disagreement did he have with you?" Xiao Wu asked.


    "It doesn''t matter," Han Xuhan said, shaking his head. "What''s more important here is what he wanted me to do."


    "And that is?" Yuen Zhou asked.


    "He wanted me to ambush some disciples of foreign sects in the tournament, which is apparently a bit inconvenient for him to do himself. Once I managed to successfully ambush each disciple, he would sneak into those sects and refine those spiritually injured disciples into his puppets, just like Jin Tuyi, back in the Holy Land of Laws, puppetized Qian Yun and the dozen more of our fellow adventurers."


    "...What connection does that have with me?" Mu Ran said, now utterly befuddled.


    "Qing Ya, my soon-to-be sister-in-law, happens to be one of his targets," Han Xuhan answered placidly.

 Chapter 253: For Family!

    "He dares to target my woman?!" Mu Ran roared, slapping himself in the chest like an enraged ape. "I''ll flay that bastard alive and use his skin as a doormat!"


    He jumped to his feet while spouting every profanity known to man, eyes blazing. Seeing him getting so worked up over a threat to Qing Ya made Han Xuhan recall Mu Ran''s own plans for her...which weren''t exactly pure either, from what Lady Caizhi had revealed to him so far.


    "Martial brother, calm yourself. This isn''t the appropriate response against an enemy whose cultivation level is leagues beyond yours," Yuen Zhou said from behind, her countenance serene.


    "...Yeah, Brother Ran," Xiao Wu chipped in. "I don''t know what realm this Dao Integration is, but I''m betting it''s at least a stage above the Soul Reformation Realm. The name itself makes that clear. You cannot integrate a dao with anything without comprehending the essence of that dao. And comprehending a dao should be the stage above the Soul Reformation Realm, at least that''s my understanding from the secret discussions of the elders of my family. An enemy in those stages could go toe to toe with our elders easily."


    Chest heaving, Mu Ran grudgingly sat back on the porch and asked through gritted teeth, "Is that Leng Qing guy another of his targets?"


    Han Xuhan nodded, both to himself and as an answer to the question.


    "So Leng Qing was the informant, huh? He told you I would be attacking him?"


    "Yes," Mu Ran said with a nod. "Not only did he predict that you would attack him, he also showed us the whole process through an artifact. This morning, when you entered his cabin, we saw how you knocked him out and ran off. But the artifact stopped working after that."


    Han Xuhan gulped nervously. That had been a close call!


    If he had lied and tried to sidestep their enquiries about the whole situation, Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou, his two golden thighs would lose all of their trust that he had painstakingly built up over the last few months.


    "So you obeyed the orders of this powerful cultivator who wishes to gather puppets from every sect. You ambushed Leng Qing. But how did you sustain these injuries?" Xiao Wu asked.


    Yuen Zhou''s eyes suddenly narrowed.


    "Did you try to...go against the orders of this cultivator, brother Xuhan?"


    Han Xuhan was pretty impressed by her ability to analyze the situation where she hadn''t even been present. Having a golden thigh so perceptive, on the other hand, wasn''t exactly a good thing though.


    But this question from her was just the situation he had been waiting for.


    Just like Mu Ran, Han Xuhan slapped himself in the chest and shouted, "Of course I did! Do you think I would be willing to harm my sister-in-law? How would I ever face martial brother Ran if I caved in to that senior''s unreasonable demands and made sister Ya his puppet? Impossible!"


    "...." Yuen Zhou looked flabbergasted. The same look was mirrored by Xiao Wu, who had just finished lecturing Mu Ran about how dangerous Fang Xie was based on his cultivation level.


    Mu Ran, on the other hand, froze for a moment, his mouth open and gasping for breath. Han Xuhan could see a storm of emotions behind his gaze. A single tear threatened to come out of one of his eyes as he raised a hand to reach over and clasp Xuhan''s shoulder, his grip unsteady.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "....."


    "....."


    "... Xuhan, I-"


    "It''s okay, boss. Anyone would have done what I did. Although it was an insanely risky thing to do, I managed to resolve the matter, luckily. Sister Ya should be safe for now, unless that senior takes it up on himself to ambush her while she''s traveling around the archipelago, visiting foreign sects to challenge them."


    "...How did you even reason with someone that powerful, Brother Xuhan? These injuries on your body...could they be his handiwork?" Yuen Zhou asked in a tone laced with disbelief.


    Han Xuhan nodded, which seemed to shock them further.


    "I told you it''s mostly luck. That senior is weaker than his actual realm of cultivation because of an injury. Of course, I didn''t know much about his current state. I gathered some clues and assumed from them that he was at the Soul Reformation Realm, practically. That''s why I dared to trap him using the disciples of Stardust Sect and forced him to rescind the contractual obligations he had forced on me. He still managed to injure me while I was baiting him. But the injuries aren''t too serious since he wasn''t looking to inflict anything fatal on me, a valuable pawn.


    "Normally, I wouldn''t have taken such a massive risk. It isn''t really difficult for me to ambush those targeted disciples and be done with the forced contract. But I knew all of it is useless when Sister Ya is one of the targets. I had two choices; to obey his orders and ambush her, or to value your friendship with me and rebel against that senior. In the end, these choices are a mere illusion. Any decent human would only ever choose the latter. And the heavens assisted me in saving Sister Ya from that man''s clutch!"


    A silence fell amidst the four martial siblings as they exchanged complex looks among themselves. Mu Ran, however, did not move his gaze away from Xuhan''s injuries.


    "Underli-...No, I can''t keep calling you an underling anymore, Xuhan. You''ve done way too much for me. How can I even repay you...Brother?" He said in a low tone, his words coming intermittently.


    Han Xuhan did his best to suppress the smile of victory. The little prodding he had just given the young man had guided him towards the exact path Xuhan wanted him to take.


    After seven months of servitude, he, Han Xuhan, was no longer the protagonist''s underling!


    He had been promoted to the most beneficial position around a protagonist-level character.


    "Repayment is a term used between strangers...Brother Ran. I consider you and Sister Ya family, just as I consider sister Zhou and Brother Wu my siblings. What''s there to repay? I did what every brother should!"


    A drop of tear made its way down Mu Ran''s face. Even Xiao Wu looked touched. Meanwhile, Yuen Zhou looked somewhat disgusted for some reason as she scrutinized his joy-filled face.


    "Brother Xuhan?" Yuen Zhou suddenly called while he was silently congratulating himself.


    "Yes?" he responded, somewhat alarmed by the sharpness in her tone.


    "Aside from your... loyalty and familial love, what''s the other angle? What else led you to take the risk?" she said in a tone barely suppressing ridicule.


    "Is this really necessary, sister Zhou? Stop interrogating him like he''s some criminal scum." Mu Ran snapped at her.


    Xiao Wu tried to mediate between the two, saying, "Brother Xuhan clearly doesn''t wish to hide the answer to that question, martial brother. Let him just clarify everything so that no new misunderstanding comes into play later. It''s not like we''re going to ask him how he exactly managed to manipulate and trap someone at the Soul Reformation Realm. Everyone has their secrets, and Xuhan knows that we respect his privacy. He can just share the parts he''s comfortable with sharing."


    "Well said, Brother Wu," Han Xuhan quickly intervened. The next bit of his little plan would fail if Mu Ran didn''t let him explain the other angle by respecting his privacy! Xuhan would rather be interrogated fiercely!


    "The other angle is actually not related to any secret of mine. The only reservation I have about saying it here is that it might have something to do with Brother Ran''s personal life."


    "...?!" Mu Ran stared at him in confusion.


    Yuen Zhou, however, looked even more skeptical.


    She had managed to catch onto the fact that Han Xuhan was just using some twisted explanations to make Mu Ran feel indebted to him. Having seen such tactics often whenever Han Xuhan interacted with Mu Ran, she wasn''t surprised at all.


    The first factor being related to Mu Ran through Qing Ya was not an outrageous angle to justify Han Xuhan''s ''great sacrifice'' for family. However, even the second factor being a tool to affect Mu Ran''s relationship with Han Xuhan was a bit too much of a coincidence to be true.


    But she could also sense that Han Xuhan was more than happy to ride along the wave and reveal how much he had sacrificed for Mu Ran. So instead of trying to find gaps in his story, she gave him the simple push he was trying to find.


    "Since that''s the case, Xiao Wu and I will leave the two of you to talk it out. Call us after it''s been explained."


    With a considerable amount of force, Yuen Zhou pushed Xiao Wu out of the yard, leaving the hearing range.


    "Bo-...I mean, Brother Ran," Xuhan began by correcting himself, hammering in that mental suggestion. "Do you remember when I went into the flying ship of the Abyss Guild as a representative of our sect? Remember that Lady Caizhi I spoke of?"


    Mu Ran nodded emphatically. "Of course! Wasn''t she the woman who had tried to seduce you?"


    "...Not quite how I explained it, Brother Ran. I had revealed to everybody at that time that she was trying to tempt me into betraying the sect, as well as aiming to harm you personally. Actually, she even gave me a precious technique that may offer me a way out of my destined doom."


    "Oh, for real?!" Mu Ran''s eyes lit up. "Does that mean you have a hope of continuing on your journey as a cultivator? That''s amazing news!"


    Annoyed, Han Xuhan shook his head. "You''re focusing on the wrong thing here, Brother! That part about her aim to harm you, that''s more important than my cultivation!"


    Once again, Mu Ran was rendered voiceless by his good brother''s care and concern for him.

 Chapter 254: Under Heaven, Above Earth, My Underling Is The Most Loyal

    "Lady Caizhi revealed to me that her master, the Leader of the Abyss Guild, had met you before you joined our Sect," Han Xuhan said, trying his best to simplify his encounter with that insidious woman.


    The very first sentence he uttered made Mu Ran stand straight up at lightning speed, his countenance growing dark. In a murderous tone, he said, "Tell me everything she told you. Don''t leave any details out! I want to see exactly how many lies she''s fed Yaya over the years! She must have spouted the same garbage to you!"


    Trying not to snort, Han Xuhan proceeded to do the exact opposite of what he was ordered to do.


    "She told me that her master discovered at that time that you were an evil scourge who wanted to use Sister Ya as a cultivation tool. She did her best to protect Sister Ya from your evil clutches. In the end, although she had half a mind to kill you, she spared your life out of kindness and focused solely on protecting Sister Ya after you had taken away her ''special physique'' somehow..."


    Mu Ran barked out a vicious laugh as he trailed off.


    "Sparing me out of kindness? She really said that? Hahaha! That bitch tried to poison my damned soul! Her definition of kindness is truly one of a kind!"


    "What actually happened at that time, martial brother?" Han Xuhan asked curiously. "As you can clearly guess, I don''t quite believe her account of your history with Sister Ya. Could you clear up my confusion?"


    Mu Ran''s laugh faded, replaced by a solemn face.


    "A great number of secrets are intertwined in this matter, and I can''t reveal many of them to you because of....reasons."


    With a deadpan expression, Han Xuhan said, "At least give me a basic outline that proves your innocence in the matter. We''ll definitely meet Lady Caizhi and her master again in the future. It''s best that I have some ability to counter some of the defamatory words harming your reputation."


    Mu Ran chewed on his tongue for a few seconds before beginning to explain his own version of the story.


    "I''ve known Qing Ya since as far back as I can recall, and even during my earliest memories, I used to feel a sense of great... ''hunger'' towards her, a hunger that was neither physical, nor lustful.


    By the time I could read, the secrets of the world of immortality opened up to me through the merit of a secret tome belonging to my dying clan. I discovered the concept of Physiques at that time, guided through its intricacies by my older brother."


    "Wait, you had an older brother?" Han Xuhan asked, somewhat alarmed.


    Since when did xianxia protagonists have brothers?


    "Yes, I did, and I still do now. He was the one who procured the admission invitation to the Crimson Snow Sect for me. He lives back in my hometown, looking after our ancestral land. Anyway, back then, I tried to test out what kind of special physique Qing Ya possessed with the help of my brother. The result wasn''t surprising. Her special physique seemed to be tailor-made to complement mine! It explained why my awakened physique would make me feel so desperate to be near her all the time!


    But right when we were about to conclude the test, something unexpected took place. If I divulge anything about the incident, it might bring you a calamity to face. Let''s just...say that we realized that the special physique she possessed was not exactly a blessing. If she really ended up blooming into the full potential brought by it, absolute misery would shadow her for the rest of her life.


    Obviously, someone as righteous as me could not let that scenario play out! With my brother''s assistance, I sped up the maturation of her physique and used the problems created by such early maturation to convince her family to let me separate her from her physique."


    Stolen novel; please report.


    "You can do that? Is separating someone from their Physique easy?" Han Xuhan interrupted him midway, his eyes aglow.


    "Not really," Mu Ran replied. "Or I would have suggested the same for your physique, under- I mean, martial brother. I used the attraction between our two complementing physiques to separate it from her. That wouldn''t work on you. If, someday, you stumble upon a physique that perfectly complements yours, then I''ll be more than happy to help, even if the other party doesn''t agree to be a part of the process!"


    "...Oh." Han Xuhan''s enthusiasm waned. He doubted he could find such a match made in heaven. Instead of worrying about such far-fetched possibilities, he focused on the matter at hand and asked, "What did you do after that? Was the problem solved? Did Sister Ya become free from this...potential disaster awaiting her in the future?"


    Mu Ran nodded, proudly adding, "That''s right. But that bitch from the Abyss Guild was convinced that I was trying to destroy Yaya''s fortune. So she tried to attack me and... let''s say that did not go well for her, hehehe."


    Han Xuhan mentally took note of the fact that Mu Ran had expertly avoided saying what he did with the separated physique. According to Lady Caizhi, he had absorbed it himself. It also supported the memories he had seen where two separate blessings, the Twin Devil Physique and the Dragon Reverend Physique had been fused together to form Mu Ran''s new physique.


    Both parties in this incident were hiding part of the truth, adding pinches of lies, and desperately trying to prove themselves as the selfless savior.


    What a tangled web of schemes!


    "With that out of the way, shouldn''t you be explaining how or why your conflict with that powerful senior has any connection to my past?" Mu Ran asked suddenly, remembering why they were having this conversation in the first place.


    Han Xuhan was quick to answer.


    "Of course! Where was I? Right, back there in the ship, Lady Caizhi asked me to backstab you over two justifications. Firstly, it would be a favor to the Abyss Guild if I managed to save Sister Ya from your hands. Secondly, she promised to assist me with the technique that would allow me to retain my future as a cultivator. In fact, I might even be able to surpass my current potential with the help of that technique!"


    Grief-stricken, Mu Ran replied, "So you sacrificed your future for me, Xuhan? You refused to accept her offer?"


    Han Xuhan nodded emphatically. "What else do you expect me to do? Accept the deal? Impossible! I won''t betray my brother!"


    Lips tightened, Mu Ran seemed to think of something.


    "Wait here for a moment," he said as he sprinted back into Xiao Wu''s hut. He returned outside soon with a slim iron-wrought crown in his hand.


    "I don''t have anything to express my gratitude at the moment. But this treasure should be enough as a token. I promise I''ll do my best to look for a method that can help you keep cultivating, Xuhan!"


    Han Xuhan didn''t really want to take it. He knew it was the crown Mu Ran had gotten while traveling through the void-zone behind the spatial rifts.


    "Brother Ran, it''s not necessary-"


    "Take it. I won''t be able to sleep peacefully without at least returning a token of my gratitude. It''s not much, I know. Don''t kick up a fuss over a small gift."


    Han Xuhan slung it on his waist and was about to continue his tale. But Mu Ran hit a spot of the story he was hoping to avoid, saying, "Xuhan, how exactly did that woman request that you betray me? What''s the process of this betrayal plan?"


    "...Well, it''s not exactly a direct betrayal, to be honest. She wanted me to trick you. Firstly, I would come begging on your door for the Blessing Robbing Technique that you used on Sister Qing Ya. Someone as magnanimous as you would obviously be moved by my begging and give me the technique so that I can go rob someone else''s Physique."


    Mu Ran scoffed. "What idiocy! Only someone who has no special physique can attract another random cultivator''s physique. My case was special because of my connection to Qing Ya. It''s so apparent that she was trying to trick you into getting something that you''d have no use for."


    "I didn''t know that at the time," Han Xuhan said with a shrug. "Anyway, after I tricked you into giving the technique away, she wanted me to hand it over to her. At the same time, she would use other means to test you, the aim of which would be to force you to agree to a deal."


    "What deal?"


    "To return Sister Ya''s Physique to her. They would ask you to do it to prove that you truly love her. They''d also try to manipulate you into thinking that Sister Ya would be willing to marry you if you make such a huge sacrifice-"


    "Bullshit! Is she not willing to marry me now?! Why would I need to prove my love with something that would actually endanger her? Screw their deal!" Mu Ran jumped to his feet and began pacing around the yard like an enraged predator, muttering curses under his breath.


    For some reason, a trace of guilt surfaced on his contorted face as his eyes darted around wildly, avoiding Han Xuhan''s narrow gaze.


    Han Xuhan chose this exact moment to strike with his ace card.


    "Brother Ran, I haven''t yet explained what connection all of this has with my decision to ambush Leng Qing."


    Mu Ran''s gaze jumped back to his face, his restless rage muted by a curiosity of greater volume.


    "True, true. But is it important?"


    Han Xuhan wasn''t deterred by his disdain.


    "Do you remember Leng Qing bragging to me about his nonsensical prediction? The day we invaded his sect, he had predicted that there would be nine of us. But in everyone''s eyes, there were only four. However, you know of my cultivation technique more than others. So you can tell that if we count Zhanxian, Tun Shi Tian, Hai Yin Zhe, and my newest project, we''d make a team of eight members. So who''s the ninth? Or is it a miscalculation on Leng Qing''s part?"


    Mu Ran''s countenance grew heavier, his pacing slowing down as Xuhan continued.


    "When Lady Caizhi was trying to convince me to betray you, she showed me some... memories. These memories belong to her master, the woman who came between you and Sister Ya all those years ago. In one of those memories, I found out that you have a foreign soul inside your body just like how I house Zhanxian and the other minions!"


    Mu Ran completely went still as a statue, shock and fury overtaking every other emotion on his face as his biggest secret was revealed.


    "Obviously, I realized at that time that the ninth member traced by Leng Qing was the foreign soul hiding inside you! My own cultivation method is no big secret, but I could guess that your case is special! You''ve never even told me, your closest confidante that you carry around a minion like I do! It must be one of your most guarded secrets! So what could I do, except silencing whoever had discovered such a massive secret of my martial brother? He left me with no choice! Even if I had to take a risk, I had to do my best to hide my biggest benefactor''s secret!"

 Chapter 255: Blood Brothers

    Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu were standing idly a good distance away from the hut, both in deep pools of thoughts of their own. Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian were being chased around by a giggling Hai Yin Zhe. Why Han Xuhan had not summoned them back to his dao tower was a bit puzzling to Yuen Zhou. But she hadn''t thought much of it, opting to wait and see what else Han Xuhan would reveal to them once his secret conversation with Mu Ran ended.


    "What''s taking them so long?" Xiao Wu complained in a bored manner.


    "Maybe we should shout and tell them to hurry up and finish their business fast," Yuen Zhou suggested.


    "...Why did you have to make it sound so perverted?" Xiao Wu mumbled under his breath with a disgusted expression.


    "What did you say?" Yuen Zhou squinted at him.


    "Nothing."


    Just as Xiao Wu was about to walk over to shout at the distant hut, both of them noticed a blurry silhouette shooting through the sky, headed toward them like an arrow. The origin of the silhouette seemed to be the top of the mountain peak where Master Kong Ye resided.


    Sure enough, the moment the silhouette landed on the ground, Kong Ye''s sharp features became clear. The area he had landed on formed two small ravines as he skidded forward unstably because of the momentum.


    The panicked expression on his face made both Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu tense up. They rushed over to him, followed by the three startled skeleton minions.


    "Where is Xuhan? Is he here? Have you seen him?" Kong Ye fired a volley of questions even before managing to gain a proper footing from his botched landing. Not only did his face radiate panic, his tone too was filled with urgency.


    "He''s there, in my house." Xiao Wu pointed out, adding, "What''s wrong, master? What''s going on?"


    Kong Ye looked like he wanted to wave their concerns off and rush to the hut himself. But he seemed to think of something at the last moment and glanced at the three minions standing behind the disciples.


    "Did anything significant happen within the last half hour?" he asked Zhanxian, who nodded hurriedly.


    "Master tried to-AH?!"


    Zhanxian was silenced by a fierce wing slap from Tun Shi Tian.


    "Master visited another sect and had a run-in with a powerful cultivator there," Tun Shi Tian said while glaring at Zhanxian. "His life was in danger, but he has managed to pull through and solve the problem."


    Kong Ye turned to look at Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu, his gaze questioning.


    "A gross oversimplification, but yes, that''s the gist of it. Can you tell us what''s wrong, master?" Xiao Wu said, confirming Tun Shi Tian''s account.


    "He''s there, you say?" Kong Ye asked back, avoiding the question. His gaze bore into the hut in the distance. "Who''s with him? Mu Ran?"


    "Yes! But what-"


    "Disciple Xuhan is in an incredibly dangerous situation right now. I require your assistance in saving him. Come with me," Kong Ye cut Xiao Wu off and gestured at them to follow him.


    When Yuen Zhou stepped back inside the yard unannounced, she found Mu Ran holding a knife over his arm. Before she could react, the knife swung down and painted his palm red.


    "I, Mu Ran, acknowledge you, BROTHER!"


    Yuen Zhou''s gaze flickered towards Han Xuhan, who was sporting a similar cut on his palm, albeit much smaller in size. It was barely leaking blood at all.


    "I, Han Xuhan, acknowledge you, BROTHER!"


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Let us lock arms and form the blood pact!" Mu Ran declared, bringing his hand toward Xuhan''s outstretched palm...only to pause.


    "Er... I think you cut yourself on the wrong hand, Brother Ran," Han Xuhan remarked after trying in vain to grip Mu Ran''s hand.


    Mu Ran quickly cut himself on the other palm too and snatched Xuhan''s palm with his, mixing their running blood together. Drops of after drops of crimson painted the soil beneath them as they maintained the grip.


    "The drying blood cements our brotherhood! The healing skin covers our camaraderie! Let this unbroken grip be the testament to our infallible fraternity!"


    Mu Ran''s heartfelt shout might have continued had Yuen Zhou not decided to intervene at this point.


    "Brother Xuhan! Don''t move! You''re in danger!"


    Both boys turned to look at her with absolute befuddlement clouding their faces.


    "What?"


    "Danger? Where? How?"


    "It''s not something I can explain! Just stay still and keep calm! I''ve already sent out Brother Wu to contact Master. He can definitely crack down on the spiritual pollution-"


    Yuen Zhou stopped dead in her tracks, looking guilty. It was clear to both of them that she hadn''t intended to say the last part out loud.


    "Spiritual pollution? Good heavens!" Mu Ran yelped as he turned to look at Han Xuhan, expecting to see him equally panicked.


    What greeted his gaze was, however, a pair of frosty, placid eyes radiating the faintest hint of bone-deep contempt.


    Mu Ran unconsciously tightened the grip he had on Han Xuhan''s palm.


    "Hnggghhh-!"


    A foot crashed into his left kneecap with so much force that Mu Ran lost all sensation below his knee temporarily. Incredibly enough, he hadn''t seen Han Xuhan, a fourth-layer weakling''s oncoming kick.


    How? Even those around his own cultivation level weren''t this fast, nor so powerful!


    Barely had he managed to digest the kick when he felt a seating pain being emitted from his hand.


    The palm that had wrapped itself around Han Xuhan''s hand now sported several strips of torn skin and rent muscles. Streaks of blood coated the metallic armor covering Han Xuhan''s fingers.


    From outright disbelief, Mu Ran''s thoughts switched to a surprised realization.


    The armor pieces from the void zone! So that was what Han Xuhan had relied on to injure him!


    ...But why?!


    Meanwhile, Yuen Zhou, who had recovered from the shock much faster than him, shot out like a coiled spring.


    The ruse she had employed to bait out the enemy had worked perfectly! He was under the impression that although he had been found out, he had an opportunity to escape!


    Yet she barely managed to touch the corner of Xuhan''s robe as he executed a series of unbelievably fluid footwork and sidestepped both her fists and flying daggers.


    Mu Ran examined the rapidly healing skin of his hand. There were two injuries on it, one made for Xuhan, the other made by Xuhan.


    Spiritual pollution, was it?


    Mu Ran raised his arms and moved his qi into a familiar circuit.


    "Astral-"


    "STOP!"


    Kong Ye appeared right behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.


    "Don''t damage him spiritually right now! Your uncontrolled spell will do more harm than good. Let me handle this!"


    Xiao Wu rushed into the yard, followed by Han Xuhan''s three minions. None of them could quite believe their eyes as the ongoing battle between Yuen Zhou and Han Xuhan unfolded.


    No matter how many punches, kicks, and hidden daggers were thrown at him, Han Xuhan dodged them like a fluid shadow. His speed was nowhere near enough to be her match. Yet even the fastest of her strikes barely seemed to nick him. Han Xuhan''s body seemed to have no bones, no weight, and was made up of the world''s strongest rubber.


    It was almost akin to watching an adult playing around with a toddler.


    "What the hell happened to him?" he heard Tun Shi Tian, the owl, squeak half in awe, half in horror.


    Mu Ran had practiced his combat skills a few times with Han Xuhan. He could tell clearly that none of these moves and maneuvers were supposed to be a part of his blood brother''s arsenal.


    "Disciple Zhou, that''s enough." Kong Ye yelled. "You''re letting the enemy harm his body! He''s not physically capable of performing any of those movements."


    Yuen Zhou retracted her latest punch halfway and became still. Han Xuhan, on the other hand, staggered slightly as he took several steps back and leaned on the fence of the yard. But the placid, almost dull expression on his face remained unchanged throughout the ordeal.


    "Such a weak body...Had I known it earlier, tsk, tsk, tsk," he mumbled to himself, eyes downcast.


    "Who are you? And why have you taken possession of my disciple''s body?" Kong Ye said as he slowly strode forward.


    "If you wish to see him dead, you''re welcome to take the next step," Han Xuhan replied.


    Kong Ye sighed, turning to look at Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu with an expression that said, ''I told you so,''.


    "Answer the questions," Yuen Zhou growled impatiently. The dagger in her grip twitched, hinting at an unfinished battle intent.


    Han Xuhan, or whoever was possessing his body at the moment, ignored her and faced Kong Ye''s scrutinizing gaze.


    "Which Celestial? I was under the impression that your faction still sticks to the rules and regulations, at least on the outside. Since when did they start handing out gifts at the level of a Solarsight? You couldn''t have perceived my existence otherwise. You do understand the gravity of such transgressions, right?"


    Kong Ye looked as dumbfounded as the rest of them faced with the inquiry.


    "...What are you even talking about?" he said in reply after a lengthy pause.


    The disdain radiating from Han Xuhan''s eyes grew stronger.


    "Ignorant as ever. Truly, the worst of all unextinguished creatures. Whatever, it is none of my concern now since I''ve been discovered. Tell your lords to go cry about it in their upcoming assembly, as usual. And turn off that talisman array you''ve placed around this mountain. Your dearest disciple isn''t dead, and I''m sure you don''t want to be the one to cause his death."


    "You''re going to kill him either way. Best I spare him a dignified death before you use his body to do something dishonorable," Kong Ye said calmly. Before he even finished speaking, he had activated the array.


    "Astral Eclipse!"


    Thousands of thin, black rays of light shot up from the soil, blinding every opened eye. Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu fainted immediately. The three minions flickered and disappeared from their spot.


    "So ruthless?!" The entity possessing Han Xuhan yelped, making Kong Ye grimace.


    At least it was fearful of death! That was more than enough leverage right now! That was good news!


    Amidst the storm of gathering shadows, Kong Ye sensed his first disciple''s body losing balance and falling to the ground. Even the powerful spiritual body possessing him wasn''t capable of withstanding what Kong Ye''s system could unleash with some preparation.


    With a flick of his qi, the array was deactivated. Kong Ye strode forward and knelt over Han Xuhan''s body, examining it thoroughly. A vacant look appeared in his eyes which all four of his disciples would have recognized had they been conscious.


    From within his robe, he pulled out a syringe filled with a colorless liquid.


    "Let me level the playing field for you, disciple. That is all your master can do for you now. Don''t disappoint me!"


    Han Xuhan''s eyes flickered open, the same dull gaze making its appearance once more.


    "Hear your disciple''s last scream-!"


    He was greeted with the sight of a long syringe being  stabbed into his neck before his world went dark once more.

 Chapter 256: Combat For Control

    The vast emptiness above was complemented by the endless plains beneath. Han Xuhan had never quite had the time or curiosity to explore the seemingly infinite blank space outside his dao tower, always too busy with matters inside the stark-white building.


    But today, he was forced to stop, see, and think of ideas that had never been conceived in his mind.


    After realizing that he had once again lost control of his body, the first thing he had done was to force his consciousness to fight back against this foreign control.


    Needless to say, he had been unsuccessful. Just when he had been about to give up, he had felt the tiniest trace of mental connection to his body reforming.


    Han Xuhan had used it to its maximum utility to run a small, simple circuit of qi, barely completing it.


    This had helped his consciousness sink into the depths of his mind where the ethereal dao tower existed.


    He knew he had to negotiate once more with the senior hiding there. The man had clearly said that he would leave him alone. Han Xuhan had trusted him, only to find out now that the senior had not kept his words. Moreover, somehow even his master Kong Ye and his martial siblings had discovered the existence of the senior.


    It didn''t make any sense to him. He could only resolve his doubts here, inside the dao tower.


    However, when the tower surfaced in front of his consciousness, Han Xuhan found himself in a bigger bucket of doubts.


    This was not his dao tower, not the one he knew.


    In front of him lay three buildings. Two of them were square-shaped, simple in outline. Between them was a...swimming pool, filled with what appeared to be bluish, liquified qi. The pool was circular in shape, its edge surrounded by a foot-high wall made up of the same substance as the other two buildings.


    These weren''t, however, the only objects there. Strewn across the sandy ground, countless pieces of bricks, slabs of concrete, and shards of iron rods could be found everywhere. It was as if another building here had been demolished down to its smallest units just recently.


    Han Xuhan put two and two together, forming a hypothesis regarding the changes his dao tower had undergone.


    Back when he had discarded his own body and cultivation for Fang Xie''s body, his dao tower was supposed to be destroyed according to the technique provided by Lady Caizhi.


    However, the senior possessing him had revealed that the technique she had given to him was faulty, and instead of fully destroying his dao tower, the technique had preserved it, giving birth to a strange phenomenon where the owner of the dao tower was not the owner of the body that carried the dao tower.


    The essence of cultivation contained three subjects. The body was the material subject, the mind was the ethereal subject, and the meridians filled with qi were the semi-material, semi-ethereal subject that connected the mind with the body, thus paving the road to forming and building the dao tower. Without mental connection, it could not exist, and similarly, without a physical carrier, it could not exist either.


    In his case, the mind had no connection to the body. But it could draw upon a different body to connect to his dao tower. Yet, being connected to the dao tower meant being connected indirectly to his old body again, which would create a paradoxical state, because one mind cannot coexist in two living bodies capable of forming two different dao towers. It was a gross violation of the heavenly law. And naturally, this had attracted the heavenly tribulation at that time, forcing Han Xuhan to return back inside his dao tower.


    Looking at the remains of his old dao foundation, Han Xuhan had nothing to say except, "...What a mess."


    He floated over to one of the buildings and pushed on its door, only to come to a halt.


    It wouldn''t budge. The door was locked, and nothing he did changed that. This was a first for him. Inside his dao tower, there had never been a single brick fully out of his control. Now this entire tower seemed like a foreign object capable of defying his will.


    Han Xuhan floated over to the other building. Same result. He couldn''t get inside. As for the swimming pool of qi, he could not step past the foot-high rim surrounding it either.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    "Oh...no, no, no. These three separate buildings... Are they the individual dao towers of my three minions?"


    The theory seemed more and more likely as he observed the surroundings. That meant, the innumerable bricks and concrete lying around the three towers belonged to his original tower, the portion that solely belonged to him!


    "Senior! Senior, where are you?!" Han Xuhan yelled, fury and frustration leaking through his voice.


    "He''s not here," said an unfamiliar voice.


    Han Xuhan swerved around and found himself facing an unbelievable sight.


    ''He'' was standing a dozen meters away, dressed in a formal black suit. A dull smile hung on his face, and a malicious gaze occupied his eyes.


    "....You, wha-"


    "Yes, it''s me, Han Xuhan. Just not the same Han Xuhan you are."


    This person standing in front of him was none other than he himself.


    "...Who are you?" Han Xuhan said in a raspy voice. "Where is the senior?"


    The Han Xuhan in the black suit shrugged. "You wanted him gone. He''s gone. I believe he warned you of the grave consequences of your action. I am the consequence. An individual cannot form two different dao towers. But since when were we an individual? You are Han Xuhan, born and raised on this planet. I am Han Xuhan, born, raised, and dead on planet Earth. We have the same set of unified memories, and the same goals of survival. But we are not one. Since you created the opportunity to be separated, the heavenly law was more than willing to assist us with the separation."


    Han Xuhan, who had looked terrified until now, suddenly began to chuckle. The Xuhan in black froze upon seeing his relieved expression.


    "What''s so funny?"


    "I''m laughing because you''re lying," Han Xuhan said.


    "What makes you think so?"


    "Even though I had no control over my body, I could see you fighting martial sister Zhou. The Han Xuhan from Earth may be many things, but a martial artist capable of avoiding the continuous assault of a sixth-layer cultivator isn''t one of those. He couldn''t even beat the current me in a fight, let alone someone as skillful as Yuen Zhou!"


    "Tsk, had I my way, you would have been locked here from the start. But it wasn''t easy surviving the body-to-body transfer. At least I''m finally in charge now. You can do nothing about it even if you know this. I have all of your memories. I''ll just wake up and pretend I''m you. The only reason your master was able to perceive my existence was because of the gradual takeover of your body. He won''t perceive any anomaly now that I''ve fully possessed your body."


    The other Xuhan didn''t change his appearance even after being caught lying, insinuating that he didn''t intend to reveal his true self at all, whoever he was.


    "So why have you kept me around? Just erase me or something if you''re so capable. Me being here is just gonna be a constant source of worry for you. What if my master discovers my existence when he''s examining this redesigned dao tower of yours? You know he''s capable of that," Han Xuhan said in a light tone.


    The false Xuhan groaned.


    "That master Ye is too pervasive. His patron Celestial has broken too many rules. He should worry more about himself."


    "...What?" Han Xuhan asked in confusion.


    Right then, Han Xuhan felt a tremor surging through his very existence. Even as a spiritual body, he felt like a giant being assaulted with innumerable tiny arrows.


    The false Xuhan was faring even worse than him. His composed appearance completely broke apart, revealing a mass of black smoke that writhed around, emitting agonized screams.


    Amidst the pain, Han Xuhan felt a foreign power tugging his consciousness out of the dao tower. Suddenly, he found himself opening his eyes, back inside his body, fully in control of himself.


    Kong Ye was standing right in front of him, holding what appeared to be a talisman of some sort.


    "Disciple! I used the Mindkiller Poison to damage his soul! Use this opportunity to fight for control!" Kong Ye shouted excitedly.


    "How?!" Han Xuhan asked.


    "He will try to take over control of your body. Keep fighting with his mental influence over your limbs! Constantly move them around so that he is always distracted in his attempts to take control of your limbs. Use the lapse in his distraction to keep pushing him back!"


    Understanding the method, Han Xuhan tried to flail all of his limbs around chaotically, only to realize that at some point, the other Xuhan had returned and snatched the control back!


    But even as he opened his mouth to shout for help, nothing came out. Han Xuhan realized that the other Xuhan had just used his temporary freedom to fool Kong Ye into thinking that he was recovering. This wasn''t a fight for control, really. This was an attempt to hoodwink everyone into believing that the original Xuhan was winning!


    "Is it working?" Kong Ye roared in excitement, watching his vigorous movements.


    "I''m doing it! I''m fighting him off!" The false Xuhan shouted in fervor.


    Han Xuhan tried to sense something, anything that he still had a bit of control over. With a start, he realized that he could still control his qi to some extent just like the last time.


    But going back inside the dao tower to argue with the new occupier of his body wasn''t really going to produce anything fruitful. So what could he do with the qi? Signal to Kong Ye? That would just create a repeated cycle of deception like the current situation.


    Perhaps...there was a way.


    Han Xuhan ran a family cycle of qi, resulting in the summoning of Zhanxian.


    The moment the red skeleton landed on the ground, it let out a hysterical yell.


    "He confined me inside a room! Don''t believe him! He''s not my master!"


    So Zhanxian had been locked up inside one of those two towers?


    Kong Ye turned to look at Xuhan with a hint of suspicion in his eyes.


    "I didn''t do it! It was the other guy!" The false Xuhan shouted angrily.


    Just as Kong Ye was about to nod, Han Xuhan pulled out a drop of qi from his meridians and launched it at his face. The false Xuhan didn''t notice such a tiny anomaly amidst his chaotic flailing. Kong Ye, however, realized what was happening immediately.


    A second syringe of Mindkiller Poison appeared in his hand as he leaped over and jammed it into Xuhan''s neck.


    Once again, Han Xuhan found himself back in control of his body after a moment of terrible mental discomfort.


    "Zhanxian! Visualize the glyph!" he roared immediately.


    "The wha- Oh! I got it!"


    Zhanxian wasn''t the smartest when it came to schemes. But he wasn''t a fool either. He realized what Xuhan wanted to do.


    Master and minion started visualizing the glyph together on the spot. Stroke by stroke, pattern after pattern were constructed in their minds. Due to the merit of repeated learning through memory sequences, both of them had little trouble with completing the visualization.


    Halfway through the process, Han Xuhan lost control of his body. But he didn''t even need it at this point. He only needed the clarity of his mind to construct the glyph from memory.


    "I did it!" Zhanxian roared suddenly. "I''m holding on to it! Hurry!"


    The false Xuhan immediately tried to advance toward the red skeleton, hoping to interrupt him. But Kong Ye jumped forward with another syringe in his hand.


    "Where the fuck are you even getting those?!" The false Xuhan screeched in fury as he was struck with the Mindkiller poison for the third time.


    Getting the control of his body back, Han Xuhan immediately shouted, "Zhanxian, guide me through the last segment! I''m having trouble!"


    With Zhanxian''s accurate instructions, he managed to complete the glyph.


    The moment the glyph became complete, Han Xuhan lost track of all of his senses, his consciousness jarred by a cold, numbing blow.

 Chapter 257: [ Volume 2 ] Epilogue

    When he opened his eyes, he found Kong Ye standing a good distance away, eyes widened in shock of what he was seeing.


    The world looked different. He could not pinpoint what this difference stemmed from, but he sensed its existence.


    His body felt different; stronger, taller, heavier. Even his spiritual perception seemed more refined. He could sense the qi around him, and he could even sense how much his mental influence over qi had grown suddenly.


    Han Xuhan looked down at himself.


    His chest was covered by a layer of red bones, forming a secondary, external ribcage that protected his vitals.


    This ribcage was seamlessly attached to a layer of bone-plates wrapped around his lower stomach and waist.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    His arms had swelled to double their size, radiating so much power internally that he felt like he could take on the whole world with his two fists. Each of his fingers had grown longer, sturdier, and the tip of each finger contained a skinless bony protrusion, ending with a sharp head that could rip apart flesh easily.


    His legs had undergone a similar change, elevating his height. The elongated toes sent him a sensation of utmost security and perfect balance.


    Speaking of balance, the tail of bones that was slowly moving behind him was the biggest change. With one look, he could tell that the bones in this tail belonged to a human spine. Using this tail, he could probably break a human in half with one powerful swing.


    Wait... How was he even seeing the tail? It was on his back!


    Han Xuhan focused on analyzing his current mode of vision, and realized that he could see perfectly in two opposite directions, his front and back.


    He touched the back of his head and found the facial bones of another skull attached there.


    "Master! I can''t hold him off much longer! Come join the fight!" His skeletal face croaked as he came to the realization that the Fusion Technique from the burning planet had been successful!


    "Let me bring some helping hands," Han Xuhan whispered gleefully.


    [End Of Volume 2]...............

 [ Volume 2 ] Afterword

    Almost three times the size of volume 1, which was roughly 450 pages long, this volume was difficult to write.


    I must have scrapped half a dozen different endings for this volume. Even the current one isn''t something I was planning on for very long. My personal life throughout writing this volume has been tumultuous, to say the least. There were many, MANY moments where I just looked at the story and told myself to give up on it, to stop pouring my time over a hobby when my personal life is in shambles.


    Funnily enough, while writing the first draft of this volume, I killed Han Xuhan, planning to end his story. But this story, the feedback, the regular flow of patrons have been one of my constant sources of joy and pride. I felt that concluding the story that way, no matter how realistic it may seem, would probably cause some grief to all of you who are as attached to it as I have grown to become.


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Thank you for being here, and thank you for your positive comments under every chapter. You saved Han Xuhan from a death written in electronic ink, and you saved my mental health that was mired in electronic misery.


    Now, the emotional bits aside, my exams have already begun, and my preparation for them isn''t exactly what I''d like it to be. So I''ll be taking a short break from the hectic daily release schedule. Volume 3 is even more complex and hardcore than this one. Every detail, every subplot that has been planted over the last two volumes will accumulate into cooking a long, drawn-out climax in volume 3. So I need some time, some preparation, and a good stretch of mental vacation, which my exam schedule won''t permit. Hence, I may not be back until...say, mid-December, roughly 5 weeks from now.


    Now that another volume has been completed, some new ratings/reviews would be a massive help. I know I make this request too often...but eh, that''s the only thing I can do, so my apologies if it''s a bother.


    I''ll see you all on the side stories of this volume! Bye for now!

 Volume 2 Side Story-1: The Visionary Puppet

    The wooden roof greeted Leng Qing''s bleary sight as he woke up.


    "...How come I fell asleep when the sun''s up and above?"


    Feeling strongly that something was off, he jumped to his feet and took a look around the bedroom.


    He had fallen asleep on the recliner, as usual. The serving table in front of him held a flask of tea and two cups, one filled, one empty.


    His head cleared up. Of course, today, he was supposed to have a frontal confrontation with one of his deadliest obstacles¨C Han Xuhan''s attempt to enslave him into becoming another Nightmare Knight, a vanguard for the Nocturna forces.


    He had ended up sleeping just before a moment so crucial to the future of this planet?


    Impossible! Leng Qing''s blood turned cold as the oddity of the situation finally set in.


    He quickly turned to look at the small hourglass on the wall. He had calculated the range of time within which Han Xuhan would arrive and attack him. If his calculation wasn''t wrong...


    The attack had happened already! At least an hour had passed since the attack!


    Gaze glued to the hourglass, Leng Qing began to calculate once more. Qi moved inside his meridians, complex patterns formed in the air, and numerous formulas flitted through his mind one after another as he tried to peek into the abstract realm of causes and their effects. What made the calculation this time easier was the supposition that his feared outcome had already found its first stepping stone. He had not managed to stop their momentum up the stairway to the destruction of the planet. He had become another tread on that stair!


    The result made itself known to him fast, as fast as he had feared it might.


    The attack had been a success for Han Xuhan''s side!


    He, Leng Qing, was already under the enslavement spell!


    Quick as lightning, he sat back on the recliner and sank into his consciousness, seeking out his dao foundation. In no time, he was standing on the bottom floor of a narrow pagoda, looking up at the seemingly infinite stretch of darkness formed by the towering walls, at the very top of which blinked a round, white ball of light.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Like a frog in a well, casting their sight upon the sun of wisdom through a narrow perspective¨C this was the truth of human consciousness.


    What put the stargazers on a different seat compared to the ordinary humans was the uniqueness of this pagoda, this foundation of their cultivation route.


    The higher they could climb, the wider this pagoda would become, revealing more and more of the spectacular sun of knowledge and wisdom. The darkness would recede inch by inch, showing one what history he had left behind, what chances he had around him, and what wonders lay ahead.


    Leng Qing, a novice stargazer, was still in the midst of clearing away the darkness on the first floor of his pagoda. Almost half of the black mist on the floor had been cleared up, creating a large, empty space that was a testament to his attainments as a stargazer.


    But today, that area of the first floor was no longer empty.


    A lone young man stood there, arms crossed, seemingly waiting for Leng Qing to arrive.


    For a long time, Leng Qing floated outside his dao tower, trying to think of possible scenarios that might take place once he voluntarily stepped inside the tower. But no idea he could conceive seemed enough to counter whatever it was occupying his dao tower. In the end, Leng Qing chose to relent and floated in, coming face to face with the entity.


    The first thing he realized was the fact that this young man had the same features as him. Same face, same torso, and the exact same limbs. Even the way this guy was standing made Leng Qing feel like he was in front of a mirror.


    "You''ve been puppetized," was the first sentence this entity said to him.


    "Evidently," Leng Qing replied. "Are you... the instrument that''s being used to accomplish the task of enslaving me?"


    The other Leng Qing blinked, looking somewhat confused.


    "No, YOU are the instrument that''s being used to puppetize ME! With great success too, it seems. You appear convinced of your sense of self, not realizing the truth. In this body, I''m the imprisoned one, the original owner. You''re the invader who''s in control."


    Leng Qing''s head went blank for a moment before he burst out in anger.


    "That''s impossible! My memories, my personality, my habits, my cultivation...Everything about myself is still the same. How could I be an outsider? Is that how you plan to take over my body? By convincing me that I''m the occupier in my own body?"


    He didn''t know much about the Nocturna rebels. If this was how they invaded planet after planet, then it made sense why even the Overlords of the Macrocosm were having trouble countering them!


    "Exactly!" the other Leng Qing said. "We are so alike that it''s impossible for either of us to even conceive the idea that we''re not the original owner of this body. So no matter how hard I try to convince you, you won''t believe me. You''ll continue to live as I had planned to, interact with the outside world as I had planned to, and then just at a crucial pivot point during the invasion of Nocturna Vanguards, you''ll show your true colors when your current master orders it. For now, both of us can only continue living in a cycle of conflict and confusion, just as intended by your master."


    The more he said, the more the seeds of fear in Leng Qing''s heart grew. In all the futures he had envisioned, this outcome was set in stone. Fang Xie, the madman, would use his army of puppetized disciples to assist the Nocturna Forces.


    Since the first vision he had received from his mysterious benefactor, he had been looking for ways to topple this horrific destiny. Yet here he stood after his years of struggle, just another piece to be used to bring about the very cause he fought against.


    And he wasn''t even sure if he was still himself.


    An overwhelming mixture of fury and frustration coursed through his heart as the absurdity of the situation finally set in.


    Suddenly, a strange expression appeared on the other Leng Qing''s face. Leng Qing himself felt an irresistible tug on his consciousness. Unable to fight back, he was dragged away from the tower, and sunk into a stream of chaotic darkness that gave him a familiar feeling.


    He had been in this state before.


    His mysterious benefactor was about to send him another vision of the future! He couldn''t guess what it might be, but he understood that this would probably be the final weapon for him to rely on if he wanted to land a fatal blow to the vanguards of the Nocturna Rebels.


    This time, Leng Qing was determined to carry out his mission, no matter how much collateral damage he caused on that course.


    The first step on that path would be, of course, to kill Han Xuhan.

 Volume-2 Side Story-2: Overlords In Confusion, Celestials In Panic

    Neutral Territory, Northeastern region of the Galaxy, Sector number 7, Solar System number 11, planet number 5.


    A lone figure stood still just near the outer edge of the atmosphere of the greenish planet. His eyes were stuck in a certain direction above.


    Past the radiant star at the center of the solar system, on a distant, expansive orbit, the seventh planet of the system was buried beneath a layer of smoke.


    From where he stood, he could clearly examine the marred exosphere of the seventh planet. Amidst the endless smokey tides covering the planet''s sky, more than a dozen ''objects'' had emerged. Each of these objects was shaped like a mountain, each of their peaks pointed straight at the sun.


    Xing Ji''s fists were clenched, shaking from the sheer fury coursing through his veins as he was forced to accept this loss.


    An entire solar system. It would be lost just like that?


    He could almost see the look of mirth on the faces of those monstrosities who occupied the seventh planet of the solar system now.


    Gnashing his teeth for a moment, Xing Ji turned away to focus on the job for which he had sent this clone to planet number five.


    The Celestial Mandate prevented him from entering the Neutral Territories unless it was to solve certain specific emergencies. Even in the case of encountering such emergencies, he couldn''t walk into this region in full force. Much discretion and secrecy were to be maintained on this issue, especially since he was certain that each and every move made by his clone was under the scrutiny of some Nocturna scums sitting one planet away.


    The power holding him up disappeared as his body dropped down into the atmosphere of the planet. The thin layer of frost that had formed over his skin melted away. He looked entirely unperturbed by the terrifying momentum his body was gathering with each second.


    As his free-falling body entered the range of vision of the powerful cultivators down on the ground, he nullified all reflections and refraction of light interacting with his physical body. Then the suppression of his spiritual being followed. For the final step, he put a covering over any spiritual leakage emanating from his body, regardless of which totality that body belonged to.


    Xing Ji landed on a beach that stretched dozens of miles, sporting a distinct absence of life of any form. That was understandable, considering how many of the residual rifts from the Great Sundering still existed above the sea in front of him.


    Xing Ji was not particularly skilled in matters of space and time, but he could still sense the thick, yet chaotic flow of the space-time continuum churning above the sea.


    Nature was trying its best to heal the sundered space here, but that attempt at healing was what had created the messy agglutination of isolated spatial regions, each of which ran on the exact same principles as the others, separated by the chaotic time-flow of the unhealed void gnawing at the continuum.


    Xing Ji had imagined that some curious cultivators with considerable insight into the dao of space and time might walk into this place in order to explore. But upon landing here, he realized his mistake.


    Thousands of cultivators were occupying the isolated spatial regions above the sea! At least more than fifteen thousand!


    How many cultivators did this planet even have? Xing Ji wanted to verify his doubts about what he was sensing from outside, but that would be tantamount to leaking his existence. The Nocturna scums hadn''t overstepped the boundaries of the agreement yet, frustratingly. He didn''t want to be the one to do that and trigger an even more intense war.


    Carefully, Xing Ji tried to trace the exact spatial region from where the aura of a taboo-breaker had leaked out a moment ago.


    Half a second later, Xing Ji''s clone disappeared and reappeared a thousand feet above the sea, standing still on empty air. A spot right below his feet took over his focus. He had calculated all the possible routes for the Extinction-grade Calamity to invade the agglutinated space and strike the cultivator who had just attempted to take over another cultivator''s body fully, expelling the original owner into his own body. The heavens didn''t tolerate such insolence against its way!


    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    He linked the consciousness of the nature with the command of the Celestial, and almost instantly, the color of the sky turned opaque, dark red clouds rushing in towards him at a speed to match the Celestial''s fury.


    Red sparks were birthed into existence by the clashing clouds, and they continued to increase in both number and volume until the entire sky was turned into an infestation of roiling red lightning, ready to rain down upon the blasphemous.


    With a motion of his arms, Xing Ji leaned forward and directed the storm of punishing tribulation at the criminal hiding inside the cracked space. The mass of clouds surged by his body, hiding him behind their red, icy tendrils.


    A picturesque scene formed above the sea. If a mortal stood here, he would see the vortex of red rage being directed into empty air far above his head.


    If a cultivator stood here, he would see another vortex of torn space below it, being ripped open by the heavenly tribulation.


    Xing Ji''s breath froze a moment later.


    It seemed that something... or someone was blocking the route taken by the tribulation clouds. It couldn''t proceed forward at the speed it was supposed to!


    "Impossible!"


    That was the first word Xing Ji uttered on this planet.


    There was no cultivator on this planet capable of resisting a heavenly tribulation! Even an overlord qualified to step into the heavenly court had to suffer the testing tribulations!


    Rapidly, Xing Ji''s mind spun, seeking out possible reasons for this blockade. What authority had the capability to achieve this?


    He only knew of one. One related intricately to the Great Sundering. One hailing from the previous millennium.


    Watching the vortex of tribulation beneath his feet struggling to enter the isolated spatial region, Xing Ji had little doubt that it could be the work of some other force.


    The ghosts of the past millennium... Are they about to return?


    Face pale, Xing Ji recalculated the route of the heavenly tribulation, forcing it to crawl deeper into the agglutinated space. At the same time, he sent the message to the Heavenly Court, seeking guidance.


    Hardly had the clouds forced their way into the spatial zone where the target was hiding when another unexpected development took place.


    The trace of the broken taboo disappeared.


    Xing Ji was dumbstruck for a good few seconds before managing to sense the nature of the incident. From the input of the natural laws that had taken root inside the spatial zone, he surmised that the wrongdoer had noticed the incoming tribulation and reversed whatever mechanism he had used to possess another cultivator''s body.


    Still, this hardly meant that he didn''t deserve to be punished. So Xing Ji continued to channel the tribulation clouds.


    By the time enough energy had been created inside the spatial zone for a punishing strike, Xing Ji''s mind felt overloaded with stress.


    As if to rescue him, a familiar voice sounded directly inside his head.


    "Leave it be. We have received news that the first phase of the Solar Transformation has already been initiated. Nocturna authorities are masking the operation to surprise those of us who have business left in the solar system. It''s a trap that can clamp down at any moment. Leave!"


    In his shock, Xing Ji lost control of the heavenly energy, causing the tribulation cloud to weaken rapidly. But his focus no longer returned to that task. His eyes were glued to the sun overhead, still shining like a beacon.


    Even he hadn''t been able to tell that the transformation had already begun.


    Roaring in frustration, Xing Ji punched the air, rattling every element in the space near him. A second later, his body appeared outside the planet, standing atop a round, mountain-sized rock that was orbiting the planet.


    He cast an unsteady gaze upon the greenish planet in front of him. Layer by layer, he detached the control he had formed over the consciousness of the planet.


    "Xing Ji...are you still there?" a hesitant voice suddenly spoke to him in his mind.


    "Yes!" Xing Ji responded quickly. "I''ve left the boundaries of the planet.


    "Are you alright? You didn''t try to complete the mission after I warned you, did you?"


    The concern in her voice made him smile despite the storm ongoing in his heart.


    "I''m fine. The cultivator who attracted the tribulation got scared and reversed the possession. You don''t need to worry about taking responsibility," he replied.


    "...Whatever. I''m sending somebody to strike him down in the dao domain, anyway. You come back as fast as you can. The fifth planet isn''t the only one that hosts life in that solar system. The third does too. Nocturna will place great importance on that area now. It''s best not to start a conflict."


    Xing Ji, despite being annoyed at her nagging tone, sighed and agreed to return. The cosmic rock he was standing on contained the Transportation array. He''d be soon beyond the spatial intersections shrouding this faraway constellation.


    Right as he had decided to activate the transportation array, she sent another message from her court.


    "Xiao Ji! Stop whatever you''re doing!"


    "...What now?" he asked, unable to hide the irritation in his heart.


    "The person I sent to the Dao Domain has sent a message back! He can''t find the taboo-breaker''s dao tower! It''s gone!"


    "...." Xing Ji genuinely shuddered this time. Had his body not been refined to near perfection, he would have perhaps started sweating profusely by now.


    How could that be? This planet hadn''t been transformed by the Nocturna forces yet. The cultivator whom he had tracked down had been a genuine cultivator registered under the authority of the heavenly laws. It wasn''t possible that in just one moment, without the intervention of Nocturna forces, he could''ve switched sides and become a Nocturna cultivator.


    "I''ve just checked the Slate of The Forsaken!" She nearly shouted in the message.


    "Why? Shouldn''t you be sending a message to the spies hiding among the Nocturna forces? They''re the ones who can ascertain if a new cultivator from this solar system has joined their ranks," Xing Ji said in confusion.


    "....Yeah, no, Nocturna cultivators don''t have what it takes to detach a Dao tower from our Dao Domain without us knowing. Besides, my instinct wasn''t wrong. Something really did happen on the Slate of the Forsaken!"


    A sense of grave foreboding was born in Xing Ji''s heart.


    "Is it a ghost cultivator?" he asked hesitantly.


    "What?! No! Why would you think that?" the lady on the other side sounded confused.


    "Well, this place is so close to the rift, so, you know..." Xing Ji trailed off, deciding not to reveal his suspicion yet. "So what is it? Do we have a name? Any clue?"


    "That''s the strangest thing," she answered. "The slate contains no description, no name, not a single clue to this person''s identity. It''s literally a blank placeholder in the list."


    "What the fuck is even going on?" Xing Ji muttered to himself. "Which category is the new addition under? At least that will narrow the search down for the spies."


    "I don''t know much about the category except the title. It''s called Fusion Seed. The only other person in the category used to be an Overlord, at least. His title is Lord Crimsontide."


    Xing Ji didn''t know who that was. But he knew that he couldn''t just leave now that such a huge scandal had been unearthed. He''d probably be sent on a new mission to find out who this new ''Fusion Seed'' was.

 Volume 2 Side Story 3: The Starbreaking Brigadier

    Neutral Territory, Northeastern region of the Galaxy, Sector number 7, Solar System number 11, planet number 7.


    Atop one of the seventeen pulsing mountains of metal and flesh that have protruded past the smokey layer shrouding the planet, two octopedes were fighting.


    Both of them employed all eight of their limbs in combat. Each limb was capable of supporting the entire weight of their cylindrical torso and humanoid head, being distributed evenly across their ten-foot-tall physique.


    The eight limbs on their bodies weren''t identical, and their usage varied as well. The upper two limbs were the narrowest, despite being longer than the lower limbs.


    The ends of these forelimbs were sharp, containing razor-like scales. Being used as whips in the fight, their swings often elicited painful gasps followed by sprays of gray blood.


    The second most active limbs protruded out just a foot below the forelimbs. The heads of these two limbs had blossomed into four smaller segments, much like human fingers, which could form fists to fight as well as operate intricate semi-organic machines.


    Right now, these two limbs were being used as hands in close combat.


    Due to the abnormal gravitational pull of the planet, their battle was sluggish. Only a dozen moves or so were being exchanged per second. Had they not changed into their current physical forms, it would have been difficult to even move as fast as they were moving now.


    After an exchange of almost a thousand blows, both cultivators separated.


    "If we hadn''t restricted this fight to purely physical movements, I would have lost," said one of them, revealing a voice one would expect to hear from a human teen. His skintight apparel had been ripped in many places, revealing sliced skin that leaked gray blood. The injuries were disappearing at a speed visible to the naked eye.


    "Good to see that you understand that. You can''t get cocky when facing somebody above your realm," the other cultivator replied, showing two rows of sharp teeth in an inhuman smile.


    "Accompanying our Brigade to the Colonizing mission here has been a blessing in disguise for you. The harsh environment of this planet seems to have loosened your bottleneck in combat expertise. The growth will serve you well if you plan to venture inside the fifth or the third planet."


    Turning to cast his sight at the sky, the older cultivator''s eyes traced the orbits of the two faraway planets that their scouts would soon occupy. For cultivators at his level, tracking nearby cosmic bodies was a simple task. Even the most minute reflections of light around them couldn''t escape their perception.


    "Has the solar implosion process gained any substantial progress in the last 20 hours? I came here right after my training session. Haven''t had the chance to check what''s going on inside the main panel," the young cultivator said curiously.


    "The latest dataset is being analyzed right now. Everyone would receive notifications in their transmitters if any substantial progress is made. To succeed in implementing experimental technologies at a cosmic scale is always worth a celebration. Even a minor success will indicate that in the near future, we''d no longer need to rely on our Monarchs to head out in battle themselves. They''ll be liberated from the time-consuming colonization missions. You can imagine the impact it will have on our advancement as a liberated civilization! Hahahahah!"


    The younger cultivator didn''t quite seem to share the enthusiasm. He interrupted his senior''s hopeful laughter, saying, "But this kind of advancement isn''t sustainable in the long run. We''ve all had this argument before. We''re already in a crisis for resources, as things stand. Building these planet-sized machines to colonize each new solar system and recruit new cultivators for the Nocturna Dynasty is not a logically repeatable process. What if the next two or three solar systems we end up conquering turn out to have scarce resources? We''ll run out of funding and materials if that happens. We''re already so far away from the home solar system that mass-scale teleportation of materials to build Sunbreakers like the one on this planet would be impossible. Machines can never be an equal replacement for Cultivators!"


    The older cultivator wrenched his gaze away from the sky and met his nephew''s radiant white eyes. This was a question he had faced thousands of times as one of the most ardent supporters of this mission.


    "Cultivation....is heaven''s way," he said in a low voice.


    "Our people are not welcome on that road. Once the full-scale cosmic conflict breaks out, the grassroots will need something other than cultivation to rely on. If nothing else, the common folk will have the option to set out on mobile Starbreakers to settle down in the furthest, most barren corners of the macrocosm where nebulas thousand-trillion-miles broad shroud the sea of cosmic bodies from heaven''s eyes. So long as even the tiniest ember of our cause lives on, even if it be in the heart of the weakest mortal of the Nocturna Dynasty, we dare dream of a free new world where Celestials only exist in the spit-smeared annals of history."


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The conviction in his tone seemed to shake the young cultivator''s worldview.


    "...I didn''t expect you to end up as a member of that extremist faction, uncle Qingsong." he mumbled under his breath, sounding disappointed.


    "Isn''t the entire Nocturna Dynasty a home for extremists? My ideas are tame compared to the woman who invented the machine you''re standing on, or the man who came up with the idea of terraforming each planet uniquely to give birth to new cultivation systems! Aren''t those plans being implemented as well? Opinions can differ as long as the motive behind the opinion is for a good cause. My cause lies with the weakest people of the Dynasty. Call it what you will, but it is for the greater good, a just cause. I believe in it, as do our monarchs and overlords. That is why we''re here, that is why we must succeed."


    "But that''s just idealistic talk," the younger cultivator said impatiently. "Logically, mathematically, there''s no way we''d be lucky enough to encounter resource-rich solar systems one after another while the torn spatial boundary heals itself. We''re already at the far reaches of the known macrocosm. Cosmic bodies here shouldn''t be enough for this mission to resume for long."


    The older cultivator waved his upper tentacle in a dismissive manner.


    "It''s natural for you younglings to be skeptical. After all, you''ve never ventured to the other side of the torn space where the Celestial Empire begins. The stars there are rich in cosmic energy, the planets thrive with hints of life, and qi can be found in almost every solar system. From here on, every new solar system that comes our way will be one of them. We need not be in fear of limited resources."


    "What if... a celestial destroys the planets and solar systems that are being absorbed by the healing space and sent into our territory? They can certainly do so."


    The young cultivator''s question, which he had assumed would stump his uncle, made him chuckle instead.


    "The heavenly mandate will allow no such act. Which Celestial dares go against the heavenly laws? They''re there to protect the macrocosm, not destroy it for their own gains. Otherwise, our Dynasty wouldn''t have made it past the home solar system. For Celestials, wiping out a civilization takes little effort. Just send in some meteors infested with spiritual parasites. In the targeted planets, everyone below the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm would be infected within a year or two. We couldn''t have stopped any attacks of such caliber."


    "...Since they''re not going out of their way to harm us, why-"


    A tentacle whipped itself around the young cultivator''s thick neck, squeezing shut the remaining part of his sentence.


    "Never forget. Never forget why the space in front of us was splintered. Never forget why our forefathers were exiled. Never forget how many geniuses of our Dynasty strayed into dark paths after confronting the heavenly way. Do you think the Overlord realm is our limit? That our monarchs don''t have what it takes to step past their current realm? That our mutated form was a result of choice? Do I even have to explain these things now?"


    Wang Qingsong''s voice carried with it a chill that the young cultivator rarely felt.


    He croaked out an unintelligible reply. The tentacle around his neck loosened slowly.


    "Go, get back to your station," the older cultivator said with a sigh. "The hatred of the past will eventually be washed away from the minds of each successive generation. I shouldn''t reprimand you for not harboring the same animosity towards the heavenly court as us old fellows. But I hope you retain that same skeptical attitude when you face a real celestial. Don''t let them submerge you into the same regret that burns our ancestors still."


    He fled as soon as the tentacle fully loosened. Watching his nephew''s hurried retreat, Wang Qingsong shook his head despondently and turned his eyes back toward the infinite sea of stars above. The closest star, a typical spherical million-mile spanning gaseous hell, would soon change. Not only would it become the biggest contributor to the existence of living organisms in the solar system, but it would also form the foundation of the cultivators who reside here.


    Deep in his musings, he almost didn''t hear his transmitter go off the first time.


    "Sir Brigadier, we have a situation up in the foundation wing, categorized as a grade-3 emergency."


    The harsh mechanical voice jerked him back to his senses. A moment later, one of the numerous bodies of Wang Qingsong appeared at the bottom of another mountainous, cosmically visible structure jutting out of the planet''s surface.


    Doorway after doorway, tunnel after tunnel flickered past him as his body rocketed into the forest of metal and concrete. Soon, he was welcomed into a vast, airtight room by the worried faces of his most competent men.


    "What''s the development? Did the star have an adverse reaction to our artificial engineering?" he asked immediately, having considered all possible problems qualified to be graded at level 3, the highest possible type of emergency in this wing.


    "No, no, it''s... difficult to explain," Jun Haitang answered him hesitantly. "Just look at the report here."


    A screen was handed to him where several sets of graphs were constantly shifting, accompanied by some live visuals of the core of the sun.


    Wang Qingsong went through the reports uneasily. The more he discovered, the paler his blue eyes became, hinting at his tumultuous thoughts.


    "This is....unusual," he commented after almost five minutes. Each of the past 300 seconds had been spent overloading his brain with data and calculations, simulations, and predictions based on the data. His brain felt as messy as his heart by the end.


    "How can a new Nocturna cultivator appear where we haven''t even set foot? Did any of our monarchs visit this solar system and leave a legacy to the sects here? Why weren''t we informed of this?"


    "...Er, Sir Brigadier, I think you should look at the last few slides. You''ve seen only half of the issue."


    Flabbergasted, Wang Qingsong focused on the next slide... and his heart lurched.


    "What does this even mean? A dao foundation isn''t a damn toy! How can it appear and disappear from a tower matrix repeatedly? Impossible!"


    Facing his suspicious glare, his subordinate coughed.


    "No, it''s not a prank, nor an erroneous data input by the scouts, Sir Brigadier. We''ve verified it. The soldiers stationed there have witnessed this...Ghost-like dao tower flicker inside the matrix with their eyes. From the structure and outline, it gives off the impression of a dao foundation belonging to an orthodox sect, especially popular in the central galaxies. But why such a tower would have anything to do with our newly created tower-matrix... is a question to be answered by the monarchs themselves, perhaps."


    Right then, his transmitter blared once again.


    "Sir Brigadier, emergency call from the Ministry of Operations!"


    "Sir Brigadier, the President of the Starbreaker Foundation has asked for an audience!"


    "Sir Brigadier, there''s a summon from his majesty''s office!"


    In dozens of areas of the Starbreaker, Wang Qingaong''s bodies sprung up from whatever they were doing, sprinting toward each call.


    Ten minutes later, the frustrated Wang Qingsong who had been standing at the highest point of the Starbreaker roared angrily at the empty sky.


    "Who the fuck is it?! Who?! Even if you''re a monarch, I''ll make you taste your own blood and meat! I''ll cut layers off your damned soul! I''ll toss your children inside the core of that sun! I''ll taint your plane domain with immortal plagues!"

 Volume 2 Side Story 4: The Dilemmas Of A Competent Master

    Kong Ye''s days weren''t going well.


    Since his entrance into the Titanfall Archipelago, he had been struck every day by all sorts of trial penalties for breaking the rules of the tournament. It wasn''t that abiding by these rules was anything difficult, but it was his system that prevented him from keeping his mouth shut and watching his disciples struggle.


    For example, just yesterday, he had been sitting inside his cultivation chamber, contemplating what to do with the diminishing resources being allocated to every Elder of the sect when Yuen Zhou came knocking on his door.


    "Disciple Zhou, did you run into some problems related to the Tenta- I mean, the Tenacious Tentacle technique? You know I can''t help you with anything aside from cultivation here."


    While wasting time with unnecessary rhetoric, Kong Ye quickly ran his eyes down the system panel, checking Yuen Zhou''s latest stats.


    [ Disciple No-3: Yuen Zhou ]


    [Race: Human ]


    [Ancestry: Endemic to this planet, common-grade, click Here to examine the potentials of the ancestral factors ]


    [Cultivation: Peak of the seventh layer of Physique Transformation Realm ]


    [Dao Heart: S ]


    [Comprehension: A- ]


    [Qi Quality: A- ]


    [Dao Foundation Quality: A- ]


    [Combat Skill: B+ ]


    [Elemental Affinity: C- ]


    [Special Affinity: Death Energy (A) ]


    [Expand this list to examine the rest of her talents and characteristics ]


    [Overall Potential: S ]


    [Click Here to see the fluctuation of the stats]


    Curious, Kong Ye couldn''t help but focus on the last panel. As a disciple with S-tier potential, Yuen Zhou had a massive variety of talents, explored and unexplored. He didn''t usually obsess over these small details and left their progression to fate. But the latest addition to her top stats, the Special Affinity called Death Energy, wasn''t something he had noticed before.


    It had to have developed in the last few days. But how? Why?


    [There have been 12 total fluctuations in disciple Zhou''s minor stats. However, only one stat among them has shown a fluctuation of over 2000% ]


    Right on the mark. Kong Ye found the data of the Special Affinity at the top of the list. The other stats had barely fluctuated past a range of 1%, whereas her affinity to Death Energy had gone from grade-C to grade-A in TWO days?!


    What in the world was this lassie doing in her cultivation chamber?


    Kong Ye didn''t know much about harnessing death energy. He only understood that people who practiced such aspects of the heavenly dao deal with undeads, zombified abominations, gu worms of the most sinister categories, and their very presence was abhorred by many orthodox factions.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Cultivators who thrive on death energy prefer to linger around sites of tragedies, battlefields, mass graves, and plagues. How Yuen Zhou had come into contact with the death energy here was beyond his comprehension.


    Should he ask...?


    Kong Ye reconsidered the urge to make her talk. There was no use in doing so. If she wanted him to know, she would reveal it one way or another, sooner or later. Until then, he had to keep up a pretense of ignorance.


    "Teacher, I have another inquiry," Yuen Zhou answered while he was immersed in his own web of plans.


    "Oh? Ask away! As long as it doesn''t have anything to do with the tournament, you may ask anything," Kong Ye said absent-mindedly.


    "Teacher, what would theoretically be the lowest level of cultivation capable of letting one interfere in a mass-integration type spell formation where, let''s say...at least 30 cultivators at or above the Dao Genesis Realm have participated involuntarily?"


    "...."


    The question didn''t quite register in his mind. The keywords used in it weren''t anything he was used to hearing in this underdeveloped planet. For a moment, he struggled to make sense of the visual impact brought forth by the scenario proposed by Yuen Zhou.


    Thirty cultivators in the Dao Genesis Realm?


    It wasn''t a surprise to learn that Yuen Zhou knew about the orthodox tiers of cultivation above the Soul Reformation Realm, being so resourceful and knowledgeable about practical cultivation. But...


    "Why would thirty cultivators of that realm be confined inside a mass-integration type spell formation?" Kong Ye asked. "You''re probably aware that cultivators above the Soul Reformation Realm have a powerful grasp of their own spiritual being. In the context of this planet, there''s no mechanism that can force so many of them into imprisonment under a mass-integration type formation. Such formations require active participation, not forced willpower. The question you''ve asked is based on a flawed scenario."


    Yuen Zhou scratched her neck and thought hard for a couple of seconds before answering.


    "Let''s just suppose the existence of such a situation. I can''t come up with the logic behind every imaginary problem I find myself invested in. So, if such a situation exists, how strong does a cultivator have to be to interfere in the formation and take control of it?"


    Kong Ye ran some calculations in his mind and put up a finger.


    "First of all, let''s assume that only the 30 Dao Genesis Realm cultivators are inside that formation, and none of them are conscious of the material world around them. In this scenario, you simply need to be at the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm with a focused cultivation of a sturdy physique. It''s even better if you have any martial skills capable of inflicting powerful attacks. Those in the Dao Genesis phase barely have better physiques than those in the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm, since the Soul Reformation Realm puts little to no focus on physical strengthening, and the Dao Genesis comes right after transcending the Soul Reformation realm.


    "Simply put, just go and attack one of those 30 Dao Genesis Realm cultivators, preferably the weakest one among them if you can identify that person. That will rapidly weaken the stability of the formation. If your aim is to destroy the formation completely, then repeat this process several times. The remaining cultivators won''t be able to cover the chaos resulting from the loss of each participant in the formation.


    "Secondly, there is the matter of a more realistic approach. Logically, there is no way 30 cultivators would put themselves in a position so vulnerable. If they truly participate in a mass-integration type formation, they''ll do so with adequate preparation of protection. In fact, even the formation itself, being powered by the spiritual bodies of the cultivators, would carry with it a heavy backlash mechanism at any interfering factors. It would be much like trying to touch an iron anvil as it''s being used. Unless your fingers are as sturdy as iron too, you can forget about trying to take control of such formations."


    Yuen Zhou looked a bit distraught as his answer became longer and longer. As he fell silent, she smiled wryly.


    "In short, if I just want to destabilize the formation, I need to be at least at the peak of the Physique Transformation realm with unusual attacking ability. As for interfering in and taking control of the formation, that''ll be a job for someone at or above the same realm as the participants."


    "Correct," Kong Ye verified her summarization.


    "Thought as much. So uh, let''s expand that scenario a bit. What if the formation includes thousands of cultivators at the Physique Transformation and Soul Reformation Realm?" Yuen Zhou asked.


    "...Disciple Zhou, your scenarios are too wild. The sheer quantum of variables in this second scenario is beyond simulation. Even in a one-dimensional imaginary scale, this problem in its most simple form doesn''t necessarily have an answer. All I can say is that, to break up such a formation, you''d need to be above the Dao Genesis realm."


    Yuen Zhou looked like she was about to ask something even more unsettling, but Kong Ye refused to entertain these absurd debates any longer.


    Seeing his reluctance, she eventually gave up and left. Just before leaving, she asked casually, "Master, can we use the subspace inside the fissures in the sky to teleport to specific destinations outside the solar system?"


    "No, you canno-"


    Boom!


    Apparently, the mechanical entity that had been entrusted with the responsibility to oversee the strict implementation of the rule of secrecy had deemed his unfinished reply a violation of the rule.


    It has been an entire day after that incident. Kong Ye, still nursing the sequela of the lightning strike as he rested inside his cultivation chamber, became distracted by the sudden pop-up of red glowing panels in the upper corner of his vision.


    [ Alert!]


    [ The system has detected a grave emergency!]


    [ A threat to Your title as a Master has been uncovered! ]


    Following the prompt, an unexpected panel opened up.


    [ Disciple No. 1: Han Xuhan ]


    [ Race: Demon (Just changed) ]


    [ Dao Foundation Quality: Unable To Determine as it has just been Expelled From Heavenly Domain ]


    [ Dao Heart Title : Nascent Parasite ] { New Stat}


    [Special Affinity: Light (B+), Disorder (B) ] {New Stat}


    One after another, panels containing chaotic, unfamiliar data continued to storm into his perception. Within moments, Kong Ye felt his limbs turn cold.


    [ As his master, it is your firm duty to save your disciples from this deviant path! The demon race should remain a forgotten footnote in the history of past millennia. Find a method to change your disciple''s race, and investigate the reason behind his Dao tower''s expulsion from the Heavenly Dao Domain! ]


    "System!"


    [ What shall be your command, host? ]


    "Help me create a bucket of Mindkiller Poison and its antidote."


    [ No can do without the ingredients, host! ]


    "It''s okay, I''m willing to spend my points and make sacrificial rituals, if required. Just find some ingredients for me. I''m pretty sure that''s what my number one disciple needs the most right now," Kong Ye growled as he took out a glass syringe from his rack of cultivation equipment.

 Volume 2 Side Story 5: The Return Of The Abomination

    Shi Xian held a decaying animal-skin scroll in his hand, his eyes running through its content with intense focus, as if he was trying to find any hidden message within the contents of the scroll.


    His eventual look of disappointment signified a failure to unearth any such secret. He furled the scroll back and placed it on the desk of his living room.


    From the top of the desk, he picked up a small, unremarkable-looking leather bag, seemingly a carrier for books. Checking its weight in his hand, he slung its belt over his shoulder and walked out of the apartment.


    A large white bear was snoring on his doorstep. The moment Shi Xian''s foot fell past his doorstep, it opened its eyes and cast a dubious look at him.


    "Master leave? When come back?"


    Shi Xian had grown accustomed to the illusory doorkeeper''s juvenile speech. With a light, assuring smile, he replied, "I''m heading out to train myself inside one of the microcosms opened by the sect this season. I''ll be back in a week. If anyone looks for me, you can just repeat what I said."


    The illusion array that had produced this doorkeeper was capable of storing all kinds of information. It could even replicate real-life interactions for such occasions to leave a message behind.


    Usually while going out, Shi Xian copied every other occupant of the apartment complex and jumped straight down from the railing of his floor. Today, he chose to take the unused, dirty staircase. What he was most fearful of right now was the possibility of being discovered by any acquaintances.


    Thankfully, the staircase was devoid of any disciples of the Ironscribe Sect. Shi Xian''s journey from the 50th floor to the rocky soil, and from there to the center of the busy industrial city faced no obstacles.


    This city was the only living area on the entire planet. Which was understandable, considering how hostile the planet was to life.


    The air could barely be considered breathable. A constant sense of discomfort and disorientation embraced most lower-realm cultivators stationed here.


    One could fly around the entire planet once and not come across a single drop of water. Most of the water sources were deep underground, mixed with all sorts of toxic elements that could even cripple cultivators below the peak of the Physique Transformation realm.


    The gravitational pull was another factor. An ordinary mortal human wouldn''t be able to stand straight and move in any direction without stumbling. Even crawling would be a difficult feat.


    The reason why the Ironscribe Sect had stationed thousands of their disciples here was not only to train their physique, but also to modify the planet''s environment to turn it suitable for mortals and low-level cultivators alike. The head of this mission, Master Lu, the man who had brought Shi Xian here for medical treatment, was absent right now...and Shi Xian had wasted no time in hatching his plan of escape.


    He couldn''t afford to wait until he was diagnosed as fully free from mental demons and residual foreign wills of Senior Jin Tuyi and the dragon fused to his soul. He had a deal with the dragon, a contract to be fulfilled. After he had performed his part...


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Shi Xian''s steps became lighter in an eager hunger to get the job done.


    The hundred-mile expanse of the city was jam-packed with skyscrapers, smoke-spewing factories, constant blaring sounds of colorful vehicles both airborne and underground made for a unique scene that Shi Xian always enjoyed. It had taken him a long time to get used to it, though. Even now as he walked, his heart couldn''t help speeding up upon noticing the mile-long structures floating gently hundreds and thousands of meters above, machinery tearing through the air quick as lightning, and the semi-transparent qi-gathering array shrouding the entire city like an upturned glass bowl.


    Shi Xian was quick to hop onto a giant mass of unrefined ores being carried over by a levitation array of some sort toward one of the central factories. Fifteen minutes later, he dropped down to the ground upon noticing his destination¨C a flat, one-storied facility that provided the only real way out of the planet.


    Getting inside wasn''t a difficult feat. Soon, he was facing an intimidating lady who went through the information in his Identification Keycard like a sect master learning about the worst disciples of his sect.


    When her focus finally returned to Shi Xian''s face, he could almost see fumes in her gaze.


    With a shake of her head, she said in a rueful tone, "I didn''t expect master Lu of all people to break the rules like this."


    She''d be glad to learn that Master Lu did NOT, in fact, break any rules. Shi Xian had simply ''borrowed'' the man''s soul signature marker during one of his visits to his apartment.


    "How did you even convince him to sign the application? Almost makes me feel this document is forged."


    This was a test to see his reaction. Shi Xian understood that and held her gaze, an innocent smile plastered on his face.


    "Contact him if you think it''s forged. I''ve got nothing to hide. I really do need to use the transportation array. So please hurry if you''re going to send a message to Master Lu."


    Much to his fright, she actually took out her emergency contact talisman and activated it right there. Shi Xian felt his nerves go taut as the talisman lit up.


    A long moment of silence passed as both of them stared intently at the glowing patterns on the talisman.


    "Looks like he''s currently unavailable. Probably still inside the region of half-healed space up there," she remarked in a gloomy tone.


    Shi Xian let out the breath he was holding.


    Just as he had calculated. He knew exactly when Chengqing Lu would leave, and how long it would take him to cross the region where he''d be unreachable from this planet via communication talismans. He had coaxed the information out of the man himself.


    "Well, in that case, I hope you''ll forgive me for insisting that the transportation array be opened for me," he said obstinately, earning another dark look, not that he cared. This would probably be the last contact he had with any disciples or Elders of the Ironscribe Sect.


    Half an hour later, the huge transportation array was prepared once more for long-distance travel. Master Lu''s finances would probably receive a small crack with the activation of the array. Shi Xian placed his hopes in that man''s honorable character and chose to go through with the plan.


    Entering the co-ordinates was a job left to the journeymen themselves, much to his convenience. Otherwise, he would have had to bribe somebody to set the coordinates to NT-NE-Sc7-SS11-P5, a planet that stood right at the edge of the Sundered space separating the two small galaxies, Nocturna and Redthorn.


    Qi stormed into the array as Shi Xian felt his body and spirit undergoing a struggle to stay intact. Perception became a messy injection of chaos inside his body and mind as the world around him disappeared.


    A moment later, or perhaps hours even, Shi Xian found himself staring at a blanket of darkness marred by colorful distant dots.


    Then an unfamiliar face came between him and the view. The man had the appearance of somebody in his late twenties, but that was probably not his true age, judging by the profound severity in his gaze, a feature that Shi Xian had noticed most commonly in his Elders.


    "Who authorized your transportation, boy? This isn''t the time to send spies inside Nocturna territory," the man said in a harsh tone.


    Shi Xian stood up unsteadily and took a look around him. They were standing on a terraformed cosmic rock, it seemed. What delighted him was the view on the horizon. A massive, familiar, greenish planet occupied the sky. The rock was probably very close to it, spinning around the planet in a tight orbit. No wonder it was being used as a common platform to enter and leave the planet.


    A heavy palm grabbed onto Shi Xian''s shoulder. Quickly turning around, Shi Xian answered the senior in an embarrassed tone.


    "I''m no spy, master..."


    "Senior Xi shall suffice."


    "I''m not a spy, senior Xi. This planet is my home. I was chosen as an apprentice by an expert from the Ironscribe Sect. But due to some...issues within the sect, I have been forced to travel back and settle down here. Is something wrong?"


    The senior named Xi snorted. "Half-truths. You''re lucky that I''m short on time. Otherwise, your damaged soul might have gotten some extra few scars."


    Shi Xian shuddered and lowered his head.


    This man had to be an expert above the Dao Genesis Realm, perhaps even close to Sect Master Chengqing Lu himself!


    The man loosened his grip on Shi Xian''s shoulder and went back to whatever he had been doing before he was transported to this platform. A small tent stood upright not too far away. The man disappeared inside it in a flash.


    Realizing that the senior wouldn''t be coming out of his tent anytime soon after ten minutes had passed in silence, Shi Xian turned back to the horizon and began to scratch his head, a sudden, unforeseen problem finally registering in his mind.


    "How the fuck am I going to reach the planet from here?"

 Volume 2 Side Story 6: Ghost In The Tent

    Luo Yi sipped on her fresh cosmic mineral-flavored lava tea while her senior brother hammered out his pent-up frustration on a Titanhide boxing bag.


    Bang!


    At the very last punch, the dry skin of the Titanblood Rhino split apart, and Xing Ji''s fist disappeared inside the boxing bag, causing a small flood of Stormcast Dust to spill out.


    Grimcing, Luo Yi slammed the teacup down.


    "Senior brother, you''re acting more like a spoiled brat than I ever do. Why did you get so worked up over a destroyed legacy? It''s not gonna come back. Sit down and think about the future."


    "Do we have one? A future?" Xing Ji threw his hands up in the air and kicked the boxing bag away. The air swept up the dust from the ground, gathering them behind his foot and leading every grain back inside. The insides of the spacious tent returned back to its pristine appearance.


    "Sister Yi, if we lose this planet, our last connection to our ancestors shall fall into the hands of our enemies. How long have we been enduring, planning to make a glorious return and claim our position in the heavenly court? Yet here we are, being forced to watch as the very foundation of our return gets stolen by a dynasty of cursed abominations."


    Xing Ji gripped his own long hair and seemed to contemplate ripping some off to vent. Luo Yi intervened before he could try it.


    "Have some trust in little Ce. He knows what he''s doing. His little excursions around the archipelago have borne some fruit. Even if we lose the planet, I think he and I can at least ensure that we have a secret passage into the shattered microcosm."


    "But what about your own lives? Shangguang Ce is still a rookie, both in terms of orthodox cultivation and ghost cultivation. Do you think he can fend himself off when Nocturna soldiers surround the archipelago?" Xing Ji asked.


    "Hell, can you guarantee your own safety? If a monarch notices you, he''ll instantly know that you''re a ghost cultivator. Nocturna Overlords are as crazy about hunting us as the legitimate ones throughout the macrocosm."


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Luo Yi''s eyebrows jumped.


    "They''re sending a Solar Monarch to conquer a mere planet? That''s a bit of an overkill, right?"


    Xing Ji scoffed. "If those bandits know anything at all, it is how to conquer territories. I''m sure they''ve met their fair share of Primarchs who can defend his planet well."


    "But there aren''t any Primarchs in this one, though," Luo Yi said in a tense voice. "Would there even be so many different sects with conflicting interests if a Primarch was controlling the entire plane? We''d have been united and prepared for the invasion; not frolic around in a meaningless tournament to come to a decision."


    "Don''t ask me. If they have a monarch to spare, why not play it safe? I would''ve chosen to send one too if I had Monarchs under my command."


    The tent fell silent, except for the occasional faint noise of shouting coming from outside.


    "By the way, what''s the deal with that girl accompanying Shangguang Ce?" Xing Ji suddenly said. "She didn''t quite strike me as an innate ghost cultivator. Felt more like a..."


    He trailed off, speaking more with his eyes than his tongue. Meeting his gaze, Luo Yi shook her head minutely.


    "He wouldn''t explain, I asked. The two of them have some sort of a special relationship."


    Xing Ji''s mouth curved upward, eliciting a derisive chuckle from Luo Yi.


    "No, it doesn''t seem romantic yet," she clarified herself. "Shangguang Ce trusts that new recruit way more than her, and he barely knows that kid. Hong Wei is becoming more and more suspicious of the fact that both Shangguang Ce and I manipulated her into giving away the Essence Assimilation Crystal. If she''s smart, she''ll eventually realize that he knew about that kid''s recessive constitution. What sentiments she holds towards little Ce will become clear once that confrontation breaks out, hehe."


    "...Speaking of him, have you tested his aptitude for cultivation? What''s your evaluation?" Xing Ji asked, choosing to ignore Luo Yi''s black-hearted tactics.


    Luo Yi shook her head again. "Don''t get so excited. He''s quite talented, exceptional even in the early stages of Ghostsight development, from what Shangguang Ce told me. But he hasn''t taken a fancy to our path of cultivation. And he will most probably get crippled due to some issues in his innate physique."


    "...Damn it!" Xing Ji slammed the table again. "What was the benefit in recruiting him, then?"


    "Beggars can''t be choosers, now, can they? We''ve got to take every new seedling we find, talented or not." Luo Yi ignored his frustrated glare and continued to speak her mind.


    "Besides... That boy has quite a personality. People like him won''t ever let a profitable opportunity pass by, no matter how low he has to stoop as long as it serves his plans and interests. But he will only act that way once pushed to a corner. Until then, his true face as a rat without a bottom line won''t come under light."


    "Are you sure you''re not talking about yourself?" Xing Ji said in a scathing tone.


    "...Senior brother, how can you be so rude to your cute junior sister?" Luo Yi pouted after a momentary pause.


    Sneering, Xing Ji stood up and began to pace around, seeming deep in thought. But indistinct sounds of somebody shouting continued to float into the tent from outside. Seeing him growing irate again, Luo Yi suggested, "Why don''t you just go out and do what the kid wants?"


    Xing Ji sighed and poked his head out of the tent, gazing at the lone young man in the distance.


    "Stop yelling, brat! I can''t help you go back to your home planet! Someone else will take you there. Wait in absolute silence until then, or you''ll spend the remainder of your life here!"


    The young man named Shi Xian bowed in a thanking gesture and quietened down.


    A/N: This is the last side story of volume 2. I''ll begin updating Chapters of Volume 3 from next week. See ya~

 Chapter 258: New World, New Me, Old Habits

    "Well, this is just absurd, at this point!" Han Xuhan exclaimed as his consciousness reached the depths of his mind where his dao tower used to exist...at least, that''s what he was prepared to see- the broken remains of his tower, the intact rooms of his minions, Little Zhe''s swimming pool of qi.


    However, the scene that greeted him was slightly different.


    His consciousness, which had always taken the form of a ball of light inside his dao tower, now had a... humanoid form, mirroring his Fused state in the real world. The only difference was that his real body wasn''t a part of this mental image. He was virtually occupying a skeletal fusion of Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian.


    The land he was on was no longer a vast plain, but a small island in the middle of an endless sea. Far above his head, an enormous mass of pitch-black darkness pulsed like a living monstrosity. Despite the total lack of a source of light, the surroundings appeared well-lit, letting him get a clear view of the horizon in all four directions.


    The seawater was abnormal as well, constantly shimmering, transitioning to different colors, forming large, chaotic waves without any visible influence.


    The island didn''t seem stable. Surges of water were constantly crashing into it, and each time, the island shook, bobbing up and down like a lightweight ship.


    At the center of the island, two familiar buildings could be seen from a distance, alongside the broken remains of a third one in the middle. Han Xuhan controlled his new body to stagger forward, trying to get used to the odd sense of imbalance.


    The impostor Xuhan, dressed in a neat black suit, was sitting between the two buildings, at the edge of the swimming pool which belonged to Hai Yin Zhe.


    He didn''t look so sure of himself as before. Seeing Han Xuhan in the new fused body, his gaze was filled with confusion.


    "I have all of your memories... But even I didn''t think you''d attempt that, man."


    Han Xuhan spread his bony arms wide in exasperation. "What did you think was gonna happen, you idiot? I''ve had enough of being forced to accommodate random powerhouses and their absurd wishes. I would attempt anything at that point."


    "You know," The impostor said, "You''re the first person I''ve met to call his mental demon an idiot."


    "....So that''s what you are!" Han Xuhan exclaimed. "Why didn''t you say so earlier, my man? We could''ve avoided a whole lot of unnecessary drama and come to a reasonable settlement by negotiation! You are, after all, another part of me, right?"


    The mental demon gazed at him with such distaste that Han Xuhan recalled that time when he had asked a bald senior disciple why he didn''t cultivate a hair-growing technique. That senior had given him this disdainful look as well. It was too familiar, and too humiliating to forget.


    "Do you even know what mental demons are, kid?" the impostor said.


    Han Xuhan scratched his head, trying to recall the vague information he had gotten from the sect''s archives. Information about mental demons wasn''t too rare, but some of the associated topics were strictly kept out of the hands of ordinary disciples. After his terrible experience in the Holy Land of Laws, Han Xuhan had spent quite some time and money to gain a solid understanding of the concept.


    "Yeah, aren''t you people a bundle of derivative, deviant aspects of a cultivator''s personality that feed on negative emotions such as guilt, trauma, anger, greed, and lust to grow into a secondary persona powerful enough to influence the cultivator''s dao heart, spiritual body, and ultimate growth? The cultivators who are susceptible to being taken over by their mental demons are called demented cultivators... And when the mental demon grows powerful enough to completely eradicate his original self, and step onto a deviant path of his own using the cultivator''s body, it''s called a demonic cultivator."


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    He ended his explanation expecting a look of surprise from the mental demon. But all he got was an even more scathing look. In fact, the demon jumped to his feet and spat on the ground in anger.


    "Fucking illiterate retards! Who even taught you that shit?! We, the glorious race of demons are fragments of your personalities?"


    "Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Calm down, buddy!" Han Xuhan jumped back upon seeing the raging, twisted countenance of his own face.


    The demon looked ready to throw punches, but at the last moment, his rationality took over and he slumped back to the edge of the swimming pool.


    "Those Celestials weren''t bragging when they said they''d erase our legacy, huh?" he said, not really expecting an answer.


    Sensing a very interesting tale, Han Xuhan scooted closer.


    "You know, it would be pretty convenient for both of us if you could just explain the whole thing instead of brooding here and speaking in rhetoric. If my knowledge of your race is inaccurate, what''s the correct version?"


    It took the impostor forever to break the silence following his nudge.


    "...Demons are an old race, much older than humans in their current form, from what I''ve seen so far after regaining my sentience. In fact, we don''t even belong to this macrocosm of humans. Our origin lies in a different Totality that overlaps with your macrocosm. The overlapping makes it easy for us to enter and leave your spiritual world with ease. When you human cultivators begin to experience spiritual disturbances caused by negative emotions, an equivalent of this corruption is born in our Totality, which is almost akin to what you''d call a gateway to another world. Needless to say, we enjoy not only feeding on your rotten spirit, but also the source of such corruption. Demons even compete to earn the right to enter the gateway created by your spiritual corruption if the quality of the cultivator''s spirit is high enough."


    "Fucking hell..." Han Xuhan muttered as a whole new world...no, a whole new macrocosm opened up to him.


    "Think of those transmigrators and reincarnators that you used to read fictions about in the memories of your past life. We, the demons, are quite alike those protagonists. We find gateways to a new world and enter them, finding ourselves inside human bodies in all sorts of tense circumstances."


    "....Ah shit, I forgot you''ve seen those memories of mine as well," Han Xuhan said, feeling a sense of discomfort. He recalled that time the senior possessing his dao tower had used English to communicate with him. Although he had never really brought that matter up with him, Han Xuhan couldn''t help but feel curious about their placid attitude towards planet Earth. So he ended up asking this guy, "If you''ve seen what planet Earth looks like, do you think it''s possible for me to return there? Could that planet possibly exist in this macrocosm?"


    "Why not? It''s just a planet without real cultivators. Probably in one of those barren regions of this macrocosm where even Celestials don''t bother to visit."


    "...I see. Let''s get back to the topic at hand. What were you saying about regaining sentience? Could you elaborate on that?" Han Xuhan said, throwing a curveball.


    "Our existence in our home Totality is quite different from our existence in your spiritual world. The closest analogy I can think of is the concept of the life cycle of a virus you learned on Earth. We change and remodel ourselves after you once we go through the gateway and arrive inside your spiritual world. Look, I am virtually a perfect copy of your own self. In a way, it can be called a rebirth, and our new sense of existence an achievement of sentience and human consciousness. If I took over your body and soul fully, there would be no way to separate me from another human being."


    "You sly dog!" Han Xuhan exclaimed. "Since when were you a perfect copy of me? You just have my appearance. You''re not even as smart as I am, heh!"


    The demon sent him a blank stare. "Not as smart as you? How did you decide that, buddy?"


    "Because, if I was in your position," Han Xuhan said, pointing a bony finger at the impostor, "I wouldn''t have confessed anything substantial at all! I would''ve spun a simple story with some twists to make my host think he''s learning something new and valuable, all the while laying a trap for him that I can use later, hahaha! You''re not doing that, are you?"


    "...." The demon''s face turned a bit pale for some reason. "Ye-yeah, I guess I''m indeed not as smart as you are."


    Han Xuhan began to laugh even more raucously. The demon might have his memories, but it didn''t seem like it had managed to copy his entire personality and modus operandi. Such a juvenile entrapment of arguments had cornered it, tsk~


    "You''re actually an idiot. The word ''smart'' shouldn''t even be used near your name, right?"


    "...."


    It felt a bit odd to see his own face staring back at him with such loathing and anger.


    "Speaking of that, what''s your real name, anyway?" he asked.


    The demon answered with a wooden expression, "Demons don''t have names like humans."


    "Want me to give you one before my master finds a way to kill you?"


    This time, it was the demon''s turn to begin laughing.


    "Nice try, sucker. Why do you keep forgetting that I know everything you do? Kong Ye has been administering the mind-killer poison to us. It''ll harm both of us if he exceeds the limits of its usage. You''re only in control right now because I''ve given up on fighting for it. I can restart the fight any moment and take over!"


    Han Xuhan nodded in agreement. "You''re absolutely right. That''s why it is best we don''t rest until you''ve been erased entirely from this macrosm. Since you have my memories, you should know how resourceful Kong Ye is...and he''s not even the fattest golden thigh on my list."


    A long moment of tense silence passed between them, neither willing to back down or start something new. Finally, it was the demon who broke it, knowing he was on the backfoot here.


    "How about a truce?"


    "A real truce can only be possible between two parties equal in power. You know everything about me, but I know nothing about who you are and what your purpose is, let alone the extent of your abilities and cultivation path. If you were in my position, would you feel safe with a truce?" Han Xuhan replied with an ease that came with the experience of being possessed by foreign entities.


    "I can''t explain-"


    "Shut the fuck up!" Han Xuhan yelled at his face. "This isn''t a negotiation, dumbass. I''m done dealing with you lying bastards. I''ll live worry-free or see which one of us gets killed by the methods my master finds to erase you."

 Chapter 259: Bowing To Benefits

    "Alright, look, just like how you''re not comfortable with me knowing everything about you, I''m not going to willingly share everything about me with you either. You said it yourself. In my shoes, you would''ve kept lying until your host cultivator was convinced somehow. So even if I come clean, you wouldn''t believe half of it anyway."


    Han Xuhan couldn''t find a way to refute that logic. Seeing his silence, the demon wasted no time in taking the opportunity to push his narrative further.


    "But since you seem to care a lot about a fair status quo, I''ll give you some real facts. I''m not actually a mental demon who was summoned to this world through YOUR spiritual corruption. Although your own spiritual flaws have accumulated enough to reach the dangerous zone for cultivators, it''s nowhere near enough to summon a mental demon like me. So you don''t have to worry about me fully replacing your soul, because we can only do that to our original host."


    "Nice try," Han Xuhan said. "Did you for a moment honestly think that any attempt by you to convince me to think less of the quantum of danger you pose to me is going to work?"


    The demon looked stumped again.


    "Damn, why do you have to nitpick so much, man?"


    "Because your behavior so far has been quite fitting for a pathological liar...No, pathological liars lie without clear motives, whereas you have one that we both know," Han Xuhan walked a step closer and towered over the identical copy of his own body.


    "You should be aware that I''m very, very frustrated right now. This is me in my most reckless, irrational position. Don''t make me resort to destructive solutions. I''m gonna reincarnate anyway. Not sure the same applies to you... Demons."


    The demon put a palm on his mouth mockingly.


    "Yaawn~ was that an attempt to intimidate me? Try harder, loser."


    "...."


    It was the first time Han Xuhan had met someone capable of shameless shit-talking of the same tier as his.


    "Also, do you really think you''re gonna reincarnate? Kekekek."


    Seeing the demon''s ugly laugh, alarm bells went off in Xuhan''s mind.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Nothin, nothing! That''s a joke. Don''t get so worked up over it! I definitely do not possess any esoteric knowledge about how the afterlife in this macrocosm works under the current heavenly authority. Absolutely none!"


    It finally dawned on Han Xuhan that he had been a cultivator for just 7 months. He knew very little about the world of cultivation. The friends and enemies he had met throughout the journey didn''t represent the entirety of the cultivation world. In short, he was still a frog in a well... And this demon was more than capable of dismantling him even in fields that he was good at. He wouldn''t benefit from trying to reason with this creature, and neither did he have a chance at scamming him.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    With just one vague statement, the demon had made him wary of choosing mutual destruction as a solution to the impasse they were in right now. If he couldn''t really reincarnate...


    No, no, no. He was almost 99% certain that the demon had said that to disarm him of the only weapon he had. But that damned 1% possibility...


    The demon looked like he was enjoying the mental conflict Han Xuhan was going through. He took the initiative to put a stop to it after a brief span of tense silence.


    "Buddy, let me show you my goodwill. How about you just ask me some simple questions that you deem important to our current coexistence? I''ll answer them if I can. That way, you can decide whether to take your chances at ''rebirth'' or not, yeah?"


    Taking an unnecessary, deep breath, Han Xuhan said, "You said you weren''t actually summoned by my spiritual corruption. Assuming that it''s true, how did you appear here, then?"


    The demon nodded approvingly.


    "I entered your dao tower when you were connected to Fang Xie''s spiritual world. I think you can guess the rest from that."


    In a flash, Han Xuhan recalled the information about Fang Xie suffering from backlashes during his heavenly tribulation. The report he had gathered on him also stated that Fang Xie was borderline demented due to being afflicted by mental demons....


    "You''re Fang Xie''s mental demon?!" Han Xuhan screeched, half in horror, half in wonder.


    The demon cocked his head, as if unsure how to answer the question.


    "I was inside Fang Xie''s spiritual world, yeah. But to call me HIS mental demon would be a bit of a stretch. I would''ve resembled him if I was."


    "Then what exactly are you?"


    "Mm, that part is a secret. Do you remember that infohazard theory you learned on Earth? Need I elaborate? Some information is better left unknown."


    Han Xuhan didn''t push it, moving on to a different question.


    "If you''re not my mental demon, what business do you have with me? Why did you come over from Fang Xie''s spiritual world?"


    The demon looked somewhat incensed as Han Xuhan addressed that issue in particular.


    "You think it was voluntary?! Hell, no! Why the fuck would I want to enter the body of a trash like you?"


    "....Who forced you, then?"


    "That Master Mo, the guy who was assisting Fang Xie inside the cabin. He grabbed me when you two were reversing the Body Possession formation. He was the one who forced me to enter your spiritual world."


    Han Xuhan cast a look at the sky, roaring out his frustrations.


    "Can you fucking trust a single person in the world of cultivation?! Why is everybody I meet such an insidious bastard?!"


    The infinite black mass pulsing in the sky had no answers for him. He signed and looked down.


    "It''s my fault, to be honest. Why did I even trust a random powerhouse who was clearly working for my enemy?"


    "Yeah, not a great choice," the demon added. "But to your credit, you chose the optimal option given the situation at that time. That hidden cultivator was so powerful that he could''ve erased your mind and make a tool out of your body if he wanted to."


    "Fuck it," Xuhan said, cursing for the umpteenth time. "What''s done is done. So you''re a demon from Fang Xie''s spiritual world who was forced to enter my spiritual world...any idea why? Why did you try to take over my body if you wanted nothing to do with me?"


    The demon laughed wryly. "Think about it, retard. Master Mo was clearly on Fang Xie''s side, helping him in his mission. Why else would he want to insert a mental demon in your spiritual world if not to silence you?"


    Han Xuhan''s thoughts began to race. It wasn''t that difficult to come up with other possible hypotheses either. All schemes in the world were directed towards results, specific, beneficial results. Fang Xie''s prime purpose in attending this tournament was to gather a team of mind-controlled talents, each from a different, powerful sect. If he supposed the existence of mental demons that could be spread like diseases into other cultivators like him...


    In that case, only one pivotal question remained to be answered. And Han Xuhan knew who could answer it. Making a mental note to himself, Han Xuhan focused on the demon once more.


    "One last question. Now that you''ve understood that neither my master, nor I would allow you to control my body, regardless of the price to be paid, what do you intend to do?"


    The demon spread his hands in a struggling motion.


    "I don''t know, man. From my perspective, it''s a stalemate. That''s why I gave up trying to take over. And it''s not like I can just leave. Of course, you''re not gonna believe me if I say I won''t attempt to take over the moment your master goes out of sight."


    "You''re correct, I won''t." Han Xuhan snorted.


    "So how about we agree to a contract, prepared by my master?"


    The demon looked at him vigilantly. Han Xuhan said in an assuring tone, "He uses impartial laws to forge the contract terms, remember? You can rest assured about fairness."


    "...Alright. But if you want things to be fair, we both need to benefit from this coexistence."


    "Ah, benefits. That shouldn''t be a problem," Han Xuhan affirmed.

 Chapter 260: Crippled...Or Not

    Crimson Snow Sect, Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain Peak.


    On the front yard of a disciple''s hut, the master of the peak, Kong Ye, was seated on a recliner, toying with a blood-streaked glass syringe in his hands.


    Behind him, three disciples of his were sitting on the ground, their faces dazed like a sleep-deprived laborer.


    The qi in the air was still seething from the impact of the recently extinguished talisman array. It contributed to the sensory assault one would encounter upon setting foot near this mountain peak at that moment.


    Both master and his disciples were fully focused on one subject¨C the unconscious body of the first disciple of Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain. He had been laid in a reclined position, leaning on the porch of the house.


    Of course, someone who hadn''t been present throughout the entire incident would not recognize that body. The first disciple, Han Xuhan, looked much different than before.


    His outstretched arms and the pair of legs spread wide beneath the body were unnaturally long, just bordering the existence of long-limbed humanoid monsters in folk tales. Sharp bone spurs mirroring talons protruded from his fingers, elbows, shoulders, toes, and heels. Although most of them were less than a finger''s height, the damage they could cause was substantial for any novice cultivator.


    An external, secondary ribcage shrouded his torso intimately. Ordinary punches, kicks, and weapon strikes would not be able to get past its protection.


    Han Xuhan''s face was also hidden behind a bone visor that had taken on the outline of an owl''s skull. Even a skilled archer might not be able to hit the remaining exposed parts of his face from a distance.


    There was a more prominent feature on the redesigned body of the first disciple- a tail made of the spinal bones of a human skeleton, just over two feet in length. Kong Ye had little doubt that if the tail could be controlled at will, Han Xuhan would be incredibly difficult to face in close combat. His disciple Xuhan was virtually a living, breathing, armory at this point, integrating defense, offense, and spiritual power all in one body.


    More importantly, this was merely the changes in his appearance. The real, genuinely terrifying changes were visible only to Kong Ye.


    [ Disciple No. 1: Han Xuhan ]


    [ Race: Fused Hybrid ]


    [ Ancestry: Endemic to CT-L4-G36-SS11-P8, #$#¡ê£¤?£¤???.... Security protocols may be breached if further data is traced ]


    [ Special Physique: Fusion Seed (Forbidden) ]


    [ Self Cultivation: Core Liberation (minor realm) ]


    [ Fused Cultivation: 2nd Layer Of Physique Transformation Realm ]


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    [ Dao Foundation Quality: Unable To Determine as it has just been Expelled From Heavenly Domain ]


    [ Dao Heart: ??? ] (fused dao heart is too chaotic for grading)


    [ Dao Heart Title : ??? (stat no longer detectable) ]


    [ Special Affinity: Light (C+), Disorder (C) ] (fused)


    [ Comprehension: A- ] (fused)


    [ Qi Quality: B- ] (fused)


    [ Elemental Affinity: Air (B-) ] (fused)


    [ Existent issues that the host may address: ]


    [ 1. Through repeated tests, it has been ascertained that the fused form of disciple Han Xuhan is part-demon. Although his demonic nature has been suppressed by the intake of mental capacity-impairing medicine and the combined willpower of disciple Xuhan and his minions, there is no doubt that the demon still exists, hiding and biding his time. Please find a way to suppress or expel it permanently, or kill your disciple. The system shall treat it as mercy-killing and not hold the host accountable. ]


    "...." Kong Ye rubbed his face in worry. His system had suddenly become rather violent since discovering that Han Xuhan had been possessed by a demon. It wasn''t odd for orthodox cultivators from upper realms to hate demons of any kind, but why was this system getting so worked up over the discovery? Where did this overwhelming prejudice come from?


    Kong Ye''s past suspicion that this system was a gift from someone not of the current Celestial court kept growing. The current court didn''t have any heavy altercations with the demons, to his knowledge. But if the creator of this system was a celestial or quasi-celestial from past millennia...


    His breathing quickened as visions of a horrifying past and possible future overlapped in his mind.


    [ 2. Due to unknown circumstances, disciple Han Xuhan''s dao tower has been expelled from the Heavenly Domain. Please investigate why, and if possible, find a way to restore it. ]


    [ 3. Due to unknown circumstances, disciple Xuhan''s own cultivation level exhibited a sharp drop to zero just before his demonic nature took over. The system was unable to detect this change until the very end. Investigate why and how it happened, and whether he has been crippled beyond recovery in the process. ]


    Kong Ye ignored the rest of the smaller issues and was contemplating how to solve the top 3 problems on the list when Han Xuhan''s tail moved.


    From behind, all three disciples gasped in amazement and concern as the boy let out a hoarse groan. Hai Yin Zhe, the third minion, who had been excluded from the fusion, hissed and tried to spring forward to him, only to be captured by a disgruntled Kong Ye.


    A second later, Han Xuhan began to rapidly blink, cranking his neck around to scan his surroundings.


    "Welcome back, disciple Xuhan."


    His greeting seemed to stabilize the boy''s mind. Gingerly, he dragged his body up on the porch and rose to a sitting position.


    "Master," he croaked in a voice that Kong Ye found both familiar and unfamiliar. It seemed that fusing with Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian had affected his voice as well. His speech sounded a little like all three of them.


    "This one is grateful for your assistance. I was ready to give up for a moment there."


    Feeling mild discomfort at his strange speech pattern, Kong Ye nodded.


    "That was my duty as your teacher. Now, what happened afterward inside your spiritual world? And how did you even get possessed by a demon in the first place?"


    Han Xuhan''s gaze fell on his three martial siblings for a moment before he replied in a measured tone.


    "I had a nasty encounter with a powerful cultivator. I was prepared for this encounter, and laid a trap for him where I could hurt him spiritually. But while doing so, I ended up being exposed to his spiritual world, and from what I''ve gathered so far, the mental demon managed to slip inside my spiritual world at that time."


    At this point of the explanation, Kong Ye''s system began to blare alarms once more.


    [ Alert! The disciple''s demonic nature has been threatening to overtake his willpower again! ]


    Han Xuhan''s countenance revealed a trace of struggle as well. Through gritted teeth, he said, "It seems that the demon doesn''t like being investigated, master."


    The empty syringe in Kong Ye''s hand began to refill itself from a source unknown to the disciples. The same Mindkiller poison filled it up to the brim once more.


    "Disciple Xuhan, what else did you learn from this mental demon?"


    "...That the knowledge we have about demons and demonic cultivators in our sect is mostly wrong. That the celestials had an active role in erasing the existence of demons from our world-"


    "Xuhan," Kong Ye said, interrupting his tirade. Gesturing at the sky pointedly, he changed the topic.


    "..Let''s discuss that some other time. From what I can glean, your cultivation level has dropped to zero. How?"


    "The trap I laid for my opponent had its cost. You can''t expect a Physique Transformation Realm weakling to defeat a Soul Reformation Realm expert without a substantial sacrifice, can you?"


    Kong Ye groaned in frustration.


    "Was it necessary? You couldn''t find a less violent, retributive method to deal with this opponent? And who is he even, anyway?"


    "If I had a choice, I wouldn''t have chosen this method, master. But I admit... I acted a bit recklessly."


    Yuen Zhou suddenly coughed, breaking the tense string of sorrow in the air.


    "Correct me if I''m wrong, but just because your cultivation dropped to zero doesn''t mean you can no longer cultivate again, does it? I mean, it''s pretty apparent that you can still control qi," she said, gesturing at Xuhan''s reformed body.


    Kong Ye suddenly felt like punching himself for getting so emotional. How had he overlooked something so obvious?

 Chapter 261: The Totality Of Autonomy

    "My current fused form is the result of an extension of the Skeletal Monarch Technique, which I discovered through the gradual exploration of my spiritual world. My dao foundation has been modified by this technique, and whoever created this technique, they left a very elaborate scheme to give birth to my current form through the Skeletal Monarch technique."


    As Han Xuhan explained himself, he also couldn''t help connecting clue after clue in his mind.


    Sect Master Xuan Zi had told him that day that the Skeletal Monarch Technique was a creation of his father! And his father died long ago, without any success in developing the technique beyond the Physique Transformation Realm.


    Xuan Zi had also mentioned that the cause of his father''s death was qi deviation, directly or indirectly.


    In that case, who could''ve left this giant scheme so deep within the trashy Skeletal Monarch Technique? The core condition in achieving his current fused state was that the minions summoned through the technique had to gain the ability to cultivate in the real world. However, it was also apparent that other than a curious, semi-disabled, reckless cultivator like Xuhan himself, nobody would think about making his unruly minions cultivate freely. Even if somebody did, they would back off after seeing how terribly the minions'' cultivation was affecting his dao foundation.


    So who was actually the target of this scheme? It was evident from his trip to the burning planet that somebody had prepared everything long, long ago, awaiting a rookie cultivator to pick the Skeletal Monarch Technique, treat it like a toy that could be attached to other toys, and step into the burning planet to be guided into cultivating the extended form of the technique.


    Perhaps his previous ''cheat grandpa'', knew the answers. But it was evident that the old man didn''t want to spill a single one of those secrets. He had his own agenda, and Han Xuhan didn''t feel any regret in forcing the grandpa out of his body.


    "Xuhan!" Kong Ye''s loud snap brought his attention out of his thoughts.


    "-Huh?! Oh, yeah, I was thinking about the whole situation. Did you say something, master?"


    "How did you find this extended form? What exactly did it entail?" Kong Ye asked.


    Xuhan''s first instinct was to hide the truth, but then he realize that the old fart wasn''t here to stop him from getting Kong Ye''s help. So he began the story of how Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian had discovered the mysterious, invisible tunnel hiding within Hai Yin Zhe''s ''well''. Even the simplified version of the story took a long time to end. The only part he hid from Kong Ye was the senior''s extent of abilities, because he had seen with his own eyes how fearful the man was of revealing a trace of his identity to the world. He even spoke of terrible heavenly tribulations that would befall them if his existence was leaked.


    While Han Xuhan didn''t fully believe the man, it was better not to tempt fate, he felt.


    Mu Ran and Xiao Wu looked utterly dumbstruck as he concluded the story. Yuen Zhou, meanwhile, seemed more fascinated and eager than anyone.


    Kong Ye had a deep look in his eyes as he mumbled, "Compound cultivation... What a mess!"


    Hearing his remark, Xuhan recalled that even the current cultivation technique Kong Ye was teaching them belonged to this category of compound technique, a result of multiple fusions and extensions of ordinary cultivation methods.


    "Xuhan, can you explain what your dao tower and its surroundings look like now? You said there were some minor changes. Don''t leave out these details. I think they''re more important than you realize."


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    Scratching his chin, Xuhan told them the truth. Kong Ye suddenly stood up halfway through his descriptions, making him pause.


    "...A shimmering sea of light, a starless sky, and the Obsidian Leviathan...Oh, heavens, so it''s real! Your cultivation realm data isn''t a mistake!"


    Kong Ye stared agape at the sky, clutching his long hair like a madman.


    Looking up at his master''s face, Han Xuhan asked in trepidation, "What is it, master? What''s real?"


    "The Totality of Autonomy! The world beyond heaven''s domain! The home of the True Liberated Beings! It''s real!"


    "...What?"


    Han Xuhan''s confusion was reflected in the eyes of his three martial siblings. But Kong Ye paid them no heed, mumbling unintelligible words to himself like a madman as he began to pace around the yard, eyes unfocused.


    It almost seemed like he had entered a private world of his own. Hesitant to interrupt him, Xuhan and his martial siblings could only watch his movements in silence.


    So unfocused he was in his sudden submersion into introspections that his grip on Hai Yin Zhe slackened, and the ten-foot-long snake skeleton hurled itself into Xuhan''s embrace like an arrow.


    "Papa! Zhanxian! Tuntuntian!"


    "It''s Tun Shi Tian!" yelled an indignant voice from the top of Xuhan''s skull.


    "...Eh? So you''re up there, Little Tian!" Han Xuhan exclaimed, realizing that for the first time. He immediately placed a hand on the back of his head where a second Skullface had formed.


    "Ey, hey, hey, watch where you''re putting your hand in, master," Zhanxian protested weakly.


    "Does anybody have a mirror?" Xuhan asked, eager to see what he looked like right now.


    Before anyone could respond, a mirror popped into existence in front of his face, giving him quite a fright.


    "Take a proper look, disciple Xuhan. And then tell me what all this is about. I sensed a great disturbance in your mountain, and it turns out Kong Ye employed an entire talisman array! What was the reason for it? I''m guessing it has something to do with your current form."


    Sect Master Xuan Zi strode into their view calmly and grabbed the recliner Kong Ye had been sitting on. Kong Ye ignored all of them and ended up squatting in a corner of the yard, almost resembling a madman at this point.


    Han Xuhan scanned himself from head to toe, fascinated by the changes in his body, both internal and external. No wonder his body felt so heavy and powerful!


    "Disciple Xuhan," Xuan Zi said pointedly, reminding him of the pending explanation.


    Sighing, Han Xuhan began to speak once more, this time in a more concise, simplified manner instead of jumping between topics. He hid even less matters from the sect master, knowing his capabilities. Xuan Zi never interrupted him even as the story grew increasingly absurd, nodding from time to time as if every twist in the tale was expected.


    By the end of it, he sighed despondently.


    "Ah, I had assumed you and Fang Xie could work out a compromise even at the personal cost of those foreign sects'' disciples. Seems like I misunderstood both of your resolves."


    Once again, Han Xuhan was reminded of the fact that this world of cultivation was quite different from his previous world. Even a person as easygoing and kind as Xuan Zi had little qualms about being an indirect witness to the disastrous fate of young cultivators, simply because it was brought by someone like Fang Xie, a person with a better background. Xuan Zi was even willing to clean up after Xuhan in those assassination tasks. His sense of morality wasn''t something Xuhan could relate to, although he was grateful for it.


    "Sect Master, what is this Totality of Autonomy that got our teacher so riled up? What do the changes in my spiritual world imply?" Han Xuhan asked in worry.


    Xuan Zi glanced at Kong Ye and said in a low voice, "From my understanding of what has transpired in your spiritual world, when you used the body possession technique on Fang Xie, the foundation of your cultivation was supposed to be fully destroyed. But once you made your return, you could still sense some form of invisible control over your spiritual world, qi, and the dao tower of your minions, correct?"


    Han Xuhan nodded. "I assumed that it was the consequence of a faulty technique. Maybe the body possession method I had in my hand was problematic."


    In fact, it wasn''t his assumption. The senior from the burning planet was the fellow who had informed him of the anomalous development and planted the seed of doubt in Xuhan''s mind. It had made sense in the context of the situation.


    Xuan Zi, however, shook his head.


    "If it was that easy to create anomalies in a technique forbidden by the heavenly mandate, the world of cultivation would be very hard to navigate. Didn''t Lady Caizhi use a memory thread to teach the technique to you? Faking these memory sequences is too difficult, too dangerous, because even the owners themselves would be susceptible to falling into confusion regarding which memory is real and which is fake. And in the situation you encountered Lady Caizhi, she had no reason to carry around falsified memory sequences of such forbidden methods in her mind. The chances of her expecting you to demand the technique on the spot so adamantly is negligible. So I highly doubt that the technique you employed against Fang Xie was at fault for giving birth to the anomaly in your dao tower."


    Dumbfounded, Han Xuhan said, "What else could have created this extra residual power inside my dao tower, then? I can still command control over it and unite me and my minions, physically and spiritually. There has to be some residue of my power hiding in my spiritual world that has both preserved my dao tower while facing Fang Xie and enabled me to exert control over it!"


    "Apart from your cultivation techniques, what else has come into contact with your dao tower? Any hidden specialties of yours could have caused this unique situation," Xuan Zi answered.


    "Think hard, disciple. Since the beginning of your journey as a cultivator, what fundamental or superficial changes have you allowed to happen in your foundation?"


    As Han Xuhan recalled the early days of his cultivation, his eyes lost their focus on Xuan Zi''s face and fell behind him, on Mu Ran.


    A surge of electricity galloped through his mind as their gazes met.


    The Zeroth Layer of Physique Transformation Realm!

 Chapter 262: Journey To Uniqueness

    "Seems like you might have some guesses," Xuan Zi said, having noticed the change in his countenance. "Mind sharing?"


    From the corner of his eyes, Xuhan noticed Mu Ran shaking his head, wide-eyed. Getting the cue, he coughed awkwardly and answered, "It''s not a secret I can reveal, sect master. My hands are tied here."


    Fortunately, Xuan Zi didn''t push the matter, even though Xuhan did notice a hint of dissatisfaction and disappointment in his eyes.


    "Fine. But keep in mind, this secret might just be the reason behind the current situation your dao tower is in."


    Feeling miffed, Han Xuhan tried to redirect the conversation.


    "Sect Master, back when I re-entered my body and discovered the mental demon for the first time, my dao tower wasn''t situated where it is right now. My dao tower has always been situated in a seemingly endless plane. There was no sea of light, no black clouds blocking the sky. So why did it change after the fusion?"


    Instead of answering, Xuan Zi stared blankly at the sky for a few seconds. Then with a wave of his palm, a glassy blanket seemed to envelope the entire mountain, separating them from the outside world.


    "Now, we can speak without so many restrictions," he said, calculating something on his fingers.


    "As for your question, the situation you are in is so complex and unique that I believe you''re the first cultivator in history to have reached this state in this way...and I''m not praising it.


    We can separate your journey to the Totality of Autonomy into several phases. Firstly, when you allowed your minions to cultivate, they generated a level of fundamental, secondary control over your own dao tower, dividing it into portions that could be deemed as their foundations.


    "Secondly, when you discarded your body and cultivation to possess Fang Xie, you severed your connection to your dao tower, which resulted in the destruction of your foundation by the heavenly laws, as there can be no tower without an owner. However, while destroying your dao tower, the heavenly authority also must have realized that parts of your dao tower have other owners, although secondary in nature. So it seems that the law spared Zhanxian, Tun Shi Tian, and Hai Yin Zhe''s portions of the tower and only destroyed yours. What it failed to perceive, was that even its destructive measure didn''t fully wipe off your control over your dao foundation. Whatever secret it is you''re not telling me, this secret enabled you to retain that power behind heaven''s scrutiny!


    "The third change took place when the mental demon possessed you. As you''ve mentioned, when you met the demon for the first time, your dao tower was still inside the spiritual world you were familiar with, which many call the Heavenly Dao Domain. It is believed that all cultivators under heaven''s rule nurture their foundations in this spiritual domain. But once the mental demon tried to take over the control of your body, it resulted in the expulsion of your spiritual world, the roots of your foundation from the Heavenly Dao Domain.


    "Why would such a consequence come about, you ask? It''s because the current heavenly court is determined to wipe off every trace of the demon race from the macrocosm. Even a mental demon occupying a small corner in a cultivator''s spiritual world would attract heavenly punishment the moment it reveals its trace. The problem here is that the demon possessing you entered your body AFTER your dao tower was destroyed and deemed non-existent by the heavenly laws. This demon isn''t a mental demon of your own, but it is occupying your spiritual world through a forced procedure forbidden since time immemorial! So when it revealed its existence and tried to take over the control of your body and spirit, the heavenly law was immediately attracted, but since your dao tower had already been destroyed, it could not rain down deadly punishments on your spiritual world.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "This was a paradoxical situation, and as an impartial judge, the heavenly authority could not incriminate the foundations of your minions. It instead made a cunning decision and expelled your spiritual world, and that in consequence took you and your minions out of the Heavenly Dao Domain, placing you inside the Totality of Autonomy, a spiritual world that is rumored to exist outside the control of heavenly law, outside the scope of Celestial scrutiny, the primordial spiritual world that has existed since the creation of the world of cultivation and perhaps even before that!"


    Amidst the echoes of Xuan Zi''s voice, Han Xuhan found himself so confounded, so overwhelmed by the perverse depths of the world of cultivation that he couldn''t form any coherent thoughts for a long time.


    Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu, who were standing just a dozen meters away, looked as shaken as he was.


    Finally, he managed to get his thoughts in order and asked the biggest questions he had at the moment.


    "Sect Master, what is this demon race, really? And what conflict do the celestials have with them?"


    Xuan Zi rubbed his temples, appearing tired.


    "It''s not that the Celestials have a conflict with them in general, disciples Xuhan. Only the current Celestials in the Heavenly Court have a prejudice against them. But even with this concealment spell protecting us, I cannot tell you much about it, mostly because I myself am an ant compared to the Celestials. I''m not privy to their secrets, or the politics in the heavenly court. The only reason I know that the demons are hated by them is because the entire macrocosm has witnessed the purge of the demon race in the hands of the heavenly court since the beginning of this millennium. Perhaps you can ask the demon in your spiritual world about it. I have a suspicion that he''s not a simple demon out on an adventure to possess humans. There''s a lot he''s hiding from you, the most important among which is what kind of demon he is."


    Mouth open, Han Xuhan tried to come up with a response several times before managing to say, "There are different types of demons?!"


    Xuan Zi chuckled. "What''s with the narrow outlook? Demons are spiritual beings. Having little ties with the material world makes them more prone to variety compared to humans and beasts. To my knowledge, there are two major categories of demons- ones that have to rely on a ''host'' to define their existence, generally labeled as mental demons. The other category is free from such burdens. They have their own, unique existence, fashioned by themselves and the world they live in. They are true demons, also sometimes referred to as liberated demons. Of course, this knowledge I''m imparting to you is something I''ve come across through hearsay, gossip from cultivators far, far senior to me in age. So don''t put too much value on it and work out your own conclusions."


    A whole new realm of possibilities opened up in front of Xuhan. So there was an angle he hadn''t considered? The demon inside him had claimed himself that he wasn''t a manifestation of Xuhan''s own mental disturbances! He wasn''t Xuhan''s mental demon. Then was he a true demon? What was the implication of that?


    But as he stared eagerly at Xuan Zi, no other revelation followed.


    "Is that all?" Han Xuhan asked, disappointed by the lack of information. Xuan Zi shrugged helplessly.


    "I''m not thousands of years old, disciple Xuhan. How am I to learn of matters erased by the heavens centuries before my birth?"


    That made sense. So Xuhan moved on to the next question.


    "Sect Master, is there any relation between this Totality of Autonomy and the totality belonging to these demons?"


    Xuan Zi shook his head. "Not as far as I know. I''ve told you already, even the existence of the Totality of Autonomy is a rumor. Many cultivators treat it as a baseless myth. I was a skeptic too...until today. Every detail you mention about it fits right in with some of the rumors."


    "Do the rumors explain what this sea of light is? Or what this so-called Obsidian Leviathan is? And why is Master acting like that since he heard about it?" Xuhan said, gazing at Kong Ye who was still crouching in a corner of the yard, mumbling unintelligible words to himself.


    "The sea of light is supposed to represent the primordial universe in its rawest form. It is said that the universe in its entirety is a mere reflection, a shadow, a projection of a collective mass of light. This light is not what we perceive as light around us, but the true originator of all lights, all energy, all material, all consciousness, all elements of reality.


    "The obsidian leviathan, on the other hand, points to the end point of everything that exists; the devourer of all; the conclusion of time, space, and reality; the reaper of consciousness and energy. With the sea of light, it forms the perfect coexistence, like Yin to Yang.


    "And the reason the proof of their existence has broken your master is because he was banished from his home world over an argument concerning this very issue."

 Chapter 263: Creation Of Heavens Domain

    If Han Xuhan had to rank the absurdities of his short life as a cultivator, this day would take the number one position with its wild twists and turns. Since the morning, he had gone through so much that it felt like a year''s experience had been compressed into seven hours and hammered into his memories.


    And the day wasn''t even over. It was just high noon.


    "Don''t ask me to tell you his story," Xuan Zi said, watching Kong Ye.


    "If he feels like sharing it, he''ll tell you himself someday. He will need to, anyway."


    What did Xuan Zi mean by that? Han Xuhan''s heart twitched in apprehension of another hidden danger.


    "Is there anything else you want to ask?" Xuan Zi said.


    "Yes. Sect Master, you told me once that your father, Duo Tian was the man who created the Skeletal Monarch Technique, but he was unable to cultivate past the Soul Reformation Realm and died. So why does this technique hide such a secret? It seems unlikely that a Soul Reformation realm cultivator would have the means to construct something so gargantuan in scope and unfathomable in depth..."


    Thinking about the burning planet of countless tortured souls, the miles-spanning maze of engraved rocks, the seemingly insane conceptualization of fusion of creatures through ideas incorporated in glyphs, the ability to plant escape routes from the burning planet to his dao tower through a spiritual connection of a minion...


    Was any of these feats something Xuan Zi''s father capable of accomplishing? Impossible!


    Xuan Zi himself seemed to fall into confusion as Han Xuhan posed the question. His eyebrows joined together on his forehead, gaze too complicated to read. He chewed on his tongue for a long time before replying.


    "I have accompanied my father for many years, up until his death. Not for a single moment did I ever suspect that his trashy cultivation technique had such secrets hidden in it. Now that I think about it, your dao tower was still inside the Heavenly Dao Domain when this terrifying senior you speak of revealed his existence. He''s an obvious outsider in that domain as much as he''s an outsider to your dao tower. To think that someone is capable of infiltrating a spiritual domain under the direct supervision of the Celestials... That senior must be the person to arrange the ''extra'' parts of the Skeletal Monarch Technique, not my father. But there has to be a relationship between him, that burning planet, the Skeletal Monarch Technique, and my father. I''ll look into the matter when this tournament ends, disciple Xuhan. Don''t worry."


    Seeing that not even Xuan Zi had any knowledge of this matter, Han Xuhan was forced to set the investigation aside for later.


    "Sect Master, what are the implications of having a dao tower in the Totality of Autonomy?" asked a new voice all of a sudden, interrupting the conversation. Both of them turned to look at Yuen Zhou, the speaker, and Xuhan was reminded of the fact that they were not alone inside the concealment formation created by Xuan Zi.


    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    Seeing Yuen Zhou''s interest, Han Xuhan also felt that it was necessary to take a dip into some of the rumors about the new domain his dao tower had ended up in.


    Xuan Zi scratched his beard for a moment, looking thoughtful.


    "Most of these rumors aren''t believable. But according to some of the more grounded ones, the Sea of Light surrounding your dao tower is not a peaceful place. Ancient terrors, spiritual pollution, invisible powers, taboos forgotten by civilization, rogue existences hiding from heaven''s clutch reside there. Matter, soul, spirit, consciousness, energy, everything that you can find in reality mesh together there. Nurturing your dao foundation there is dangerous, arduous, and prone to frequent foreign interference.


    It is said that in ancient times, when cultivation wasn''t even a result of conscious effort, and primordial civilizations had just begun to grow in an abundant, dangerous sea of stars, there was no heaven, nor a heavenly court, and not a single Celestial supervising the macrocosm. All dao foundations used to surface in the Totality of Autonomy at that time, and the fatality rate was so high because of its chaotic nature that the primordial civilizations were forced to unite and think about creating a safe haven, a new spiritual world for all of their children, the descendant civilizations. Many say this is how the Heavenly Dao Domain was created."


    "In short, you have to be very cautious from now on. Frequently visit your dao tower and observe the world outside your little ''island'' on the sea. Watch out for every abnormal development, no matter how harmless it may seem. And the matter of the demon occupying the island is even more important."


    "Is there no way to expel it from my spiritual world, sect master?" Han Xuhan asked.


    "That entire sea of light is out there. Can''t he just leave my island and float somewhere else? Of course, he might not want to. But since I have a corporeal body in my spiritual world now, I can try beating him up and making him leave!"


    Xuan Zi raised an eyebrow at the suggestion, not appearing particularly impressed.


    "Disciple Xuhan, I don''t think you''ve really understood the concept of what a dao tower is. But I shouldn''t blame you here. You''ve come into contact with the world of cultivation just a few months ago. Let me explain it this way... Just because your dao tower has manifested inside a domain, it doesn''t mean you can travel beyond what belongs to you. That tower is still a mere reflection of your mental faculties, a projection of your spiritual self. You have to cultivate a long, long way before you can hope to explore that spiritual world fully. For now, I doubt any element of your dao foundation can go past the borders of the island. But this same rule may not apply to the native elements of the sea of light, especially the powerful, sentient beings that might be roaming that Totality."


    "Fuck... So I''m just a passive prey there?" Han Xuhan cursed, his frustration growing by the minute.


    Xuan Zi shrugged. "I can''t decipher everything for you, lad. It''s not my dao tower. You have to face that harsh world yourself."


    "Sect Master, if nothing works, is it possible to make a contract with the demon for peaceful cohabitation? I won''t go out of my way to harm him, he won''t try to harm me. Would that work?"


    Xuan Zi laughed this time.


    "Disciple Xuhan, you''re clearly not in the best state of mind right now. You''ve gone through too much mental strain. Think back to what I''ve told you about the demon race. They live in a different totality, not just a macrocosm, but an ENTIRE, DIFFERENT, TOTALITY! The Celestials of our macrocosm can''t even control the behavior of these demons when they manifest in our world. How can any contract you come up with bind that demon inside you? Who will ensure that? Certainly not the heavenly laws of our world!"


    "Gaahh!"


    Han Xuhan knocked his head back on the wall behind him and let out a frustrated yell.


    Seeing his desperate face, Xuan Zi sighed.


    "Disciple, be patient for now. You''re in a special situation here. Don''t rush for a rash solution. You''ve already made that mistake dealing with Fang Xie."


    That didn''t really lift Xuhan''s mood. So Xuan Zi thought for a moment and added, "Since the demon can''t be controlled, we have to keep you under our supervision all the time until a solution is found. From now on, you''re exempted from the exploration and attacking duties attached to the tournament. Join the defense team and stay within the sect for the time being. Use the free time to stabilize your spiritual world and explore the changes in it. I''ll set up some alarm formations around the island. Kong Ye and I will be immediately alerted if the demon takes over and tries to escape with your body."


    Despite feeling like he was practically being imprisoned, Han Xuhan was relieved. At least some dangers to his life was averted with that exemption. He really didn''t want to participate a second longer in this tournament, not in his current state.

 Chapter 264: Convoluted Cosmology

    Kong Ye left with Xuan Zi, appearing so disturbed that none of the disciples dared to call him back. Once both of them had left the vicinity, Mu Ran, Yuen Zhou, and Xiao Wu scooted closer to Han Xuhan, their eyes wide with burning curiosity.


    "Fascinating. This physical fusion seems really effective for combat," Yuen Zhou said, prodding at his external ribcage. Han Xuhan didn''t really feel any sensations coming from the bony attachments to his body. So he wholeheartedly agreed with her. Having a layer of bones covering him from head to toe would indeed be impressive in battle.


    "Underl-I mean, martial brother Xuhan, see? I still remember the day when I recommended that you should choose the Skeletal Monarch Technique, and you looked so unsure! See where that has gotten you? Now you can cultivate all you want in this fused form! Completely free from the burdens of your horrible physique!"


    Mu Ran looked as ecstatic as Xuhan was after having that realization.


    "So is this permanent? Are you gonna stay like that the rest of your life, Xuhan?" Xiao Wu asked the most important question of all. Han Xuhan himself was eager to test the ins and outs of his redefined cultivation technique. He poked Zhanxian''s skull immediately with his tail.


    "Hey, Zhanxian, we learned how to transform into this state by visualizing the glyph imprinted in our minds. How do we get out of it?"


    "Ack-! Don''t do that! That''s my fucking spine, master. We can get out of it by visualizing the glyph from backwards. It''s easy."


    Han Xuhan was stunned. "What do you mean backwards? Go from a complete glyph to a blank space?"


    "Yeah. Just try to recall the glyph you used to fuse with me. In this state, you''ll be able to recall it down to its tiniest detail immediately."


    He quickly proceeded to do exactly that, and his surprise mounted higher. Indeed, despite how much trouble he had to face the first time he tried to visualize the complex mass of patterns, now he could just think about it and find the entire thing embedded into his mental imagery like a photograph!


    "You and I don''t need to sync our mental actions together this time. If any of us manages to completely erase the glyph from our mind, our body will separate..."


    Han Xuhan was being guided throughout the process by Zhanxian, so hearing the minion stop disturbed his mental state. Opening his eyes, he asked, "Zhanxian, you have to elaborate on how to-"


    "Don''t talk for a moment," Zhanxian said in a gloomy tone. "Something doesn''t feel right."


    "...."


    What the fuck was wrong this time?


    Han Xuhan waited with an enormous sense of pressure. Almost an entire minute later, Zhanxian groaned.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    "Ah, shit. Tun Shi Tian, see if you can separate yourself from master''s body!"


    Even more alarmed, Han Xuhan waited another minute. His martial siblings realized something abnormal was happening again, and their gazes gathered on his nonplussed face once again.


    From his forhead, Tun Shi Tian''s beak moved, saying, "I can''t do it! What''s going on?"


    "It seems like we can''t control the separation..." Zhanxian said in a horrified tone. "Reversing the visualization isn''t working!"


    Xuhan decided to do it himself. Closing his eyes, he ordered Zhanxian to guide him through the exact process of erasing the glyph from his mind.


    Step by step, stroke by stroke, he began to reverse the visualization. Less than a minute later, only the last stroke was left. Taking a deep breath, Han Xuhan erased it as well without a hitch, and...


    "Ow!"


    A strange jolt of electricity passed through his body. Immediately, he felt much lighter, much weaker. He opened his eyes and looked down at himself. The external ribcage was gone. So was the bone tail he had been swinging around. His arms and feet seemed less robust, fingers slightly shorter.


    It seemed that all of Zhanxian''s bones that had been fused with his body disappeared the moment he erased the last stroke of the glyph.


    The separation was successful!


    But why did it work only when he did it? Why was Zhanxian unable to do the same?


    Han Xuhan decided to test it again by repeating the process.


    "Tun Shi Tian, your turn!"


    A minute later, Tun Shi Tian''s bones disappeared silently as well, restoring Han Xuhan''s original body. Feeling a bit lightheaded, he stood up and tried to move his limbs, unable to detect any problems.


    There didn''t seem to be any apparent issues with fusing and reversing the fusion with his undead minions. Seeing his contemplative look, Mu Ran coughed pointedly.


    "Ahem... Xuhan, I think I know what might be going on, now that I''ve gotten a good understanding from the sect master''s analysis of your dao foundation."


    But as Xuhan stared at him with eager eyes, Mu Ran looked at Yuen Zhou and Xiao Wu shiftily. And the two of them didn''t take the gesture well. With a displeased face, Yuen Zhou dropped a bomb.


    "If this is about the zeroth layer of the Physique Transformation realm, just go ahead and say it."


    Mu Ran''s jaw fell open. "How do you know about that?!"


    "What the hell is the zeroth layer? I thought that was just an inside joke between you two," Xiao Wu said, sounding flabbergasted.


    Yuen Zhou snorted. "I heard you two discuss it a few times. It''s not hard to guess that martial brother Xuhan''s dao foundation anomaly might have something to do with this extra, secret minor realm of cultivation."


    Face sour, Mu Ran gave up on trying to hide it and began speaking.


    "From my understanding of the zeroth layer, it doesn''t contribute to any direct changes in your dao tower. However, it still has to represent something inside your spiritual world. In the Heavenly Daoo Domain, it was hard to discern what it might have been.


    But now that your dao foundation has been expelled to the Totality of Autonomy, I have a theory that the small island on which your dao tower stands on is the ultimate root of your abilities and potential as a cultivator.


    Think about it, that island has to represent something in your spiritual world.


    Since all techniques that you mastered, and all techniques that your minions mastered are rooted inside this island, giving you a secondary control over them, it naturally follows that the zeroth layer, the source of this authoritative power, is represented by the island! That''s why, between you and Zhanxian, you have the ability to unilaterally reverse the fusion! Maybe you even have the power to initiate this fusion process as well, you just don''t know it!"


    "Wait," Han Xuhan said, finding the logic strange. "I made Zhanxian, Tun Shi Tian, and Hai Yin Zhe start from the zeroth layer as well. So that doesn''t cancel my authority over them?"


    Mu Ran shook his head, much to his surprise.


    "The zeroth layer is different from the rest of the layers in the Physique Transformation realm. It''s directly linked with authority and stabilization of one''s dao foundation. Since the first person to initiate the technique in your spiritual world is you, you''ll naturally have the greatest authority."


    "This is actually quite easy to verify," Yuen Zhou added in, her eyes glinting. "Why don''t you go inside your dao tower and pick up some sand grains from the island? Then call each of your minions and try to see whose sense of attachment to the sand is better?"


    Han Xuhan felt that this idea wasn''t too bad, just overly direct. Not expecting anything, he closed his eyes, absorbing and running qi through his meridians. First, he canceled Hai Yin Zhe''s summon, and then entered the depths of his spiritual world again, ready to investigate it even more minutely this time.


    Deep in his heart, he couldn''t help but feel rather excited to be a witness to the perverse layers of the world of cultivation. He had barely begun his journey as a cultivator, and yet the world had already shown such enormous wonders... What else was hiding behind the veil of normalcy? Where did these secrets end?


    Perhaps he shouldn''t have been addicted to novels with convoluted world-building in his past life.

 Chapter 265: Predators of The Primordial Ocean

    "What the hell is that?! Aaaaagh!!!!"


    That was the first thing he heard the moment he found himself back inside his spiritual world, on the island encompassing his dao foundation.


    As soon as he arrived, he saw all three of his minions cowering at the edge of the island, staring into the distance. He immediately turned to look, and witnessed a bizarre scene.


    About a kilometer away from the border of his island, two lamp-like orbs were blinking at the island. Each of these orbs had to be a dozen meters in radius or more. An eerie mixture of purple and lava-red glow pulsed within the orbs, and each time the orbs flickered, the glow got brighter and brighter...


    "Snap out of it," said a voice in a commanding tone, jerking Xuhan''s consciousness. Suddenly, he realized that at some point, he had floated right to the edge of the island, a mere few feet away from crossing the borders of his island and touching the colored seawater.


    When had he moved forward?! Had he been under some sort of hypnotism?


    Not only him, but even his minions had been made to walk forward in a suicidal march, it seemed. Han Xuhan barked the same command at them to wake them up from the stupor.


    They hurriedly scrambled back from the shoreline and saw the demon standing nearby, focused on the faraway orbs. He was the one who alerted Xuhan!


    "Thanks for that, buddy. What the hell is that thing?" The fear seeping into his tone was so apparent that he felt a bit embarrassed to speak.


    "That''s a youngling Tupshu," the demon said.


    "...A what?" Xuhan had never heard that word in his life. It didn''t even sound like a word belonging to his language.


    "The progenitor race of all arachnids. These little cuties don''t live in your macrocosm. It''s natural that you don''t know what it is."


    "...Arachnids?! Why is it in the sea?" Han Xuhan said, growing even more confused.


    The demon sent him a disdainful look.


    "First of all, that sea has no water in it. It''s just a projection of this spiritual realm. And secondly, I didn''t say it''s an arachnid. It''s a Tupshu, a race far, far more complex than those spiders and scorpions in your macrocosm. A Tupshu in its prime can turn the biggest oceans on your planet into a desert of alien elements with just a thought. You can''t be stupid enough to think that only humans are capable of cultivation, right?"


    Han Xuhan swallowed some insults, hoping to use the opportunity to dig for more information.


    "I thought the human body is ideal for cultivation, with our sophisticated meridian system and affinity toward controlling qi..."


    The demon rolled his eyes, looking even more insulted than Xuhan himself was feeling.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    "That principle holds true only in your macrocosm. Well, most macrocosms conquered by humans are pretty similar in terms of cosmic laws. Otherwise, humans wouldn''t be able to conquer them at the expense of the native species in those worlds. But primordial races like Tupshu are so ancient that when their civilization was at its peak, the laws of the universe hadn''t even developed to perfection. After reaching the critical threshold of concentrated growth, the primordial universe gave birth to countless Macrocosm, Totalities, and fragmented realms. The primordial races began to grow distant from each other, and division after division was created within these races, breaking down their complex existence into simpler units. The macrocosm you exist in is one such world. The arachnid creatures there are lifeforms that have lost most of their connection to their progenitor race."


    "So that''s how the current universe has formed?" Han Xuhan marveled aloud. It sounded incredibly complex, and at the same time, irresistibly interesting!


    "What''s this critical threshold of concentrated growth you mentioned just now? Why did the primordial universe give birth to-"


    The demon harrumphed, interrupting him midway.


    "That entire explanation was a freebie. From now, for every question you ask, I''ll only answer if you pay me the remuneration."


    "Damn, you really had me hooked there for a moment. You must''ve forgotten that I never purchased a single premium membership of any software on Earth. What makes you think I''ll do it here?" Han Xuhan said.


    "...." This time, the demon became speechless. Struggling for a moment, he said, "Well, you must have forgotten that the knowledge can save your life here, unlike the premium membership of any software. And it''s not like I''m asking you for money."


    "What is it, then?" Han Xuhan was curious. If he got to know what it was, then it would be a card he could use against this demon in the future.


    "Control of your body. For each question, I get to take over at a time of my choosing, for the duration of a certain task. It can be anything, depending on what I''m trying to do."


    "That is an awfully high price, demon. You probably know I wouldn''t agree with it."


    "Yeah, figured. The price is open for negotiation," the mental demon said grudgingly.


    "Maybe next time. Now, all I want is for that Tupshu thingy to not come any closer," Han Xuhan said dismissively.


    Just as he was about to float back toward the center of the island with his minions, the demon cleared his throat loudly.


    "Buddy, you just had to jinx it, huh?"


    As the words registered in his mind, a sensation of dread settled in. Han Xuhan didn''t have physical eyes in his current state. But he could still use his corner vision to look. And when he looked in the direction the Tupshu had surfaced...


    In the place of two orbs, more than a dozen had risen up. Each of them was burning as brightly as a bonfire, their purple-orange hue adding to the color of the sea of light.


    Slowly, but surely, the orbs had started to float forward. Perhaps this entire kilometer of distance would be crossed by the creature in less than an hour.


    "Can it enter our island?" Zhanxian said in a hushed voice. "Didn''t the sect master say it can?"


    All of them looked at the demon for answers, who didn''t quite look as tense as they were.


    "Each dao foundation that appears in this Totality could be treated as nourishment for beings that swim within the primordial sea. They thrive in the realm of spiritual projection. Each of our existence here is much alike newborn fruits on a delicate tree. This young Tupshu might merely be the first of many to see us and be attracted to the scent of delicious food. Hell, it might not even be the first. More powerful beings hidden deep beneath the surface may have noticed us the moment we appeared here. They are just much more cautious, too experienced to rush over to something new."


    "Why the hell are you so calm?" Han Xuhan asked, growing a bit suspicious.


    "I''m calm because even if it devours me, I''ll just end up as a mental demon to it as well. Getting eaten by it wouldn''t change a thing for me... unlike you four," the demon answered, flashing them a confident smile.


    As they were speaking, Han Xuhan noticed that the speed of the Tupshu was getting faster and faster. The fiery orbs were now creating tall waves of water on their sides. In fact, the orbs weren''t the only parts of the creature visible now. He could vaguely see the outline of something gigantic floating beneath the surface of the water.


    "It''s getting closer..." Tun Shi Tian realized it as well. Even the usually fearless minion''s voice had a crack.


    "Tupshus, Tupshus, let''s see," the demon began to mutter to himself. "Younglings can have up to a hundred eyes, each representing a skin-shedding cycle. The concentrated gaze of all eyes can completely disable the mind of a creature without Soul Enhancing cultivation."


    More and more orbs began to pop into existence. Purple ceased to be the only color, with some orbs containing blue dancing flames, and some touched by the faintest hint of azure amidst orange fire.


    Han Xuhan was once again jerked out of a reverie when the demon''s voice entered his ear. He had been hypnotized again!


    "A young Tupshu can have up to nine stings, all of them visible. The stings of a young Tupshu can dissolve all organic molecules. Any prey with a cultivation less than the peak of Physique Transformation would not survive one sting. The adult Tupshu''s stings are numerous, most of them invisible, enveloped by unstable cosmic laws, and can ignore spatial distance spanning thousands of miles to sting a target. Even a dao domain can be dissolved down to its origin elements, making Genesis Realm humans incapable of defending their existence against it."


    Suddenly, a faint tremor began to roll through the island. Floating a few inches above the sands, Han Xuhan couldn''t sense it. But he could hear the vibrations coming from the depths of the soil.


    "And most importantly," the demon continued, "Young Tupshus rarely hunt alone."

 Chapter 266: Siege In The Spiritual World

    "Looks like it wasn''t a coincidence that the first Tupshu appeared so close to us when all four of you returned to the island. It was probably sent to the surface to send mental attacks to probe your strength. When it realized that all four of you were immediately hypnotized from the most basic mental pollution, it signaled for the rest of its brethren to attack directly," the demon remarked calmly.


    "We''re screwed, aren''t we?" Zhanxian muttered. Han Xuhan looked down at Tun Shi Tian and found him restraining a panicking Hai Yin Zhe. All four of them did their best not to look at the direction of the orbs, no matter how strong their curiosity grew.


    The sands on the shore began to shudder. Around the shoreline, the shimmering mass of light began to churn angrily, huge purplish bubbles rising to the surface of the ocean to signal at monstrous movements beneath the island. A low, deep hum spread through the surroundings.


    Dhup! Dhup! Dhup!


    It was as if the island was being battered with boulders from the bottom of the ocean. Han Xuhan didn''t know what exactly was happening, but if the island really was being attacked by a horde of these alien terrors...


    "Is there anything we can do at this point?" he said to the demon anxiously.


    The demon''s smile returned.


    "You know the price, Xuhan."


    Lightning-quick calculations ran through his mind as he assessed the risks associated with making this deal with the mental demon. Agreeing right away was out of the question!


    "I have a condition, then. If you want to take my body over, you''ll have to give me a warning and a choice. You''ll get the control only if I deem it permissible at that moment."


    Boom! Boom! Boom! The sounds and sensation of being thrashed got more powerful by the time he proposed his counteroffer.


    "Nah-uh!" The demon shook his head. "At most, I can give you three choices. If you deny me three times in a row, I''ll hold the authority to take over instantly."


    "Yeah, nice try, buddy. Doesn''t that mean you could just make the same request four times in a row and win?"


    "Ah shit, you got me! Fine, I''ll make it easy for you. I''ll never make the same requests twice," the demon said with an unabashed grin.


    Han Xuhan felt that the demon had agreed a bit too quickly, so he chose to push the deal to test his reaction.


    "And also, I get to warn my sect master before you fully take over, that''s my second condition."


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    "Absolutely not!" the demon shouted, looking indignant.


    "Seems like you''d take my body to do some pretty shady things. How can I guarantee my own safety when that happens? You know I don''t trust you, buddy."


    Boom! A particularly powerful tremor hit every inch of the island. On the shore, sand began to roll off toward the seawater from the incessant vibrations.


    Casting a sour look at the ground, the demon suddenly shot forward. In the span of a second, he crossed the shoreline and waded into the sea of light! The moment his feet landed on the surface of the sea, the demon''s entire body disappeared from their sight.


    "...Okay, that was unexpected," Zhanxian remarked.


    "Did he escape?" Tun Shi Tian said, unsure.


    "Probably not. Where''s he gonna escape to? He definitely has some unfinished business in our macrocosm for which he needs my body," Xuhan answered, trying to placate them and himself as well. "I don''t believe he was forced to enter my dao tower just to keep my mouth shut about the whole disciple-hunting scheme of Fang Xie. There has to be more to the matter that we don''t know yet. Let''s just wait and see if he can preserve the safety of the island. If he can, then he''ll ask my permission to control my body, and that''s when we''ll get to learn exactly what he''s planning."


    "Are we going to stand here for those orbs to reach us directly from the shoreline?" Zhanxian complained, not at all concerned about the schemes being thrown around.


    "If these orbs are parts of their body, these creatures have to be massive! One rogue Tupshu can just swallow all four of us in one gulp. Why don''t we go deeper into the island and hide inside our towers?"


    "Zhanxian, how are you going to survive this place if you hide inside every time a new enemy shows up on the horizon?" Tun Shi Tian retorted. "I''m no more powerful than you are. Do you see me retreating?"


    Hai Yin Zhe hissed something from within Zhanxian''s grip. The little snake had gotten rather spooked by the turn of events here. The unfamiliar surroundings, the heavy atmosphere, and the repeated mental attack of the Tupshu had turned the lively child fearful.


    "Hang on, Tun Shi Tian, since you have the guts for it, let''s do a small experiment," Han Xuhan said, an idea forming in his mind suddenly.


    "Look at the horizon when I tell you and count the number of orbs as fast as you can. Zhanxian, you keep a tight hold on his wings so that he doesn''t fly away after being hypnotized."


    Getting the idea, Tun Shi Tian nodded after a moment of hesitation. He couldn''t stand to appear weak in front of Zhanxian, especially right after taunting the other guy for his cowardice!


    "On my count; three, two, one...look!"


    Ready to shout at the bird''s ears, Han Xuhan watched Tun Shi Tian''s head turn toward the ocean.


    "One, two, three, four..." he started counting the orbs. But after the number ten, his voice began to slur like a drunkard''s.


    "Twelve...four-fourteen... seventee..."


    His wings began to twitch, struggling to get loose from Zhanxian''s grip. After reaching twenty, he fell completely silent and began to struggle with all of his might to fly forward.


    "Tun Shi Tian!" Han Xuhan roared behind his neck at the top of his voice. But even that didn''t seem to work as effectively as before. Perhaps due to the proximity of the orbs, their ability to exert mental influence over an observer had grown!


    "Slap him," Han Xuhan ordered Zhanxian.


    It took more than a dozen powerful smacks to finally make the bird snap out of the hypnosis. Even then, Tun Shi Tian seemed quite unsteady in his speech.


    "I...I counted twenty-two," he reported weakly.


    "And..and the orbs aren''t the only things visible there. Each orb is attached to some sort of rocky, moving pillar. The pillars are interconnected. They can even move through each other! It''s like they''re just smokes and shadows! And somebody was screaming something in an unfamiliar language. Every time they screamed, I felt like I was getting closer to figuring out what they were saying..."


    Noticing his wings being unfurled, Zhanxian smacked him again. But Tun Shi Tian''s rant didn''t end. He kept muttering to himself, switching from normal words to unintelligible sounds.


    "Did his mind get broken permanently?" Zhanxian''s voice was tinged with terror, now far more pronounced than before. Even Han Xuhan felt his thoughts growing frantic at the rapidly deteriorating situation.


    "Hang on, I have an idea," he said, and immediately disappeared from the spiritual world. The last thing he heard was Zhanxian cursing him profusely.


    Breaking out of his meditation, Han Xuhan found his martial siblings sitting in front of him, their faces eager.


    "What did you learn?" Yuen Zhou asked. "Has the theory been confirmed?"


    Instead of answering her, Han Xuhan closed his eyes again and ran the remaining qi inside his meridians at the fastest possible speed to form a small cycle.


    Tun Shi Tian''s bony body materialized behind him a few seconds later. Falling straight to the ground, the bird began to take deep breaths.


    "...." Several times, he opened his beak to speak, but failed. Almost a minute passed by before he finally managed to croak a word out.


    "You almost got me killed, asshole! You owe me for that!"


    Relieved to see the minion back to his true self, Han Xuhan went back to meditation, sinking into the depths of his spiritual world once again.

 Chapter 267: Colliding Totalities

    Once again, he was back on the shore, and having prepared beforehand, he averted his gaze from the direction of the ocean immediately. Zhanxian and Hai Yin Zhe had already made their way to the center of the island, it seemed. Not wanting to be the first one to face the oncoming monstrosity, Han Xuhan floated over to the central area as well.


    He found both minions crouching in a corner of Zhanxian''s tower. Unable to sit still, he could only hover around the hall in tense silence.


    Minutes passed one after another. None of them had the guts to peek out from the door to see if any of those alien creatures had entered the small island yet. Why they were attacking the bottom of the island was a mystery. Han Xuhan placed all his hopes on the demon. Maybe that guy would have a solution as well as the answers to his questions.


    Heavy thumping noise was still reverberating through the island from time to time, but the frequency of the sounds had gone down a notch or two at some point. Gradually, the frequency went lower and lower till several minutes passed without any tremors.


    Nervous and cautious, Han Xuhan inched forward to the door of the tower and looked outside.


    "FUCK!"


    If he had a corporeal form, he''d have probably stumbled back in fright. The scene outside the tower brought a sensation of instinctive fear in him.


    An enormous black silhouette was standing a few meters away from the tower. Han Xuhan immediately averted his gaze and tried to slink back into a corner of the tower, only to hear a familiar voice shouting his name.


    "You''re safe for now. Come out!"


    It had worked?! The mental demon had won!


    "Can we look at that thing without being mentally influenced now?" he shouted from behind the door.


    "Yes! I''ve made it retain the predatory spiritual aura. But just to be on the safe side, try not to look at it for long. Creatures like Tupshu don''t have to consciously focus on polluting your sanity."


    Gaze on the ground, Han Xuhan floated out of the tower with Zhanxian in tow. Hai Yin Zhe was still too skittish to venture outside, much to their relief.


    The demon, however, was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where are you? Don''t tell me you''re on top of the Tupshu!" Han Xuhan kept his gaze locked downward despite standing a mere dozen feet away from the source of mental pollution. He could feel the enormity of its existence, almost like a suffocating drape weighing down on his senses.


    A chuckle came from above their heads. "On top of the Tupshu? I AM the Tupshu right now, Xuhan!"


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "....You became its mental demon and possessed it?! That''s...Okay, I didn''t know you could do that."


    Han Xuhan was floored. That worked too? A mental demon was too overpowered! A primordial predator was defeated in a matter of minutes!


    "How else did you think I could stop the attacks? These creatures were starving, ready to tear the island to pieces and savor your spiritual bodies. Only their own kind, the strongest Tupshu among the horde could make them fall back. But this is only a temporary safety. I''ve gone through the memories of the Tupshu here, and it seems that this territory specifically is a safe haven."


    "Awesome!" Zhanxian cheered.


    "Let me finish, skully. This territory is a safe haven for the young Tupshus, not us. All around us, thousands of younglings and larvae are swimming. Unhatched eggs have been embedded into subspatial pockets filled with violent spiritual energy, ready to burst into this Totality with such explosive power that it can rend us into the smallest units of energy and consciousness, just some food for the child Tupshus. Even I may not survive the explosion of these subspatial pockets, let alone unrefined spiritual bodies like you four."


    "...I''d say this situation can''t possibly get any worse, but I would probably be proven wrong," Han Xuhan said glumly.


    "Yeah, you better keep your cursed mouth shut," Zhanxian said in agreement.


    "Speaking of mouths, how are you even talking to us?" Xuhan asked the mental demon. "Do these Tupshus have mouths like us? Vocal cords?"


    The demon sounded quite annoyed as he replied. "Why would you even ask such a stupid question? What part of the concept of a ''spiritual world'' do you not understand? Nothing you see or encounter here is real material, just projections. Do you think we''re communicating with vocal cords and lung air? The only relation this entire totality has with your macrocosm is the internal laws working behind the scenes, many of which are similar in nature. The spiritual body and the physical body are separated here, connected only by the string of consciousness. Speaking, traveling, touching, beating others up, everything that you can do in the material world can be mirrored here if your spiritual body is powerful."


    Struggling hard to make sense of the convoluted rules in this new domain, Han Xuhan''s mind continued to generate more and more questions.


    "Is that why my current spiritual body is a mere ball of light? Because my spiritual existence is uncultivated and weak?"


    "Yes! Finally! You''re getting the hang of it. Humans can only start consolidating parts of their spiritual body from the Soul Reformation Realm. Until then, all your current form can do here is to exert some control over the elements belonging to your dao foundation and nothing else! I doubt you''d survive an attack from even the weakest Tupshu larva. You''re entirely in a passive spot for now. Once you reach the Soul Reformation realm, you''ll have the chance to forge a better, stronger, form that corresponds to your physical body in the material world."


    "Makes sense, but I have another question. If this Totality of Autonomy is pretty much a primordial spiritual world beyond contemporary heavenly laws, what is the Astral Totality? You know I''ve dabbled a bit into techniques based on that Totality as well. From what I know, the Astral Totality houses the projections of all existing things in the universe-"


    "Nope," the demon said, interrupting Han Xuhan halfway through his regurgitation. "Not the universe. If you were born...say, a few millennia ago, you wouldn''t be wrong to say that you live in a universe. But the universe has developed, and grown beyond a singularity. Now, the world you live in is better defined as a macrocosm, a part of the universe that holds humans and humanoids. Like your master Kong Ye told you, most Totalities and macrocosms overlap each other in a way that an uncultivated human mind cannot comprehend. And this Astral Totality you speak of is one totality birthed by the primordial universe during its growth."


    "....Okay, but what''s the difference between that Astral Totality and this Totality of Autonomy?" Han Xuhan said. If his material body was here, he''d definitely be scratching his head furiously. The confusion was torturous!


    "The Astral Totality is the conservatory of everything that exists in your macrocosms, whether living or non-living. It doesn''t represent anyone''s full cultivation. Grab one of those small lizards from the wall of your hut. Tear apart its tail so that it can grow a new one. Both the old tail and the new tail will have separate projections in the Astral Totality. And as long as the old tail doesn''t rot away into tiny organic units that are absorbed by something else, that separate astral projection of the tail will exist freely. But here, inside the Totality of Autonomy, it''s mostly the spiritual projection of living cultivators that thrive. There might be some exceptions to that, though."


    "I get it now," Han Xuhan said, feeling like his worldview has been refreshed. "But how do you know so much about this world? Do you have some connections to this Totality? Or is it common knowledge for all mental demons?"


    "You''re exceeding your question limits, Han Xuhan. Remember the deal? It wasn''t about me answering your questions. If I can save you and your dao foundation from the Tupshu horde, you will pay with your body, that''s the deal!"


    "....kekekekek!" Zhanxian started cackling immediately, befitting a skeleton.


    "Man, you''ve corrupted these minions," the demon said in a disgusted tone.


    "So sayeth the mental demon from the body of a Tupshu," was Han Xuhan''s unhappy reply.

 Chapter 268: Demonic Behavior

    "...Fuck you. Anyway, as per the conditions of our deal, I have fulfilled my promise and driven those Tupshus away. My part is done, full and final. It''s time for you to accept your part of the deal and swear a dao heart oath! Swear that you''ll honor your promise and let me control your body when I make the request!"


    Hearing the conviction in the demon''s tone, Han Xuhan tried to think of any possible loopholes he might have missed in the promise. The demon did accept all of his conditions.


    Most importantly, he had the freedom to warn Xuan Zi before the demon took over. He didn''t have an iota of doubt that Xuan Zi wouldn''t sit by and watch the demon use his body to court disasters. He was still a very valuable chess piece to the sect master.


    "Alright, I''ll swear. Do you want me to do it in some specific manner or should I just say that I swear to honor our agreement?"


    The demon thought for a moment and replied, "Return to your macrocosm first. Although dao heart oaths are personal bonds, it''s better to use the heavenly laws in your world as a witness. This totality is unstable as hell."


    Han Xuhan didn''t have a problem with that. His consciousness slipped out of the island and returned to his body. Sitting on the porch of Xiao Wu''s hut, Han Xuhan loudly declared his oath, stunning his three martial siblings who had no idea what was going on. All they had seen in the last half hour was just him slipping in and out of consciousness like a man on his deathbed.


    "What promise? To whom?!" Mu Ran was the first to recover.


    "Did you just swear a real dao heart oath?" Xiao Wu screeched, knowing the risks associated with such actions. It was fine for other cultivators to make dao heart oaths, because they could violate them and still not get entirely crippled from cultivating, but Han Xuhan...


    Ahem, it was like watching a blind man make a bet with his eyes as collateral. Xiao Wu couldn''t bear to see it happen.


    "You made a deal with your mental demon?" Yuen Zhou, the sharper among the three, caught onto the crux of the matter fast. Confirming her suspicion, Han Xuhan told them of his discovery of the dangers swimming around his dao foundation. All three of them looked as exhausted as he felt from the incomprehensible development by the time his story ended.


    "How can you survive that place? This is ridiculous!" Mu Ran exclaimed with a frustration that Han Xuhan was all too familiar with.


    "The mental demon seems to be quite powerful. Not only did he manage to control one of these so-called primordial predators, but he also managed to drive the entire horde away when they were just one step from destroying your spiritual foundation, martial brother. Have you considered what would happen if the island is fully destroyed?"


    Hearing Yuen Zhou''s question, Han Xuhan nodded thoughtfully. "Of course. Right now, I still have a zeroth layer of cultivation as my foundation. But if that too is destroyed, my connection to my spiritual world would be severed for good. I''ll end up a full mortal, with no spiritual roots to cultivate on!"


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    "Not just that, your minions would be destroyed too," Yuen Zhou said. "Do you think they''ll continue to exist in our world if your spiritual world, the very basis of their existence, is eaten up by those Tupshus?"


    Tun Shi Tian, who was still recovering from the sequela of being the target of a Tupshu, cursed out loud hearing her analysis.


    "Dammit! What did I do to deserve this kind of fate? Before I could gain the strength to confidently court death, death desperately started courting me! The world is so unfair! Heavens, give me a buffer period of five years first! How else can a hero grow?"


    "How do you plan to deal with this?" Mu Ran said. "If these so-called subspatial pockets packed with spiritual energy explode, you''re done for!"


    Han Xuhan shrugged. "Gonna have to accept it if it happens. I''m way out of my element in that place. It''s not like I can move an entire island to evade those bombs."


    Yuen Zhou cracked her fingers loudly, saying, "Have you considered how these young Tupshus, especially those at the larva stage, survive the explosions?"


    Han Xuhan had not thought about that. Brows knitted, he quickly slipped back into his dao tower.


    When he reappeared on the shore, no fiery orbs were floating on the ocean, much to his relief. But he did notice the smokey silhouette of something the size of a small hill occupying the central area of the island.


    Once again, he directed his gaze downward and approached the Tupshu possessed by the mental demon. But before he could speak, the demon''s voice reached him.


    "You should stay away from Yuen Zhou, if you know what''s good for you."


    Pausing in his movement, Han laughed out loud. "Did she piss you off by figuring out the next trump card you were hoping to use against me? Just like this time with the Tupshu horde, you could have played the role of a savior by letting us survive the explosion of unstable spiritual energy. That way you get to owe more and more from me, right?"


    "How the hell would I know how to save you from the explosions?" the demon asked, sounding incensed by the analysis. "I''ve told you before! Even I wouldn''t be able to withstand these eruptions of energy! Don''t just blindly believe in a theoretical suggestion made by someone who has never even stepped foot into this world. Has your sense of judgment been corroded by lust? Tsk, tsk, tsk~"


    Han Xuhan remained unperturbed as he arranged the thoughts in his mind. The more he contemplated, the surer he became that this demon was trying to scam him again!


    But for some strange reason, he hadn''t been able to see through a trap so obvious for so long! He had obediently accepted the threats and orders from the demon. It was almost as if... The demon was secretly using the hypnotic power of the Tupshu in secret to influence his mind!


    Treacherous! Too treacherous!


    Han Xuhan regretted overlooking one simple fact. He was dealing with a literal demon, not another human being of the same stature as him. Why had he been stupid enough to think the battle of wits was going to be fair?


    "What''s with the silence?" the demon said, probably sensing something.


    Han Xuhan began to lay out his thoughts hearing the ridicule and disdain in the demon''s tone.


    "I do not know if it is your good fortune by which we landed in this place out of all the regions in the Totality of Autonomy, but you''ve certainly made good use of the opportunity. As a powerful spiritual being with the ability to control and corrupt others, you were simply on your home ground while dealing with these young Tupshus.


    "But you''ve made a simple mistake in arranging the scenario of playing the reluctant hero."


    "What are you even talking about?!" The demon sounded absolutely flabbergasted. For a moment, Han Xuhan was convinced that he was overthinking things. But his extensive baggage of PTSD didn''t diminish in the slightest. The trauma made him stand stronger in his paranoid stance.


    "There is a contradictory point in the information you''ve given me. You''ve repeatedly insisted that the eruption of spiritual energy from these substantial pockets around us could kill both you and me easily. But you''ve also mentioned that adult Tupshus have left their eggs in these subspatial pockets. You''ve mentioned that all around us, numerous Tupshu children are swimming, hunting, growing in the primordial ocean. This region, you say, is a safe haven for the younglings.


    "So how is it that you, a spiritual being powerful enough to suppress and control the most powerful Tupshu of a horde, cannot survive an explosion of spiritual energy when these eggs, larvae, and the weakest Tupshu children can safely grow in the same region?


    "This is, as you''ve explained, a world of spiritual projections. All these Tupshus are spiritual creatures quite similar to you and I within the confines of this Totality. So it doesn''t make sense for the weaker beings to thrive in circumstances where the stronger gets destroyed."

 Chapter 269: Liar, Liar, Sea On Fire

    It was, in fact, not even the entirety of the accusation Han Xuhan had in his mind against the demon. He further suspected that the demon was somehow involved in the process by which the Tupshu horde had found his island and chosen to attack it. After all, when a villain needs to cultivate the image of a hero, the shortest route is always to create a problem that only he can solve!


    The reason why Han Xuhan had not voiced this lethal allegation was because he finally understood how the playing field worked and who the other player was. He was dealing with a literal demon, not just a human with evil intentions. He couldn''t expect to have a clean slate on the playing field unless he chose to overlook some of the misdeeds of the other party.


    Moreover, he was certain that the demon would never accept this allegation either. Looking at the bigger picture, it would probably be for the best if he pretended that he hadn''t even thought of the possibility that the demon was the one who guided these Tupshus from nearby to his island.


    "...Alright, alright, you got me, man. Can''t believe I missed a loophole that big. Damn, I must have been affected by the Intelligence Reducing Halo of a protagonist when I possessed you," the demon said in a defeated tone while Xuhan was suppressing his urge to go all out with the allegations due to his anger.


    "I admit, I did want to take advantage of this predicament, but don''t tell me you wouldn''t do it if you were in my shoes. I know you quite well to be certain that you''d not pass up the opportunity, Xuhan."


    Han Xuhan felt a wave of relief washing over his worried thoughts. Finally, some good news...


    "So what exactly did you exaggerate?" he said, curious.


    "I didn''t exaggerate anything about the spiritual energy eruptions. Yes, they are that powerful. They can not only destroy you and me, they can also destroy the young Tupshus. But the eggs which have been embedded in the mouths of these subspatial pockets are naturally protected with shells and external layers of protection by the mother Tupshus. These eggs NEED the eruptions of spiritual energy to hatch. Adult Tupshus actively create these subspatial pockets inside ordinary space during breeding seasons so that energy begins to funnel into these pockets and the eggs can be laid over there, like a pile of rocks suppressing an active, growing volcano. When the explosions take place, the energy flow baptizes the eggs. Sometimes, these eruptions can be powerful enough to even destroy the eggs."


    "Okay, but how do we avoid them then? How do these hatched, young Tupshus survive them?"


    "They can sense the leaking energy from the pockets and just move away from the area before eruption. It''s in their instinct."


    "You''re avoiding the main question again," Han Xuhan said with a groan. "What about us? We can''t move this island now, can we? Neither can we sense when or where the next eruption of spiritual energy will happen."


    "Have you forgotten that I''m controlling a Tupshu right now? I know exactly where and when the next one is about to erupt. And it''s not a news you''ll like. The hatching rate of Tupshu eggs is quite slow by human standards. They only breed once every couple decades or so. But right now, the very area on which our island is afloat contains a massive, and I mean, MASSIVE, subspatial pocket. Even more unfortunately, it''s very close to the explosive phase. Most Tupshus nearby are getting ready to migrate far away. That is why this horde was so eager to attack this island despite being totally unfamiliar with a prey like us. They are desperate to get some reserve food."


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    "Gahhh- Xianxia stories and their terrible disaster calendars!" Han Xuhan would have spat on the ground if he could. "No matter if a disaster takes place once a decade, or once in a century, or even once every millennium, it WILL happen when the main character is nearby. I''m just a protagonist''s martial brother, but even I can''t escape this fate?!"


    The demon laughed out loud. "Since you caught me, I''ll just come clean, Xuhan. I do have a way to protect this island from the explosions. I was waiting for the right time to blackmail you into agreeing to some disadvantageous deals. Seems like you won''t believe me now unless I show some sincerity."


    "You are absolutely correct to think that," Han Xuhan confirmed. "I might not even trust the show of sincerity. But since the situation is so dire, I''ll give you a chance."


    If his cocky tone annoyed the demon, he didn''t express it. After a brief pause, however, the demon said something Xuhan never expected.


    "To do it, I need to possess you. Your teacher Kong Ye, and your sect master Xuan Zi will probably be alerted if I do. Let''s try it out when they''re around. Otherwise, your crazy master''s gonna come running with his poison supply."


    Han Xuhan felt that the demon''s words were logical. He also didn''t want the demon possessing his body when Xuan Zi or Kong Ye weren''t around. But was it really possible? To just possess him and save the dao tower from the explosion right beneath the island?


    Only time could answer that. For now, he believed that the problem had mostly been resolved. There shouldn''t be any immediate dangers. Without that pressure, he could handle the other concerns.


    But of course, first, he had to kick out this giant, psychosis-inducing, spiritual predator. Even with the demon possessing it, Han Xuhan didn''t feel comfortable having to share the little space on the island with the monster.


    "Hey, it''s kinda cramped here with your new ride taking up so much space, not to mention, we can''t even look at the direction it is in. Can you make it leave like the rest of its siblings?"


    But contrary to his expectations, the demon snorted in disdain again.


    "Truly a frog in a well, unable to see the bigger picture. Have you not even considered that there might be a reason why I brought this young Tupshu here?"


    Somewhat stunned, Han Xuhan said, "Wasn''t it to try to sneak attack me and my minions with its mental pollution ability?"


    "...Kid, did you really think I need a Tupshu to defeat you four in a spiritual battle? Did you forget that I locked up all of your minions and almost took full control of your body without you even sensing anything?"


    "Ah, makes sense," Han Xuhan said, feeling sheepish. "All this stress has been taking a toll on my intelligence, man. Just quit beating around the bush and tell me the reason. Why did you bring the Tupshu here?"


    "It''s a gift."


    "...." Han Xuhan fell silent. His thoughts seemed to crash into a wall. The ability to infer a conclusion slipped beyond his reach.


    "Er... A gift for whom, exactly?"


    "For you and your minions. With weaklings like you accompanying me, it''ll be very difficult for us to survive in this Totality. When I was being forced to enter your dao tower, I had no idea that I would be transported to this ancient hellscape. Tupshus, I can take care of myself. But these creatures are pretty much the bottom feeders of this Totality. They are bare remnants of a long-lost glory, of extinguished civilizations. However, those that have cultivated in this primordial ocean since time immemorial are still out there, I firmly believe that!


    Leagues beneath us, within the abyss, denizens as old as your universe are resting, observing, cultivating, consolidating powers beyond my comprehension. I''ll have to use every bit of resources at my disposal if I want to survive their ''curiosity''. And you, your minions, are just that-- resources that I can invest in, that I am being forced to invest in."


    "How...how are we supposed to use this investment? What use is a Tupshu to us?" Han Xuhan asked, totally caught off guard.


    "This is, at a fundamental level, a world based on spiritual capabilities. So you need to start training your spiritual existence as fast as possible. But your cultivation is too low and too slow to reach the requirement of the Soul Reformation realm. All you can do to strengthen it is to use the oldest, crudest method of nature. That''s where the Tupshu comes in."


    The clues finally connected in his mind. Voice wavering, Han Xuhan whispered, "You want us to subject ourselves to repeated spiritual attacks of the Tupshu so that we can get used to it?"


    "That''s right. Didn''t you cultivate a zeroth layer foundation before starting your journey in the Physique Transformation realm? You can treat this early spiritual training as a foundation for your journey in the Soul Reformation Realm!"

 Chapter 270: Inflict Fear Upon This Land

    Han Xuhan''s primary instinctive response to the mental demon''s offer was to consider it another sinister scheme. But he was so inexperienced about the world of cultivation that he couldn''t determine what exactly this scheme could achieve.


    If the demon''s intention was to cause him to suffer spiritual damage, Kong Ye would rush over immediately with an unlimited supply of Mindkiller poison the moment it begins. If the demon''s goal was a more long-term method of gradual spiritual damage, it wouldn''t have much of a potential either considering the tournament would be over by then and he''d return to the original territory of Crimson Snow Sect, where Kong Ye and Xuan Zi could exert an even more stringent control over his movements.


    Unless and until the demon left his body, Han Xuhan didn''t see any opportunities for it to be freed from their control.


    In that sense, he had to discard considering the possibility that this ''spiritual training'' was intended to harm his spiritual existence. In the same vein, if this wasn''t a scheme, then nobody would be happier than Han Xuhan!


    Getting to train his spiritual existence while he was still in the Physique Transformation Realm? How awesome was that?! At least he would no longer be a trash with unremarkable abilities! If he could get past the Physique Transformation realm, he would have a massive advantage over his peers!


    No, no, no... He was getting too far ahead of himself. If someone was offering him such benefits, there had to be a hidden catch as well. Cautious, Han Xuhan neither confirmed, nor denied the demon''s offer to him. Instead, he used a testing maneuver.


    Summoning Tun Shi Tian back to the island, Han Xuhan shouted loudly, "Little Tian, how did it feel, to be such a weakling that you couldn''t even hold the gaze of a mere child without going insane?"


    "...What are you trying to do?" Tun Shi Tian said in a vigilant tone.


    Shit, the birdie had gotten smarter. Han Xuhan could still remember those early days of cultivation when all he needed to do was to call the owl by some nasty nicknames to rile him up.


    "I''m trying to guide you, minion!" he declared righteously. "Don''t you want to grow stronger, powerful enough to face these ancient beasts and look them right in the eye boldly? Don''t you want them to feel true despair when they try, try, and try to pollute your spiritual body, only to fail miserably every time? Don''t you want to grow into a truly powerful cultivator who could dominate this primordial Totality?"


    Tun Shi Tian considered it for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I do, but why are you trying to motivate me all of a sudden? Did you stumble upon another risky obstacle that you don''t want to deal with yourself?"


    From behind, Zhanxian started cackling uncontrollably. Tun Shi Tian harrumphed, realizing that his suspicion had hit the bullseye.


    "Tsk~ why so impatient? Can''t even let me finish my introduction. Well, you''re not wrong. I have a risky method of giving you a massive boost in terms of spiritual capability. Do you want to take the opportunity and start training?" Han Xuhan asked, entirely unabashed.


    "As long as my growth is guaranteed, why would I fear risk? I''m not a coward like Zhanxian and you! Bring it on!" Tun Shi Tian roared. "Cowards aren''t fit for the grand dao! To tread the path to heaven, we must fight for every opportunity!"


    "I''d like to remind you that we''ve been kicked out of the heavenly domain. Whatever path we''re treading, heaven won''t be standing at the end of it," Han Xuhan said. "But feel free to yell whatever makes you feel better about it, I suppose. Now, let''s begin the training."


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    From above, the demon''s voice floated over.


    "I had a feeling that you were going to use your minions as guinea pigs again, and I wasn''t disappointed. Are you sure you''re not a demon descendent yourself, Xuhan?"


    Han Xuhan, Zhanxian, and Hai Yin Zhe stood some distance away from the Tupshu, leaving Tun Shi Tian to face its next attack. They still couldn''t look at the Tupshu directly, especially not now when it was about to open one of its numerous eyes and launch a wave of mental attack. So all of their attention was focused on the owl.


    "The eye of a Tupshu is its primary hunting weapon. When a prey with an unrefined spiritual body like yours faces this eye, the most common outcome is a burst of mental distress in the form of inexplicable fear, a burst strong enough to freeze your fight or flight response. In fact, once this fear is born, most prey are physically paralyzed for some time in their material world."


    Listening to the demon''s opening discourse, Tun Shi Tian cocked his head up pridefully.


    "Fear? That is a mere instinct. How can I be a cultivator if I am unable to conquer my own instincts? Bring it on!"


    "He''s a bit too enthusiastic today," Han Xuhan muttered, a bit puzzled.


    "It''s called self-preservation, master," Zhanxian remarked from his side. "We almost got wiped off this world three times today. Would you be lacking in enthusiasm for training after these ordeals?"


    The demon, in the meantime, let out a sinister laugh.


    "Good, good, good! That''s the attitude I like! Show the world that you''re special! That you can conquer one of the biggest hurdles that cripple human cultivators on the Soul Reformation Realm. Take this!"


    "Wait, what did you say-"


    Tun Shi Tian didn''t get to finish the sentence. The demon must have made the Tupshu open its eye. Captured in its predatory stare, the owl''s words died in his beak.


    Twenty seconds later, Hai Yin Zhe and Zhanxian had to rush forward to restrain a rambling, twitching bird.


    "Purple! The world is made up of purple! But there are gaps in the world! There are gaps in us! Help! Help! Where is the rest of me?!"


    The screams didn''t lessen for a long time. Han Xuhan suggested taking the owl back to the material world, where the influence of the Tupshu might be reduced. But the demon stopped him.


    "I didn''t stop you from doing so the last time because the bird wasn''t even under the full effect of the gaze at that time. Right now, you can completely cut off every bit of connection the owl has to this totality and he still wouldn''t recover from the spiritual pollution automatically. This is a struggle he has to deal with himself. Let it happen."


    "The last time I let Tun Shi Tian take a mental attack, he stared at the eyes of the Tupshu for about ten seconds. But he didn''t show this state of fear and panic that he''s showing now," Han Xuhan said. "This time, he held the Tupshu''s gaze for twenty seconds and went full nuts. Doesn''t that mean there are phases to this mental attack? The intensity is increased with each second, right?"


    "Right, and wrong," the demon replied. "Yes, there are stages that you can classify a mental attack into. But the intensity has nothing to do with time. The only aspect of time involved in the attack is the period taken to completely destabilize the mental faculties of the prey. I made this Tupshu release its weakest mental attack. Being an unrefined spiritual body, your minion''s first instinctive output was fear. But it will only turn into fear if the attack is completed. So the weakest attack of the Tupshu needed only twenty seconds to elicit the first phase of spiritual pollution inside Tun Shi Tian, which is fear."


    "...." Han Xuhan felt like he''d appreciate a head massage by now. Learning new things was nice and all, but when so many new avenues of knowledge got crammed into his day at once, it caused nothing but confusion.


    "Why fear, though?" he asked.


    "Because fear is the first and most powerful negative emotion etched into human spirit," the demon replied. "It is natural for most humans to show this response before other emotions and instincts when facing spiritual pollution."


    "Is there a difference between mental attack and spiritual pollution?" Zhanxian managed to pinpoint a crucial issue out of the blue, startling Xuhan. Indeed, he had been treating both the same, using them interchangeably. Perhaps there was a difference between them? That would clear away some of his confusion.


    "There is," the demon answered generously.


    "Mental attack is a generalized term. Your mental world encompasses not just this spiritual realm here, but all of your thoughts, consciousness, and memories. Spiritual pollution is a much narrower concept. Only when a mental attack is invasive enough and has the capability to leave permanent damage on your spiritual world can it be called spiritual pollution. Take this instance for example.


    When the Tupshu opened its eyes and stared at Tun Shi Tian, that was a mental attack regardless of its effect. But only after twenty seconds, when the attack succeeded in evoking the first phase of spiritual damage, it became an actual spiritual pollution. Now, it''s up to the prey to crawl out of the hellhole of hallucinations. Each time he manages to succeed, he''ll need less time dealing with the next attack."


    "Is it that simple? You said a lot of cultivators are crippled by spiritual pollution in the Soul Reformation realm, right? How can we climb over that hurdle so easily?" Han Xuhan said suspiciously.


    "First of all, this training isn''t the cultivation procedure of your Soul Reformation realm. Do you think a martial artist with an exceptionally sturdy body is the same as a Physique Transformation realm cultivator? Is his martial art training the same as a cultivator? No! One is driven by qi, the other is purely physical strengthening.


    Similarly, cultivation in the Soul Reformation realm is driven by qi, while this training is a purely spiritual strengthening. But it is true that with a stronger body and soul, you''ll have an easier time cultivating, and higher potential to reach!"

 Chapter 271: Solarsight

    While Tun Shi Tian was recuperating, Han Xuhan remembered the reason he had returned to his dao tower and turned toward his eldest minion.


    "Zhanxian, pick up a sand grain from the ground, will you?"


    "A sand grain? Just one?" Zhanxian was confused. Hearing the hum of confirmation, he did his best to pick up the smallest possible amount of sand on his bony fingertip. After nearly a minute of cautious movements, one particularly large grain was left on the top of the bone.


    "Are you two trying to do what that Zhou girl advised you to try out? Testing whose spiritual connection to the sand grain is stronger?" the demon asked from the sideline.


    "Yeah, is there any input you want to provide?" Han Xuhan replied, trying to hustle more esoteric knowledge out of the demon.


    "Indeed, I do. In fact, I am quite touched that you''re considering my opinion on everything despite the fact that I am a demon. Even my own family had less trust in me. I''m starting to like you, young man."


    Feeling a little proud at having successfully scammed the demon, Han Xuhan said, "I''m glad that we can coexist so peacefully despite our differences. Even my racist tendencies have taken a nosedive since you saved us from the Tupshus. I''m starting to like you too, senior."


    "Much appreciated. Seems like we can finally see an eye to eye. Now, on to the matter at hand... My opinion on your experiment is that if trash like you can feel their spiritual connections down to such minute levels, I''ll eat shit for the rest of my life," the demon said.


    "...You don''t even have a body! How can you eat shit?" Han Xuhan roared, feeling indignant. "And your opinion just gave my racist sentiments a booster doze!"


    "Heh."


    "....Wait a damn minute, my dao heart oath!" Han Xuhan screeched in realization. "Don''t you dare!"


    "Feel fear yet?" the mental demon laughed uproariously. "The weak should fear the strong; this is the way of the world! So next time you feel like you can run circles around me, better think of the fact that I can make you run circles around your sect naked, covered in filth, yelling out every secret of your associates you''ve hoarded as blackmail material."


    Han Xuhan shuddered, once again realizing that he had underestimated the horror of being possessed by mental demons.


    "No wonder the Celestials went down the full genocide mode on the entire demon race! You people deserved it!" he shouted, furious.


    "Look me in the eye and repeat that, trash," the demon replied in disdain. "Oh wait, I forgot that a trash like you doesn''t even have the capability to meet my eyes. You''re a disgrace to human cultivators! No wonder your minions have no respect for you. They''ll backstab you the moment they gain a fraction of advantage, physically or spiritually."


    "Are you trying to rile me up so that you can attack me with the Tupshu''s spiritual pollution ability?" Han Xuhan wondered aloud.


    "Conniving bastard! First you tried to make me feel safe around you despite occupying the body of the Tupshu. Then you tried to sell me this spiritual training crash-course and failed. Now that I''m using my minions to test the validity of your training proposal, you''re trying to anger me into receiving the mental attack before I can evaluate the result of the test. It seems like you''re hiding deeper intentions than I assumed! Perhaps this was another scheme to damage my spiritual existence in a way that I couldn''t even comprehend!"


    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    The demon disrupted Han Xuhan''s chain of accusations very easily.


    "You really are getting stupider by the minute. Have you forgotten that your master can detect it the moment I try to possess you? In fact, your master has a perception skill of the same level as Solarsight. And your sect master isn''t exactly going to sit by and ignore my existence either. He''ll certainly be back on a regular basis, examining your spiritual well-being and making sure that I''m not trying to harm you directly or indirectly. What do I stand to gain by trying to damage your spiritual existence?"


    The logic given by the demon was the exact same thoughts Han Xuhan had gone through five minutes ago when he had been offered this spiritual training regime. The only uniqueness in it was a certain word he had heard once before.


    "Solarsight? I remember you spoke of this skill back when my master caught you in the act of possessing my body," he mumbled.


    "It''s a perception-based skill, you say? What does it do exactly?"


    "What a rookie!" the demon grumbled for the umpteenth time. "Your sect hasn''t even taught you the universal scale of perception yet, so you wouldn''t understand what this skill really is even if I tried to explain. But there is a more scientific angle you can approach it from.


    Tell me, have you never wondered how cultivators across distant galaxies, billions of lightyears away from each other, communicate?"


    Dumbfounded by the sudden change of topic, Han Xuhan struggled to analyze what he was being asked about.


    "Yeah, you''re not wrong there. I did think about it a few times. I remember hearing from Xiao Wu that our sect has some impressive background. There are rumors about powerful sects occupying the distant corners of the macrocosm, across the sea of stars. But if that were true, it would be quite problematic. So I didn''t believe most of that stuff."


    Hearing his reply, the demon said with curiosity, "Problematic? Care to elaborate?"


    "Well, if the universal laws I learned on Earth aren''t factually wrong, then most of the stars we see in the sky are basically visions of the past. Since we use light as our medium of vision, a star that exists thousands of lightyears away from us would only show us the state it used to be in many millennia ago. So unless the cultivators from that region of the macrocosm can travel thousands of times faster than light itself, they''ll never have a chance to meet us, or even know that we exist.


    In the same way, if our sect has a backer organization in the sea of stars, I can''t see there being any possible method of effective communication between them and us. Because one message might take ten years to reach the other party, or even more, depending on how far away the two parties are, unless..."


    "Unless the magical wonders of cultivation is involved in it," the demon finished the sentence for him.


    "Yup. Which just produces bigger contradictions. For example, a cultivator from a planet ten lightyear away from us might see what was happening on our planet ten years ago. But if he has any method of communication that''s faster than light, then the information he will receive from here will basically be the future version of what he''s seeing. How illogical would that be?! Wouldn''t being faster than light pretty much create the scope of time travel, theoretically?"


    "It''s good that you''ve put that much thought into it," said the demon. "Makes it easier for me to break the news. In the universal scale of perception, communication faster than the speed of light is possible, because no cultivator at that level uses light as his principle medium of perception. In fact, it''s not limited to communication either. There are even methods of teleportation across distances that you can''t even comprehend. So from the mortals'' viewpoint, you can simply disappear into the future, on a planet so far away that the light from that planet hasn''t reached the mortal''s eyes yet. If you trigger a supernova explosion near that planet, the mortal''s millionth generation of descendants might see it happen. But for cultivators with some strength, they''d know all about it right when you trigger the explosion. In the mortal perception, that makes the cultivators here divine oracles who can predict what changes will take place in the sky ten thousand years later, doesn''t it? Hahaha!"


    "....Weird knowledge increased, but what does this have anything to do with Solarsight, the skill you speak of?"


    "Everything, really. Solarsight is one of the higher stages of the universal scale of perception. Cultivators who have mastered the ability to perceive the world to the Solarsight stage can pretty much see through everything around them. And by everything, I mean EVERYTHING; matter, anti-matter, energy, laws, time, soul, spirit, dao, you name it! As long as the subject itself doesn''t have any linkage with a power higher than him, nothing about it can escape his focus. He can hear, see, and feel everything that''s happening around him instantly."


    Han Xuhan gasped audibly. "So my teacher has an ability on par with this?! That''s insane!"


    In a resentful tone, the demon confirmed it again. "Yeah, at least, in terms of being invasive, your master Kong Ye doesn''t lose out against Solarsight users. So I have no chances of taking over your body or damaging your spiritual existence without him knowing. If you think I''m lying even now, just go ask your sect master. I bet he knows more than I do! And even he''d tell you that trying to measure the spiritual connection between you and your dao tower is a futile exercise at your level. Stop wasting time listening to your paranoid mind and chasing answers to esoterics beyond your reach. Focus on the present. Start training for what''s to come!"

 Chapter 272: There Is Always A Deeper Layer

    A golden sun sat just above the horizon, shrouding the floating island of Crimson Snow Sect with a radiant aura. On one corner of the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak, two young men were lying on top of a wide boulder, basking in the soft glow of the sun. The salty winds of the sea hit them in the face, hardly impeded by the mountains surrounding the island.


    Han Xuhan finally had gotten a stretch of peaceful sleep. Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian were lying inside the hut, both semi-unconscious from the mental trauma induced by the attack of the Tupshu. Whether the training regime of the mental demon produce any real result or not, remained to be seen.


    Yuen Zhou had returned to her hut to recuperate from her injuries, while Xiao Wu was visiting the central region of the island to deal with the tournament missions and to gather information. Their team of three had brought back one treasure set from the invasion missions today. It was their first successful tournament mission. Naturally, everyone wanted to relax for a while.


    According to the rule Xuan Zi set for their team, they had managed to produce decent results within 24 hours, both in terms of tournament missions and side tasks. Even if they took the rest of the evening off to rest, nobody could find a fault with their performance.


    "Xuhan, I''ve been thinking about it for some time now...and I have made the decision to come clean," Mu Ran said in a low voice, breaking Xuhan''s sleepy mood.


    Disgruntled, he raised his neck and cracked an eye open, trying to assess the situation. Mu Ran looked alert, serious, and even a bit guilty. Doubt surfacing in his heart, Han Xuhan sat up straight and said, "Have you been hiding something that I should know, martial brother?"


    "Not hiding, exactly. It''s just that you never asked, and I never thought it was important to let you know. But after what you''ve revealed to the sect master and our teacher, I realized that keeping you in the dark about it wouldn''t be right."


    Sensing the discomfort in his tone, Han Xuhan''s senses fired up, fully alert.


    "Your cultivation technique, the Skeletal Monarch..."


    "Yes? What about it?"


    "You never asked me why I recommended it to you, or how I even knew about it, did you?"


    Mu Ran''s question pushed a red button inside Xuhan''s mind.


    Shit! Could it be?! Could there be another hidden scheme behind the beginning of this entire fiasco that he had never even considered?!


    Seeing his wide-eyed look, Mu Ran''s countenance turned guiltier.


    "Xuhan, I hope you won''t blame me for this, but in truth, I used you as an experiment subject at that time. This Skeletal Monarch technique was recommended to me by a senior disciple with whom I had had a chance encounter in the past. She told me that inside Crimson Snow Sect''s archives, there''s a cultivation manual that can make Celestials overturn heaven and earth in fear. That it was a technique that can break the power of Heavenly Celestials over a cultivator''s dao tower. She told me this technique could even summon an ancient power that has been forbidden by the heavenly mandate!


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Obviously, I did not believe a single word she said. The description sounded so exaggerated at that time! So when I finally got myself admitted into the sect, I searched for the technique out of curiosity, alongside my own pursuits. When you appeared behind me at that time, offering unwarranted assistance, I wasn''t fully convinced of your sincerity. So I thought... Why don''t I test both your and her sincerity at the same time by asking you to cultivate the technique she recommended?"


    "Now that I''ve heard in detail about every anomaly that technique has caused, those boasts of that senior make sense!


    "When she said that this technique can make Celestials panic, she obviously indicated the possible usage of this technique to cause chaos in the heavenly dao domain. To create multiple cultivators within one dao tower isn''t a simple matter. The heavenly laws fall into confusion in such a situation, as proven by your expulsion from the domain.


    "When she said that this technique can summon an ancient power, perhaps she was talking about the method embedded within the burning planet that enables a powerful cultivator to infiltrate the heavenly dao domain through it!"


    Taking several deep breaths, Han Xuhan stood up, feeling a bit unsteady in his steps. Mu Ran watched him with an uneasy look on his face.


    "I hope you can look past it, Xuhan. I did not know that this technique could be so deadly. At that time, I took a gamble, thinking that either this technique could truly be a heaven-defying cultivation manual, or the senior was just trying to misguide me into cultivating a useless technique, just like she had done."


    Han Xuhan faltered in his steps. Eyes narrowing, he said in a faint tone, "Just like she had done? You mean to say that she was a practitioner of the Skeletal Monarch technique as well?"


    He had met a few disciples of the previous generations who knew about the effects of cultivating this technique. One of them had even tried it himself and given up. The only reason the tales of their failures hadn''t discouraged Xuhan was because his plan was to intermix the Skeletal Monarch manual with the Spiritual Bone armor technique. He wanted meat shields to defend himself, and so, he never held a particularly high expectation for the technique.


    If this unknown senior who had tried to guide Mu Ran was also a practitioner of the technique, the only way she might be privy to the traps hiding inside the technique was if she let her skeleton minions cultivate as well! From Xuhan''s understanding, letting his minions cultivate was the major contributing factor in weakening his dao foundation to the point where the senior from the burning planet could sneak inside it. Other practitioners of this technique had produced several minions without any issues at all.


    Mu Ran''s nod of affirmation sealed it.


    "Yes, I saw them, her minions. She was using an expensive-looking carriage to travel around the mortal world. The carriage was being drawn by three skeleton horses. Well... They looked similar to horses, at least. It''s hard to tell when all you can see are bones."


    "Only bones? Were there no unusual details about those skeletons? For example, my minions all have artificial qi channels running through their bodies."


    Mu Ran pondered the question for a while before shaking his head.


    "Nope. Seemed pretty normal. But to be honest, I wasn''t a cultivator at that time myself. Even if there was something special about the horses, I wouldn''t have been able to detect it."


    Disappointed, Han Xuhan could only take the other avenue.


    "Who is this senior? Do you know her name? I should probably look for her once the tournament ends."


    "Xian Yu. She said she was of the same generation as Elder Mu."


    Han Xuhan thanked Mu Ran for the admission of this secret, declaring that he had no resentment towards Mu Ran for using him as a guinea pig.


    "I would have made a similar choice myself if I were in your shoes," he said. "So don''t worry about it."


    Mu Ran looked pensive, and to distract him, Han Xuhan poked at another nest of secrets.


    "By the way, martial brother, from what I know, your family had some cultivators in the earlier generations, right? You told me your family compound had a secret tome filled with esoteric scriptures on cultivation, and your elder brother taught you about special physiques, the zeroth layer, and much more from it."


    Hesitantly, Mu Ran nodded, unsure of where the conversation was headed.


    "So why didn''t you start cultivating from an earlier age? Why did you wait till you entered this sect? It''s not like there is a specific age limit on cultivation. Even a child can start cultivating with delicate guidance. With resources like yours, I would have started the moment I could read!"


    Mu Ran''s face froze. For almost half a minute, he appeared unsure of how to respond.


    "...It''s another secret," he finally answered. "I''ll tell you after the tournament ends. Mm, you''ll find out anyway."


    For some reason, Han Xuhan felt that Mu Ran''s style of speaking was a bit unusual. But he had noticed the same phenomenon several times in the past whenever someone questioned the guy about his secrets. So he chose to ignore it and bade him goodbye, heading back to the hut.

 Chapter 273: Strength Reassessment

    Rummaging around his bags inside the bedroom, Han Xuhan rearranged his list of priorities, now that he had finally managed to escape Fang Xie''s clutch. It was quite shocking to look back and think of the twists and turns he had experienced in just one day. His concerns had changed beyond any predictions compared to the morning, just twelve hours ago.


    However, the world outside hadn''t changed as much. So there were still some familiar tasks left; for example- gathering food for their mountain peak, practicing the Treasure Tracing Technique of Abyss Guild, joining the defense team of the sect to protect their collection of treasure sets, and the numerous deals he had made with his fellow peers, especially with the 3 under Kong Ye''s tutelage.


    Speaking of deals, there was also an outsider party with whom he had a tight relationship. Brother Qian Yun and Brother Feng Jun from the Holy Land of Laws must be quite anxious by now, considering that Han Xuhan''s dao tower, the device connecting him to the Holy Land''s enslavement scheme, had been reduced to single bricks. The dome on his tower containing the law alphabets no longer existed.


    Did this mean he had successfully escaped the effects of the slave seal that had been planted on his dao foundation back when he was trying to venture deeper into the Holy Land? Had his long-awaited salvation from their control come?


    Han Xuhan couldn''t find any sense of exuberation in it. Because he depended on that slave seal to visit those imprisoned law practitioners. Without the seal, he couldn''t continue running the business model he had constructed as the middleman between the Holy Land of Laws and the Crimson Snow Sect. A significant share of his cultivation resources came from taking ''commissions'' during each resource exchange session between the two organizations. The reason why Xuan Zi valued him so much was partially due to this specialty of his!


    Even more importantly, the deal he had made with Feng Jun was only half-finished. Yesterday, he had promised that he would solve the conspiracies happening inside the Stardust Sect. Yet all he had done till now was to critically injure the only people willing to come to his assistance in there. Han Xuhan had a sketchy bottom line, but he knew he couldn''t just ruin his image as a trustworthy person if he wanted to survive in the world of cultivation. Not tending to his promised duty now would only result in an enmity for the future Xuhan. If Feng Jun found a way to get out of that world fragment and learned that Han Xuhan had used his precious martial siblings as fuel for his personal vendetta...


    No, no, no, he couldn''t let that happen. Even though the possibility of the situation becoming real was low, he, Han Xuhan, a reincarnated expert on tropes, would never sleep on it!


    "It''s not like it would be too hard to solve their problem. Conspiracies against the Phoenix Faction? I already have a lead. I can at least give it a shot!"


    Muttering to himself, Han Xuhan went to the backyard of try hut, where Xiao Wu had placed a crude strength-testing device. To undertake the upcoming challenges, he needed to reassess his abilities.


    The strength-testing device consisted of a vertical wooden plate, behind which, six horizontal poles made of unknown materials were connecting it to a thick tree trunk. These rods had the capability to absorb the exertion of force and temporarily shrink in response. The higher the exertion of force, the more they would shrink. Only a cultivator at the peak of the Physique Transformation realm could actually make them shrink by more than 90%.


    For the average cultivators who didn''t specifically focus on combat-oriented cultivation, or destructive punching techniques, or didn''t have a high cultivation base in the physique Transformation realm, the device was a reliable method of keeping track of their strength.


    Standing in front of it, Han Xuhan curled his fists, waved his right arm around for a while, and then took a stance he had learned from Mu Ran.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Thunk!


    "Ssss...." Han Xuhan pulled his fist back with a pained expression. He had overlooked the small drawback. The wooden plate was no normal material itself. It felt only slightly less painful than punching a slab of steel.


    But seeing the rods behind the plate beginning to shrink was rewarding enough to forget the pain. For almost three seconds, the rods became shorter and shorter. He waited ten more seconds, hoping to see them shrink another centimeter or two, but alas...


    Using the accompanying scale, Han Xuhan found out that the rods had shrunk by nearly thirty percent!


    "So my physical strength has not been really affected by today''s developments. The destruction of my dao tower only crippled my spiritual enhancements, not my physical attributes. Physically, I''m still at the early fourth layer of the Physique Transformation realm," he said to himself, his doubts confirmed. He could only wonder if the result would be the same if he hadn''t cultivated the zeroth layer of the Physique Transformation Realm.


    Just to ensure better accuracy, he waited until the rods went back to their normal size and reenacted the scene several times, punching with his left hand, double punch, inch punch, meter punch, elbow smash, side kicks, push kicks, drop kicks, headbutts, Running Knee Strike, Sweet Chin Music, Spear, Horizontal Crotch kick, Godzilla Flying Kick, Bicycle kick...


    Sadly, none of them managed to shrink the rods behind his target by more than 30%. Perhaps if he had any proficiency in using these destructive moves, he could dish out a higher amount of force. But for now, a simple, methodical punch was his best finisher move.


    "Xuhan! Where are you?"


    Xiao Wu''s strained shout from the front yard made him decide to finish the strength-testing experiments. When he jogged over, he was given a surprise. Xiao Wu was carrying a ten-foot-wide wooden vat on his back, struggling to walk up the steps of the porch.


    To give a cultivator at the fifth layer of the physique Transformation realm a hard time, that vat had to be holding more than a couple hundred kilograms. Han Xuhan rushed over and helped him on the last three steps and placed the vat down on the doorstep.


    With heavy heaves, Xiao Wu sprawled on the porch, drenched in oily sweat. Han Xuhan peeked into the contents of the vat and found himself staring at a pile of bloody, sliced-up meat. From the structure of bones sticking out here and there, it appeared to be the meat of a large fish.


    "Where did you get this from?" he said, amazed. But Xiao Wu appeared too out of breath to hold a proper conversation.


    Mu Ran trotted over from outside, looking all excited.


    "Finally! Xuhan, make preparations. We''re eating good this evening!"


    Xiao Wu cranked his neck around and glared at him. "Why didn''t you come help? You heard me shout for help from the foot of the mountain!"


    "I thought some exercise would do you good, fatty. How can you push past your limits if you''re not in a desperate situation? Calling for help while doing something so harmless is just shameful."


    If Xiao Wu had the strength to stand up, he would have probably charged at Mu Ran with deadly intent. Seemingly considering the option for a moment, he gave up and answered Xuhan''s query.


    "The teams with high contribution points were rewarded with some resources, mainly from the loot everyone snatched from other sects. Since our mountain peak was sorely lacking in food reserves, I exchanged everything for some real quality stuff. Until the tournament ends, the four of us won''t have to worry about food anymore."


    "Quality stuff?" Han Xuhan questioned, eyebrows rising in anticipation.


    "Most of the meat inside the vat is from spirited swordfish. One of our teams stumbled upon a small sect that specializes in fishing. They plan to go visit them again tomorrow."


    Xuhan performed a mental salute at their poor benefactors and went inside the hut to bring out cooking utensils. He did feel a bit guilty about consuming robbed food. But it wasn''t entirely unjustified.


    Xiao Wu explained that every sect was openly robbing whoever they could for resources by now. Even successfully damaging properties belonging to other sects was apparently a way to push those sects up on the ranking list!


    "Do you know, martial brothers? The ranking list we''ve been marveling about is actually based on negative points! The more damage a sect has received in terms of manpower, properties, or even the loss of their treasures, the higher they are ranked on the list! So this entire time, we were looking at it the wrong way!"


    Mu Ran gasped, while Han Xuhan pretended to.


    "No wonder! Now it all makes sense! Before they initiated the treasure-hunting scheme, we had to survive all kinds of natural disasters like being flooded through space cracks, earthquakes, and thunderstorms. So all of those trials were meant to chip away at our resources, our properties, and injure the disciples! That''s how our sect amassed hundreds of points and rose up on the list on the very first day! And we kept wondering how we had ''earned'' so many points by doing nothing!"


    "So that''s why our sect master assigned us with the secondary tasks of pillaging and robbing other sects'' territories yesterday," Han Xuhan said, adding to Mu Ran''s realization.


    "He was just indirectly hinting at what we had to do since he was bound by the rules not to disclose anything. As we needed resources anyway, Luo Yi couldn''t fault him for telling us to rob other sects!"


    "Wait," Xiao Wu mumbled. "Does that mean there might be more to the primary task set by the sect master? You know, the one forcing us to measure the spatial cracks around every floating island in the archipelago?!"


    A/N: My apologies for the slow updates this week. The transitioning chapters between two major arcs are always very difficult to write due to how many times I have to reread the previous arcs and revise the drafts to keep a consistent flow and not forget important details. One chapter can take up more than 6 hours to complete. ??

 Chapter 274: Im Harming You For Your Own Good!

    Blindly guessing at the unwritten, secretive rules of the tournament was of no use. The conversation couldn''t really make any substantial progress that way, and so Xiao Wu eventually switched the topic.


    "Also Xuhan, you need to visit the defense team. Sect Master apparently visited them after leaving our mountain and assigned one of the members of that team to one of the invasion teams. They''re not very pleased about it, from what I could glean. Sect Master must have told them that you''re exempted from any duties and liabilities. Their team wasn''t very strong to begin with. So..."


    Han Xuhan wasn''t surprised. He had been planning to visit them anyway. Sister Chen Su and her team had fooled almost everyone and played the biggest role in acquiring the treasure-tracing technique that originally belonged to Abyss Guild. How could he not be interested in getting better acquainted with these talented peers?


    Deciding to get over with the formal introduction, he delegated the cooking duties to a regretful Xiao Wu and headed for the Incorporeal Snow Mountain Peak, where Chen Su lived.


    His destination wasn''t too far away. Ten minutes later, Han Xuhan stood beneath a vaguely familiar archway that declared itself to be the entrance to the Incorporeal Snow Mountain. He had been here a few times in the last seven months, sometimes from curiosity, sometimes in the course of his education. As a disciple who had subscribed (by mistake) to the highest tier of the education curriculum, Han Xuhan owned the privilege of visiting almost every Elder to ask for guidance.


    The peak master of the Incorporeal Snow Mountain was a man highly accomplished in movement techniques...well, that was what he claimed anyway. Some more unsavory rumors about him redefined that accomplishment, asserting that what he was really good at was running away. Had Han Xuhan been given a choice during his admission examination, he would have probably chosen this man as his master instead of Elder Daheng.


    And he wasn''t the only disciple to harbor this sentiment. The Incorporeal Snow Mountain peak was probably the most populous mountain in the Crimson Snow Sect. Just in Xuhan''s generation, more than 40 disciples had chosen, or had been chosen by the Elder to reside and learn under his care. In different circumstances, that would have made this mountain one of the most influential, powerful factions within the outer court. But true to their goals, most of these disciples mostly learned how to run away, which greatly affected their morale and political standing within the outer court.


    In a way, Sect Master Xuan Zi had made a really wise move by redistributing the disciples of every mountain peak right before the tournament under the guise of apprenticeship. Otherwise, the common characteristics of the disciples in each mountain peak would have badly affected the overall performance of the sect, causing chaos and disharmony.


    Right now, there were only twenty apprentices residing all over the mountain peak. It took Xuhan a lengthy search to figure out which hut belonged to sister Chen Su.


    Upon seven polite knocks, the door to her hut opened up, revealing a distraught Chen Su and several members of her team having a heated, but muffled discussion. All of them immediately recognized Xuhan, and not all of them looked happy to see him.


    Being naturally blessed with skin as thick as the very mountains they stood on, Han Xuhan was not at all bothered by the unfriendly reactions. He greeted them all with a wide, innocent smile.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    "Sister Su, Brother Yue, Sister Miao, Brother Pang, Brother Zhang, good evening! Your new teammate Han Xuhan has arrived to report for duty!"


    Needless to say, they didn''t share his enthusiasm. Chen Su grabbed him by the cuff and dragged him inside, shutting the door behind him with an unnecessary amount of force.


    "Goodness, what''s with the gloomy faces, everyone?" Han Xuhan said as he took a seat in a corner of the room. His innocent question seemed to light up a powder keg.


    In a furious tone, Brother Zhang put it all on the table.


    "Han Xuhan, do you know how many losses we have suffered today as the defense team of Crimson Snow Sect?"


    Seeing his nonplussed reaction, the young man answered himself, "Eleven! Almost one every hour of the day. Do you know why?"


    "Normally I''d guess it''s because you''re not very good at your job," Han Xuhan replied, and almost immediately regretted being so cheeky. The others didn''t take it well.


    "It''s because of you!" Brother Zhang roared angrily.


    "The pot calls the kettle black!" Sister Miao said with a heavy snort.


    "That mouth of yours is more likely to cause your death than any heavenly tribulation, brother Xuhan." Even Sister Su looked quite displeased.


    "What did I do?!" Han Xuhan exclaimed, half in anger, half in amazement. "I swear I didn''t do anything!"


    "Exactly, dumbass. You don''t have to swear to prove it. You got us in trouble by doing absolutely nothing," Zhang Dahai said.


    "Do you remember how many treasure sets Abyss Guild took from us under the penalty imposed on us by Luo Yi?"


    "Of course," Han Xuhan answered. "They took all the sets our sect had amassed in the early days of exploring this archipelago. We had an entire box of those treasures, right? Oh...wait a minute..."


    It finally occurred to him where the problem was. The rules of the tournament dictated that the defense team would protect the treasure sets from the invasion teams of other sects. But if there were no more treasure sets to guard-


    "Luo Yi! Did she twist the rules against our favor once again after the assembly ended?" he asked, wide-eyed.


    "Yes, she did," Chen Su confirmed. "We couldn''t argue with her. She said that since we have no treasure sets to protect, we will automatically forfeit the round every time a new invasion team lands on this floating island. We even went around asking those invaders whether such a rule was common for every sect. Turns out, Luo Yi is just abusing her discretionary power. When other sects run out of treasure sets to defend, they get a protection period of a few hours so that their invasion teams can snatch one back. Failing that, only a minimal deduction of points is awarded. When we went back to argue with her over her unfair rule, she said she had the discretionary power of punishment, and since we lost our treasures due to cheating, she can impose that kind of unfair rule on us without any impediments. We even complained to the sect master, but he just told us to have faith in YOU!"


    "Ah, well, you should probably listen to him, then," Han Xuhan replied, feeling somewhat awkward.


    "Listen to him, my ass!" Zhang Dahai shouted once again. "Right when we were about to leave his mountain, he called us back and said that he has exempted you from all duties and penalties. So even if you do nothing, we can''t force you to comply with the demands of the entire sect. Have you forgotten the promise you''ve made? You''re supposed to master the basics of the Treasure Tracing technique by tomorrow and disseminate it to everyone else! That''s the only way we can make it out of our current position. And this entire day, you haven''t made a single report to anyone, nor shown any sort of progression in mastering the technique. One of our teammates went to visit your mountain and found you sleeping on a rock. So you tell us what to do now! But don''t insist on keeping faith in you!"


    Han Xuhan harrumphed and stood up, pointing a finger at Zhang Dahai.


    "Young man, you can doubt my talent. But you must never doubt my honesty! Since I made the promise, I''ll naturally do my best to fulfill it. It seems to me that until tomorrow evening, I don''t have to return here for defense duty. In that case, I''m taking my leave."


    Before they could respond, Han Xuhan hurried out of the hut.


    "So embarrassing..." he could only complain to the sky. He had been indeed too self-absorbed in this matter. The fate of the entire sect depended on his ability to master and disseminate the technique within the fastest possible period. But he also felt that Zhang Dahai was being too excessive. They had no knowledge of the incidents he had gone through today. Could they not have been a bit more civil in expressing their concern?


    "Whatever, I''ll just scam him in the future to teach him some humility. It must be done for his own good," he said to himself in consolation and disappeared into the night.


    Watching his back mesh into the darkness, Chen Su closed the door of her hut and nodded approvingly at Zhang Dahai.


    "Good job, martial brother! The exaggerated sense of threat you put in your words really convinced him. For the sect, he wouldn''t lie, but we can! Hopefully, this sense of urgency will push Brother Xuhan to work hard on mastering the technique. It must be done for his own good!"

 Chapter 275: The Fusion Program

    On his way back to the hut, Han Xuhan took a detour to Xuan Zi''s mountain peak. When Xuan Zi heard in detail about what had transpired inside the Totality of Autonomy after he had left Xuhan to his devices, the old man looked impressed and disturbed at the same time.


    "Disciple Xuhan, there''s a reason why the phrase ''deal with a demon'' has carried negative connotations since ancient times. But I suppose you were helpless in that matter; even I cannot be of any assistance. But I should warn you about something else- don''t let your paranoia dictate your future."


    Han Xuhan scratched his head awkwardly and decided not to voice the antagonistic argument in his heart.


    "Yes, sect master, I understand," he said obediently.


    "No, it seems you don''t. Nevertheless, you will soon. I hope the heavens bless you with another enlightenment by the time this tournament ends. Only an enlightenment can assist your chaotic dao heart at this point."


    Before Xuhan took his leave, Xuan Zi handed him a purple medallion, made out of a carved crystalline substance that seemed to emit constant heat, almost hot enough to cause discomfort.


    "Since the demon can take over your body from now on, you should keep this medallion with you all the time. Even if you are outside my scope of perception in some corner of the archipelago, this medallion will help you contact me. Just pour a drop of blood into it once a day."


    "Er...how do I use it to contact you, Sect Master?" Xuhan said doubtfully.


    "Just send a trace of your qi inside when you need to. Leave the rest to me."


    Satisfied with his new trump card, Han Xuhan quickly returned to the Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain Peak, just in time for the dinner.


    The two minions, Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian had woken up, and Yuen Zhou had come to dine with Hai Yin Zhe in tow. The smell of spices sizzling on thick slabs of fish meat saturated the air. A small bonfire cackled outside the yard. All in all, the evening seemed strikingly joyous compared to the preceding day.


    "How do you two feel?" he began to interrogate the minions as he sat down by the bonfire.


    "Nauseous," Tun Shi Tian replied.


    "Scared. Everything seems a bit scarier than before, somehow," Zhanxian said in a low voice. "Even the fire is making me want to hide inside the hut. Strangely enough, I''m still aware that this apprehension is irrational, but I can''t help it!"


    Zhanxian''s analysis was much more helpful and informative compared to Little Tian''s. Han Xuhan made a mental note to ask the mental demon about the difference between both minions'' mental state after the training session.


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Hai Yin Zhe crawled over to Xuhan''s lap and stared fixedly at the fire. Yuen Zhou took her seat nearby and fixed a similar gaze at Xuhan.


    Growing a bit uncomfortable under her scrutiny, Han Xuhan couldn''t help but ask, "Something on your mind, sister Zhou?"


    "Yeah, I wanted to ask you about how much progress you''ve made in seeking out that weight allotment map, martial brother," she said. "We''ll have to work hard from tomorrow to secure a good position in the tournament. Are you certain you can find the time and opportunity to accomplish the task?"


    Han Xuhan looked her straight into the eyes and lied unhesitantly for his Sect Master.


    "You''ll have it in your hand by tomorrow evening. I''ll go visit the sect master and make my best attempt. You know I just can''t barge in and ask for something he''s been reviewing himself. You have to have some faith in me, martial sister."


    Yuen Zhou snorted. "If I had no faith in you, would I entrust you with the matter? I''m only reminding you so that you don''t forget amidst your numerous concerns. The map is very important to me."


    "I understand," Han Xuhan replied, trying to recall which backpack of his the map was in right now. After he had examined it himself and discovered Fang Xie hiding in plain sight, he had sunk far too deep into his thoughts to remember where he placed it. He couldn''t help growing curious as well. His discovery of Fang Xie inside the map was entirely accidental. What else was inside the map that had attracted Yuen Zhou''s interest? What had he missed?


    The meat of a spirited fish didn''t feel too different from the meat of a normal fish. While eating, Han Xuhan couldn''t help but contemplate the moral ground behind hunting and eating a creature that had the potential to transform into a humanoid form and walk among the cultivators as a peer.


    Perhaps the fish in his mouth had such a destiny too, only to be barred by a cultivator who wanted to eat good one evening.


    "Guys, do you think these spirited swordfish had it in them?" he said while biting down on a bony piece.


    "Had what in them?" Xiao Wu asked, curious.


    "The potential to become a cultivator? To stand atop the world of cultivation, as honored as any hero in history? To take a handsome human form-"


    "Good thing we''re eating them then. I don''t need the competition," Mu Ran declared as he bit down on his piece extra hard.


    Han Xuhan couldn''t refute him.


    After the dinner ended, everyone except him returned to their rooms to rest and cultivate. Han Xuhan sat outside and directed the cleanup by his minions, after which they walked over to the backyard of the hut again.


    "Let''s run some tests I''ve been thinking about, minions. Meditate for a minute and quieten your mind. We are going back to the dao tower soon."


    Some time later, all three of them stood in the center of the island which represented Han Xuhan''s spiritual world. The Tupshu that had been occupying the island under the demon''s control was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps the demon had taken it out to do some sightseeing inside the ocean of light.


    Happy to have a moment of freedom, Han Xuhan quickly tried again to evaluate the validity of Mu Ran''s theory of the zeroth layer. He and his minions did their best to sense the spiritual connection between them and the island, moving from place to place in hopes of getting different results.


    Unfortunately, it seemed that the demon hadn''t been wrong. They couldn''t really sense anything, let alone compare whose spiritual connection was better than the others.


    Han Xuhan could only sigh despondently. He had gotten too ahead of himself. Cultivators like Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were special. How could their perception of cultivation always be applicable to his situations?


    "Tun Shi Tian, go jump inside Hai Yin Zhe''s pit and check if it is still possible to visit the burning planet through it. If the passageway connecting the pit with the planet is still intact, you''ll need to pay a visit to that cavern within the endless maze again."


    "What? Why?" the owl was confused upon hearing his sudden order.


    "I need you to lead Hai Yin Zhe there and awaken her glyph as well."


    Tun Shi Tian gasped. "You want to fuse with Hai Yin Zhe too? What for?"


    "You''ll know when it is time for you to know. Ascertain whether it is possible first."


    The skeleton owl swooped into the pool in the center of the island that held Hai Yin Zhe''s pit. Under Xuhan and Zhanxian''s watchful gaze, he froze at the bottom of the pit after a minute of shuffling around in discomfort.


    "It''s happening," Zhanxian muttered in a low voice, having experienced the journey through the invisible passageway multiple times himself.


    A dim flash of red light emerged from the floor of the pit and in the next second, Tun Shi Tian could be seen no more.


    "So the passage still exists," Han Xuhan said to himself. "Let''s give him a moment to fly around and explore wherever he has been transported to. We need to be sure there are no new anomalies on that side. In the meantime, Zhanxian, guide me through that memory sequence of the treasure tracing technique from Abyss Guild''s Guildmaster."

 Chapter 276: Transform, Adapt, Conquer!

    The Treasure Tracing technique belonged to the stub category of cultivation techniques. Divided into two layers, its function was quite simple.


    The first layer granted the practitioner the ability to sense the existence of the treasure or any of its parts nearby. But this ability was limited to awareness only. The practitioner couldn''t pinpoint the exact location of the treasure sets.


    The second layer of the technique provided a practitioner the ability to use their own qi as a tracer. Their qi, under the influence of the first layer''s detection ability, could track down the exact location of the treasure sets.


    In principle, this analysis had caused Han Xuhan to feel jubilant. Not only was the technique simple, it only required two layers of cultivation to be fully utilized! How convenient for his current situation!


    And then harsh reality showed its shy face when he attempted to practice the technique after mastering the theories.


    The biggest catch he had overlooked was the fact that it required a cultivator to divide his concentration into two parts, with each part actively working on a separate task. Both the detection ability in the first layer and the qi guidance in the second layer required a high intensity of concentration. This was a common problem faced by most rookie cultivators when they were choosing their cultivation manuals for the first time. Techniques that required insane mental control had to be put down regardless of their quality.


    With just this one drawback, this technique was quite possibly out of the reach of half the disciples participating in the tournament. It wasn''t that they wouldn''t be able to master it, but to do so would require quite a bit of time, months at least. This tournament round barely had five days left. Could they even reach the second layer within that period?


    And this wasn''t even the only problem the technique had either!


    The second issue with it was not in its principles, but in its usage. To track the treasure sets down in an area as large as the floating islands holding each sect, one needed not only the ability to spread their qi hundreds of meters away from their body, they even had to have the capability to exert some level of fine control over the most distant particles of the qi. Only that would enable the practitioner to sense the existence of the treasure set, if it was within the coverage of his qi.


    To be able to accomplish such a phenomenon with one''s qi was beyond 90% of the disciples of the Crimson Snow Sect, to Xuhan''s knowledge. Apart from Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou, he only knew a couple more disciples with such talent.


    The third issue wasn''t much of a problem for many disciples, but it was enough to stump Han Xuhan himself. The movements of the qi in practicing this technique required sturdy, wide meridians. His meridians were virtually the opposite of that.


    After attempting to absorb and cycle qi for a few minutes, Han Xuhan gave up, aggrieved.


    "Master, don''t you think you should summon Tun Shi Tian back by now? It''s been a while since he was transported over to that burning world."


    Zhanxian''s hesitant plea worked. Han Xuhan redirected his qi and summoned Tun Shi Tian back to the material world, or more accurately, their macrocosm. The red owl skeleton flew out of his back like an arrow and smacked into the wall of the hut.


    "Shit! OWW!"


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    "Welcome back from the adventure, Little Tian. How did it go? Where did you find yourself after the teleportation?" he enquired as soon as the owl got back to its feet.


    Shaking his bony wings and unsteady neck, Little Tian took a moment to reply.


    "It''s a bit strange. I was transported to the exact same place as the previous two visits, within the ruins on the plateau."


    "Something must be inside the ruins that assists the transportation," Xuhan concluded from the information. "Go on, what happened after that?"


    "Oh, this time the journey was pretty uneventful since Zhanxian wasn''t there to slow me down. Every time one of those burning semi-transparent entities tried to chase me, I just flew up and away, hah!"


    Zhanxian looked like he was about to run over and kick the bird, but he realized that there was a better option and said, "Well said, Little Tian, very well said! I always slow you down, especially on these dangerous adventures. From now on, I hope Master will send only you to that planet. That''s sure to boost the efficiency of our tasks!"


    Ignoring the opportunistic coward, Han Xuhan continued to interrogate Tun Shi Tian. After all of his questions were answered, he felt like he had figured out the basic pathway to develop the Skeletal Monarch Technique in the future.


    Craft a skeleton, summon a soul, send it back to its origin planet and let it awaken the corresponding glyph; and then master and minion would learn the glyph together to fuse into one when needed. There were no other complications in the procedure for now.


    "When Hai Yin Zhe returns from sister Zhou''s house, you''ll escort her to the cavern. Guide her through the glyph awakening process. I''ll handle the rest."


    "But why are you suddenly so obsessed with the fusion technique? Even last week, you were spouting all sorts of rebuttals when we suggested it," Tun Shi Tian said in a suspicious tone.


    "Because I have no other choice," Han Xuhan muttered gloomily. "I just tried to cultivate myself before summoning you back. I couldn''t even complete one full cycle before most of my qi scattered. Right now, other than the simple cycles that I use to summon you, cultivating is almost useless for my progression. My meridians won''t allow it."


    "So you want to use our bodies to substitute your physique for the rest of your life?"


    "Something like that, yeah. What, you''ve got a problem with that arrangement?" Han Xuhan asked snidely.


    "Well, it isn''t that I have a problem, but I think you should increase the amount of respect in your tone when you address me. I''m way more important now, aren''t I?" Tun Shi Tian puffed out his ribcage proudly.


    "Yeah no, I wouldn''t be so sure about that," Xuhan replied, which seemed to trigger the caution of both minions immediately. Despite their following nagging, he refused to elaborate, laughing like a villain with a sinister plan.


    "Stop thinking about stuff you have no control over. Zhanxian, come fuse with me. We''ve got pressing matters to attend to!"


    Under his ironclad approach, both minions caved in and began to practice with him. The second fusion with Zhanxian came easily. Han Xuhan checked himself out in a mirror, clicking his tongue in amazement. Their first fusion under the demon''s claws was involuntary. He hadn''t had the time to cross-examine every detail.


    Fused with Zhanxian only, his body felt slightly less burdened compared to the threesome-no, dual fusion with both minions. His skull was mostly unprotected, except for having Zhanxian''s face sticking out of the back of his head, providing him with nearly 360¡ã horizontal vision. Unless an enemy approached him from the sky, he would definitely not miss any attacks.


    The tail made out of Zhanxian''s spinal bones was quite the weapon. Walking around with the new appendage swinging chaotically would have been quite difficult if not for the internal enhancements to his limbs and torso. The extra ribcage and sharp fingertips were excellent additions too.


    "Why is it that our minds haven''t been fully united like the senior said? I can still have my separate thoughts and opinions. Is the technique flawed or did we misunderstand him?" Zhanxian marveled from the back as he began to take control of his spine, making it contort into various shapes.


    "Speaking from experience, it''s probably us, Zhanxian. We''re the problem, as always," Han Xuhan answered thoughtfully.


    "Yeah, that makes more sense," Zhanxian said. But a moment later, he asked in a concerned voice, "Wait a second, I just tried to nod with my head. Why didn''t your neck comply?"


    "....I don''t know. I haven''t been able to make your spine, now my tail, comply with my mental commands either," Xuhan replied, feeling lost.


    "Try to control my hands and feet, Zhanxian. Put your entire willpower behind it!"


    Immediately, Han Xuhan''s right hand shot upward, fist clenched. The same motion was followed by his left hand.


    "Hang on, this time I will try to stop you from moving my hand, Zhanxian. You try to raise my hand, I will try to keep it down. On my count, three, two, one-"


    Very slowly, Han Xuhan''s enhanced limbs began to move. His arms rose up and down a couple of times, followed by several unsteady steps taken by his feet.


    "Seems to me, only the parts of our original body can be fully controlled by us in this fused form. That too under the condition that the main body, master''s body, permits the exertion of willpower," Tun Shi Tian observed from the sideline.


    "So Zhanxian can control his spine and his face comfortably, as these parts are nearly separate from the main body. On the other hand, his limb bones which have integrated with master''s limbs are much harder to control."


    "What Mu Ran said makes sense, now," Xuhan muttered. "The zeroth layer foundation has essentially made me the biggest influence within my own body, no matter who else shares it. The reason why the demon can surpass me in terms of control is because its spiritual foundation isn''t based on mine. It was a complete being by itself even before possessing me."

 Chapter 277: Turning Curses Into Blessings

    Fused with Zhanxian''s body, Han Xuhan decided to reassess his strength. The strength testing device was still sitting in the backyard, so in no time, he was raising down all types of explosive moves on the wooden plate, trying to make the rods behind it shrink as much as possible.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Sounds of punches and kicks began to swarm the yard. Mixed with this sound, a victorious roar followed soon.


    To his delight, his suspicion turned out to be correct. Being fused with Zhanxian had not boosted his cultivation, but it had certainly enhanced his physical attributes. After several attempts, he managed to shrink the rods by nearly 40%!


    This was an excellent news for him. Each 10% represented one layer of enhancement in the Physique Transformation realm. This meant that while his regular body had the enhancements of an early fourth-layer cultivation, his fused body had the attributes of a peak fourth-layer cultivator!


    And this wasn''t even his final form!


    "Tun Shi Tian! Come fuse with me!" he yelled excitedly. A couple of minutes later, he was back to his dual-fused form.


    Bang!


    32%!


    Bang!


    36%!


    Boom!


    39%!


    The strength behind his punches grew prominent, emitting sounds so loud that he roused both Mu Ran and Xiao Wu from their rest. The two dumbstruck young men watched as the measuring rods of the strength-testing device shrank by more than 40% under Xuhan''s passionate attack!


    Thump!


    42%!


    Boom!


    43%!


    "Just. A. Bit. More...Uuuaaghh!"


    He threw the last knee strike with every bit of willpower, frustration, and desperation boiling inside his heart. The outcome was a distinct vision. The plate held up by the rods slid back by a few more inches, finally stopping right in the middle of the 40% and 50% mark!


    "Middle of the fifth layer! I can fight with fifth-layer cultivators just with my body now! Hahaha!"


    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    His uproarious laughter broke his martial brothers out of their stunned reverie. Xiao Wu looked more affected between the two, probably because this meant that he was no longer the penultimate trash of the sect. He could very well claim the title of the ultimate trash if he didn''t speed up his cultivation!


    It didn''t surprise Xuhan when he congratulated him in a strangled voice and rushed back to his room to cultivate. Mu Ran hung around a while longer, interrogating him about the whole concept.


    In the end, he could only sigh and depart with one last piece of advice.


    "Xuhan, you should be more careful in the future. Don''t let this improvement in strength get to your head. The road to cultivation must be as steady as sex. A sudden change in tempo can be very dangerous! You understand what I''m talking about, right?"


    "...Yeah, I sure do, martial brother Ran," he replied, flabbergasted, watching him return to his bedroom.


    Shaking off the adrenaline pumping through his body, Xuhan got to work once more.


    "Zhanxian, separate from me. Let''s test how strong I am when fused with just Tun Shi Tian."


    The mental erasure of the glyph followed his declaration. Soon, he was punching the wooden plate again, this time looking much different than before. Tun Shi Tian''s skeleton body wasn''t large. Han Xuhan appeared no different from a Birdman cosplayer as he moved around the yard.


    The experiment result differed from before. Fused with Tun Shi Tian only, he couldn''t move the plank past the 35% mark, whereas with Zhanxian, he had reached 39%.


    "Aha! Take that, birdie! When he was fused with me, master was so much stronger!" Zhanxian shouted gleefully. "Maybe from now on, pipe down about being the better minion!"


    "Actually, I''m pretty sure it''s because of the difference in your cultivation, Zhanxian," Han Xuhan said.


    "You''ve cultivated the Spiritual Bone Manual to the peak of the second layer, whereas Tun Shi Tian practiced it to the peak of the first layer. If both of your cultivation were at the same level, the difference in our fused strength wouldn''t be so great."


    "Then let me make the breakthrough! It''ll be beneficial for all of us!" Tun Shi Tian screeched resentfully.


    "Yeah, let us continue our original cultivation, then. Wouldn''t the combined enhancements put our fused form on par with sixth-layer cultivators?!" Zhanxian yelled, growing excited by the prospect of becoming more powerful.


    "I will, I will. I didn''t bring all of you to existence to suppress your strength, minions. But first, let''s attend to the more immediate concern. If we can''t tell the rest of the sect that we have mastered the Treasure Tracing technique, sixth-layer cultivators would be the weakest enemies chasing us."


    The night grew darker as endless masses of ashen clouds began to flow beneath a forlorn moon. Dim white flashes could be seen within the darkness from time to time, but they made little sounds, as if afraid of awakening the sleeping cultivators inside the mutilated spatial domain.


    For Han Xuhan, this was the most remarkable night since he first took his step into the world of cultivation. This was the night that reminded him again how it felt to actually cultivate. Not even his very first experience of cultivation could compare to the sensations he was left with after each session.


    First, he attempted to cultivate while being fused with Tun Shi Tian. The beginning was excruciatingly slow, rife with mistakes and restarts.


    Tun Shi Tian''s body being much smaller than his own didn''t help much, as the qi cycles needed for the treasure tracing technique were highly complex and had stringent requirements.


    The artificial channels he had carved on Tun Shi Tian''s body could never hope to contain something so intricate and powerful by themselves. Han Xuhan had to use his meridians as the main channels and the minion''s meridians as the secondary channels to complete the cycles.


    What made this easier was the retention of their independence despite the fusion. Han Xuhan could freely control the qi flowing within his meridians, while Tun Shi Tian could control the qi flowing through his bones.


    When one of them lost track of his share of qi, the other could stop the qi from being scattered. The remnants left behind by one were easily picked up by the other in the following wave. Each cycle was thus completed with high output!


    But he wasn''t satisfied with the result. While the output was a huge improvement compared to his non-fused state, he knew he could do better.


    So he fused with Zhanxian again and returned to his ultimate form. With half of his body covered in bones on the outside and the other half having fused with the minions internally, their meridians grew far more complex than before. Almost every main channel now had a side channel escorting the qi flow. Where Xuhan''s meridians weren''t up to the task, Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian''s meridians took the brunt of the workload.


    In this fused form, Han Xuhan could no longer be called a cripple. In fact, he now had a meridian system so sophisticated that he could cultivate faster, easier, and better than almost every disciple of his generation. He could even tackle those unpopular, taxing cultivation techniques in the sect archives that seemed to be tailor-made for disciples with special innate abilities.


    He began to feel grateful to the old senior who had been hiding inside his tower. Was he the one to tailor the fusion glyphs in such a convenient way for him? He had to be, right? His fusion technique had taken Han Xuhan from a cripple to a blessed child in one sweeping move!


    This sense of superiority only grew with each hour as he burned through resources he had been stockpiling for weeks. With each session, he became increasingly familiar with the treasure tracing technique, grasping at its finer details, hidden principles, and even some minor shortcomings when cultivated by someone like him.


    Being a stub-type technique with only two layers, the technique would have zero effect on his dao tower. It made Han Xuhan quicken his pace of cultivation, because he wanted to see the effect a real, registered cultivation technique would have on his dao tower.


    What would happen to the remains of the previous tower littering the island? Would a new building rise up between Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian''s homes? Or would his original tower be restored?


    Only time would tell, just a day''s time.

 Chapter 278: My Cultivation Plan Scares Even Demons!

    Dawn''s approach swatted away the stuffy darkness of the night, bringing with it a legion of cold breeze. But the wind failed to tear away the cover of the clouds shrouding the sky. The visibility of the sun was unlikely to increase anytime soon.


    On the Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain Peak, a burly figure was illuminated by the weak daylight at the back of a hut, deep in meditation. This figure was surrounded by layers of invisible waves that pulsed in the air every second. One could not see the cause behind the disturbance that permeated the surroundings, but they could feel it acutely.


    A loud groan broke this atmosphere all of a sudden, and the figure shook his head violently, jumping to his feet.


    "Difficult! This is too damn difficult! Is this technique even meant for humans?! Bullshit!"


    Han Xuhan smashed a fist into his palm in frustration and let go of the hold he had constructed on the qi around his body.


    It had taken him approximately six hours to reach the peak of the first layer of the treasure-tracing technique and make a breakthrough. He had wrongly assumed that the second layer would be as easy. The two layers had two different types of approach, and the workload of the second layer was many times more than the first.


    But he had achieved substantial progress, much more than his predictions at least. Being able to reach the threshold of the second layer meant that he could create qi that was sensitive to the treasure sets. All he needed to do at this point was to practice the process of spreading the qi around him, as far as he could while maintaining a minimal level of control over it.


    Technically speaking, his personal cultivation had renewed, and he was now an early second-layer cultivator of the treasure tracing technique. Curious to see whether it had brought any changes to his physique or his spiritual world, Han Xuhan decided to undo the fusion.


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian''s bones disappeared from his body one after another, reappearing behind him as if they had just been summoned. Han Xuhan told them to rest while he examined his body.


    Bang!


    The strength-testing device creaked as his fist pushed it back to 20%... 24%... 27%... 29%.


    In the end, it seemed that the cultivation breakthrough hadn''t provided him with any physical enhancements. This phenomenon aligned with his understanding of orthodox cultivation methods. For techniques that didn''t specifically focus on bodily enhancement, the practitioner got only a nominal boost in physical attributes on each layer. Han Xuhan had already cultivated the Skeletal Monarch Technique to the early fourth layer, being baptized three times in the process. Since his body retained those enhancements after the destruction of his cultivation base, practicing a different, new scripture that didn''t focus on physical enhancement either would not grant him better attributes.


    Feeling confident that his theory was true and at the same time, feeling disappointed at the phenomenon, he sank into his spiritual world, seeking out the remnants of his dao tower.


    Soon, he was back inside the Totality of Autonomy, facing the mysterious ocean of lights. Seeing no anomalies in his scope of vision brought him another wave of confidence. But as he turned around to head over to the center of the island, he noticed a giant silhouette occupying the area. By a carefully cultivated reflex, Han Xuhan''s gaze immediately fell downwards, even though there was no neck nor eyeballs to assist him. This maneuver was purely an active spiritual work, where he was controlling the entirety of his spiritual perception to not get in touch with the monstrosity lying in wait ahead.


    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    Slowly, he floated over to the center of the island, and the demon''s familiar voice greeted him.


    "Welcome back, Xuhan! And congratulations on the powerup! You really needed that, not gonna lie."


    "Can''t greet you the same way, demon. Where did you disappear off to, anyway?" he shouted back grudgingly.


    "This little baby was getting awfully hungry. How could I, a kind-hearted person who needs his body to stay in shape, have the heart to deny it? So we went hunting!"


    "What does that thing eat, exactly?" Han Xuhan asked, intrigued by the concept.


    "Aspects of living spirits. Anything goes, really. You''ll learn better details when you reach the Soul Reformation Realm, I told you that already."


    "Do these Tupshus have material bodies in any macrocosms? Or are they purely spiritual beings?"


    This time, the demon took a while to reply. Almost a minute later, he said, "It''s a bit difficult to explain to humans. These creatures of the primordial ocean can shift between various forms, depending on what world they wish to delve into. For those that have grown enough, materializing a rough representation of their bodies in a world like yours where the laws favor the material over the spirit is not a difficult task."


    "...So, what you''re saying is that if I wanted to procure the skeleton model of a Tupshu, there is a good possibility that I can succeed," Han Xuhan concluded.


    "...Wow, you really don''t hold back when imagining your future as a cultivator, do you?" the demon sounded unsure, stuck between expressing derision and amazement.


    "Holding back in imagination is something that even the biggest loser in the world wouldn''t do," Han Xuhan declared. "A man must have aspirations, and a great man must have aspirations that he has accomplished. Only then he can surpass the mediocrity!"


    "Fools have aspirations too, young human. They work towards it, as did every other great man in history. What separates them is their own capability," the demon replied, his tone laced with scorn.


    "Good thing I''m relying on YOUR capability, then. Surely, you are neither a fool, nor a loser...or are you?" Han Xuhan said, equally scornful.


    "...." The demon didn''t reply, which made Xuhan feel a joy so unadulterated it rejuvenated his weary soul. Floating over to the doorstep of his eldest minion''s dao tower, he shouted, "Hey, stop sulking and tell me if you noticed any anomalies happening in this place while I was cultivating."


    "Anomalies? I''ve been here for a while. Didn''t see any changes happening, let alone an anomaly."


    "Not even during my breakthrough to the second layer of the treasure tracing technique?" Han Xuhan asked, disappointed.


    "Do I have to explain how stub-type cultivation techniques work now?" the demon roared, sounding rather furious. "What kind of dogshit education have you been receiving? I have yet to meet any human cultivator as ignorant as you. If I remember correctly from my trip into your memories, you''ve already learned what to expect from that treasure tracing technique, or any stub-type technique in general. Don''t tell me you didn''t even focus on learning such important theories!"


    "Just checking, just checking. No need to get so upset, is there? How can you call yourself a good demon if your emotions are so volatile, buddy?" Han Xuhan became a bit defensive, not wanting to push the buttons of this new treasure trove in demon form.


    Leaving the furious demon behind, Han Xuhan patrolled his minions'' dao towers carefully and came to the conclusion that the demon hadn''t lied. There really was no change brought by his latest cultivation session, at least none that he could sense. He''d have to cultivate a registered, legitimate technique to see that kind of effect.


    "I guess that''s the end of my visit," he declared, turning to face the direction the Tupshu was sitting. "So do we have a deal?"


    "What deal?"


    "That you''ll help me collect the skeleton of a materialized Tupshu?"


    "Impossible! At least here inside the breeding ground, there wouldn''t be any skeletons of adult Tupshus. In fact, it''s improbable that we will find one in the entire Totality of Autonomy!"


    "Then let''s take the shortcut. Try to possess other Tupshus and look for any memories, or instincts that help them materialize into macrocosms of man. Look for the memories of their parents, if needed. All I need...is a skeleton model, that''s it. Even a detailed drawing would be enough. Aren''t these creatures intelligent? You told me they had their own civilization at one point. There might be remnants of that civilization left around this region. Those places will definitely contain precious information."


    "...I suppose it''s worth a shot. But you should give up any hope of me marching over to possess adult Tupshus. Even I am not that powerful," the demon said begrudgingly, adding, "And of course, I need compensation in return for my attempts."


    "You will get your compensation when you can show me some results!" Han Xuhan shouted at the demon before returning to his own macrocosm. Vaguely, he heard him snarl some vulgarities before the sensory connection was cut off.


    The sky had brightened. The breeze had gotten lighter, friendlier, replacing daybreak''s cold shroud with morning''s festive warmth. Han Xuhan suddenly had the urge to recite a poem.


    "Men must aspire


    A Great man must acquire


    Fools aspire for that which lies beyond reach


    I aspire so, so a demon I beseech."


    "The fuck are you rambling about, master? Are you sure you haven''t been corrupted by the demon too? Because that was a terrible poem," Zhanxian said from behind, sounding quite concerned. Han Xuhan''s great mood was ruined once again.

 Chapter 279: The Mantis Scams The Cicada, Unaware That Its An Oriole In Disguise

    The sect''s bells rang in harmony, rousing the tired, the injured, the hardworking, and even the sleeping disciples. All were being summoned to the central plain, as usual. Han Xuhan, wide awake at that time, didn''t waste a second and jogged his way down the mountain.


    Instead of rushing straight to the central area of the floating island, he visited the Incorporeal Snow Mountain Peak, where the defense team of the Crimson Snow Sect resided. As a new addition to this team, he needed to make sure their cooperation went smoothly. Proper communication was a must.


    Sister Su Chen and her teammates were about to head out to the plains when they saw him sitting beside the stone archway at the bottom of the mountain. Su Chen and Liu Yue ran over, their faces lit up in expectation, whereas the other seven teammates looked somewhat annoyed.


    "Any progress?" Su Chen shouted as she ran.


    "Yes! I am confident that I can teach the basics to everybody now. The technique has only two layers, and I''ve already reached the second layer. Reaching its peak is only a matter of time."


    Han Xuhan''s reply not only made Su Chen falter in her steps, it also stunned the rest of his new teammates. Such a reaction wasn''t unwarranted, of course. He had met them just last evening and had practically admitted to having ignored the task altogether. The notion that he had learned and mastered the technique in the span of one night was absurd, to say the least.


    Even Han Xuhan knew how exaggerated his claim was. An average disciple in the Crimson Snow Sect took around a week to make a breakthrough while cultivating a new technique. He had just told them that he, a famous trash, had done it ten times faster!


    He could almost hear the jeers and snorts coming from his peers. And he was ready to prove them wrong and make them regret!


    But the reality was harsh. Other than some doubtful looks, he received no opportunities to execute faceslaps.


    "...That''s very impressive!" Su Chen clapped her palms together, her smile rather forceful. It was clear that she was having a hard time believing him.


    "In that case, you can use this assembly to impart the basics to the rest of the sect, Brother Xuhan! Last night, we lost the three treasure sets our teams snatched back during the day. We''ve been put in a passive position once again."


    "Sister Su..." Liu Yue nudged her with an elbow from the back, not finishing his sentence. But Su Chen got the hint and added, "Also, can you demonstrate the technique to martial brother Yue, first? I reckon he''ll be able to replicate the technique faster than everyone due to his constitution."


    Han Xuhan''s eyebrows jumped at that request.


    "Constitution? Does brother Yue have a special physique as well?"


    "That''s right." Liu Yue nodded. "My physique is very sensitive to movements of qi around me. As long as someone practices a cultivation technique nearby, I can sense the exact changes inside his meridians, the cycle structures, the flow, and the absorption rate of the qi. Given enough time to observe, I can even emulate the technique in my body. That''s why Sister Su wanted me to be the one to take on Abyss Guild''s invasion team. But in the end, you were elected via their conditions..."


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    "So awesome?!"


    Han Xuhan''s envious gasp was definitely not an unfamiliar response to Liu Yue. He scratched the back of his head bashfully and tried to downplay it.


    "It''s not that amazing, brother Xuhan. Most cultivation techniques have their own specialty, especially the high-quality ones. I may manage to emulate these techniques, but in front of a genuine practitioner, I wouldn''t stand a chance. And it''s not like I can go around copying every technique in the world. Who has the time to cultivate so many techniques? My expertise in these miscellaneous things will forever be limited to the most basic level."


    It was just a roundabout way of telling him not to show too much curiosity in his trump card. His plethora of experience in dealing with the evasive maneuvers of Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou made Xuhan catch the hint pretty quickly. So he immediately sat down and started running his qi, summoning both Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian in one go.


    "Brothers and sisters, I am about to reveal to you my most secret trump card. I hope you won''t leak the information to anyone. I''m entrusting my safety in your hands!"


    His declaration stunned all nine disciples of the defense team. Before they could express their reactions, Han Xuhan shouted, "Temporary Conjugation Technique!"


    Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian sat behind him and began the fusion procedure. Just like how he had instructed them, the minions took an unnecessarily long period of time to complete each glyph in their minds. Almost five minutes passed before Han Xuhan decided to complete the final stroke of the glyph and fuse with Zhanxian. With Tun Shi Tian, he took another five minutes.


    The misconceptions he was spreading were his preliminary defenses. If he ever had to face these peers in a serious battle...hehehe.


    Although he and his minions were bored while acting their part, his teammates were not. They watched with increasing curiosity and astonishment as the two fusions took place in front of them. One moment, Han Xuhan and his two minions were sitting separately. In the next moment, one minion''s bones were decorating Xuhan''s body. Ten minutes ago, there were three entities, but now, only one monstrosity.


    Han Xuhan flicked his tail and adjusted his new body to get into a more comfortable posture.


    "This conjugated form of ours will last for three minutes! Within that time, we will show you the activation of the first layer of the treasure tracing technique, twice. Watch attentively!"


    With the next trap set in place, he closed his eyes and started a cycle of qi throughout his fused body. Qi began to leak out from his real meridians, only to be absorbed inside the artificial meridians under the minions'' mental control. Complex movements, constantly shifting flow, and airtight control all around...his brief demonstration was greeted with shock and awe. Those who could understand the essence of the technique in the first look wore complicated expressions by the time three minutes were up.


    They knew that most disciples of the sect would not even reach the peak of the first layer of the technique by next week when this round of the tournament would end... Unless their meridians were exceptionally wide and robust, mental dexterity was far above average, and perseverance could move a monk.


    "Brother Xuhan, how exactly did you reach the second layer of this technique in one night?" Su Chen asked, unable to hide the disappointment and anxiety in her tone.


    "I could manage this feat due to two reasons. Firstly, I can cultivate in this form repeatedly. Each session provides me with a better mastery of the basics, which boosts my ordinary cultivation sessions. And secondly, this technique was imparted to me through a spiritual medium. I have a perfect set of foreign memories integrated with mine, in which the Guildmaster of Abyss Guild explains the basics to me. So I don''t need to resort to notes, extra texts, personal analysis, or any elder''s guidance! For me, it''s the same as cultivating a technique I''d mastered and discarded once. I know it by heart!"


    "But we do not," Liu Yue said, sitting down suddenly. "By the merit of my physique, I have some understanding of how most techniques in general are given effect. This treasure tracing technique requires such high caliber of qualifications that even my physique may not be able to emulate it! No wonder those Abyss Guild bastards were willing to hand it over so easily! We thought we were profiting, but in their eyes, we were making an investment that would generate little to no profit! I can guarantee that even in their sect, ninety-five percent of the disciples can''t cultivate this technique within the time period set for the tournament!"


    "I know, right?" Han Xuhan almost shed tears of sympathy. "It''s so hard to scam people these days! Even the profit we make through a scam ends up being a bait we never foresaw!"

 Chapter 280: Businessman Xuhan On The Move

    Han Xuhan had figured that out last night. So he remained unperturbed, letting his qi flow in a different route. Moments later, he began to extricate himself from Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian, one by one, taking quite a bit of time in the process to maintain his cover of false weaknesses.


    By the time he reverted back to his original body, Liu Yue''s qi cycle was close to completion. And he wasn''t the only one to be impressed by the observation.


    "Brother Yue''s physique is so incredible! He''s sure to shine as one of the brightest disciples of our generation."


    "In a battle, all he needs is a bit of time to grasp his opponents'' weaknesses. If this tournament didn''t forsake the traditional duel events, he could''ve been the champion for our sect by the sheer merit of this physique."


    "In every battle, he could''ve made a significant contribution to the sect by just observing from the sidelines. Imagine how many new cultivation methods our sect could''ve gathered if he had the opportunity!"


    Han Xuhan listened to the regretful discussions of his teammates attentively. It seemed that Liu Yue had revealed this secret of his only recently, under the pressure of winning in the tournament. Su Chen was probably the first person to learn about it. The rest of the disciples of the defense team sounded as amazed as he, an outsider was, even though all of them hailed from the same mountain peak.


    By habit, Han Xuhan started to simulate Liu Yue''s thoughts and motives in his mind. If he, Han Xuhan, had such a secret, would he reveal it to everyone just because he wanted to make some contribution to the sect in a tournament?


    It had to be borne in mind that cultivation techniques were usually vulnerable to reverse construction as long as a powerful, experienced cultivator had the blueprint of the qi cycles in his hand. So someone like Liu Yue was a great threat to the foundation of any sect. If he was allowed to observe their disciples, he could help an outsider copy many cultivation manuals that had been privatized by that sect.


    In an unpredictable, almost unstable tournament event like this, there was little reason for Liu Yue to suddenly reveal his secret without any special incentives if he had kept it hidden for seven months. Unless...


    Han Xuhan pushed these thoughts aside. He had no enmity with this young man. For now, digging out a new trove of secrets was unnecessary. Instead, he joined the masses in expressing his stupefaction.


    "Brother Yue can still make an impact, right? Although we''re not dueling anybody directly, we can always put a few of the invasion team members through tests. Those of us with high culitvation need to take the vanguard position and sneak attack the weaker invaders. Brother Yue can stay back and observe their moves. The sect master will definitely appreciate it if we can steal foreign cultivation methods and hand them over to the sect. We can even sell them to the sect! I have some experience in this matter. As long as Brother Yue agrees, I can promise that spirit stones will flood your pockets!"


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    For the first time, an input by him made his teammates cheer up. Who didn''t want more resources? You could never have enough of it. Han Xuhan''s inclusion to the team was thus cemented in their minds. He could almost see a wave of compassion and enthusiasm leaking out of their eyes.


    "We''ll have to trouble you, then, brother Xuhan," said Zhang Dahai. He had been the most unwilling to accept Xuhan into their team. Now, his smiling face could fit inside a painting of brotherly love.


    Su Chen was the only one who looked unsure about this unanimous decision. She cleared her voice and said, "Let''s ask what Yue thinks first, everyone. He might not agree so easily."


    Right then, Liu Yue opened his eyes wide and began to convulse uncontrollably.


    All nine of them jumped in surprise, but a distinction formed inside the team in this process.


    Su Chen and Zhang Dahai leapt forward, their palms landing on Liu Yue''s back together in harmony, two on his shoulders, two behind his kidneys. Han Xuhan and the remaining six disciples jumped away from the convulsing young man, concerned more about their own safety than his wellbeing.


    "He''s over-drafting his abilities. It''s definitely a backlash!" Su Chen hissed. Her hands rained down slaps after slaps on his back, each imbued with qi, penetrating Liu Yue''s upper body meridians. Han Xuhan recognized the technique. He had seen it being used in the healing pavilion, generally applied to control the chaotic qi flows of rookie cultivators when they made major mistakes in guiding qi through their meridians.


    "I can deal with backlashes too," Zhang Dahai assured her confidently while his fingers poked at different acupuncture points on Liu Yue''s lower body. Compared to Su Chen''s gentle insertions, the qi he sent inside Liu Yue''s meridians had a more violent aura.


    "Two different methods won''t fuse well together in his body, Brother Dahai! Stop your qi, let me do it. I have done this for him before," Su Chen insisted, sounding somewhat angry.


    "I''ll cooperate with your administration. Why are you getting so worked up?" Zhang Dahai snapped back at her.


    Han Xuhan did not know if he was giving in to his paranoia, but his suspicion that there was a deeper undercurrent in this team grew.


    Su Chen''s desire to reject Zhang Dahai was evident on her face. But the young man pretended to not notice her discomfort and continued to send his qi inside Liu Yue''s convulsing body.


    It took several minutes to bring his seizure to an end. By then, both Su Chen and Zhang Dahai were covered in cold sweat. Nobody had imagined that the backlash of copying that treasure tracing technique could be so drastic.


    If even a blessed cultivator like him couldn''t cultivate this technique, what about the rest of the sect?


    This question was reflected in everyone''s eyes. With great trepidation, they watched Liu Yue take out a small, black pill from his pocket and pop it in his mouth.


    "...Ahhh, much better now. Don''t worry, my physique is very resilient when it comes to backlashes. I''ll recover fast," he said, putting much of their concern to rest.


    Su Chen and Zhang Dahai stepped back. While everyone was staring at Liu Yue to gauge his condition, Han Xuhan''s eyes were tracking every millimeter of Zhang Dahai''s face. Mixed with his exhaustion, there was another prominent emotion.


    Suspicion. Zhang Dahai was suspicious...of what? Xuhan had his guesses.


    Turning to face Xuhan, Liu Yue added, "Your...combined body is truly a marvelous creation, brother Xuhan. I guess this is heaven''s way of compensating you for the other shortcomings of your body."


    Han Xuhan internally disagreed. But on the outside, he only showed a reserved smile and changed the focus of the conversation.


    "What do you think, brother Yue? Can the rest of the disciples cultivate this technique successfully? What does your first impression tell you?"


    Liu Yue shook his head, face sour. "It''s just as I feared. We''ll be fortunate if even one in ten disciples can reach the second layer of the technique by the end of the week. They''ll also need proper guidance during the first few sessions while cultivating. This technique is not for the mediocre."


    "Let''s head out, then. We will hold a session right after the assembly and mark those who show better potential in this technique. The invasion teams of our sect will have to be disbanded. In the new arrangement, each team can have one disciple at most who has the capability to reach the second layer within three to four days."


    Su Chen''s recommendation faced no opposition. Discussing the details of their plan of action, all ten members of the defense team rushed down the mountain, eager to tackle this seemingly impossible task.

 Chapter 281: The Network Of Infinite Lies

    The assembly was full by the time they reached the central plains. The Elders and the Sect Master had made it to the front of the crowd. Seeing the last few teams of disciples slipping into the crowd, Xuan Zi raised a hand in the air, silencing all conversations, attracting every pair of eyes.


    "Disciples, I hope you enjoyed your well-deserved rest. Yesterday was a good day for us. Many teams were successful in completing the tasks set for them, by me or by the tournament authorities. Some of you came back injured, some of you returned with a precious harvest. A few of you even carried back treasure sets, which, unfortunately, have been lost again."


    While Xuan Zi''s booming voice paused countless dissatisfied gazes turned to focus on Han Xuhan and his defense team. While his teammates looked ashamed of themselves, Han Xuhan took the brunt of the psychological attack with a serene face. No matter where he stood, no matter which team he was a part of, such gazes remained an inextricable part of his day. The shame his teammates were feeling went unregistered through his mind.


    "By the merit of your performance, our ranking has inched closer to the benchmark we need to clear in order to qualify for the next round of the tournament. Of course, the exact mathematics used to calculate our ranking is still a mystery known only to the organizers. So far, some of you have figured out a number of acts that boost our ranking, such as defeating invading teams in combat, robbing the resources of other sects, destroying the properties of the competitors and spreading chaos among them, and of course, most importantly, robbing or retaining the treasure sets."


    Han Xuhan clicked his tongue in wonder. Xuan Zi had personally guided them into committing many of these acts, albeit hiding the fact that these deeds would affect their rankings. Luo Yi, being a biased, spiteful adjudicator, would definitely hold it against their sect, labeling Xuan Zi as a cheater. Just like how Kong Ye had been punished several times for giving away crucial hints related to the competition, Xuan Zi would be punished too...right?


    Then again, Xuan Zi''s cultivation was so high. What kind of punishment could bother him? Perhaps Luo Yi could only threaten to disqualify their sect, or take away a large number of points accumulated by the disciples as the punishment for cheating.


    Xuan Zi''s speeches were never long enough to bore the disciples. After a brief recount of the exceptional achievements of some disciples, he concluded it with a piece of advice that made Xuhan''s lips curve like a bow.


    "Disciples, don''t limit your imagination, don''t restrain your creativity. Experiment with more acts that have the potential to cripple our competitors. Bound by the rules, I cannot tell you what exactly you need to do. But I can tell you that you have yet to figure out ALL the ways our sect can climb the ranks-"


    "Ahem! Sect Master Zi, that''s already crossing the limits set for you. Please don''t make me contact the authorities who have the power to disqualify you," Luo Yi said before Xuan Zi could end his declaration.


    "My apologies for the mistake, Lady Yi. Age is really catching up to me, it seems. My memories are failing me," Xuan Zi said somberly. The Elders standing behind him suddenly seemed very interested in the color of the sky. Some of them put handkerchiefs over their mouth, acting like someone in their midst had farted.


    A snort came out of Luo Yi''s nose, so loud that the entire assembly heard it. Once again, Han Xuhan''s interest in this sound-enhancing technique grew. He made a mental note to inquire about it someday if his cultivation status ever stabilized.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The assembly came to an end after that. But none of the disciples left. Because Su Chen had climbed on top of the mound from where Xuan Zi conducted the assembly. Doing her best to scream loudly enough for everyone to hear her, she revealed the news they all were waiting for.


    "Brothers and sisters, we have made great progress in unearthing the secrets of the treasure tracing technique! Brother Han Xuhan has worked tirelessly for the sect, cultivating day and night without breaks. He has finally gained enough mastery over it to impart the basics to everyone! Right now, he''s going to teach all of you how to outperform those disciples of Abyss Guild. Whether you can do it, of course, is up to your own potential!"


    Han Xuhan was impressed by Chen Su''s ability to twist words in a way that would please all parties involved. Just yesterday, she had criticized him brutally for not paying any attention to the treasure tracing technique. Today, she was openly boasting about his diligence. Cultivating day and night? Hah!


    He had indeed done that, technically speaking. Without feeling a speck of shame in soaking into the impressed stares, he climbed up on the ''podium'' and stepped ahead of Chen Su, easily becoming the center of attention of the entire outer court.


    "Several facts must be established before we set out on mastering the technique. Firstly, this technique requires..."


    As his explanation lengthened, the eager faces in the crowd grew ugly. Han Xuhan made no effort to hide the fact that only by the merit of his special cultivation technique had he reached the second layer. Of course, he did not elaborate on what this special cultivation technique was, mostly reporting to vague descriptions and erroneous data. By the time he ended his verdict on the technique''s nature and his experience in cultivating it, a crestfallen expression was mirrored on every face in the assembly.


    "There is no need to look so dejected, my brothers and sisters! If I, Han Xuhan, could make a breakthrough in one night with a minor advantage, why can''t you? Are you really so timid? Do you dare give up before trying your absolute best?"


    Seeing the little effect his encouragement had on his peers, Han Xuhan''s voice rose, both in volume and impact.


    "Come on! What you should be feeling right now is anger; anger because we fell into Abyss Guild''s trap!


    "What you should be feeling now is inspiration; inspiration because you''ve just learned that the worst cultivator of your sect has managed to do something they thought impossible!


    "What you should be feeling now is motivation; motivation to be diligent! For success! For glory! For vengeance! For victory!"


    Under his careful wording, the gloomy aura slowly receded from the crowd. The top talents who secretly or openly harbored a superiority complex were the first few to show enthusiasm. Infected by them, the rest of the disciples listened on eagerly as Han Xuhan began to explain the core concepts of the treasure tracing technique.


    Chen Su was even more resourceful than him in this aspect. She pointed out an unremarkable disciple in the crowd who apparently practiced a private cultivation technique that could create copies of inorganic materials at low levels. As long as Han Xuhan could provide him with a scroll containing the treasure tracing technique''s full explanation, he would be able to create countless replicas and give each disciple a copy!


    Han Xuhan immediately gave Zhanxian the order to start copying the manual word by word. Su Chen directed the crowd into forming their groups of ten members as determined a couple of days prior. Liu Yue and Xuhan took on the duty of going from team to team, clearing away their confusion regarding the technique and guiding their cultivation sessions. Zhang Dahai led the other six members of the defense team to monitor their cultivation sessions closely. Accidents took place almost every minute, despite their best efforts.


    The least accident-prone group was, of course, the three-person team of the Heavenly Hailstorm mountain peak. Han Xuhan barely needed to tell them what to do and what not to do. Yuen Zhou was at the forefront of everyone else in terms of smoothness, while Mu Ran made up for his little mistakes with unmatched speed. Xiao Wu didn''t even bother competing with the two....not that he needed to, anyway. With Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou in the team, Xuhan doubted he''d need to take up the mission of tracking the treasure''s position.


    After nearly an hour of nonstop talking, Han Xuhan staggered out of the crowd and plopped down on a flat rock, tired of watching his peers struggling to control their qi. Zhang Dahai followed his trail and stood beside him, appearing a bit hesitant.


    "Something on your mind, brother Dahai?"


    "...Yeah, brother Xuhan. I wanted to have a chat in private with you," he replied, eyes shifty like a guilty thief.


    Han Xuhan''s interest was piqued. He stood up and followed him nonchalantly, trying not to appear suspicious to any curious eyes. They walked further away from the assembly, ensuring that nobody could eavesdrop. Zhang Dahai still looked quite nervous as he glanced back at the crowd and whispered,


    "Brother Xuhan, when I was trying to heal Liu Yue''s body this morning during his backlash, I discovered something strange."


    "Oh?!" Han Xuhan didn''t even need to mentally pause at the revelation. He had been a bit suspicious at that time too.


    "I discovered that Liu Yue has lied to us about having a special physique!" Zhang Dahai said in a dry voice.

 Chapter 282: Schizophrenia Is A Good Disorder In The World Of Cultivation

    "...Go on," Han Xuhan said in an encouraging tone. But Zhang Dahai looked disheartened.


    "What do you mean ''go on''? You don''t even look surprised. Did you actually know he''s been lying?"


    Han Xuhan chewed on his tongue for a moment, arranging the answer in his mind. All he had left to test was one trigger to grasp the core of the mystery. However, to reveal any hints of his suspicion so early would not be a wise thing to do. Zhang Dahai was a smart young man with a flexible personality. Han Xuhan chose not to put too much trust in him for now. Instead, he decided to use him as a bait.


    "Brother Dahai, it''s not that I knew he was lying. I was just suspicious about this special physique of his. If he can copy any cultivation technique after seeing it being activated a few times, why did he fail to copy the treasure tracing technique back when Abyss Guild''s disciples were using it so wantonly? Why did he have to wait until today?"


    Zhang Dahai''s eyes brightened up. "Exactly, Brother Xuhan! That was the inconsistency that made me suspicious! That''s why I forcefully volunteered to heal his body during the backlash so that I could personally examine this so-called special physique."


    "What exactly did you learn from the examination?"


    "That there is no such specialty in his meridian structure! Even the rest of his body is completely ordinary. I even examined his nascent spiritual body. There is no source of odd material or spiritual activities in him that could hint at such a powerful physique."


    "Well, as long as he''s not trying to hurt anyone, let''s avoid venturing into that territory, shall we, Brother Dahai?" Han Xuhan suggested in a lukewarm tone. Zhang Dahai''s expression said he wanted to argue against that. But seeing Xuhan''s visible disinterest poured a bucket of water over the fire in his heart.


    "Hey now, cheer up. Don''t you remember what sect master told us an hour ago? We''re on the right track to make a big splash in this tournament!"


    Han Xuhan''s sudden shift in topic stunned Zhang Dahai.


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Sect master told us that we have yet to discover ALL the ways we can earn more points for our sect. If you analyze the methods we''ve discovered so far, all of those activities have one element in common; that is to damage our competitor sects. Now think, if we can steal their private cultivation techniques...how huge will their loss be?! It''ll definitely count as heavy damage to those sects. There is a high likelihood that we''ll earn a large number of contribution points and the ranking of our sect will shoot up like an arrow!"


    "...That does make sense," Zhang Dahai muttered hesitantly.


    "Yes, it does! And to achieve that result, we need to use Liu Yue''s talent well. Whether he has the physique or not doesn''t matter at all, as long as he can provide us what he has promised! So don''t go provoking him in any manner, at least for now. Let''s get along with everyone!"


    Leaving the flummoxed young man behind, Han Xuhan skipped his way back to the assembly and joined the rest of the defense team in educating their peers. Chen Su, being the perceptive leader as usual, walked up to his side and asked in a low voice, "Did something happen? Why was Zhang Dahai looking for you? Should I know?"


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Han Xuhan sold his new teammate out in a heartbeat.


    "Yeah, he was just a bit suspicious but didn''t want to appear antagonistic in front of the rest of the team. Since I''m an outsider, he felt more comfortable sharing his doubts with me."


    Chen Su''s confused face was just what he wanted to see. He clarified himself immediately.


    "Brother Dahai is suspicious of Liu Yue, which isn''t entirely unwarranted, if you ask me. Why couldn''t Liu Yue copy the treasure-tracing technique himself when the disciples of Abyss Guild were openly using it to track the treasure sets here? Why did he make you go through all that trouble and risky schemes to get them to hand the technique over? It doesn''t really make sense."


    Chen Su rolled her eyes, looking annoyed and relieved at the same time, as if she hadn''t expected the issue to be so insignificant.


    "That''s because it was me who planned the whole scheme. Liu Yue never wanted to share his secret ability with any of us. I only got some hints of it by accident, and he placated me at that time by describing the ability as a result of perfect memorization skill. Don''t you remember my explanation at that time, Brother Xuhan? I told everyone that Liu Yue had an exceptional memory, not a special physique. It was only after our partial failure to secure the technique that he revealed to me what his true ability was."


    "Okay...But that still doesn''t answer why he couldn''t copy the technique after seeing the disciples of Abyss Guild use it," Han Xuhan said in an uncertain voice.


    "Oh, that''s because the scope of his ability is very limited. He has to observe his subject up close, witness the activation and conclusion of the qi cycle without any big disturbance, and have some familiarity with the essence of the technique. And these conditions were obviously not fulfilled when Abyss Guild was invading our sect for the treasure set. It''s not as overwhelming an advantage everyone seems to think it is."


    Chen Su''s answer dispelled all of Xuhan''s questions, except one.


    Why had Liu Yue told Chen Su that he had a special physique despite having none?


    Han Xuhan pushed his paranoia to the back of his mind and focused on his current objective; to assist his fellow disciples in cultivation. Not a single team wanted to leave the island before mastering the technique. Their experience in the last two days had not been pleasant. Even Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou had barely succeeded in bringing back a treasure set despite being one of the most powerful, violent invasion teams in the sect. Being able to sense where the treasure set was would be the only way for everyone to make an impact.


    Unfortunately, not everyone had the qualifications, and this fact became apparent by the high noon. Nearly seven hours had passed, yet only a handful of exceptional geniuses were able to complete a full cycle of qi by themselves. Many disciples had worked much harder than them in these seven hours, only to end up suffering from qi deviation, mild meridian damage, and spiritual backlash.


    Their cultivation session was, of course, disturbed many times throughout these seven hours. To Xuhan''s knowledge, three sects had invaded their floating island since the morning, only to be taken by surprise upon discovering that all the disciples of the Crimson Snow sect were there, cultivating instead of invading other sects. Ordinarily, they would at least try to test the defense team even if Chen Su ran over and announced their forfeiture. After all, it wasn''t everyday they got to strut into the territory of a powerful sect and return as a winner. Some sects had also figured out that damaging the resources and manpower of their competitors earned them points for the ranking.


    But one proper look at the furious, determined expression being mirrored on each face in the assembly made the invasion teams reconsider. They simply contacted Luo Yi to make sure that the forfeiture was not a trick and left quickly.


    As per the plan, Han Xuhan and his nine teammates had begun to separate the relatively successful disciples from the mediocre, which just made the situation starker. Only fifteen disciples made it into the ''elite'' category, including Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou. The rest were either too tired to continue, or injured.


    Chen Su examined the scroll Zhanxian had filled up writing the basics of the technique, alongside Han Xuhan''s personal analysis, while everyone was busy cultivating. The disciple who allegedly had the ability to create copies of the scroll stood beside her and studied the scroll''s material in a way that reminded Han Xuhan of antique enthusiasts.


    "What do you think, Brother Guanglie? How many copies can you create?" Chen Su asked him as she handed the scroll over.


    Zuo Guanglie took a long look at the crowd behind them and gave the answer in a cool tone that welcomed no arguments.


    "There are fifteen talents who have learned the basics, and they will lead fifteen invasion teams. For now, I can create a copy for each team. They can share it between themselves since they''ll be sticking together all the time. To create a copy for every disciple seems unnecessary. I have to join the invasion missions too, remember?"


    "Of course, of course," Chen Su said, appearing satisfied enough with that promise. "I''ll send someone to inform the sect master about the recombination of the invasion teams in the meantime. I''m sure we will make a better impact this time on the ranking list!"


    "Let me handle that. I have to visit the sect master anyway for a personal matter. I''ll inform him," Han Xuhan chipped in, taking the opportunity to brag about his close relationship with Xuan Zi. Both Chen Su and Zuo Guanglie looked surprised by the implications, which was exactly the result Han Xuhan wanted to see.


    With a heavy heart, he headed to the sect master''s mountain peak. His paranoia had once again been triggered, threatening to consume his rationality. But if his suspicion was true...Han Xuhan couldn''t imagine the consequences of treating it as mere paranoia.

 Chapter 283: Detective Xuhan Strikes Again!

    "Sect master, I have something to report."


    Xuan Zi handed Han Xuhan a cup of tea and beckoned him to continue.


    "I''ve figured out who the spy in our sect is, you know, from the Abyss Guild."


    Xuan Zi''s smooth movements faltered. His own teacup was halfway to his mouth, but he put it back down on the table and stared back at Xuhan, eyes narrowed.


    "Who is it?"


    "There are two that I suspect, but the distribution of my suspicion between them is about eighty-twenty. You''d recognize both of them. Chen Su and Liu Yue."


    Xuan Zi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Strangely enough, Han Xuhan distinctly felt that the sect master was not angry...or even happy that the spy had been discovered. He felt compelled to explain further, hoping to convince the man.


    "At first, the person I suspected was Liu Yue himself. This suspicion came when I discovered that he has been lying repeatedly to everyone about being able to copy any technique he sees by the merit of his special physique. There is little to no reward for him, to my knowledge, in revealing such a huge secret. He should have even understood that this ability of his would be tested and abused for personal gain by his fellow disciples. And all the competing sects would learn about his existence inevitably, leading to his own peril. The fact that he has also changed the story about his special physique whenever confronted with a new situation also points to a bigger secret he should be hiding. So I thought about the most pivotal point of this revelation, which was to steal Abyss Guild''s treasure tracing technique!


    "Ever since I became suspicious about the existence of a spy from Abyss Guild in our sect, I have been guessing which disciple it could be. Liu Yue, playing the pivotal role of the disciple who stole Abyss Guild''s technique for the sect, would naturally be excluded from this suspicion...Which was why I became even more suspicious of him upon analyzing the Treasure tracing technique!


    "Because of my interference, Liu Yue was unable to play the hero''s role in everyone''s eyes. However, the technique itself is hardly of any assistance to our sect! This so-called hero''s role was a lie, and all those treasure sets we surrendered to the Abyss Guild were a huge loss, and the entire scheme that led up to it was a farce that has backfired on us!


    "So who profited from it, in the end? Liu Yue would have ended up as a hero who had tried his best, stealing a foreign sect''s technique, only to learn that most disciples of our sect cannot cultivate it. Abyss Guild would end up leaving with more than a dozen sets of treasures, a compensation for being the ''victim'' of a scheme set up by our defense team. Their loss of exclusivity of the treasure tracing technique would not harm them in the slightest.


    "Who could have planned this except a person completely loyal to the Abyss Guild?"


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Xuan Zi nodded slowly after he ended his explanation.


    "Indeed, it makes sense. But all of what you''ve said is hypothetical. You have no proof of his betrayal."


    Han Xuhan answered in an equally placid tone. "I did not look for evidence, for I know it would be hard to find. But when evidence is not available, it might mean that the wrongdoer has been successful in gaining his end. So we can simply judge all parties involved by their gains. Liu Yue''s supposed gain would be to form a strong bond with every disciple of our sect, be it by his contribution or by his teaching of the technique. He would be a step closer to the sect''s core, favored by all Elders, perhaps even by you...at the cost of virtually nothing. Who would suspect him?"


    "Except for a very paranoid teammate of his, of course," Xuan Zi said playfully.


    "For weak people like me, paranoia is a bad day''s friend."


    Xuan Zi ignored Xuhan''s rising displeasure and fired off another question.


    "You said you suspect Chen Su as well. If your suspicion toward Liu Yue is eighty points, the other twenty points-"


    "Oh, no. The twenty points of suspicion are for Liu Yue. I only talked about him first because that will make it easier to explain why I suspect Chen Su far more than him. I even believe that Liu Yue is a plant, a diversion meant to take the blame for being a spy if someone as paranoid as me truly caught wind of the spy''s scheme."


    For the second time in their meeting, Xuan Zi''s demeanor shifted to serious mode. Meeting Xuhan''s equally deadpan gaze, he said only one word.


    "Speak."


    "The first person to reveal that Liu Yue has an ability that can help us rob Abyss Guild blind was Chen Su. From her claims, it is clear that only Liu Yue had told her about his ability to copy cultivation techniques. And from my own investigation, I''ve learned that he had lied to her the first time, saying that it was merely a result of having a perfect memory. Later, the situation forced Liu Yue to reveal more to her, describing his ability as the result of a special physique...or at least that''s what Chen Su claims that he has told her. Again, my investigation suggests that this is a lie too. He has no special physique."


    "What you''re trying to convey is that at least one of them is lying, but the inconsistencies in these lies are not difficult to find out. Anyone who is already suspicious of Liu Yue might be able to see a pattern there," Xuan Zi said, simplifying the explanation.


    "Exactly, and the source of these inconsistent information has never been Liu Yue himself! It''s always Chen Su, who I have to say, is a very intelligent young lady. There is no way that she doesn''t see what I see in these developments. But she''s willingly publicizing these inconsistent news, pretending that she can''t find a flaw, and even going so far as to defend Liu Yue''s lies haphazardously, not even consulting him beforehand. It is so blatant that it feels intentional for someone as smart as her."


    "If she''s too smart to be making a mistake so simple, maybe it is meant to be a signal for someone to pick up. Maybe Liu Yue has her in his grasp, blackmailing her in some way to help him infiltrate our sect more thoroughly. Wasn''t the whole scheme to scam Abyss Guild her idea? She was also the one to recommend that Liu Yue should get the pivotal role in that scheme, which you ended up stealing," Xuan Zi said thoughtfully. The reply stunned Han Xuhan.


    "That is not impossible, either. Shit, I overlooked that possibility. She might be the one being manipulated by Liu Yue, but her bad job at it could indeed suggest multiple prospects. I thought she might be doing it because she''s the real spy and wants to use Liu Yue as a scapegoat if shit goes south. I didn''t consider..."


    Seeing him so lost in his own world, Xuan Zi cleared his throat loudly.


    "Ahem, disciple Xuhan..."


    "Huh-Wha- Oh, yes, sect master?" He shook off the shock and confusion the thoughts had brought him and focused on the conversation again.


    "About the matter of the spy...I suggest you forget it. You understand how to survive in a world as a weakling. Not all secrets come with profit. Some bring trouble, most of them do, really. For the sake of your peace of mind, I will tell you one thing, though. Liu Yue is indeed the spy. Your inference was correct."


    "You knew?!" Han Xuhan was so stunned that the teacup dropped from his hand. Even his enhanced reflexes could not make him avoid the splash in time.


    Xuan Zi waved a hand, using telekinesis to clean up the mess.


    "Yes, I did. I knew right when I saw him for the first time, at the outer court disciple recruitment ceremony. So what if Abyss Guild sends one of their own to spy on me, on us? He is a talent, and he has his merits, which I will utilize when I deem it needed. Let Abyss Guild rest easy feeling that they have won the battle. It is a kinder, wiser choice for the Crimson Snow Sect to allow so."

 Chapter 284: Unexpectedly, He Gave Up His Benefits!

    Han Xuhan''s return to the assembly went unnoticed by everyone except Chen Su. He told her about Xuan Zi''s consent to their plan of recombining the teams, exempting the Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain peak, of course, because no one could stand Mu Ran, no one could cooperate with Yuen Zhou, and no one could possibly want Xiao Wu to be a part of their team because of his reputation as a trash.


    Zuo Guanglie was in the middle of handing out the copies of the cultivation manual to each team leader. Han Xuhan took one from him and went over to the area where Mu Ran and Yuen Zhou were meditating, sitting separately from the rest of the geniuses who were closing in on the limit of the first layer.


    "Martial sister Zhou, here are the documents you need..." Alongside the treasure tracing technique, Han Xuhan handed her the map containing the weight allotment scheme of the Gateway Spell. Mu Ran took no notice of it, and Yuen Zhou''s reaction was placid.


    "Thank you, martial brother. I will go back to the mountain and prepare for a successful invasion. Martial brother Ran, when do you think you''ll be able to reach the peak of the first layer? I''m already quite close to it."


    Mu Ran cracked open one eyelid and answered, "Just come look for me when you hit the limit. I''ll be done before you."


    Han Xuhan left them to their devices and went to the back of the assembly, where his three minions were cultivating behind a large rock.


    "Master! I broke through! It took me just five cycles!" Zhanxian said excitedly when they met. "I''m now an early 3rd Layer cultivator of the Spiritual Bones technique!"


    The semi-transparent armour of solidified qi shone dimly under the sunlight, covering Zhanxian''s palm, wrist, and half of his forearm bones. This one arm would now become part of Xuhan''s own body when they fused together!


    "And I am already well on my way to gaining some minor accomplishments in the 2nd layer. My breakthrough took only one cycle, hehehe. Man, I could have crossed Zhanxian by now if you didn''t keep edging us with those hoarded resources." Tun Shi Tian''s complaint fell on deaf ears. Han Xuhan only glanced at the claws covered by the qi armour. He couldn''t be sure which part of his body these claws contributed to. Wherever it was, he would sense the difference in strength once he fused with Tun Shi Tian.


    "Excellent job, minions. And what about my little Zhe? How''s she doing?" He asked, watching the little snake run around amidst the tall grass around them, chasing a tiny grasshopper.


    "She''s about to break into the second layer too. She would have succeeded if not for the fact that she finds cultivation boring. Couldn''t make her sit still for more than five cycles. She just runs away when our eyes are closed."


    Han Xuhan expected as much from the immature minion. There was no point in forcing it.


    "You two return to the hut with her and stabilize your foundations in the new minor realm. I''ll be there in a while. We have a shitton of experiments and observations to make today."


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Sending them on their way, Han Xuhan returned in the gathering and helped with the new team allotment procedure. Not every disciple got along with the rest of their peers. They were barely tolerating it when the Sect Master created the teams, but now, everyone had strong opinions on which team they wanted to be a part of. After a long, chaotic hour, the defense team members managed to make fifteen teams of varied sizes, ranging from seven to thirteen members.


    Once the assembly cleared up, Han Xuhan regrouped with the defense team and dropped a small bomb.


    "Hey, everyone, I''m sure you remember that I have been given the permission to abstain from any sort of teamwork in this round of the tournament," he said, exaggerating the reward Xuan Zi had given him since nobody was there to stop him. "Well, I have decided to make full use of it, just like you all thought I would. I''m going back to my mountain peak to cultivate in peace. The task of defending the sect''s treasures will be up to you nine. Don''t contact me unless there''s an emergency."


    The entire defense team looked on in dumbfounded silence as he turned around and skipped his way toward the Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain peak, not even waiting for their response.


    Chen Su looked like she wanted to stop him, but Zhang Dahai yelled out before she could.


    "Brother Xuhan, what about our contribution plan? Don''t you remember that we''re supposed to use Brother Yue''s special physique to steal other sects'' cultivation techniques?"


    Han Xuhan didn''t turn his head as he shouted back, "I wouldn''t be of much help in that plan anyway. What do you want me to do? Fight them to a standstill? Hah! I have the lowest cultivation level in our team. Fighting is the last thing I would do out there."


    Seeing his back disappear outside the central plain, Zhang Dahai was more puzzled than anyone else. "Why did that guy suddenly change his plans? He was so enthusiastic about the whole thing..."


    "Oh well, we can''t force someone to take part in a dangerous plan if they don''t want to, can we?" Liu Yue said helplessly. "Let''s just wait here and see if any of our invasion teams can bring back a treasure set. That way, we can at least put up a fight instead of these endless automatic forfeitures."


    "Something doesn''t add up. Brother Xuhan''s a cautious guy, from what I can tell. But he never lets go of a chance to show off or make a profit." Chen Su''s mumbles were heard by the entire team. Those who were acquainted with Han Xuhan agreed unanimously, but they could not guess why he would leave this crucial chance to make contributions to the Sect.


    "Whatever, it''s not like we need him in the team. None of us wanted him here anyway. Let''s get going, everybody," Zhang Dahai said. The matter ended there for the time being.


    .............................................................


    Han Xuhan returned to Xiao Wu''s hut alone. Mu Ran was busy inside, trying to master the treasure tracing technique. Xiao Wu had no such aspirations. He was teaching the two older minions about the Tentacle Monster Technique between his own cultivation sessions of the Astral Warbeast form.


    Han Xuhan listened to the lecture for a while and realized that Xiao Wu''s understanding of the manual differed from his own. The line of thinking with which he approached the abstract theories was mind-boggling to him.


    But this did not mean that only one of them was on the correct path. For such abstract aspects of cultivation, personal thinking and approach made each cultivator''s foundation special, unique even. Han Xuhan had heard the Elders mention that these specialties and uniqueness were bad only if one had limited potential as a cultivator. For those whose sight was set on the realms beyond the Soul Reformation stage, having a uniqueness to their foundation was often a key to unlocking the secrets entombed within the barriers of the upper realms.


    Yuen Zhou came by a couple of hours later with good news. She had broken through to the second layer of the treasure tracing technique. Han Xuhan was almost disheartened upon realizing that it had taken her approximately eight hours to reach a level close to his. He had cultivated for an entire night, that too, in his twofold fused form!


    So, even at his very best, he didn''t have an advantage over this lass in terms of cultivation speed? The understanding was a harsh tug back to reality for Han Xuhan. Even though he could be called a monstrous cultivator in his fused form, he wasn''t the bigger monster in front of his martial siblings.


    Mu Ran, who had boasted that he would be ready to head out by the time Yuen Zhou mastered the technique, was startled to learn the news too. When Xuhan asked him whether he wanted to start the invasion missions now, he answered with a stiff expression, "Er...lunch! How about we have some lunch before heading out? I''m feeling quite famished after my cultivation sessions. Go prepare something good, Xuhan. Something that takes a while to be cooked...because meals like that are tastier and healthier."


    "Right, I suppose you''ll be cultivating a bit more in that timeframe to stabilize your second layer foundation, eh?" Han Xuhan asked him.


    "Of course, you know me so well, Xuhan. When have I not utilized every second of my time?" Mu Ran said before sinking into meditation in a hurry.

 Chapter 285: Galactic Genocide

    Kong Ye was not surprised to see his first disciple marching over to his house purposefully that noon. With the endless twists and turns in Han Xuhan''s cultivation journey, treating without active, regular guidance was akin to riding on a tiger''s back.


    But when he heard Han Xuhan speak, his expectations were overturned again.


    "Master, I made my third minion activate her fusion glyph an hour ago. I would like you to oversee the fusion process. This is the first time I''ll be attempting a threefold fusion, so your observations and teachings would be invaluable. And you can also act as a guardian if something goes amiss..."


    Kong Ye knew what his disciple was implying. The mental demon possessing Han Xuhan was still inside his dao foundation, biding its time.


    "No matter, sit down and meditate for a minute while I observe your spiritual form," he said, while ordering his system to scan Xuhan.


    [ Disciple No.1 : Han Xuhan ]


    [ Race: ? ( Cannot process data due to the lack of data ) ]


    [ Ancestry: ? (No matches found) ]


    [ Cultivation Base: Core Liberation minor realm (unregistered techniques aren''t measurable) ]


    [ Comprehension: B+ ]


    [ Qi quality: D+ ]


    [ Dao Heart: C- ]


    [ Dao Foundation quality: Can''t measure ]


    [ Elemental Affinity : D ]


    [ Raw Talent : D ]


    ( Expand this column to see the rest of the key merits )


    [ Overall Potential: B ]


    The system laid his disciple''s condition bare, and Kong Ye was flummoxed to see that Han Xuhan''s old stats had reappeared. The only indication of his changes was the data on his cultivation level. Han Xuhan, right now, was supposed to have zero cultivation, only possessing the body of a cultivator. The mysterious core liberation realm was something Kong Ye had never heard of in his long life. He suspected that Han Xuhan knew more than he let on, but he didn''t want to force the secret out of his disciple.


    "Some of your potential has gotten worse, disciple. Your qi quality, dao heart, and dao foundation quality are in dire straits."


    Han Xuhan cracked open an eyelid in response to Kong Ye''s observation before replying, "They''ll be changing a lot more frequently from here on. Zhanxian, come fuse with me! This will be our first fusion after your breakthrough into the third layer! We have to be careful this time!"


    The red skeleton sat down beside Han Xuhan and entered meditation as well. Kong Ye kept his eyes on the status panel, hoping to see some anomalies. But the moment Xuhan and Zhanxian completed their fusion glyphs, the panel went dark, showing a new message.


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    [ It has been detected that Disciple Han Xuhan''s qualifications have changed to a considerable extent. A renewed scan is needed ]


    Kong Ye ordered another scan, of course. This time, he saw the familiar stats that he had seen for the first time while trying to subdue Han Xuhan''s demonic possession.


    [ Disciple No. 1: Han Xuhan ]


    [ Race: Fused Hybrid ]


    [ Ancestry: Endemic to CT-L4-G36-SS11-P8, #$#¡ê£¤?£¤???.... Security protocols may be breached if further data is traced ]


    [ Special Physique: Fusion Seed (Forbidden) ]


    [ Self Cultivation: Core Liberation (minor realm) ]


    [ Fused Cultivation: 3rd Layer of The Physique Transformation Realm ]


    [ Dao Foundation Quality: Can''t be measured ]


    [ Dao Heart: ??? (fused dao heart is too chaotic for grading) ]


    [ Comprehension: B+ ] (fused)


    [ Qi Quality: B- ] (fused)


    [ Elemental Affinity: Water (B) (fused) ]


    [ Overall Potential: A ]


    Not only did Xuhan''s fused form have a specific, partially traceable race and ancestry, but he also now displayed the qualification of having a special physique. Kong Ye didn''t know what most of them meant except for the coordinates provided in the ancestry bracket.


    The code CT-L4-G36-SS11-P8 was not difficult to analyze. CT referred to the Territory under the Celestials'' active domain, short for Celestial Territory; L-4 meant that the location was situated within the 4th Layer of the Celestial Territory, one of the middle layers of the macrocosm of man; G-36, indicating the serial of a galaxy, was a slightly puzzling data, because the logical jump from a Layer to a Galaxy would involve the coordinates of a Life Sector, which usually spanned a handful of galaxies.... unless the life in that sector has been wiped off thoroughly!


    Kong Ye''s gaze flickered towards the remaining two minions of his disciples. Han Xuhan himself didn''t have a recognizable ancestry, but when he fused with his minions, he suddenly showed one, that too from such a faraway place of the macrocosm. These ancestry links were obviously formed because of the minions.


    From what Kong Ye knew about Han Xuhan''s cultivation technique, it involved gathering souls from a strange burning planet. Since the remaining parts of the coordinates- SS11-P8 referred to the 8th Planet of the 11th Solar System of the 36th Galaxy...


    Kong Ye felt like he had accidentally stumbled upon an information he was better off not knowing. To wipe off an entire Life Sector and twist its laws so heavily that no souls in any of its galaxies could reincarnate, burning for an eternity in spiritual agony, it would require more than a powerful expert. No, it would require the cooperation of the Celestials overseeing that domain!


    And when he connected the fusion technique''s [ Forbidden ] tag in the system with this theory, Kong Ye''s palms began to sweat for the first time since he had been banished to the edge of the macrocosm.


    "...Teacher? Is something wrong?" Han Xuhan asked in a concerned tone upon noticing his stiff face. Kong Ye shook off the fear from his countenance and gestured at him to wait a while longer.


    Han Xuhan''s self-cultivation was still in the minor realm of Core Liberation. But the fusion had added Zhanxian''s cultivation to the equation, which was at the early 3rd Layer of the Physique Transformation realm. Combining Zhanxian''s cultivation with Han Xuhan''s body had created a decent rookie with a foundation between the third and the fourth layer, perhaps even stronger.


    Before fusing, his dao heart quality was graded C-, a downgrade from his old position; probably a result of having his mind, body, and soul constantly being influenced and damaged. It wouldn''t be long before he became too unfit to be Kong Ye''s official disciple according to the system if the downgrades kept happening.


    But the fusion had made it impossible for the system to measure the quality of his dao heart. Kong Ye was pretty sure that the system wouldn''t make a fuss if Han Xuhan cheated this way to maintain his apprenticeship status. To the system, anything that it could not measure or sense was precious beyond value!


    The biggest changes were in the next three stats. Xuhan''s qi quality had skyrocketed from D+ to B- grade. He now even had an elemental affinity stat at grade B. His potential as a disciple in this form could make any Elder of the Sect move, as mirrored by Kong Ye''s system. It had renewed Han Xuhan''s overall potential from Grade B to Grade A, skipping two large levels in the leap.


    "Disciple, your... potential has improved by a significant margin upon fusing with Zhanxian. Many of your old, unsolvable problems have been erased, but I fear that newer, scarier problems are in store for you in the future."


    Han Xuhan didn''t even look surprised, or even disturbed by the revelation.


    "Is there anything I should know that sect master Zi hasn''t told me that day?" he asked.


    "....You know what, you''re in a heap of stress already, and it''s even affecting your dao heart. Let''s not worry about the distant future, Xuhan," Kong Ye said with a heavy sigh.


    Han Xuhan was convinced easily, a tad too easily. He simply changed the topic and looked to his side.


    "As you say, teacher. Tun Shi Tian, come fuse with me now! Let''s see how your breakthrough affects the fusion!"

 Chapter 286: Dao Debate

    [ Disciple No. 1: Han Xuhan ]


    [ Race: Fused Hybrid ]


    [ Ancestry: Endemic to CT-L4-G36-SS11-P8, #$#¡ê£¤?£¤???.... Security protocols may be breached if further data is traced ]


    [ Special Physique: Fusion Seed (Forbidden) ]


    [ Self Cultivation: Core Liberation (minor realm) ]


    [ Fused Cultivation: 4th Layer of The Physique Transformation Realm ]


    [ Dao Foundation Quality: Can''t be measured ]


    [ Dao Heart: ??? (fused dao heart is too chaotic for grading) ]


    [ Comprehension: B+ ] (fused)


    [ Qi Quality: B ] (fused)


    [ Elemental Affinity: Water (B); Air (B-) ] (fused)


    [ Overall Potential: A ]


    This was Han Xuhan''s situation after fusing with both Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian. There weren''t many changes compared to the first fusion, except for the increase in qi quality and an additional elemental affinity. The two minions'' combined cultivation was now standing at the 4th layer, the highest stage of Xuhan''s past cultivation.


    After Kong Ye explained the little differences between the two fusions, Han Xuhan began to guide Hai Yin Zhe into visualizing her own glyph. This turned out to be an insurmountable task very soon.


    "Ceelingdikal shape? What does that mean, papa?"


    "Papa, what''s a layer?"


    "Papapapa, what are you saying?! Dimonshons? What?"


    "Uwwaaah! Stop hitting yourself, Papa!"


    "Ahahaha, papa went crazyyyy!"


    The snake burst out with uproarious laughter as Han Xuhan slapped himself in the face and gave up. He had indeed been a bit too optimistic about his chances. Attempting to teach a toddler how to draw an imaginary, three-dimensional, moving pattern from her instinct was a fool''s dream.


    "Disciple Xuhan, maybe it''s better not to have little Zhe be a part of your body anyway. I fear for your sanity if a toddler as chaotic as she influences you internally."


    Han Xuhan ran a hand through his hair, his face a mirror of placid acceptance. "You don''t understand, teacher. Hai Yin Zhe is a monstrously talented cultivator. If her mental age was a little older...tsss, I could be the strongest disciple of this sect''s outer court. Didn''t you say my potential right now is the greatest it has ever been? If I fused with Yinzhe, that potential would stand at the same rank as Brother Ran and Sister Zhou."


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Kong Ye looked up at the bright sky, unbothered by the burning sun''s glare. "Disciple Xuhan, we all must accept our mediocrity in some aspects of life. Not everyone has to be a monstrous genius in cultivation. Don''t force what''s not meant to be."


    "Is struggling not the core of cultivation? To force our way beyond mortal chains, beyond body and spirit, beyond the ocean of stars?"


    Kong Ye''s gaze shifted sharply back to Han Xuhan''s face.


    "And which self-taught clown taught you that bullshit, disciple? Struggling to earn what you desire and forcing yourself for what you do not deserve are two poles apart on the scale of the righteous. He who struggles to separate the borders of both has had what I''d call a fool''s enlightenment. Steer clear of fellows with such dangerous ideological handicaps. Your dao heart is already in a deep pit, don''t dig deeper."


    Han Xuhan coughed awkwardly, saying, "One of the Elders taught us to think this way, teacher. He used to teach us fundamentals of cultivation in the early days."


    Kong Ye snorted disdainfully, his nose up in the air. "Next time you see that clown, ask him how many floors his dao tower has. If the answer is less than four, inform me. I''ll go beat him up."


    Han Xuhan''s eyes were filled with shock. "Four floors? Does that mean one has to be beyond the fourth major realm of cultivation to be qualified to talk about the basics?"


    Kong Ye shook his head, face grave. "No, one just has to be beneath the fourth major realm to qualify to be beaten by me."


    "...."


    Han Xuhan returned to Xiao Wu''s hut that evening exuding a listless aura. Since everyone was out having their little hide-and-seek adventures, he snatched the opportunity to take a power nap. And he needed one sorely. Learning about an untested technique based on a concept as esoteric astral energy was no easy feat. Even inside Kong Ye''s special cultivation chamber, Han Xuhan had not made substantial progress.


    The original idea behind cultivating the Astral Column Technique was to plant one qi accumulation point in each of his minions, each creating a column inside his dao tower that would support its foundation and strengthen it. But executing that plan was impossible now, because Han Xuhan no longer had a dao tower, or a traceable foundation to strengthen.


    Kong Ye still insisted that he should learn the technique, the basics at least. Since he could use his fusion mode to cultivate easily without damaging his own meridians, continuing the path of the Skeletal Monarch Technique was no longer a problem. In fact, the more minions he fused with, the less pressure there was on his meridians. So his path to the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm was now basically set in stone.


    By the time the sun was about to set, Han Xuhan woke up, refreshed. He was entertaining a variety of dreams about being able to fuse with ancient, terrifying creatures when he heard the thunderous sounds of a battle coming from a distance.


    Sighing, he peeked out through the hut''s window and discovered a scene that left him frozen in confusion for a solid few seconds.


    Zhang Dahai was crouching on the ground right past the front yard, covered in cuts too many to count. The clothing of his upper body had been torn to shreds, and even the lightweight armor beneath was showing signs of falling apart, revealing a body painted red in its own blood. Some of the cuts ran as deep as his bones!


    Not too far away from him, his opponent stood still as a statue. The first thought that appeared in Han Xuhan''s heart as he laid his eyes on her was not that she was a beautiful young woman, but that this was an opponent he could not face. It was like casting his gaze upon an ancient mountain, its aura so oppressive and steady that his instincts screamed, every chain of his thought broken by a chant¨C fear, fear, fear, fear!


    His grip on the window slackened without a conscious mental order. His breaths fell in struggling hitches. His focused stare did not break, but gradually, all he could see when looking in her direction was the existence of a threat, an existence that could squash him as easily as a greatsword pulverizing an armor of glass.


    A greatsword.


    Han Xuhan found himself being absorbed into a world of imagination. In this world, he was sitting in an endless desert, feeling an unprecedented sense of weakness in his body. Covering the visage of heaven and earth ahead was a gargantuan mountain that cast a shadow over the realm no matter how far he looked. As he looked up to see where the mountain ended and the sky began, he noticed it beginning to tilt towards him.


    Fear so overwhelming consumed his mind that even the familiar voice of Zhang Dahai screaming didn''t make an impact in his heart. All he wanted, sincerely, was to not be crushed by the falling mountain.


    Just as he himself was about to scream out in fear of being obliterated, a deep voice spread out across the desert, seemingly uttered by the mountain itself.


    "I accept no surrender without an appropriate price. Since you have no treasure set to buy yourself a harmless defeat, show me what else you think may buy you an opportunity to run away."

 Chapter 287: My Martial Brothers Life Isnt THAT Valuable

    "Brother Xuhan! Please help! Bring out whatever treasure you have! I''ll compensate you, I swear!"


    Zhang Dahai''s voice reached Han Xuhan, but frozen inside the endless desert, he could not respond; he couldn''t even figure out how to respond; he couldn''t even see Zhang Dahai here. Here existed one mountain and one man, and an aura so heavy it seemed to suffocate every molecule of air within his lungs.


    "So your pathetic escape to this place was driven in the hope of involving others. I will not complain as long as they can bring out something good," said the voice of the mountain.


    The oppressive pressure suddenly disappeared, and Han Xuhan found himself back inside the hut, crouching near the window, head spinning as if he had just jumped up from deep slumber.


    What the hell was that? He had never quite experienced anything like it!


    "Brother Xuhan! Please come out!" Zhang Dahai screeched outside. Han Xuhan''s confusion and panic disappeared, replaced by fury.


    Who the fuck is your brother, dog? I''m doing everything in my power to stay out of trouble, but you''re making sure trouble chases me down!


    "Come out, whoever it is that''s hiding inside. I know you''re in there. My sword knows a prey is in there. Who do you intend to be acquainted with first?"


    The deep voice was like a hammer crushing down on a bug. Feeling incapable of controlling the situation, Han Xuhan ambled out of the hut, face sour. Reaching Zhang Dahai, who was sprawled on the ground looking as defeated as a man could possibly look, Han Xuhan helped him stand up on his feet.


    "Brother, you''re getting your blood and sweat on my fresh robe. You''re going to compensate me, either with a proper washing or a new set of clothing."


    Zhang Dahai looked dumbfounded. "Is this the right situation for that kind of conversation?"


    Han Xuhan shook his head. "Am I the right person to take shelter behind in this kind of situation? You brought this on yourself."


    His inane exchange with Zhang Dahai was meant to be a test of the opponent''s character. He wanted to see what her response would be to being ignored despite the momentum she had built till now.


    Unfortunately, his opponent didn''t seem phased in the slightest. While Zhang Dahai hopped back a few steps to lean on the wall of the hut, she slowly approached them.


    Now that the terrifying aura had been restrained, Han Xuhan managed to get a better look at her appearance.


    She was strikingly tall, at least a head higher than him. Her wide shoulders formed an impactful contrast with her robust silhouette as her hands were clasped behind her, exuding a cold, but elegant aura.


    Her bright red apparel was thick, coarse even, designed less like a robe and closer to an armor. Within the gaps of her clothing, a black silk-like material covered her skin like a fluid paste. As she moved, so did the black paste, but it seemed to have a mind of its own, crisscrossing around her body like countless restless finger-thick serpents. On her waist, a small sheath rocked in harmony with her legs.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    Her skin was much darker than what he was used to seeing, toeing the border of natural skin tone. Even on Earth, Han Xuhan had never seen such an exotic shade of skin, which, combined with her high cheekbones and monolid eyes, floored him once again for a good few seconds.


    As she drew nearer, his observation became more detailed. And his admiration transformed into an unsettling sensation in the pit of his stomach.


    Each of her steps was leaving inches-deep imprints on the soil, occasionally crushing small rocks there into powder. The grey sword sheath on her waist was emitting a gentle hum that seemed to have grasped the entire world in a hypnotic rhythm. A moderate wind was sweeping through the island, but not a single hair of her tall bun moved. The air around her seemed to ripple from time to time. And each of these ripples fired up Xuhan''s nerves like a wave of ambush. He felt like a prisoner facing an executioner''s greatsword.


    Why the hell was there a greatsword again? Why did that word in particular keep inserting itself into his thoughts?


    The girl stopped twenty feet away from him and brought her hands in front of her, performing an unfamiliar gesture with straightened palms.


    "Suyan Chongqing greets fellow cultivator from the Crimson Snow Sect. The sword has been drawn. What you do now shall determine how the sword moves."


    It might have been a hallucination, but for the briefest second, Han Xuhan saw the word ''Heavy'' flash over her head, written on empty air with blinding white ink.


    "...You truly embody the essence of your name, fellow cultivator Chongqing; one cannot help but acknowledge this. But on what ground do you dare make demands on my doorstep?" Han Xuhan replied flatly. Behind him, Zhang Dahai squeaked something through gritted teeth, something along the lines of ''On the ground of being really fucking strong, idiot!''


    Suyan Chongqing also didn''t seem to have expected a reply so dense. But noticing his inquisitive examination of her appearance, she caught the hint.


    He was not satisfied with her introduction, specifically about her own background. Other than her name, she had not provided any direct information.


    A strange smile formed on her face. "I didn''t think that my Formless Sword Sect needed a better introduction. I am here to represent my sect''s invasion team number one, seeking your sect''s protected treasure sets. My teammates are still looking for it, engaged with the rest of your defense team. The rules of this tournament allow us to attack and take whatever we want until the treasure set is won, in case you were unaware."


    Han Xuhan really wanted to curse out loud, but there was no proper recipient to throw insults at. Back when Xuan Zi had told the disciples of the Crimson Snow Sect to demolish everything on their way during invasion missions, nobody had realized that the order was an indirect hint of how to amass more points for their sect. This secret had been revealed only recently, but no one could have predicted other sects to be doing the exact same thing. In fact, what they were doing was even more outrageous!


    Looking at how powerful this Suyan Chongqing was, Han Xuhan didn''t need to guess that she alone could have suppressed the entire defense team of Crimson Snow Sect. Zhang Dahai was one of the strongest members of the team, and he appeared to be one step away from being skinned alive.


    Why would this girl chase him all the way to this remote corner of the Sect, if not to delay their inevitable victory? She was using the extra delay to deal as much damage to the Crimson Snow Sect as possible, which of course included robbing the disciples'' personal belongings!


    So insidious! This world of cultivation was beyond salvation! Were there no good people left? Where was the law- Oh, wait, the law permitted this, tcheh!


    "Well? Are you going to bring out something valuable enough to sway my sword or not? Don''t forget, the tournament allows us to go as far as crippling our opponents."


    Suyan Chongqing''s impatience was conveyed more prominently with the return of the inescapable, suffocating sensory suppression. Once again he noticed the momentary flash of an airborne word spinning over her hairbun. Formed by similar bright white ink, this one was easier to read because it stayed visible for a moment longer than before.


    Matchless.


    Another flash took place, replacing the word.


    Heaviness.


    Crank~ Crank~


    The sound of crisp wood being split reached his ears. Turning around, Han Xuhan looked at Xiao Wu''s hut and saw multiple cracks running through the entire front wall. The portion of the roof attached to it had been completely bent inward by an invisible force. Perhaps one good kick was all it would take to break the house apart now.


    "Fuck!" Han Xuhan didn''t stop himself from cussing this time.


    "What I did to your house can be done to your body too, fellow cultivator. Don''t waste my time," Suyan Chongqing said.


    "That''s not my house," Han Xuhan told her, snuffing out her momentum again.


    "I can still cripple you," She said.


    "I am already a cripple. Why do you think I''m resting in a corner of the Sect while everyone is out hunting treasures?" Han Xuhan countered expertly.


    "....I will cripple your brother over there." Suyan Chongqing pointed at Zhang Dahai.


    "Honestly speaking, that''s not exactly a threat to my safety, is it?" Xuhan replied tersely. Zhang Dahai made another funny sound from behind that he couldn''t really decipher. But the sentiment was understandable.


    "...." An awkward moment of silence formed between them. Han Xuhan distinctly felt the invisible pressure growing stronger. Being the weaker party, he could only relent in the end,


    "Fine, fine, you want to rob me of my valuables, right? I will show you my prized jewels. And I am not a member of the defense team, either. So you cannot attack me, directly or indirectly. Forcing me to attack you by overdoing this act of robbery will be a direct violation of the rules of the tournament. To buy Zhang Dahai''s life, I will let you pick one treasure of mine."

 Chapter 288: Soul Reformation Realm!

    Three large bags were emptied of their contents, spread on the ground methodically for the convenience of making a swift choice. Han Xuhan squatted on one side of the materials, his face wrapped up in gloom. Suyan Chongqing sat on one knee on the other side of the display, eyeing the items on the ground one by one with utmost care and caution.


    "For a cripple, you possess an impressive amount of cultivation resources," she muttered while poking one of his numerous gadgets. "Even I am not sure what the functions of these artifacts are, except a few."


    "Pick one, pick one. Don''t waste my time," Han Xuhan urged her hoping she would make a hasty choice. But she seemed impervious to the cheap trick, continuing her slow examination.


    "What''s this thing? And where did you get it from?" she suddenly said, pulling out a purple medallion from the bottom of a pile of spirit stones. Han Xuhan recognized it at a glance. It was the roughly crafted crystal medallion Xuan Zi had given him yesterday. This medallion was practically a tracker he was supposed to carry with him whenever he left the borders of the sect. It could send a distress signal to Xuan Zi, but Xuhan didn''t know if it had any other functions. The sect master hadn¡¯t explained much about it to him.


    "That''s not a treasure," he told her, and received a disdainful look in return.


    "My sect master has great affection for me. So he gave this medallion to me as a safety measure. As for what it does..."


    Suyan Chongqing frowned upon listening to his full explanation. She twirled the purple medallion a few times between her long, unusually thick fingers, murmuring something to herself.


    "A strange thing to lie about. Nevertheless, I can''t clearly pick this one..."


    Han Xuhan was flabbergasted. What did she mean by that? He hadn¡¯t lied! So who did? Xuan Zi?!


    "I want this one," Suyan Chongqing said, pointing to a corner of the assortment. Han Xuhan sighed in relief after following the direction of her finger.


    It was one of the armor parts he had purchased from a fellow disciple, a shoe covered in a layer of small spikes that he had added later. This was the same shoe which he had used to kick Fang Xie yesterday, making him bleed. Some of the spikes were about to break apart after the kick, so Han Xuhan had discarded it after the battle.


    Of all the valuables here, she only wanted that shoe? Did she know its actual worth? Or was there something HE didn''t know?


    Han Xuhan didn''t reveal his thoughts and handed it to her in silence, observing her expression. Suyan Chongqing rubbed the metal-clad boot with the aura of an expert.


    This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    "Yes, the upper layer of spikes is not originally a part of the shoe, right?" she said, to which he nodded honestly.


    "Terrible craftsmanship. At least it can be salvaged," she said while putting it inside a pouch on her waist. Standing up, she performed another unfamiliar salute.


    "I''m satisfied with your offering. I''ll be taking my leave now. It''s a shame that a disciple of your stature has become a cripple. My sword is always eager for a challenge. Your sect has not managed to provide one."


    Shaking her head in apparent disappointment, the girl strode away, heading down the mountain. From behind, Han Xuhan shouted out a question that had been bugging him for a while now.


    "Fellow cultivator, what is your cultivation level?"


    Suyan Chongqing didn''t turn back to answer, but above her head, the momentary flash of white ink appeared again, displaying the same two words.


    Matchless.


    Heaviness.


    Boom!


    Zhang Dahai yelped as the hut behind them collapsed completely, flattened in a way that would make one think a giant had stomped on it vindictively. The walls disintegrated, and the roof was reduced to dust, but not a single possession inside the hut was harmed.


    Han Xuhan found himself inside the illusion once more, standing ankle-deep in a desert, looking up at a collapsing mountain. A deep voice spread across the desert as the mountain finally enveloped his vision and submerged him under its weight, crushing his body and soul.


    "Soul Reformation Realm! First Layer- Fear!"


    .........


    When Han Xuhan regained his consciousness, the sky was dark. Groggily, he sat up and discovered himself under the shade of a propped-up wooden plank. Fragments of recollection flooded his mind.


    "Oh, fuck."


    "Finally, I was getting scared for a moment there."


    Zhang Dahai, sitting on top of the ruins of Xiao Wu''s hut, threw a slice of grilled fish over to Xuhan. "Where did you get these fish from, by the way? They don¡¯t seem to be ordinary fish!"


    Han Xuhan was rendered speechless. Why was this guy eating their food? He just indirectly caused their home to be destroyed! Such shamelessness! Even he himself didn''t have a skin this thick!


    If Zhang Dahai noticed the indignation in his eyes, he pretended otherwise and continued to eat. Han Xuhan took a sad bite out of the one in his hand and stood up.


    Xiao Wu''s hut had been destroyed even more thoroughly than his own. Mu Ran''s hut had suffered the same fate. So the only residences remaining on Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain Peak were Yuen Zhou''s and Kong Ye''s. Living with Yuen Zhou wouldn¡¯t be proper, not to mention overly crowded. These huts weren¡¯t meant to be shared by multiple disciples.


    "So this is the power of a rookie Soul Reformation Realm cultivator..." he sighed ruefully. He hadn¡¯t even been able to sense how or when she had attacked. Thinking back to the time he had fought with Fang Xie, he realized how lucky he had been. Fang Xie''s cultivation was probably even lower than what he had calculated.


    "That''s right," Zhang Dahai remarked in agreement. "We didn¡¯t stand a chance. I knew that the Formless Sword Sect had a reputation, but I never thought its disciples would be so... so unreasonably strong."


    "You could''ve taken me to the healers, brother Dahai," Han Xuhan said, still feeling the shadow of suffocating heaviness that Suyan Chongqing had left him with.


    "First of all, she knocked me out too. And secondly, look at me, do you think I can carry you that far?" Zhang Dahai replied between mouthfulls of food, pointing at his semi-naked body.


    Being a cultivator at the upper layers of Physique Transformation Realm, Zhang Dahai''s body was naturally not easy to damage. The bone-deep wounds Xuhan had seen him arrive with were already unrecognizable, though not fully healed. The smaller, shallower lacerations and bruises he had sported a couple of hours ago were all gone, leaving barely noticeable scars.


    Han Xuhan summoned Zhanxian and Tun Shi Tian for labor duty.


    "Whoa!"


    "This one has been wrecked too?! I don''t even know where to start-"


    Han Xuhan''s demented countenance put a stop to Zhanxian''s rant.


    "Before you complain, I hope you two remember why we''ve been living here in the first place. You two were the reason my real home got demolished. Pack everything up and transport them to Master Kong Ye''s house. We will be living there for a while."


    Tun Shi Tian wasn¡¯t very pleased, but Zhanxian had no problem doing a porter''s job. While they got busy, Han Xuhan and Zhang Dahai went to visit the rest of the Defense team.

 Chapter 289: Tales From The Void

    "This tournament is really unfair. How are we supposed to compete against cultivators at the Soul Reformation Realm? Even the strict requirements of our sect allows us five years of time before breaking through to that realm. And we have barely cultivated in the sect for seven months! The gap is too huge!"


    "The Formless Sword Sect has very strict recruitment requirements. In each generation, they only pick sixty disciples to practice their sect''s core technique. And that girl said she''s from team-1. It''s not unnatural that she would be so much stronger than us."


    "I''m still not convinced! I heard that the last disciple recruitment of their sect was held more than two years ago. A genius who has cultivated for that long versus an average disciple like me who has cultivated for half a year, how is that fair?!"


    "Cry about it. Weep to the heavens."


    "...."


    This was the gist of the arguments raising up a racket inside the redesigned Healing Hall. The noise and complaints were more about volume than substance. But Xuhan listened with relish as tidbits of new knowledge about the vast world of cultivation entered his mind. Occasionally, he would poke a lively disciple into steering a conversation to a route of his interest. For example-


    "Sister Miao, you seem to know quite a bit about the Formless Sword Sect. Do you know anything about the technique that girl was using?"


    Sister Miao, who was usually overlooked in the team due to her lack of contribution, was finally able to show her true worth this evening. From vague rumors to established facts, her knowledge on many foreign sects continued to surprise the rest of the defense team.


    "Brother Xuhan, didn''t you hear me just now? The technique she used to wreak havoc on us is of course, the core technique of her sect. It''s titled- The Formless Sword Technique, kind of obvious, you know?" Shen Miao looked annoyed that a question so stupid had come out all of a sudden. Han Xuhan scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh.


    "Ahaha, makes sense, makes sense. Aside from the title..."


    Getting the hint, Shen Miao proceeded to explain what she knew from rumors.


    "The Formless Sword Technique is very difficult to practice. In each generation, only a handful of elites manage to master its basics and reach a substantial level of power. In the Physique Transformation realm, these practitioners use their body to nurture a formless sword. I''m not very sure how it is done, but I''ve seen some detailed illustrations of their combat. In duels they perform a strange type of martial art where every stance they make creates an invisible sword attack. For example, one can punch the air and conjure the effect of a sword thrust that can hit an enemy within the reach of the formless sword! A kick can have the effect of a horizontal sword slash! And-"


    "Wait, wait, wait... If the sword is formless, how can it have a specific reach?" Zhang Dahai asked loudly, attracting everyone''s ire. Shen Miao looked a bit dumbfounded as she considered the question.


    Indeed, how does a formless sword attack something that has form?


    "Maybe they named it wrong," Han Xuhan suggested. "After all, Formless Sword sounds a lot cooler than Invisible Sword."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    "...Maybe. Anyway, as I was saying, their martial art stances can conjure sword strikes. But this isn¡¯t limited to one sword strike per move! At the upper stages of the Physique Transformation realm, each punch can conjure dozens of swords striking in harmony! Imagine fighting someone who''s proficient in that style of combat."


    "Imagine? Hmph, I fought that girl myself! There''s no need to imagine!" Zhang Dahai slapped himself in the chest pridefully.


    "Yeah, we saw that. Don''t act so cocky about being beaten up, Brother Dahai." Shen Miao snickered.


    "I took one for the team, and you''re mocking me!" Zhang Dahai was incensed by the lack of gratitude among his fellow disciples. In his grief, he turned to Xuhan.


    "Brother Xuhan, tell them how heavily injured I was when I reached your house! I was one strike away from death!"


    Han Xuhan nodded in agreement. "You were given a pretty good beating."


    "The fuck do you mean by ''good'' beating?!"


    "I mean, the beating could''ve been better. She could have made sure you never reached my house. That way I wouldn¡¯t have been robbed."


    "It was just a metal boot! Those armors aren¡¯t even rare! Everyone lying in this Healing Hall has a few!" Zhang Dahai roared in indignation. Truly, heavens were blind. He was the real victim, but they were making fun of him for suffering!


    Han Xuhan was about to shift the conversation back to track, but what Zhang Dahai said tugged at his attention. Since losing the boot to Suyan Chongqing, his paranoia had been acting up again.


    Did everyone in the Healing Hall really have the armors from the void zone between the floating islands?


    The doubt wasn¡¯t difficult to untangle. Han Xuhan was well acquainted with many disciples taking rest there. He even knew the Elders who ran the Pavilion due to his frequent visits to this place for cultivation-assisting resources.


    After the heated conversation died down, Han Xuhan began to tour the hall. The massive building was divided into two segments, one for those who required privacy and the other for those with light injuries. Visitors in general weren¡¯t allowed to enter the former willy-nilly, so he checked the beds in the second area.


    "Brother Chen!"


    "Sister Zhen!"


    "Fellow cultivator Yang!"


    His enthusiastic greetings were immediately followed by pointed inquiries about how they had been injured, and whether they had utilized their armor-parts well. Most of them understood why he was there to visit immediately, as they had all seen, or heard about Xuhan buying armor-parts from the disciples very publicly.


    As it turned out, most of them hadn¡¯t managed to use their armor-parts well. Unlike Xuhan, they didn''t have a mysteriously knowledgeable teacher who could see through the craftsmanship and functions of the armors with ease. Many of them weren¡¯t even aware that every armor collected from the void zone had built-in battle moves.


    His curiosity growing, Han Xuhan also began to ask the disciples how many times they had traveled through the void zone. One by one, data began to pile up, and patterns began to emerge.


    Among the thirty injured disciples he had Interviewed, twenty owned multiple armor parts, and most of them had traveled through the void zone to invade other sects at least six times. On average, this meant that there was a likelihood of coming into possession of an armor part once every three travels.


    Strangely enough, he himself had entered and left the void zone more than ten times, but he had only ever managed to collect a poleyn. In this aspect, he was an anomaly among his fellow disciples.


    Han Xuhan also recalled the time he had landed on Stardust Sect yesterday wearing armor-parts all over his body. During traveling through the void zone at that time, he had experienced a searing shock in his head, as if someone had connected a electric wire to his skull for a moment.


    While the phenomenon by itself meant nothing substantial, Han Xuhan could not shake off the doubt that wearing so many armors might have caused it. If the armor-parts did really hide a secret related to the void zone, then it could be explained why a Soul Reformation Realm disciple from a famous Sect would be so interested in them.


    So his second round of interviews began. He went from bed to bed asking whether any of them had experienced unusual sensations while traveling through the void zone. It was a tricky question to answer, because the usual sensation inside the passageway wasn¡¯t exactly predictable or comprehensible either. The feeling of being drowned inside a vat of noodles, soup, and gum was common to everybody. But Han Xuhan did manage to find a few disciples who had experienced unique sensations.


    These included temporary sensory overload after coming out of the void zone, extreme lethargy, and inexplicable cuts and bruises. One of them even showed him a large crack that had formed on his backplate when he crossed a void zone this morning. As Xuhan considered how these injuries could have come about, something occured to him, freezing his movements.


    How powerful did an assault have to be to leave damage of such degree on the bodies of cultivators at the upper layers of the Physique Transformation Realm?


    Coupling these incidents with his theory that the timespan inside the void zone was heavily dilated by unknown factors, Han Xuhan reached a terrifying conclusion.


    Perhaps the time they were spending inside the void zone wasn¡¯t just a harmless, unconscious journey through a passageway filled with treasures. There was a high likelihood that during every travel, their memories of what really was happening inside it was being erased. So the only traces left of the experience were long-lasting injuries on their body, soul and equipment!

 Chapter 290: Forbidden Scripture

    "This is a shocking matter, if true. We have to let everyone know and figure out how to avoid being injured!" Chen Su said, her face pale. The countenance of the other eight members of the defense team wasn¡¯t positive either. Han Xuhan had explained his theory to them with airtight logic. Even Zhang Dahai, suspicious by nature, looked convinced.


    "Avoid being injured? I don¡¯t think it would be that simple," Liu Yue said in a thoughtful tone. "Brother Xuhan''s explanation makes sense, but some parts of it could be explained in a different manner. For example, if having an armor part increases your chance of getting injured inside the void zone, then why would the Formless Sword Sect look for these armors? Clearly, they know more than us what really is happening inside."


    Han Xuhan had his own guesses in the face of this question. But he couldn''t explain it to anybody without revealing that the foundation of his guess was based on cultivation stories he read on Earth.


    After all, why would anyone look for a treasure with associated dangers, if not to seek out even more precious opportunities?


    The armor parts were nice and all, but what if these things had a specific utility inside the void zone? A specific function for facing dangerous...trials and traps.


    That would fit perfectly with the phenomena of armor-wearers getting injured inside the void zone! That would fit with the logic of memory-wiping every armor-wearer so that they couldn''t come outside to prepare for the hurdles and traps better the next time.


    How many times had he seen this trope play out in his previous life? Every cultivation novel had half a dozen such subplots!


    The entire arrangement reeked of a scheme. Whether this scheme had the aim of rewarding its targets or not... remained to be seen. Judging by Formless Sword Sect''s movement, it seemed that they were leaning toward the former possibility.


    "Should we tell the Elders? Let the Sect Master know?" Chen Su said.


    "They should be informed immediately, of course," Liu Yue replied. "Brother Xuhan can do that. I was referring to the disciple body. Maybe publicizing it isn¡¯t a good idea."


    "So you want to keep everyone in the dark about it?" Shen Miao said to Liu Yue, frowning.


    "No, no, no," Liu Yue quickly made his intentions clear. "I''m proposing that we should let everyone know that wearing the armors during invasion attempts is likely to lead to injuries. But we shouldn¡¯t dissuade anybody from doing it either. Let the bold ones take the risk. Maybe they''ll eventually discover enough clues through their voyages to piece together what''s really happening in this void zone. At worst, we can even hoard the armor parts and make a deal with the Formless Sword Sect!"


    Han Xuhan was instantly impressed. He raised his hand up in support of Liu Yue''s plan!


    "I like that! Even more business opportunities! We must not let it slip past our hands! Let''s urge everyone in the assembly tomorrow to loot the armor-parts alongside their other missions! We will have to make our plan more secretive than Formless Sword Sect, though. The looting of the armors must be discreet! That''s the only way we can monopolize the market and push Formless Sword Sect into a corner before negotiations begin!"


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Quite a few people in the team gave him strange glances, including Chen Su and Zhang Dahai, but Han Xuhan didn¡¯t give a damn.


    "It''s settled, then. I''ll go ask the Sect Master to break the news officially in tomorrow''s assembly. He can just add the task of collecting armors to his list of secondary missions for the invasion teams."


    Bidding them goodbye, Han Xuhan left the Healing Hall with quick steps. The sky was cloudy again, blocking the visage of the stars. He was extra cautious in his trek, no longer feeling safe inside the sect upon learning that the numerous spatial gateways surrounding the island led to unknown dangers. He shuddered every time he recalled how boldly he had equipped himself with armors from the void before jumping into the spatial fissures like a blind fool.


    Xuan Zi raised an eyebrow as Han Xuhan entered his chamber without bothering about greetings and pleasantries. It hadn¡¯t even been twelve hours since their last meeting here.


    "Sect Master, more news, and not the good kind."


    While he explained the situation and their decisions step by step, Xuan Zi seemed to retreat into a contemplative silence. Xuhan waited a long time after the conclusion, unsure of what verdict the sect master would reach in these rapidly shifting circumstances.


    "Disciple Xuhan, you said you¡¯ve been injured inside the void zone as well, correct?"


    Taken aback by the sudden question, Han Xuhan nodded hesitantly. "I suspect as much, Sect Master. Nothing else can explain these phenomena."


    Xuan Zi scanned him from head to toe with a calculative gaze, further confusing Xuhan.


    "What''s the state of your cultivation now? Is everything working like before?"


    "...Yes, sort of. I mean, I don¡¯t possess a cultivation base myself, but when I fuse with my minions, I can use their dao towers without a hitch."


    "So how do you plan to proceed with your cultivation from hereon?"


    "I will continue with the path of the Skeletal Monarch Technique, since it complements my biggest weakness, the lack of proper meridians. Master Kong Ye also insists that I should learn a dao foundation stabilizing technique that he created himself."


    Xuan Zi looked intrigued at the mention of Kong Ye''s technique. "Tell me about this dao foundation stabilizer. What''s it called? Type and basis?"


    Scratching his head, Han Xuhan did his best to explain the gist of the Astral Column Manual. By the end of it, Xuan Zi was grinning with a rather mischievous look in his eyes.


    "Kong Ye...Cheeky, real cheeky. But I like it. He really puts a lot of trust in you, disciple Xuhan. The source from which this manual was derived is no ordinary technique. Cherish this opportunity."


    "But what does any of this have to do with the armor-parts?" Han Xuhan asked. Xuan Zi looked rather shifty as he flicked his fingers and made the qi inside the room fall into a chaotic storm.


    "Disciple, the dangers inside the void zone might be abhorred by your fellow cultivators, but you don''t need to be so wary. In fact, it might even be an opportunity for you. If you had a bit of cultivation, I would recommend entering the void zone frequently."


    Eyes narrowing into slits, Han Xuhan was just about to ask why, but by then the qi inside the room became placid once more, and Xuan Zi gave him a pointed look that implied that the conversation was over.


    Sighing, he brought the purple medallion out of his pocket and held it up, attracting Xuan Zi''s attention.


    "Sect master, is this medallion really just a tracker?"


    "Why do you ask, disciple?" Xuan Zi''s face betrayed no hint of the answer. Han Xuhan explained what happened that evening when Suyan Chongqing had raided his belongings.


    "Well, this Miss Suyan certainly has an eye for precious things. And you need not be concerned with what this medallion really is, Xuhan. It was obviously not made with your needs in mind. Tracking the carrier just happens to be one of its functions. Do you want to keep it or not?"


    "I''ll keep it, I''ll keep it," Xuhan said hastily. Since it was a valuable object, of course he wouldn''t mind holding on to it. The medallion was clearly an indication of how much value Xuan Zi put on him.


    "If that is all, you may leave," Xuan Zi said, sounding rather annoyed at this point. But one look at Xuhan''s awkward face made him pause in his movements.


    "Still got something to ask?"


    "Yeah... Sect master, I would like to know about certain phenomena related to one''s spiritual body. An explanation would be much appreciated."


    With a vague gesture, Xuan Zi dragged over a kettle and two teacups from a corner of the room using telekinesis.


    "Let''s talk."


    Sitting down, Han Xuhan began his query.


    "From what I have learned about spiritual bodies of cultivators at the Physique Transformation realm, it can be summarized that colors are the most simple expressions of our spiritual self. At least, that''s what low level cultivators like me would see while observing a spiritual body of another low level cultivator."


    "Correct so far," Xuan Zi commented.


    "So what are the possible reasons behind the appearance of deep black holes on a spiritual body?" Han Xuhan asked.


    "....Well, well, well, good disciple, it seems you¡¯ve stumbled upon a forbidden cultivation technique," Xuan Zi said with a sigh. "Take a sip of tea, this is going to be a long story."

 Chapter 291: Fighting Memories With Illusions

    Han Xuhan returned to the Heavenly Hailstorm Mountain peak with much lighter footsteps. It was evident that Xuan Zi knew as much as the Formless Sword Sect did about what dangers occupied the void zone in the spatial folds of the Titanfall Archipelago. Since the man had hinted that the dangers there would instead be beneficial to him, Xuhan was no longer worried about some alien enemy drilling out of the fissures in the dark and falling on his head by pure coincidence.


    Several hours had already passed since the sundown, and midnight was just about to envelope them. He was hungry. So when he reached Kong Ye''s lavish cottage and caught the scent of spices in oil, his stomach churned and his feet moved like the wind.


    Kong Ye, Mu Ran, Xiao Wu, and Yuen Zhou were sitting in a circle around a small, floating fireball. Slices of fish revolved around the fireball in harmony, sizzling under the heat. It seemed that Kong Ye had decided to treat his hardworking disciples with a meal cooked by him personally. Zhanxian, Tun Shi Tian, and Hai Yin Zhe were also present. The older two were helping Kong Ye with the cooking, while little Zhe snuggled up like a dog in Yuen Zhou''s lap.


    It seemed that their three-member invasion team hadn¡¯t followed Mu Ran''s upfront tactic of attacking everything in sight today. None of them sported significant injuries.


    Seeing him enter the courtyard, Mu Ran and Xiao Wu jumped to their feet.


    "Xuhan! How did our hut get destroyed?"


    "Who was it? Which sect? We must pay them frequent visits!"


    "Where did you disappear off to?"


    "Did you fight with the invaders?"


    "Did you get beaten up?"


    The litany of aggrieved questions forced Xuhan to provide a lengthy explanation, by the end of which even Kong Ye was listening attentively. All three of them looked quite bewildered by the complexity of the tale, as well as Xuhan''s wild hypotheses.


    But surprised as they were, a strange look of understanding passed between his three martial siblings several times during his explanation. Han Xuhan didn¡¯t let them get away with it.


    "You three know something, don''t you?" His suspicious tone immediately elicited a guilty reaction from Mu Ran and Xiao Wu. Yuen Zhou''s face was unreadable as ever.


    "It''s like this, Xuhan," Xiao Wu began to speak hesitantly, "Remember a couple of days ago when I was imprisoned inside a trap set by one of the foreign sects? I didn¡¯t manage to return that night and Brother Ran and Sister Zhou had to return to the sect to rescue me the next day."


    Han Xuhan nodded. Of course he remembered. After they had left to rescue Xiao Wu from the Gladiator Guild''s trap, he had decided to confront Fang Xie inside Stardust Sect. Later he had discovered that three martial siblings of his were spying on him during his little face-off against Leng Qing. He had been a bit suspicious about Xiao Wu''s imprisonment at that time.


    "That trap was actually founded on the void zone entrances surrounding all the floating islands inside the Archipelago. Gladiator Guild''s island is designed in a manner that tricks you into entering the spatial fissures. All three of us fell into their elaborate illusions and ended up inside the void zones again and again while trying to navigate our way there. I eventually failed to make it back to our rendezvous spot and realizing that I had been trapped, Sister Zhou and Brother Ran returned here to recuperate and plan a rescue. The next day, they discovered how the disciples of Gladiator Guild could walk around the island without suffering like us."


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    "And you didn¡¯t think it was important to inform everyone in our sect?" Han Xuhan said angrily.


    "You caused quite the havoc on Stardust Sect''s territory. We were waiting for you to return and explain yourself, but then your mental demon took over... Did we get a chance to have a normal conversation?" Xiao Wu snapped back.


    "Sister Zhou basically beat some information out of the opponents she met on her way at that time. It wasn¡¯t concrete enough. We actually went back there today under the guise of a raid and managed to gather a rough idea so far. Apparently, Gladiator Guild has an illusion spell so powerful that it not only tricks its targets, it also convinces the caster that the illusion is real. So what they did is to cast the spell on themselves to generate an artificial blank world around their eyes, where only objects containing qi and spirituality can register as a component of the illusion. And then they let the half-hypnotized disciples move around the island normally. Every time a disciple fell into the void zone through a nearby fissure, they would witness their illusory world being invaded by an entire new world! Think about it, Xuhan! How rich in qi and spirituality must a world be to register itself into an illusion as a qualifying component?!"


    "...." Han Xuhan massaged his own temples helplessly. How many surprises did a person need to experience to be plain tired of such gobsmacking revelations? He must have crossed that limit quite some time ago.


    "But how do they remember that? You''re saying that the memory wiping we all go through in the void zone is somehow countered by their illusion spell?"


    "Yes," Xiao Wu nodded. "The illusion itself can obviously create an artificial set of memories, whereas the memory wiping caused by the unknown mechanism in the void zone is targeted toward our real memory! Once the disciples return from the void zone, the artificial memory of the illusory world can be extracted and shown around!"


    "....That is insane. Who even thinks up methods like that?" Han Xuhan no longer had any words to express his awe. Suddenly he noticed odd looks being thrown his way. Even Kong Ye had a complex smile on his face.


    "What?" he said in confusion.


    "Nothing," Xiao Wu replied. "Anyway, this method also has its limitations. Even though the artificial memories can show them what''s happening inside the void zone, they haven¡¯t learned much about the mysterious world there. Everyone who enters the void zone appears outside a massive dome. The size, substance and color of the dome vary from illusion to illusion, but it never shows any opening for one to enter through. The armor parts everyone comes out with are just scraps littering the periphery of the dome. A small number of illusions contained scenes of armored gargoyle soldiers guarding that area and attacking whoever entered. But these gargoyles were pretty weak and got demolished quickly. They suspect that the armor parts collected so far are the remains of gargoyles defeated by others before their entry."


    Dots after dots were connected in Xuhan''s mind, forming a whole picture. A whole new world hiding in between the spatial folds they were constantly traversing...Not only was it fascinating, it also made him experience again what it felt like to be treated as a speck of dust under the infinitely vast ripple of reality.


    From thereon, their discussion became less concerned with facts and more about theories. What this new world signified, what the gargoyle soldiers could be, why this Archipelago held such secrets, and how they could replicate the performance of Gladiator Guild; the volume of information they needed to acquire and analyze was monstrous.


    Kong Ye listened without providing any input. Even when they asked about his opinions, he would just smile and focus on cooking. It was evident that he knew a lot more than them, but was bound by the rules from revealing anything.


    "I agree with this Liu Yue guy. The injuries we''ve seen so far are very minor compared to a real duel. If any disciple of our sect is frightened by the notion of entering the void zones now, they should just stop cultivating altogether. How can someone so timid achieve anything in life? They''ll bring more shame to our sect than any legitimate defeat! Come, let''s arm ourselves with as many armor-parts as possible and jump into the fissures after dinner!"


    Mu Ran''s passionate remark was met by Han Xuhan and Xiao Wu''s withering faces. Even Yuen Zhou didn''t look very eager about the idea. Noticing the lack of enthusiasm, Mu Ran quickly shifted the topic.


    "This Suyan Chongqing sounds like an interesting opponent. Xuhan, is she good-looking? Does this cold, fair maiden-"


    "She had dark skin, brother Ran. So uh..." Han Xuhan trailed off, observing how Mu Ran''s glowing face turned sour.


    "...Well, does she at least have a good figure? I¨C"


    This time Mu Ran was interrupted by two loud, pointed coughs from Yuen Zhou and Kong Ye. Mu Ran glared at them both without restraint.


    "Can''t a man ask about the qualifications of a woman he''s interested in? I am the most eligible bachelor¨C"


    "Her figure is included in the list of qualifications?" Yuen Zhou said, interrupting his tirade. It was clear that she didn¡¯t want to fuel the flames, but she could just not help arguing.


    "That''s the most important one on the list!" Mu Ran said, equally incensed. Kong Ye merely sighed and went back to cooking, knowing no arguments would convince Mu Ran otherwise.

 C292: Terrifying Fate

    The time was just an hour prior to dawn. But Kong Ye''s house was abuzz with activity. The master, his three male disciples, and two skeleton soldiers tagging alongside them for lessons¡ªall were wide awake.


    Kong Ye shuffled between his meditating disciples with quick steps, muttering instructions whenever he deemed it necessary. Occasionally he would squat in front of the skeleton minions cultivating in the back of the room, where his gaze would rapidly shift between myriad emotions, commonly wonder and caution.


    The fruitful cultivation session came to an end after Kong Ye declared that it was time to rest and prepare for the next day''s adventures. Mu Ran and Xiao Wu still had to do the invasion missions. So only Han Xuhan and his two minions remained inside the special cultivation chamber with Kong Ye. This wasn¡¯t because he had become a hardworking disciple who wanted to cultivate more, but because the spare bedrooms in the house were now occupied by his martial brothers.


    Master and disciple faced each other, seated on luxurious mats and downing cups of spirit-rejuvenating orange tea. The minions busied themselves with cooking something for breakfast. Han Xuhan felt a sense of relaxation and concern at the same time. An entire day and night had passed without him getting into some massive trouble. Compared to his experience so far since the tournament had begun, the encounter with Suyan Chongqing was not even categorized as dangerous in his memory.


    "Master, I''ve been pondering a question for some time now," he said, recalling the previous six hours of lecture and cultivation. "What''s the significance of having my dao tower expelled from the heavenly dao domain? I know that having a dao tower in the Totality of Autonomy is a lot more dangerous than the heavenly dao domain. But aside from that, what are the fundamental differences? Both can''t be the same, right?"


    Kong Ye placed his cup down for a refill, his face reflecting a thoughtful introspection. Han Xuhan patiently sipped on his own cup while he took his time in coming up with the answer.


    "When it comes to discourses revolving around mystical phenomena in cultivation, theory and precedents have to be separated, because every problem we face here is unique by the merit of the cultivator''s situation, location, history, timing, and characteristics both known and unknown. Theoretically speaking, having your dao foundation expelled from the Heavenly domain is equivalent to losing your job and identity in an authoritarian kingdom. You''ll be treated by everyone and everything in that kingdom as a human being with no attachments, abilities, and privileges that the legitimate citizens of that kingdom enjoy."


    "Is that better or worse than being a mortal who cannot cultivate at all?" Han Xuhan said sharply. "You¡¯ve been on other... planets and such, master. Those are entirely different civilizations. What''s the status of mortals and low level cultivators there?"


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    "Depends on how resourceful that region is, really," Kong Ye said without much thought. "Based on resources and the development of the civilizations in a specific stellar region, which is termed a Life Sector, some widespread methods of classification are used by cultivators capable of long distance cosmic travel.


    ¡°The one I prefer relies on factors such as used resources, the rate of resource consumption, the potential ceiling of total resources available, the size of the life sector, the number of civilizations occupying it, and the distance these civilizations are separated by¡ªranging from a few thousand miles to dozens of solar systems. Of course, there are also secondary factors, less common in nature and harder to explain to a layman, such as the development style of each civilization, their cultivation orthodoxy, their historical records, the stability of their society and how compatible they are to higher ranked civilizations, and many more."


    Kong Ye paused, watching Han Xuhan''s face inquisitively. He expected some confusion and inquiries, as the terminology he was resorting to wasn¡¯t easy to comprehend for a rookie cultivator so far away from developed civilizations of cultivators. But Han Xuhan had nodded along like a chicken, appearing unbothered. Noticing Kong Ye''s pause, he said, "What rank is this civilization of ours? And how many ranks are there?"


    "We are inside one of the most distant, low-grade Life Sectors of the macrocosm. Resources here are scarce compared to the real world of cultivation. This planet is at the cusp of rank-1," Kong Ye answered. "There are six more ranks above us."


    That reply finally seemed to stun the curious first disciple. Feeling oddly satisfied, Kong Ye continued.


    "As for the answer to your original question, civilizations that are rich in resources and sparsely spread across their Life Sector are generally very peaceful. Mortals get a fair status, and even low-level cultivators live good lives. Higher-ranked civilizations generally do not intervene too much in these Life Sectors, except sending a few of their own cultivators in to establish sects or clans. This is an ancient practice, aimed at preserving the peace of the macrocosm.


    "On the other end of the scale, there are Life Sectors with even fewer resources than this planet, and an oversaturation of cultivators who are desperate to advance. Mortals here... are rarely treated as human beings. Most civilizations like this end up reintroducing slavery to their planet at massive scales. Low-level cultivators are seen as parasites by those standing above them. Only the tight intervention of stronger civilizations through their local sects, clans, and dynasties can contain these factors from creating sector-wide destruction."


    "I see," Han Xuhan said, imagining magnificent scenes of prosperity and the brutal visage of war simultaneously in his mind. This was the feeling that he secretly yearned for. This was what he had felt like after discovering his first cultivation novel. Untold stories adorning an endless sea of stars, formed by unstoppable, mysterious forces of nature and man''s limitless appetite...


    "We have strayed from the topic at hand," Kong Ye suddenly said, interrupting his daydreams. "You wanted to know the difference between having a cultivation base inside Heaven''s domain and the Totality of Autonomy. Well, the latter means that you''re now an outlaw in the eyes of the macrocosm and most of its laws. You¡¯ve lost the privilege to consume the world''s resources and benefit from the process of cultivation. You can''t cultivate, you can''t break through, and you can''t even use the cultivation techniques you mastered once."


    Dumbstruck, Han Xuhan said, "But I can still cultivate! How?"


    Kong Ye''s face was turned overcast. It was evident that he knew why. And the answer was anything but good news. He only stared back at Xuhan with a helplessness that he had never seen in the man''s gaze.


    "Master...?" Han Xuhan probed again, almost unsure whether he really wanted to know the answer.


    "Work out your own conclusions, disciple. And if you ever reach one, keep it to yourself."

 C293: Return To The Chessboard

    Han Xuhan pocketed the purple medallion after scanning his surroundings and seeing no threats nearby. He was standing at the periphery of a massive, ring-shaped island. Ahead of him lay a row of small buildings, each of them identical with one floor and a dome on top.


    Just like his previous visits to the Stardust Sect, the outer ring of the island was completely devoid of human activity. Han Xuhan faced no obstacles as he climbed over the nearest building and stood on its roof to get a good look at the inner rings of the island.


    The moment his gaze fell on the inner rings, Han Xuhan experienced an uncanny sensation, almost like a deja vu. What he saw there was quite familiar.


    Hundreds of disciples were gathered in the middle ring of the island. Multiple crowds had formed among them, and they all appeared to be absorbed in furious debates. In a few places, some even looked ready to scuffle, barely held back by others from pulling out their weapons.


    Back when he had landed on the Stardust Sect for the first time, this same scene had greeted his sight. Han Xuhan spent a moment trying to compare both scenes. He found some differences, fortunately. It was a great relief being able to ascertain that he hadn¡¯t somehow been transported back in time.


    Perhaps the Stardust Sect simply had a tradition of meeting up on the second ring and engaging in less-than-peaceful discussions.


    He spent a while trying to understand what they were doing. From his previous visits and Feng Jun''s explanation, he knew that Stardust Sect was experiencing a factional dispute. The sect had five factions¨C Dragon, Phoenix, Tiger, Turtle, and Infinity. The first four were mismatched in terms of power, but consistent in structure, while the Infinity faction was a small gathering of special disciples. Why these disciples were special, he didn''t know. Feng Jun had not answered that question.


    The Phoenix faction was holding the seat of power and controlling the management of resources in the sect for over a decade now, and this had given rise to a loose union between the other three main factions. While in the surface it seemed like they were trying to dethrone the Phoenix faction for the sake of fairness and balance, Feng Jun had told Han Xuhan that they were actually trying to obliterate the Phoenix faction completely.


    That night, Feng Jun had struck a deal with him. And today, Han Xuhan had come to the Stardust Sect to fulfill his part of the deal.


    "Brother Xuhan? Is that you?"


    Han Xuhan nearly slipped off the roof from surprise. Turning around, he saw a couple of familiar faces staring at him from the courtyard of a nearby building.


    These were the disciples of Stardust Sect who had accompanied him during his face off against Leng Qing. He had used them all as sacrificial lambs later, binding Fang Xie with him inside the Body Possession Array.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Leaping from roof to roof, Han Xuhan closed the distance between them and jumped down to their courtyard while greeting them jovially.


    "Good morning, fellow cultivators! How have you two been? Long time no see!"


    The two disciples exchanged a strange look between themselves. "Long time? It hasn¡¯t even been 48 hours since our last meeting, brother Xuhan," One of them replied. "Anyway, what are you here for? A meeting with Sister Mi? Or..."


    Both of them visibly grew cautious, stepping back a few meters as the other disciple completed the sentence. "Are you here as a member of an invasion team?"


    Han Xuhan shook his head, relaxing his posture as much as he could. "Just to check up on you, don''t worry. I came by myself."


    Inwardly, his mind was fired up. If these disciples remembered that he had led them to Leng Qing''s house two days ago, then he would have to dig up what else was left in their memory. Surely, the overwhelmingly powerful cultivator who was assisting Fang Xie that day had done something to erase the traces of their confrontation that day. But what exactly had he done? Han Xuhan could not proceed without knowing the extent of that man''s manipulation.


    "Sister Mi is still bedridden. Come if you want to meet her." One of them took the lead and walked out of the courtyard. The other disciple walked by Xuhan''s side, scrutinizing him closely. Xuhan gave him a measured look.


    "Brother Xuhan, how did you escape that day?"


    Not sure how to respond, Han Xuhan thought for a while before deciding to take things to the extreme. There was no point in trying to come up with a story that would fit with whatever these guys remembered from that day.


    "After I left Leng Qing''s cabin to look for healers from my sect, I''m not really sure what happened to you all. When I returned with a better antidote for Leng Qing, I found all of you unconscious, and the cabin nearly destroyed. Now, you know my cultivation level. What could I do at that time? An enemy who could defeat all of you in one go isn¡¯t somebody I can stand against! I couldn''t even find or sense the culprit''s existence! So I just... erm, ran away."


    He kept track of every change in expression his companion showed throughout the story. It seemed that nothing he had said made a big impact on the young man. His account must have not raised any big inconsistencies. The guy leading them snorted in dissatisfaction, but that was all he did. Han Xuhan let go of a silent breath of relief.


    "What happened at the time, anyway? Who attacked you?" he asked, pretending to be puzzled.


    "We''re not sure either. There had to be more than one, and they must be from a sect that specializes in esoteric arts as well. Our divination technique couldn¡¯t offer up any substantial results. And all thirteen of us also had our memories tampered with. We can''t remember anything that transpired after we entered Leng Qing''s cabin."


    "Have you tried interrogating Leng Qing himself?" Han Xuhan suggested. "I did tell you he''s a suspicious fellow, explained my theory to you all before we visited him. You remember that, right?"


    "We do. But Leng Qing got knocked out by your minions before we were attacked. He says when he woke up, he was alone in his hut. He has no idea what happened between that timeframe."


    "Leng Qing woke up in his cabin alone? That means somebody took you all out of that cabin," Han Xuhan said, slowly adding more elements to the equation.


    "They did. We woke up inside the infirmary on the second ring. Nobody, not us, nor the disciples who were present in the second ring at that time, knows how we got there, not even the Elder overseeing that building."


    A little shocked, Han Xuhan recalled the black silhouette standing at a corner of Leng Qing''s cabin. How powerful was that Mr. Mo?


    All three of them were a little confused as they entered Shen Mi''s courtyard. Han Xuhan sighed upon facing another familiar scene. Shen Mi and her twelve-member team had gathered in one place once more. The last time he had met them, Han Xuhan had used them as disposable pawns. This time, he needed to ensure that these pawns conquered the chessboard. According to his deal with Feng Jun, he would help the Phoenix Faction neutralize their current peril, saving them from the threat of extinction.


    "Brother Xuhan!" Shen Mi''s eyes lit up as he entered her cabin. She was seated on her bed, leaning against a wall of pillows. Her countenance radiated weakness.


    "My greetings to the leader of the Phoenix Faction," Han Xuhan said with a smile. "How''s your health, sister Mi?"


    Shen Mi looked crestfallen as she replied, "Brother Xuhan, the Phoenix Faction no longer exists."

 C294: My Opponents Are So Competent And Industrious!

    "So in just the two days that you were unconscious, your whole faction was broken apart by others and absorbed?" Han Xuhan said, still not quite convinced after Shen Mi had explained the whole matter.


    "That''s a little too fast, don''t you think? Your faction has been in power for a decade. How did the members of the Phoenix Faction change sides so decisively?"


    "They were being solicited to change sides since recruitment. The other three main factions have been conspiring for a decade too. Things went out of hand when brother Feng Jun and his close followers disappeared inside that world fragment. I was barely holding it together. With me out of the way and the pressure of this new, competitive environment of the tournament, almost nobody found it prudent to stay in our dying faction."


    "What about when Feng Jun returns, though? He has at least half a dozen fellow disciples with him at the peak of the Physique Transformation Realm, and the legacy of the Holy Land in his hands. They can reform the foundation of your faction easily."


    Shen Mi looked around the room cautiously, meeting the eyes of the dozen disciples who were still loyal to her faction. Han Xuhan felt like he had stumbled upon the cusp of a secret.


    Gesturing at him to sit closer so that she could whisper in his ears, Shen Mi dropped a bomb.


    "Isn''t it obvious? That''s what they want! They want Brother Feng Jun to return with the legacy of the Holy Land and see that his original faction, his followers, and his backers have all defected. At that time, Brother Jun will be either forcefully assimilated into one of these factions, or he''ll be pressured into sharing the legacy under the condition of being allowed to reform his faction!"


    "...Fucking hell," Han Xuhan cursed audibly. "I didn''t see that coming. Are they confident that Feng Jun will be able to get out of the world fragment and return to his former sect?"


    "Does it matter? They''re benefitting either way," Shen Mi said, rolling her eyes. Inadvertently, her gaze fell on one of her fellow disciples at a corner of the room.


    "I did my best, sister Mi," Ning Xueshi sighed facing Shen Mi''s reproachful look. "It''s true that our martial siblings all looked up to me when you were unconscious. I fought beyond my abilities to defend the honor of our faction in the assemblies. But I''m just one person. Those who defected would have done so eventually, regardless of how brilliant a lone member of a faction is."


    "I''m not blaming you, Xueshi," Shen Mi said. But they all could hear the mechanical tone those words had arrived with.


    Han Xuhan listened to the unenthusiastic debates that followed their exchange. The other eleven disciples wore a similarly guilty, helpless look as consolations and regrets washed over the cabin. The atmosphere was somber. Deeming it inappropriate for an outsider like him to interrupt them, Han Xuhan continued to listen, taking in information and analyzing the situation at a better depth.


    His deal with Feng Jun was that he would help the Phoenix Faction eliminate some of its pressure. Feng Jun had revealed some crucial details at that time to help him wade through the deep waters of the Stardust Sect. He knew that the faction conflict wasn¡¯t limited within the disciple body. Even the Elders were locked in a constant struggle for more benefits, anything to enrich their faction.


    As he learned more about the situation first-hand here, the picture in his mind became clearer. The Phoenix Faction had lost quite a few elders over the last couple decades, some dead, some had disappeared, and some had simply left the sect after years of service. The circle of Elders on the other factions was becoming stronger in comparison. This was why it had been so easy for them to tear the Phoenix Faction to pieces. Perhaps the only neutral power in the sect was the Sect Master himself. Feng Jun had also confirmed it before. But with this clarity, a new doubt rose.


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Why did the Sect Master of Stardust Sect do nothing to prevent the escalation of infighting at such a scale in his sect?


    After the doubt came alive in his mind, Han Xuhan could no longer sit still.


    "Sister Mi, why didn''t your sect master do something about it? If even you disciples can see through the situation at a glance, how come he can''t? Or does he actually support the disintegration of your faction?"


    The expressions inside the cabin shifted immediately, uncertain eyes meeting each other and looking away. Han Xuhan noticed a tension rising.


    "The Sect Master... is preoccupied with his cultivation. We haven¡¯t seen him coming out of his palace in almost a year. We''ve tried to contact him multiple times, but his palace guards never let us. The Elders also don''t let you off if they sense your intentions."


    "Isn''t that awfully convenient..." Han Xuhan chewed on his words. "A year? Is he preparing for a major realm breakthrough?"


    Shen Mi rolled her eyes. "How would we know? He''s a cultivator at the Moth To A Flame stage. We don''t even know what cultivators do in that realm."


    "...Wait, the what to what stage?" Han Xuhan was flabbergasted, to say the least.


    Shen Mi sighed in exasperation and began to explain. "The sect master was originally a disciple of the infinity faction. Disciples in this faction are more suited for esoteric arts than the others. For example, I can cultivate the art of divination, but all it takes is one rookie like Leng Qing from that faction to defeat me in a competition. Even the predictions he fabricates are better than my guesses in terms of quality. Over the centuries since the Infinity faction was created, their style and techniques of cultivation deviated so much from the rest of the sect that they decided to reform their very idea of cultivation and its stages. I have heard of only three of these renamed major realms they prefer over the orthodox stages. The initial major realm is called the Starseer stage, then comes the Frog In A Well stage, and then the Moth To A Flame stage."


    "....Those are some very odd names," Han Xuhan commented unnecessarily. "Are you sure they''re not just messing with the four main factions for laughs?"


    "In that case, why would they give their own ranks such stupid names? We heard some of our seniors call their peers in the higher stages frogs and bugs as insults."


    "I see. Do these stages correspond to the orthodox realms? Starseers equal to those in the Physique Transformation realm, Frogs-"


    "That''s not a practical comparison, actually," Shen Mi said, interrupting him midway. "The divination techniques we cultivate have minimal effect on the practitioner''s physique. Those pursuing them can''t compare to ordinary cultivators. To make up for their lacking physique, they rely on secondary methods, such as body-cultivation, or a technique that puts a lot of focus on enhancing bodily attributes."


    Han Xuhan recalled the data Fang Xie''s hit-list had shown three days ago. So that was why Leng Qing had cultivated his body alongside his divination skills!


    Seeing how talkative and unguarded Shen Mi was at the moment, Han Xuhan quickly asked, "Did you say your sect master himself is at the Moth To A Flame stage? Unless you skipped a major realm between those three that you¡¯ve named, that''s only the third major realm. Isn''t that a little low for a sect master?"


    Shen Mi sent him a look of disbelief. "Low? You think having a cultivation base in the third major realm is low? How many cultivators of that stage do you know, huh?"


    Han Xuhan recalled the vague rumors circulating the Crimson Snow Sect. In terms of strength and influence, they were about the same as the Stardust Sect, maybe a degree higher. But he knew at least half a dozen Elders in the sect who supposedly had a cultivation base at the third major realm, including Kong Ye and Treasurer Shen.


    As for Xuan Zi, the sect master himself, Han Xuhan was pretty sure that the man was in the fourth major realm, or close to it, at least. His banters with Fang Xie had made that quite clear.


    Why did these two equal sects have such a disparity between them? Or was there something wrong with Shen Mi''s information? Han Xuhan concluded that the latter was probably the truth. But he didn''t need to point out her mistake. So he just laughed awkwardly and let the matter go.


    Right then, a series of loud commotions rose outside. A couple of disciples left the cabin to check the source. They returned very quickly. Both of them looked pale from fright.


    "Invaders. Two teams at once, and both seem to be from big sects. They''ve issued us an open challenge for duels."


    "Why are you two worried?" Shen Mi said. "It''s not like you''re gonna be picked to fight them."


    "...Sister Mi, the other four factions answered their challenge by nominating the faction in the seat of power to represent the sect. And technically, that still refers to us. The disintegration of our faction is not official yet."


    "Those scheming bastards! What the hell?!" Shen Mi roared in fury, trying to rise from her bed. But the effort evidently caused her more than a little pain, judging by her twisted face.


    Han Xuhan was impressed. The leaders of the other four factions of the Stardust Sect were really good at their job!

 C295: Make Some Noise With The Skeleton Boys!

    In the second island ring, the chaos that Han Xuhan had witnessed upon landing was no longer visible. A large, disciplined assembly had formed there at some point, headed by several leaders who were conversing with the invading teams jovially. With his improved vision, Han Xuhan could tell that even the invaders were a little thrown off by how enthusiastically they were being invited in for the duel.


    Someone in the crowd suddenly noticed them peeking from the roof of Shen Mi''s cabin and pointed it out loudly. A second later, hundreds of pairs of eyes shifted in their direction. Despite standing more than a hundred meters away, Han Xuhan felt his nerves tense up from having so many predatory gazes scanning him like a delicious meal.


    Wordlessly, he backed up and jumped down from the roof, landing on the other side of the cabin where they wouldn''t be able to see him.


    Shen Mi stumbled her way out of the cabin behind everyone else, assisted by a grave-faced Ning Xueshi. When Xuhan confirmed the oncoming wave of danger, she began to curse under her breath, her helplessness evident.


    "Sister Mi, I''ll do my best. You can''t fight. Let me take you back inside. You wouldn''t want to see..."


    "Shut up, Xueshi!" Shen Mi roared. Ning Xueshi fell silent, lowering her head. Both of them looked one exchange away from breaking down in tears. The countenance of her other eleven followers was equally gloomy.


    This was why Han Xuhan felt like a terrible human being as he threw out a hook of hope among them.


    "Sister Mi, if you guys really trust me, and trust Brother Feng Jun''s judgment, how about you co-operate with me one last time before the destruction of your faction is set in stone?"


    Heads jerked into his direction, all thirteen of them, their eyes wide in surprise. Very little hope was contained in their gazes, but the flame hadn¡¯t yet died.


    "You have a plan?" Shen Mi whispered.


    "You could say so. For it to have a chance of success, I need you to buy some time," Han Xuhan said confidently. Shen Mi and her martial siblings exchanged bitter looks among themselves for a couple of seconds before arriving to the inevitable conclusion.


    "We''ll try to negotiate with them. SOME of us can still fight, if necessary. How long do you need?" Ning Xueshi asked before Shen Mi could. Her emphasis on the word ''Some'' made Shen Mi wince.


    Han Xuhan pointed a finger at her and shook his head wearing a vague smile.


    "You need to come with me. The other eleven here can do the job of buying time."


    Seeing their puzzled faces, Han Xuhan knew that questions were about to come in a flurry. So he quickly blocked them, saying, "I need protection, and she seems more reliable than the rest of you."


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Nobody could argue with that. Leaving Shen Mi and the rest to face the unfriendly mob, Han Xuhan and Ning Xueshi left discreetly, hiding themselves behind the tightly packed series of cabins.


    "Where are we headed?" Ning Xueshi asked after a minute of following him in silence. Han Xuhan turned to look at her questioningly.


    "Where does your sect master live on this island?"


    Ning Xueshi pointed at the center of the island rings, where the massive, white tower of stone stood like an upright sword.


    "Lead me to his palace," Han Xuhan said authoritatively. Ning Xueshi''s face scrunched up.


    "Why? The guardian Elders won''t let us in," She said. "If you''re planning on asking for his help, there is no need to drag me to that farce. We''ve been begging on his palace gate for months. It''s futile. He only meets a few trusted Elders of the sect, and those Elders have no sympathy for us."


    "That''s exactly why I need you to be there when I try to enter," Han Xuhan said in a mysterious tone, keeping his plan vague. Ning Xueshi sent an exasperated look behind them, where the leftover members of the Phoenix faction were getting ready to meet the enemy. It was clear that she would''ve preferred to be there rather than acting as a guide and bodyguard to Xuhan.


    "You''re not going to make a difference there, sister Xueshi. Have trust in Shen Mi''s judgment and act as I request you to." Han Xuhan snapped his fingers in front of her face, dragging her back to reality.


    "Sister Mi''s judgment is terrible," Ning Xueshi grumbled under her breath and relented, taking the lead and speeding up. Han Xuhan had to put a lot of effort into his run in order to keep up.


    But when they arrived at the inner edge of the first island ring, Han Xuhan had to stop, because Ning Xueshi simply walked on the air to cross the gap between the first and the second ring like a cartoon character who hadn¡¯t noticed that she was was supposed to fall down.


    "Sister Xueshi, look down!" Han Xuhan shouted in a concerned tone. Ning Xueshi realized that Han Xuhan couldn''t follow her. Turning around, she gestured at him to follow her.


    "Don''t be afraid. There are invisible bridges connecting the island rings. We disciples have to rely on our memory and perception to determine where the closest invisible bridge is. All you need to do is to step exactly where I did in a straight line. These bridges are pretty narrow."


    "...Is this structure something you came up with after entering the Archipelago, or is this just the original structure of the Stardust Sect?" Han Xuhan couldn''t help but ask.


    "Oh, our original sect is a lot more complex than this. We have dozens of massive arrays that will test you endlessly. These arrays help the disciple hone their abilities even when they''re not cultivating. Most sects have them, right?"


    Han Xuhan thought back to all the sects he had visited or learned about from his peers. Indeed, it seemed that Crimson Snow Sect was the one with the simplest structure. No fancy towers, no arrays, no illusions, traps, or even a decent defense mechanism.


    Then he realized that he had only learned about the average and above average tier sects participating in this tournament. He had no idea what the top sects were like. And judging by the invasion team Abyss Guild had sent to their sect a while back, Han Xuhan had little doubt that he''d be as helpless as a chicken if he ever accidentally landed on one of those sects.


    Sighing, he aligned himself with Ning Xueshi and cautiously set his foot beyond the edge of the island according to her instructions. There was really something invisible pushing back, stable as a stone road. He quickly trotted forward, almost on all fours lest he missed one step and lost balance. Ning Xueshi looked like she was enjoying the sight.


    Upon reaching the second island, they wasted no time and headed toward the inner edge of the this disc shaped expanse. Several times, disciples of the Stardust Sect recognized them from a distance and tried to stop them, suspicious of their motives. But even as weakened as she was, Ning Xueshi forced them to stand aside with simple threats.


    Once more, Han Xuhan had to crawl above the gap between two island rings to reach the core area of the Stardust Sect. The central island turned out to be an extension of the massive tower. Fully made from concrete and marble, a wide, deserted floor led to dozens of tall stone doorways surrounding the main body of the tower.


    "The Elders all live here on different floors. The tower extends below as much as it does above. And the sect master lives all the way at the top."


    Ning Xueshi''s explanation wasn¡¯t really necessary. Because Han Xuhan easily noticed how lavish the highest floor of the tower looked compared to the lower floors. The walls there exuded a red, crystalline glow. Strange houseplants grew from the walls, crisscrossing the floor to form a Beautiful visage. Their leaves moved with an wind that seemed to exist only on that floor. Dry leaves floated around the large windows in circles, never falling down.


    They could even sense the fresh qi rolling around the tower in a calm tide, perfect for cultivation.


    After enjoying the view for a moment, Han Xuhan summoned Tun Shi Tian decisively.


    "Minion, see that beautiful glass window on the top floor? Yeah, go demolish it for me. Don''t be scared! We''re here to MAKE SOME FUCKING NOISE!"

 Chapter 296: Here I Stand, Untouchable Among My Enemies

    The materials used in crafting the top floor proved to be more than just exquisite, because it took six ''Shooting Star Smashes'' from Tun Shi Tian to fully break down the glass window. The bird put his heart and soul into the attacks, hooting as loudly as an owl could.


    By the fifth smash, the tower was awake, and many unknown, older faces popped open windows on various floors to take a look at this daring miscreant. These men and women were presumably the Elders of Stardust Sect. By the time Tun Shi Tian executed his sixth smash right under their wide eyes, some of them, the quicker ones, were ready to teach Han Xuhan and his minion a harsh lesson. One of them made a grabbing gesture at Tun Shi Tian and the owl suddenly disappeared from the top of the tower, materializing inside the man''s grasp.


    Down below on the disc-shaped floor, Han Xuhan and Ning Xueshi were surrounded by a mob of seniors who looked furious and intrigued at the same time. Questions and aggression came hand-in-hand at Xuhan.


    "Does this boy not know about the rules of invasion? Why is he attacking our tower?"


    "This kid... Did he think attacking the living quarters of the Elders is permitted?"


    "Hey, lad! Do you know how much that window costs? We can lawfully keep you here for ransom, you know?"


    "Child, which sect do you hail from?" One of the older Elders stepped forward before everyone and cast an oppressive shadow over Xuhan. This was a move borne of experience and caution, because they were probably under the Impression that someone so gutsy would be a disciple of a powerful sect, in which case they could not dish out too severe a punishment.


    So Han Xuhan simply ignored the question. Even as his heart beat like a drum, he kept his face placid and spoke coldly.


    "Don''t block my way. I have a message for the person inside."


    The old man did a great job at suppressing his rising fury. "And what message might this be?" he asked, chewing on each word. "Are you not aware that our sect master is in a critical phase of his cultivation? He''s not seeing outsiders. We Elders are responsible for his safety and the decisions of the sect."


    Han Xuhan put his calm gaze on the Elder''s eyes, trying to generate as much apathy as possible on his countenance.


    "That reply didn''t stop my master, now, did it? No reason for it to stop me," he said. The confusion his reply created was evident on everyone''s face. Even Ning Xueshi, standing beside him in a meek posture, turned to look at him, bewildered.


    "Who is your master?" The old man voiced the question that had formed in everyone''s mind.


    "Who my master is... is not something you''re qualified to know. Perhaps you¡¯ve caught a glimpse of him, perhaps not. Those among you who are powerful enough probably should have come across a black silhouette here a couple of times. Hell, Master Mo was messing around on your sect even two days ago."


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Who?"


    "What happened two days ago?"


    "What is this boy talking about?"


    "Mr Mo... doesn''t quite sound familiar."


    Such responses stirred up a clamor inside the crowd of Elders. Almost all of them looked confused... almost.


    The senior Elder whose aura had been pressing down on Xuhan from all sides suddenly took a step back, and his hands, which he had held behind him in a domineering fashion until now, quickly came in front of him to form a polite salute. His overbearing countenance disappeared, replaced by an ingratiating look as he beckoned Han Xuhan inside.


    "Oh, ho, ho, so it''s the disciple of Senior Mo! No wonder, no wonder! Only he could teach a disciple like you, so outstanding that even I cannot fathom your cultivation! In fact, I couldn¡¯t even sense any aura of cultivation on you! Quite remarkable, indeed. Just like your teacher!"


    "...." Han Xuhan deemed it better not to speak here. There was no need to explain that senior Mo''s method of hiding his cultivation was vastly different from his ''method'' of hiding his cultivation. Senior Mo must have put a lot of time and effort into his cloaking ability. But for Xuhan... he didn''t need to hide what he didn''t have.


    As he silently stepped forward to enter the tower, he felt his body freeze up, as if someone had restrained his muscles with telekinesis. A voice came from behind, revealing the culprit.


    "Elder Tong, I believe some of us would appreciate an explanation. Who the hell is this Senior Mo? Even if he''s the ancestor of a top sect, how could he be allowed to enter? Let alone his disciple-"


    "Elder Meng," The old man interrupted him midway. "It''s not that we allowed Senior Mo to enter, but that Senior Mo allowed us to sense him when he felt like entering the sect master''s cultivation chamber."


    The sheer expression of helplessness coating that explanation stunned the complaining Elder. His telekinetic grip on Han Xuhan slowly loosened up. Smiling coldly, Han Xuhan stepped forward again, but his foot was forced to stop once more right at the grand doorsill.


    "How can we verify that this Elder Mo, or whoever this kid is, has good intentions? They could very well be elusive demonic cultivators. Just because they are more powerful, it doesn¡¯t mean we must lower our heads and let them treat our sect like their backyard!"


    This time, before Elder Tong could speak in his defense, Han Xuhan turned around and faced the woman who had stopped him.


    "What is this esteemed Elder''s name?"


    "I am Xue Hua. May I know which sect you represent?" She asked, refusing to back down.


    Han Xuhan stared at her for a moment before replying. "Elder Hua, I represent a sect of demonic cultivators. We specialize in a certain art called Soul-Shattering Puppet Refinement technique. Some of you have heard of it, I''m sure."


    "...."


    Silence. Absolute, deafening silence. Every heartbeat in the floating island seemed to stop for a moment. Eyes gradually widened, pupils shrinking, as the weight of his confession set in. A wave of indignant fury overtook the crowd of Elders.


    "Wretch, how dare you?"


    "A demonic cultivator! Catch him alive!"


    "Seal off the island!"


    "Block every subspace gateway!"


    The very air around the gargantuan white tower recoiled as energy, qi, light, and sound, all erupted in a frenzied tsunami, their focus on one target standing at the door of the tower. Time seemed to slow down for Han Xuhan. Contrary to what these Elders must have expected, he did not move a muscle. In fact, he wasn¡¯t even paying attention to the onslaught of attacks headed his way.


    His eyes were on a certain portion of the crowd, smiling at the anger on some Elders'' faces. This anger was not born out of indignation, but from terror.


    He, Han Xuhan, was no longer an existence anyone here could lay a finger on.

 Chapter 297: Yin Below, Yang Above, I Am The Center

    The air around the floating island solidified. The empty space became an impenetrable barrier. Qi no longer obeyed mental commands. Every independent array stopped functioning. All available fuels of artificial laws were neutralized. Nascent genesis of countless daos covered heaven and earth, making the heavenly way recoil. Overlapping Totalities were forcibly alienated. And the flow of time around the tower seemed to have been torn from the continuum and virtually slowed down.


    All of it was to capture one target¨C a young man who exuded an aura no different from a mortal and stood with his hands behind his back in front of the white skyscraper. His eyes held one part of caution and nine parts of confidence. And his lips were stretched into a provocative sneer.


    It was unknown to the crowd whether he could sense the reality-shattering eruptions of power affecting his perception, his body and mind, and his plans of self-defence. Not a silver of fear showed up on his face even as the numerous techniques of profound gravity grew stronger and cut off the way for everything that he could possibly do to fight back.


    Only, he did not choose to fight back at all. Amidst the tumultuous waves of qi, laws, and heavenly phenomena, several anomalies exploded with the likeness of dying stars, overwhelming every technique employed to target the young man.


    Above the white tower, space distorted and fissures formed, shrouding the sky with their pitch-black maws. Even the sunlight dimmed. The sense of loss and alienation from the real world skyrocketed in every Elder''s heart, this time being the handiwork of a party other than them, targeting them instead of the boy.


    But soon, they came to realize their mistake. The party targeting them did not consist of outsiders. Some of the Elders acting alongside them had suddenly shifted their focus to disperse their combined assault.


    This didn''t deter some of them, though. They burst through the scattered remains of the techniques and repeated their qi cycles, forming colorful, airborne seals around them that resisted the neutralizing powers suppressing their attacks.


    At this moment, a person who hadn¡¯t acted until now made his move. Elder Tong turned around, shielding Han Xuhan from the onslaught with his body.


    "Fellow Elders, please disperse, ALL OF YOU!"


    His roar seemed to contain an inexplicable force. The bright burning seals converging around Han Xuhan and him crumpled into tiny masses of light, shivering in the air like magnets repelling magnets.


    "But Elder Tong-"


    "You will be silent!" the old man pointed at the one who had protested. "You are one of the few who know what this young man truly represents. And you know what he meant by naming that technique. So shut your mouth and get out of my sight!"


    None of the Elders looked pleased to hear the threat in his tone, least of all the one spoken to. While many of them appeared unsure of themselves, a few wore helpless, but understanding looks.


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    Han Xuhan clapped his palms together loudly, and in the awkward silence pervading the island, that clap rang as harsh as summer''s sudden thunder.


    "Looks like no one else shall be tempted to stop me for a chat without my consent. Lovely! I was almost beginning to consider making a poem about the infamous Soul Shattering Puppet Refinement Technique and sending it to my friends from various sects. People love to gossip about scandals."


    With those words, he flicked his sleeves pompously and walked past the heavy doors of carved stone. His back disappeared from the crowd''s eyes moments later. Elder Tong stared at the crowd in a daze, the fury in his eyes slowly mellowing into sorrow.


    "Mingyu, Oh Mingyu, I hope you foresaw this too, I really do. Whether we live or die now... it all depends on how much the moth hates the flame for burning its wings."


    ......... .......... .........


    Han Xuhan''s stride into the tower was confident, knowing fully well that not a soul behind him would dare block his way for the third time.


    However, he was still forced to stop the moment his eyes became used to the dimly lit inner palace confined within the tall walls. Nothing about the tower outside could have prepared him for the visage around him right now.


    The laws of space appeared to have been tampered with while designing the tower. The floor Han Xuhan was standing on was the core part of the disc-shaped central island. Constructed entirely out of glass, it divided the tower into two perfectly identical portions above and below. Both portions became wider with their distance from the central floor, forming a twin-cone style structure. And he was positioned at the center where both coneheads met.


    The source of light here seemed brighter than the sun, perched up at the topmost point of the tower. In a hard contrast to its blinding radiance, the bottommost floor was subsumed within impenetrable shadows. Standing there, at the edge of the middle floor, Han Xuhan was strongly reminded of the Totality of Autonomy.


    But perhaps this was a result of his paranoia. The symbolism of contrasting light and darkness within the confinement of symmetrical boundary was a common one, even in the mortal world. This tower could very well be a grand imitation of yin-yang harmony.


    Shlink. Shlink. Shlink. Shlink.


    Sounds of chains snapping in the air hit his eardrums like the whispers of a devil, soft as silk, invisible and persistent. No matter where he looked, all he saw were windows and doors on walls painted with incomprehensible art.


    "Damn, those Elders outside were all just... chilling here or what?"


    His marvelling tone travelled far inside the empty building, echoing way too many times to be the result of natural physics. Han Xuhan was not deterred by the unconventional atmosphere. He was growing used to the wild side of the world of cultivation, one sect at a time. He was here with serious business, hoping to meet a powerful stranger. And if this stranger truly was worth his position, this could very well be a welcoming ceremony!


    Han Xuhan carefully took a step forward on the glass floor, and a very faint crack sounded below his boot. Had his physical attributes been a degree less enhanced, he would not have caught it. This floor was not meant to be treaded on.


    But as he tried to retract his feet, his ears caught another sound, hidden underneath the clanking noise of metal shackles. For the briefest moment, he heard a voice.


    "Welcome."


    Han Xuhan put his foot back where it was and contemplated the situation for a moment before replying, "What''s the warranty on this glass? I''m only 57 kilograms. Can it handle my weight?"


    Nobody responded. But the sound of chains continued, its source unknown. Han Xuhan glanced up and down like a pedestrian in front of a zebra crossing, and then placed his front foot a few inches farther as a test.


    Again, the cracking sound of glass reached him, accompanied by another whisper.


    "I''ve been waiting."


    "Oh? Who told you I was coming? Your prediction abilities?" Han Xuhan shouted back. But as expected, no replies came.


    Han Xuhan retracted his foot fully and leaned behind on the wall. This appeared to be a test. If he wanted to meet the master of the Stardust Sect, he would have to brave the risk of walking on this fragile floor. The braver he was, the further he would dare to move into the floor, and the more substantial their communication was going to be.


    Back on Earth, he loved the scenes of protagonists meeting eccentric old monsters in unusual environments, dangerous places where every move could mean death, secret realms where even conversations had to be held under layers of mystique. But now, facing the exact same situation here, he wished that he was in the old monster''s shoes rather than the young prodigy... Oh wait, he wasn¡¯t in the young prodigy''s shoes either.


    Yet those days had passed when he used to fear being placed in a side character''s position. This world of cultivation was real. The children of destiny here were not extraordinary as the novels. He could make them dance like puppets in his palm if he wanted to. He, Han Xuhan, did not fear a mere test of boldness!


    He looked down at his feet and noticed his vaguely visible reflection staring back at him with a burning gaze. But as he took a step forward, his reflection stayed where it was.

 Chapter 298: I Am Harmonious

    Han Xuhan''s right foot hovered over the glass floor, his eyes focused on his reflection which hadn¡¯t moved a muscle. Rather his reflection stared back at him, particularly focused on his hovering foot as if in anticipation of it landing on the floor.


    "...Ahem." Han Xuhan coughed awkwardly, hoping to evoke a change into this impasse. But his reflection only glanced back at his face for a second.


    Han Xuhan retracted his foot again. This time the change he was hoping for finally occurred. A familiar voice came out of the reflection''s mouth¨C his own voice, to be exact.


    "You don''t have all day. Stop wasting time and walk forward like a real man. What are you afraid of? You know you won''t be harmed here easily."


    Han Xuhan felt inclined to agree. Regardless of the oddity of this situation, he didn''t really fear the master of the Stardust Sect, not after what Feng Jun had revealed to him three nights ago. But just because he didn''t fear harm didn''t mean he had to make stupid moves.


    "You seem pretty eager when it comes to word of mouth. So I ain''t moving a muscle before you tell me who you are. Are you the sect master I''m here to meet?"


    This time his reflection looked a little confused. "No, I am me, Han Xuhan. You''re the impostor who''s been acting strange after possessing my reflection in the floor."


    "Not this fucking identity disorder again!" Han Xuhan cursed out loud. "If you''re the real Xuhan, why would I take the risk of moving forward? Bullshit!"


    "I thought the sect master was using you as a medium to show me what to do," his reflection replied impassively.


    "....Ah, that''s a good angle, not gonna lie." Han Xuhan scratched his head for a moment before yelling at the emptiness ahead.


    "Sect Master, what''s going on here? Quit stirring up these mysterious problems. We could just meet up like two normal human beings and have a very effective chat. You know that, right?"


    But since no answers came, he boldly moved a step forward to hear what the other voice inside the tower had to say.


    "He''s the yin to your yang. To overcome all tribulations, yin and yang must move in harmony."


    This time his step was long, and so was the message he received. Han Xuhan looked up at the sun-like ball of light and then down at the shadows lurking beneath. Then his gaze met with his reflection''s intrigued stare.


    "Did you hear that?" his reflection asked.


    "I generated that, bitch," Han Xuhan replied. "Try stepping forward like me and see what happens."


    "What''s with the rude language? That''s so not me," the reflection said in a disgusted tone.


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Han Xuhan grimaced. "You heard those two sentences. The symbolism in this tower seems to be more than just decorations. Even as a reflection, you''re on the yin-side, and I am standing within the boundary of yang. So loosely, that makes you qualify to be called a bitch, in more ways than one, too."


    "...Excuse me?!" His reflection sounded scandalized. "You''re the damn reflection, not me! And how does a mere reflection get pulled into a formation when it isn''t even present in the material world? The bottom half of the tower beneath me isn''t where you are, you''re just the outcome of reflected light right off the floor."


    Han Xuhan realized that to his reflection, the yin-side was up, the real world and he was the illusory side, mirroring his own perspective. There really wasn¡¯t any merit in arguing over it.


    The most plausible answer was that neither of them were the real Xuhan, but certain parts of him. He was as unreal as his reflection. Only his true self was real, but it wasn¡¯t visible here. He hadn¡¯t been his true self since his entry inside the tower.


    Fortunately, while his reflection appeared to be quite different from his original personality, its intellect hadn¡¯t been affected. The reflected Xuhan moved his foot forward and stepped on the exact same spot as him.


    "When harmony is achieved within oneself, one is capable of seeing through the world."


    With the whisper next to his ears, the entire visage of the tower suddenly began to transform.


    It was as if he had been stuck inside an illusion until now. The dual cone shaped structure he was standing inside began to be erased from his view like a drawing under an eraser''s scratch. The yang side above came crashing down, and the yin side below shot upwards, but no signs of destruction formed around him. For a moment, Han Xuhan felt like he was a part of a 3D projection.


    A deep rumble rolled through the tower as it assimilated into something new in his perception. When the chaos cleared up, Han Xuhan found himself standing at the bottom of a massive chamber, dimly lit by a humanoid silhouette hanging from the ceiling, glowing as red as a setting sun.


    Innumerable metal shackles as narrow as weeds were tied around the silhouette, some of them even seemingly skewering it. The bottom ends of the shackles hung low, almost enough for him to jump and touch. As the silhouette revolved gently, so did these hanging chains. And thus the mystery of the vague sound Han Xuhan had been hearing since his entrance into the tower became clear.


    Han Xuhan looked below for his reflection, and discovered that the semi-transparent floor had now turned into a mirror-like surface, showing a much more distinct reflection of the chamber. But his own replica inside this reflected world no longer deviated from his movements independently.


    "Erm... Fem:Xuhan, are you still there?" Han Xuhan asked tentatively. The outcome seemed to hint that the yin-yang division of his self was now over. He was back inside his real self and real body. It did make sense, now that he thought about it. The boldness his heart had been steeped in for the last couple minutes seemed quite extreme at the moment.


    His attention shifted to the rest of the reflected image, and he realized with a start that the floor wasn¡¯t reflecting the hanging metal chains above his head, or of the red silhouette. In the reflected vision of the chamber, only he and the chamber existed, lit by an unknown source, exuding a feeling of desolation.


    "Upon attainment of inner harmony, the self must be harmonized with the world. To see through the world is to understand the choices. To choose is to open a door to this extension of harmony."


    Again, the cryptic message of the mysterious voice provided a hint that he had to analyse for a moment. If by seeing through the world, the voice indicated the ability to see these chains and the flaming silhouette, then the only things to choose here were perhaps the chains. Each chain could be the representative of a choice.


    Scratching his head for a second, Han Xuhan noticed a particularly low-hanging chain a few meters away and ran toward it to give it a good yank. The result, again, was not something he would have ever been able to predict.


    The chain came alive like a serpent in his grip, suddenly straightening and shooting toward his body. Within the blink of an eye, his torso was wrapped up by the bottom end of the chain from several angles, tight enough to pull him around, but simple enough to let him struggle out of the hold if he wanted.


    "As I had imagined, an interesting choice. Is it a coincidence that the chosen path was the most elaborate one? The longest and most arduous path, too. Yet it was available nearby right at the moment of making a choice, making it a convenient option. Is ''convenient'' the answer, then?"


    Hearing the rhetorical question, Han Xuhan shouted angrily, "It would be pretty convenient if you quit being so dramatic, sect master!"


    The voice ignored him, continuing to muse on its own. "But a convenience caused by coincidence should not have such an impact. Perhaps, there is a deeper layer to it. Yes... Of course, the world designs the choices, but here, I am the world. The choices all start with me and end with me. Thus a coincidence is also an arrangement made by me. If heaven encompasses the world, then heaven arranges all coincidences. So in a way, heaven''s will controls all choices, and as I protect myself, heaven''s fire protects the sanctity of each choice. To see these choices is to brave heaven''s fire. Alas, a moth like me cannot resist fire..."

 Chapter 299: Heavens Emissary

    The chain wrapped around his body began to soar upwards slowly, giving Han Xuhan enough time and opportunity to extract himself out of its binding. But as he listened on to the rambling master of the Stardust Sect, he felt oddly enlightened. There was a strange charm to his crazed whispers. He didn¡¯t see any point in opposing what was going on here. The chain was obviously meant to carry him up. What for... He''d know very soon.


    So his body went up, higher and higher, until the ground began to look menacing. If the chain slipped, his body wouldn''t be able to withstand it. Han Xuhan looked around for support in case that possibility came true. The other chains hanging around him were within arm''s reach, but for some reason, they flickered in and out of his vision like bugged images.


    "Thousand chains of fictitious reality cannot encompass the myriad variations in one single sandgrain''s fate. How can I rely on it to predict the fate of heaven and earth? To predict, is to be marked by heaven''s wrath. To predict, is to be a threat to earth''s prosperity. To predict, is to bring chaos into order, inevitably destabilizing outer extension, inner formation, and core seed of integrated harmony."


    The voice stopped as Han Xuhan''s tied-up body reached close enough to the flaming red silhouette to feel its scorching aura. He began to struggle slightly against the chains, hoping to attract the man''s attention.


    "Then again, to predict is a choice, like every other path open to the seekers of heaven''s will. Why shall heaven be opposed to a seeker on this path unless the seeker has been walking in the wrong direction? But if my direction is wrong, which direction is right?"


    "Hot! Hot! Owww! Down is the right direction! Take me down, dammit!" Han Xuhan''s screech overpowered whatever else the speaker wanted to say. He was almost face to face with the humanoid sun right now, and even his enhanced body was reacting painfully to the heat coming off the silhouette.


    The chain carrying him up stopped. Han Xuhan breathed in relief seeing that the sect master had not lost his sanity yet. He could still communicate with the man.


    "I might have chosen the longest chain that you think represents the most elaborate choice," he said, unsure how much of it was reaching the sect master. "But it doesn''t mean we have to have such an elaborate and long-winded mode of communication. Haven¡¯t you been injured, sect master? Why are you wasting your energy and my time performing these tricks on me when you could focus on healing?"


    A strange silence encapsulated the chamber this time. Han Xuhan was almost beginning to think that he was being ignored, but he suddenly noticed faint traces of humanoid features forming on the silhouette of red flames, especially prominent on its head.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    A single eye on the right side of the face opened up like a veil being ripped into two. The flames made way for a rolling eyeball that had fixed its focus on him. Gazing back at the golden pupil, Han Xuhan felt an sensation he hadn¡¯t felt in a long, long time¡ªthe feeling that he was being seen through, body, soul, and spirit ransacked casually by a cold, superior being. The first time he had ever felt like that was when he had met the old grandpa being escorted to the Crimson Snow Sect by Shen Hai and his team of soldiers. The second time he had felt it was when he met Xuan Zi in the sect with the identity of a reincarnator.


    Struggling a little under the confinement of the chain holding him, he put one hand over his chest and the other over his crotch.


    "...You certainly have a character that would tolerate no constrained exchange, a sharp contrast to your choice of fate," came a voice from the silhouette.


    "Choice of fate?" Han Xuhan was flummoxed. "Fate can be chosen?"


    The silhouette did not reply. The eye that had opened on its face disappeared underneath a layer of golden light again. But before it did so, he noticed a rather prominent emotion surfacing in the silhouette''s gaze¡ªsurprise.


    What was so surprising?


    Seconds accumulated into a minute. Minutes streamed away one by one. Aside from his own uneasy shuffling under the chains, not a sound could be heard in the vast chamber.


    Faintly, very faintly, the sound of thunder seeped past the walls. Han Xuhan was about to ignore it, deeming a rainstorm at this climate nothing but an annoyance. But he recalled what world he was living in.


    Thunder did not come only when nature demanded it. Thunder could come even when man demanded it.


    The cackles grew stronger, louder, not even the thick concrete walls capable of muting them anymore. Eventually, it got so loud that he felt like he was a hair''s breadth away from being struck by some. It was as if the entire building had been surrounded by a ceaseless thunderstorm, the walls barely able to hold up against the waves of sound and forceful collisions.


    The fiery silhouette above him began to revolve like a drill, radiating even more heat. The chains wrapped around the silhouette spun like a skirt of steel, forming a reversed vortex inside the chamber. Han Xuhan was caught right under the eye of the vortex. His shackle was the only one that did not move, not even by the fierce wind raging around him due to the spinning vortex.


    Finally, the voice sounded again, this time much clearer, overwhelming the sound of the steel tornado inside the chamber and the thunderstorm outside.


    "If fate can be chosen, what significance lies in choosing a path? Paths are infinite; fates are less so. Paths are flexible; fates are a constant flux. Paths can be shifted, but fate cannot be thwarted. All paths must lead to one fate, every other fate existing in non-existence. So fate must not be the result of a choice. This was my last error, thus leading me in the wrong direction. To predict, then, is to use the myriad paths as a tool to advance towards a fate. Heaven''s wrath against the seeker, then, is a tool to use while choosing a path. Bigger the fire, bigger the wrath, bigger the fate, smaller the path."


    As soon as the voice concluded its speech, every beat of noise stopped at once. The vortex of chains suddenly disappeared alongside the thunderous sounds outside the chamber. The spinning silhouette of fire broke apart into thousands of tiny specks of flames, spreading all around the chamber like fallen leaves. Han Xuhan would have screamed upon realizing that the chain holding him airborne no longer existed, but a tumbling sense of balance inside his skull told him that he wasn¡¯t hovering fifty meters above the ground. In fact, his footing was solid, as evenly balanced as it could be.


    Looking down, he saw a smooth concrete floor under his feet. The castle of glass and steel was nowhere to be seen. And an unfamiliar, fat man garbed in a dirty, dusty robe was seated in the lotus position right in front of him.


    The man met his dumbfounded eyes with a placid smile, gesturing at him to sit on the floor as well.


    "Heavenly emissary, please make yourself comfortable. You''ve come to Li Mingyu with some demands, I suppose. Do voice them so that I can repay you for helping me regain my freedom."

 Chapter 300: Mortal Versus Oracle

    "My first demand is answers," Han Xuhan said as he sat down, face-to-face with the sect master of the Stardust Sect. "Your greeting alone gave birth to many questions, senior Mingyu. Why did you call me a heavenly emissary? How do you know that I have come to you with demands? And what exactly do you mean by ''regaining your freedom''?"


    The fat, grimy man waved a hand nonchalantly. "I was on the cusp of a breakthrough, stuck in a tribulation caused by my own heart. I kept cursing the heavens for my own weaknesses. So when you came to undo my mistakes, I found it fitting to call you an emissary from the heavens. There is nothing more to it."


    "...Okay." Han Xuhan wasn¡¯t so sure that he was telling the truth. But he chose not to argue.


    "As for how I know of your intentions to come here...a question that''s simple to ask, with an answer that may be difficult to accept. The answer is that I foresaw it. I''m pretty good at that."


    "Oh no," Han Xuhan said. "That''s not an answer I find hard to accept. I''ve been told that you excel at it."


    "Not everyone likes that," Li Mingyu said with a shrug. "Most cultivators hate an oracle who doesn¡¯t help them choose."


    "Choose what? The jargon you were spouting earlier about paths and fates?"


    "Everything. You''ll get it someday. Today, I believe, you''re in a hurry. What I am in the dark about is why, and what you want me to do."


    Han Xuhan felt a little weirded out by the direction their interaction was going. His assumption about experts like Li Mingyu was that they''d speak in riddles and give vague, evasive answers to every question. Even Leng Qing, the only other oracle-ish cultivator he knew didn''t speak in such a straightforward manner.


    "Senior Mingyu, what is your opinion on the factionalism thriving in your sect? Are you bothered by it? Do you dislike any of them?"


    Li Mingyu frowned, lips pressed into a thin line. "The wise say that unity is strength. I do not believe it, at least not when it comes to a large group of people with the same goal¡ªfor example, a sect. Here, healthy competition breeds the strength, and unity among them is as fragile as a cicada''s wing. Only the presence of more strength, a higher power, can regulate their growth and actions. So, to directly answer your question, I do not dislike the factionalism in my sect, and neither do I dislike any factions in particular."


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    "Then are you aware that the Phoenix faction of your sect is about to be disbanded as we speak? Their handful of members are performing an act of final stand, and considering how long I have been stuck with you, their final stand is probably on its last pair of legs."


    Han Xuhan expected to see some surprise, since Li Mingy''s previous answer had that neutral tone. But he was greeted with an expressionless face.


    "I am indeed aware. In fact, I knew this day was coming."


    "You predicted that, too?!" Han Xuhan asked, a little shocked.


    "Not in the way you''re thinking," Li Mingyu said, laughing lightly. "Their faction has produced three generations of disciples we could take pride in. Not a single one of those geniuses is left. Even some of the Elders who taught them and supported them have disappeared or died. Quite the mystery, really. I''m quite certain that the other factions had nothing to do with the situation. Each of them thinks the other two did it."


    "In that case, why have you not done anything to prevent this day from coming? With your abilities, surely, you could''ve prevented the Phoenix faction''s tragic downfall...?" Han Xuhan asked. In the back of his mind, a sense of alarm was gradually rising. He hadn¡¯t assumed that Li Mingyu would be so apathetic to the chaos in his sect. But even so, Han Xuhan had one last card up his sleeve. He could still pressure this man, regardless of his attitude.


    "Tragic downfall?" A sharp hint of reproach seeped into Li Mingyu''s tone. "There''s nothing tragic about it. They''ve occupied the seat of power for over a decade. They''ve pushed away the potential geniuses from the other four factions directly, indirectly, and sometimes, unfairly, hogging the resources of the sect like a wild dragon. Now, their faction has failed to hold up that glory. So don''t you think it is better to let the other factions step in and take charge for a while? Granted, the same story will play out over the next decade, no matter which faction usurps the seat of power. That''s the way the world is."


    Han Xuhan raised a hand, stopping him before another tirade.


    "Sect Master Mingyu, I''m not talking about letting them stay in the seat of power. I just hope that you can let them maintain their dignity and position as a major faction, that''s all."


    "Maintain their position with what?" Li Mingyu''s tone became colder. "They don''t have the numbers to deal with the responsibilities of a major faction. They don''t have the capability to go toe to toe against the other three major factions either. Do you want me to coddle them and fight off the other nine-tenths of the sect? I appreciate that you helped me cross the breakthrough threshold, even though you did it unknowingly. But you''re asking me to do an act of injustice so grave that it will tear apart my sect."


    Han Xuhan sighed, leaning back to shift his weight as his discomfort with the situation grew. Li Mingyu really wasn¡¯t as cooperative as he had hoped he would be. There was only one way out of this pit now. And that was no honorable path.


    It was a good thing that his list of honorable acts had never been exhaustive. He could fit a lot into the list.


    "Sect master Mingyu, since you''re a man who has been pursuing the path of foretelling and hidden knowledge, have you foreseen what I am going to do to convince you to help the Phoenix faction?"


    The confidence in his tone drew Li Mingyu''s attention. To see a rookie cultivator be so bold in front of a senior three major realms above him was not a scenario that played out frequently. Deep in his foresight-induced reverie, he began to rub his soot-covered neck unconsciously, peeling layers of filth off his skin.


    "...You could do many things to achieve that," he said, his gaze a little distant. "But you''re a person who likes to choose the optimal outcome for everyone involved, even if it inconveniences you. So I''m going to pick the most dangerous card you have in your hands. Will you be threatening me with Ning Xueshi''s Puppetized Soul?"

 Chapter 301: Stardust Sects Scheme

    Han Xuhan''s shock could not be more pronounced on his face. He stared at Li Mingyu open-mouthed like a fool, eyes wide as saucers. If it were up to him, he would have remained seated like that for an hour or so, just as a show of appreciation and respect. But the ticking clock in the back of his mind reminded him that he had a promise to keep. Still, he could not help being curious.


    "Sect Master Li Mingyu, may I know how this technique of yours works? It is fascinating!"


    Li Mingyu shook his head. "Unfortunately, I cannot reveal anything about it to you except its name."


    "Oh." Han Xuhan felt disappointed, but he had expected as much. "Does this name have any significance in relation to the technique?"


    "Yes, it''s one of those incredibly upfront titles that lets people guess what the technique''s essence is," Li Mingyu explained, causing a sense of intrigue to be born in Xuhan''s heart. He leaned over a little to catch the name.


    "Thousand Chains of Fictitious Reality¡ª that''s the title of my technique. Sounds familiar?" Li Mingyu said in a merry tone.


    Han Xuhan slowly nodded, recalling the scene three minutes ago when he was stuck inside Li Mingyu''s unhinged illusory world.


    "I have to admit," he said, "Your foretelling is making me feel like a puppet on strings. But if you were truly so close to omniscience as you portray yourself, would we be having this conversation? Would I really be able to use Ning Xueshi''s condition to pressure you?"


    Li Mingyu snickered. "I''ve never claimed to be a near-omniscient oracle. That''s just what your limited perception leads you to believe. In fact, I didn¡¯t even predict that part about you using Ning Xueshi this way. I just heard you blackmail the elders outside so that they would let you enter this tower. Who else in the Stardust Sect except Ning Xueshi is afflicted by the Soul Shattering Puppet Refinement technique? After you named that forbidden technique, arriving at the answer to your question was just climbing a logical ladder."


    Han Xuhan clapped his palms together. ¡°I have learned from sect master!¡±


    ¡°What have you learned?¡± Li Mingyu said, skeptical.


    ¡°Shamelessness.¡± Han Xuhan answered boldly and moved on to a different topic without giving the man a chance to get angry. ¡°But master Mingyu, the fact remains that I now hold your sect''s reputation in my grasp. And my grasp is usually very tight. Today, I want to do you a favor and loosen this grasp, so that your Stardust Sect''s dirty demonic practices don''t get publicized to the whole world of cultivation. That would lead to the extinction of your sect, not just a faction.¡±


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Li Mingyu met his passionate eyes with a placid gaze. ¡°And your price for doing me this favor is to help the Phoenix faction maintain its existence?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°How does that benefit you? Why are you so concerned about the fate of this faction of a foreign sect?" Li Mingyu asked, his voice suddenly taking a sharp turn.


    ¡°It benefits a friend of mine, and I owe this benefit to him.¡± Han Xuhan chose to hide his dealings with Feng Jun for a good reason. But Li Mingyu''s follow-up made him realize that he might have walked into a trap.


    ¡°If this friend of yours happened to be surnamed Feng, it''d be quite a joke, wouldn''t it?¡±


    ¡°...Feng Jun? Isn''t he the genius of Phoenix faction who disappeared inside a world fragment half a year ago?¡± Han Xuhan said in a voice so natural that even he was convinced by his innocent response. ¡°Sister Shen Mi told me a little about him. Why does master Mingyu think I''d be a friend of his?¡±


    Li Mingyu started laughing so hard that his fat body began jiggling all around. ¡°Young man, I can see Feng Jun and your fate intersecting even now. The reason I could predict that you''d come to my sect with some demands is due to my familiarity with Feng Jun''s fate. And oh, I forgot to mention something crucial! Feng Jun has been contacting his fellow conspirators in this sect regularly since he was trapped inside the Holy Land of Laws. Of course he would try to do something big after learning that his faction is about to be eaten up, even if he needs to ask for the help of an unscrupulous foreigner!¡±


    The revelation left Han Xuhan silenced and frozen for a good few moments. The only reason he could regather his scattered thoughts quickly was due to his frequent brushes with such backstabbing scenarios. From the very beginning, he hadn''t really trusted Feng Jun to be wholly honest during their exchange.


    But Li Mingyu''s answer was itself another trove of twists. So he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Master Mingyu, what do you mean by conspirators? How is Feng Jun contacting them?¡±


    To his knowledge, Feng Jun and his team were under Qian Yun''s command inside the world fragment of the Holy Land. Qian Yun had made it clear that none of them could get out of that place, and their only contact with the outside world was Han Xuhan. This was the main reason behind their frequent deals and exchange of resources. Otherwise, why would they acquiesce to so many of his unfair dema- Ahem! Ahem!


    ¡°Has Feng Jun not told you how or why he and his team got into the Holy Land of Laws?¡± Li Mingyu said, sounding surprised. Seeing Xuhan shake his head, he snorted.


    ¡°No wonder you''ve been so cocky and self-righteous since stepping onto my sect. The world fragment of the Holy Land was sealed with the goal of keeping it hidden for at least a century. By then, the dangerous elements inside it would have been wiped out, and a harvest of rare resources could be extracted. But something went wrong a year ago, and the seal loosened up, letting the world fragment''s aura leak into this macrocosm''s spatial borders.


    ¡°Having detected the signs, those of us who were involved in the sealing process decided to send a team of disciples from each sect to investigate if there were any anomalous developments inside the ruined world. However, Feng Jun, misguided by some greedy elders of this sect, decided to use this opportunity to infiltrate the furthest depths of the Holy Land and extract the resources left in there, alongside the Holy Land''s legacy.


    ¡°To accomplish this, they needed some materials and treasures from my personal collection. Knowing that they wanted to break the pact among so many powerful sects, I was naturally not happy with their scheme. I refused to relent, and as a result, two-thirds of the elders of the sect banded together to force me to hand over what they needed for the journey. It ended with a fair bit of violence, and I suffered some long-term injuries, both physically and spiritually.


    ¡°Hence, I locked myself up inside this tower to undergo a desperate breakthrough, and let their idiotic plan play out just as they wished, only for it to backfire and trap the team inside the world fragment.¡±


    Li Mingyu sneered as he concluded the story.


    ¡°Since then, Feng Jun has been sending out broken messages through one of the stolen treasures of mine. The elders who helped him are doing their best to guide him with their meager understanding of the Holy Land. It''s laughable, really.


    Why not listen to an Oracle who wants to help you? Why gamble with fate knowing how slim your chances are? But then again, I am expecting too much from those mediocre cultivators who have become puppets to their own greed and fear. Having realized that Feng Jun is in a hopeless situation now, they''ve turned to a more extreme solution! They''ve begun resorting to forbidden demonic arts!¡±

 Chapter 302: The Prophecy of Extinction

    ¡°No wonder! A lot makes sense now!"


    A bunch of questions he had set aside in the past during his exchange with Feng Jun and Qian Yun were answered at once. Han Xuhan had noticed the incongruent details several times, but ignored them due to not having enough of a lead.


    So that was how Qian Yun knew about the tournament despite being stuck inside the Holy Land''s world fragment! So that was why his team of rookie disciples were able to smoothly cultivate to the peak of the Physique Transformation realm by themselves at such unusual speed! They had been exchanging information with other backers this whole time. The only reason they had been forced to make deals with Han Xuhan was because the Elders here didn¡¯t have a slave seal of the Holy Land that would have enabled them to send over cultivation resources using the displacement spell!


    His understanding of the undercurrents of Stardust Sect was more concise now, accommodating a much larger scope of details and their implications. Naturally, this shift in perspective gave birth to new questions in his mind.


    ¡°Master Mingyu, what motive is driving these elders of your sect so desperate?" Han Xuhan said after taking some time to restructure the overall scenario.


    ¡°First they misguided the most influential disciples of the current generation into betraying and robbing you, the sect master. Then they decided to use abhorrent demonic techniques on the remaining disciples with good potential, destroying their futures for some rapid gains. Isn''t that what the Soul Shattering Puppet Refinement technique gets used for? To extract the nascent spirituality of rookie cultivators and use it to enhance the subject''s capabilities temporarily, and puppetizing the subject at the same time through the process?¡±


    This time, Li Mingyu didn¡¯t answer as quickly as before. Instead, he closed his eyes for some time, and a familiar silhouette of red flames suddenly appeared around his body, wrapping him up like a mummified corpse. On the head of the silhouette, the large, diagonal, golden eye opened up to stare at Han Xuhan for the fraction of a second, before it all disappeared in a flash, restoring the normalcy of the scene.


    Li Mingyu opened his mouth right after. ¡°I wonder if you''ve heard of the Prophecy of Extinction. It''d be easy for me to explain if you knew.¡±


    Han Xuhan shook his head, burning internally with curiosity. There were prophecies involved in this matter? Heavens! How deep was this rabbithole? And what was up with that exaggerated title? Who was going extinct?


    ¡°That is disappointing. I was expecting benefactor to be a bit more informed. But nevertheless, I guess I''ll have the honor of letting you learn of it. Listen, and pay your utmost attention. This prophecy has haunted the top powerhouses of this planet for well over a century now."


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Li Mingyu took a deep breath and began to recite it in the tone of a poem. Han Xuhan put the entirety of his focus on memorizing every word that followed.


    ¡°Soul of a dragon, broken and scattered


    Soul of a human, twisted, unfettered


    Heavens forbid, should they touch


    Scholars of laws¡ªthey left but a grudge


    Rulers of stone, throne unforged


    Shepherds of sands, torn and scorched


    The crimson worlds¡ªripped, besieged


    The leaf of a god, burnt to bits


    The sturdiest sword¡ªcracked, it sits


    Scrolls of the wise, buried in lies


    Everyone rots, no wreaths."


    While Han Xuhan was reeling in shock, trying to analyze the implications, Li Mingyu added another layer of complexity to it.


    ¡°This is actually not the absolute form of the prophecy either. It''s just the most popular version among orthodox sects. But I have travelled across several continents and collected many fragmented prophecies that are more or less similar to this one. For instance, on the other side of the Poison Sea, there is a version of the prophecy in which the penultimate line is, ¡®Scrolls of the wise, a thought''s the price''. On the high seas, another version of the prophecy claims that some Abyssal Turtle shall be enslaved till its last breath. Both of these versions doesn''t contain any verdict of what shall happen to the ¡®Rulers of Stone'' either!¡±


    ¡°Do you know who these identifying phrases are referring to? And who discovered this prophecy? Was it a cultivator like you, practicing the art of foretelling?¡± Han Xuhan jumped to his feet, his anxiety rising as the weight of the prophecy began to set in.


    A prophecy of extinction, he said? The title didn¡¯t sound exaggerated anymore!


    ¡°The source of the prophecy is dubious. People who first came to know of it never opened their mouths about the source, only insisting that they heard it from someone else. But when every leader of all the powerful sects across the planet repeats the same line simultaneously, even a fool would be able to guess that the source carries some mysteries better left uninvestigated.¡±


    Li Mingyu shuddered suddenly, a fearful gleam flashing in his eyes as if he didn¡¯t want to recall certain horrifying experiences associated with his investigations.


    ¡°As for the analysis of the prophecy''s content, I have my guesses, like everyone else. Some of them are easy to identify. For example, the title¡ªScholars of Laws definitely refers to the Holy Land of Laws where Feng Jun and his followers are stuck right now. The prophecy is quite accurate about the fact that there is nothing left of the law manipulators except a grudge against whoever wiped them off so brutally.¡±


    ¡°What else? Who else?¡± Han Xuhan raved on like a madman.


    ¡°The leaf of a god might be a reference to Forestheart Foundation, which is one of the three sects organizing this tournament. Of course, there are other sects that have a focus on plant-based cultivation techniques, but I doubt this prophecy is concerned with the fate of small, unremarkable sects.


    ¡°The sturdiest sword is a title that has been contested over for quite some time, even before the prophecy became popular. All the top blacksmiths in the world claim that their best creation is the sturdiest sword on the planet. So this is hard to confirm.


    ¡°And lastly, the only sect that carries the word ¡®Crimson'' in its title is the Crimson Snow Sect. I''m not sure if you''ve heard of it. This sect is quite the mystery. From my past visits, I could tell that it is a lot stronger than it reveals itself to be, especially so in the case of its Sect Leader, whose breadth of knowledge is stunning, to say the least. There are rumors that he is a direct descendant of a clan from the upper realms among the stars. So he may have a better idea about the fate of his sect according to the prophecy."


    Li Mingyu paused for a moment to scan Han Xuhan''s strange reaction to the last part of his revelation. Even though he had tried to hide his surprise, Li Mingyu saw through the attempt.


    ¡°Something rings a bell? Do you know anything about him?¡±


    ¡°...Yeah, he''s my sect master,¡± Han Xuhan admitted honestly, seeing no point in trying to hide it.

 Chapter 303: Moths Monologue

    ¡°Every time I think I have grasped how twisted fate can be, reality surprises me with a new turn,¡± Li Mingyu said, grinning morosely. ¡°So benefactor is a disciple of Crimson Snow Sect! No wonder the prophecy had such an impact on you! Its verdict on your fate seems dark.¡±


    ¡®The crimson worlds, ripped, besieged''¡ªthat was certainly no happy conclusion. But Han Xuhan wasn¡¯t so sure that it referred to his sect. After all, where was this so-called crimson world in the sect? The only crimson color back there was in the flags and the uniforms.


    Speaking of crimson worlds, he couldn¡¯t help but recall the fiery hell connected to his dao tower, where souls were being burned in spiritual fire and shot off into the sky after being subdued. That planet not only seemed to fit the description, it also fit the ominous verdict.


    Could there be a connection between the prophecy and that place?


    His worried face was reflected on Li Mingyu''s countenance as well. ¡°It''s good that you''re taking the threat seriously. Because that''s not the end of my answer to your question. There is more, and none of it carries any positivity.¡±


    Suppressing the urge to cuss, Han Xuhan could only request for him to elaborate.


    ¡°If you analyze the references in this prophecy, it is quite clear that all the sects or cultivator factions identified in it are the top powers on this planet. Even in the less popular variations of the prophecy, the extra lines seem to refer to the strongest source of power in those regions. Seeing how grim the prediction of their fate is, what do you think is the most likely scenario for the prophecy to come true?¡±


    Han Xuhan didn¡¯t have to think about an answer so obvious. ¡°Judging by what you named this prophecy, I''d say the whole planet would have to be destroyed in some apocalyptic event. No sect would be able to escape, and they''d fight back with everything  they have. But the outcome would still be a devastating defeat."


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Li Mingyu exclaimed approvingly. ¡°I like how accepting you are of such a possibility. Many powerhouses back then were not. And then they watched the Holy Land of Laws get obliterated over a minor squabble.¡±


    ¡°Do you know why it happened?¡± Han Xuhan asked, curious. He had asked the same question many times during his spiritual meetings with Qian Yun, without ever getting a concrete answer.


    ¡°It''s supposedly an outcome of internal conflict, fueled by external elements. We had more or less verified that alien, beast-like creatures with high cultivation and a highly developed civilization came into contact with them by relying on the unique location of the Holy Land. Although the battle started from within the factions of the Law Manipulators, the alien cultivators became an integral part of it and rampaged across the world fragment to their deaths, leaving a lot of traces behind, resulting in a corrupted, uninhabitable environment. Our investigation didn''t get very far before we sensed the risk the world fragment posed to the region of our planet it was anchored to. We had to seal it in a hurry. It''s a pity how much of the truth was left under the smoke and dust. I would''ve loved to know.¡±


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Li Mingyu shook his head, face gloomy, recalling the desolation. Han Xuhan would have exclaimed about the existence of non-human cultivators from alien territory. After all, such plots played a crucial role in the hero''s character development in cultivation novels, alongside making it clear how racist the author was. It also had to be mentioned that space alien territory arcs were supposed to come after a good thousand chapters, not when the protagonist was in the middle of the first realm of cultivation in the first major arc.


    But Han Xuhan knew better now. He had seen too much in these seven months. What kind of surprise had he not faced? This was not a cultivation story. This was not about a hero''s journey to the top.


    What he was a part of here was an insidious world, a real, brutal world, where no one could be relied on as a template character of a typical story. Here, dog-eat-dog principles of survival were not phony tags. Such instinct was embedded bone deep in every cultivator, and the most frightening aspect of it was its apparent invisibility under the guise of civility and rationality.


    ¡°Anyway, as I was saying, the prophecy made it clear that the world, or at least this planet of ours, would be destroyed. Even the best outcome would be the destruction of all the big sects and factions. So how do you think this would affect the less powerful sects? What happens to those not mentioned in the prophecy? What happens to you and me and every other rookie cultivator out there, affiliated with sects or not? What happens to the mortals?"


    Li Mingyu''s question stumped Xuhan for a second. Tentatively, he replied, ¡°Perhaps the prophecy didn''t mention them because they weren''t worth a mention in the grand scheme of things? After all, how important can our existence be in the face of a calamity that will affect so many powerful beings?¡±


    Li Mingyu began to clap in appreciation of the brutal answer. ¡°Well said, really well said! It''s not everyday I see a young cultivator who understands his insignificance! It''s even rarer to see someone understand the insignificance of his whole world! Millions, perhaps even billions of lives¡ªnone of them matter to the eternal wheel of destiny! On its path, most lives are not the highlighted bits and pieces, but the nameless dust that piles up and gets blown away by a gust of wind!"


    A trace of electricity seemed to pass through his head as Li Mingyu''s voice rose with every uttered word. The silhouette of flames began to flash around his body once more, casting a red glow on the walls of the tower. Li Mingyu''s body itself seemed to slip under a veil of mental obstruction. Han Xuhan knew he was there right in front of him, facing him, yet he couldn¡¯t quite see him in detail, like an old mortal with failing vision stuck in semi-consciousness.


    ¡°But when that flying red dust disturbs a merry moth, does it not have the right to seek out an answer?!" Li Mingyu''s roar came through the cerebral confusion, and Han Xuhan caught the glimpse of massive, heated chains circling behind the burning silhouette like the tails of a cyclone.


    ¡°And if that moth foresees the oncoming wheel, can it not protect itself?"


    Some of the chains began to glow brighter, as if the fire around Li Mingyu''s body was spreading into their cracks and joints like molten lava,


    ¡°And if the moth wishes, can it change the wheel''s path and delay the inevitable by a century?"


    Bright red cracks opened up on the body of the thick shackles. The fissures seemed to follow a pattern, as if a message was being carved on them through sheer coincidence.


    ¡°Should the moth have such a wish?!¡±


    With Li Mingyu''s final roar, all the shackles exploded in a silent storm, leaving behind an imprint of the message in the air, forming a massive, circular seal of patterns behind his silhouette. It wrapped around his fiery form and sucked the fire out of Li Mingyu''s body.


    For a moment, Han Xuhan watched the furious, fat man caged inside the seal stare at him placidly, his eyes revealing a silver of helplessness and a resolve formed by it.


    ¡°Heaven''s fire may burn me, and the weight of fate may crush me, but how can I not try to survive so long as there is a breath left in me?¡±

 Chapter 304: Li Mingyus Strategy

    The cage formed by the seal began to wither away, like dust being blown off by wind. But Han Xuhan''s senses were left tingling. An invisible sensation of stuffiness permeated the tower, as if beyond the limits of his vision, unfamiliar elements were flowing into his surroundings like magnets drawing in metals.


    This could not be a normal phenomenon. He was watching something extraordinary here¡ªhis instincts screamed it. But being clueless about the higher realms of cultivation, Han Xuhan had no idea what really was happening.


    When the cage fully disappeared in thin air, Li Mingyu spoke again.


    ¡°After the Holy Land of Laws was wiped out, many people lost the skepticism they had regarding the prophecy of extinction. I was at the forefront of this group. I left my sect frequently to gather information from all across the planet, even going as far as infiltrating other powerful factions to get a grasp on their investigations and preparations. This took decades of hard work, but in the end, I had managed to compile just enough reliable facts and resources to make a big move. I relied on my own ability as an oracle to peer into the threads of fate that gave birth to this prophecy of extinction!¡±


    Something like that can be done as well?! Han Xuhan''s jaws had never really gotten back together since the beginning of this exchange. He had always wished that these senior cultivators, the eccentric old monsters, would have a straightforward personality and an open heart. But now that he had met one, he felt like a caveman whose whole life had been spent watching the shadows on the walls of the cave, deeming that flat landscape the real world. After suddenly learning about the depth of reality he had been missing, he could not feel happy at all!


    ¡°My bold attempt was a success,¡± Li Mingyu continued. ¡°But the results were so alarming that I could not celebrate! My predictions told me that the dreaded apocalypse was not as far away as anyone expected. In fact, it isn''t even something any sect on this planet could make a stand against. Our defeat isn''t a possibility! It was already the truth! And we were only too blind to understand it!¡±


    Han Xuhan finally mustered up enough force in his voice to speak. ¡°...How...how long ago was this?¡±


    ¡°My attempt? Just ten years ago. As for the realization of the prophecy, I learned that it was more or less close to its completion even then. Throughout the last ten years, just the final strokes of the brush have been laid down. If I had to estimate a figure, I''d say that nine-tenths of the prophecy has been fulfilled, unnoticed by all. The remaining ten percent is just facts ready to fall into place. The wheel of fate has been moving, and the momentum it has gathered is impossible to thwart. It will complete its course."


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    "Wait a damn minute, why does it seem like... Are you implying that this planet may be destroyed soon after this tournament comes to an end?" Han Xuhan''s horror finally overtook his rational thinking.


    Li Mingyu''s mouth stretched into a sad smile. ¡°This tournament IS the event where the apocalypse shall begin. And there will be no ¡®after'' for us. At least I didn''t see it.¡±


    Hands pulling at his own hair, Han Xuhan started pacing around Li Mingyu in silence. Perhaps the man thought he was becoming too distraught to deal with. So he fished up the actual topic they had been discussing in the beginning.


    ¡°Naturally, I revealed some hints of my prediction to the Elders of this sect, hoping for their cooperation in coming up with a solution to safeguard ourselves. It is ironic, really. I should have foreseen that my revelation would only drive them towards drastic outcomes. I suppose I was too obsessed with the prophecy of extinction to notice how my actions brought forth the extinction of my sect behind me.


    When I realized what they were planning, it was too late! Feng Jun, leading the top talents of his generation, had been led down a path of no return by those elders. I could not stop them! Even when I warned them that they''d fail, they ignored me. And after they failed, they latched onto darker solutions¡ªthe demonic arts in the forbidden sections of the sect''s archives. And now, all those twisted paths and extreme plans have converged under the wheel of fate, guiding you to appear in front of me, holding the interests of my sect in your hand, as if you want to safeguard my sect more than I do. As if you have the capability!"


    Finally, Han Xuhan saw a trace of anger flash across Li Mingyu''s eyes. It was retracted quickly enough. But even so, Han Xuhan managed to anchor his scattered mind back to his present situation.


    He had been overlooking the first principle of surviving the world of cultivation. Li Mingyu''s revelation was logically airtight. But that didn¡¯t mean he had to believe all of it. And even if he did, thwarting the prophecy wasn¡¯t his job. In Li Mingyu''s own words, he didn¡¯t have such capabilities. What he could do was relay the concern over to his superiors, Xuan Zi and Kong Ye. Although both of them probably knew about the prophecy, they couldn¡¯t be aware of the possibility that it was about to come true within the next few days!


    Facing such a grim future, or the lack of any future, anyone would feel that all other personal concerns and dealings were meaningless at the moment. But Han Xuhan was so used to being in this exact position as a cultivator that it didn¡¯t even occur to him to give up the pursuit of his goals for coming here.


    He had come to visit sect master Li Mingyu to convince him to protect the Phoenix faction. He wasn¡¯t going to leave just because of some unverified fairytale. Since it didn¡¯t seem like his opponent was willing, he could only use brute force!


    ¡°Master Mingyu, just a minute ago, you were boldly showing off the natural phenomena caused by your cultivation technique, expressing your unwillingness to give in to the poor fate approaching you and your sect. Since you think you are more qualified than me to safeguard your sect''s interests, it means you''ve already made some plans that gave you a little confidence.


    Now, I''m no oracle myself, but I am good at deductions. So... could any of your plans consist of letting the Elders of your sect do as they want, fail miserably, be caught for their crimes, so that you can unite the rest of the woefully divided sect against them and take over the absolute control of all five factions of the Stardust sect despite being so weak?"

 Chapter 305: When Two Conspirators Clash

    Even if Han Xuhan''s direct accusation had any impact on Li Mingyu, not a ripple of it showed on his pudgy face. But the absolute impassiveness itself was an answer.


    Han Xuhan didn¡¯t need to press further to determine that he had hit the nail on the head, but he did so with gusto, because dominance preceded passivity, and submission followed it.


    He had to make sure that this old monster couldn¡¯t slip out of his hold.


    ¡°An Oracle on the third major realm of cultivation, overseeing a sect for so many decades... What are the chances that you never foresaw the fate of your sect''s brightest disciples and strongest elders? What Oracle would avoid looking into the tribulations of his people? The prophecy of extinction had no answers for you, and you''ve already described how desperate you were for the smallest opportunity. So how foolish would it be of me to believe that you wouldn''t let your people act upon their base characters to drive your sect to a future where you have the utmost advantage and authority over them, which you''ve always lacked?¡±


    The flash of coldness shadowed Li Mingyu''s plain face once more, and this time, it carried with it a silver of regret.


    ¡°Fate is such a cruel trickster,¡± the man said with a resolute sigh. ¡°If this meeting had taken place any other time, I would not have given away so many clues through my soulshrine. Yet, if you hadn''t appeared here, I would have stayed imprisoned within my own tower, struggling to control my chaotic nascent dao.¡±


    Han Xuhan knew what he was trying to do. Those buzzwords clearly belonged to secrets of higher realms of cultivation. No rookie would be able to restrain their curiosity to inquire about them. This was Li Mingyu''s bait, in hope of luring his thoughts away from the dangerous path Han Xuhan was driving himself towards.


    Not bad, not bad at all! But he, Han Xuhan, was a grandmaster at seeing through the art of word-padding!


    You want to distract me with these irrelevant matters? No chance! Hmph!


    ¡°The first thing I''d be cautious of if I were an oracle is the action of those whose dire fate has been read and revealed. You did that to your sect. You told those powerful Elders that their lives are on the verge of an abyss. How could you be unaware of the effect it would have on them? No, no, no!¡±


    Han Xuhan pointed a finger at the man and shook it side to side, his face stretched in a grin one might see on a master''s face while watching over an impish disciple.


    ¡°So let''s revise this story you''ve been trying to spoon-feed me, master Mingyu. You orchestrated the chaos of your sect.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    You were the one who led the Elders by the nose, allowing them to scheme against you.


    Feng Jun could steal your precious treasures because you wanted him to.


    The long-flourishing Phoenix faction lost its foundation because you needed it to.


    The power vacuum in Stardust Sect was born from this. And the failure of Feng Jun''s team inside the Holy Land thwarted their backer Elders from taking advantage of this vacuum.


    You''ve also clearly stated that you know all about the demonic cultivation techniques those Elders are resorting to, yet you sat here and did nothing. If they aren¡¯t discovered, your sect''s chances of surviving the apocalypse rise. But if they are discovered, it has nothing to do with you, an injured, imprisoned guardian who can only cut off those Elders from his sect and create an even bigger power vacuum that none except him can fulfill... after a good breakthrough. So here we are!"


    Han Xuhan had inched close enough to the man to touch his forehead with an outstretched index finger. Li Mingyu''s face was a little twisted, jaw moving as he chewed on his tongue and tried to respond. But after a long bout of silence, all that came out of his mouth was, ¡°What a ridiculous conspiracy you''ve made up in your head, benefactor! If I want my sect to survive the apocalypse, why would I allow the disciples with the highest potential to go die in an inescapable prison? This part really makes no sense, right?¡±


    Han Xuhan hid his smile. So many logical leaps in the story, and you choose to go off on a tangent I didn¡¯t even touch?


    This was no direct denial, but the passive road of evasion! And Han Xuhan was glad that he had chosen to be passive. There was a limit to how deep he could weave an outline after collecting so many fragmented observations throughout his encounters with the people of this sect.


    Now was the time to strike for a submission!


    ¡°Splendid, sect master! Keep up that positive attitude when the alliance of old monsters from all over the world comes knocking on your door soon, asking for a better explanation than mine. Remind me, if you will, what is the consensus among all orthodox sects when it comes to dealing with evil cultivation scriptures? How do we deal with the people who have turned to that demonic path?¡±


    Li Mingyu scoffed. ¡°I can''t deny those accusations on behalf of the miscreant Elders. They shall be punished as the alliance sees fit. It''d be no big loss for my Stardust sect even if they are sentenced to death!¡±


    ¡°But whose words would carry more weight, Master Mingyu? The person who risked his life to investigate your sect''s dirty secret? Or yours? And I have not even touched upon your other crime! Why did you not notify all the nearby sects that the seal on the Holy Land''s world fragment has loosened up and your rogue disciples were planning to rob the resources inside and make a fool of all the remaining stakeholders?"


    The forced look of stubbornness Li Mingyu had been holding up finally disappeared, replaced by a paleness born of panicked apprehension. Like a shark sensing blood, Han Xuhan went for the killing blow.


    ¡°Even my Crimson Snow Sect, which controls that region, had no idea that such trouble was brewing there! I, a rookie with the cultivation of second layer Physique Transformation realm, was tricked into investigating the numerous deaths and disappearances of the mortals in that region. By the time I escaped, the whole town adjacent to the portal was turned into dust! How many lives were lost? How much loss did my sect suffer? I believe my sect master will want to have a good chat with you if I reveal all this to him...¡±


    Gramacing, Li Mingyu spoke the very words Han Xuhan had been waiting to hear this whole time.


    ¡°So if I protect the Phoenix faction, you wouldn''t make this matter public?¡±


    Han Xuhan''s smile couldn¡¯t get more pronounced. ¡°Sect Master Mingyu, you''re smarter than that. Do you really want me to not make this matter public?¡±


    Li Mingyu''s eyes recovered a gleam of hope. ¡°...Good, good, good! I like the way you think, benefactor! So why don''t we make a deal, you and I?¡±


    The finger of accusation Han Xuhan had been pointing at his forehead turned into an offer of a handshake immediately. Li Mingyu grabbed his palm vigorously. Their voices rang out in unison.


    ¡°To a better future!¡±


    ¡°To better benefits!¡±

 Chapter 306: Disbanded Faction, Disheartened Damsel, And A Disgustingly Good Scheme

    On the outer ring island of Stardust Sect, a violent contest was storming through the barrack yards. Several injured disciples of the sect were engaged in fierce combat against foreign invaders. Several more were lying unconscious under heaps of recently destroyed cabins, bleeding profusely even as they received emergency medical care from their fellow disciples.


    Shen Mi, the reluctant leader of the defending combatants, witnessed the last of her comrades fall under the domineering swordsmanship of their opposition. From the beginning, she had been able to see that their chances of any slim victory were low. Be it the difference in cultivation level or the gap in combat related skill, the defending disciples of Stardust Sect were far behind these invaders.


    So she had never held the hope that the Phoenix faction''s remaining members would be able to thwart the danger. Their last hope was actually not even present here. Her gaze repeatedly flickered beyond the barracks, towards the central ring island where Han Xuhan and Ning Xueshi had run off to. The embers of hope in her heart were there, though she couldn¡¯t feel their warmth.


    ¡°Anyone else?¡± came an arrogant voice from ahead. Shen Mi looked away from the distant central tower and saw the speaker, a tall, strikingly handsome swordsman wearing a veiled hat and pitch-black, lightweight armor, approaching her confidently. Behind him, his bloodied opponent tried to stand up one last time, only to fall flat on his face, rousing the attention of the healers nearby.


    Above the swordsman''s head, blurs of pink light flashed like a ghost lantern. Sometimes it seemed to create broken images; sometimes it arranged itself into incomplete letters that hinted at words like Instinct, Attraction, and Beauty.


    Knowing the implications, Shen Mi did her best not to become trapped under his soulshrine''s aura. She kept her mind locked onto the young man''s bloody sword, putting all her focus into coming up with a strategy for direct combat, step by step, enclosing her mind under the endeavour.


    ¡°You''re the leader of the defense team, I''ve been told,¡± the swordsman said as he came to a stop several feet away, just close enough to let Shen Mi understand that she was within the reach of his blade.


    ¡°Why are you sitting here like a coward? Get up and take out your weapon. Don''t embarrass your sect, fellow cultivator.¡±


    Several groups of her fellow disciples from the crowd surrounding them laughed quietly. The invasion team members probably understood that Stardust Sect''s disciple body was terribly divided at the moment. But they still seemed rather surprised at the lack of empathy.


    Shen Mi could see the silent gesture of kindness in the leading swordsman''s actions. Although he sounded arrogant, he was trying to give her a way out, an honorable defeat to help her hold her head high when they left as victors.


    ¡°She''s injur-¡±


    Someone from the crowd tried to defend her, only to be silenced by his peers. It truly puzzled Shen Mi. These disciples might have accumulated some dislike towards the Phoenix faction over the last eleven months since their recruitment. But she was holding the position of the faction leader for only a few months. And she hadn''t snubbed anybody or let anyone suffer injustice with her decisions in this brief period. So why did so much hatred get directed towards her? Just because she represented her faction?


    Shen Mi''s way of life had always been positive. She preferred not to see the darkness in the hearts of people. This wasn''t the first instance that she fell victim to malice because of her stubborn outlook. But today, the last crack in that outlook had appeared, shattering a part of her heart.


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    The realization was like a cold nail sinking inside her flesh. This attitude of hers would not let her thrive in the world of cultivation. It might even lead to worse outcomes than the current plight.


    The swordsman swung the obsidian handle of his sword in his grip and nudged Shen Mi with the tip, leaning forward rather defenselessly. ¡°Pick up your weapon. Since you''re injured, I will strike only for a symbolic victory. My sword does not tolerate an ugly contest.¡±


    The flash of pink ink over his hair almost bore a hole into Shen Mi''s focused mind. A strangely alluring silhouette appeared in her head, scattering her fast running thoughts. Gritting her teeth, Shen Mi looked down and shook her head violently, hoping to drive the mental image away.


    ¡°Impressive,¡± she heard him whisper. ¡°Nowhere close to the first layer of Soul Reformation realm, yet your soul already shows the aura of a nascent soulshrine. Resisting the beauty of my sword is not easy for those below my realm. It is regrettable that you''re not ready for a contest.¡±


    ¡°Brother Shan, this is no occasion to flirt around!¡± One of his team members yelled from the back impatiently. ¡°The other sect is very proficient in discovering the keyshards. We can''t let them hog everything!¡±


    The young swordsman sighed and pulled his sword above their heads, holding the blade''s tip towards the sky and wrapping both palms around the hilt in a textbook-accurate posture. The uniformity and fluidity in his movements left part of Shen Mi''s mind mesmerized once again, much to her dismay.


    ¡°I do hope you will cherish this strike of mine for vengeance. I look forward to the day you''re ready for a rematch.¡±


    Shen Mi closed her eyes and prepared to see blood. A whistling noise cut through the muted background, and a sharp jolt of pain assaulted her ribs. Hearing the gasp of the crowd, she gingerly opened her eyes and saw the young man sheathe his sword as he walked away silently.


    A massive gash had opened up on her upper chest, cutting deep into the tough bones. Had her senses not already been dulled from various medicines, she''d surely be rolling around screaming in pain. That would not look pretty, Shen Mi thought for a brief second, and immediately realized how deep his soulshrine had cut into her mind.


    Perhaps this ghastly physical injury was not even his real strike. This would heal, and not even a scar would remain once she crossed the Physique Transformation realm. The effects of the swordsman''s spiritual strike, on the other hand, would not disappear until she reached his level!


    As the healer disciples gathered around her to administer medicine and healing techniques, Shen Mi stared at the sky blankly and listened to the joyful conversations from the crowd around them.


    ¡°With this utterly humiliating failure, we can drive the final nail into the coffin of Phoenix faction''s power. It is evident that they do not possess the ability to retain their image even as a minor faction. Disbanding it officially is only a matter of time now.¡±


    ¡°That''s right, that''s right. Even the traditionalist Elders who voted against the idea can''t stay persistent on their illogical decision now.¡±


    ¡°We should prepare for the next election! My Dragon Faction has been suppressed for too long, hahaha!¡±


    ¡°I wonder which faction will recruit Shen Mi and Ning Xueshi. They are the last decent cultivators of the Phoenix faction. Although they''ll never truly be loyal to other factions, their future potential cannot be ignored...¡±


    Shen Mi''s injury became lighter under the healing techniques, but the light in her eyes dimmed as she realized that this was probably her last moment as a member of her faction.


    ¡°Xueshi, you idiot... Why didn''t you listen to me...? What was the point of your sacrifice?¡± She muttered under her breath, waves of regret washing over her clouded heart.


    At that moment, suddenly the sky in her eyes turned dark.


    A hush fell across the island as all disciples, invaders, defenders, and audience alike looked upwards in tandem and felt their hearts contract violently!


    Innumerable black chains were shrouding the sky like the tails of a seastorm, all seemingly summoned from the center of Stardust Sect''s three-layered islands. Each of these chains seemed to have a unique color and element of attraction, giving off the same sensation Shen Mi had just felt while facing the swordsman''s soulshrine, only a hundred times more intense!


    ¡°A dao domain?!¡± someone among the crowd yelled in fright.


    ¡°What''s going on? Did any of the Elders lose their minds? Who are they attacking?!¡±


    Everyone had the same question in their mind, and it was answered when a slightly unfamiliar voice echoed past them faintly.


    ¡°Disciples of Stardust Sect, hear and bear witness to Li Mingyu''s mandate! With the goal of becoming the victors of this tournament, it is expedient to reshuffle the power structure and authority of the disciple body. Hence, from today forth, the Phoenix faction shall be stripped of its seal of authority!¡±


    The sect master himself has appeared! And he had made his position clear! He was against the Phoenix faction as well!


    Shen Mi felt her heart grow entirely numb as the uproar around her transformed into deafening cheers.


    ¡°In furtherance of this goal, the Phoenix faction shall be disbanded as it clearly cannot keep up with the responsibilities needed to be taken on as a major faction!¡±


    The cheers rose higher, sending vibrations running through the floating island. Shen Mi covered her face to hide the tears stinging her eyes.


    ¡°To reduce the internal conflicts over the next election for the seal of authority, the Dragon, the Tiger, and the Turtle Faction are also hereby disbanded!¡±


    ...Wait, what?


    Shen Mi choked on her own spit.

 My Bad, Bros

    I know you guys won''t take this news well, but what''s done is done. Due to my repeated failures in establishing a satisfactory readerbase on Royalroad, I really had no other way except to take a gamble.


    I''ve taken the contract offered by Webnovel for this story...not the exact same one, really, but eh, the effect is more or less than same. On Royalroad, a story as old as Ashes of Heaven would never make it, but I love this story too much to abandon it in the drafts.


    I had a grand vision to capture in words, and I want to do it without feeling the pinch of a hobby that takes up so much time and energy with almost no returns. I have never been above the broke-phase in life. The recent spike of financial stress in real life is probably what hammered in the final nail, though I doubt I''ll be making much on WN anyway. I just knew I had to shift lanes.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Of course, I must thank all of the patrons who donated for the story in my Patreon, especially FlamesofDespair, CatInAPot, Bruno Borges, and InumitoVD. I can only offer my sincerest apologies to you all for not finishing the story there.


    And another group I must thank is everyone who reviewed and commented on Ashes of Heaven. You guys kept me going for three years. I feel that I have failed to return the favor with a proper finishing of the story.


    This is it, I guess. This is the endpoint of this version of Ashes of Heaven. I don''t know if you''ll like the version available on Webnovel (as I''ve said earlier, the story veers off by a great degree, and has some elements tailored for the junk-novel fans on that platform).


    That''s why I considered not telling any of you about it for months now. But I guess ghosting you guys like this is worse in a way, since you''d still be checking in here from time to time.


    So, in spite of my failings, if you still want to see Han Xuhan kick the ass of the Celestial Court, you can give the WN version a shot. I''ll rehash a shitton of the same material, so the updates will catch up to this version''s progress in no time. The link is attached below.