ã€ŠShaking the Heavensã€‹


 Chapter 1 â€“ Disturbance

    The Navira Mountain Range consisted of several mountains lined up one after another, stretching out for hundreds of miles. Multiple streams formed beneath the several mountain tops, accumulating into massive rivers that ran through deep valleys, until finally resting down into one of the many lakes below. Consequently, these lakes provided abundant freshwater which stimulated the nearby lands to accumulate vast stretches of wild foliage.

    These grasslands and lakes were collectively known as the Navira Planes.

    In the western parts of these planes stood an isolated breeding farm. There, a group of strange animals could be seen chasing after a young man.

    These animals were, in fact, a common breed in the Navira Planes. Even though the locals named them fighting bulls, they actually looked similar to black pigs but somewhat larger and sturdier. However, the main feature that distinguished them from pigs was their set of protruding fangs, giving them the appearance of little demons.

    ¡°Chill down you crazy gluttons!¡± Jack shouted while hurling junks of meat. ¡°Not like you haven¡¯t eaten for years!¡±

    The bulls charged forward with glittering eyes, shredding the meat without even giving it the chance to reach the ground.

    Observing this usual ruckus always made Jack smile wryly. Somewhere inside him, he felt grateful that those little bastards didn¡¯t like human meat. Otherwise, anyone falling victim of their teeth would definitely suffer a painful death.

    After he was done feeding them, he leaned against the fence and rubbed the sweat off his forehead. Then he slowly grabbed a dry plant from his pockets, rolled it between his fingers and placed it inside his mouth.

    The plant instantly reacted with his saliva, producing a violet smoke that he released casually every couple of breaths.

    He sighed. If he knew beforehand that taking care of these bulls would have been such a hard task, he would have definitely refused.

    However, any feeling of annoyance quickly faded away. In the end, these ¡®little bastards¡¯ and the farm Master were his only friends. To be more precise, they were his one and only family.

    Even after all these years, he still had no idea who his parents were, and he wasn¡¯t that much interested in learning who either.

    Because his parents had clearly abandoned him when he was an infant. He didn¡¯t even remember their shadows, let alone their faces.

    Instead, the earliest face he remembered was the face of an ugly man, the crook bastard that sold him off at a slave market for a couple of silvers.

    What followed after that were memories that still haunted him to this very day; the devilish laughter of the Slave Lords, the sounds of rattling chains slamming onto the ground, the cries of fellow slaves pleading for mercy as they were butchered by their Lords, the stench of blood that suffocated their cells and almost made one vomit, the final breaths of his then friends dying with hopeless eyes¡­

    He sighed again, exhaling a longer stream of smoke.

    Only after reaching sixteen had his life started to improve, and that was when he was sold off as a slave combatant in a fighting arena.

    Even though it was an illegal underground environment, where thugs and bandits abound, his life there was much better than before. However, he still was on the verge of losing his life a couple of times during massive fights.

    In the end, the shouts of cheering spectators are what kept him on living, even though he knew that it was only a false satisfaction in a place where there was no future.

    But the heavens didn¡¯t wholly abandon him either.

    After two years in the arena, and just when he was about to collapse from the extreme fatigue, a kind soul appeared out of nowhere.

    The mysterious middle-aged man had personally visited the arena searching for specific labourers. After he had examined almost every individual in the arena, he pinpointed three tough looking men, one of them being Jack.

    The arena owner was at first reluctant to release one of his best fighting warriors. However, after the man dropped a small bag of golden coins, the owner ceased any form of resistance.

    And that¡¯s how for the last three months Jack ended up taking in his custody these bulls. And that¡¯s why he never complained directly and instead felt grateful towards his new master, because when compared to the slave market and arena, this new home was indeed a paradise for him. There was nothing more he could ask for.

    Genuinely immersed inside his melancholy, he was interrupted when one of the bulls released a low pitched roar.

    ¡°Seriously? Have you not ate enough already?! Greedy &#%*!¡± Jack locked on an irritating gaze towards the bull.

    But not only one breath of time had passed before the other bulls followed one by one and started howling in unison, all pointing towards the lake.

    This bizarre situation confused Jack as he turned his head and glanced over the lake. He then made a weird glance towards the bulls, then back again towards the lake. He repeated this three times, but he still couldn¡¯t notice anything abnormal.

    But on his fourth check and just when he was about to ignore them, his entire body trembled and his eyes opened wide, as the dried plant fell graciously from his mouth.

    Hovering over the middle of the lake, the silhouette of a young man had appeared.

    The young man wore a strange robe which radiated magnificence, while his body seemed to be releasing a heavenly aura, apparently capable of alarming any living creature in the area.

    From Jack¡¯s perspective, he could suddenly feel a strange force crushing over his soul. This man seemed like a celestial being about to pass judgment to the whole world.

    A hint of a smile was visible on the young¡¯s man face as his eyes gleamed with anticipation.

    He produced out of nowhere a golden bamboo stick the height of a human. He held it high up using both of his hands, and shortly after it began vibrating and glowing with glittering lights.

    The young man forced himself a deep breath, then yelled, ¡°Esteemed Ancestors! Your presence humbles respectful Junior!¡±

    The young man remained motionless smiling towards the lake, but after he realised that the only response he received was his own voice echoing multiple times, a frown quickly developed and a hint of displeasure spread all over his face.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    But not only there was no hint of demotivation coming out from his body, but his eyes seemed more determinate than before, as he mobilised his bamboo stick once again.

    This time, waves of air pressures began pulsating out from the stick. As soon as the ripples touched the surface of the lake, the waters suddenly became agitated and boiled with ferocity. The air shook as a reddish hue enveloped the sky, creating an unnerving atmosphere.

    The young man then spread his arms and shouted with a stronger voice.

    ¡°Ancient Immortals! Please allow junior to prove himself, to fight for your cause!¡±

    As soon as he finished speaking, he held tight on the bamboo stick, now visibly tired as he gasped for breath. It seemed the bamboo stick was having a heavy toll on his stamina.

    The young man stood there, his piercing eyes looking down towards the lake.

    Upon noticing again that there was no reaction whatsoever, his expression turned ugly. He let out a devilish roar as veins cropped up all over his body, then like a madman hurled the bamboo stick with all the force he could gather.

    The bamboo stick descended like a meteorite, piercing through the lake and causing a massive explosion that rattled the very core of the earth.

    The winds roared, and the waters transformed into gigantic waves. Cavities appeared on the lands surrounding the lake as red lightning descended from the sky.

    At this moment the earth itself seemed to be crumbling!

    The sudden fury of the elements terrorised all fighting bulls. They began slamming their heads with full force against the fence in a desperate attempt to flee.

    The fence was quite sturdy, but the pressure exerted by all bulls was not something it could resist. Slowly, cracks began spreading out until it broke apart.

    The bulls immediately rushed through the breach as fast as they could, disappearing from Jack¡¯s eye range in a short number of breaths.

    Jack was obviously aware of this, but he did not stop them. He was concerned for them and instantly understood that if they stayed trapped here, they would most probably end up dying. He also assumed that his Master would definitely understand him once he explained the situation. But that was the least of his worries right now.

    Instead, he kept staring at the lake consumed with fear. A part of him wanted him to stay and watch the incredible event unfold, while another part of him wanted him to run away as fast as he could.

    It was then that another voice was heard.

    It was a weak voice, seemingly originating from the depths below the lake, a voice that sounded more ancient than the earth itself.

    ¡°Inheritor¡­ approved.¡±

    The middle of the lake rumbled as a rapid rock pillar arose, spraying spiralling water like a huge heavenly fountain.

    It didn¡¯t take much time for the water spray to abate, revealing an ancient coffin standing on top of the pillar. Next to the coffin, stuck deep in the ground was the bamboo stick, now glowing with even more intensity.

    The mysterious man grinned as he descended towards the coffin.

    Clearly nervous, he grabbed the coffin¡¯s lid and ripped it apart. A gust of white fog instantly pressured out, blinding him for a couple of breaths.

    As soon as the air cleared, he could see the corpse of an ancient human skeleton dressed in a tattered golden robe. On its left hand rested a glowing white sphere of light, glowing with no lesser intensity than the bamboo stick.

    The man¡¯s eyes shone enthusiastically as he slowly reached out his right index finger towards the sphere of light.

    As soon as he touched it, his entire body trembled and his eyes illuminated with blinding light. Even his veins began glowing with white energies as the sphere of light began merging into his body. His muscles expanded, his height increased a bit while his hair doubled in length.

    As soon as the last flickers of light dissolved and merged into his body, he remained motionless staring at the decaying corpse in front of him. In a couple of breaths, what remained of the corpse was only the tattered robe.

    The brightness of the vibrating bamboo also faded away, followed by the calming of natural forces.

    Tears of joy descended over his cheek as he remembered the years he had spent planning just for this day. The perils he had to go through during his journeys, the countless nights spent inside the library of his clan studying the sparse records of the ancients; legends of powerful experts that rocked the ancient world!

    Then two years ago, as a stroke of good fortune, he had stumbled on a precious relic of the ancients; the Golden Bamboo Stick! Who else was destined to retrieve the power of the ancients if not him?! Nobody else was qualified!

    But that was all in the past now! The power of his dreams was finally his!

    Now he could genuinely aim for greater glory!

    ¡°Hehehe¡­ this primordial fool¡­ did he actually believed that I cared about his shitty legacy?!¡± A devilish grin appeared on his face. ¡°I, Dong Li, only wanted his formidable power!¡±

    ¡°The power of the essence of the ancients¡­ and the power of one of the seven artefacts of the ancients¡­ now both in my possession¡­ hehe¡­hahaha!¡± He laughed heartily, apparently proud of himself that he managed to con the ancient being.

    Distracted by his recent achievement, he didn¡¯t notice that a portal had materialised in the thin air not that far from him.

    A hand of black mist emerged extending towards him, followed by the head of a creature that resembled half human and half corpse. It radiated an aura of deep rot as it crept towards Dong Li¡¯s shoulder.

    Dong Li¡¯s eyes expanded as a sense of deadly crisis enveloped him.

    He quickly dodged then pointed his finger, summoning a horizontal wind blast which blew the advancing mist away.

    He appeared shocked as he retreated away. ¡°What the¡­¡±

    He had many questions but had no time for answers.

    Dong Li did a quick incantation, summoning a strong rotating wind over the lake. The wind sucked up the nearby water, raising a mighty column of water that slammed into the strange creature.

    Dong Li slowly recuperated his breathing as he observed the column of water. His eyebrows contracted when he saw the creature leisurely walking out of the column of water, completely unharmed.

    ¡°Dark energy¡­ a wraith of the underworld?!¡±

    The creature replied with a bloodcurdling scream as it began gathering mist inside its mouth, slowly forming a sizeable black vortex which coalesced in the form of a lance. The lance then raced towards Dong Li with incredible speed.

    Dong Li gritted his teeth. He collected all the force he could muster, then used the bamboo stick to slash viciously at the incoming lance.

    The visible energetic slash flashed with power as it hurled towards the lance of mist, destroying it on impact. The remaining force continued unabated towards the creature.

    The creature quickly protected itself by summoning a shield of mist, but the force of the slash ripped it apart. With no form of protection, the slash hit the creature, splitting it into two halves!

    Seeing this, Dong Li laughed triumphantly. ¡°Ahaha! Looks like dying once already didn''t teach you anything, you stupid ghost!¡±

    However, just as he finished speaking, the remaining black mist began condensing again.

    Slowly the wraith reformed, its red and maddening eyes now fixated on Dong Li. It let out another earth-shattering yell, then charged towards him.

    A sense of despair could now be seen in Dong Li¡¯s eyes, hating on himself for provoking further this abomination.

    Even with his increased strength, the odds of him coming alive out of this encounter were now quite low. Besides, he still had barely any control over his new found powers. The best course of action for him was to distract the wraith and flee this place.

    He was about to attack again when he perceived someone in the distance. His eyes suddenly flashed with hope.

    He seemed to lose any will to continue this fight, instead flying full speed towards a different direction.

    When Jack noticed, his trembling eyes opened wide and his pupils constricted. He instantly began hating on himself for remaining here and not leaving beforehand.

    He swiftly pulled out his only weapon of defence that was well hidden under his shirt; a rusty dagger that seemed that it could crumble on itself after a couple of slashes.

    It didn¡¯t take much time for Dong Li to arrive before Jack.

    Noticing the evil intentions of his adversary, Jack took the initiative and waved his dagger, but compared to Dong Li, he was just too slow.

    Dong Li easily grabbed him by his neck, slamming him onto the ground like a little bug. The only thing Jack could do was coughing out a mouthful of blood.

    ¡°Raising your hand against me? Learn your place, you pathetic mortal!¡± Dong Li roared as he branded a Talisman on Jack¡¯s forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t blame me! Blame your own misfortune!¡±

    Dong Li then retreated with maximum speed.

    The wraith was still on Dong Li¡¯s trails when it sensed the talisman on Jack¡¯s forehead. An unwieldy expression suddenly appeared on its face, as if it was struggling to resist some sort of attraction.

    It suddenly changed its course and roared towards Jack. All this happened instantly, giving Jack no chance to recover.

    When the wraith appeared before him, it released a cloud of mist, engulfing him within it. Jack struggled in vain against the mist, as his entire body was completely obscured in a couple of breaths.

    When the black cloud finally cleared, both the wraith and Jack had disappeared without a trace.

 Chapter 2 â€“ A New World

    At the outskirts of the Navira Planes, a solitary figure was flying through the clouds with a beaming smile on his face.

    ¡°That was a close one,¡± Dong Li thought. ¡°Who would have thought that a wraith of the underworld would appear there of all places¡­ I really need to be more careful in the future.¡±

    He then glanced towards his arm and frowned. He noticed a small stream of blood leaking from a cut over his shoulder.

    ¡°Strange¡­ I don¡¯t remember the wraith injuring me¡­¡±

    He remained deep in thought as he used his aura to seal the cut. It was then that a bizarre thought flashed inside his mind. ¡°Could it be¡­ but for a mere mortal to injure me with such a simple weapon¡­?¡±

    He quickly shrugged off his ridiculous hypothesis. ¡°Whatever, it doesn¡¯t matter. He should already be dust by now.¡±

    He accelerated his speed, disappearing in the sky over the horizons.

    Meanwhile, darkness and mist revolved around Jack as he struggled to open his eyes. No matter where he looked, all his saw was blackness with no sign of any living creature, including the wraith that attacked him.

    Still, his eyes reflected a hint of despair. He knew that he was in a precarious situation, and the shadow of death loomed over him. He had to find a way out of this mist as quickly as possible.

    ¡°Sigh,¡± a soft yet sinister voice suddenly rumbled inside Jack¡¯s ears. ¡°My children keep causing me trouble¡­¡±

    As soon as the voice was heard, the mist around Jack began distorting and cleared away in a few amounts of breaths, revealing a pitch black dark cave. On the roof of the cave, the puzzled Jack could see a large black face emerging. It was around six metres large, with hollowed eyes and mouth, and a slightly protruding nose.

    The moment Jack¡¯s eyes met the giant face, he felt the strange sensation that both his body and soul were completely naked in front of this existence.

    The expressionless face said, ¡°Not only my child failed to retrieve what I wanted, but it also dragged down an innocent bystander.¡±

    Jack was still unsure if he was having a nightmare or if this was a reality. He stuttered, ¡°Who are you?!¡±

    The giant face let out a sinister laugh but didn¡¯t reply. Instead, it widened its mouth, summoning a stream of black mist that rushed out and pierced into Jack¡¯s body.

    Jack screamed in agony as he felt his body being stabbed by hundreds of invisible needles, unable to resist this invading force. He then fell on the ground, heavily panting.

    ¡°What¡­ have you done... to my body...¡±

    The giant face¡¯s sinister voice replied in a carefree way. ¡°Don¡¯t hate me, mortal one. Consider this mist as a parting gift from my part for all the troubles you have encountered because of us.¡±

    ¡°Just pray that the moment where you need to use this gift of mine never arrives. Hehehe¡­¡±

    The face faded away, and the space around Jack began distorting on itself. Spatial cracks appeared as Jack was forcefully ejected from the cave. He landed on hard ground while coughing black blood, his vision blurred, and then lost conscious...

    Time passed.

    When Jack woke up, he had no idea how long he had fainted. He was still shaken by the events that transpired, but now it wasn¡¯t the time to put down his guard.

    The first thing he did was examining his surroundings, and even though he could see a lot of grass and trees, he quickly concluded that this place was not the Navira Planes. There were numerous plants that he had never seen before in his life.

    He stood up, pressing tight onto his dagger. It was his only weapon, and in this case, the possible factor between life and death.

    He cautiously moved through the forest searching for an exit. After walking for a while, he stumbled across a short tree. Attached to it was a solitary yellow fruit, the size of a human head.

    Suddenly his stomach rumbled.

    Jack sighed. He realised that he hadn¡¯t eaten anything for a while, and hunger was beginning to take a toll on him.

    ¡°Well, no harm in trying it out,¡± he thought.

    He grabbed it and ripped off a piece. He sniffed, his instinct sensing nothing wrong with its aroma. As soon as he bit it, a delicious sweet fragrance filled his mouth.

    He had already taken quite a few bites when he suddenly heard a loud squeak.

    Not far from him, he saw a strange creature glaring back at him.

    The Creature wasn¡¯t big, around a half leg¡¯s length. It was a little chubby, though it appeared like that mostly because of its widespread fur. It had a short tail, which was furrier than the rest of its body.

    Jack spoke while chomping down on the fruit. ¡°Sorry bro. I am starving and need this fruit. There are plenty of trees around here, go search for another one.¡±

    He then took a soft breath and lamented to himself, ¡°Why do I have to deal with hungry beasts all the time¡­?¡±

    However, not only did The Creature didn¡¯t leave, but it glared back at Jack with jealous eyes and showed its crystal white teeth, as if it understood everything Jack had said.

    Jack cursed his luck, but after experiencing those traumatising events, he just didn¡¯t bother anymore, ¡°Well too bad I saw it first. Piss off.¡±

    The creature trembled with fury. Its fur puffed up, making its physical appearance much larger than before. It let out another squeak and charged towards him.

    Jack completely ignored the creature, seemingly too busy enjoying the delicious taste of the fruit.

    Back then, he had experienced a lot of enmities in the arena. He fought with several humans and beasts, and he could tell if a beast was strong or just pretending. He quickly deduced that this beast was just trying to pull an act on him.

    When the now infuriated creature leapt towards the fruit, Jack easily dodged, grabbing it by its tail. The creature ended up suspended in the air entirely at Jack¡¯s mercy. However, it continued to shriek hatefully at Jack as it struggled to escape from his grip.

    ¡°Maybe I wasn¡¯t clear before little shrimp. So let me repeat in a language you might be able to understand.¡± Jack mocked while chomping on the fruit.Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°Fruit. Mine. Screw off!¡±

    The creature seemed to stop resisting. However, it had been looking for this particular fruit for ages. It wasn¡¯t going to give up that easily.

    Its tail suddenly solidified. Using it as a pendulum, it reached out for Jack¡¯s arm, unleashing its penetrating teeth and biting Jack with all viciousness it could gather. A hint of satisfaction appeared in its eyes shortly after.

    ¡°You¡­¡± Jack gritted his teeth.

    He violently threw the creature away. It let out a miserable shriek as it landed on its butt, spewing fur around.

    ¡°If you want to fight, then bring it on,¡± Jack coolly said as he showed his dagger.

    The Creature glared hatefully, its pride unyielding. However, upon seeing the dagger, it slowly lowered its head, then ran away.

    After making sure that the creature was gone for good, Jack continued eating the fruit, though he couldn¡¯t help himself not to glance towards the red marks on his arm.

    Afterwards, he proceeded with his journey.

    However, it didn¡¯t take much longer for night to set in. He found shelter below a tree, though he was too anxious to allow himself to fall asleep. Then, when the obstructed rays of the morning sun caressed his face, he was on the move again.

    It was not until several hours later that he finally stepped out of the woods. His eyes immediately widened with awe.

    In the distance, he saw a floating mass of land. It was a vast landmass with a quadrate outline. It housed a large bustling city with towering pagodas and ornamental palaces. Sometimes bright beams could be seen flying in and out of the City.

    A large column of water fell from the heavens directly towards the centre of the City, then splitting out horizontally into four different streams, in the form of a cross. The water escaped through the corners of the landmass, generating four majestic waterfalls. Many rainbows could be seen further below, along with a variety of colourful birds.

    Rotating around the city were three smaller platforms, harbouring three large towering pagodas, one for each platform.

    Jack wasn¡¯t sure why, but he felt that there was something different about the elements in this area. It seemed that with every breath he made, the natural energies of this place were reinvigorating his skin.

    However, it didn¡¯t take long for his amazement to change into annoyance. He released a long sigh.

    Ever since that event at the lake, it was just one crisis after another.

    He could feel that someone was pointing a weapon against his neck.

    ¡°Identify yourself, spy!¡±

    It was a soft feminine voice. Even though it was threatening, it was so delicate that Jack couldn¡¯t possibly take it seriously.

    Jack remained calm as he turned himself around and coolly replied, ¡°I am just a lost traveller. I mean no harm.¡±

    The young woman remained silent, seemingly lost in her thoughts. ¡°And you expect me to believe that? The scars on your face and body tell otherwise! You¡¯re coming with me.¡±

    She grabbed Jack from the collar of his shirt, making it look like his body was made of feathers, then flew away towards the city.

    Jack did nothing to stop her. He knew that if she wanted to kill him, she could have already done so. He assumed that he was more useful to her alive than dead.

    Instead, he decided to stay still, enjoying the view as he was transported to the city. He also understood that allowing himself inside the city would give him a much better chance of surviving and understanding what the heck is going on.

    Once he arrived at the city, Jack could notice the occasional glances from other humans directed towards him, or more specifically towards his ragged clothes and scars. Otherwise, the majority of people didn¡¯t seem to take notice of him.

    They didn¡¯t take long to arrive in an expansive garden. There an old man was sitting crossed legged seemingly meditating. Although he was old, it was evident that he took great care of his outward appearance. He radiated an aura of elegance which complimented well with the natural surroundings.

    ¡®Elder Tian. Young Junior offers her respects.¡±

    The old man took his time to open his left eye.

    ¡°I¡¯ve found this man near the forest. I suspected he might be a spy from a rival sect, so I brought him here ¨C

    ¡°And I¡¯ve already told you that I am no spy,¡± Jack interrupted politely as he was afraid of the consequences¡­ if he somehow managed to piss these monsters off the results would be tragic. However, a hint of annoyance could still be detected inside his eyes.

    The old man closed his eye, then smiled. ¡°I know that our rival sects like to employ underhanded tactics¡­ but I don¡¯t believe they would be stupid enough to send a cripple to spy on us.¡±

    The woman¡¯s eyes suddenly opened wide as she glanced over Jack. ¡°Cripple¡­?¡± Her face flushed red with embarrassment.

    Her body soon started to tremble, fearing Elder Tian would punish her. But when she perceived the old man expressing a broader smile, she instead bowed with appreciation. ¡°Even though this junior made a blunder, Elder Tian¡¯s compassion is as big as the highest mountain. This Junior thanks Elder Tian for his benevolence!¡±

    The old man nodded smilingly, then he opened both of his eyes for the first time and locked over Jack. ¡°So, who do we have here?¡±

    Jack observed him but didn¡¯t reply.

    ¡°Judging from those clothes, I am assuming you aren¡¯t from these parts. Mind explaining how you ended up being here?¡±

    Jack nodded respectfully, then sat down as he described the events of the lake. He was still cautious and didn¡¯t mention specific details, especially anything that had to do with the dark cave or the giant face.

    Elder Tian listened to Jack attentively without changing his expression. He only commented once Jack had finished his complicated story.

    ¡°So¡­ you are saying that you have been framed by a cultivator and then kidnapped by a black looking creature, then ended up in the forest down here¡­ strange¡­ really strange¡­¡±

    The young woman glanced at Elder Tian weirdly but didn¡¯t utter a word.

    Elder Tian seemed lost inside his thoughts before locking his gaze over Jack. ¡°If I haven¡¯t lived a long life and seen all the crazy stuff that I¡¯ve seen, I wouldn¡¯t believe you. But I can sense the honesty in your eyes.¡±

    ¡°The best course of action would be to take you back to your realm.¡± Elder Tian explained. ¡°However, there is only one way for you to return to your world, and that¡¯s knowing the specific coordinates of your realm. Which¡­ I doubt you do.¡±

    ¡°After all, there are about one trillion lower realms where you mortals reside.¡±

    Elder Tian¡¯s words struck Jack like a lightning bolt. Even though he didn¡¯t care much about his previous life, the thought of himself ending up stuck in a realm inhabited by strange humans, all of them using supernatural abilities, caused him a sense of dread.

    ¡°Well, since destiny brought you here, you can try staying at our Sky Water Sect if you wish. We are one of the four great sects of this region. You will not find any better opportunity than this.¡±

    After considering Elder Tian¡¯s words, Jack felt grateful. He had just met this old man, but he could tell that this man¡¯s heart was full of compassion.

    He kneeled and bowed with respect. ¡°Junior offers his appreciation for Elder Tian¡¯s kindness.¡±

    ¡°It is too early for that.¡± Elder Tian quickly interrupted. ¡°New members require the Ancient Divinity¡¯s approval before they can join the sect. This has been the tradition since the foundation of the sect, and it cannot be changed.¡±

    Jack appeared confused. ¡°Ancient Divinity?¡±

    The young woman hurriedly explained, ¡°All great sects are founded by powerful beasts and us humans inherit the power of the said beasts. These beasts are referred to as Ancient Divinities. Our ancestor beast has long perished¡­ but its sole descendant still lives to date¡­¡±

    Elder Tian instantly understood Jack¡¯s complex expression.

    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t give us that anxious look! Since the very beginning, nobody has ever been rejected! So don¡¯t worry about it.¡±

    ¡°But I am a ¡®cripple¡¯?¡± Jack reminded him, even though he had no idea what they meant with the word ¡®cripple¡¯.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We had several cripples in the past, and they all got accepted. You¡¯re not the first one. Let¡¯s go now.¡±

    Elder Tian flickered his fingers, summoning a bubble around them. He then took one step, a step that seemed to travel an entire distance, transporting them to a new location.

    They had arrived at the entrance of a small temple. Elder Tian then raised his hand and fired a beam of light towards the sky. Almost immediately, wave after wave of other humans arrived, some flying and some others by foot.

    ¡°A new sect member? Oh, it¡¯s Elder Tian recommendation this time! Must be someone special!¡±

    ¡°What are those clothes? Who still wears clothes as ugly as those during this time and age?¡±

    ¡°Who is this man? What¡¯s so special about him?¡±

    The court in front of the temple was now occupied with an enquiring crowd. However, when Elder Tian raised his hand, it was like the hand of the divine, and everyone fell silent.

    Elder Tian nodded then respectfully shouted, ¡°Ancient Divinity, I¡¯ve brought you a young man for your appraisal.¡±

    Silence reigned as everyone expectedly gazed towards the entrance of the temple.

    Jack was the most nervous from everyone present, but after remembering Elder Tian¡¯s words, he seemed to relax himself a bit.

    After several breaths, a shadow appeared deep inside the temple, slowly increasing in size as it approached the entrance of the temple. It seemed to be moving very slowly, apparently taking its time to make its grand appearance.

    From a closer distance, Jack could notice that the shadow indeed didn¡¯t pertain to a human but instead that of a small beast.

    When the familiar shadow fully emerged from the temple, Jack¡¯s heart stopped beating.

 Chapter 3 â€“ Commotion at the Ancestral Temple

    The crowds observed with attentive eyes as the Ancient Divinity trailed along the Temple¡¯s Platform.

    The adorable creature appeared like it was having the best time of its life. It strolled in circles seemingly enticed by the present crowd, giggling and posing pompously. As for Jack, it had completely ignored him, as if he wasn¡¯t worthy of its attention.

    Distracted by the Ancient Divinity''s weird behaviour, nobody had noticed that Jack¡¯s face had long lost its colour.

    He knew that sometimes, when one sowed karma, it may have to be reaped. But the scene playing before his eyes seemed like a cruel prank from the heavens!

    His entire body was trembling, wanting to shed tears of blood. He was finding it hard to accept how a stupid creature, the same creature he had quarrelled against in the forest, would have such an important identity!

    Just when he thought he had finally found some peace, the entire earth had become an abyss, and the heavens crumbled!

    After wandering about for a long time, the Ancient Divinity finally rested its gaze at the still shivering Jack. Its eyes glittered, and a mocking expression was visible on its face.

    Jack instantly understood that if the creature could talk, he would be receiving a barrage of insults right now.

    Elder Tian noticed that something was amiss and was about to express something, but the Ancient Divinity had already sprung into action.

    It turned around, giving its back to the crowds and revealing its furry tail. The tail shuddered, then it slowly expanded¡­ 1 metre¡­ 1.25 metres¡­ 1.5 metres¡­. until finally stopping at 2 metres.

    When the crowds noted the length of the tail, they were clearly left disappointed.

    ¡°So much for drama¡­ it¡¯s the two-metre tail¡­¡±

    ¡°Well, did you really expect otherwise?¡±

    After having observed the strange behaviour of the Ancient Divinity, all of them had thought that something unusual was about to happen. But once they saw the tail growing to a full two-metre before stopping, their hopes quickly faded away.

    Meanwhile, Elder Tian felt relieved as he nodded towards Jack. ¡°Congratulations, from today you are officially a disciple of the Sky Water Sect.¡±

    However, his joy was not shared by Jack.

    Instead, Jack had a sense of growing uneasiness. He thought that unless the creature before him had the memory of a goldfish, there was no way he was going to get out of this situation unscathed. No, after observing the creature¡¯s behaviour earlier, he was already preparing himself for the worst.

    And he had guessed correctly.

    The Ancient Divinity, like a predator playing with its prey, was just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Suddenly, its tail shivered, and in a couple of breaths, it expanded to three metres!

    When everyone noticed the sudden expansion of the tail, a huge commotion erupted. Even Elder Tian felt flabbergasted, unwilling to believe what his eyes were seeing.

    Loud voices competed with each other as the various disciples discussed the possible meaning of this length. They were only used in seeing the two-metre tail; they never had the opportunity to experience the different lengths before!

    After a brief moment of discussions, an old woman with freckles appeared. She flipped through a dusty looking manual, then yelled with a loud voice, ¡°According to the sect¡¯s manual, the three-metre tail signifies rejection!¡±

    But her words had yet to reach the ears of the disciples when the Ancient Divinity¡¯s tail began enlarging again, and in a short number of breaths, it was now four metres erect!

    This sudden development naturally shocked the crowds even more. Everyone stared at each other dumbfounded. Not even in their wildest dreams would they have anticipated this unexpected turn of events; what was supposed to be a boring admission of a useless cultivator, actually turn out to be so exciting! And this was not just any recommendation by the way, but a recommendation by one of the Sect Elders!

    Suddenly perceiving an overwhelming amount of glances on herself, the old woman rubbed her nose and straightened her back. She seemed to struggle with the sudden expectations from the crowd. She cleared her throat before shouting. ¡°Jail punishment! The four-metre tail, signifies Jail punishment!¡±

    The various disciples seemed to be having a blast as they immersed themselves, discussing the implications of the different lengths. Unlike Jack, who was biting his lips and gazing at the creature with murderous eyes.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you taking it a bit too far now?¡±

    The creature arrogantly ignored him. This was its moment to enjoy. It knew that it had the upper hand here, and revenge was surely guaranteed. From its perspective, Jack was not in a position to do anything. Right now, it was the king, and Jack was a disposable pawn.

    Instead, it let out a low pitched moan, and a red strain appeared on its face as if the tail¡¯s extension required a lot of physical effort. However, knowing that it was the centre of attention, it seemed to regain its composure.

    It cried a miserable shriek as its tail began shivering again, extending to five metres!

    ¡°Incredible! It enlarged again!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! Five metres!¡±

    ¡°What grave immoralities has this man done to trigger such a heavenly condemnation?!¡±

    The yelling of the crowd began attracting nearby cultivators. Piqued by their curiosities, soon more and more cultivators of different ages arrived. In a short amount of breaths, the entire piazza surrounding the temple was fully occupied.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    One of these new arrivals was a notable man wearing an azure robe. He was surrounded by a noble aura, his face as white as the light of the moon. His facial hair was also white, but his eyes were as sharp as a wolf¡¯s and his back as solid as a tiger¡¯s.

    He floated towards the middle, then elegantly descended next to Elder Tian.

    When the disciples noticed him, they all bowed respectfully. Not a single one of them dared to act recklessly before the third most powerful expert of the sect.

    Because this man was none other than one of the two sect¡¯s elders, Sect Elder Shui!

    ¡°What¡¯s this ruckus?¡± Unlike his counterpart, he didn¡¯t hesitate to use power in his voice as a form of intimidation.

    His enquiring eyes extended towards Elder Tian, then passed over Jack until finally resting fixed over the Ancient Divinity.

    ¡°The five-metre tail¡­ death penalty¡­¡± He said, his voice calm yet radiating killing intent.

    Jack remained motionless, unwilling to believe this absurdity.

    He was a man who had survived for years inside a slave market, he had survived a crazy supernatural human who could stir the heavens and crack the lands, he also had managed to outlive the encounter with that black creature and that grotesque face¡­ but now he was going to perish because he ate a fruit?

    But no matter how much he thought, he couldn¡¯t think of a way out of this mess. He was just too powerless against these monsters. The only thing he could do was cursing at himself for starting a fight with that creature. If he knew it would end up like this, he would have definitely let it obtain that fruit back then!

    Elder Tian was the first to break the silence. ¡°Elder Shui¡­ don¡¯t tell me you are considering to harm¨C

    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Elder Shui quickly rebuked him, his authoritative voice thundering into everyone ears. ¡°You are a sect elder, and you dare to even propose something so outrageous?! So what if he is a mortal?! The Ancient Divinity is the direct descendant of our Ancestral Divinity! It is also the Patriarch''s personal wish that the Ancient Divinity filters new candidates! Don¡¯t tell me you want to act against both the wills of the Ancestral Divinity and the Patriarch?!¡±

    After hearing Elder Shui¡¯s words, Elder Tian lowered his head and fell into complete silence. His face was full of gloom as he glanced towards Jack with a sense of guilt.

    Jack frowned. If he had to die, then he definitely had to bring that creature down with him. Only by doing so he would die without regrets. Otherwise, his soul would surely never find peace for all eternity.

    On the other hand, even though the Ancient Divinity was dying from pain and its face was now redder than blood, it appeared more ecstatic than before.

    It was at this moment that both Elders seemed to have noticed something. Both of them had thought of the same idea, but unfortunately for Elder Tian, Elder Shui had a faster reaction.

    ¡°Hmm?! How could I have forgotten about that important matter? Am I becoming too old?¡± This sudden change of conduct by Elder Shui confused everyone present.

    ¡°Elder Tian, unfortunately, I have to leave this trial in your good hands.¡±

    He flipped his robe and flew away, his speed quickly accelerating.

    All sect disciples appeared puzzled as they watched Elder Shui¡¯s silhouette fade away. They wanted to ask questions, but any doubts they had were immediately repelled when they heard a familiar voice.

    ¡°Aw man. All of you are here having fun, and nobody bothered to invite me? Simply unforgivable!¡±

    A young man could be heard approaching the area. He wore a colourful robe, much more vibrant than those of the other disciples. His hands were clasped behind his back, his expression totally unreadable. Fixed over his head was a small medicinal plant, giving him an odd appearance.

    Everyone but Jack instantly recognised him. He was one of the seven junior elders, the infamous Dai Jun!

    The various disciples all glanced towards Dai Jun with different expressions. Some glanced at him weirdly, others with disgust, while the majority seemed to fear him. Regardless of their reaction, everyone appeared to be spreading out, keeping a safe distance from him.

    Dai Jun turned to look at the direction at which Elder Shui left, but seeing that he had already fled, he snorted. Instead, he kept walking towards the entrance of the temple.

    Hearing the approaching footsteps, the Ancient Divinity shivered, slowly retracting its tail. At this instant, it had entirely forgotten about Jack.

    Dai Jun inspected the crowd. ¡°So? What¡¯s going on? Where is the fun?¡±

    He waited for a response. However, nobody dared to reply. ¡°Geez¡­ What a boring sect I¡¯ve found myself mingled with¡­¡±

    Dai Jun kept walking ahead until arriving in front of the Ancient Divinity, only a short distance away.

    The creature¡¯s fur spiked upwards, revealing its threatening teeth. However, it didn¡¯t dare to make a move but instead took a couple of steps in reverse.

    ¡°You know, if it weren¡¯t for you being the descendant of the Original Ancestor, I would have already had the pleasure of tasting that meat of yours. I can¡¯t believe the sect¡¯s Patriarchs never noticed what a boring and useless creature you are.¡±

    Upon hearing these words, the Creature shivered in terror as it hurried its retreating steps. It let out a squeak of defeat, then ran back inside the temple.

    Dai Jun then turned around and moved towards the blinking Jack. ¡°Seems like that pile of crappy fur hates you. Anyone it hates, is inevitably my friend.¡±

    He summoned a medallion and a bottle of medicinal pills, which he casually threw towards Jack. As soon as Jack grabbed the medallion, it started glittering with strange colourful lights that circulated it, giving it an ethereal feeling.

    When the various disciples noticed the medallion, shivers ran down their spines, and their hearts skipped a couple of beats. That is because every one of them understood the real significance of that special medallion!

    Dai Jun coolly said, ¡°I¡¯m using my privileges to promote you to an inner sect disciple. Until you unlock your cultivation, you should take one of those pills per day. It will keep you alive without the need to eat¡­¡±

    These words left Dai Jun mouth in an unimpressive manner, yet they were enough to silence everyone present. It felt like a cold wind had descended from the underworld and froze the entire area with chilling ice. Even Elder Tian was left speechless.

    ¡°Inner Sect Disciple?¡± Jack, who was still recovering from his earlier crisis innocently asked.

    Not only Jack, everyone present in the piazza was asking the same question.

    An inner sect disciple? They knew the implications of those words very well!

    Only a genius who had worked hard his entire life or those born with rich bloodlines had a chance to obtain the inner disciple status, and that was still not a guarantee for success! After all, the number of inner disciples in the sect could be counted with one¡¯s hands!

    And yet, this guy appeared out of nowhere and received this position! Not only that, but apparently this good for nothing who just a moment ago had one foot in the grave had yet to unlock his cultivation base! He was a useless piece of junk!

    Many of these were proud cultivators who had experienced a lot of hardships, and had long given up on their dreams of becoming an inner sect disciple! But today, this complete stranger was promoted to an inner sect disciple! How could they not feel humiliated? This entire affair was a massive blow to their dignities!

    Many of them started loathing Dai Jun and Jack with sharp and maddening eyes.

    Dai Jun noticed this and nonchalantly asked. ¡°What? Someone has an objection?!¡±

    However, none of the disciples replied back.

    It was then that Jack fell on his knees and kowtowed in appreciation. ¡°Thanks for saving this lowly one¡¯s life!¡±

    Dai Jun glanced at him and snorted. ¡°Enough with the formalities. Follow after me.¡±

    The stunned disciples and Elder Tian watched as Dai Jun walked away with Jack. However, Dai Jun suddenly paused for a moment.

    ¡°Elder Tian, you still haven¡¯t paid me for those pink pills.¡± Then he kept walking.

    When he heard this, Elder Tian¡¯s mouth fell to the floor as the entire piazza focused its attention on him.

    Elder Tian coughed a few times. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Dai Jun¡­ cough cough I will have the sum delivered in the coming days.¡±

    His face now redder than red bayberry, he turned to address the gossiping crowds. ¡°What are you thinking? The pink pills are just¡­ cough cough medicinal pills for improving¡­ my ageing skin¡­¡±

    The disciples nodded in agreement, seemingly accepting his explanation. However, Elder Tian could sense that deep down they didn¡¯t believe him.

    He lost his composure for the first time and flew away in shame.

 Chapter 4 â€“ Fiery Invitation

    Soft burbling sounds could be heard as the slow-moving current of water brushed against the bordering pebbles, seemingly the only active force fighting against the peace and quietness that dominated the area.

    Not far from the current of water, an isolated building stood tall, like a supreme being imposing its aura on the surrounding lands. It was a simple archaic structure without any spectacular architecture, yet it still attracted the attention of any passers-by that happened to be walking through that area.

    On its roof, there was an open-air pavilion with a decent amount of greenery. Sitting on a wooden bench inside the pavilion, there was a young man.

    He wore a greyish robe seemingly made of the finest materials. Complimenting it was a fine-looking medallion hanging around his neck.

    Anyone who viewed him from afar, they would think that he was a refined scholar. However, if they had to move closer and take note of his rough physique and the hidden savagery in his eyes, they would quickly change their minds.

    This young man was none other than Jack, the newly appointed inner sect disciple of the Sky Water Sect!

    The shocking news of Jack becoming an inner sect disciple had long since spread out, and almost everyone in the sect had heard about it. Most disciples quickly assumed that this whole affair was one of Dai Jun¡¯s weird pranks. They also supposed that once the Grand Elder returned from his mission, this entire mess would be rectified.

    Still, during the last few days, Jack could notice the shadows of some curious disciples that spied on him from time to time, though none of them bothered to disturb him, much to his relief.

    The truth was that some jealous minds wished to teach him a lesson. They wanted to show him that the difference between a cultivator and a mortal was like the difference between the heavens and earth, and the difference between an inner sect disciple and a mortal and was like the difference between a god and an ant.

    However, when they noticed that Jack didn¡¯t brag about his status and remained inside his dwelling like a coward, they decided to leave him alone and instead observe how the situation played out. Besides, Jack seemed to be under Dai Jun¡¯s protection, and nobody wished to mess with that guy.

    As for Jack, he couldn¡¯t be any happier. This place offered him much more than he had hoped for. Most importantly, this place provided tranquillity, something that he craved since the calamity at the lake.

    He opened the bottle of medicinal pills and swallowed one without any efforts. As he felt the energies of the pill invading his body, he pondered about the fates of the fighting bulls. He also wondered if his Master bothered to search for him, although he didn¡¯t have high expectations.

    In the end, he was just a lowly servant.

    He sighed as he rotated the bottle on the floor, suddenly missing the calming effects of his smoking plants.

    Dai Jun was really a man of few words he thought. A week ago he had accompanied him to this place and explained some basic stuff, then left and never returned.

    However, regardless of his strange attitude, Jack still felt immense gratitude towards that man. It¡¯s thanks to him that he is still alive after all.

    At least, during the short time together, he had obtained some vital information.

    As an inner sect disciple, he was entitled to a residence in the administrative region of the Sect. Of course, he was also eligible for other benefits, but he refrained from obtaining them, at least not until he had a better understanding of the sect.

    Jack also learned that the Sect was divided into four districts, separated by the four different currents of streams.

    Located on the eastern side, the administrative region was where the elites of the sect resided. Only those of special status or pure bloodlines were allowed to enter this region. Jack, him being one of the inner sect disciples, naturally had the necessary qualifications.

    To the north was the home of all those born with exceptional bloodlines, bloodlines that in the past had contributed for the glory of the sect. These included the main bloodline which consisted of two branches, the Shui and the Tian Families.

    Then there was the western district which housed the remaining disciples. This was the residence of all those with unimportant bloodlines or recruits approved by the Ancient Divinity. If Jack had passed that test, he would have been allocated there. However, the incident at the temple had changed this fate.

    And lastly, there was the southern district, the busiest of all. Housing the central market, it saw large numbers of cultivators exchanging trades and buying goods, including the hosting of daily auctions. It was the central hub of the sect where all cultivators could gather, regardless of their statuses. Jack had already planned to visit this place in the future so that he gets a better understanding of the consumables and products of this world.

    Besides the market, this southern region also contained numerous gardens. It was precisely in one of these gardens that Jack had first met Elder Tian.

    Unfortunately, the temple of the Ancestral Divinity was also located there.

    Jack¡¯s heart suddenly ached as he remembered that creature. A cute little creature for most, but the equivalent of a freaky abomination for him. Back in the forest, there was a simple karmic connection between the two. However, after the incident of the temple that simple relationship transformed into one of entangled destinies; destinies of everlasting animosity.

    While Jack was busy hating on the creature, a thin rapture appeared in the sky, creating a fissure from which a small rock escaped. The rock burned with azure flames as it descended like a falling star towards the eastern district.

    Several eyes noted the arrival of the rock, arousing the interests of some of the inner sect disciples, seemingly bringing them back memories.

    Next to a bronze column, an attractive woman wearing a greyish robe sat in a meditative pose hovering upside-down over a pool of water. Her golden hair fluttered wildly, almost touching the waters below.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Her eyes brightened like two little suns. ¡°Azure Fiery Realm¡­¡±

    At another location, the entire land seemed forsaken. All that was left from a once flourishing land were chunks of burned tree stumps. Black ashes filled the desolate air and no life forms could be seen.

    In the middle of these scorched lands, there was a black cauldron the size of a pagoda, releasing towering flames. Deep inside the cauldron, there was a cultivator who was completely naked, his crimson hair dancing along with the flames. Around him were several medicinal pills hovered up and down.

    ¡°That Dai Jun¡­ has he gone crazy? If word were to spread out, we would become the laughing stock of all sects!¡±

    Meanwhile, in one of the gardens in the southern district, a young man was relaxing on a bench. His serene eyes were closed and a faint smile was visible over his face. He had long black hair, contrasting greatly against his pure white skin. A white lily was fitted inside his robe, close to his heart.

    He was a handsome guy, proven by the number of female disciples that stuck around with him. Two of these were gorgeous brunettes whose heads rested over his shoulders. One was playing with his hair while the other seductively caressed her fingers against his chest.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t fair Master Shi¡­¡±

    His face beamed with peacefulness as the young man looked at one of his maidens, his eyes still shut.

    A hint of disdain immediately appeared on her face. ¡°That guy is just a mortal, and he gets to stand in the same rank as young Master! And now he is entering the fiery realm! Who knows what secrets he will uncover? I hate leeches like him the most!¡±

    Perceiving her worrying, the young Master wrapped his arm around her shoulder and squeezed her. Her face immediately blushed as if a captivating godly aura had just descended over her.

    ¡°Xue¡¯er, why worry about such a lowly lifeform? This Young Master believes that we should let him enjoy his little adventure. If he amusingly decides to enter the fiery realm, even if he had ten lives, he would lose them all.¡±

    While the various disciples were busy conversing about this event, the burning rock had finally arrived at the border of the eastern district. As it neared the ground, it seemed to slow down, then graciously landed in front of Jack¡¯s residence.

    The burning azure flames extinguished themselves shortly after. The rock then split open, revealing a hovering azure talisman. Three sets of butterfly swords also emerged, clashing and rotating around the talisman, seemingly protecting it.

    Jack observed the talisman from his pavilion. He could feel a sort of attraction coming out from it as if a soundless voice was calling for him.

    He took his time before exiting and walking towards the rock. The butterfly swords danced around observing him, then they lowered themselves, seemingly gaining their approval. As soon as he touched the talisman, he heard the voice of a woman.

    ¡°I am Junior Elder Shui Baozhai, the one currently in charge of the Azure Fiery Realm. Hold onto that talisman for a moment; it will summon you to my location. I will explain everything to you later.¡±

    Jack asked some questions towards the talisman, but no voice replied. He quickly gave up, instead sitting down and patiently waited.

    As more time passed, he could notice glittering lights spreading around his body and the outside world seemed to be vanishing away. As the lights completely covered his body, a boom was heard, and everything around him distorted.

    Jack felt his mind reeling. However, once he got back to his senses, he noticed that he was transported to a different place.

    He found himself in a large chamber supported by four central pillars. Even though the hall seemed ancient, it was very well kept. He scanned around, and he couldn¡¯t even detect any dust, let alone spider webs.

    In the middle of the chamber, he noticed a large altar. Standing on it there was a tall woman.

    She wasn¡¯t young, but her beauty had yet to show any signs of degradation. Her skin seemed to be made from pure white jade, her stylish robe neatly pressing against her ample chest. A golden coiling dragon belt wrapt tight around her waist.

    She jumped and walked towards Jack.

    ¡°Canonical Laws of the sect dictate that newly appointed inner sect disciples have to enter the Azure Fiery Realm within one month of appointment.¡±

    ¡°Briefly, this is another dimensional realm left behind by the founder of our sect. His original scope was to assist chosen cultivators throughout the ages.¡±

    ¡°A choice is usually not an option, but¡­,¡± she said as she walked back to the altar and leaned against it, crossing her alluring legs.

    ¡°You are a special case. Anticipating your immediate expulsion once the Grand Elder returns, I am giving you a chance to refuse this entire ordeal.¡±

    ¡°Frankly speaking, you will be doing me a big favour if you refuse. The Grand Elder can be a really stubborn person to deal with,¡± she said why crossing her hands, bumping her chests upwards.

    Jack appeared pensive. Ever since he joined the sect, he had many questions. He had tried asking some to Dai Jun before, but Dai Jun evaded through most and instead only gave him bits of information related to the sect.

    ¡°Senior Elder, ever since I¡¯ve arrived in this world, I could feel strange energies surrounding my body. It feels like my body wants to absorb them, but no matter how much I try, I always fail.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± The woman gazed at Jack with suspicion. ¡°You can sense it?¡±

    She remained to stare at Jack with inquiring eyes. From what she had read, most mortals wouldn¡¯t be able to feel Qi, let alone cultivate it. And those who did, they would only be able to do so after several years, and their future potential would be mediocre at best.

    But here in front of her was a mortal who was able to feel qi, and that¡¯s just after being in this realm for a couple of days. Naturally, this young man had distorted her initial expectations.

    After pondering for a while, she seemed to have made up her mind. She walked between two opposite silver poles, then elegantly extended her arms and punched with brute force. The powerful impact triggered an elemental reaction, slowly transforming into a portal.

    ¡°It¡¯s an impossible bet. The Demonic beasts in there are dangerous even for weak cultivators in the lower seeking stage. So I don¡¯t need to mention what they can do to you, who have no cultivation power.¡±

    ¡°Anyways, once inside, go east through the forest. When you exit the forest, head north towards the Monastery. Inside you will find the spectral clone of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Patriarch. He will be able to assist you with any questions you might have.¡±

    ¡°Remember, avoid any beast at all costs. If a Demonic Beast detects your presence, there will be no escaping it. Once inside the Monastery, you will be protected by its shield. No beasts can enter in there.¡±

    ¡°The realm will automatically close after six months. Then you will be forcefully expelled outside, specifically at the entrance of the Ancestral Divinity Temple in the southern district.¡±

    ¡°If you still wish to enter and throw away your life, then go ahead,¡± she said as she sat on the altar, examining him.

    Jack frowned at the prospect of meeting that creature again, but that matter was not important right now. After giving it some thought, he concluded that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and he shouldn¡¯t miss it. Whatever questions he had, he was sure that he would be able to find answers for them inside this realm.

    Especially now that he was trapped inside this world.

    Jack nodded respectfully, then began strolling towards the portal.

    ¡°One last advice. The chances of you coming back alive are the same as this senior encountering the legendary phoenix. But if by a miracle of the heavens you indeed prove this senior wrong and you inherit the fortunes of the realm, you should work on integrating into our sect. Because while your eyes shine with determination, maybe too much of that, your heart is full of grievances and loneliness. Power is not the only virtue you should be pursuing.¡±

    Jack listened attentively to her words and lowered his head slightly. He was inwardly shocked at the woman¡¯s ability to detect his inner emotions.

    ¡°Thank you for the wise words, Senior Elder. Humble disciple will remember your sound advice.¡± Jack nodded then passed through the portal.

    A slight breeze began blowing inside the chamber as Junior Elder Shui Baozhai observed the vanishing shadow of Jack, her delicate hair softly slamming against her cheek.

    After a moment of silence, she couldn¡¯t help but mutter to herself.

    ¡°Dai Jun¡­ what exactly are you plotting¡­?¡±

 Chapter 5 â€“ Azure Fiery Realm

    As soon as Jack stepped foot inside the realm, contrary to his expectations, he found that he was not in a land of flames. What greeted him instead was a gentle warm current of wind that patted against his face.

    The Azure Fiery Realm was indeed a different world he remarked as he surveyed his surroundings.

    Faraway over the horizon, he noticed a burning azure flame, seemingly acting as the only sun of the realm. High up in the sky were several moons of different colours and sizes, too many for him to bother counting. As for the lands, it made him feel like he had just entered a tropical forest, although there were several open planes and the vegetation wasn¡¯t as dense as one would expect from such a temperate climate.

    However, what impressed Jack the most were large isolated trees that looked similar to mushrooms, and were so tall that it seemed one could reach the moons if one had to climb them. From their tops several glowing multi-coloured strings descended for several metres, giving the entire atmosphere of the realm a touch of ethereal beauty.

    With every step he made, Jack could hear the sounds of crunching leaves under his feet. The air was humid to the point of suffocation, making it difficult for him to breathe. He casually removed the beads of sweat that had formed on his forehead, then he undressed his robe and tied it around his waist.

    Even though the atmosphere in this place was unbearable, it didn¡¯t seem like he was going to end up exhausted anytime soon. Like the outside, he could feel some sort of energy circulating and invigorating his body. However, in this instance, it was several magnitudes stronger.

    BOOM. BOOM.

    Rumbling sounds echoing from the eastern forest alerted Jack¡¯s ears. When he inspected, he saw all sorts of strange beasts scattering in random directions.

    Few moments of breaths later, another loud explosion was heard as two beams of azure lights emerged from within the forest. The azure lights began dimming as they orbited around the forest with decreasing speed. Shortly after, the outline of two large falcons appeared in Jack¡¯s line of sight.

    The falcons were large, probably ten times larger than an ordinary human, and their eyes flashed with an ancient, primordial aura. They had menacing beaks and their colourful feathers burned with beautiful azure flames.

    Like two heavenly kings, they scanned the forest with threatening eyes, occasionally letting out intimidating roars in synchronisation.

    What followed was another heavenly defying roar that arose from the depth of the forest, which wasn¡¯t any weaker than the combined cries of the falcons. The roar stirred up a powerful elemental storm made up of rising winds and debris.

    Shortly after, another creature emerged from the cloud of dust; it was a strange yellow beast with the head of a dragon, the body of a lion and a split tail that hanged low and downward. It had a set of protruding eyes and sharp teeth, together with four feet that had large paws and steel looking claws. On its head, it had a single antler, complemented by a pair of wings on its back.

    If the other inner sect disciples were here witnessing this scene, they would instantly recognise this beast. It was the strongest demonic beast of the Azure Fiery Realm, the invincible guardian that from generation to generation no other creature was able to topple! The Golden Pixiu!

    Bright light radiated out from the Pixiu¡¯s body as it hovered in the sky like an impenetrable fortress. The atmosphere was one of tension as the three beasts stared at each other for a long time.

    The stillness was eventually broken when the Pixiu dashed like a lightning bolt, almost ripping the air apart as it took aim for one of the falcons. Even though the attack seemed like it could tear mountains down, it was no match for the falcon¡¯s speed, which had turned into a prismatic beam and easily dodged.

    The falcons then flapped their wings in unison, sending multiple burning feathers hurling towards the Golden Pixiu. Some of the feathers managed to land on target, but all they could do was producing small cuts on its skin.

    The remaining feathers descended, slicing through everything that stood in their path and sending towering plumes of dust wherever they hit. Even thick trees that seemed to have been there since the beginning of time couldn¡¯t resist the power of the feathers, and one by one began falling, creating localised quakes.

    The Pixiu was still chasing after the falcons as it began amassing golden rays of light in its mouth, before unleashing a powerful golden beam.

    When the falcons detected the incoming beam, azure flames sprung out from their bodies, releasing two beams of spiralling flames. The two columns of fire fused with each other as they slammed into the golden ray.

    A bloodcurdling explosion occurred, rocking the entire realm with an ever expanding shockwave.

    Even though Jack was some kilometres away from the battle zone, he was forced to cover his face from the incoming dust and debris.

    He remained stupefied as he observed the ensuing battle. Whenever he thought that nothing could shock him anymore, he was proven wrong and wrong again. Right now he felt like an insignificant bug, a bug that could be crushed at any moment.

    The current situation was a double-edged sword, he thought. The battle had cleared a path for him through the forest and scattered the other beasts. However, if he ends up caught in the ongoing battle, then it would be his end.

    He sighed as he recovered his courage and ran towards the forest. His only hope was reaching the monastery indicated by Junior Elder Shui Baozhai. If he failed to achieve this objective, he knew that what awaited him was a gruesome death.

    Although Jack was a fast runner, once inside the forest, he was hindered by its rough surface. In a short period, he had already lost balance quite a few times, and his legs were already bleeding.

    Meanwhile, the battle between Pixiu and the Falcons raged on.

    The Pixiu was now in a precarious state. Its entire body was covered with wounds as streams of blood descended against its legs, before dropping off like heavenly tears. However, its eyes were yet to show any signs of surrendering.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    When it appeared like it was in a disadvantage, it suddenly charged, increasing its speed and catching one of the falcons by surprise.

    All the falcon could do was to release a miserable shriek as its body was ripped apart. The dead falcon¡¯s eyes were still wide open as blood and gore rained down.

    With just one bite, one of the falcons had fallen.

    Not only the Pixiu was a powerful beast, it also had a high level of intellect when compared to other beasts. It had quickly noted that although the falcon¡¯s feather technique was a frightening technique, it had one glaring flaw ¨C only a limited number of feathers could be used! Moreover, with every feather used, the falcon¡¯s speed would decrease by a notch.

    Thus, the Pixiu had purposely reduced its speed, fooling the falcons into overusing the technique. Once the falcon¡¯s speed decreased below a certain limit, the Pixiu revealed its true speed, giving it no chance for escape.

    After experiencing the gruesome death of its companion, the other Falcon let out a soul-piercing cry as it wildly charged towards the Pixiu.

    This sudden change of tactics took the Pixiu by surprise as it prepared to defend. However, the falcon had already buried its claws inside the pixiu¡¯s back, then deeply dug the beak inside its neck.

    Blood sprayed out. The Pixiu cried with pain as it emitted a brilliant golden light from its body, blinding the falcon and forcing it to retreat away.

    The two demonic beasts roared madly as they repeatedly dashed and slammed into each other, generating powerful tremors and ripples that spread throughout the entire region. As of now, all tactics had been abandoned and it was just a showdown of brute force.

    Taking advantage of the long battle, Jack pressed ahead and after some time he had already reached the end of the forest. From that position, he saw a small building towards his north. A hint of hope appeared in his eyes as he changed direction and sprinted ahead.

    He could now feel his throat burning and his heart beating with force, seemingly wanting to come out of his body. He kept running, splashing away water as he struggled to pass through small ponds of mud.

    It was then that Jack suddenly heard an anguished cry from afar, and the trembles of the region quieted down.

    He quickly deduced that the battle had finally concluded.

    A sense of sudden crisis enveloped him. The Monastery wasn¡¯t that far away, but for Jack, it still looked like it was miles away.

    He ran and ran with all force he could gather. He knew that every second counted, and even a slight delay could result in unwanted consequences.

    From the corners of his vision, he could already see the returning demonic beasts, which eyed him with desirable eyes. Most had strange and intimidating forms, enough to cause his soul a deep sense of dread.

    As soon as one of those beasts charged, the rest followed.

    Jack let out a rallying cry as he sprinted the final distance, without bothering to look back at his chasers. His eyes flashed with hope when he was only a couple of metres away from the shield.

    PAH!

    Jack suddenly felt the head of a beast slamming onto his back, forcing him to lose balance as he rolled on the rough ground like a bag of meat.

    BOOM!

    Not only one breath of time had passed before a powerful impact occurred, hurling massive junks of rocks in all directions.

    Some of these rocks were also propelled in Jack direction. However, just when he thought that he was going to get crushed to death, a transparent shield activated and repelled all incoming projectiles.

    The terrified Jack struggled to regain his vision as he got a glimpse of a large shadow.

    Outside the shield appeared a towering one-eyed creature covered with several wounds. In its mouth, there was the severed head of a majestic falcon, which it then let off to fall gracefully.

    Its appearance caused the remaining demonic beasts, the very few that survived the previous blast, to flee away.

    The horrified Jack swallowed a gulp of saliva as he watched the creature walk away shortly after. His entire body couldn¡¯t stop trembling, both from fear and exhaustion.

    He rested for a long while recovering his strength and senses. Only when he was sure that he was at least able to walk straight again is when he finally decided to enter the wooden Monastery.

    Once inside, the fragrance of burning incense welcomed him. The interior was more unadorned than he had predicted, with only a few decorations which had lost their colours with time.

    ¡°Quite an impressive battle, don¡¯t you think so?¡± A white phantom suddenly materialised out of nowhere in front of Jack.

    The spectre appeared half opaque, his snowy body illuminated by dim rays of light. His appearance was that of an old man with a decent amount of beard. A mysterious smile was draped on its face as it slowly levitated itself.

    Jack instantly understood the identity of the spectre and kowtowed.

    ¡°Greetings Lord 3rd Patriarch. Young junior is extremely fortunate to be graced by your presence and humbly ask for your most valuable guidance.¡±

    The spectre locked his gaze on Jack for a couple of breaths, then nodded approvingly. ¡°I must commend your bravery for entering this realm and making it to this place in one piece.¡±

    ¡°But alas, you¡¯re still not qualified to appear before this magnificent one. Are you willing to leave this place out of your initiative, or will you force this old one¡¯s hand to kick you out personally?¡±

    These words confused Jack.

    ¡°My Lord, my name is Jack. I am an inner sect disciple of the Sky Water Sect. I came seeking your guidance as instructed by the elders of the sect.¡±

    ¡°An inner sect disciple?¡± The Spectre seemed surprised for a moment before bursting out with laughter.

    ¡°Hehehe¡­ if you said that I was a little fairy, it would have been more believable than you saying that you are an inner sect disciple.¡±

    The Spectre smiled coldly as he pointed his finger towards Jack.

    A towering force descended, forcing Jack to float in a backwards direction. He rotated several times before landing several metres away from the spectre, coughing out blood while trying to regain control of his body.

    ¡°The medallion! Cough¡­Cough¡­ I have the medallion!¡±

    The spectre appeared surprised for a moment as he clasped his hand behind its back, then glanced over the medallion hanging around Jack¡¯s neck. ¡°Oh¡­ the Medallion¡­?¡±

    ¡°Yes is the medallion given to me by¡ª

    A sizeable crushing force suddenly slammed into Jack, cutting his speech and sending flying out of the monastery like a piece of paper.

    ¡°So what if you have that medallion?! Do you even comprehend what sort of existence I am? I am the spectral clone of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Patriarch! An insuperable cultivator that has ascended and shaken the very heavens! I¡¯ve got nothing to teach to the likes of you!¡±

    ¡°Your simple presence here is an offence to my eyes!¡±

    These loud words left Jack dumbfounded as he laid half defeated on the ground.

    If this was the way the ¡®helpful patriarchs¡¯ greeted their disciples, he didn¡¯t even want to imagine the behaviour of the ¡®less helpful Patriarchs¡¯.

    However, his trail of thoughts was interrupted as wave after wave of powerful blasts descended on him, little by little forcing him to retreat towards the protective shield.

    The anxious Jack was already imagining himself being shredded to pieces by the monstrosity that was waiting for him outside.

    ¡°My Lord! This useless junior admits that he doesn¡¯t deserve any pointers from such a supreme being as yourself! But please, I implore you! Let this useless junior train inside the protective shield! Junior swears upon the heavens that he will not disturb!¡±

    Even though these words made Jack¡¯s heart cringe with shame, he was willing to allow himself to mentally suffer like this, at least until he unlocked the secret powers of this realm. Some humiliation was still better than throwing his life away and wasting this unique opportunity. Besides, as a former slave, he was used to this type of treatment.

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The spectre played with his beard apparently touched by Jack¡¯s sudden humility.

    ¡°Wise words¡­wise words¡­ not only did you convince this magnificent one to allow you practising inside the protective barrier, but I am also going to impart a part of my wisdom.¡± The Spectre coolly answered with honest eyes.

    Upon hearing these words, Jack sighed a hint of relief.

    ¡°Always remember this young mortal! The cultivating world is surely not a bed of roses! You know, terrible things can happen all the time! So many cultivators throw away their lives stupidly because they underestimate the lingering shadows of the cultivation world! Ah, such an immoral world¡­ certainly not for the weak hearted!¡±

    As soon as he finished speaking, he forcefully pushed Jack outside of the barrier.

    Not that far from Jack, resting on a large boulder was the injured Pixiu. When it noticed Jack, it stood up and slowly marched towards him.

 Chapter 6 â€“ Dao

    Jack fell on his knees, his body sliding against the glowing shield. He had banged his hands to the point of bleeding, but it seemed like he was trying to break a mountain of steal. As for his cries and begging, there were no answers. The Patriarch¡¯s Spectre completely ignored him.

    Hatred swelled inside Jack¡¯s heart, but that was the only thing he could do. He knew that his chances for survival were now close to zero.

    He sighed, then moved towards the creature with his hands wide open, surrendering to its fate. If he had to die, then he would die with dignity. Like a real man would do.

    From afar, it was evident that the Golden Pixiu was a terrifying existence. However, watching the beast from this close was like watching the cruellest demon of the underworld. The various injuries splattered around and the visible flesh on its body made it look even scarier than it actually was.

    Jack had the impression that if the creature wanted, it could kill him with just its glance.

    However, it was then that he noticed the Pixiu glaring at something, more precisely at the bottle of medicinal pills hanging around his waist.

    ¡°Pills! You want pills?!¡± Jack, without hesitation, threw away several pills in its direction.

    The Golden Pixiu let out a low pitched sniff, attracting the pills and swallowing them in one gulp. Almost instantly, golden smoke emerged from its wounds as they began closing and healing with fantastic speed.

    Jack blinked his eyes, completely dumbfounded. He never anticipated that these medicinal pills were so extraordinary to begin with! But now that he had observed the miraculous healings of the Pixiu, he quickly understood how valuable they were.

    Although the pills weren¡¯t enough to cure the Pixiu, in just a couple of breaths, it was now in much better shape.

    It eyed Jack again, apparently wanting more pills.

    Jack was about to throw away the remaining pills when an idea flashed into his mind. He glanced at the creature and stuttered, ¡°Great creature¡­ I know you need these pills¡­ but I am a fragile person right now¡­ to the degree that I cannot survive without them¡­ So how about we make a deal? Let me unlock the powers of this world first, then I will give you all the remaining pills.¡±

    It was a crazy gamble. Jack was anticipating the creature to retaliate, or worse shred him into tiny pieces. But much to his shock, the beast not only bothered to listen to all of his rants, but it lowered its head and left for a rest on the nearby boulder.

    This development was utterly beyond his expectations, leaving him staring for a while like an idiot.

    What he didn¡¯t know was that luckily for him, the Pixiu had a sense of karma. By giving it the medicinal pills out of his own initiative, he had sown positive karma. Thus, the Pixiu also planted positive karma by sparing his life.

    The recovering Jack bowed appreciatively towards the creature, then swallowed one pill and searched for a quiet spot. Even though the energies outside the shield weren¡¯t as intense as the inside of the Monastery, they were still quite abundant.

    He tried imitating Elder Tian¡¯s meditating stance as he sat cross-legged on the ground, but not without first doing a quick glance of hatred towards the Monastery.

    Meanwhile, the recovering Golden Pixiu stood guard. Several other Demonic beasts were also visible much further away, all observing Jack with utmost attention. However, none of them dared to approach.

    And like that, time slowly passed.

    For several days Jack mediated as he tried to understand the natural energies surrounding him. Although he had exhibited an unshakeable mental effort, he still couldn¡¯t make any breakthroughs, and a discouraging look was now visible on his face.

    ¡°A useless creature that couldn¡¯t even manage to fuse its essences, and a useless human who is yet to learn how to cultivate qi! You two form a nice couple ¨C of failures!¡± A hoarse voice echoed from inside the Monastery.

    Jack released a sigh of contempt. During the last few days, he had experienced countless insults and mocking remarks from the spectre. At first, he felt vexed by his constant chattering, but as time passed, he got used to him and tried to ignore.

    ¡°Give up already! You are a mortal without a Dao! You have no reasons to start cultivating! Go back to whatever rock you crawled out of you ignorant fool!¡±

    Upon hearing this particular insult, a hint suddenly flashed inside Jack¡¯s mind.

    For all this time, he had been trying to cultivate this mysterious qi, and yet he never really focused on the reason why he was trying to do so. He knew he wanted to become stronger. But what for? What path was he aiming for?

    Did he want to protect his dear ones? But who was it worthy of his protection? His parents had abandoned him, and most people he met in his life treated him like shit or enslaved him. The only persons he cared a bit about were the breeding farm¡¯s Master and Dai Jun, though when he dwelled about it, he felt that he didn¡¯t have enough strong connections. In the end, he couldn¡¯t find anyone he wished to protect. He sighed, remembering what a lonely person he was.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    He then thought about cultivating to obtain freedom. He had spent most of his life as a slave, and liberty was one of the things he desired the most. However, could he really be free? If he absorbed the energies of the heavens, wouldn¡¯t that make him a servant of the heavens? As long as he was bound to this reality, could he really obtain true freedom? He may manage to achieve complete independence from others, but in the end, it would be a false type of freedom.

    For a long time, he immersed himself contemplating, seemingly severing all of his senses from the external world. However, internally he had countless thoughts, arguing against himself in a philosophical brainstorming as he searched for his Dao.

    The Dao; the cultivating path. Any existence under the heavens that wanted to cultivate understood the importance of the Dao. Regardless if one is a cultivator, an immortal, a demonic beast or an undead; to be able to cultivate the power of the cosmos, one first required a Dao. There was no exception.

    And it was common knowledge that every cultivator boasted his own unique Dao. The stronger it was, the faster one could grow. And if someone strayed away from the original Dao, not only one will end up in a bottleneck, but one will also cripple one¡¯s own cultivation power.

    So many young cultivators had founded their Dao at a young age, only to realise that they had undertaken the wrong path once they stepped into adulthood! But at that point, it would be too late! They would either stick to their original routes or give up cultivating altogether. The only other option would be crippling oneself and restarting all over again!

    That¡¯s why when choosing the Dao it was such a critical moment!

    Even for Jack, who had no prior experience, was unconsciously aware that he was approaching an important climax. But it was only after several days that his eyes suddenly flashed and the corners of his lips rounded up a bit.

    At this instance, when he tried absorbing the surrounding qi, he could feel it piercing his skin and flowing deeper. His heart beat with excitement as he struggled to control the inflow. Snapping sounds emerged from his flesh as the once closed qi passages opened one by one, sending quivers across his body.

    The shocking bodily transformations continued as more qi was absorbed. Jack could now feel the qi invading his body, travelling through his blood and penetrating his very bones. His blood vessels were becoming more refined, and his flesh was getting increasingly fortified.

    Then, with an internal bang, the Qi circulation activated, and energy began condensing and accumulating inside his lower dantian. Soon, a small pool of qi formed, and a word was starting to take shape.

    It was then that over his head, a small rupture appeared in the air. Mysterious golden rays illuminated out from the crack as a little golden bell descended, floating over his head.

    Engraved on the bell were five divine symbols, four of which glowed with luminous energies: a symbol of a sacred flame that incinerated everything in its path, a symbol of a blinding sun that annihilated all darkness, a symbol of a flag that stood supreme guarding the very heavens, and a symbol of a primordial flower that seemed capable of creating life.

    Besides these four, there was also another symbol that was utterly eclipsed; the image of a faint skull. Unlike the others, this image was dull with no radiant energies. It seemed as its powers had been extinguished.

    The bell¡¯s clapper shivered, then gracefully moved, releasing beautiful musical notes that encaptivated any ears they reached. The enchanting song slowly seeped throughout the entire realm, creating an incredible serene air. While the beautiful tune played, all other sounds seemed to cease existing, as if they had no right to coexist together with this melody.

    Attentively observing this event was the spectre. Even though he was confined to the inside of the Monastery, he had a spiritual vision that encompassed the entire realm. Naturally, with nothing better to do, he had been following and insulting Jack ever since he had arrived in this realm.

    ¡°A Dao Bell¡­ and it¡¯s golden,¡± the spectre whispered to himself. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that fool managed to obtain such a powerful dao, even the heavens are reacting to it!¡±

    He appeared pensive as he surveyed Jack multiple times. But no matter how much he glanced, his impression was the same as when he first saw him; this man was a useless being with no potential. However, he had a strange feeling that for the first time, his instinct was in the wrong.

    As the spectre was lost in his own thoughts, Jack began proclaiming his dao with firm resolve.

    ¡°So many tears shed in vain¡­ So many are unjustly suffering¡­ that¡¯s why I need to become stronger!

    ¡°I want to become the voice of the weak, and the arrogant strong I shall put back in their places! Since the gods don¡¯t seem to care, then I will become my own version of a god that brings fairness wherever I go! I will be the hope of many people, even if it has to mean that I become the enemy of the entire heavens! This shall be my dao! This shall be my cultivating path!

    ¡°My name is Jack, and my Dao is justice!¡±

    His words thundered out as his eyes flashed like lightning. Wave after wave of qi emerged from his body, surrounding him with beautiful glittering lights. His central qi base exploded with power like an invincible dragon that could tear the sky and swallow the stars. Soon after, the word ¡®Justice¡¯ became visible, now permanently engraved on the core.

    Jack felt immense joy building inside his heart. It was an incredible sensation, one that he couldn¡¯t even describe with words.

    Starting from this moment, he was no longer in the realm of mortals. He had finally transcended into a higher being.

    The newly transformed Jack looked much younger than before. His skin was also much smoother while his hair was now resting well below his shoulders. Even the various scars he had suffered when he was a slave, they were now completely healed. It was like they had never existed in the first place.

    He elegantly extended his hand towards the Dao Bell, but as soon as his finger touched it, it turned into fine golden dust that scattered away along with the wind. The beautiful melody also ceased.

    He remained calm as he stood up, spreading swirling glittering lights from his body. With every step, he unconsciously pushed away the impurities of the earth. His hair fluttered about, his attentive expression now locked over the shield. When he pressed his palm against it, ripples immediately formed, but the barrier didn¡¯t shatter.

    However, the medallion around Jack¡¯s neck vibrated, absorbing his qi and illuminating itself with a red glow. The shield then shivered, and a breach appeared, large enough for Jack to pass through. When he was about to step in, he heard a long growl.

    Jack let out a hearty laugh as he glanced towards the Golden Pixiu.

    ¡°A promise is a promise. Take them, all yours.¡± Jack cooly shook his head as he threw the bottle of pills.

    Then with a carefree posture and a hint of a frown on his face, he marched into the Monastery.

 Chapter 7 â€“ A Shred of Will

    As soon as Jack walked in, several spiralling energies encircled him, casting flickering shadows all over his face. He felt like he had stepped into his natural home, even though wave after wave of unwelcoming pulses rushed out from the Spectre.

    If Jack were still his older self, he would have been kicked out again. But thanks to his now activated medallion, the Spectre''s powers could not reach him.

    ¡°What¡¯s up with this cocky attitude brat? Just because you experienced a breakthrough that doesn¡¯t mean I am obliged to give you any face! In my eyes, you are still an insect of the first Qi Seeking stage!¡±

    The Spectre appeared irritated as he levitated like a godly existence. Its body shone with dazzling light, seemingly trying to pass an indirect message that in this place it was the absolute authority. However, he quickly realised that he was now powerless to stop Jack, and all he could do was looking down on him.

    Jack didn¡¯t seem impressed by this little show ¨C much to the Spectre annoyance ¨C and instead found a comfortable spot and immersed himself in meditation.

    The inside of the monastery provided the perfect place where he could further strengthen his inner core. The amount of qi present in this place had already exceeded his expectations, and his eyes flickered with anticipation.

    He definitely couldn¡¯t skip such an amazing opportunity.

    As Jack circulated his energies, he began sucking the swirling qi like a magnet. His internal core expanded rapidly, and the word justice glowed with even more intensity. He could clearly feel that in sharp contrast from the qi present outside, this qi was much denser and pure.

    It seemed that farming qi not only wasn¡¯t a boring and tedious process for him but had clearly become his new hobby.

    If the other cultivators were here observing this scene, their hearts would skip a couple of heartbeats, and their minds would go blank.

    Even the Spectre was surprised by how fast Jack was farming qi. He was aware that his younger real self wouldn¡¯t have been able to accumulate such a tremendous amount of qi in such a short time. It was simply ridiculous!

    The Spectre was trying hard to find a reason to explain the weird phenomenon before his eyes. ¡°Could be the case where his body was starved for a long period of time and is now thirsting for qi. But there must be a limit soon¡­and adverse effects¡­¡±

    In fact, right now, Jack¡¯s body seemed like an endless abyss as the qi rotated with accelerating speed, transforming into a funnel that propelled straight into his core.

    After seven days, the energies inside the monastery were almost depleted, and the vortex of qi began fading away.

    It was then that his body shivered, momentary reaching a bottleneck. His cultivating core was glowing with qi as it started stabilising itself. Then with a bang, it expanded outwards!

    As of now, Jack could feel that his core had doubled in size.

    The Spectre instantly furrowed his eyebrows, and his expression turned solemn. That¡¯s because he had realised that Jack had broken through the 1<sup>st</sup> stage of the Qi Seeking Realm and stepped directly into the 2<sup>nd</sup> stage!

    As per observed practices, young cultivators would usually spend an entire year just to break through from the 1<sup>st</sup> to the 2<sup>nd</sup> stage of the Qi seeking Realm. On the other hand, talented cultivators usually could breakthrough after six months. Only the very geniuses were capable of breaching through within one month.

    But here was Jack, a simple mortal with no background at all, breaking to the 2<sup>nd</sup> stage after seven days! If this news had to spread out, it would not only send shockwaves throughout the Sky Water Sect but all over the realm! Such a thing might be even considered unprecedented!

    The Spectre suddenly felt mixed emotions. ¡°Actually¡­ I think you are not a useless person as I initially thought¡­ maybe this amazing Patriarch¡­ can make a generous concession¡­¡±

    Jack glanced over the Spectre for a moment, then coolly replied, ¡°even if I had to die and be reincarnated nine times, I still wouldn¡¯t ask for your guidance.¡± Then he closed his eyes and continued meditating.

    These words infuriated the Spectre; the miniscule feeling of guilt was quickly replaced by a mountain of rage as he commenced a bombardment of insults like a mad dog. Regardless of a person¡¯s potential, his pride would never allow anyone to insult him like this!

    Jack disregarded the Spectre¡¯s comments as he extended his aura. He searched for more qi, but no matter where he explored, he couldn¡¯t sense anything. He soon expressed disappointment as he realised that this place was now utterly devoid of qi.

    Just when he was about to give up, he suddenly detected a glimpse of strange qi.

    What really caught his attention though, was not its tiny size, but its impressive purity. If the qi he had absorbed earlier was the size of a palace condensed inside a single room, then this qi was the size of a mountain suppressed into a seed!

    An exciting look flashed on Jack¡¯s face. He immediately activated his circulation as he tried absorbing this energy.

    ¡°Pwee¡­Pwee¡­.¡±

    Shortly after, the silence was broken as a thread of qi emerged, straight out of the Spectre!

    The Spectre¡¯s ghostly eyes instantly bulged out. ¡°Impossible! My Qi!! You can sense my Qi?!¡±

    His expression was one of shock as he watched the several strands of qi emerge from his body and rushing like serpents towards Jack!

    ¡°You!! What are you doing?! I am the spiritual clone of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Patriarch! I am the memory of your ancestor!¡± The Spectre tried severing Jack¡¯s qi connection, but no matter how much he struggled, he wasn¡¯t able to.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    But not like Jack had heard him. This new energy made Jack descend into a cultivating trance, shutting down his external senses.

    The Spectre cried miserable roars for several days. With every passing hour, his body shrank, becoming less opaque and duller.

    But just when the now palm-sized Spectre was about to be annihilated, Jack felt like a lightning bolt had hit him and coughed out a lot of blood.

    He writhed on the ground with pain as blood oozed out from his eyes, nose and ears. The agonising pain had spread to every organ of his body while his face had turned ashen as if he had just lost a couple of years of longevity.

    This sudden event released the Spectre from Jack¡¯s binding. He immediately retreated to the farthest corner, trembling with terror. The Monastery used to be the safest place for him, but for the past few days, he felt like he was trapped in a cage together with a torturing demon.

    As for Jack, his qi circulation was in disarray, and his qi absorbing ability wholly severed. If he didn¡¯t feel his inner core still intact, he would have believed that he had become a mortal again.

    Jack took a long time to recover from the trauma. Afterwards, he decided to go out for a stroll and calm himself from the earlier shock.

    ¡°Leave and never return!¡± The tiny Spectre roared.

    Jack seemed that he had momentary forgotten about his shocking experience as he wryly smiled.

    ¡°You look so cute now¡­ just like a little fairy.¡±

    These words were like daggers stabbing into the remaining Spectre¡¯s soul as he remembered his introductory words.

    ¡°You!! You actually dared to torment this old one¡¯s dignity! Not even one hundred deaths would be enough to absolve you from your crime!¡±

    Not only Jack didn¡¯t mind these threats, he actually shrugged them off with the most cheery and carefree smile that existed, then coolly replied.

    ¡°Always remember this you old fart! The cultivating world is surely not a bed of roses! You know, terrible things can happen all the time! So many cultivators throw away their lives stupidly because they underestimate the lingering shadows of the cultivation world! Ah, such an immoral world¡­ certainly not for the weak hearted!¡±

    If the Spectre had the power of the original self, he would have already turned the entire Azure Realm into dust by now. But when faced with Jack¡¯s statements, all he could was shedding ghostly tears.

    These tears made him look even more adorable as he watched Jack exiting the Monastery, much to his relief.

    Jack enjoyed the feeling of fresh air once again as his dull aching eyes adjusted to daylight. He was still confused as to what had happened, and he already decided to stay safe inside the shield and wait for the realm to close. He had obtained what he came for anyway.

    ¡°Being impatient will lead to undesirable consequences,¡± a deep voice echoed inside his ears. ¡°You may have a tough body human, but acting greedily will just lead to your early demise!¡±

    Jack¡¯s constricted his pupils as he raised his guard. He surveyed his surroundings, but he couldn¡¯t detect any presence, suddenly feeling annoyed at the expectation of meeting another spectre.

    It was then that he realised that his hands were trembling. As he inspected, he noticed that it wasn¡¯t just his hands that were shaking, but the very lands!

    He remained to observe as powerful quakes spread throughout the entire realm. However, his vision was soon blinded when the numerous moons in the sky increased in luminosity as if they had just turned into brilliant stars!

    ¡°Clang¡­ Plink¡­ Clang¡­ Plink¡­¡±

    Sounds similar to rattling chains reverberated as the moons started orbiting erratically, causing shocking gravitational transformations to befall on all over the realm. The lands trembled as hills collapsed and cavities rose up to replace them. The winds roared with fury amidst the occasional cries of the beasts caught inside the storms.

    ¡°Ommmm¨C,¡± rumbling sounds hummed from the very depths as several giant stone hands arose, forming a slanting pathway with their palms, commencing from before the Monastery and heading straight towards the burning azure flame!

    ¡°Human, the path is yours to follow. This ancient one has an important matter that he wishes to discuss with you.¡±

    The paralysed Jack wasn¡¯t convinced, and a hint of uneasiness was visible on his face. ¡°Who¡¯s there? Why should I trust you?¡±

    The mysterious voice didn¡¯t look like it was offended as it calmly replied. ¡°This pathway is a secret mechanism left over by the founder of this sect. Don¡¯t be afraid human, my intentions are sincere. Even if I wanted to harm you, the countermeasures left by the first Patriarch would protect you.¡±

    Jack appeared uncertain at first. After his several experiences, how could he easily trust an unknown existence that had such cast control over the natural forces? However, after he considered the lack of hostility in the greeting message, he decided to trail along with extreme caution. Besides, the instinct inside him was telling him that there was nothing to fear.

    The pathway was a long one, yet also a short one thanks to his newly found powers. Albeit he couldn¡¯t yet fly, his running speed had shockingly increased.

    As Jack neared the flame, he could feel the heat almost incinerating his face, and his body was about to burst out in flames. Just when he thought that he should stop advancing and retreat back, a giant hand in the form of a fist descended from the sky, suppressing the flame while the moons began losing their brightness, causing darkness to spread all over the realm.

    This development allowed Jack to proceed, finally arriving just before the azure blaze, now the same size of a human being. From this close, Jack could now see several smaller flames dancing inside the exterior flame, but there was no hint of any other creature or ghostly beings.

    Jack was on alert as he rotated his cultivating power. ¡°Who are you? What do you want from me?¡±

    ¡°Acting impatient again? Have you already ignored my sound advice?¡± The mysterious voice lamented. ¡°You are actually the first disciple from this sect that I ever bothered to contact.¡±

    The flame paused momentarily as it flickered, casting little shadows over Jack¡¯s face.

    ¡°In the past, I was a powerful Divinity. With my tail, I killed countless experts, and with my claws, I was able to destroy entire sects! The lands always trembled in my wake, and only a few existences would have dared to glance straight into my eyes!

    ¡°But two thousand years ago, I was ambushed by the Ancestral Divinity and the founding Patriarch. In the end, I was utterly beaten¡­ completely humiliated! And as if that wasn¡¯t bad enough, my defeated body was brought into this lower realm and sealed herein!

    ¡°As for what remains of me, it¡¯s just a shred of my original will. When the founder created this alternate dimension, he severed a piece of my soul and transformed it into the very flame you are now facing. His real intentions I am unaware, but if I had to make a rough presumption, I would infer that he wanted me to instruct his future disciples. Talk about being a shameless bastard!¡±

    ¡°Grrr¡­,¡± The shred of will whined with resentment.

    ¡°So, you want me to undo the seal?¡± Jack was quite direct with his approach.

    ¡°Undo the seal? No, nothing of that sort. I am too weak to desire freedom¡­ that is not the reason why I bothered you.¡±

    ¡°Jack, your memories are like an open book to me, and I can tell that both you and me are connected, in more ways than you can envisage¡­ meeting you here is also proof of our destinies!¡±

    Jack appeared confused and utterly shocked at this revelation. He was shocked that this tiny shred of will was able to pierce through his memories, and even more shocked when imagining the kind of monstrous existence its original self was.

    ¡°Jack listen carefully, I only have but one request, though I will not force you to accept it. If you do accept, we will end up tied in a strong karmic relationship, and a heavy burden beyond anything you can imagine will be placed upon you. But at the same time, you will gain powerful abilities that will aid you in the future!

    ¡°As for my request, I only have but one desire; for the name of the azure light to be carried out again to the stars! I want the bright azure lights to illuminate the skies, and their mere presence to quench all the other lights present in the heavens!

    ¡°I implore you! You need to show my siblings that I wasn¡¯t a failure, that they made a big mistake in looking down on me, just because I was born with a different natural element!

    ¡°Jack, please accept my inheritance!¡±

 Chapter 8 â€“ Archaic Billows

    It was the first time in two thousand years that the lights of the realm had dimmed, and frost was already accumulating in the higher latitudes. The cold temperatures clashed with the contrasting warmer air of the lower areas, creating powerful slanting winds that seemed capable of swiping away anything that stood in their way.

    These events had naturally shaken any living creature present inside the realm. An anxious look was visible in the eyes of the demonic beasts as they erratically raced about. But what seemed to scare them the most was not the apocalyptic scenario, but the shadow of a giant human that was being cast down.

    High up in the sky, there were two existences that seemed like two gods casually chatting with each other.

    One was an azure flame, and the other was a young human.

    Jack was attentively gazing at the flame. He appeared calm from the outside, but thoughts flooded his mind. The atmosphere remained tense for some time before Jack finally decided to break the silence.

    ¡°This sudden situation doesn¡¯t feel right. On what basis do you say that we are connected and why are you acting so generous towards a stranger like me? Even though I believe in your sincerity, I have the feeling you are purposely hiding something from me.¡±

    Jack then turned around and already prepared to depart. ¡°Ever since I made contact with other cultivators, it was just one deadly situation after another. Same happened with the spectre and that stupid creature. Before I become stronger and have a better understanding of the cultivating world, I am reluctant to make any important decisions at this point! I also have no guarantees that you will not try harming me in some way!¡±

    The flame flickered, its tone now a bit more thoughtful. ¡°I repeat myself, young human¡­ I cannot harm you, and neither do I have any intention of doing so. As you could see when you were approaching me, the protective mechanism left over by the founder kicked in action and suppressed my soul. Back then that bastard went to great lengths to ensure the protection of his disciples and orchestrated several countermeasures just in case I harboured malicious thoughts.¡±

    ¡°Ah, so you cannot harm me now, but if I accept your inheritance, whatever it means, wouldn¡¯t that give you some control over me?¡±

    The Shred of Will sighed. ¡°As I said, I will not force you. It¡¯s entirely your choice.¡±

    ¡°I still have some months left. I¡¯ll think about it. Besides, you are the one who said that being impatient is a bad thing, right? Thus, I¡¯ll take my time to decide.¡±

    A reply of laughter instantly arose from the flame, and it remained to snicker for a while. ¡°Human¡­ I¡¯ve to admit that your sense of humour is quite classy. I¡¯ve already taken a liking to you, so whatever you will decide, I am still going to help you. Consider it free karma; I don¡¯t want anything in return!¡±

    Jack sighed. ¡°Thanks for your offers, but right now, I am not interested in your so-called inheritance. I just want to be myself for the time being.¡±

    Jack didn¡¯t wish to linger in this place any longer as he started descending the slope.

    ¡°You are at the peak of the 2<sup>nd</sup> Qi Seeking Realm, but your progress has been halted!¡±

    Jack immediately paused his tracks as he glanced back at the flickering flame with curious eyes. Although he had no desire to continue this discussion, he desperately lacked information. At first, he was putting his hopes on the clone of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Patriarch, but his plans had gone awry.

    He didn¡¯t know if this was a bite or not, but he had no option but to take it.

    The tone of the flame slowed down and turned a bit more serious.

    ¡°Before anything else, I would like to first warn you about your current situation.

    ¡°Your body was able to cultivate a large amount of qi in a short period of time only because it had been suppressed since the day you¡¯ve been born. Now that its hunger has been satisfied, your cultivation should slow down by a third or even a fourth of the previous rate. Regardless of this, observing your body implies that you have a fantastic Qi absorbing ability, and this is where I must warn you.

    ¡°You could say that the path connecting the outside Qi to your body is like a bridge over a river. For each cultivator, this bridge is different; some are long and thin, others wide and short, and some are made of wood, while for others they are made of metal. But regardless of which type, if the weight exerted on the bridge had to surpass its limits, it will start getting damaged, or worse collapse under the heavy pressure.

    ¡°What I am trying to tell you is this; I¡¯ve been observing you the moment you¡¯ve entered inside this realm, and you¡¯ve gone from being a mortal to the peak of the second Qi realm in less than two months. This massive Qi surge has already harmed your body, and even though there aren¡¯t any serious injuries, I would advise you to refrain from cultivating additional Qi for the next six months. This will allow your internal wounds to heal themselves.

    ¡°Always keep this in mind. If your QI passage bridge collapses, your life will perish along with it!¡±

    Jack listened attentively as he unknowingly swallowed a gulp of saliva. He was so happy cultivating recklessly that he ignored the potential after effects it could have on his body. There really was nothing that could be taken for granted in this world he thought, interrupted only when the flame continued its speech.

    ¡°The lower cultivating realms; there are two: The Qi Seeking Realm and the Foundation Realm. The Qi Seeking Realm is subdivided into fifteen stages. Besides these stages, there are five unique instances where a cultivator can try his luck and severe fortunes from the heavens. This can only be done at the peaks of the 2<sup>nd</sup>, 5<sup>th</sup>, 8<sup>th</sup>, 11<sup>th</sup> and 14<sup>th</sup> stages. Regardless if you fail or succeed, you will then progress to the next stage of the Qi Seeking Realm, and you will be able to cultivate qi again. Once at the 3<sup>rd</sup> stage, you will also gain the ability of flight.¡±If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    The flame paused as it noticed Jack¡¯s confused look. It didn¡¯t take long for Jack to ask, ¡°Severing the fortunes from the heavens?¡±

    ¡°Yes, precisely that. So far, you¡¯ve only been able to cultivate qi, the primary manifestation of the cosmos¡¯ power. You, cultivators, spend most of your lives amassing qi, but there is only so much you can advance with just the power of qi!

    Natural Essence is the real power of the cosmos! You can say it compromises all the possible elements, laws and principles that exist inside this reality! What fortunes you will steal from the heavens will depend on your bloodline, your cultivating will and most importantly, the strength of your own Dao!¡±

    The flame suddenly flickered, momentary amplifying its fires, which then materialised into a hand that pointed towards a specific location.

    ¡°For your first severing, I¡¯d advise against trying to gain enlightenment directly from the heavens. Failure is nothing but guaranteed in your case! Instead, head in this direction, towards the Archaic Billows. There you will find several Heavenly Relics left behind by the ancestors and elders of this sect.

    ¡°These relics represent a spiritual copy of the essences that they had managed to obtain from the heavens. Gain enlightenment from one of these and the particular essence will indeed become yours. To what degree, it will depend on your performance. As for which relic you will choose, follow your instincts.¡±

    Jack nodded. ¡°But didn¡¯t you just tell me not to cultivate anymore for the next six months?¡±

    ¡°Jack, I said you can¡¯t cultivate Qi, but natural essence is a different case. It will not harm your body in the slightest.¡±

    The pensive Jack nodded thankfully again, then left without saying any farewell words.

    Shortly after his silhouette faded, the giant fist retreated back as the flame regained its brightness.

    It took a while for Jack to arrive at the Archaic Billows. Strangely enough, no demonic beasts dared to assault him during his travelling. He quickly assumed that this development was not a mere coincidence but had something to do with the flame.

    As a first impression, he didn¡¯t feel anything special about this place and was already becoming suspicious regarding the flame¡¯s intentions. The Archaic Billows were barren lands, and they looked no different than an extensive graveyard.

    He was getting the creeps as he trailed along the muddy path, fighting past a cloud of mist that lowered his vision to a couple of metres. As he dwelled deeper inside the Billows, he could see several marble-like statues scattered around. Most of them were antique and covered with mould, some even broken.

    The statues came in different shapes and sizes. Some had the forms of humans, others of strange beasts and some even had the outline of random objects. There was also a statue that crackled with lightning and a figure with a fountain on its head.

    As he approached the statues, he could sense weird energies coming out from them, seemingly trying to overwhelm his mind. He quickly summoned his qi circulation to protect himself. He felt that if he were a bit careless, he would definitely end up losing his sanity inside this place.

    After some distance, he stumbled across a towering statue of an imposing fatty man, similar to a Buddha. Its eyes seemed to be following Jack as he walked, and he could notice its mouth opening and closing, seemingly filling the surrounding air with ancientness. However, when Jack inspected closer, everything appeared static, as if what he experienced before was just a mere illusion from the mist.

    But what really caught his attention was not the statue but its three extended hands, with the extra hand coming straight out from the belly.

    Hovering over the statue¡¯s right arm, there was a ball of fire, similar to a miniature sun. Resting on the middle hand, there was a small metallic cup which contained a small pool of liquid lava, and the remaining arm had a flame which appeared to have been frozen in time.

    From up close, Jack could feel that all three fire elements were discharging the same amount of heat onto his body.

    When Jack placed his hand over the statue, his cultivation core trembled, as if it thirsted for something hidden deep inside the statue. His qi surged out of its own volition, sending a commanding aura that was able to calm the nearby natural elements.

    A faint smile was visible on Jack¡¯s face. Out of all the statues he had observed, this one was the only one that he felt some sort of reaction. He decided to sit before it and began examining it.

    ¡°Interesting¡­ he chose that relic¡­.¡± The flame remained pensive as it attentively observed Jack. ¡°I had my doubts, but now I am certain... that man I saw from his memories, this young human¡¯s incredible ability in controlling qi¡­ he is undeniably connected to them!¡±

    Jack had already started his meditation, but not a long time had passed before an anxious look was visible on his face. Whenever he glanced at the statue; he felt like one hundred eyes were looking back at him, shattering his resolve. No matter how much he concentrated, in these hostile conditions, it was just impossible for him to gain some type of enlightenment.

    ¡°Calm yourself, Jack!¡± The flame¡¯s voice suddenly reverberated inside his mind. ¡°Cultivating essence is a long and crucial matter! Even a small distraction can lead to failure! Remember, the number of essences you will severe will determine how strong you will become in the future! And you only have five chances in your lifetime to obtain these essences; if you fail it will mean you have forever lost the opportunity of obtaining one of these essences, limiting your future potential! Any failures now you will severely regret them later on!

    And using your vision will not do¡­ no, do not cultivate with your eyes, but with your heart! Preserve in your Dao! Only that way you can subdue the powers of the relic!¡±

    With these words in mind, Jack seemed to recollect his composure, shutting his eyes. Although it took him some time to adjust, he finally managed to resist the savage aura coming out of the statue, and slowly sank deeper and deeper as he focused on his dao and gaining enlightenment.

    Time slowly passed. Breath after breath, hour after hour, day after day, month after month¡­

    Jack meditated with peace as mould began growing over his body, his hair and clothes thoroughly wet. His mind was disconnected, and he had no more idea of what was going on the outside.

    Gradually, four months had passed.

    Jack still didn¡¯t manage to gain enlightenment from the statue. Half of his body had sunk deep into the mud and black vines covered his face and chest. In fact, if other cultivators had to see him right now, most probably they would confuse him with a bush.

    Unbeknownst to Jack, glittering lights were occasionally forming around his body, lasting for a couple of breaths before disappearing. However, as more time passed, the frequencies and duration of these lights appeared to be increasing.

    The Shred of Will noted this and let out a sigh as it whispered to itself. ¡°He only has some more days left before his eventual ejection. If only I could use my powers¡­ but regrettably, I can¡¯t prolong his expulsion. If he fails, not only he would have wasted all this time, but I will also fail to pass over my inheritance. What a pity that would be¡­¡±

    Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the Shred of Will because of the spiritual-blocking powers of the protective shield, a spectre that looked like a little fairy was hovering inside the monastery.

    Over his hands rested a spherical accumulation of qi, which slowly began gaining mass as invisible particles of qi rays fused within it.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s taking me so long to complete this trivial technique,¡± the spectre cursed at himself. ¡°If only my soul were still intact!¡±

    What followed was a devilish grin, though on such a tiny being, it looked cute, without any form of intimidation.

    ¡°Wait for your daddy you brat¡­ once I finish this technique, my real self will become aware of my memories! When that happens, I¡¯d like to see¡­ if you would still dare to act cocky in front of me! The humiliation you have brought on me, I will make sure to repay you back a thousandfold!¡±

 Chapter 9 â€“ 3rd Qi Seeking Realm

    In the Sky Water Sect, an elegant man could be seen walking towards a small pagoda. His physic was full of vigour while his aura was as fierce as a wild beast. However, behind all this splendour and charisma, there was a hidden hint of disheartenment.

    Because if there was one thing that he hated the most, were mundane works like these.

    He had worked so hard to climb the rankings and was used to a comfortable lifestyle with servants, so why was he forced to do duties that could be easily done by just anyone? Why had it to be specifically him?

    He honestly would not have complained this much if he were ordered to embark on some crazy adventure rather than wasting his time with such trivial stuff.

    But orders were orders, and had to be followed.

    As he neared the door and raised his arm to knock, he detected that the door was already open, instead gently pushing without making the slightest sound.

    When he walked inside, he stepped over a red carpet similar to a royal, but was otherwise greeted by the exquisite fragrance of medicinal herbs that lay down on the tables before him.

    The disorganised tables were quite ordinary, made of old wood, with multiple burns and scratches engraved over their surfaces.

    In one of the corners of the room, standing next to a sizable cauldron and behind a layer of vapour, a young man was holding a batch of medicinal herbs.

    When the young man noticed the intruder, he lowered his head slightly and let out a low-pitched snort.

    ¡°Shop¡¯s closed.¡±

    Elder Tian smiled wryly, seemingly anticipating such a reaction. Instead, he focused on the man before him, admiring him while he performed his duties.

    ¡°Such finesse. No wonder you are considered the number one alchemist of the entire Five Divinities Alliance. Any of these five great sects would go through great lengths to recruit someone as competent as you. No surprise the Patriarch holds you in such high regards.¡±

    ¡°Quit the useless flattering old man.¡± Dai Jun not only didn¡¯t appreciate the compliment but felt a bit annoyed too.

    The corners of Elder Tian lips sunk slightly but didn¡¯t trouble himself to reply. Instead, he took out a scroll which he gently placed over the only unoccupied table.

    ¡°This is the invitation from Zhongyang Palace concerning the Yellow Moon Festival¡ª¡±

    ¡°Not interested.¡± Dai Jun was quick and direct about his feelings regarding the matter.

    Elder Tian let out a long sigh. ¡°The Patriarch had personally commanded me to deliver these invitations by hand. If you want to protest his decision, you can always go visit the Patriarch once he is out of secluded meditation.¡±

    Elder Tian then prepared to depart, but when he was at the door¡¯s steps, he seemed to have remembered something.

    ¡°Six months ago, was it? That¡¯s when our young man had entered the Azure Realm. Not that I had high hopes, the period is now over and his shadow has yet to return. Ah, I fear that he has already perished.¡±

    These sudden words didn¡¯t seem to cause Dai Jun to react, as one by one he dropped the ingredients in the cauldron while trying to rub his forehead with his elbow to remove an annoying fly.

    ¡°Ehh, he is alive alright.¡±

    Elder Tian¡¯s eyes flashed with suspicion. ¡°Alive? Why do you think so?¡±

    ¡°None of your business. And you¡¯re distracting me. If you have nothing more to say, you know where the door is.¡±

    If these hostile words were directed to someone else, they would have already lost patience with this guy. But Elder Tian had long since become accustomed to Dai Jun¡¯s weird temperament.

    He smiled wryly while glancing at the list of deliveries, then left with the same pace he had entered.

    ----

    Meanwhile, the situation at the Azure Fiery Realm remained one of tension.

    The deeply engrossed Jack was still in the process of gaining enlightenment, as two attentive spiritual gazes locked over him.

    One of these gazes was anxious, worried that time was running short, while the other gaze was an excellent mixture of mockery and hatred.

    Just when both the Spectre and the Shred of Will had acknowledged that Jack was facing the inevitable fate of being expelled without breaking through, the last thing they were expecting actually happened.

    Jack¡¯s arms suddenly turned alive, slowly penetrating and tearing through the vines that had grown around him. Afterwards, he took his time to free himself and climb up from the pile of mud, then stared emotionless at the statue before him.

    Seeing this new development, the two spectators regained their focus as they scanned Jack¡¯s body multiple times in a span of a breath. Even though both of them hadn¡¯t real eyes, their gazes were as sharp as one thousand eagles.

    Both of them knew that even the weakest of essences would trigger a slight elemental reaction when it formed, but no matter how much they inspected, they could not identify such an occurrence.

    Thus, they both had reached the same conclusion; Jack had failed to sever his first essence. There was literally no way such a reaction could have escaped from their senses.

    ¡°Hehe, that fool. He wasted all this time trying to gain enlightenment from the relict left by our original ancestor. He really doesn¡¯t know the difference between the heavens and earth! How could an arrogant being such as him even grasp a tiny bit of that mystery?!¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    The Spectre celebrated with mad laughter. Even though he didn¡¯t have any involvement whatsoever in this matter, he naturally appeared delighted that Jack had failed with his attempt of enlightenment.

    On the other hand, the Shred of Will expressed some disappointment as its voice greeted Jack once again. ¡°Congratulations. You¡¯ve made it to the 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi Seeking Realm and unlocked the ability of spiritual flight. Unfortunately, you have failed to severe your first essence.¡±

    The mentally recovering Jack was brought back to his senses by the Flames consolatory words.

    He could clearly feel that his spiritual energy had increased once again. However, unlike his previous breakthroughs, he had the strange sensation that there was something else that had changed inside him.

    He took a long deep breath, then guiding himself by his newly awakened instinct, he channelled the swirling spiritual energy under his legs, and slowly and with great difficulty, he levitated himself for a couple of metres. After holding his position for a span of few breaths, he slowly returned to rest on the ground.

    It was a small, simple action. But for Jack, it was everything.

    Tears leaked from his eyes as mixed emotions accumulated inside his heart. Agitation, excitement, joy... they were all inadequate to describe Jack¡¯s current state of feeling.

    Six months ago, he was a powerless mortal with no future, but now he was a spiritual man who could actually float in the air.

    His body had undergone a complete metamorphosis!

    ¡°Human, have you decided regarding the matter of my inheritance? There is less than one hour left before you are expelled from this dimension.¡± The Flame urgently prompted.

    Jack appeared surprised by this reminder. Less than one hour? He couldn¡¯t believe he had spent all this time meditating, and without being interrupted from boredom!

    Regarding the matter of inheritance, he was still unclear if he should accept it or not. Should he revisit the Flame? Or should he stay here awaiting his imminent expulsion?

    Jack just couldn¡¯t make a decision at this point. But time was running out. Making no decision any time soon would mean that he decided to refuse the offer.

    Crack~ Crack~

    Soft cracking sounds reached Jack¡¯s ears as he peeked at the unexpected source.

    Much to his surprise, small cracks had appeared on the statue¡¯s belly, slowly spreading like spider webs towards its entire figurine. The three different flames lost their colours, and in a span of few breaths, they were extinguished.

    The entire statue then trembled and exploded without warning!

    Luckily for Jack, he had already reached the 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi seeking realm. Otherwise, if he were still in the 2<sup>nd</sup> realm, he would have been seriously injured by the sudden explosion. However, even in his current state, he had sustained a couple of injuries.

    Fortunately for him, his reaction was quite fast and managed to protect his vital parts.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± This wasn¡¯t a question asked only by Jack, but even the Spectre and the Flame were dumbfounded at this sudden development.

    However, an even more state of shock was expressed when they noticed a hidden stairway had been revealed at the statue¡¯s previous location.

    The Spectre¡¯s eyes bulged out, and its tiny body couldn¡¯t stop shaking. ¡°A hidden passage?!¡±

    He immediately extended his spiritual vision. However, he quickly realised that the unique tunnel had some sort of protective spiritual barrier that blocked his senses.

    ¡°^@%#,¡± the Spectre panicked. ¡°A treasure room! Must be a freaking treasure room!!¡±

    Countless anxious thoughts raced through the spectre¡¯s mind. A secret room hidden below the relict of the first Patriarch could only mean one thing; this room must contain treasures and martial dao left behind by the original ancestor!

    However, he still had around three more days left before he could finish his technique and notify his real self!

    The idea of Jack inheriting some sort of treasure from this room was already tearing his conscious apart, and was about to drive him crazy!

    ¡°Oh? That bastard actually left some kind of underground chamber?¡± The flame uttered to Jack. ¡°Human, my senses are being obstructed by some sort of barrier. I cannot indicate if there are any traps or hostilities inside. However, I can ascertain that nobody has ever stepped inside this chamber for the last two thousand years. Enter at your own peril.¡±

    Jack nodded gratefully. If he had already risked this much already, why not go through it till the end? It wouldn¡¯t be his character if he didn¡¯t end his little adventure with style.

    What drove Jack was actually more of a feeling of curiosity rather than treasure hunting. However, he also wasn¡¯t stupid, and he soon understood that a two-thousand-year-old room must contain some secrets from the past. Whether he was able to comprehend these secrets or not, that was another matter.

    He activated his energies, then cautiously descended the pathway.

    The staircase was very long and deep, yet for some reason, the lights never dimmed. Jack couldn¡¯t think of a rational explanation for this phenomenon. However, after all his experiences, he now understood that most happenings in this realm couldn¡¯t be explained with rational thoughts.

    When he reached the bottom, his eyes widened.

    He was expecting treasures, or gold, or maybe some heaven-defying weapon. Or perhaps some work of art, or the least some unique and antique object.

    But no. What welcomed Jack was desolation.

    The single room seemed empty, covered with a layer of dark dust that was thicker on the edges. There were no doors and no windows, no altars and no other visible object. Just a sea of dust.

    The disappointed Jack casually used his foot to push the dust around while he searched for anything valuable, but it was evident that whatever was stored inside this room had long turned to powder.

    The passage of time was indeed the most vicious enemy of every existence.

    But Jack didn¡¯t give up. In fact, after several minutes, his efforts seemed to have paid off as he came across a hard object.

    His eyes shone with excitement as he took hold of what appeared to be a hilt of a heavy sword. However, he soon expressed displeasure when he noticed that it was just the hilt. Whatever blade it held, it had long degraded into nothingness.

    Jack sighed, but he still decided to bring it along with him. Even if it seemed useless to him, it was undoubtedly the remains of some unordinary object. With his limited knowledge, he couldn¡¯t disregard anything at this stage.

    It only took Jack a couple more steps before losing his balance and slamming against the dust.

    ¡°Ugh¡­,¡± Jack coughed out dust as he turned around to notice the surface of a strange cube.

    After he regained his posture, he approached the cube vigilantly. He gently cleared the dust surrounding it, first making sure that there were no hidden dangers whatsoever.

    The mysterious black cube didn¡¯t seem damaged in the slightest. Actually, it still appeared in perfect condition. It had six different surfaces, and on each surface, there were depicted different symbols. However, there didn¡¯t seem to be anything special or abnormal about this cube.

    Only after he inspected a couple of times that he decided to loot it. However, he never expected that this damn thing would be so heavy.

    Its weight was just ridiculous!

    He forced himself to circulate his Qi to the maximum level, but it was only after a lot of effort that he managed to lift the cube from the ground.

    With great difficulty, he held it tight against his chest.

    What he didn¡¯t realise was that a stream of blood from one of his wounds had already come into contact with the cube. The blood boiled for a moment before being entirely absorbed by the cube.

    The cube immediately burned red hot, forcing the off-guard Jack to let go of it.

    It landed with a powerful impact on the dust, then began rolling with decent speed around the room.

    The stupefied Jack could only watch dumbfounded.

    It was such a heavy cube; it should have at most rolled twice or thrice with its heavy weight. However, it seemed like there was no ending to its rolls!

    It was only after rolling for around fifty times that the cube finally seemed to halt its movement.

    Almost immediately, powerful QI energies exploded outwards, producing electrical waves that danced around the surface of the cube.

 Chapter 10 â€“ Heavenly Pillar

    Even though his hands were burning with pain, Jack had bit his lips and suppressed it. However, drops of sweats were forming all over his face as his spiritual energies seemed to have been drained by a significant amount.

    When he mentally recuperated, he quickly assumed that his current condition had something to do with the bizarre cube in front of him.

    As for the cube, electric currents danced around it with an intensifying rate, soon forming a minor storm of lightning.

    Swooop~

    Vertical lights projected themselves from the cube, creating a transparent matrix with a blueish hue.

    After a couple of breaths, a small white-shaded object appeared rising from within the formation. The object grew in size, hovering in the air for a moment before landing gracefully next to the cube as if it was made of quills.

    The electric currents of the cube died out shortly after.

    Jack¡¯s heart had paused, but then it began increasing its rhythm as he noticed that the mysterious object was slithering through the dust and was probably sentient. However, he could not precisely tell what type of creature it was as its entire body was covered with white hair from top to bottom.

    ¡°Heavens¡¯ grace? Thou shall not abandon me yet?¡±

    After some effort, the creature barely managed to turn on itself, revealing an old man lying on the pile of dust. He seemed struggling for strength as he affixed his hollowed eyes on Jack.

    Besides his long hair that covered his entire body, the man¡¯s skin was as white as the moon, as if there was not a single blood drop left inside him. His skeleton body was as thin as it could possibly get, his deep and hoarse breath creeping through the entire room.

    No matter from which angle Jack glanced, it was evident that this man was on the verge of dying. Jack was actually surprised that someone in that condition would still be alive, let alone have the necessary strength to utter any words.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if you are my saviour or my tormentor. But I know that whatever you decide, your decision shall leave a permanent mark on the entire cultivating world.¡±

    The mysterious being coughed out black blood as soon as he finished, and it seemed like his physic had actually taken a turn for the worse.

    ¡°My connection with the heavenly dice has weakened; not much time is left before my remaining powers disperse. Young man, if you can help me survive, I will pledge myself as your protector for the next one thousand years.¡±

    The man paused again amidst heavy coughing and droplets of bloods, eyeing Jack for a reply like a dying tiger.

    The attentive Jack was curious regarding the origins of this mysterious man and the cube, and it was apparent that the two were connected with each other. He also wondered who exactly this old man was and what caused him to end up in such a precarious state.

    ¡°Old man, this young junior is but an ignorant cultivator who has just started his road of cultivation. I fear someone as useless as me will not be able to assist.¡±

    ¡°I know your limitations, but they are enough. This body of mine is withering away, and there is no salvaging it. The only option is for me to possess a new body.¡±

    Jack immediately took three steps in reverse and prepared to run.

    ¡°Hold it! It¡¯s a taboo technique intended to work only on normal beasts¡ª Hey! Why still running? Don¡¯t you believe me?! I swear an oath to the heavens that I will not hurt my saviour!¡±

    Jack smiled wryly while he unconsciously drew himself closer to the staircase. ¡°Quite the sincere words old man, but you know, I have trust issues¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah! But I am one of the three heavenly pillars! Anyone can vouch for the worthiness of my oaths! I have failed a lot of people, disappointed myself a lot of times, but when it concerns my word, I can proudly yell from the tallest mountain that I have always upheld it! Otherwise, my name will not be Lantian Liang anymore!¡±

    Jack stopped his tracks. ¡°Heavenly Pillars?¡±

    ¡°Hah? You¡¯ve never heard of the three heavenly pillars? Is that even possible? Have my reputation been buried with the dust as well?¡± A hint of deep sadness accompanied his voice, enough to make Jack feel a bit of pity towards him. ¡°Ah, the cruel flow of time¡­ I could feel it, yet couldn¡¯t quantify it!¡±

    Jack itched the back of his head. ¡°Well, to be honest, I am not someone from around these parts, so I am unfamiliar with certain terminologies.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± The old man seemed relieved that Jack had stopped his tracks

    ¡°That day, I¡¯ve suffered a catastrophic blow and should have died, but heavens'' grace didn¡¯t allow it. I¡¯ve been lingering inside this cube since then. Only thanks to you activating the cube that I made it out.

    ¡°Listen, kid. Do you know how many great experts had to bow in shame and master the courage to ask this being for a few pointers, just for this old one to reject them over and over again? Can you imagine how much the great clans coveted the talent of this old man, just for me to not give them any face?

    ¡°If those monsters were to hear that I am now willing to offer my protection of one thousand years to some random cultivator, they would surely meet up and start banging their heads with each other!

    ¡°Listen. I know you¡¯re young and all and I don¡¯t know anything about your past, but you shouldn¡¯t shy away from taking important decisions! Great rewards always come from great risks! As long as you gain something from the transaction, you shouldn¡¯t be worrying too much!¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Jack sighed. He didn¡¯t know if he was going crazy or if he would end up regretting his decision, but he decided to trust this old man. He walked towards him and placed his hand over the old man¡¯s forehead, as per the latter¡¯s instructions.

    The old man instantly absorbed some QI from Jack¡¯s body, then he focused on maximum concentration as he pressed his lips in random directions.

    ¡°Hmm¡­let¡¯s see¡­ that one isn¡¯t good¡­ hmm, that will not do either¡­¡±

    Several breaths had passed just like this until the old man¡¯s expression began to turn darker. ¡°This is bad. All the creatures here are demonic beasts that have unlocked their cultivations. Why I can¡¯t find a powerless creature? Kid, where exactly is this place?¡±

    Jack looked weirdly. ¡°I don¡¯t know where we are. All I know is that this place is called the Azure Fiery Realm and I was sent here by my sect for training¡ª¡±

    ¡°Damn it! This must be a man-made realm! That¡¯s why I cannot sense the scents of weak creatures!¡±

    An idea seemed to flash inside the old man¡¯s mind. ¡°Quick, roll the heavenly dice for me!¡±

    Jack looked dumbfoundedly at the old man.

    ¡°Roll the dice, what are you waiting for? Time is of the essence!¡±

    Jack followed the instructions and rolled the cube, then patiently waited for it to come to a halt. When the old man noticed the outcome, his face turned solemn and spat out more blood.

    ¡°Not good¡­ please roll the dice again.¡±

    Jack repeated the process. This time, Jack actually bothered to count the number of rolls and confirmed that the count was indeed fifty, then turned to face the old man with a puzzled expression.

    ¡°Are the heavens really showing mercy to me¡­ or is this a cruel joke?¡± The old man seemed like he wanted to cry, but lacked the strength to do so.

    ¡°Roll it again.¡±

    ¡°Old man, are you going to be fine?¡± Jack could actually notice that the man¡¯s condition was getting worse with each roll.

    ¡°No¡­ I will not be fine¡­,¡± the old man had no point in hiding the truth. ¡°If I die¡­ please make sure to bury my remains¡­ with dignity¡­¡±

    Jack let out a sigh, then rolled the dice again.

    However, when the dice stopped, it was the old man who smiled for the first time. ¡°Quick! Lend me your hand!¡±

    As soon as Jack placed his hand on the man¡¯s forehead, his vision changed. When he regained clarity, he seemed like he had turned into a bird, looking down on a cover of clouds!

    ¡°Whatever happens, don¡¯t remove your hand! Now find a suitable animal.¡±

    Jack could feel significant changes happening in his eyes as his vision suddenly gained the ability to zoom in and out. As soon as his vision pierced through the clouds, a deep tremor ran through his entire body.

    That¡¯s because standing below him was the entire Sky Water Sect!

    As Jack¡¯s vision descended towards the lands, he could now clearly see the faces of other cultivators, as if he was standing there and chatting with them! Not only that, but he also gained the ability to see through walls and spy on the conversations of others¡­

    From his perspective, he was like an omnipotent god, able to spy on anyone and everything!

    Such an ability was genuinely shocking!

    Jack seemed to have forgotten about his mission for a moment but was quickly reminded via a mental message from the old man. He immediately began surveying the several zones of the sect, but it appeared that the entire sect was devoid of any beast or animal. He couldn¡¯t even find the birds from his memory.

    Well, he did come across some ugly insects here and there. However, he felt that it would be a peculiarity if the old man ended up inhabiting one of those bodies, and would only consider such an option as a last resort.

    It was then that a ludicrous thought surfaced inside his mind.

    His entire body trembled with excitement as he quickly zoomed out from his current location and instead headed towards the southern district. He passed over a never-ending amount of markets until finally locking his gaze on a particular remote temple.

    Jack¡¯s pulse was racing as he searched every corner of the area with utmost precision as if he didn¡¯t want to leave even a rock uninspected. Like a predator waiting in the shadows, ready to strike the fatal blow at the first opportunity.

    After a span of a few breaths, and much to his relief, Jack finally had a glimpse of his target¡¯s shadow. However, what caught Jack¡¯s attention was something else entirely.

    A young goddess sat on a wooden bench.

    A fairy amongst fairies, a heavenly beauty that was capable of making both the moon and the sun to lose their glows, for the mountains to change their colours and the rivers to change their course. A type of beauty that would make any man, woman, beast, any existence to stare at her with either great admiration or widespread jealousy.

    Her skin was the scale of flawlessness, the curves of her body crafted to utmost perfection as if one hundred gods had invested years in sculpturing them. Her celestial hair extended down to her waist, more sparkling than the rays of lights that descended onto it.

    Jack wasn¡¯t the type to fawn over a woman. In fact, even though he had carnal desires like everyone else, he was very good at controlling them. Before today, he actually believed that few women in this world would be able to stun him, and even thought that no such woman existed.

    However, the woman before him left him in a haze for many, many breaths¡­

    ¡°Focus¡­ creature¡­ not¡­ her chest¡­¡±

    It was only after he heard the last words of a dying old man that Jack was able to snap out of his trance. He regained his composure while feeling a bit apologetic, then locked his sight over the creature.

    From this close, Jack could finally hear an angelic voice that softened his bones and made his ears go limp.

    ¡°My darling. You¡¯ve been so tense lately, is something bothering you? Has this big sister of yours disappointed you lately?¡± The young maiden docilely said as it caressed the furry creature sitting on her laps.

    The creature seemed to relax when it heard these soothing words, comfortably burying its head between the two towering cushions, its cheeks also turning a bit rosy.

    ¡°If you wish to come along, Big Sis is going to pay a visit to the lake of memories tomorrow. You can go play in the forest in the meantime. I know you love playing in the forest. What you think?¡±

    The Ancient Divinity seemed to shiver for a moment as it remembered about a particular fruit, but then waved its tail happily while burying its head even deeper, seemingly enjoying the wonderful sensation.

    The creature let out a soft moan before its half-shut eyes instantly opened wider than oranges, suddenly perceiving that a terrible danger was about to descend. Its fur spiked, struggling to escape the grip of the young maiden.

    ¡°My darling? What¡¯s wrong¡ª¡± This impulsive agitation had alerted the young woman, but before she could even finish speaking, the creature had vanished from her eyes and instead replaced by some flying fur. She innocently blinked her eyes, much to her dumbfoundedness.

    Meanwhile, Jack¡¯s vision returned back to normal, and much to his surprise, he noticed that the Ancient Divinity was now standing next to him with shivering eyes. Its tail enlarged to three metres and was ready to counterattack, but paused when it felt a terrifying presence.

    The eyes of the old man were now flashing with red beams of lights, no longer dull but radiating hope. Then with a loud voice, seemingly regaining his previous strength, proclaimed:

    ¡°Forbidden Taboo of the Spiritual Blood Scripture. Secret level art: Soul Possession!¡±

    A mighty roar boomed as a spirit began emerging from the old man¡¯s body, then rushed like a vulture towards the helpless creature.

    The Ancient Divinity let out a miserable shriek as it glanced hatefully towards Jack for one last time, then was swallowed whole by the descending spirit.

    Miserable cries deafened Jack¡¯s ears as he watched the poor creature twist and crawl like a snake, as if it was being possessed by a demon. The scene lasted for several breaths, but Jack never withdrew his attention, completely ignoring the glittering lights that now surrounded his body.

    Once the situation returned to normal, the creature stood up on its feet again as if nothing had happened. It actually took its time to leisurely clean the dust from its face.

    Afterwards, it creepily turned its gaze towards Jack, a slight grin visible on its face.

 Chapter 11 â€“ Azure Realm Shakes

    Jack could feel his pulse increasing in rhythm. Although the tension in the room was building up, the atmosphere was actually one of perfect silence. In fact, if a needle had to drop right now, it would produce the sound akin to thunder.

    The grinning creature targeted Jack for a while, but then it seemed to ignore him, instead cuddling its face. It appeared completely relaxed, without any hint of worry whatsoever.

    This unexpected development left Jack undecided how to react, but after recalling the old creature¡¯s temperament, he suddenly had a bad premonition that something was gravely amiss. Even though Jack didn¡¯t wish to verify such a possibility, there was really no point in delaying this matter any further.

    ¡°Old man, did it work?¡±

    ¡°Who are you calling old man, bag of bones? Old? Do I look old? Me human? Are you blind? Dare say it again if you want your face slapped to death!¡±

    Jack had his initial suspicions, but after hearing these words, he had no more doubts that something went terribly, terribly wrong. He swallowed a gulp of saliva, indirectly increasing the anxiety that was accumulating inside his stomach, feeling like vomiting at any moment.

    ¡°Impossible! It can¡¯t be you?!!¡±

    As soon as it heard Jack¡¯s terror, the Creature appeared to have entered into deep thought, as if the simple question required a lot of effort to answer. But a couple of breaths later, the Creature seemed that it had forgotten about everything, instead inspecting its tail and twerking its butt.

    ¡°Who I am? Err, I don¡¯t know myself.¡±

    Jack was stunned. ¡°What?! Could it be your memories¡ª¡±

    ¡°I own both of their memories, but I am not them. I am a product of them. Heavenly Pillar? Secret Taboo arts? What an idiot! All that fanfare, yet he couldn¡¯t even possess such a trivial soul!¡±

    The Creature then grinned evilly. ¡°Not that I have any complaints¡­¡±

    The Creature rushed forward, then hopped towards the outside.

    Jack was about to yell for it to stop, but seeing that its shadow had already vanished from his sight, his only option was to follow after.

    In the meantime, the Creature had already entered the Archaic Billows, and upon first inspection, it couldn¡¯t help but admire the various high-quality relicts. For a sect of the middle realms, it thought that this vast heritage could be considered a treasure amongst treasures.

    ¡°Azure realm, is it?¡± The Creature kept grinning as it enlarged its tail for a full ten metres, then slammed it randomly around itself with massive force that caused crevices to appear.

    ¡°This is the strength of my body? Not bad, not bad.¡±

    It suddenly eyed some demonic beasts in the distance, and an absurd idea had already popped in its mind.

    Just when it was about to charge forward, a human shadow appeared, blocking its path.

    ¡°Hey! Wait a second! Have you forgotten about our promise?¡±

    The Creature glanced innocently. ¡°Why are you stalking me human? I know my body is irresistible, but our biology isn¡¯t compatible. Don¡¯t give up hope though; you are still young and not bad looking. I am sure you will find someone who will love you in the future. If I ever obtain the chance for reincarnation as a human female, I might even consider¡­¡±

    Jack was left without words for a moment. ¡°What are you talking about? Your Oath! You said that you will be protecting me for one thousand years!¡±

    The Creature seemed to recall something from its memories, then shrugged noncommittally. ¡°Ah, that promise¡­ But that wasn¡¯t me, it was my previous half. Why should I be bothered about it?¡±

    ¡°Hey! Weren¡¯t you the one who boasted that you would proudly yell from the tallest mountain, that you would never break your oath? Are you going to put your previous being¡¯s words to shame?¡±

    The Creature appeared confused. It shrank its tail then shook its head with resignation. ¡°Ah, Ah, that¡­ ok, ok, listen¡­ it was only half of my former self, no? So half the amount! Five hundred years! I¡¯ll protect you for five hundred years, and only a half protector at that.¡±

    Jack didn¡¯t mind the proposed reduction of time; a period of five hundred years was still a long one from his perspective, and he really didn¡¯t have to break a sweat to save the old man. He just had to roll the dice and then do some easy searching. For the effort he made, the deal was still well worth he thought.

    However, the matter of half protector confused him, so he civilly asked for an explanation.

    ¡°Yeh, yeh, half protector. It means that I will not be protecting your ass all the time. I will be keeping an eye on you if I happen to be around, but that doesn¡¯t mean I am going to keep babysitting you. If something will happen to you when I am not in your vicinity, then bad luck to you. Don¡¯t worry, I am a being of honour. I would make sure to pay my respects to your grave every one hundred years¡­¡±

    ¡°But¡ª

    ¡°Hey?! Who said my conditions could be haggled? Either you accept my terms or screw off. Honestly, I prefer if you screw off. This should be the happiest day of my life since it is the day I was born, but you are annoying me now. Hmmph!!¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Jack found it impossible to argue with such a stubborn mind, so he gave up.

    The Creature was evidently pleased that the matter was now settled, disappearing from Jack¡¯s view in a brown flash.

    Shortly after, Jack could hear localised explosions, followed by the cries of demonic beasts that were sent flying by random slaps. All of these beasts had the eyes of incredulity, as if they had no idea what had just hit them.

    The Spectre was also shocked as he watched the Creature approaching the monastery with unfathomable speed. The shield surrounding the monastery was instantly ripped to shreds, followed by a giant tail that swept the monastery and sending it flying towards the sky like it was made of paper.

    The little spectre¡¯s technique was instantly dissolved as he screamed with terror amidst the roaring winds. However, before he could even react, the silhouette of a creature appeared before him, swallowing him whole in one gulp.

    The Creature casually burped, then turned its attention towards the sky.

    It unleashed a mighty roar that was capable of distorting the space of the entire region. The several moons in the sky cracked, exploding one after each other as large pieces of rocks rained downwards, littering the whole realm.

    The Creature then descended gracefully, apparently satisfied by the outcome. ¡°This should suffice. Otherwise, I risk alerting the higher-ups of the sect.¡±

    ¡°Grrr¡­ you are its descendant!¡±

    The Creature didn¡¯t seem surprised as it glanced towards the flame in the distance. ¡°Shut up little fish! A fart is all I need to extinguish you for eternity!¡±

    ¡°You¡­¡± The flame trembled for a while, then it fell silent.

    Moments later, the Creature reappeared in front of Jack, as if nothing had happened.

    ¡°I know you want to ask me what the fudge I am doing, so to avoid you bombarding me with one hundred different questions, I am going to spoon feed you everything like an idiot.

    ¡°I still feel cheated by the stupidity of my former half for promising something so outrageous, but I can¡¯t allow for my reputation to take a hit on my first day. The biggest protection I can give you right now is to teach you how to protect your ass... so¡­ I¡¯ve altered the mechanism of the realm a bit and delayed your expulsion by two months. This should prevent any unwanted disturbances¡­

    ¡°But before we start, we need to do something about those crappy mental defences of yours¡­¡±

    The Creature did some weird patterns with its delicate hands, sending three beams of lights that penetrated deep inside Jack¡¯s chest. However, Jack felt no pain and there were no visible wounds.

    ¡°Good, very good. I¡¯ve created a mental barrier that should protect you from those peeping creeps. Unless your aggressors are in the Divine Realm or higher, only in their dreams would they be able to break this protection.

    ¡°Now, I need to teach you how to utilise your QI and how to activate your essence. As for the weapon you obtained, it is actually a sword of high quality. Judging from its aura, it is similar to other traces of auras found in the mechanism of this realm. I am confident that this weapon belonged to the original patriarch and was originally of the divine level. However, it seems damaged and should be of lower grade now¡­ but more than enough for you¡­¡±

    Jack wasn¡¯t planning on interrupting, but an obvious question arose. ¡°It seems that I¡¯ve failed to obtain an essence, so now I will have to wait until I attempt my second severing?¡±

    The Creature itched its tail. ¡°And who told you that? Was is that ignorant fish, or the dumb Spectre? What if I had to tell you that not only you have an essence, but it is of perfect calibre?¡±

    ¡°When someone breaks from mortality and enters the cultivating world, the heavens rejoice, and they will shower you with random phenomena. And then, when someone severe a small fortune from the heavens, not only they will not be angry, but they will actually express joy that the fortune stolen is of a lesser magnitude.

    ¡°However, what you think it will happen when someone manages to severe a complete fortune from the heavens? I will tell you what! The heavens will tremble with fury! They may have not reacted yet, but if you keep severing powerful essences in the future, you will have to ultimately face Heaven¡¯s Wrath! I am saying this from my experience hehehe¡­ half of my former self actually had four perfect essences, and all quite strong too¡­ such a waste I can¡¯t unleash the full power in this limited body¡­¡±

    As soon as the creature finished fantasying, it summoned Jack and placed its delicate hand on his forehead.

    Jack could feel a tingling awareness that slowly infiltrated his entire body. The Qi began circulating as his conscious identified that something was being attached to it. Shortly after, he could perceive another presence inside his body, although this presence was utterly subdued and could be controlled by a mere thought from Jack.

    ¡°This is my first gift to you. Since I am not going to be around when I am doing my own little adventures, I¡¯ve left a soul that can guide you. So, what are you waiting for? Summon the soul!¡±

    Jack was still adjusting himself to this new sensation. He extended his hand and used his conscious to summon the soul. White light flickered over his palm, a small figure formed with a rate visible to a human eye.

    Jack¡¯s eyes immediately bulged out.

    Hovering of his palm, was the little clone of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Spectre!

    ¡°Hah!? Why are you still afraid of that thing? He is now completely under your control; you can seal his senses, burn him with your QI, mute him whenever you want. He may be lacking in power, but his knowledge should greatly assist you!¡±

    When the dumbfounded Jack allowed the spectre to talk, what followed were all kinds of colourful insults, so vivid that even if Jack had to spend many years thinking of an insult, it still wouldn¡¯t match the ones emerging right now from the Spectre.

    Jack¡¯s eyes turned gloomy as he retracted his hand and sealed the Spectre deep inside his conscious. From his reaction, it was evident that the Spectre was not going to see the light of the day again for a very long, long time¡­

    The Creature was pretty much satisfied at this point.

    Its body then shuddered and began expanding. After reaching the same height as Jack, it smirked as it locked its eyes on Jack.

    ¡°Enough chit chattering for now. I¡¯ve lowered my cultivation to match the peak of the second Qi realm. Guard yourself!¡±

    The Creature dashed towards Jack without any warning, as Jack tried to defend against the incoming tail attack. However, despite the difference in strength, not only didn¡¯t Jack manage to hold his position, but he was the one that was sent flying backwards for several metres instead.

    ¡°Hey, wait!¡±

    ¡°Hah?! Wait? When your enemies attack you in the future, are they going to wait? Here comes another one Jack!¡±

    Jack gritted his teeth as he fixed his feet firmly on the ground, then extended both his fists to meet the incoming tail. With great effort and utilising his QI to the maximum, Jack managed to fend it off this time. But before he even had the chance to catch his breath, another tail attack arrived from a completely different direction.

    ¡°Hahaha! This is what I call fun,¡± The Creature seemed happy as it gained familiarity with its body, while Jack was continually struggling to hold his position. However, unless he wanted to end up being beaten to a pulp, he had no other option but to keep defending himself from the never-ending attacks.

    As the training battle ensued, the demonic beasts observed from a distance. After a couple of days, they seemed to have gotten used to these two training and gradually lost interest. As more days followed, the atmosphere of the realm had returned to its initial tranquillity.

    And like this, the whole two month period had slowly passed in a blink of an eye¡­

 Chapter 12 â€“ Chance Meeting Under the Moonlight

    It was deep in the night, and the brightness of the full moon illuminated the entire surface, creating an almost perfect reflection. A slight breeze blew gently, carrying with it the occasional leaf. Some of these leaves were however halted as they brushed against the solitary figure present.

    She peacefully sat on the only stair of the Ancestral Temple. Her face staring blankly toward the stars, her expression reflecting the mysteries of the universe. A sense of serenity could be seen hidden in her eyes, blending perfectly within the surrounding environment.

    It was then that she heard unexpected footsteps. When she turned to look inside the temple, she noticed the approaching shadow of a young man.

    The man looked young. His upper half was completely bare, while the lower half was covered by long tattered clothes. His skin was perfectly fine without any scars, his long a hair a bit disorderly but still elegantly resting against his shoulders. He had a pair of eyes like an eagle, completely calm but evidently capable of equivalent ferocity if provoked.

    When Jack noticed the beautiful fairy in front of him, his dominant air melted down, instead replaced by a feeling of surprise. Although two months had passed, he still couldn¡¯t forget the appearance of this woman. She had clearly left a soft mark inside his heart.

    Countless questions popped up. What was she doing here alone in the middle of the night? Was she waiting for someone? His thoughts were rushing like galloping horses, but he quickly suppressed them.

    ¡°I am Jack, an inner sect disciple of the sect. No need to be afraid of me.¡± Jack assumed that his current appearance might scare her away.

    The young maiden glanced at Jack, her index finger on her lips, seemingly trying to figure out the man in front of her.

    ¡°An inner Sect Disciple? Why haven¡¯t I seen you around before? Are you a new recruit?¡±

    Jack let out a soft laugh. ¡°Well, you can say that I am a new recruit if you put it that way¡­¡±

    ¡°Oh! You must be the infamous mortal recruited by Dai Jun?! But the others said that you had the appearance of a savage brute, you don¡¯t look like that at all? And shouldn¡¯t you be already dead?¡±

    Jack smiled wryly. ¡°That¡¯s not a very nice thing to say...¡±

    The girl giggled, clearly not showing any repentance for what she had just said. However, it was evident that Jack didn¡¯t mind her teasing either.

    ¡°Young madam, you know my name, may I have the pleasure to know yours?¡±

    ¡°Chun Meili, but you can call me Sister Chun if you want, I really don¡¯t mind.¡± Her voice and her beautiful appearance were enough to encaptivate any man one hundred times over.

    Jack nodded, then paused to inspect the surroundings. It has been eight months already, and he realised that he had forgotten the way to the eastern district. He caressed the back of his head.

    ¡°Sister Chun. I may be an inner sect disciple, but I have forgotten the way to my house. Mind showing this clumsy brother of yours the way to the Eastern District?¡±

    ¡°Haha, you are a funny one brother Jack.¡± She snickered while pointing her slander fingers towards a stone pathway. ¡°Head straight and follow the signs.¡±

    Jack was hoping that she would lead the way, but he still nodded appreciatively. ¡°Thanks, Sister Chun. I am sure we will meet again in the future. Take care until then.¡±

    ¡°Hmm, wait a moment.¡± The expression of the ever-smiling girl suddenly turned a bit stiff. ¡°Two months ago, there was a big accident. The descendant of our Divinity Ancestor, the Ancient Divinity, had vanished in thin air and never reappeared again. This has caused great turmoil inside the sect. Even the Patriarch had ordered a thorough search, but so far, all results were negative. Since you were in the azure realm, maybe you¡¯ve seen the creature over there?¡±

    Jack couldn¡¯t help but remember the moment he summoned the creature to the Azure Realm. ¡°Ah, him? Don¡¯t worry, he is doing fine. But he may have changed a little¡­¡±

    A tremor ran through Sister Chun¡¯s body as her eyes rounded wide. ¡°Alive? Changed?!¡± Upon informing her of such news, Jack was expecting her to feel relieved. But not only her shaking didn¡¯t abate, but actually increased in intensity. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that it awakened its bloodline?!¡±

    Jack shook his head. ¡°Well haha, I don¡¯t know what happened to him, but he is still full of life, that I can confirm. You will know better when you meet him. The reason he isn¡¯t here is because he decided to stay inside the azure realm for some more time.¡±

    ¡°Great! This is great, this is great news!¡± Chun Meili started celebrating and almost dancing like a little girl. ¡°Thanks, Brother Jack! I have to immediately go report this matter to the Palace!¡±

    She saluted Jack, then elegantly levitated with a surge of qi, flying northwards towards the descending sky waterfall.

    Jack didn¡¯t move from his position, instead enjoying watching her fading silhouette. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting that she could fly? Doesn¡¯t this mean that she is in the 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi realm like me? No, not even I have the ability to fly with that much ease¡­ she is definitely in a higher realm¡­ and here I was showing off myself as an inner sect disciple, stupid Jack.¡±

    He laughed at himself as he headed towards the eastern district. There was not even a soul around, and his path through the gardens was completely uninterrupted. He decided to take it easy, strolling and enjoying the panorama. He never had the chance to experience such a tranquil walk ever since he came to this realm. The air around these parts also felt less claustrophobic than the azure realm.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    However, midway, something unexpected occurred.

    Jack blood felt like boiling, and his entire cultivation was thrown into disarray. He heavily grasped for breath as he almost fell unconscious on the ground, his remaining clothes half wet from sweat. Jack could only feel relieved that the sensation only lasted for a breath. Otherwise, he would have surely perished.

    When he refocused his vision again, he saw a man standing tall before him.

    The man¡¯s appearance was around the early thirties of a mortal, his hair was short with a clean shaved beard that had a golden-brown shade. He wore a white robe of great elegance, different from the ones worn by the other sect disciples and the elders. His body was perfectly still, and it seemed that the surrounding breeze wasn¡¯t reaching him as there were no signs of movement from his clothes.

    ¡°Don¡¯t think of any funny ideas. She¡¯s not someone you should be approaching.¡±

    His words left his mouth in an unordinary fashion, yet were enough to cause deep-rooted dread. Jack could barely manage to make himself stand up.

    ¡°Senior, this young cultivator was just asking for directions. I had no ulterior motives.¡±

    The man remained straight-faced. ¡°Your acting may even fool the eyes of the gods, but you can never hide your lustful intentions from me.¡±

    Jack was about to curse inside his heart, also wondering from where this crazed maniac appeared.

    ¡°Senior, I am not the one to question your judgement. But I swear that I only wanted directions, you can ask her¡ª

    ¡°Shut up!¡±

    The shout rocked Jack¡¯s inner world, forcing him to stagger backwards a couple of steps.

    ¡°If I ever catch you within one hundred metres distance from her, I¡¯ll turn you into a eunuch.¡±

    Jack swallowed a gulp of saliva. He was angry at his luck, and by now he began suspecting that both the earth and the sky were making bets with each other to disrupt his moments of tranquillity.

    ¡°Now, bring out the Spectre. I want to know why he has chosen to abandon his role and turn himself as your soul protector.¡±

    These sudden words were like multiple knives that stabbed Jack¡¯s heart one by one. Spectre? How did he know about the Spectre? Wasn¡¯t the spectre well suppressed inside his soul? Did he manage to sense him? Jack began questioning the identity of this man and quickly assumed that he must be an extraordinary being.

    Streams of sweat were dropping like rivers all over Jack¡¯ body, as his heart was beating erratically, seemingly wanting to come out flying from his body and avoid the impending calamity entirely.

    ¡°Senior but¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you three breaths to pull him out. Otherwise, I will force him out myself from your dead body. Choose wisely.¡±

    Jack knew that he found himself in a terrible predicament and couldn¡¯t think of a way out. If he hid the soul, this monster would definitely kill him. On the other hand, if he allowed the Spectre to talk about the events of the Azure Realm, he didn¡¯t even want to begin imagining the consequences.

    When faced by two roads that led to his death, he decided to choose the one that prolonged his life a little bit more.

    He took his time to extend his hand, and the soul of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Spectre materialised. The Spectre appeared calm, as he crossed his hands, radiating an imposing aura.

    ¡°For you to submit to an ordinary cultivator, I would never believe this if I am not seeing it with my own eyes. I am curious, was there a particular reason for you to abandon your dignity after all this time?¡±

    The Spectre remained silent for a while, momentary glancing at the shivering Jack. He then straightened his posture and spoke with a carefree attitude.

    ¡°What reason is there need to be? I have taken a liking to this young man. Do I need to ask for your permission, just because you are now the Patriarch? No respect for your predecessors, hmm?¡±

    The Patriarch appeared shocked, but even more stunned was Jack, who had a hard time digesting these words. Was he dreaming? Did something go wrong with the spectre¡¯s trail of thoughts? Did he just call him the Patriarch, the leader of the sect? Jack¡¯s mind was suddenly being overwhelmed with absurdities.

    ¡°Happy now? If you have nothing else to add, then don¡¯t disturb me again.¡± The Spectre turned into several beams of light and disappeared inside Jack again.

    The Patriarch looked strangely at Jack for a moment, but his presence never showed any sign of imperfection. He gave Jack a meaningful look.

    ¡°Inner Sect Disciple Jack, is it? I¡¯ll be keeping an eye on you.¡±

    The Patriarch¡¯s shadow vanished as soon as these words were spoken. Jack was still dumbfounded as he let out a long sigh of relief and returned his conscious towards the spectre''s soul.

    He was curious why the spectre had lied. However, when he tried to inquire, the only reply he got was the usual barrage of insults. Faced by this weird situation, Jack had no other options but to suppress him again, still unable to make any logic out of this situation.

    In reality, the Spectre¡¯s hatred towards Jack had long surpassed the highest mountain. But how would he ever admit that he was subdued by a random cultivator? Wouldn¡¯t he become the laughing stock of the entire realm? Wouldn¡¯t his real self be eternally shamed for such a blunder? His pride would never allow for such truth to ever see the light! He was more willing to let himself suffer for eternity than admit his failure.

    Jack didn¡¯t wish to linger any longer, quickly making haste towards the eastern sector, afraid that he would encounter another impossible situation.

    As he approached the eastern district, he could notice the ever increasing presence of cultivators scattered around; some were conversing quietly, others laughing loudly, and there was even the occasional romantic couple well-hidden from the eyes.

    It was evident that some kind of event was unfolding in the middle of the night, which surprised Jack. He had lived around these parts before, and besides the occasional drifting cultivator during the day, it was generally a quiet place.

    When he finally arrived at the familiar stream of water that separated the southern and eastern districts, his eyes widened up. He instantly double checked if he was in the right place, but there was no way he would forget the distinguishing features of this area. This was definitely the place where he lived before.

    However, before him, there wasn¡¯t just his pagoda, but an entire village bustling with activity.

    The village was small, with around twenty different houses and a number of fields. Surrounding the village was a short stone wall, its only purpose seemingly to delineate its boundary. Shouting and celebrations could also be heard emerging from within the village.

    Jack was visibly confused as he approached the two bulky guards standing before the only gate.

    Upon noticing Jack, one of the guards snorted.

    He had been a guard for several years, and he could easily distinguish between a civilised candidate and a troublemaker. His eyes moved rapidly as he scanned Jack, before a measure of seriousness entered his eyes. From the way Jack was dressed, it was quite evident that this young man was a drunkard looking for trouble.

    The guard wasn¡¯t in the mood and was about to unleash his large axe. However, he was actually afraid that if he caused a needless commotion, he might attract the ire of the Young Lord. That¡¯s why he decided to take a step back and instead coldly greeted.

    ¡°Hey, you, today is Young Lord Yu¡¯s birthday. You cannot enter without an invitation.¡±

 Chapter 13 â€“ Party Crasher

    The Guard seemed determined to resolve the matter in the simplest way possible. ¡°Why are you still standing here? Were you not listening? This is private property. No access is allowed without proper authorisation.¡±

    Jack didn¡¯t know exactly what was going on, but he could still make a rough guess. He assumed that someone had taken over this area by some kind of means, and he was now basically a homeless man. Not only that, but it seems that this rich person invested a lot of his funds in the past few months, enough to construct this little village.

    ¡°Did they really thought that I was dead? Should I go find Dai Jun? Looks like there is some kind of misunderstanding¡­¡± Muttering to himself, Jack withdrew from the two guards.

    As he was walking alienated, he was forced to a halt when he came across a small pillar tomb. It was nothing impressive at first sight, evidently placed there without much care. However, it was still strange for a grave like this to appear out of nowhere.

    From close range, Jack could see several hand-written messages scattered around it in a disorganised fashion.

    ¡°These are the remains of the strongest mortal cultivator, torn to pieces by demonic beasts.¡±

    ¡°In memory of the inner sect disciple who made the idiots, and the imbeciles, look smart.¡±

    ¡°I am a dumb man, so I now rest in pieces.¡±

    ¡°What a beautiful area we¡¯ve inherited. Lord Yu shall be dedicating a fart every day in your admiration, as an appreciation of your kind generosity.¡±

    Jack¡¯s eyes were affixed as they filtered the offensive comments one by one. However, he soon lost the wish to continue, instead revealing a deep frown over his face.

    If there was something he currently desired, it was a moment of tranquillity. For most, it wasn¡¯t that important at all, maybe only for those who needed a brief nap, or for those who required some stress relief. But this word had eluded Jack his entire life. Whenever he thought he had obtained it, he realised that it was just a short-lived experience.

    These people were complete strangers, and he had no beef with them. Why would they suddenly act so hostile towards him? Didn¡¯t they have any respect for others? Even if they assumed that he was dead, they had no right to humiliate him in such a manner.

    He had initially assumed that most cultivators of this sect were honest and upright people, at least when compared to the ones of his original world. But now he understood how wrong his judgement was back then.

    His chest began swelling with anger as he returned his gaze towards the small village. When the Guard noticed the returning Jack, he grunted with disgust.

    Jack wasn¡¯t intimidated. Instead, he snorted with an even louder voice. ¡°I am an inner sect disciple. I demand an audience with this Lord Yu.¡±

    ¡°Inner sect disciple? Who are you trying to fool kid?¡± The Guard was well aware of the appearance of all inner sect disciples. However, he had no way of recognising Jack after his bodily changes, not to mention that in his eyes that particular inner sect disciple was a farce who should have died long ago.

    Irritated by the Guard¡¯s hostile attitude, Jack was tempted to reveal his amulet and smack it inside the Guard¡¯s mouth, but instead, he expressed a soft smile and strolled leisurely towards the gate.

    These people had not shown any respect towards him, so why should he show respect towards them? If he wanted to survive in this world, he had to start making his own stance known.

    If they wanted troubles, he was more than ready to comply.

    And this was not Jack being overconfident or cocky. Thanks to the Creature, he had already a general idea of the strengths and weaknesses of the other sect disciples, and most importantly, his own power.

    He knew that unless he would meet another inner sect disciple or a sect genius, he should be able to deal with them. In fact, a 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi Seeking Realm cultivator with an essence could fight on par with a cultivator of the 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm without any essence, albeit it depended on the strength of the said essence. Besides, the number of young cultivators who had severed an essence after ascending to the 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi realm could be counted on one¡¯s hand.

    Upon observing that Jack had utterly ignored his warning, the Guard immediately buzzed forward and raised his axe. ¡°Challenging the house of Yu, eh? A smartass thinking you¡¯re cool, eh? Sure, sure, try taking another step, and I¡¯ll show you how much cooler my axe is!¡±

    Jack paused, smiling for a moment. Then he casually took another step.

    The Guard was clearly unfazed by this move, flashing his axe like a mad bull. However, before he even had the time to realise what happened, Jack had already dashed low and grabbed the axe from the middle of its shaft.

    The stupefied Guard tried recovering his axe from Jack¡¯s grip, but no matter which direction he pulled, the shaft didn¡¯t move an inch.

    A powerful qi blast followed, forcing the Guard to relinquish control of the axe, stumbling backwards by several steps until almost crashing into the gate.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    In the meantime, the other guard who rested against the wall seemingly daydreaming, immediately widened his eyes.

    ¡°You two are not my target. I only want a sweet conversation with the lord of this area. If you let me enter in without any further problems, I will act as if nothing has happened between us.¡±

    The two guards blinked their eyes and looked at each other with incredulity. Retreat? Disobey orders? Act as nothing has happened between us? Who the hell does he think he is, sputtering such nonsense?!!

    They had been hired as guards since the day Young Lord Yu was born; there was no way they would ever leave their posts! They had faced much bigger dangers in the past, why would they need to abandon their honours because of this arrogant brat? He was simply asking for death!

    The heavily armoured guard, the one that had yet to make a move, began walking towards Jack with a grim expression. ¡°Stay put. I¡¯ll take care of him.¡±

    From his appearance alone, this Guard was evidently stronger than his counterpart. However, he still didn¡¯t dare to underestimate Jack. He carefully fitted two metallic plates over his fists, then charged towards Jack like a ferocious tiger.

    Jack didn¡¯t seem overwhelmed as he casually threw the axe backwards towards the stream, then charged forward with a fist of his own.

    A mocking smile appeared on the Guard¡¯s face. He was a peak 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi Realm cultivator, why should he be scared of some random brat? Moreover, when he noticed how this idiot had thrown away the axe and instead jumped to take his punch head on, he also began questioning the mental capability of his opponent.

    The air waved as the two fists collided in the air with a soft bang, followed by several cracking sounds. The two men kept pressing their fists against each other for a while, before retreating in opposite directions.

    Jack was the first to land. When he inspected his hand, it felt a little numb, but there were no signs of any injuries.

    On the other hand, the Guard had his face turn white pale as the armour plate over his fist crumbled piece by piece. He cried a soft moan, unwillingly to believe that several of his bones had also been shattered by the impact.

    The Guard appeared traumatised. Who¡¯s this freak? Was he really an inner sect disciple, or was he a young genius from a rival house? However, there was no way he wouldn¡¯t have heard about this young man before. He was completely at a loss.

    He cursed at Jack as he positioned his body into a strange posture and began proclaiming some kind of martial art. His skin became vibrant and began emitting strange sounds, slowly changing colour to a reddish hue. A wild surging Qi exploded outwards from his body as his muscles began expanding at an alarming rate.

    In a couple of breaths, the man quickly grew in size and was now a red giant, twice the size of Jack.

    He roared like a mad demon as he powered his other fist, his intention clearly to obliterate Jack in a single move.

    This sudden transformation took Jack by surprise, and he didn¡¯t dare to act recklessly. He swiftly clamped his two fists together, preparing to receive the incoming attack from his fixed position.

    When the terrifying attack descended over Jack, the ground below him began showing signs of caving in.

    A small explosion resounded as a column of soil fired up in the air, alerting some of the cultivators who were partying inside.

    The Guard¡¯s expression was grim as he waited for the visibility to clear up. However, when he heard the cracking sound of bones, he burst out in laughter. ¡°Where did your arrogance go now, kid? Provoking the House of Yu always results in certain death!¡±

    ¡°Not a problem. I¡¯ve already died once accordingly to you. If I had to die again, I''d return back like I just did.¡±

    The Guard opened his mouth as he watched Jack casually emerging from his previous attack completely unscathed. There were no signs of any brushes, let alone any injuries. Even Jack¡¯s breathing didn¡¯t show any signs of irregularities.

    Jack casually smiled as he raised his right hand in the form of a fist, the cracking sounds gradually intensifying.

    ¡°What is going on now?¡± A sense of despair flashed inside the Guard¡¯s eyes as he prepared to retreat.

    However, Jack had already dashed forward, burying his punch onto the Guard¡¯s chest, forming a sizeable depression. The Guard didn¡¯t even have the chance to cry, slamming straight into his companion as they both crashed into the gate.

    The duo kept rotating in the insides until their momentum died out, lying unconscious on the ground without even making a further sound.

    This unexpected event triggered the attention of everyone present. The sounds of celebrations, like a towering wave that rolled over a beach until degenerating into small ripples, muted completely.

    A sizeable crowd gathered, staring at the miserable guards in disbelief. Moments later, the shadow of a never seen before cultivator materialised in their sight. The young cultivator, however, appeared unfazed by the pairs of eyes which set locked on him, graciously walking uninterrupted towards the central area.

    When he arrived, Jack surveyed the people in his vicinity until his gaze rested on a particular table located on an elevated podium. Two different dressed youths had their conversation cut short and showed no emotions as they glanced back at him.

    One of them was a tall male and wore a stylish azure robe, a long sword hung slanting against his back. The other youth wore a white dress with fancy jewellery suspended around his neck. He had large lips and a thin face with slightly elongated ears, giving him the appearance of a fish.

    The atmosphere remained silently tense for a long moment. It was Jack who finally spoke with a loud voice, making sure that everyone was able to hear him.

    ¡°Apologies for coming uninvited. However, when I heard that his eminence, Lord Yu, was celebrating his birthday, I just couldn¡¯t refrain the excitement of my body. I hope nobody is offended by my sudden incursion? Haha, what am I even saying? How can a noble one like Lord Yu possibly be offended? After all, I only wanted to congratulate him for being a scumbag and for stealing the properties of others.¡±

    The crowd couldn¡¯t believe what they had just heard. Who was this guy? Has he gone crazy? Doesn¡¯t he know how cruel the lord of this area can be? They whispered countless questions to each other, but none of them dared to butt in. In their eyes, Jack was already as good as a corpse.

    The white-clothed youth stared quietly at Jack for several breaths. He then leaned his head towards the other cultivator, whispering something inside his ears.

    The azure clothed youth nodded as he made a signal with his hand. In a span of a single breath, five shadows appeared behind them.

    ¡°Incapacitate him and then lock him inside our house¡¯s dungeons. Make sure you don¡¯t kill him though, the young lord wishes to personally torture him for every single remaining day of his miserable life.¡±

    The five guards swiftly charged towards Jack with hateful eyes.

    ¡°Nice, nice. And here I was thinking that the lord of this place was a boring person.¡± Jack said as he revealed his sword hilt and pointed it to the incoming guards, much to the dumbfoundedness of everyone present.

    ¡°Come, come all of you, the more, the merrier. Let¡¯s make this birthday celebration an unforgettable one for our young lord Yu!¡±

 Chapter 14 â€“ Unstoppable

    The House of Yu was a powerhouse that few had the courage to provoke, well-known for their hidden schemes and undeniably vicious. The few cultivators that had clashed with this house in the past were either found massacred or had vanished entirely, never to return again.

    In actuality, Young Lord Yu wasn¡¯t much beloved by the other young cultivators. However, when they had received the invite for the celebration, nobody had the guts to reject it. This was after all the new villa of the Young Lord, the future master of one of the most prominent and influential families in the Sky Water Sect.

    It was only after the event had started that they realised how they had been worrying for nothing.

    The alcohol present was of high-class quality, including the number of delicacies that most attendees haven¡¯t had the chance to taste before. A number of carefully selected servants accommodated the guests with utmost attention, their appearance alone enough to produce a smile on anyone''s face. The Young Lord had surely spared no expense in making the guests feel as comfortable as possible.

    Alas, nobody present would have ever expected the situation to degenerate into such a state in a span of a few breaths.

    The guards had already encircled the intruder as five different auras of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi Seeking Realm pressed over him. In normal circumstances, they would have questioned the man in front of them. But any orders from their master had to be carried out as swiftly as possible.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what type of treasure you have used to defeat our brothers. But if you think you can escape from the five of us, you are simply deluding yourself!¡±

    Jack appeared unfazed and instead kept pointing his sword-less hilt.

    ¡°What are you playing at? Are you trying to make fun of us? Brothers, looks like this bastard doesn¡¯t realise the situation he is in. Let¡¯s teach him some basic manners!¡± The five guards waved their weapons like barbarians as they charged towards Jack.

    The observing crowd had their mouths wide open. They had seen their share of bizarre things, but a cultivator defending against a group of cultivators using only a sword-less hilt was something entirely new. From their point of view, no matter how confident he was, only someone with a few screws loose would act this way.

    Jack couldn¡¯t help himself but sigh when he noticed his opponents¡¯ savagery. He remained on alert since he knew that there was no room for any mistake, only swaying his sword-less hilt horizontally at the ideal moment.

    The guards were about to land their hit when they realised that their weapons were somehow blocked by some kind of force. They quickly recovered however, and charged against Jack over and over again. But no matter from which position they attacked, all of their attacks were obstructed by their target with a swing of a hilt.

    Their initial haughty expressions soon made way for embarrassment and confusion.

    ¡°Calm down you all. That hilt must be some sort of protective treasure!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know Captain. There is something bizarre about this man¡­¡±

    Everyone appeared confounded by the struggling guards. Even the azure-clothed man couldn¡¯t help but narrow his eyes.

    The only person who seemed at ease was Jack. ¡°Not bad, not bad. I have to admit that you have some qualities in you. Too bad you have decided to follow a douchebag.¡±

    Jack lowered his eyelids as he waved his hilt towards a particular guard. Suddenly, a man¡¯s cry echoed as a large wound appeared on his chest, spewing blood all over the place. The man¡¯s body shook momentary before falling motionlessly.

    Upon noticing the strange collapse of their companion, the remaining guards freaked out. They all assumed different positions and were about to unleash their martial arts techniques when an authoritative voice reverberated out.

    ¡°Enough! I shall take care of him. For now, retreat and protect the Young Lord.¡± The azure-clothed man stood up as he summoned a grey talisman and crushed it into tiny fragments.

    Young Lord Yu¡¯s eyes followed the falling pieces attentively, frowning. ¡°Was it really necessary to summon that person, Jian Yan?¡±

    ¡°Young Lord, I may be a peak 4<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm cultivator, but our opponent has an essence. No wonder he is acting so conceited.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± The Young Lord expressed deep emotion for the first time as he glanced at Jack with suspicion.

    Jian Yan didn¡¯t waste time as he floated upwards, his feet landing with a powerful sound, only a couple of steps away from Jack. ¡°Everyone, the party is over. If you don¡¯t leave now, I can¡¯t guarantee that my sword will not cut your body in half by mistake.¡±

    These words were like cold water pouring on the spectators. Although they were excited to watch the resulting match, they were also frightened by the possible consequences. They had no choice but to nod amicably, then hastily hurried themselves out of the villa. In a couple of breaths, the villa was empty of any obstacles.

    ¡°My name is Jian Yan,¡± the azure-clothed man said as he displayed his long weapon. ¡°It is also the name of the man who will be sending you to the underworld.¡±

    Jack wasn¡¯t a bit surprised by the attitude of this cultivator. This man seemed arrogant and impulsive, and Jack¡¯s first impression of him was already in the negative. He also understood where the guards got their arrogance from.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Jack shrugged as he displayed a sad face like a little child.  ¡°Sending me to the underworld? What if I had to tell you that I just came from there? Your prayers have reached my soul, so I¡¯ve come back to offer you my gratitude. Alas, it seems you don¡¯t appreciate my visit?¡±

    Jian Yan trembled; he was unsure if his opponent was mentally retarded, being sarcastic or just spouting nonsense. Whatever, it didn¡¯t matter.

    He dashed forward like a crazed beast. His sword flickered with rainbow-like lights at random intervals, looking very mysterious as it cut through the air.

    Jack could already feel his inner circulation being suppressed by the superior aura, but his unruffled eyes maintained maximum concentration at all times. Just before the enemy was within his reach, he waved his hilt with elegance and completely blocked Jian Yan¡¯s sword, much to the latter¡¯s annoyance.

    This absurd defence infuriated Jian Yan as he began swinging his sword in a wave of attacks. However, Jack was a solid rock that could not be broken.

    ¡°Damn bastard! What kind of treasure are you using?!¡±

    Jack burst out laughing. ¡°Why should I tell you? People who talk a lot usually have short life spans. If you are that intelligent and mighty, why don¡¯t you try figuring it out yourself?¡±

    ¡°Impudence!¡± Jian Yan was about to roar in a frenzy when he noticed Young Lord Yu¡¯s angry gaze.

    Jian Yan felt a slight shiver coming down his spine, quickly calming his mind and instead carefully analysed the situation. Moments later, he raised his sword horizontally at his eyes¡¯ elevation, then muttered slowly.

    ¡°Qualitative Sword Scripture, 1st Art: Images of the Light!¡±

    Jian Yan¡¯s sword flashed with flickering lights. Slowly, two more identical swords began emerging from the sword, hovering in the air next to the original. He graciously let go of his unique sword, and after making several movements with his palms, the sword and the two images hurled towards his opponent.

    Jack frowned as he sheathed his hilt, instead extending both of his palms and braced himself for the impact.

    When Jian Yan noticed this, he mocked Jack while he directed the three swords towards him with ever-increasing speed. When they eventually came into contact with Jack, the three swords bizarrely exploded with powerful waves of qi that sent Jack flying in the opposite direction.

    The severe impact forced Jack to cough up blood. However, he soon regained his footwork. He had suffered some internal injuries, and his breathing had increased, but he was in much better shape than his opponent had predicted.

    On the other hand, Jian Yan couldn¡¯t believe his eyes and thought that they were trying to deceive him.

    This attack was his ultimate trump card, enough to slice an ordinary 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi Seeking Realm cultivator in three parts! What exactly happened? How was his opponent still brimming with life, almost uninjured?

    A terrifying silence occupied the villa. Everyone stared at Jack like he was some kind of sovereign in complete control, ready to vanquish anyone who dared to oppose him.

    Taking his time, Jack went ahead and picked up Jian Yan¡¯s sword, and after some inspection, he stored it on himself. ¡°Cool sword. I¡¯ll be taking it as rental payment. I hope nobody has any objections?¡±

    Jack appeared more than satisfied as he kept walking towards the shuddering Jian Yan, who had already fallen on his knees, heavily panting due to the large consumption of Qi from his previous attack.

    ¡°No matter how strong you are, our House¡ª¡±

    Jack didn¡¯t give Jian Yan any time to finish his sentence as he sent him flying with a kick, his body crashing through several tables until finally resting on a dented bench. The poor-looking Jian Yan struggled to utter something, but no words could come out, falling unconscious few moments later.

    Jack then turned his attention over the remaining guards. Although he didn¡¯t say anything, his eyes were seemingly inviting them to come forward.

    The guards had no choice but to attack in unison. However, the defeat of their Master had shattered their moral, and although they all utilised their martial arts to the best of their abilities, they were no match for Jack who easily disposed of them with a couple of moves.

    With nobody left to defend him, beads of sweat began forming on Young Lord Yu¡¯s face as he searched for a way of retreat. He indeed was the first child of the House Yu, but his cultivation was only at the 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi seeking realm. He knew he stood no chance against Jack.

    ¡°Who are you? Why are you doing this?  I am the future leader of House Yu! If you harm me, my entire house will hunt you down!¡±

    Jack shook his head. ¡°I think your House will hunt me down regardless if I kill you or not. However, I am not some bastard who enjoys killing others for fun. You can thank the heavens that I am yet to turn into a crook like the lot of you. Otherwise, I would have killed you all today. I suggest you take your friends and leave this place before I change my mind.¡±

    Young Lord Yu shivered at the emphasised words. ¡°Leave? Are you crazy! This is my villa! Why should I leave? Not only you dared to attack us, but you also want to steal our property?¡±

    ¡°Oh, your property? Are you sure about that? Observe well, does this medallion ring a bell? Do you know who I am, you dumb hypocrite? Let me tell you, Dai Jun had bought this area and the pagoda for myself. Now, who is the one stealing?¡±

    Lord Yu appeared dumbfounded. ¡°Impossible! Who are you trying to fool by impersonating him?! There is no way you can be that mortal! You have killed him, and you are now using his identity to slander our house! This is theft under the pretence of justice!¡±

    Jack felt disgusted by this man¡¯s behaviour. His internal core was already churning with energy when an overwhelming aura suddenly pressured over him. An instinct of danger flooded Jack¡¯s mind as he urgently dashed a couple of steps.

    In his previous position, much to his shock, Jack could see a new face smiling back at him. He had a placid face, his grey hair bound into a simple ponytail which leaned against his shoulder. But what alerted Jack the most was that this man wore a similar robe as him.

    ¡°Hui Lang¡­ you could have easily killed him right now¡­¡± The insides of Young Lord Yu were fuming at the missed opportunity. However, he quickly understood the crux of the problem.¡°Fine, fine! If you get rid of this pest, I promise you two essence attractor pills and three young maidens.¡±

    Hui Lang chuckled. ¡°What? Don¡¯t tell me your life is only worth this much? Four essence attractor pills and five young maidens. Any less, I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    ¡°Ridiculous! Do you think those pills grow on trees? This is daylight robbery!¡± Young Lord Yu couldn¡¯t suppress his fury anymore.

    He began regretting not bringing his family¡¯s notification talisman with him. However, he never would have guessed that some freak cultivator would appear and defeat all his personal guards!

    He found himself in an impossible situation, so in the end, he had no other choice but to reluctantly accept.

    Hui Lang nodded with gratification. ¡°Now, that¡¯s more like it. I was sure that House Yu would adhere to its reputation. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have risen this much.¡±

    These words sounded complimentary, but Young Lord Yu knew that they were full of sarcasm. ¡°Cut the crap, get rid of him already!¡±

    Jack frowned. ¡°This is a private matter between myself and this guy over the ownership of this area. There is no need for you to meddle into our affairs. It shouldn''t concern you.¡±

    Hui Lang surprisingly agreed with Jack. ¡°True, so true. My connections with House Yu don¡¯t run deep at all. But, who can say no to some free stuff? I bet you would have done the same in my stead. Besides, there is another reason why I have decided to stay here today.¡±

    Jack felt uneasy as he produced his hilt and stood on guard, carefully observing the movements of his opponent.

 Chapter 15 â€“ Battling an Inner Sect Disciple

    The sounds of the enemy¡¯s footsteps were becoming louder and louder. With every step, Jack felt his body quivering, his internal energy barely holding up against the ever-increasing heaviness. Based on aura alone, this guy clearly was a level higher than Jian Yan.

    Jack could observe that his new opponent had no visible weapons. However, he instinctively knew that this man was much more dangerous than his previous adversaries.

    Hui Lang produced a weird smile. ¡°Nice, nice. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve managed to fool an entire sect. I have to admit that you two planned everything quite well.¡±

    Jack narrowed his eyes. ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡±

    ¡°Eh? Feigning ignorance? Your current appearance explains it all. You never entered the azure realm, it was all just a gimmick. An excuse Dai Jun had brought up so that he could personally train you. Quite the bold plan you had, eh? Unfortunately, you are an idiot and decided to reappear when you are still this weak.

    ¡°And don¡¯t even try playing the Dain Jun¡¯s protection card with me. I know you have Dai Jun¡¯s backing, but we are not afraid of him, let alone you. Dai Jun is the weakest of the junior elders, just some rubbish of the lower foundation realm. If it weren¡¯t for the patriarch¡¯s protection and his position as the sect¡¯s main alchemist, our group would have long put his arrogance back in place.¡±

    Hui Lang¡¯s face continued to darken, his tone becoming more arrogant with every passing breath. ¡°What rights do you have to wear that dress?! What rights do you have to possess that medallion?! Your presence alone is a slap in the face for us inner sect disciples! Leave now and go report to the elders that you are resigning from your position and relinquishing your area. Maybe I will let you go away with just a beating. Otherwise, don¡¯t even hope of surviving beyond today.¡±

    Jack frowned at the unexpected hostilities. What the hell is wrong with this guy? What¡¯s with his conspiracies? Is everyone here a narcissistic idiot?

    Jack would have definitely preferred to settle this matter without fighting an inner sect disciple, but it seemed that this Hui Lang was trying to stir up trouble in purpose. He quickly realised that no amount of chattering would resolve the situation.

    But Jack wasn¡¯t going to back down. He could feel that his opponent was stronger than him, but not overwhelmingly strong. Thus, he would never let intimidation get the better of him.

    ¡°Enough with your bullshit. If a fight is what you want, I¡¯m more than ready to entertain you. Young Lords? Inner Sect Disciples? It doesn¡¯t matter who you are, I will take care of you all.¡±

    In the meantime, Young Lord Yu was observing the proceedings from a safe distance. He still couldn¡¯t accept the fact that Jack was actually the mortal who joined the sect eight months ago. However, his surprise was soon exchanged with a burning desire of seeing Jack crushed to oblivion. This brat is still acting cocky in front of Hui Lang? He really doesn¡¯t know the difference between right and wrong!

    Hui Lang noticed the killing intent coming out from the Young Lord, expressing a sarcastic smile. ¡°He is just a little dog, barking at the wrong wolf.¡±

    Hui Lang¡¯s body suddenly blurred, leaving an afterimage that soon dissolved from Jack¡¯s vision. Jack appeared surprised as he explored his vicinities but couldn¡¯t find any trace of his opponent. Shortly after, he heard a mocking voice from behind, leaving Jack entirely frozen.

    ¡°Little kid, my severed essence is speed. Even the other inner sect disciples are forced to admit that I have one of the strongest essences in the sect; you can say I am a cultivator favoured by the very heavens. I don¡¯t know what type of essence you have, but when compared to my own powers, I have no doubts that I can easily crush you!¡±

    Jack ignored Hui Lang¡¯s rhetorics, instead waving his hilt at his opponent''s vitals. However, Hui Lang speed was not something Jack could match.

    Upon seeing that Jack wasn¡¯t going to give up with his attacks, Hui lang casually extended his arm, seemingly grabbing the air and locking Jack¡¯s hilt in a fixed position.

    Hui Lang laughed. ¡°Cheap tricks like this might work on weaker cultivators, but they are nothing in front of me.¡±

    Cracks began spreading out in the air, descending straight down towards the sword-less hilt. The sound similar to shattering glass followed as glass-like pieces dropped on the ground, evaporating on impact like glittering dust.

    Hui Lang couldn¡¯t help by taunt Jack. ¡°Oh? Did I just destroy your little toy? Looks like your invisible sword is no more.¡±

    Jack retreated back a couple of steps. His eyes showed a hint of worrying but shortly returned to calmness. Unexpectedly, he rushed again towards his opponent.

    Hui Lang was leisurely walking when he sensed that something was amiss. Thanks to his ability, he barely managed to dodge the renewed attack.

    ¡°What?!¡± Hui Lang was utterly baffled. ¡°A self-regenerating sword?¡±

    He appeared shocked for a while, but his eyes soon shone with greed. ¡°From where did this bastard get this sword? I don¡¯t remember our sect having this sort of treasure¡­ he is too damn lucky! I must get rid of him! Even if I don¡¯t use it, I can always sell it for immense profit!¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Hui Lang flashed forward like a missile as his fist rippled towards Jack with a power that seemed capable to kill him several times over.

    BOOM~

    Hui Lang opened his eyes wide as his attack collided against something solid, several cracks spreading out in the air. ¡°Eh? An invisible barrier?!¡±

    Profiting from Hui Lang¡¯s momentary distraction, Jack squeezed through the shattering barrier, punching Hui Lang straight in the face, followed by a low kick in the stomach.

    Hui Lang was forced to take a couple of steps backwards. He spat out some saliva mixed with blood, then turned his hateful eyes towards Jack.

    ¡°You little animal¡­ I was going easy on you, but it seems you don¡¯t know when to give up. Fine! Fine! If you want the hard way, I¡¯ll gladly fulfil your desires!¡±

    In a span of a few breathes, Jack found himself ensnared by several afterimages, all punching at him with viciousness. Each punch seemed to carry the energies of the very heavens as they repeatedly crashed against Jack¡¯s aerial barriers.

    ¡°Haha, you call yourself a warrior? What kind of stupid essence you¡¯ve severed? It¡¯s only suitable for weak pussies like you who don¡¯t know how to fight!¡±

    Hui Lang increased the frequency of his attacks. Soon, Jack¡¯s barriers couldn¡¯t keep up with his opponent''s speed, being hit by the residual energies multiple times already.

    As the fight dragged on, Jack was already in a miserable state with several injuries scattered over his body.

    ¡°You¡¯ve disappointed me. After the way you dealt with Jian Yan, I thought you could give me a bit of a fight. But it seems I¡¯ve overestimated both you and him.¡± Hui Lang taunted Jack continuously throughout the fight.

    After being hammered for quite a while, Jack finally managed to escape Hui lang¡¯s lockdown. He then looked at Hui Lang with his swollen eyes. ¡°You inflate yourself too much. I may not be able to defeat you now, but once I am at your level, our fight would be another story.¡±

    Hui Lang laughed. ¡°Oh? What makes you think that there will be another fight?¡± Hui Lang expressed a mocking grin. ¡°And if that¡¯s what you think¡­then I am sorry to disappoint you!¡±

    Hui Lang muscles began to twitch. Snapping sounds filled the area as both his arms transformed into that of a wild beast, with white and grey fur tearing away his sleeves. His fingers twisted and evolved into sharps claws while his eyes flashed with grey lights, his voice turning a bit deeper.

    ¡°In my body dwells the inheritance of a Great Wolf. Even if you were at the 5<sup>th</sup> Qi seeking realm, you still wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat me! Not with that simple essence of yours!¡±

    Hui Lang smirked as he waved his claws with such a force that seemed capable of melding the very air. Jack¡¯s eyes opened wide, evading at the final moment, with the generated winds tearing a piece from his remaining clothes.

    When he regained his clarity, Jack noticed five deep trenches, reaching out for several metres.

    Jack was inwardly paralysed. His opponent was clearly not joking when he hinted that he was yet to use his full strength.

    Jack roared in anger at his opponent¡¯s shamelessness. Several crackling sounds spasmed all over his body, his expression radiating immense pain. He put all his strength into his right fist, running towards Hui Lang like a wild beast.

    Hui Lang was ever-smiling as he let Jack attack come unhindered.

    Jack¡¯s fist landed on Hui Lang¡¯s body, but he soon realised that it was just an afterimage. Before Jack could protect his back, he felt five sharp claws tearing through his flash.

    He let out an anguishing cry as blood spurted out from his back, then fell powerlessly on the ground.

    Hui Lang grinned as he pressed his feet over Jack¡¯s head, crushing him down.

    ¡°Looks like this is the end of the line for you, you fake shit. Do you still believe you could have beaten me if you were in the 5<sup>th</sup> Qi seeking realm? You delusional¡ª¡±

    Hui Lang stopped when he realised that Jack had grabbed his other leg. Suddenly, an invasive forced propelled inside Hui Lang¡¯s body, ultimately severing his sensation of the lower body.

    Sensing the unknown danger, Hui Lang cried in shock, breaking from Jack¡¯s grip in retreat. However, his lower body felt like it had turned into heavy steal, and could barely move.

    Jack used his last remaining energies to stand up, then hurled several punches on an almost immobile opponent. Hui Lang was like a rag doll, and all he could do was spraying mouthfuls of blood.

    It was only after activating his essence to the maximum that he got away from Jack¡¯s range of attacks.

    The heavily panting Hui Lang kept his distance from Jack, a trail of sweat moving down over his cheek. A hint of relief appeared a moment later when he noticed that the heaviness of his body was receding, and his legs turning responsive again.

    His expression soon turned solemn. ¡°I¡¯ve completely underestimated him. His essence seems to harden the stuff he touches; what a weird power, I¡¯ve never heard of such an ability before. I can¡¯t let him grow stronger, or he will become a fearsome enemy one day. I have to extinguish him today!¡±

    Hui Lang let out an ear-piercing cry. His body convulsed as he began transforming again. His clothes were completely ripped apart, his narrowing eyes flashing with even more brightness. In a span of a few breathes, Hui Lang¡¯s human appearance had been entirely replaced by that of a giant wolf, around the height of two human beings.

    When Jack saw the giant shadow growing in front of his fading vision, he let out a soft laugh. ¡°Looks like I have messed up this time. I just wish that the creature was more reliable¡­¡±

    The transformed Hui Lang howled, unleashing a monstrous aura that extended way beyond the villa.

    Although the area around the villa had long become deserted, a number of cultivators still remained observing from inside the gardens, well-hidden from the eyes. When they perceived the terrifying aura, they quickly abandoned their positions and fled. In their shocks, they didn¡¯t see the pair of translucent eyes concealed amongst the bushes.

    ¡°Mother of all cheaters! Stinky asshole! I still can¡¯t get over your betrayal!¡±

    The Creature appeared exasperated as it glared at the heavenly dice for a long time. Still fuming, it then did a penetrating glance in the villa¡¯s direction.

    ¡°This kid is truly unbelievable! I¡¯ve repeatedly warned him to keep a low profile. But why care about my words? Let¡¯s fricking start a war with one of the strongest families! And why not, let¡¯s also piss off an inner sect disciple while we are at it!¡±

    The Creature began already regretting its deal with Jack, but now that it gave its word, there was no turning back. It could only glance back at the heavenly dice and sigh.

    ¡°Qi Seeking realm¡­ one roll a day¡­ one chance, nine possibilities¡­¡±

    The Creature tossed the dice as it began rolling the usual fifty times. When it stopped, weird diagrams flashed on its surface.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ no luck, no all-seeing eye¡­ hmm, the Buddha? Shouldn¡¯t that do just as fine?¡±

    The Creature extended its spiritual sense, outwards over the battlefield. ¡°I cannot understand why this stinky thing decided to sever my connection after thousands of years. But it seems that this bloodsucker has taken a liking to your blood, Jack. This is the first time that I¡¯ve heard one of the seven heavenly treasures choosing someone directly!¡±

    ¡°Ah? Why am I overthinking stuff?¡± The Creature suddenly cuddled its face completely ignoring its previous anger.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care anymore! Jack, just trash the enemy before you already! Make sure not to disappoint me!¡±

 Chapter 16 â€“ Buddha Jack

    Hui Lang encircled Jack, literally like a predator about to hunt its prey. His eyes shone with malevolence as saliva slowly drooled from his mouth, revealing a glimpse of his gruesome teeth.

    ¡°Forcing me to reveal my true power¡­ few people have ever accomplished such a feat, and even fewer survived to tell the tale. No need for you to feel gloomy though, you shall be joining this list in a moment.¡±

    Jack was already on his knees, his complexion pale white, wholly defeated. Even if he wanted to escape, it was now an impossible feat. He knew that death was staring right into his face.

    He had already closed his eyes and accepted his fate when an explosion rocked his internal mind.

    His entire being shuddered, his eyes involuntary moving in different directions. The sounds similar to one hundred drums banged simultaneously inside his ears, sending him into a maddened frenzy.

    Hui Lang naturally stopped in his tracks when he saw Jack crouching in anguish, perceiving that something was not quite right.

    Soon, Hui Lang¡¯s mouth opened wide when he saw Jack¡¯s body expanding at an alarming rate, starting from the rounding of the belly and followed by the thickening hands and legs. The several injuries over Jack¡¯s body were also filling up; not only with fat but clearly healing at a rapid pace.

    The moment the transformation ended, a small cut appeared on his forehead, revealing the image of a golden sun.

    The once handsome Jack was now a rounded fatty, his neck swallowed by the amount of fat, replaced by two slanting cheeks. His hair seemed to have gained the ability of flight as it waved up and down, giving him the appearance of a savage.

    Both Hui Lang and Young Lord Yu were left stunned by the bewildering scene, but not as much as their opponent.

    The first thing Jack tried to do was inspecting his body, but all he could see were two large chests with protruding nipples, resting on an even enormous belly.

    ¡°Whats the fusk¡­¡± A soft, high-pitched voice sneaked out, impaired by the amount of fat present inside his throat, worsening Jack¡¯s emotional despair. When he raised his heavy feet, he almost lost balance. If it weren¡¯t for his qi stabilising his posture, he would already be rolling on the ground.

    Seeing the fatso before him, Hui Lang didn¡¯t know whether he should laugh or cry. Regardless, he had enough of this farce.

    Hui Lang sprung into action, producing five afterimages that assumed circular positions around his enemy. ¡°And here I almost thought you were about to reveal some kind of trump card¡­ if you think you are going to intimidate me with this ridiculous trick of yours, you are gravely mistaken!¡±

    These words, however, didn¡¯t seem to have reached Jack¡¯s ears, who was on the verge of a mental breakdown.

    Back in the Navira planes, he didn¡¯t care much about his exterior due to his various scars and other imperfections. It was only after his rebirth inside the Azure Realm that he unconsciously grew attached to his appearance, and internally sworn that he would protect his looks whatever the costs. One could only begin to imagine the helplessness felt by Jack now that his body had turned into one massive lump of fat¡­

    Hui Lang didn¡¯t seem interested in his opponent¡¯s emotional suffering though as the five images jumped in harmony against the giant belly, slicing viciously and without mercy. However, what was supposed to be the improved version of an attack that almost killed Jack before, it could now only leave some scratches that quickly healed in a couple of breaths.

    ¡°What the?!¡± Hui Lang was flabbergasted by this development as he repeatedly waved his claws, deploying maximum force.

    The constant attacks seemed to have caught Jack¡¯s attention again, but clearly, he wasn¡¯t in the mood. He clasped his hands together, then forcefully slammed into the ground, creating a significant depression amidst a tempest of winds.

    Four of the five afterimages were utterly shattered by the generated shockwave. As for the real Hui Lang, his wolfish mouth distorted and twisted under the wind¡¯s immense pressure, sending him bouncing and rolling through several houses, until crashing against the opposite wall.

    Hui Lang let out a soft cry similar to a whining dog, struggling to stand up again.

    ¡°What haves you done to my bodys?!¡± The angry Jacked roared, wanting to find an immediate explanation for his current transformation. Each of his steps was a struggle to take, shaking the area as he turned around to face the distant Hui Lang.

    The recovering Hui Lang responded with an equal ferocious roar, opening his mouth and firing a powerful qi blast. Although Jack¡¯s strength seemed to have undergone shocking growth, there was no way for such a bulky body to avoid such a fast-moving attack. Naturally, Hui Lang had realised that long-range attacks were his only remaining option.

    As the blast of qi approached, everyone, including Jack, was anticipating this enormous body of fat to explode into massive rain of flesh and gore. But much to the trio¡¯s astonishment, the powerful blast gracefully bounced on the belly, rebounding backwards where it came from.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Hui Lang couldn¡¯t believe his eyes, almost forgetting to dodge the recoiling blast in time. He felt humiliated as the residual explosion from his own attack sent him flying again, now crashing against the wall adjacent to the gate.

    Jack made a quick glance at the struggling opponent, then seemed to think of something. He rapidly channelled his solidifying essence, hardening his bones and muscles in the process. His idea seemed to have borne fruit, now feeling that he had much better control over his movements.

    He locked his gaze on his adversary and rushed forward.

    Hui Lang was still licking his wounds when he noticed a round shadow speeding towards him.

    The incoming fist was like the hand of the apocalypse. As it approached, the entire area began trembling with several cavities extending outwards. Numerous rocks were also uplifted in the air like they were being pulled by a giant magnet.

    Hui Lang didn¡¯t even have the time to cry as the resulting blast shattered a substantial part of the wall, creating a deep tunnel that stretched towards the stream of water.

    Jack¡¯s eyes exerted coldness as he momentarily watched the water rushing in and filling the tunnel, then turned his attention upwards.

    High up in the sky, there was a heavily panting Hui Lang, his body clearly in a sorry state.

    He kept his gaze affixed on Jack like he was staring in the face of a death god. He was still trying to find a logical sense for this bizarre man, with his only plausible explanation being that Jack¡¯s transformation was a type of inheritance gone wrong or some kind of defective martial art.

    He suddenly began regretting coming here. What was supposed to be an easy walk in the park, it had turned out into a living nightmare. He had already made up his mind that once this bastard is dead, he would definitely demand higher rewards from the Young Lord.

    Hui Lang didn¡¯t want to drag out this fight any longer. He unleashed his maximum speed in preparation for his ultimate move.

    Afterimages began forming in the sky, increasing one by one until reaching his current limit of ten. The ten wolves seemed to be in synchronisation, as they rotated into a circular perimeter.

    When they raised their heads, ten different strands of qi emerged from their mouths, spiralling and converging above them.

    Soon, a colourful image of an ethereal wolf began taking shape. The lifelike image seemed to be sentient, its grey-coloured eyes illuminating the night even brighter than the moon.

    Hui Lang then yelled out with the occasional mocking. ¡°This is my ultimate move, the external manifestation of my inheritance! No matter what tricks you use, you can never dream of defeating the power of the great wolf! Remember very well! I am Hui Lang, a cultivator chosen by the very heavens, and you are just a frog in a well, a being who doesn¡¯t know the immensity between heaven and earth!

    ¡°Now die alongside your own stupidity!¡±

    Hui Lang spectacularly fired the wolfish manifestation as it pressed down towards Jack. The terrifying image seemed to have the ability to shatter mountains and topple the sky. Reinforced by the power of Hui Lang¡¯s essence, it gave no chance for Jack to dodge, swallowing his body as a whole.

    The fast collision resulted in a detonation that almost destroyed a quarter of the villa.

    As the visibility cleared and upon seeing that there were no signs of Jack¡¯s presence, Hui Lang quickly assumed that his opponent was obliterated into nothingness. Soon, his once anxious expression turned into joy. He inwardly felt relieved that he had finally crushed his opponent and even more estatic when he thought about looting Jack¡¯s treasure.

    ¡°Haha, Yu Gen, this idiot was much tougher than I thought. I don¡¯t think you would have any complaints if I had to raise my assistance fee, right?¡± He laughed out like a devil as he expressed an intimidating look.

    On the other hand, Young Lord Yu was petrified and barely managed to raise his finger. ¡°Hui Lang, behind you!¡±

    Hui Lang didn¡¯t even know what hit him as Jack¡¯s hand clamped down upon his neck, almost suffocating him.

    Jack¡¯s physique was in a terrible form. Blood leaked out from literally every part of his body, as pieces of his fatty flash had been torn way by the previous explosion. However, these same wounds were clearly healing at a rate visible to the naked eye.

    ¡°Im-impossible!¡± The wolfish body fought to escape, but Jack¡¯s arm strength kept him firmly in place.

    Hui Lang could only watch as a brutal fist collided straight into his belly. He let out a miserable shriek as blood jetted out from both his wound and mouth, several of his bones shattering into smithereens.

    Jack looked disgustingly at the defeated opponent for a moment. Hui Lang¡¯s unresponsive body was then sent pummelling downwards.

    Boom~

    As soon as Hui Lang¡¯s touched ground, his wolfish body reverted to his original self, revealing a naked body partially covered by blood-tainted soil.

    The victorious Jack then descended close to him.

    With his opponent finally defeated, he finally had the chance to examine the state of his surroundings.

    The once beautiful villa was now mostly a pile of rubble, and only a couple of structures remained untouched. Fortunately for Jack, his original Pagoda didn¡¯t seem to have suffered any damage.

    Still wanting to find an answer for his weird transformation, Jack then turned his attention to a trembling cultivator hiding below a large wooden table.

    When he noticed the approaching Jack, Young Lord Yu cried like a little girl, peeing himself in the process.

    Jack frowned, smashing both Young Lord Yu and the table several metres deep in the ground, then pulled him out like he was some kind of vegetable.

    ¡°Do you knows anything abouts my consition?¡±

    Lord Yu struggled to shake his head as two pieces of broken tooth fell from his mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I really don¡¯t know! I¡¯m sorry, please spare me! I¡¯ll give you anything you want!¡±

    Jack frowned, then unceremoniously stated. ¡°Fifty essence whatever pills by tomorrows. As for the maidens, I am sure you will need thems more than me to attend to your bodys!¡±

    As soon as he finished speaking, Jack hurled the Young Lord upwards with all force he could gather, sending him flying out of the villa.

    ¡°That¡¯s its!¡± Jack nonchalantly clapped his hands together to remove the annoying dust.

    When he returned his attention to Hui lang, he noticed that the body was no longer there. Not only that, but on second glance, it seemed that the several bodies of the guards and Jian Yan had also vanished without a trace.

    Jack was on the verge of going berserk. ¡°Who dares?!¡±

    He attentively surveyed the area for an intruder, jumping to different locations for better visibility, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t detect any living soul.

    He gave up after a while, instead stomping his feet, still trying to figure a way out of his predicament.

 Chapter 17 â€“ Reclaimed

    It was not dawn yet, but the atmosphere in a particular area of the sect was rather lively. People rushed out in the streets, asking different questions.

    ¡°What happened? Why has any army mobilised this early? Is it an enemy attack?¡±

    ¡°Not so sure about that. The higher-ups would have resounded the alarm by now, no?¡±

    ¡°Hey, look at that banner! Aren¡¯t those officials from House Yu? And the man in front, isn¡¯t he the House Master?¡±

    ¡°Wow! You¡¯re right! For the leader to take action himself, something big must have occurred?!¡±

    ¡°I wonder who is brave enough to offend House Yu at this time and age? There is a clear boundary between courage and stupidity!¡±

    The army seemed unaffected by these speculations as it pressed onwards with a spectacular fashion, creating quite the commotion.

    Leading the army of elites, there were five neatly dressed cultivators, their bodily attitudes radiating out an indirect message of dominance. The team was composed of two women and three men, the youngest being a middle-aged man.

    One step ahead of them, there was a short man with a small rounded belly. He wore a golden robe with countless jewellery coiled up against his hands. He was half bald, and his face was a little elongated from the front. If his son looked similar to a fish, then this man¡¯s appearance could be compared to a little dolphin.

    ¡°Master, why are we walking instead of flying?¡± The oldest man tried to make himself sound as polite as possible.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? What do you want us to do, fly and alerting the enemy?! Use your damn brain for once!¡± Master Yu snorted.

    The old man let out a soft sigh. ¡°But we have five foundation realm experts. Even if he has an essence, what can an insect do to us five? Once we encircle him, there will be no chance for him to escape¡ª

    ¡°Are you going to question my each and every move? Shut that stinky mouth of yours and follow my commands!¡±

    It was then that another cultivator came rushing forward, carefully making sure that there were no visible defects with his courteous bow.

    ¡°Master Yu. This is to report that our stealth squad has surrounded the villa. We can also confirm that our target is trapped in there and unaware of our presence.¡±

    Master Yu seemed delighted. ¡°Nicely done, beautiful. There goes away my biggest worry! March on everyone, I¡¯m eager to meet the person who dared to offend our house!¡±

    The old man¡¯s eyes suddenly shone. ¡°Master, does this mean that we can now fly?¡±

    ¡°No. It is much cooler and impactful if walk in the streets. Look at the crowd drooling at us with awe; everyone, keep on marching!¡±

    The army took its time as it moved through the various roads. It was only after the sun had risen that the targeted location became visible.

    At that very moment, Jack was holding his head in pain, seemingly awakening from a hallucination. His muscles felt unresponsive as he tried to stand onto his feet. When he did, his feet couldn¡¯t stop shaking from fatigue.

    He suddenly appeared to recall something weird¡­ something about him transforming into a fatty and annihilating all opposition. ¡°Ah? Did I lose my consciousness?¡±

    He pondered for a bit, but soon his worries turned into relief once he noticed that his body had returned to normality. He even thought that all that transpired before was just a dream. However, a quick glance at the rubble in his vicinity brought him back to reality.

    It was then that several cultivators rushed in.

    Some acrobatically jumped the walls, while others created a human dome in the sky. There were even some who climbed out from below and others who were completely covered with black clothing. The numerous cultivators danced in perfect harmony, extending their auras and locking Jack in his position.

    Six shades then followed through the main gate, the leading figure naturally being Master Yu.

    ¡°This is the animal that injured my dearest child? I have to admit that you¡¯ve got some guts!¡±

    Jack couldn¡¯t believe his own eyes. He didn¡¯t have high expectations for House Yu in the first place, but he never would have thought that they would act so blatant. It was also quite obvious that they weren¡¯t here to deliver the promised pills.

    He indeed had anticipated such a scenario and even planned to go into hiding. Alas, he lost consciousness before he could do that. The worst possible scenario was now playing right in front of him.

    Jack did his usual inner swearing while also praying for a miracle. However, even if the Creature and Dai Jun came, could they really defeat such a considerable force? Given that the situation seemed beyond hopeless, Jack went along with plan B.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°Hah? So you are the father of that idiot? What, did the little shrimp call for his daddy¡¯s aid? Hah, such a coward.¡±

    ¡°Die!¡± The middle-aged man had already unsheathed half of his sword but was stopped by a simple hand gesture from Master Yu.

    ¡°Wow! Can you people be even more shameless than this? Your son personally stole away my area, and even made fun of me behind my back! Now that I reclaimed back what is rightfully mine, you mobilise an entire army against a cultivator of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi Seeking Realm. If word had to spread, wouldn¡¯t you all become the laughing stock of the entire sect?¡±

    Lines appeared on Master¡¯s Yu forehead. ¡°Rights? A brat like you dares to talk about rights in front of House Yu? If you want to teach us about laws and morals, you first need to make sure that you have the necessary strength to back yourself up! In this world, it is the strong who dictates the rules! You¡¯ve offended someone you shouldn¡¯t have offended! People, eliminate him!¡±

    Some cultivators immediately rushed forward, seemingly in competition for who shall deal the fatal blow and earn the merits. But before they could lay their hands on Jack, a thunderous voice raptured from the sky, forcing everyone to a halt.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. Where might is, the right is. But since when House Yu can consider itself mighty?¡±

    Everyone turned their heads upwards in astonishment. From the clouds, two silhouettes came into vision.

    The first to touch the ground was a bald man with a medium-sized beard; mostly black coloured but with the occasional white. He had no weapons on him, and his appearance was quite ordinary.

    Landing behind him, there was a young female, her inner sect disciple robe perfectly fitted against her body. Her serpent-looking eyes had already scanned over each and everyone present twice. She then nonchalantly waved her green hair on her side. ¡°Master, there is no need for you to dirty your hands with such filth.¡±

    Her arrogant tone was evidently a direct slap to everyone present, and several expressions turned ugly. They much wanted to voice their disdain, but in the end, all they could do was tremble with fear.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been training in Dragon Valley for one year; haven¡¯t you had enough already, eh? Stay back for the time being.¡±

    The bald man advanced towards Master Yu, who had already dropped on his knees, his trembling intensifying. ¡°Such a joyous occasion! How could our house not notice the noble¡¯s one arrival? If we knew that you were coming back today, we would have prepared many gifts for the esteemed elder¡ª ¡±

    ¡°Esteemed your mother! Explain this bullshit before I knock some sense into each and every one of you! And don¡¯t test my patience. I happen to be in a bad mood already, and I was searching for some punching bags to relief my anger!¡±

    Master Yu almost shed tears as he pointed in a direction. ¡°Gr-Grand Elder, all this happened because of that man! He physically abused my dear child¡­¡±

    He stopped midway when he noticed the scalp of the Grand Elder turn bright red. In fact, the Grand Elder could barely manage to suppress his anger as he turned his attention towards Jack for the first time. ¡°And you brat, who might you be? Which house do you hail?¡±

    Jack felt overwhelmed by the terrifying aura, which wasn¡¯t any less than the Patriarch¡¯s.

    ¡°Greetings senior. This lowly one is named Jack, just a newly recruited disciple of the sect. As for what happened here, this area was given to me by the sect, and House Yu forcefully stole it from me. I reprimanded his son, and now they sent out an entire army to annihilate me.¡±

    The Grand Elder was good at observing and quite the calculative person. He immediately realised that there was a battle here recently, but Jack¡¯s strength didn¡¯t match the possible cause on first glance. When he tried piercing through Jack¡¯s mental defences for answers, he glowered when his invasion was blocked by some kind of spiritual barrier.

    ¡°Interesting, interesting¡­ You¡¯ve told me your life''s story, but you still haven¡¯t explained why you, a 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi seeking Realm Cultivator, own an inner sect disciple medallion?!¡±

    Everyone was staring at Jack for a reply. Even the ever-cold beauty couldn¡¯t help but express slight surprise as she made additional observations. However, the one who replied was instead Master Yu.

    ¡°Esteemed Elder, it was around eight months ago¡­ a mere mortal was appointed as an inner sect disciple... it brought great shame on our sect... even our neighbours are laughing at us¡­¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± The Grand Elder roar shook the entire area. ¡°An entire house going rampant destroying stuff, and a 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator possessing a medallion. Give me half a reason why I shouldn¡¯t turn everything upside down today? And what the hell are Elders Shui and Tian doing? Those two good for nothing are really testing my patience!¡±

    He had already shortened his sleaves and snapped his muscles when a fresh voice was heard.

    ¡°Aw man, always as wild as a boar; no wonder you lost your hair before your prime. I just happened to refine a new batch of calming pills, made exquisitely from Mandragora seeds. I¡¯ll give you a corporate discount if you want some.¡±

    The Grand Elder furrowed his brow. If it were someone else who dared to spout such nonsense, he would have already killed him.

    Dai Jun kept leisurely walking without a care for the world. ¡°Welcome back, Grand Elder. Mind a few words?¡±

    ¡°Go ahead, but watch your tone. Even if it is you, I will not promise that I will not kill you if you test my patience.¡±

    Dai Jun remained tranquil as he whispered something inside Grand Elder¡¯s ear.

    The Grand Elder kept frowning for a moment. After a while, he seemed to have calmed down, arousing everyone curiosities.

    ¡°Hey you, the one with the weird name. In three days, I will be personally testing your potential. You keeping that medallion or not will depend on your abilities.¡±

    ¡°As for you, Master Yu. This area belongs to Dai Jun. So¡­ why are you still here? Want to fight me?¡±

    Master Yu swallowed a gulp of saliva before ordering his army to turn around. The sounds of footsteps echoed in the distance as they retreated, returning the calmness of the villa.

    ¡°Let¡¯s depart. These stupid people have delayed me enough already.¡± The Grand Elder left without any ceremony, his disciple following behind him like a shadow.

    Jack sighed a moment later. ¡°Guess I need to offer you my thanks again.¡±

    Dai Jun remained oblivious to Jack¡¯s words as he observed the villa. It was in a complete mess and repairing it wasn¡¯t going to be easy.

    ¡°3<sup>rd</sup> Qi seeking Realm after eight months¡­ the Azure Realm was a difficult test for you, but you came out of it stronger than I anticipated.¡±

    Dai Jun then turned around and began distancing himself from Jack. ¡°Rest in your Pagoda for the time being. You¡¯ve got an important decision to make in three days. Hopefully, you will make the right choice. Everything will be explained then.¡±

    Jack blinked his eyes. ¡°What? Hey! Already leaving? What if they come back?!¡±

    Dai Jun waved his right hand, his image slowly fading in the distance. ¡°Relax, relax. I and the possessed creature have already met; the entire situation is within our control. As for House Yu, they are in for an ugly surprise.¡±

 Chapter 18 â€“ The Alliance Reacts

    Two days had already passed since the accident at the Villa.

    Jack was finally enjoying some moments of tranquillity, utterly oblivious to the furore that was happening inside the sect.

    First to make the waves was actually news concerning himself. The infamous mortal not only didn¡¯t perish in the azure realm but was now a 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi seeking realm cultivator. Not everyone was gullible enough to believe these gossips though, and some even disregarded them as a type of invention.

    Then, there was the matter of the Grand Elder¡¯s return. If rumours were anything to go by, the Grand Elder managed to achieve a minor breakthrough, increasing the sect¡¯s overall power.

    And lastly, there was the news of the century that had taken everyone by a storm, spreading like an unstoppable wildfire.

    The once lost Ancient Divinity had returned. Not only that, but it seems that its bloodline was showing signs of awakening.

    This was undoubtedly a major cause for celebration, the sect¡¯s future being at its brightest ever. If the Ancient Divinity fully awakened, it would indeed turn into a terrifying existence. It wouldn¡¯t be an understatement to say that not even the Patriarch would be able to defeat it then.

    However, not everyone seemed happy with this development.

    The state of the two leading Houses was particularly tense. Both leaders of House Shui and Tian summoned an urgent assembly almost simultaneously.

    Apparently, the awakened Ancient Divinity had taken a strange liking to House Yu, making their headquarters its permanent residence. Although House Yu was the 3<sup>rd</sup> most influential House, it was now only a matter of time before it surpassed them in strength.

    Although both Houses boasted of having prominent sect elders, once they had joined the upper echelons, they have become somewhat independent of them. Regardless, no matter how powerful these elders were or will be in the future, they will never be able to match the might of an awakened divinity.

    As both Houses were preoccupied, House Yu was also undergoing drastic changes.

    The first to be affected was the central administration hall, which had undergone quite the adjustments. The main seats of Master Yu and the five protectors were removed, instead replaced by a large red cushion in the middle.

    Reclined over the cushion was the Creature, seemingly enjoying the best day of its life. Several gorgeous maids were taking turns in massaging and brushing its back.

    Prostrated on the floor before the Creature, were Master Yu and his wife, and the five protectors.

    ¡°This place is much better than I expected. Your house isn¡¯t complete garbage after all little Yu.¡±

    Master Yu shuddered, producing a wryly smile. ¡°Descendant of our great ancestor. Your honest words fill this old man with humility. I trust that you are satisfied with our hospitality?¡±

    The Creature appeared thoughtful for a moment, then it itched its back. ¡°Not bad, not bad. What about the items, though? Have you delivered them?¡±

    Master Yu widened his smile. ¡°Of course, of course. 80 Essence Attractor Pills, 4,000,000 silver coins and two foundation realm treasures of excellent qualities.¡±

    These words sounded as serene as ever, but painful stabs occurred in Master Yu¡¯s heart with every word he uttered. Half of the House¡¯s riches were gone just like that.

    ¡°Little Yu, you keep impressing me. At this rate, it will not be long before House Yu becomes the main pillar of this sect. However, if one day you offend me...¡±

    Master Yu seemed to forget about his predicament. ¡°No, no, why should we ever offend you? We can¡¯t stop thanking the heavens long enough for gifting us with such an honourable presence!¡±

    The Creature appeared satisfied as it narrowed its eyes peacefully.

    And it was at this very moment that Jack encountered a bizarre situation.

    Several messengers arrived in succession, delivering different treasures with the utmost gallantry. This left him without words, especially when he learned that these messengers were from House Yu.

    At first, he thought that this was some kind of trap, but after noting their insistence and the sincerity in their eyes, in the end, he decided to accept their offers.

    Soon, his pagoda was filled with innumerable treasures, and Jack was already itching the back of his head on how he was going to protect this stuff. If word had to leak out, he would be in big troubles¡­

    ***

    Unbeknownst to anyone, two figures had secretly entered the Azure Fiery Realm, their fast-moving shadows ramming straight towards the Archaic Billows.

    ¡°There was an interference in here. Somebody definitely messed with the mechanism. The damage is also quite severe.... it will take a large number of resources to fix this. Until then, nobody is allowed to enter this place without my authorisation.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    The Grand Elder nodded, agreeing with the Patriarch¡¯s trail of thoughts. ¡°Could it have been the awakened divinity?¡±

    The Patriarch frowned. ¡°Strange things have happened since that man¡¯s appearance. The matter of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Patriarch¡¯s spectre is also quite odd. I feel that there is more to that story than I am aware of.¡±

    It was then that a chuckle was heard.

    ¡°I have to say that some pleasant surprises did indeed happen here, but you are deluding yourself if you think that I will be cooperating with you scumbags. At least, that mortal brought temporary relief for this being¡¯s boredom hehe...

    ¡°Alas, my good mood had to be ruined by your ugly faces.¡±

    Both of them ignored the flame however as they beamed inside the secret chamber. The Patriarch immediately noticed an anomaly in the ground, using his spiritual power to excavate a buried corpse.

    The Grand Elder suddenly felt a sense of uneasiness. ¡°What, why is a freaking corpse buried in here? And why does it look like it is still fresh?¡±

    The Patriarch remained thoughtful. ¡°This place is a secret chamber left behind by the original Patriarch. Its entrance was interlinked with the Patriarch¡¯s relict, and only the one worthy of being his successor would be allowed entrance. As for what was inside, I don¡¯t know myself.¡±

    ¡°What!? Did that brat really comprehended that particular essence?¡±

    ¡°Comprehended? I can say with confidence that he even surpassed the founder¡¯s understanding of the essence.¡±

    The Grand Elder was shocked by this revelation. ¡°Dai Jun did tell me that the kid possesses a powerful bloodline¡­ but this is beyond my expectations! Could he be a child of a great clan?¡±

    ¡°A child of a great clan? Unlikely. However, his bloodline is surely unordinary. If we instruct him carefully, he will surely become a great asset for our faction. If he turns out unreliable, we can always eliminate him.

    ¡°For now, bring that corpse with you, maybe we can find some answers once we finish investigating it.¡±

    The Patriarch brandished a talisman that cracked open a portal, then they dashed outside with a flash.

    ***

    Faraway from the Sky Water Sect, a man was flying through a narrow corridor, knocking off some ornaments in the process. Sweat covered his face as he barged inside the Patriarch¡¯s chamber, quickly dropping to his knees.

    ¡°Patriarch! Have you heard?! The descendant divinity of the Sky Water Sect, it is showing signs of awakening!¡±

    A well-dressed man meditated in the central area. He was old, and yet his body was surrounded by an aura of youthfulness. Several swirling lights could be seen circulating around his pupils. ¡°Hmm... that stupid-looking creature actually has some potential?¡±

    He didn¡¯t appear shocked at this revelation though. He actually seemed more at ease than one would expect.

    ¡°Our Blue Horn Sect has been the de facto Alliance leader since the great war. Even if you add an Ancestral Divinity in the mix, I don¡¯t think it will be enough to shake our position in the long run. It may have awakened its power, but it will only grow into a treat after several more decades.¡±

    ¡°For now, keep an eye on the Sky Water Sect and report any anomalies immediately. You¡¯re dismissed.¡±

    As soon as the messenger left, the Patriarch¡¯s expression turned grim.

    The ancient war five hundred years ago had brought a giant catastrophe for the entire region. Two of the seven sects were totally obliterated, and five Ancestral Divinities had also perished.

    The Ancestral Divinity of the Sky Water Sect had survived but was significantly injured, its life span shortened to a few hundred years. However, despite the poor reproductive rates of powerful spirit beasts, it was lucky enough to have a descendant at the end of its life. Unfortunately, this offspring was born stupid without any potential, only managing to survive to this date because of the race¡¯s long natural lifespan.

    In the end, all that was left was the Ancestral Divinity of the Blue Horn sect. This allowed the sect to flourish and consolidate its power as the alliance¡¯s main force. However, with the atrocities of the great war deeply ingrained in everyone''s hearts, the patriarch of that period refrained from using violence. Thus, the unification of the alliance never materialised.

    However, the political situation changed once again when the last remaining Ancestral Divinity attained enlightenment a century ago, ascending to the upper realms. This has left the Blue Horn Sect, and the entire alliance, vulnerable to outsiders attacks.

    The Patriarch¡¯s biggest worry wasn¡¯t about which sect represented the alliance, but more about avoiding an internal conflict at all costs. The coalition was already in a precarious situation, an internal conflict would just quicken their doom.

    In the meantime, the Patriarchs of the other factions also received this piece of news. However, they were naturally more distressed, especially when their strengths could be said to be more or less equal to the Sky Water Sect.

    Could it be that the alliance that has been stable since the great war, was about to experience significant changes?

    The Patriarch of the Xianglu Sect seemed to agree with this notion.

    He immediately departed towards a downward-arching staircase, arriving inside the sect¡¯s dungeons. He appeared spaced out as he strolled through a never-ending maze of walls, then passed through a formation.

    A forbidding atmosphere immediately greeted him, with scattered pools of blood emitting a rancid aroma to the point of suffocation. A thick green haze covered the tunnel, reducing visibility to a short distance.

    The Patriarch appeared sombre as he carefully trailed along the irregular path. Along the way, he was accompanied by clanking and unintelligible sounds that didn¡¯t originate from his feet, also unwillingly glimpsing his own demonic reflections over the opaque pools of blood.

    After a long walk, he arrived inside a large chamber. Attached to the top left corner, on the opposite side, there was an enormous mass of flesh.

    The amorphous creature opened its several eyes, with a disfigured head popping up from its belly. It was a heart-stirring abomination that would petrify many people on first sight.

    ¡°Ahh... Arghh...Is it time yet?! Has the promised time arrived?!¡±

    A sepulchral voice greeted the Patriarch, clearly suffering from immense anguish.

    ¡°Not yet. But our plans are moving smoothly and accordingly to our original agreement. If we succeed, your revival is nigh, Ancestral Divinity. Not longer than two years.¡±

    ¡°Argh! Ahhhhh.... two years? Two years! This pain! This torment!¡±

    Several veins bulged up, interweaving with each other. Tentacles of different thickness dropped from the roof, almost touching the Patriarch¡¯s face.

    ¡°One year! No more! Ahhh¡­. I can¡¯t wait anymore¡­ Ahhh.... the pain...¡±

    The living horror began calming down, seemingly entering into a hibernated state.

    The Patriarch¡¯s expression darkened as he headed back to his chamber. Sky Water Sect? Just an insect he could crush anytime. Blue Horn Sect? An old relic that has lived past its expiry date.

    This alliance was like a pool of stagnant water. It was time for a change. It was time for a charismatic leader to appear and unite all sects.

    It was time for him to ascend to his rightful throne.

 Chapter 19 â€“ Mission

    The promised day had finally arrived.

    The sun was still rising when Jack exited his pagoda, carefully inspecting his new robe and making sure that nothing was wrong with his appearance. Alienated, he didn¡¯t notice the approaching shadow.

    ¡°Ah, ready and set to go?¡±

    The familiar voice startled Jack. When he turned around, he gave Dai Jun a weird look.

    This was the first time that Dai Jun was not wearing his usual colourful dress. Instead, he sported the standard Junior Elders¡¯ robe. In Jack¡¯s opinion, this one was way better than the other, though he didn¡¯t dare to voice his current thoughts aloud.

    Jack caressed the back of his head. ¡°I¡¯m ready, but I might have a small problem hehe. Yesterday, I received a bunch of stuff and¡ª¡±

    ¡°Leave everything behind. That furball has promised flowery arrangements are on the way. We are only going to report to the Palace and return back today. This man here is enough; you don¡¯t need anything else. The Grand Elder¡¯s test will only evaluate your Qi¡¯s potential and test the strength of your essence.¡±

    Feeling reassured, Jack nodded and followed after Dai Jun without worrying any further.

    The journey was a long one, so the duo immediately departed without further delays. Fortunately, there were no hiccups along the way, albeit the occasional inspecting glances of curious cultivators. This was within their expectations though, given that Jack¡¯s name must have been doing the rounds during the last three days.

    It took them four exact hours to finally arrive at the central lake.

    There, crystal blue waters with sparkling lights greeted them, the waters supplied by the distant waterfall that fell from the endless sky. The various sounds of nature calmed Jack¡¯s nerves as he immersed himself, enjoying the panorama.

    ¡°This place is truly fascinating. I am curious about the waterfall¡¯s origins though. Does it ever dry out?¡±

    Dai Jun had already set down on the coast, throwing pebbles out of boredom.

    ¡°Ah, battles of immortals, permanent spatial distortions. You know, that crazy stuff of legends. Something about the region¡¯s natural laws going haywire around two thousand years ago. And the results? A bizarre waterfall and a large piece of floating land.¡±

    As he finished talking, a small wooden boat became visible. At first glance, it seemed small, enough to accommodate five or six people at most. Rowing in the middle seat was an old man wearing an even older bamboo hat, who appeared no different than an ordinary mortal.

    Dai Jun sighed. ¡°Ah, as expected, it¡¯s him. He¡¯s got an odd personality this one.¡±

    Jack nodded, but those words coming from Dai Jun¡¯s mouth felt a bit awkward for some reason.

    When the boat finally touched ground, the old man stood up and raised his hat a little. ¡°Excuse me for being late fellas. My physical body has long degraded, but it seems my sense of time is also dwindling ke ke ke¡­¡±

    Dai Jun waved his hand. ¡°No problem brother, you¡¯ve arrived just in time. Come on Jack. Hop on.¡±

    The old man¡¯s lips widened as he observed the young cultivator. ¡°Ai, so this is the boy Dai Jun? Doesn¡¯t look half bad. I thought the rumours about him were exaggerated, but seeing him in person, I am now more convinced.¡±

    Jack could only smile wryly at this comment as he sat on the furthest bench at the bow.

    As soon as they assumed their position, the old man started rowing at the pace of a snail. Whenever the boat went two steps forward, it also went one back due to the lake¡¯s currents, making the journey feel eternally long. Jack could only count himself lucky that he didn¡¯t suffer from motion sickness.

    ¡°Ke ke ke¡­ What are your feelings about this lake then Jack?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯ve seen my fair share of lakes. But I have to admit that none were as mysterious or captivating as this lake. The Sky Water Sect should truly feel proud of possessing such a marvellous wonder.¡±

    The old man smiled, his missing tooth clearly standing out. ¡°I¡¯ve been rowing this lake for who knows how many years, travelling the same route multiple times a day. But each journey feels like a new one to me. Can you guess why?¡±

    ¡°Is there a particular reason, sir?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s because these parts remind me of my cherished Li Na. The flowing waters are smooth like her delicate touch, the powers of nature are always fresh like her never-ending smile, the colourful scenery changes every season just like my beauty changes her clothes, and the sun''s rays always feel warm like her loving heart.¡±

    The old man then fell into deep silence; excluding the sounds of blades cutting through the waters, it was mostly a quiet journey. As for Dai Jun, he had closed his eyes since the beginning, but Jack was unsure if he was taking a nap or just pretending.

    As more time passed, the image of the heavenly waterfall became more clear, the waters starting to become more and more agitated. Jack couldn¡¯t help but feel anxious as the boat felt like it could topple at any moment.

    The old man sighed. ¡°This is where the second part of the journey starts. Do you know what I call this part? I call it shaking the heavens.¡±

    Without any warning, the frail-looking old man unleashed a terrifying spiritual aura, rowing with greater force against the ever-increasing currents and whirlpools.

    ¡°In this part, I vent my anger against the heavens!¡± His rowing was becoming more aggressive as his face expressed a myriad of emotions. ¡°Hating the heavens for giving me hope, just to throw me into eternal despair! For taunting me with a purpose, just to destroy my entire future! For promising me someone, and then take her away from me!¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    The old man roared out like a savage as he brandished a talisman. Powerful currents of winds rushed out, cutting a circular path through the roaring elements and piercing deep inside the waterfall, pushing the boat forward with unfathomable speed through the tempest of natural forces.

    Jack was scared witless as he crawled at the bottom of the boat, his hands raised over his head.

    When he recovered a while later, he noticed that everything was calm. Without him knowing how or why, the boat had arrived at the destination.

    In front of them, there was a small island on which a lonely palace stood supreme. A large transparent dome enclosed the entire island, protecting it from the falling waters.

    Tears were escaping the old man¡¯s eyes as he sat down. ¡°I will never forgive the heavens for taking my beloved Li Na away from me.¡±

    These depressing words stirred Jack¡¯s heart. At first, he was unsure if he should console him or not. In the end, he still decided to extend his hands and comfort the old man like a son would do to a grieving father.

    ¡°I¡¯m deeply sorry about your loss. However, I am sure that you two shall be meeting each other again in your next life and be together again. The heavens may have separated you, but your destinies are now entangled forever. That cannot be changed, not even by the heavens.¡±

    The old man nodded in appreciation, being also patted on his shoulder by Dai Jun. ¡°Thanks as always brother Kong. Feel free to pass over by my house if you require any pills.¡±

    The duo then saluted the old man as they headed towards the palace. It didn¡¯t take long for Jack to ask. ¡°Who is that old man?¡±

    ¡°Ah, he is the Head Palace Guardian and the leader of the Junior Elders. Everyone here knows him as Bamboo Kong. And don¡¯t be fooled by his appearance, he is the 5<sup>th</sup> strongest cultivator of our sect, just behind the two elders.¡±

    Jack was surprised at first, but suddenly, he became conscious again at the purpose of his visit. His stomach was already rumbling, unsure of what to expect.

    ¡°Jack, I have a staunch feeling that a bunch of humdrum existences are going to be present today. So whatever they ask, try to be short and concise. Don¡¯t blubber uselessly, the less you talk, the better.¡±

    They quickly made it to the inside, being welcomed and accompanied by some guards. It didn¡¯t take them that long to arrive at the assembly hall.

    The hall was long and rectangular. On both left and right sides were several chairs occupied by mostly old people, the appearance of some of them indicating that they should have perished a long time ago.

    On the opposite side of the entrance, there were two podiums. Seated on the lower podium were the three elders, and on the upper podium, the Patriarch. It was the latter who spoke first.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Jack. Come forward.¡±

    Jack quickly obeyed. However, he still felt uncomfortable with all the eagle-like eyes cast at him. ¡°Junior pays respect to the Patriarch.¡±

    ¡°No need for pleasantries, let¡¯s just get to the main point. I am going to ask you some questions. You are only required to answer as truthfully as possible. First, Elder Tian had informed me that you originate from a lower realm. May you elaborate more on this?¡±

    Jack was expecting this question. ¡°That¡¯s correct. I was born in a different world, a place where cultivation doesn¡¯t exist.¡±

    As soon as these words were uttered, several began muttering in each other ears. Jack could tell from their expressions alone that they weren¡¯t quite convinced.

    ¡°For a mortal, your potential is quite good. Are you sure you don¡¯t remember anything else? Maybe, someone or something special about you?¡±

    Jack shook his head. ¡°No sir. I was abandoned by my parents when I was young. I suffered many hardships and was enslaved for most of my youth. There was nothing special about my place of origin. At least as far as I am aware.¡±

    The Patriarch appeared pensive as he glanced at the Grand Elder. They both nodded.

    ¡°One last question before the test. During the Azure Realm, you¡¯ve managed to unearth a secret room. Did you find anything special inside it?¡±

    Jack internally sighed at the problematic question. ¡°Most of the room was dust, but I did find this sword-less hilt.¡±

    The Patriarch didn¡¯t show any reactions as he remained to observe Jack¡¯s hilt silently. He indeed had noticed it when he met Jack for the first time in the gardens. This man wasn¡¯t lying.

    Again, muttering erupted inside the room. One stubborn old woman couldn¡¯t keep her mouth shut anymore.

    ¡°Lord Patriarch. That must be some sort of treasure belonging to the founder. A disciple who joined the sect eight months ago has no right to keep it! It must be returned!¡±

    ¡°House Meng is right!¡± An even older man also stood up. ¡°An important treasure like this should be confiscated and kept in the sects¡¯ treasury! Don¡¯t tell me you are going to let an insider obtain such an item? What if he is a spy of an enemy sect?¡±

    Soon more and more stood up protesting, bombarding Jack from all directions. Dissent and disapproval were on the rise. The Patriarch remained unaffected though as he raised his hand for silence.

    ¡°Jack, looks like a lot of people aren¡¯t convinced yet. Do you have anything to say to persuade them?¡±

    The entire room regained their attention as they affixed their gazes on Jack. Most were waiting for Jack to make the slightest mistake in his choice of words so that they could accuse him. Unfortunately for them, Jack was gaining confidence with each passing breath.

    ¡°I have lived most of my life alone, without any hope, any future. I never experienced familiar love and the few friends I had died one after another. The cultivation world has brought new meanings to my life. The few hopes I had left were rekindled, my expectations for the future brightened. It¡¯s like I was given a new lease of life.

    ¡°Lord Patriarch, it is true that I have no blood connections with the Sky Water Sect, and it also true that some people of this sect are crazy bastards that deserve to die and their bodies fed to the dogs. However, I can¡¯t single out everyone just because of some bad fruits. Also, I am intelligent enough to understand humanity¡¯s fear of the unknown. Some resistance against me is only natural.

    ¡°With that said, the Sky Water Sect was the first sect I have stepped since I came into this world. I consider this as something preordained by fate. So if there is a place I wish to call home, then that place is naturally this Sect.¡±

    The Patriarch fell into silence for a period that seemed much longer than it actually was. After glancing at both sides of the room, he seemed to come up with a decision.

    ¡°Your training session with the grand elder is being cancelled. Instead, I am giving you my own test.¡±

    A commotion erupted immediately at the unexpected change of plans. Even Dai Jun and the Grand Elder couldn¡¯t help themselves but be surprised.

    ¡°In one year, it is the official opening of the Yellow Moon Festival organised by Zhongyang Palace. This festival is a tradition that predates even our alliance¡¯s existence, and every significant power shall be attending it. Some countries actually use the festival as an excuse to organise battles between the various geniuses. Although not precise, it is still a good indicator to gauge how strong a nation is.

    ¡°This time, it is the turn of our Sky Water Sect to represent the alliance. We are required to nominate five disciples of the Qi seeking Realm, age not higher than twenty. Same goes for the other eight regions.

    ¡°During the festival, there is a particular realm called the Counterbalance Realm that opens only once every ten years. You can say it is similar to our own Azure Fiery Realm. However, it has several distinguishing features.

    ¡°Now about your mission. Inside this realm grows a scarce herb that I very much need, the rainbow-coloured camellia. If you can fetch one before the realm closes, I will officially nominate you as my formal disciple. However, if you fail to retrieve this herb, not only you shall lose your inner sect disciple status and have to return back the hilt, but you shall also be expelled from the sect.¡±

    Dai Jun immediately frowned. ¡°Esteemed Patriarch. I beg to reconsider¡ª¡±

    ¡°My decision is final Dai Jun. If he can¡¯t pass this simple test, then he has no place inside this sect. Also, I remember handing out an invitation to you already? Great, you shall be his escort then.¡±

    The Patriarch then stood up and raised his authoritative voice, indicating the crowd to disperse.

 Chapter 20 â€“ Preparations

    The meeting was much shorter than expected. The complete change of plan was also beyond everyone''s comprehension.

    Jack remained expressionless as he watched the houses¡¯ representatives leave one by one. Some of them eyed him with contempt, others expressed mixed feelings while the remaining few actually sympathised with him when they considered the impossible mission he had received. In their opinions, his chances of finding the herb were slim at best.

    On the other hand, the younger ones found this meeting totally pointless. Was there really the need to summon everyone to discuss a disciple of the 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi Seeking Realm? It was a complete waste of their time.

    As the hall emptied and the grumbling faded, Dai Jun signalled for Jack to depart.

    The Grand Elder grinned as he slammed his fists together, showcasing his perfect muscles. ¡°Wait a moment you brat¡­ Where do you think you are going? Just because you were lucky enough to avoid my testing¡­ that doesn¡¯t mean you can leave just like that.¡±

    Dai Jun frowned. ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°Hey, not exactly my idea but... there is only one year left for the festival, and this brat is only at the 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi Seeking Realm. If he doesn¡¯t increase his strength, what do you think it will happen then?¡±

    ¡°Ah? Am I hallucinating? Don¡¯t tell me you are considering giving Jack access to that place?¡±

    The Grand Elder smirked, basically confirming Dai Jun¡¯s hypothesis.

    Dai Jun paused for a moment. ¡°Ah, if that¡¯s the case... Jack here, take these pills. These will fix your Qi circulation if it gets damaged from over cultivating. Oh, these aren¡¯t cheap between, so you owe me in the future.¡±

    Dai Jun casually threw the bottle of pills before exiting the complex. As Jack grabbed the bottle, he noticed three mysterious-looking tablets. However, he had no time to observe them as he had to follow after the Grand Elder.

    After walking for a while, they entered an extraordinary-looking room marked with different runes and floating talismans. The energies here were strong enough to make Jack¡¯s hair and robe change colours and sway in a particular direction.

    With a flick of his fingers, the Grand Elder then activated a mechanism that produced rumbling sounds and some quaking for a couple of breaths. When the movements stopped, they exited from the same door they had just entered.

    Once outside, Jack realised that they weren¡¯t in the palace anymore but found themselves in an outdoor area. He was unsure if this was a different realm or just another location within the Sky Water Sect¡¯s boundary. There were no visible distinguishing features at first glance.

    ¡°Surprised brat? The Azure Realm isn¡¯t the only realm we can brag about, you know. This is a secret realm with high spiritual energies that we use to train important disciples. Even I like to meditate inside this place.¡±

    Jack understood where this conversation was heading. ¡°So.. are you telling me to stay here and cultivate until the start of the festival? Showing me some sympathy after the pain in the ass mission the patriarch gave me?¡±

    The Grand Elder grinned. ¡°If you aren¡¯t happy with this arrangement, you can always spar with me instead.¡±

    Jack caressed the back of his head. ¡°Err, I think I¡¯ll pass on that offer for the time being.¡±

    ¡°Fine, fine brat. If I had to accidentally kill you, the Patriarch will surely not be happy either hehe...¡±

    Jack smiled wryly as he continued assessing the environment. In the meantime, the Grand Elder opened a small dimensional portal, providing a book and a talisman to Jack. The book was in a pretty good state, and the white talisman flickered with strange lights.

    ¡°This book will explain the basic stuff about cultivation and how to create a pocket dimension. The latter is very important as it will help you store your items. The size of its space correlates with your cultivation, and the stronger you get, the more objects you can store. As for the talisman, if you ever change your mind and want to spar with me, just crush it.¡±

    The Grand Elder roared with laughter as he prepared to return to the palace.

    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. There is a forbidden zone inside this realm. Enter at your own risk.¡± The sound of his laughter echoed as he vanished along with the teleportation room.

    Jack sighed at the strangeness of these cultivators. He immediately sat down on a small rock and swallowed one of the pills.

    His eyes were flashing with expectations. The prospect of him cultivating again brightened his mood.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    As he waited for the pills medicinal properties to come into effect, he grabbed the book and immersed himself reading it.

    The book was quite straightforward and very easy to understand. Jack quickly assumed that this book was elementary stuff taught to little children, making him feel a bit embarrassed. As he accumulated pages, he began understanding how he had been living like a frog in a well, unknown of the immensity of the outside.

    The entire universe was a place called the Spatial Cosmos, housing countless realms. These came in different ranks and sizes, officially classified in three categories: Upper Realms, Middle Realms and Lower Realms.

    The Upper Realms were only six and housed the most powerful cultivators. Just below them were the Middle Realms that counted into thousands. Lastly, there were the Lower Realms, also known as the realms of mortals, which numbered into trillions. Their exact count was still unknown to this date.

    Apparently, the world he was in right now was known as the Divine Vajra Continent, classified as a top-ranking Middle Realm. However, it was more extraordinary than that. In fact, if one had to rank the entire realms in a list, then this world would be ranked 7<sup>th</sup>, just after the Upper Realms.

    Besides information about the spatial cosmos¡¯ structure, there was also a list of the different cultivation realms.

    The lowest realm was the Qi Seeking Realm, followed by the Foundation Realm. After those came the Fusion Realm, Spirit Realm, Divinity Realm and Immortal Realm, in that particular order.

    The words ¡®Immortal Realm¡¯ excited Jack momentary and was already daydreaming about eternal life. However, he could only laugh in the end. There really was no point in preoccupying himself with the realm of immortals when he was still in the lower rankings of the Qi Seeking Realm.

    The book occupied Jack¡¯s attention for an entire day, and it was only during the following day that he started his cultivating session.

    His body shivered the moment it absorbed qi again. Jack had clearly missed this familiar sensation. For him, the feeling of cultivating filled him with purpose.

    This particular cultivation session was long and without any interruptions. After three weeks, Jack could finally feel his internal qi expanding, and after an additional week, it began rumbling, signalling the impending breakthrough.

    It was precisely on the very next day that his core finally expanded, propelling Jack into the 4<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm.

    Unbeknownst to Jack, two pairs of eyes were spying on him from a faraway mirror.

    ¡°Holy crap! He actually broke through again! This speed is insane! I frickin bet that it is on par with the God Childs of the Great Clans! Zheng Xinyi, are you sure he isn¡¯t related to them?¡±

    The Patriarch sighed. ¡°Great Clans are very protective when it concerns their bloodlines. Everyone is monitored, and outbreeding is generally not allowed. Their bloodlines also automatically brand an inherited curse to all newborn babies. If a child is not presented to a Clan Elder within one year to remove the curse, the body will explode.¡±

    The Grand Elder scowled. ¡°Those fags and their barbaric ways. But hey, couldn¡¯t that be easily circumvented? What if someone escapes the clan after the curse is removed? Wouldn¡¯t that person be free from the clan¡¯s binding?¡±

    The Patriarch nodded pensively. ¡°That technically¡­ is a possibility. However, there are no reports of any deserters during the last few centuries, let alone during the last twenty years. That¡¯s why I am reaffirming my earlier position that Jack isn¡¯t related to them.¡±

    The Grand Elder appeared more puzzled the more he tried to understand Jack. He really wished he could invade Jack¡¯s mind for answers. But apparently, the Ancient Divinity was now protecting him.

    ¡°You know what I think Zheng Xinyi? We cannot afford to lose this kid. That¡¯s why I feel that your decision to send him to the festival was a bit rushed...¡±

    Zheng Xinyi produced a rare smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I have my own plans. If I can¡¯t handle such a simple matter then I don¡¯t deserve the Patriarch¡¯s position. I just had to find an excuse to quell down the houses¡¯ anger.¡±

    It was then that Zheng Xinyi¡¯s eyes narrowed. He frowned as he altered the mirror properties to project a different location inside the same realm. There, spatial ripples began forming.

    Upon noticing the spatial disturbance, the Grand Elder was left stunned. ¡°Impossible! An intruder?!¡±

    They both anxiously observed as a portal began materialising. Soon, a shadow dashed forward.

    As they zoomed on the intruder, the image of a furry creature revealed itself. Tied around its neck was a long golden cape and on its head stood a small tilted crown. Its eyes were mysterious yet thoroughly majestic, a being of extreme classiness and royalty.

    This creature was naturally the Ancient Divinity.

    ¡°Hmm, there you are Jack. Did you really think that you could escape my eyes, you little shrimp?¡±

    The Creature suddenly sensed two spiritual auras. ¡°Eh? Why are two perverted old men molesting me with their gazes? Is this body of mine that gorgeous?¡±

    However, after it gave this idea some serious consideration, it felt that maybe it was a little too farfetched to be the case.

    ¡°So¡­ you want to spy on me, eh? Sure, sure, observe me very well. Try not to miss any details.¡±

    It grinned as it turned around and slowly undressed the robe, revealing its furry tail.

    Both the Patriarch and the Grand Elder were puzzled.

    Suddenly, the Creature raised its butt and started shaking it. Being zoomed up in the mirror, the duo could observe its butt in all of its glory.

    The Grand Elder¡¯s eyes wanted to fall from his face while the Patriarch felt like slapping his face one hundred times over.

    ¡°Meh, don¡¯t mind it. It¡¯s the sect¡¯s future leader anyways. It is its way of telling us to bug off.¡± Zheng Xinyi kept shaking his head as he strolled away from the mirror.

    The Creature appeared satisfied when it perceived the withdrawing gazes. ¡°Now, I can execute my plan without any annoyances. I have to admit that House Yu is really rich with resources. Constructing an obelisk of the divine rank should be doable.¡±

    It then turned its attention towards a distant location. ¡°As for you Jack¡­ I¡¯ll leave you in peace for now. But once you hit the peak of the 5<sup>th</sup> QI Seeking Realm¡­¡± The corner of its lips curled upwards, revealing a picturesque expression worth a thousand words.

    At that very moment, Jack¡¯s meditation was interrupted by a sneeze. He rubbed his nose and turned his attention to a particular spot, feeling some strange weirdness glaring back at him. He appeared puzzled for a moment, before closing his eyes and resuming his cultivation.

 Chapter 21 â€“ The Inner Sect Disciplesâ€™ Gathering

    Time waited for no one.

    There were now only two months left before the festival¡¯s official opening. Preparations in all the eight regions were in full swing, including the Sky Water Sect.

    Suspense and speculations abounded about the four remaining nominees, not only in the Sky Water Sect but the whole alliance. Although this was a friendly competition on paper, in the end, it represented the dignity of an entire region.

    During past editions, the alliance had always ranked seventh out of the eight regions. They would enter each session with high expectations, just for their hopes to be crushed each and every time.

    However, upon hearing that the Sky Water Sect¡¯s patriarch had already nominated a 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator, most instead began praying that they would at least keep hold of their seventh place.

    Away from the festival¡¯s affairs and furores, in the wildlands bordering the Sky Water Sect, a man wearing an unidentifiable robe was leaning against a small cliff. His eyes showcased a boundless abyss as he turned his gaze on an approaching silhouette.

    Another young man had arrived. His black hair was in disarray, partially resting over his shoulders. He could barely speak as he struggled for breath.

    ¡°Tan Jingyi! I-I¡¯m sorry. I was being watched, so I had to make an unexpected detour. I had to be sure that nobody was keeping taps on my movements.¡±

    Tan Jingyi didn¡¯t even bother to glance, grinding some rocks with his foot.

    ¡°Incompetent... I had high hopes for you, but it seems I overestimated these so-called geniuses of such a mediocre sect. I have no further use for you Han Cai. You¡¯ve failed to live to my expectations.¡±

    Han Cai trembled. ¡°Tan Jingyi, please be considerate. I did manage to obtain some useful information. I¡¯ve found some clues about the item you are searching for. I can safely confirm that the Sect definitely has one in store.¡±

    ¡°Then where is it? Why haven¡¯t you delivered it?¡±

    Han Cai stuttered. ¡°That, it¡¯s a bit complicated... it¡¯s stored inside the Sect¡¯s Treasury and heavily guarded all the time. Even for someone of my status, it isn¡¯t easy to enter that place I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough! I¡¯ve had enough of your blabbering. You only have three more months to bring me what I want. If you fail, heads are gonna roll.¡±

    Tan Jingyi then took flight, looking down at Han Cai with disgust. ¡°And that includes yours.¡±

    He turned into a prismatic beam that disappeared over the horizon.

    Han Cai fell on his knees, slamming his fist on the ground. ¡°Damn it! Why did it have to be me? Why not someone else?¡±

    Anger swelled inside his heart. ¡°Brothers, just wait for me a while longer. Once this entire nightmare is over, we will escape this place together. We have to survive before this entire region descends into turmoil!¡±

    He clenched his fist and renewed his resolve, heading back towards his Sect.

    ***

    Still inside the secret realm, Jack had long ended his cultivation session, instead focusing on learning the dimensional pocket technique and gaining more mastery over his essence.

    He was now a proud cultivator of the 5<sup>th</sup> Qi seeking Realm, and a peak one at that. His power had progressed by leaps and bounds, and now he definitely had the qualifications to be considered an official inner sect disciple, even without the influence of the heavenly dice.

    At this particular moment, he was staring at the 3<sup>rd</sup> Patriarch¡¯s clone.

    ¡°For a spirit, you¡¯re really stubborn, eh? If you behave well, I will remove some of your restrictions. I want you as my contracted companion, not as my servant.¡±

    Jack sighed as he started channelling his essence. The Spectre began hardening and increasing in size. Soon, he was about half a human tall.

    ¡°If I can fully control him, he will become a great asset in battles and an additional layer of defence. Unfortunately, I can only supply this amount of essence for the time being. Anymore would leave my main body vulnerable and prone to exhaustion. If only he would cooperate with me...¡±

    Bleep~ Bleep~

    The inner sect disciple amulet inside his dimensional pocket began ringing, alerting his consciousness. He quickly summoned it.

    ¡°Hey Jack, it¡¯s the old man. I will be transmitting coordinates that will descript a map on the white talisman I gave you previously. Follow the directions and come here. Don¡¯t be late, the others are already gathering.¡±

    Jack exhaled. ¡°Looks like my training session is over¡ªThe tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ROAR~

    An ear-piercing scream rocked Jack¡¯s ears as a badass monkey appeared out of nowhere, jumping weirdly on the spot and banging its hands on its chests like a war drum.

    ¡°Eh?¡± Jack was dumbfounded. He was sure that there were no powerful demonic beasts inside this realm. From where did this towering creature appear?

    The monkey was still bouncing around when it eyed Jack with an angry glance. ¡°You say me stupid?! Me no stupid! Me intelligent super!¡±

    The monkey didn¡¯t give Jack any chance to react as it jumped high, its image disappearing from Jack¡¯s line of sight. Accompanied by a tempest of winds, it then rocketed down from above with unfathomable force.

    Jack could barely finish his cursing as he ditched the attack just before the impact. Flying rocks and debris littered the area as the monkey gazed at Jack, seemingly wanting to devour him with its flashing eyes alone.

    Jack was visibly shaking as he took flight. Now that he was in the 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm, he believed that he could keep flight for around an hour.

    ¡°Hey, wait! I never said you are stupid! You have the wrong man!¡±

    The monkey shivered. ¡°You say me stupid again?!¡±

    It roared forward, its body creating a beautiful arc of lights. Its fist was gaining momentum as it took aim towards its target.

    Jack gritted his teeth, quickly producing a thick aerial barrier.

    BOOM~

    The explosion shattered the barrier into tiny fragments as Jack¡¯s body was sent pummelling downwards, burying him deep into the ground.

    ¡°Ugh...¡± The stupefied Jack couldn¡¯t believe this ridiculous strength. All of his overconfidence he obtained after breaking through the 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm was wiped out by that single hit.

    As he struggled to stand up again, a grinning shadow was observing from a safe place.

    ¡°Hmm, maybe an 8<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm monkey was a bit too much for him?¡± The Creature cuddled its face, not wanting to admit any wrongdoing.

    It observed Jack¡¯s movements for a while, then narrowed its eyes. ¡°This kid has good observations. He already realised that he has no chance, so he decided to flee. But will that work?¡±

    Jack was fleeting erratically as he entered the jungle, with the hope of confusing his pursuer.

    This was however only useful in further enraging the giant monkey, as its arms raged and rampaged through anything that stood in their way. Unwilling to let its target escape, it then opened its mouth and fired a small sphere of red coloured qi.

    The orb quickly settled hovering over the jungle, producing a mysterious gravitational force that suppressed everything within a considerable amount of space.

    Jack suddenly felt a mountain pressing on him as his movements crawled to the pace of a snail. Despair soon flashed in his eyes as he perceived the nearing presence.

    BOOM~

    The direct hit sent Jack flying like a projectile, shrieking with pain. If it weren¡¯t for his solidified body, this hit would have been critical. Still, he was in a pretty much lousy shape and unable to hold much longer.

    Benefiting from the acceleration created by the enemy¡¯s own attack, he rushed forward in a wobbling path, hoping that he would arrive at the desired location in time. Unfortunately for him, the monkey¡¯s speed was just ridiculous, slowly catching up after his trail.

    Jack quickly made up his mind and summoned the spectre, sending him flying against the advancing creature.

    The monkey noticed the incoming spectre, but it was too late. The hardened spectre slammed into its chest, sending it staggering backwards by quite a distance.

    When it recovered, it roared with unrestrained anger as it spat blood, then resuming its pursuit shortly after.

    This temporary distraction allowed Jack to widen the distance, soon arriving at the earmarked location. There, a talisman was hovering in the air.

    Without wasting any time, Jack grabbed hold of the talisman and crushed it, instantly being teleported out of the realm.

    Just before his vision faded, he caught a glimpse of a furry creature grinning back at him.

    As soon as the teleportation effect faded, Jack found himself at the entrance of the Ancient Divinity¡¯s temple. He immediately slammed the broken teleportation talisman on the floor with all force he could muster. ¡°That bag of fur! He is supposed to protect me, not kill me!¡±

    Fuming, he didn¡¯t notice the number of eyes staring dumbfounded at him.

    A golden-haired beauty was the first to speak. ¡°So this is our new addition? This boy is quite rowdy.¡±

    A crimson-haired cultivator couldn¡¯t resist not passing a comment. ¡°What a disgrace! Beaten to a pulp by the 1<sup>st</sup> Qi Seeking Realm beasts present in that realm! I would lock myself in shame for a year if I were him!¡±

    ¡°Shui Tao, I don¡¯t remember you locking yourself in shame for one year after I had humiliated you.¡± These words were unceremoniously spoken by the Grand Elder¡¯s disciple.

    Shui Tao gritted his teeth. ¡°That battle was two years ago, you little bitch. Now I am much stronger, wanna try?¡±

    The Grand Elder was indeed puzzled with Jack¡¯s current physical condition, but he didn¡¯t pry any further. Instead, he frowned.

    ¡°Looks like you shits have some additional hormones to spare. If you want to quarrel, I am always available. Otherwise, get in line!¡±

    When they perceived that the Grand Elder wasn¡¯t joking, the group of inner sect disciples hurriedly formed a straight line, all facing him.

    The first position was naturally occupied by the Grand Elder¡¯s disciple, followed by Shui Tao and the golden-haired beauty.

    Next was an elegant cultivator, his eyes closed and serene, his delicate skin enough to make most girls burn with jealousy. This was naturally Master Shi, the one who had commented on Jack when the Azure Fiery Realm¡¯s talisman had appeared.

    Adjacent to Master Shi was a shy girl. She appeared young, not older than fourteen. She stood in line tapping her index fingers, her cheeks also blushing a little.

    Jack naturally stood at the end, embarrassed by his current appearance.

    Surprising enough, another cultivator showed up and stood next to Jack. He had been keeping a low profile for all this time as he lowered his head almost facing the floor, shivering slightly.

    Everyone noted this but most didn¡¯t care. Unfortunately, Shui Tao was not someone who could keep his mouth shut.

    ¡°Hui Lang, sucking up already by allowing him to take your position? It doesn¡¯t matter how many friends you make, if you lack strength, all you will ever amount is trash.¡±

    Hui Lang was cursing Shui Tao inside his heart. ¡°I stay wherever I want. I don¡¯t need your stinky mouth to tell me what I have to do¡­¡±

    However, he soon trembled when he sensed Jack staring at him. He didn¡¯t even dare to make eye contact with him.

    Now that he was in the 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm, Jack was no longer afraid of Hui Lang. However, Jack was still curious about how Hui Lang had escaped the villa and also wanted to ask him if he knew anything about that weird transformation. However, this was not the ideal time to do so.

    Grand Elder had noted this anomaly but was more concerned about another matter.

    There was an empty space between the 3<sup>rd</sup> and 5<sup>th</sup> cultivator.

    The Grand Elder naturally asked, ¡°Where is Han Cai?¡±

 Chapter 22 â€“ The Secret Behind the Heavenly Dice

    The group chatted for a moment as they enquired about Han Cai¡¯s whereabouts, but none of them could come with an answer to the Grand Elder¡¯s question.

    Shui Tao was the first to shrug it off. ¡°Why worrying Grand Elder? It clearly shows that he isn¡¯t interested in participating. Wouldn¡¯t he be here like the rest of us otherwise?¡±

    The Grand Elder remained thoughtful as his several attempts to contact Han Cai through the amulet proved unsuccessful. In the end, he decided to wait some more. However, when an entire hour had passed, he had no other choice but to start the meeting without him.

    ¡°Listen well, you little shits! In a month¡¯s time, five disciples from our sect shall depart towards Zhongyang Palace to participate in the Yellow Moon Festival. I guess there is no need for me to waste my time in explaining the importance of this festival, both for our sect and alliance. We know of our limitations though, so the main objective is to preserve our previous rankings.

    ¡°So, who wishes to participate?¡±

    Master Shi was prompt to voice out his opinion. ¡°Grand Elder, I don¡¯t wish to attend.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­? Why not? Are you afraid that the Patriarch will end up fancying one of your concubines while you are away? Or is one of them experiencing her menstrual cycle and she needs you by her side? Useless good for nothing! Those damn mistresses of yours are going to be the death of both you and me!¡±

    The golden-haired disciple could barely hold herself as she covered her mouth. ¡°Grand Elder, Tian Jinse can volunteer if you want.¡±

    ¡°I am up for the challenge.¡± Shui Tao was more confident.

    The Grand Elder nodded. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled! In a month, I shall personally come and pick you two up.¡±

    Shui Tao was confused. ¡°Only us two? And is this new disciple really participating? Aren¡¯t you sending him towards his death?¡±

    ¡°Shui Tao, if you have any problems, go and complain to the Patriarch. It¡¯s his decision. And don¡¯t underestimate our new addition. Our Jack is a solid 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator.¡±

    Many were left stunned by this revelation. They suddenly recalled the crazy rumours about a mortal becoming an inner sect disciple not so long ago. Then what followed were gossips that he was actually a 3<sup>rd</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator. But clearly, these rumours were still underestimating Jack.

    How was this even possible? Was it all a lie and he had kept his real strength hidden for all this time? Most assumed that this was the case. They didn¡¯t want to believe otherwise.

    On the other hand, Hui Lang arm¡¯s couldn¡¯t stop shaking. It only took a couple of months for this monster to progress from the 3<sup>rd</sup> to the 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm. This rate of progression was simply terrifying!

    Shui Tao remained the calmest as he turned his gaze at Jack. ¡°5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm? When compared to the geniuses of the elite regions, even I who is at the 8<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm is nothing. Are you aware that the odds are well stacked against you?¡±

    Jack looked straight in Shui Tao¡¯s eyes but didn¡¯t reply. In reality, he didn¡¯t care much about this competition, let alone making new enmities. His only objective was to obtain a rainbow-coloured camellia.

    The Grand Elder¡¯s hands were itching to smack Shui Tai¡¯s mouth, but he controlled himself, releasing a long sigh. ¡°The other two nominees are my own disciple and someone special...¡±

    The already shocked disciples couldn¡¯t stop themselves from staring at each other with blinking eyes. Someone else was participating? But who else was qualified to participate if not them?

    The Grand Elder could assume their thoughts. He let out a hearty laugh, departing without notice. His disciple followed after him.

    As everyone watched the Grand Elder¡¯s silhouette shrinking into the distance, Jack¡¯s uneasiness was growing at a rapid rate, realising that he was now alone with an entire group of inner sect disciples. He didn¡¯t wish to linger here any longer as he slightly lowered his head respectfully, then hastily flew away.

    Tian Jinse smiled as she turned her attention towards Shui Tao, seemingly observing the latter¡¯s reaction.

    ¡°Bleh! No point in bullying small fries. If I were to dirty my hands before the festival, the Grand Elder would surely come knocking at my door. Besides, he is yet to piss me off.¡±

    Tian Jinse smiled wryly. ¡°That¡¯s it? Since when did our mighty Shui Tao become softhearted?¡±

    She flew away, her giggling fading away shortly after.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Shui Tao sniffed as he turned his attention to a particular person. ¡°Hui Lang, who told you that you could leave? Explain exactly what happened between you and the new disciple?!¡±

    Hui Lang froze his steps as his ugly expression turned towards Shui Tao. It was true that he wasn¡¯t on good terms with Jack, but the same could be said about Shui Tao.

    ¡°We just happened to cross paths. And don¡¯t act full of yourself, that kid¡¯s strength is unfathomable. All I know is that if you two had to fight, the outcome wouldn¡¯t be set in stone.¡±

    Hui Lang also departed unceremoniously, followed by the remaining disciples, leaving the frowning Shui Tao all alone.

    Meanwhile, Jack had already travelled quite a considerable distance.

    This was his first time flying instead of walking, and he was enjoying the gardens from a different perspective. Along the way, he wondered about his villa¡¯s status. It has been some time now since he left that place, and hopefully, his treasures were still there. His heart racing, he soon arrived at the villa¡¯s gate.

    His eyes instantly opened wide. The once glorious villa was not only restored to its former glory, but it was now more majestic than before.

    It was then that a young female cultivator appeared at the gate. When she noticed Jack, here eyes started shivering, disappearing again within the villa.

    Not much time had passed before a number of young female maidens started coming out one by one, sometimes bumping into each other. A brunette with big round eyes rushed ahead from the group.

    ¡°Esteemed Young Lord! We greet your return! Please instruct us, we will follow your orders with the best of our abilities!¡±

    Jack felt awkward as he glanced at the trembling maidens. He quickly assumed that this whole affair had something to do with the Creature¡¯s schemes. Even though he didn¡¯t like the idea of people serving under him as it reminded him of his past years, he couldn¡¯t hold himself from teasing these girls a bit.

    Jack¡¯s mouth curved upwards. ¡°This young master happens to be in an excellent mood today. I am very pleased about you taking care of my villa during my absence. I will reward you handsomely later.¡±

    The Head Maiden remained to stare at her master for a long moment. ¡°Really? Young Master isn¡¯t going to punish us for not greeting him in time?¡±

    Jack smiled wryly. ¡°Why? You want me to punish you?¡±

    ¡°No, no ah...¡± She let out a soft moan when she noticed that Jack had walked inside the villa. She hurriedly glanced at the other maidens, seemingly understanding each other with the movement of their eyes alone, then hurried after Jack.

    During their brief moment together, she explained to Jack the changes that transpired inside the villa, including the identities of his maidens and the location of his treasures. She then did a fist and palm salute, preparing to leave Jack alone.

    Jack smiled. ¡°Thanks, Fan Xinyue¡­ but the lot of you should stop acting so formal in front of me. Otherwise, I might really spank you¡­¡±

    Fan Xintue nodded innocently and saluted Jack with a fist and palm salute again.

    Jack sighed at the retracting shadow. Although these group of maidens appeared a bit clumsy, they seemed reliable. If they behaved well in the future, he surely wouldn¡¯t mind sharing some of his riches to aid them in their cultivation.

    He let out a soft laugh as he jumped on the Pagoda¡¯s roof. There, his smile transformed into a snort when he noticed a furry Creature waiting for him.

    ¡°Wow! Look who has the heart to come to visit!¡±

    The Creature was busy licking its tail. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be thanking me for protecting your villa instead?¡±

    Jack acted like a little spoiled kid as he sat slamming on a cushion.

    ¡°Hmm? Something bothering you, kid? You might lose the fur on your head at this rate. So? Is it about the essence, or about the herb?¡±

    Jack could only exhale softly at the Creature¡¯s intuition. In actuality, he wasn¡¯t that worried about severing his second essence. He had a strange feeling that if he had to try severing another essence right now, he would definitely fail. He thus had decided to wait for a moment of enlightenment before trying.

    Not the same could be said about the matter of the rainbow-coloured camellia though. Jack was indeed lucky enough to make it this far, but it would only take him one moment of bad luck to lose everything.

    ¡°Hmm? Scared that they will kick you out of the sect? So what? Their loss! They can lick our butts for all I care! I¡¯ll follow you wherever you go.¡±

    Jack smiled wryly. ¡°Not sure if I should feel better or worse. I might end up being hunted down by a bunch of monkeys in the future...¡±

    The Creature ignored him as it opened its dimensional pocket, revealing the heavenly dice in all of its splendour. Unlike when it was first utilised inside the Azure Realm, it was now brimming with energies and seemingly in an activated state.

    ¡°All yours. Take it and hide it inside your dimensional pocket.¡±

    Jack blinked his eyes stupidly.

    ¡°Are you an idiot? Quick! Place it inside and never show it to anyone! Or do you want every immortal under the heavens to hunt you down?!¡±

    Jack shivered as he swallowed the dice inside his pocket dimension. ¡°W-what exactly is this thing?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­ just one of those seven weapons. Immortals call them the weapons of the fallen sovereigns, while some others call them artefacts of the ancients. Those idiots who can¡¯t even agree on a simple name, bleh! Ah, am I overthinking again? Anyways, just don¡¯t show that thing to anyone!¡±

    Jack felt his mind spinning. All the bizarre stuff seem to happen whenever he comes into contact with this Creature. ¡°Why are you giving this to me? Isn¡¯t it yours? How does this thing actually work?¡±

    The Creature had no other option but to explain everything, including the reason for Jack¡¯s Buddha transformation. It then hopped on the fence, completely ignoring Jack¡¯s surging emotions, it¡¯s expression instead turning grim.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been too careless, Jack. You¡¯re fortunate that Elder Tian and his servant are ignorant and didn¡¯t blabber anything about the events of the lake, or you would have been in great trouble. I¡¯ve already paid them a visit in the past, so don¡¯t worry about them. Ah, and you also did good by not mentioning that event during the Patriarch¡¯s assembly.

    ¡°Hmm, confused? The man from your memories possessed the Golden Bamboo stick, another of those heavenly artefacts¡­ including the terrifying matter of the reemerging godly essence¡­ seems like that cursed cycle of tribulations is starting all over again¡ª¡±

    As it was speaking, the Creature¡¯s body suddenly shivered. Its soft breath turned heavy, and the fur along its face turned wet with sweat. It seemed like it had just suffered from a seizure as it lost balance and toppled over.

    Jack rose in shock. However, the Creature seemed to recover a moment later as it stood up on one leg. ¡°Ah, my tummy hurting me again...¡±

    Its body flashed, vanishing from Jack¡¯s sight, leaving him staring dumbfoundedly at the nothingness.

 Chapter 23 â€“ Onwards!

    Time waited for no one, and there was only one month left for the festival¡¯s official opening. Excitement was in the air as the selected inner sect disciples, and their respective guides, were finalising their preparations. Jack too made his arrangements, storing the Essence Attractor Pills and the two foundation realm treasures inside his dimensional pocket, including a bunch of other materials.

    Surprisingly, him and Dai Jun were the first to make it to the designated meeting spot, on the outskirts of the Sky Water Sect¡¯s continental shelf. Beyond them stood a vast expanse of lands; the harbinger of an adventure.

    ¡°Ah, eager for the journey, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Jack nodded. ¡°I can¡¯t wait! I have remained inside the sect¡¯s border far too long. I really want to explore the outside lands and experience what this world has to offer.¡±

    ¡°Ah Jack, you will have the opportunity to enjoy them for much longer if you fail to loot that herb.¡±

    Jack smiled wryly. ¡°And you just had to ruin everything by reminding that...¡±

    As the duo conversed, the others soon began arriving in pairs. The first to report were the Grand Elder and his disciple, followed by Elder Tian and Tian Jinse. Shui Tao arrived not long after, but betraying Jack¡¯s prediction, he wasn¡¯t accompanied by Elder Shui. Instead, he was escorted by a mysterious middle-aged woman. Her eyes were dull, and her face was devoid of any type of expression as if she was a living statue.

    The Grand Elder¡¯s face was beaming as he assessed the situation. ¡°Finally, our big day has arrived! I can¡¯t wait to descend inside the Crimson Abyss and smash those beasts to hell.¡±

    Almost everyone expressed a wryly smile as they watched the Grand Elder punching his fists together and flexing his muscles.

    ¡°So much enthusiasm Grand Elder¡­ too bad that our special disciple doesn¡¯t seem to share it with us.¡±

    These irritate words naturally came out of Shui Tao¡¯s mouth. The appearance of a mysterious disciple had already annoyed him much. But it seems that now they also had to wait for this idiot.

    The Grand Elder immediately fired a slap towards Shui Tao, almost sending him tumbling off the continent. ¡°You little shit! If only your strength were as versatile as your mouth, you would be the undefeated genius of the entire Divine Vajra Continent! Do me a favour and keep that mouth of yours shut, she should be arriving any moment now.¡±

    Tian Jinse¡¯s eyes rounded wide when she learned that the mysterious person was a woman. She immediately glanced at the Grand Elder¡¯s disciple, and after carefully observing her reaction, it was quite apparent that she too was oblivious of the mysterious person¡¯s identity.

    Tian Jinse pondered. From her perspective, besides her and the Grand Elder¡¯s disciple, there shouldn¡¯t be any other female cultivators that were strong enough to participate. She soon became sceptical, also joking in her heart if the Patriarch and the Grand Elder started smoking some weird herbs recently, clouding their judgements.

    In the end, the group had no other choice but to wait for the arrival of the unknown person, kept in good company by the Grand Elder¡¯s flamboyant mood.

    ***

    Well-hidden inside the secret realm¡¯s forbidden area, there was a large pond of freshwater. The melodic sounds of birds complemented the serenity as they hopped from branch to branch in perfect rhythms.

    Colourful flower petals could be seen floating over the pond, occasionally defiling the near-perfect reflections of the nearby wooden houses.

    There, a heaven-defying beauty was running in circles around another cultivator.

    ¡°Big Sis! How does it feel going out for an adventure for the first time ever? Aren¡¯t you nervous?¡±

    ¡°Oh! Your sword isn¡¯t properly affixed, let me¡­¡±

    ¡°Wow! This dress really suits your figure! So pretty...¡±

    The other female cultivator remained silent as she began tying her hair in a ponytail. Her raising her arms clearly showcased her jade-like skin, which appeared whiter than snow. In contrast, her eyes were dark brown and impossible to read.

    ¡°Li¡¯er, stop pestering me. You know that I hate meeting other people, and this dress cannot be any uglier.¡±

    Chun Meili could only sigh at this person¡¯s stubbornness, before noticing two shadows approaching from the horizon. ¡°Oh, looks like your dad is on his way. There is also someone else with him, probably your escort.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    As soon as the two men touched ground, Chun Meili fell on her knees and bowed respectfully. On the other hand, the mysterious inner sect disciple kept standing impassively.

    The Patriarch sighed as he turned his attention to the man wearing a Junior Elder robe. ¡°I¡¯ve already explained everything to you, Long Mu. This is Zheng Zexi, and she is my beloved daughter. I¡¯ll be entrusting you with her care.¡±

    It was then that an old woman wearing a long white dress appeared dropping from above. Her expression was ghostly as she stared at the Patriarch for a moment. She then nodded approvingly and began examining the physical appearance of Long Mu with utmost precision.

    Her direct gaze seemed to annoy Long Mu. ¡°What are you looking at, you old bag? Lusting over this beautiful body? Not a chance!¡±

    The Patriarch appeared confused by this abnormal reaction. ¡°Long Mu, chill down buddy. Is everything ok? You¡¯ve been acting a bit strange lately. If something¡¯s bothering you, just let me know. There is nothing I can¡¯t solve within the boundaries of this Sect.¡±

    Long Mu seemed to remember something as he coughed a couple of times, straightening his posture.

    The women frowned as her aura began radiating killing intent. ¡°Zheng Xinyi, I promised you back then that I would never interfere with your decisions. But if anything happens to Little Zexi because of your negligence, rest assured that the first person I would vent my wrath on would be none other than you.¡±

    It was then that they heard the sound of a breaking talisman. The space distorted as Zheng Zexi teleported out of the realm, clearly unimpressed by the squabbles.

    The Patriarch could only release a long sigh. He knew that his daughter was strong, but he still feared for her safety because of her eccentric personality.

    ¡°Long Mu, please take good care of my daughter. If you think that a situation is beyond your control, inform the Grand Elder immediately. You two are the only ones who know about Zheng Zexi¡¯s real identity.¡±

    They both nodded simultaneously, then crushed the talisman, disappearing a moment later and leaving the old woman and Chun Meili alone inside the secret realm.

    On the outside, the group of bored inner sect disciples regained their attention when they noticed that ripples were forming and the dimensional space began twisting. Amidst the element¡¯s distortions, two separate sounds of landing footsteps were heard.

    The appearance of an unfamiliar face, wearing a brand new inner sect disciple robe in all of its glory, seethed the other disciples¡¯ curiosities. Their eyes were fixated on her as she slowly walked away from them, without even bothering to make eye contact with anyone present.

    Shui Tao¡¯s patience was reaching its limit, and he was about to implode. However, he was interrupted by the arrival of the Patriarch and Long Mu a moment later.

    Jack did indeed observe this new inner sect disciple for a while, but he didn¡¯t care as much as the others. Thus, he didn¡¯t dwell on the matter for too long.

    What actually caught his attention was instead the appearance of the Junior Elder. He wasn¡¯t sure why, but he could feel a sense of familiarity emerging from this person. However, he was convinced that he had never met this man before. This strange sensation confused him.

    Long Mu could perceive that Jack was examining him. He remained unfazed and pretended that he didn¡¯t notice Jack¡¯s gaze, rubbing his nose a couple of times and afterwards he itched his ass.

    The Patriarch finally broke the silence with a calm and serene voice. ¡°Just a couple of words, everyone. I understand you may feel pressured to achieve the best possible results and I have no doubts that you¡¯re going to give it your very best. But don¡¯t forget that this is just a friendly festival. You are the future pillars of this sect, so your safety is more important than the final rankings. Be vigilant at all times and don¡¯t get into unnecessary troubles.¡±

    He then turned facing his own daughter in the distance. Even though he was a peak Spirit Realm cultivator and supposedly in full control of his emotions, he could barely hide the sadness inside his voice. ¡°Good luck, everyone.¡±

    His eyes turned wet. Today was the day that he had hoped that it would never become a reality. He knew that he had been in denial and maybe a bit overprotective of his daughter. Even though a part of him wasn¡¯t willing, he couldn¡¯t procrastinate on this matter any longer. Otherwise, his daughter¡¯s growth would be impacted by her lack of experience.

    It was then that rumbling sounds were heard as a large wooden ark appeared from below, remaining to hover in front of them. Jack was surprised as he glanced at Dai Jun for answers.

    ¡°Ah, a flying device; speed equivalent to peak foundation realm expert. Journey¡¯s long so better if we travel as a group. It should allow us to arrive at the Palace in two or three weeks.¡±

    Jack nodded as he climbed on board following after the others.

    The Grand Elder was still cheerful as ever as he assumed his position at the very front, standing straight like a pillar with his hands embraced behind his back. This contrasted greatly with Zheng Zexi, who had taken place at the very back.

    As the group saluted the Patriarch one last time, the ark started shivering, then slowly accelerated ahead. The journey had finally begun.

    Jack was fascinated as he viewed the lands of the Sky Water Sect, including the forest below. The picturesque scenery produced a smile on his face as he reminisced about his old days.

    These last two years were beyond incredible. If a fortuneteller had appeared to him back then when he was still living in the Navira Planes and predicted this type of future, he would have laughed at him for an entire day and night.

    He began wondering about the events of the lake. Right now, it seemed more like a blessing sent by the Gods instead of a curse. If he had run with the fighting bulls that day, wouldn¡¯t he have missed such an excellent opportunity?

    He still had no information about the mysterious cultivator that was the catalyst of everything. His anger for that man hadn¡¯t abated in the slightest even after all this time had passed. However, it was still too early for him to consider searching for him. Jack could assume that that man was very cunning and probably had an extraordinary background.

    There was also the matter about the black-faced existence. Who exactly was that being? What were his intentions by sending him to this particular realm? Where exactly was that cave located? For these questions, he had no clues whatsoever.

    As Jack was busy reminiscing about his past, the Patriarch remained all alone at the edge, watching the ark becoming smaller and smaller. When it vanished from his spiritual sense, he turned around and released a prolonged sigh, hoping for the best.

 Chapter 24 â€“ Zhongyang Palace

    As the Ark travelled ahead, Jack could notice that the Sky Water Sect¡¯s border was defined by the drying of lands and resulting wastelands. There seemed no end for these desolate lands, and it took the flying device an entire three days to journey through them. This unimpressive scenario had bored Jack to death.

    His fellow teammates were all busy cultivating and didn¡¯t disturb him. Alas, he couldn¡¯t do the same because he had yet to try severing his second essence. Thus, he instead spent most of his time reading books that he borrowed from Elder Tian and Dai Jun. His only wish was that they would arrive at their destination as soon as possible.

    Fortunately for everyone, the journey was rather smooth, and the ark soon exited the wastelands. The environment in these parts made Jack¡¯s face flash with life again. The power of nature seemed even stronger here than in the Sky Water Sect, including the density of Qi. This made Jack depressed at the missed cultivating opportunity.

    Apparently, they were now inside a different region; a cluster of cities and states ruled by a powerful entity known as Flower Valley.

    This region was indeed enormous. Fortunately, everything had a beginning and an end, and the Ark officially entered Zhongyang Palace¡¯s boundary after an additional two weeks of travelling. According to the Grand Elder, Zhongyang Palace was an independent zone which has existed since time immemorial. Various empires were established and similarly erased by the cruel passage of time. But Zhongyang Palace always stood there since the earliest records of history.

    The major powers in the Divine Vajra Continent, even the most brutal and barbaric, always viewed the Zhongyang Palace as a holy ground that shouldn¡¯t be touched. As if any malevolent actions would result in a multi-generational curse and trigger heavenly tribulations. On the other hand, Zhongyang Palace¡¯s forces always remained secluded and never meddled in the continent¡¯s political affairs. Their borders remained unchanged since forever, and they never harboured any thoughts of expansions. This further appeased the other regions.

    Zhongyang Palace actually consisted of a number of villages and cities situated on different-levelled plateaus. A towering obelisk protruded upwards from the middle of each habitat, its height seemingly correlating with the size of the settlement. The Central City that housed the official Palace was situated on the highest mountain, coincidentally also the biggest plateau. The obelisk here was enormous and towered up to the clouds, diffracting the rays of the sun and creating a colourful panorama.

    Located on a large platform at the Central City¡¯s edge, a young couple were seemingly waiting for arrivals. The man was visibly bored.

    ¡°The Empire¡¯s strength is unfathomable ok, but aren¡¯t they overestimating themselves by sending only one competitor? I really hope that they lose this time. Always having them winning the festival is damn anticlimactic. We need some excitement!¡±

    The woman sighed as she glanced at an approaching ark. ¡°Everyone shares your sentiment¡­ but who can compete against them? Maybe the Cult of Blood? The rest, I don¡¯t have much hope, just being honest here. Now stand your ass up, someone¡¯s coming. There are probably from the Divinities Alliance judging from the Ark¡¯s structure.¡±

    The man was unaffected when he learned the incoming envoy¡¯s identity. Divinities Alliance? Not worth the effort really. His expression remained vapid as he watched the wooden Ark landing in their vicinity.

    The Grand Elder was the first to come down as he clasped his palms together and nodded politely. ¡°Gu Gengxin¡¯s Sky Water Sect, lead envoy of the Divinities Alliance. It¡¯s an honour for us to attend such a prestigious festival.¡±

    The woman expressed a faint smile as she rested her right arm on her hip. ¡°The ones honoured are naturally us, Gu Gengxin. I see you have brought the full complement of ten with you. Good, good, please keep walking ahead. The Palace Head will greet you personally once you make it inside the City.¡±

    The Grand Elder nodded respectfully again, then signalled for the group to follow him. The duo remained to stare as they watched the group walk away from them.

    The woman smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve got to admit that the weaker regions take this festival seriously.¡±

    ¡°Duh! Not like it matters! Even if they send in a thousand, they stand no chance.¡±

    ¡°My, my¡­ sometimes, even among the ants, there could be a random queen that surprises us all. By any chance, did you see that young woman cultivator that was trailing behind the group? She actually has three essences.¡±

    Her companion¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Three essences?! Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°Are you questioning my capabilities?¡±

    ¡°No, no, but¡­ three essences¡­ Ah! Such a waste she was born in such a declining region! If she were a disciple of ours, we would effortlessly nurture her into a Spirit Realm Cultivator. And if she can severe another essence¡­¡±

    The young woman expressed a meaningful smile. ¡°We can always try changing that.¡±

    Meanwhile, the group advanced forward. Flying was apparently prohibited inside these lands, so they had no choice but to walk for two hours until they had arrived at the earmarked destination. There, a tall cultivator with a short black moustache welcomed them.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°The Palace Head is busy right now and can¡¯t greet you. So hurry up and follow me to your temporary residence.¡±

    The Grand Elder was annoyed but this idiot¡¯s arrogance, but he didn¡¯t want to start trouble on the first day. He waved his hand and instructed the Group to follow him.

    It didn¡¯t take them long to arrive at their temporary residence, which wasn¡¯t half bad on first inspection. It was actually quite large, able to accommodate a group ten times larger than theirs. This has left everyone with ample space and privacy.

    Jack immediately took residence at a small house on the area¡¯s outskirts. Outside there was a small garden with a fountain playing in the background. Overall, he was pretty satisfied with this arrangement.

    It was then that he heard a knock on his door. Outside, he found Long Mu waiting for him.

    Long Mu appeared agitated as he barged inside without first asking for Jack¡¯s permission. ¡°Finally! I can get some reprieve from this ugly body!¡± He let out a soft shriek as his physique began transforming.

    Jack remained stupefied as Long Mu began shrinking, watching his clothes fall on the floor piece by piece. Soon, Long Mu disappeared and was replaced by a small bulge covered by clothes. After struggling for a moment, a furry creature emerged.

    Jack was left stupefied. ¡°You!! What are you doing here?!¡±

    The Creature was visibly feeling better. ¡°I promised to protect you, no?¡±

    Jack didn¡¯t know whether he should laugh or cry. ¡°Eh? What about the real Long Mu?¡±

    The Creature did some weird bodily movements, clearly indicating that it was not prepared to answer that specific question. Instead, it changed the subject.

    ¡°Any progress with the essence?¡±

    Jack appeared disappointed as he shook his head.

    ¡°Hmm, severing at least two essences should be easier for you. I also gave you those Essence Attractor Pills to aid you at the right moment. Don¡¯t worry much?¡±

    Jack appeared confused. ¡°Heh, I am just a mortal from the lower realms. Don¡¯t place too much hope on me.¡±

    The Creature grinned. ¡°Yeh, yeh, you an exceptional type of mortal then. I really need to find the coordinates of that lower realm. There must be something more to it.¡±

    Jack remained silent, but he agreed with this notion. There indeed was something weird about his place of origin. The presence of a godly essence was proof enough of this. He also wanted to find some information about his roots. He began suspecting that they may have not been ordinary at all.

    ¡°Hmm, what exactly is a godly essence? Is it related to the seven artefacts?¡±

    The Creature appeared pensive. ¡°Hmm, nobody knows for sure what they are. I can¡¯t even find complete answers inside the memories of my former half. What I know is that anyone who can absorb them will gain the chance to formulate the fifth essence, opening the door for a realm that is beyond immortality.¡±

    ¡°Oh?! There is a realm beyond Immortal Realm?!¡±

    ¡°Nobody knows for sure. According to legends, the seven godly essences are seven indestructible essences that activate themselves every five hundred thousand years. They always appear together, producing seven powerful warriors that wreak havoc in the higher realms, bringing a myriad of destruction and tribulation wherever they go. Supposedly, they would achieve accession in the end, rising to an even higher realm. The immortals call that realm the Realm of the Gods. But as I just said, this is just speculations.¡±

    Jack appeared fascinated. Does this mean that the cultivator that obtained the godly essence inside the Navira Planes was destined for such prominence? And why did a godly essence appear inside a lowly realm?

    However, there was something that Jack didn¡¯t understand. ¡°If someone can sever five essences on his own, wouldn¡¯t that achieve the same results?¡±

    The Creature grinned. ¡°Oh?! Severing five essences? Nobody told you yet¡­? Severing one essence, only one in a thousand can do that. Two essences? That¡¯s one in a ten thousand. As for three, it¡¯s one in a million. For those who can manage to severe four essences like my former half, it¡¯s one in a billion.¡±

    Jack was left dumbfounded by this revelation. He had learned about the essences from the flame, and judging from its tone, he assumed that it was an easy task. He never thought that it would be almost this impossible. Jack suddenly felt lucky that he was already one of the ¡®one in a thousand¡¯, and also felt gloomy about his prospects of severing future essences. He was about to say something, but the creature anticipated him.

    ¡°You want to ask me how many cultivators managed to sever five essences throughout the ages? News Flash! Only two! And they both were obliterated by tribulation clouds. Puff! Their existences were immediately erased by the heavens! That¡¯s why the only way to obtain the fifth essence is to absorb the essence of the gods. These essences have divine powers, not even the heavens can destroy them!¡±

    Jack itched is head. ¡°Why had it be this complicated? Anyways, my objective is the second essence and finding that stupid herb. I don¡¯t really wish to fail. I prefer¡ª¡±

    Jack was interrupted when he heard mad laughter from outside. They had just arrived a moment ago, who was causing a commotion? He had already stepped on the doorstep when he paused his tracks.

    The Creature grumbled. ¡°Just go alone! I don¡¯t wish to change my body again, I am staying here.¡±

    Jack sighed with incredulity, leaving towards the main courtyard. There he found everyone gathered, including the Grand Elder who appeared redder than the inside of a watermelon.

    Flying high up at the entrance, there was a young cultivator. His clothes were made of strips of leather and had different animal skins attached to them. A profound scar ran through his face, giving him an appearance of a barbarian. His laughter resounded throughout the entire area.

    ¡°Ahahaha! This is what the Divinities Alliance amounts to? Oh, what Divinities alliance again? Didn¡¯t those beasts all die during the Great War? Haha, you should consider changing your name to Chicken Alliance! Suits you better!¡±

    The Grand Elder couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Who do you think you are, you darned little cockalorum? Let me teach you a damn lesson.¡±

    The Grand Elder had already unleashed his aura. Unexpectedly, he was forced to take a step backwards by an even stronger presence. The Grand Elder appeared confused as he noticed a bulky man strolling towards the entrance.

    ¡°You¡­¡± The Grand Elder trembled with anger.

    The man appeared annoyed. ¡°Is this how the Divinities Alliance acts these days? Having Spirit Realm Cultivators venting out against Qi Realm Cultivators? If you want to fight, how about you spar with me?¡±

    Typically, the Grand Elder would have jumped to the occasion, but he was acting a bit strange in front of this man. He quickly summoned his aura, shielding his contingent from potential harm.

    Judging from everyone¡¯s reaction, everyone but Jack knew what was going on. Jack appeared confused, anxiously watching the unexpected scene unfold before his eyes.

 Chapter 25 â€“ Living Legend

    The Great War may have concluded five hundred years ago, but the deep-seated animosities were not something that could be erased. And nobody understood this better than the Grand Elder.

    Back then, he was only a Foundation Realm Expert. He faced the upcoming war like any young man; full of energy and excitement. However, a war that was supposed to be a one-sided trashing became a brutal stalemate that lasted for several decades. The scenes of complete destruction, barbaric atrocities and infernal despair were still well imprinted inside his mind as if they had happened yesterday.

    And one of the reasons why it turned out like this was the appearance of a particular man.

    Nobody knew of his real name; everyone called him by the epithet ¡®Chief Iron Hand.¡¯ What they knew though was that his body was sturdier than a mountain of steel and his fists were more reliable than the largest armies. Havoc and destruction accompanied him wherever he appeared, and he always came out victorious no matter what the alliance sent against him.

    Acknowledging him as the main treat, one of the Ancient Divinities had personally tried to eliminate him. It was an earthshattering battle that lasted for an entire day, and yet the one that died in the end was the demonic beast.

    Back in the day, Peak Spirit Realm Demonic Beasts were considered the pinnacle strength of the Divine Vajra Continent, each having the strength to rival the powers of a Human Divine Realm Cultivator. This and their longer lifespans were the reasons why they were called Ancient Divinities despite still being in the Spirit Realm.

    Even though there was no questioning their strength, they still weren¡¯t invincible. As the war clearly showed, they could be taken out if ganged by a number of human Spirit Realm Cultivators. However, a lone human Spirit Realm Cultivator killing an Ancient Divinity was completely unprecedented.

    Thus, after the conclusion of that particular battle, the name ¡®Iron Hand¡¯ circulated not only through the Desert Tribes but the entire continent. He had become a living legend and a never-ending nightmare for the alliance.

    And this same man was now standing before them.

    The Grand Elder knew very well that even if there were hundreds of him, it wouldn¡¯t make any difference. Unable to offer any type of resistance, he affixed his eyes on the monster before him. His body was trembling both from anger and another emotion that he had long forgotten the last time he had experienced it.

    Fortunately, Chief Iron Hand remained at the entrance without taking further action.

    Seeing the subdued Grand Elder, the young instigator regained his courage. ¡°Hah? What a disgrace! I heard that the alliance¡¯s top disciples were strong, so I came here asking for some friendly pointers. Tsk, Tsk, it seems that you lot are a bunch¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough, Li Bai. Come back here.¡±

    Surprising, the one who interrupted him was Chief Iron Hand. Li Bai¡¯s face was full of puzzlement and confusion. Unable to hide his disappointment, he hurriedly obeyed as if the entire matter was related to his very own survival.

    Chief Iron Hand narrowed his eyes as he faced the Grand Elder one last time. ¡°That appearance¡­ there is no doubt you are his offspring¡­ next time, act carefully unless you don¡¯t want to accompany your father in hell.¡±

    The Grand Elder could only clench his fists as he watched the disappearing silhouettes. The presence of this man was beyond his expectations. He had to proceed with extreme caution from now on, already considering to withdraw from the festival or call for reinforcements.

    ¡°Grand Elder, they can¡¯t touch us while we are in the Palace¡¯s lands.¡± Dai Jun expressed a much-needed voice of reason.

    The Grand Elder was clearly not in the mood as he waved everyone to go back to their dwellings. The three inner sect disciples were also full of anger and sympathised with him. Meanwhile, Shui Tao noticed that the mysterious disciple didn¡¯t seem affected at all. This further lowered his opinion about her.

    It was then that a carefree Long Mu made his grand entrance. Full of confidence, he placed both of his arms over his hips, staring at the crowd.

    Everyone¡¯s anger and frustrations were immediately replaced by incredulity. Tian Jinse covered her mouth while Jack facepalmed himself.

    The Grand Elder was also confused. ¡°Long Mu, why are you walking around naked?!¡±

    The rock-solid Long Mu seemed to realise something was wrong as he looked down, observing his natural jewels in all of their glory. The Creature was so used to being naked that it forgot to wear back the clothes. It remained with a bland expression as it cuddled its face. Of course, seeing a naked man cuddling his face in a weird way further confused the onlookers.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    It was also at this exact moment that a middle-aged man entered the place. Judging from his stature and aura, it was not hard to figure out that he was the Palace Head. He paused for a moment, observing the bizarre acting naked man retreating away.

    ¡°Your excellency, this...¡± Grand Elder didn¡¯t know how he should start explaining.

    ¡°Haha... every sect has their set of weird cultivators; no need for any explanations. I regret my late arrival; I couldn¡¯t come earlier as I was caught with some unexpected developments. But it looks like my bad timing has actually worked in your favour.¡±

    The Grand Elder now understood why Iron Hand had retreated. ¡°The Divinities Alliance owes you for your assistance.¡±

    The Palace Head nodded indifferently as the duo kept exchanging pleasantries. However, the Palace Head¡¯s bodily movements clearly showed that he was in a hurry. He soon cut the conversation short.

    ¡°You should use the remaining of your time to prepare well for the festival. We have detected some abnormalities inside the Counterbalance Realm. We are confident that this time the portal shall open in a never before seen area. We also have some pleasant surprises prepared. More information will be revealed during the official opening.¡±

    The Palace Head then left after a brief discussion, and the whole place had finally returned to tranquillity.

    Still curious about the previous hostilities, Jack started pestering Dai Jun for answers. The latter had no other choice but to explain everything, mostly details about the war.

    Eventually, everyone returned back to their dwellings, and the remaining days had passed without any further troubles.

    Jack had spent most of his time revisiting books related to herbs, making sure to memorise the image of the rainbow-coloured camellia and a bunch of other precious herbs just in case he encountered some.

    Glancing at the book one final time, he joined to meet the Group, departing together towards the arena.

    The streets along the way were full of activity and decorations. Red lanterns were affixed almost everywhere as several different coloured fans were suspended high up on ropes. Several children were playing and chasing after each other, almost bumping into Jack on quite a few occasions. Many merchants were screaming with a hoarse voice, trying their best to make the most out of this once in a decade occasion.

    The group soon arrived at their destination. The arena seemed decently sized, able to accommodate around twenty thousand spectators, and the atmosphere inside was rather lively. Jack felt a bit nervous as he took his seat.

    From his position, he could notice seven additional wooden platforms, all separated by an equal distance. Below each stand, there was a large plaque indicating the region of the envoy.

    Opposite to their stand, there sat Iran Hand together with five disciples. Jack could remark that these were intentional arrangements made in advance by Zhongyang Palace to avoid potential conflicts.

    Jack sighed as he glanced over his left, noting the stand belonging to the Blood of Cult. The competitors there were three, all red-haired women dressed in black. Accompanying them was a middle-aged female elder that emitted a sinister aura. One of the competing disciples seemed to notice Jack¡¯s glance as she turned facing him, licking her lips.

    Jack could only smile wryly as he moved on to the next stand, which pertained to the Hidden Hands Sect. The envoy here consisted of four elders and four competing disciples. All of these wore strange clothing as they did random things; some were playing a zither while others were doing a round of chess.

    Next was the stand pertaining to The Empire. Jack was surprised as sitting there were only an elder and a lone competitor. Both were wearing decorated masks that completely hid their appearance.

    Anticipating the taunting glances from the Desert Tribes¡¯ stand, Jack directly skipped to the subsequent stand, belonging to Vajrayana Temple. Here the group was entirely composed of bald men.

    Jack was interrupted by the sound of breaking chairs originating from the stand over his right. There, he saw a large fatso struggling to stand up again, being aided by five disciples that all looked like meatballs. This innocent scene produced a smile on a lot of people, but there were also those who were shamelessly laughing at them. The Elder fatso remained unfazed though as a group of embarrassed arena stewards attended to him, providing him with a comfortable couch.

    Jack was surprised when he learned that this Group actually came from Flower Valley. He didn¡¯t know why, but their appearances were utterly different from his expectations.

    Perplexed, he suddenly caught sight of something amazing. His eyes rounded as he watched five swordswomen giggling and sharing jokes with each other.

    There was nothing out of the ordinary about their appearance. However, all five seemed to have an encaptivating charisma that couldn¡¯t be described in words. The way they moved their bodies, how they waved their hair, their sparkling red cherry lips; all of these made Jack¡¯s heart race erratically.

    Absorbed inside a fantasy land, he didn¡¯t notice the large platform descending from the clouds. Standing on it were several officials from the Zhongyang Palace that took positions in a much-organised fashion. The Palace Head and an old man who had a long white beard stood at the very centre of this group.

    The arrival of Zhongyang¡¯s main forces was met with a general round of applause. A lot of the spectators rose up to their feet as they cheered for their elites. They were proud of their main forces, they were proud that they could organise a festival of this calibre. Last but not least, they were proud to be part of Zhongyang Palace, the jewel of the Divine Vajra Continent.

    Amidst the celebrations, the Palace Head saluted the crowds with a broad smile over his face.

    ¡°Thank you for joining us today and be part of this prestigious festival. You can¡¯t even imagine the gratitude we are feeling by your presence. I am sure the young ones here might have questions about the festival¡¯s origins. I don¡¯t know if you have already noticed, but the borders of our Palace are defined by a natural phenomenon caused by the Counterbalance Realm. No matter where you stand inside these lands, you will never be able to see the moon.¡±

    ¡°But the dark nights didn¡¯t scare our ancestors. As long as there is the will, there is always a way.¡±

    He pointed his hand to the sky. Everyone observed attentively as lights began coalescing high up. Soon, a bright yellow moon formed, illuminating the place as if it was a miniature sun.

    He then raised his voice and extended his arms. ¡°Let the official festivities begin!¡±

 Chapter 26 â€“ Yellow Moon Festival

    Before Jack arrived inside the arena, he had anticipated a competitive atmosphere full of tension. The first few moments did indeed conform to this notion of his. However, the official opening has left him with a pleasant surprise.

    Several dancers wearing fancy clothing had already taken their positions on both the arena and above it. They danced in perfect synchrony, releasing different strands of colourful qi and creating a spectacular show of both visuals and acrobatics. Accompanying them were a number of cultivators playing different types of musical instruments, while some others utilised their powers to create colourful blasts above the arena.

    Struggling to walk amongst the crowds, a number of stewards were all smiles as they provided wine to the cheering spectators. Jack couldn¡¯t resist the temptation and immediately signalled for a cup. He was the only one to do so from his group.

    As he took hold of the wooden cup, he remained to stare at it for a moment, observing his mouth¡¯s reflection smiling back at him. He then swallowed the wine in one gulp.

    His throat was still burning when he asked for another round.

    As he held the cup again, his thoughts had momentary shifted away from the preoccupations of the tournament, instead recalling memories that he didn¡¯t wish to remember. A time when he was still in the town of Wongye, locked up in a metal cage that wasn¡¯t even suitable for animals, let alone a human being. From between the metal bars with his half-shut eyes, he could only observe the various lords slamming their cups together, their arrogant laughter still echoing inside his ears as if he was hearing it for the very first time.

    He almost unintentionally released his qi as a tear leaked down over his reddening cheek. Just wait for me you mother f*ckers. The moment I find the coordinates of the plane, the first thing I am going to do is pay you back for all the atrocities you¡¯ve committed!

    He drank the second cup in one gulp again, and he had already extended his hand towards the puzzled steward when a prolonged snort muted his ear.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you had enough already? What if it is our turn to compete today?!¡±

    Jack could only express a forced smile as he returned the cup, apologising to the steward. The Grand Elder kept snorting while Tian Jinse was becoming more interested in Jack¡¯s unusual behaviour. On the other hand, Zheng Zexi remained expressionless.

    The festivities continued like this for a whole hour, and a quarter of the arena was already drunk by then.

    As the performers retreated following a standing ovation, it was the turn for the Palace Head to intervene again. For the leader of such a prestigious country, he seemed rather humble and happy-go-lucky. Though it could also be that his abnormal attitude was due to the excitement generated by the festival.

    ¡°What a fantastic performance. A well-deserved round of applause.¡±

    He paused, glancing at the competing disciples. Almost all of them had nervous eyes, their hands itching to take the field. ¡°Judging from your expressions, it seems that our esteemed guests can¡¯t wait for the start of the festival¡¯s next phase. As it should be.¡±

    The Palace Head remained silent for a moment, his smile widening enough to show his teeth. ¡°Since the establishment of this festival, the first part always consisted of festivities. What followed was a martial art contest of our younger generation. Then we ended everything with a treasure hunt inside the Counterbalance Realm, where every region was allocated four days to do so.

    ¡°However¡­ in the last few days we have encountered some unexpected developments, so we were forced to make some changes to the schedule. I am not someone who beats around the bush¡­ the martial art contest is being replaced by another event.¡±

    Sounds of grumbling and furore immediately erupted after this announcement. Disappointment flared, and there was even some booing going on.

    The Cult of blood¡¯s elder frowned. ¡°What type of changes? Why weren¡¯t we informed? We had to travel three entire months to arrive here. The Demon Empress will certainly be displeased if she had to hear of this.¡±

    This sentiment was also shared by a number of different regions. Seeing the situation getting out of hand, the Palace Head quickly intervened.

    ¡°We have kept silent about it because we weren¡¯t sure yet. But now we can confirm that the Counterbalance Realm¡¯s pattern is indeed acting irregularly. At first, we were shocked and thought that something was wrong with the realm. We have spent the last couple of days researching our ancient records. Fortunately, we did find recorded instances where the realm exhibit unusual behaviour. It seems that it is finally the time for another of these occurrences.¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    The Masked Elder finally showed a reaction. ¡°Please do tell us, what exactly is this unusual behaviour you speak of?¡± His voice sounded soft, yet not even the roars of thunder could cover such a wide area.

    The Palace Head sighed. ¡°The Counterbalance Realm will be opening earlier than anticipated, in around two or three hours from now. We can predict that the portal will open in a volatile state, and will only last for three, max four days. Not everything is doom and gloom though. The area in which the portal will lead to should be very central¡­ the chances for the appearance of valuable treasures will be much higher than normal.¡±

    Discussions immediately erupted in the arena as the various elders discussed the implications with each other. Jack appeared confused as he glanced towards the Grand Elder, who seemed deep in thought. Indeed, this development was not according to their original plans.

    ¡°There are only three days instead of the usual forty, how exactly are we going to split up?¡±

    ¡°Yeh! It doesn¡¯t make sense! Are you allowing each region only nine hours?¡±

    ¡°Forget the counterbalance realm, what about the rankings? How are we going to decide which region is going to win this year?¡±

    The Palace Head could understand their frustrations. ¡°Everyone, please calm down for a moment. We already have spent the last few days deliberating about this. To keep everything fair and simple, and at the same time compensate for the lack of a martial art contest, we have come up with an alternative plan. All competing disciples will be entering the realm at the same time. The main objective will be to farm the various gemstones scattered around the realm. The final rankings will be decided by the accumulated weight of these gemstones.¡±

    A moment of silence followed. This proposal didn¡¯t seem half bad. Although the more prominent sects had the advantage of strength, they lacked the numbers. The Masked Elder frowned behind his mask as he turned towards his disciple for his opinion.

    The Masked Cultivator didn¡¯t seem affected. ¡°I¡¯ll let them farm happily for two days. Then I¡¯ll steal all their gemstones.¡±

    The Masked Elder didn¡¯t enquire any further; those words were enough for him to let things proceed without the need for interference.

    On the other hand, the Grand Elder was in a dilemma. His original plan was to have the disciples obtain the seventh rank in the tournament, then let them farm for treasures inside the Counterbalance Realm. That¡¯s the main reason why they even bothered about this festival in the first place, and also the only reason the Patriarch allowed his own daughter to compete. With her intelligence and aptitude, finding a valuable treasure inside the realm was highly likely.

    But the Grand Elder knew that everything had changed for the worse. The fact that everyone was entering inside the realm together was surely going to trigger conflicts. Also, there was an even bigger treat, standing right opposite of him on the other side of the arena. The Desert Tribes would surely target them with the intent to kill. It wasn¡¯t even a question of if, but when. Also, there was no telling how the other regions would act.

    The easiest way out would be to retreat from the festival. But it was easier said than done. He knew that his decisions would not only concern the Sky Water Sect but the entire alliance.

    Worrying, he asked for the opinion of the other guardians.

    Dai Jun sighed. ¡°Ah, I didn¡¯t prepare any protective talismans¡­ wasn¡¯t expecting this manure.¡±

    ¡°I have five of them,¡± the Grand Elder confirmed, ¡°but I still fear that Chief Iron Hand will give them a set of treasures. I think we should surrender.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m going in.¡± The always quite Zheng Zexi surprised everyone.

    ¡°Me too, I say we compete. If we stay together, I doubt we can be beaten that easily.¡±

    ¡°I agree with Shui Tao. It¡¯s risky, but with the talisman, we should be safe for three days.¡±

    Noting the inner sect disciples¡¯ determination, the Grand Elder could only sigh. This didn¡¯t make him feel any better. He glanced at Jack. He was the weakest of this group and probably of all competing contestants. He was the most likely to be targeted.

    ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t mind Grand Elder. I am good at avoiding troubles.¡±

    Long Mu coughed. ¡°But troubles are very good at finding you. But yeh, you¡¯ve got one big fat lucky ass, bigger than the heavens.¡±

    Jack could only smile wryly, realising that his earlier statement was full of bullshit.

    As they discussed between each other, the other regions had already started voting about the proposed plan. Given that time was pressing and it wasn¡¯t that bad of a deal, all the first five regions voted in favour of the proposal. Thus, the plan was approved before the Sky Water Sect could even cast their vote.

    Once the matter of voting was cleared, the Palace Head quickly signalled the old man standing next to him to come forward.

    The old man understood the meaning of this as he instantly floated down like a ghost, assuming his position at the middle of the arena. From his dimensional pocket, he took out a broad belt that contained around fifty talismans attached to it. He did an incantation with a language nobody could understand, breaking the seal locking the belt. He then affixed it inside a circular tile.

    The lands immediately quaked as five pillars arcs began emerging from the ground, their base forming a circular platform slightly elevated from the surface. Each pillar arc could be attributed to a particular element. One was surrounded by metal plates while another burned with flames. There was another one that leaked water from the top, but strangely enough, the water remained attracted to it and didn¡¯t disperse outwards. As for the last two pillar arcs, one was covered with wooden vines, and the other had its surface spoiled with dirt and soil.

    The old man then confirmed, ¡°The portal is ready. Everything seems in order.¡±

    The Palace Head nodded. ¡°Hurry up and bring the telepathic stone to record the disciples¡¯ rank and age. We need to settle this before the portal connects.¡±

    He then turned facing the crowds.

    ¡°There is something else I must tell you before the start of the competition. We are planning to hand out two exclusive rewards for the top-ranking male and female cultivators. The highest-ranking female that collects the most gemstones, regardless of the region¡¯s overall rank, shall be rewarded with a spirit realm treasure.

    ¡°As for the male disciples, the individual candidate with the highest amount of gemstones¡­ will be allowed to ask Zhongyang Palace¡¯s own holy daughter for marriage!¡±

 Chapter 27 - Holy Daughter

    The announcement of two additional rewards had grabbed the interest of everyone. As soon as the Palace Head uttered the words ¡®Spirit Realm Treasure¡¯, almost all female cultivators couldn¡¯t stop their bodies from shaking, including the various elders.

    Imbued with the powers of a Spirit Realm Expert, a Spirit Realm Treasure was as scarce as a phoenix feather. In fact, this type of treasure could be considered the highest-graded treasure obtainable inside the Divine Vajra Continent.

    If a Qi Seeking Realm cultivator were to utilise such a treasure with full efficiency, then holding off an early foundation expert wouldn¡¯t be an impossible task. Even though few young cultivators were capable of achieving this feat, dealing with a similar-levelled cultivator would be very easy.

    The numerous male competitors were momentarily consumed with jealousy. However, when the Palace Head finished his speech, some of them immediately started examining their ears, making sure that there was nothing wrong with them.

    The Holy Daughter; the number one beauty of the Divine Vajra Continent.

    Only someone living in some backwater town wouldn¡¯t have heard of her. A beauty that could topple the highest mountain and cause empires to fall and rise with just a flick of her fingers. Who knows how many influential Spirit Realm Experts had come knocking to her door seeking her affection, only for them to be rejected over and over again.

    And now this very goddess was being offered to them on a silver platter.

    The various elders were especially wary however. What was this? Why was she suddenly looking for a spouse? Isn¡¯t she twice older than them? Why was she choosing a Qi Realm cultivator over a Spirit Realm expert?

    This marriage proposal sounded wrong on many levels. It wasn¡¯t hard for them to realise that there was more to this than it meets the eye.

    The young male competitors didn¡¯t seem to mind this though. The prospect of marrying the number one beauty, who was supposedly still a virgin, was already making their imaginations run wild. This wasn¡¯t a dream come true, this was a once-in-a-lifetime miracle bestowed by the heavens. How could they possibly refuse such an opportunity?

    Unlike most, Jack didn¡¯t seem particularly interested. Marriage? That was not in his books. He actually found the others¡¯ reaction a bit exaggerated. Was this woman really this beautiful? In the end, he was more committed to finding that herb rather than waste his time with this stuff.

    Long Mu appeared curious as he extended his spiritual vision. If he were anyone else, the other Spirit Realm Experts would have detected him. However, he had the memories of a Heavenly Pillar, one of the three great immortals that not even the Great Clans¡¯ Grandmasters would dare to underestimate. Thus, bypassing their detections was a piece of cake for him.

    After exploring for a while, he finally caught a glimpse of his target inside the main Palace, not far from the arena. She was sitting next to another male cultivator, watching the festivities on a large projection.

    The man had long grey hair and beard, so wide that nobody would realise if he were to go out naked. As for the woman, she wore a glittering leather dress with a cut from below, revealing most of her alluring legs. A wide belt was rapped against her waist, together with some silver jewellery around her arms.

    She bit her lower lips, letting out a hearty laugh. ¡°Look at those fools getting all horny over me. I must confess that I do find the expressions of those fatties adorable.¡±

    ¡°My Lady, I still think that this was a rash decision. Your reputation is going to be tainted from now on.¡±

    The woman waved her grey hair on the side. ¡°You should know by now that I don¡¯t really care what the other sluts think about me, Lai Kun. Reputation comes and goes, but opportunities for power only happen at unique instances. I¡¯m bored here, let¡¯s go pay the arena a visit.¡±

    Lai Kun could only sigh as he hurried his ass after her.

    The peeping Long Mu instantly understood what was going on. He didn¡¯t have to worry though. Jack was going to be occupied searching for the herb, with no time to spare for the gemstones. As for the other cultivators, duh, he didn¡¯t care.

    It was then that a large stone tablet was brought inside the arena. The stone was blue coloured with three small spheres of mystical lights orbiting horizontally around it.

    The Palace Head immediately invited all participants to come down and register for the tournament. The first competitor to do so was a young monk from Vajrayana Temple.

    At first, he appeared puzzled on how he should touch the stone without obstructing the spheres¡¯ movement. However, he soon realised that the spheres were actually illusionary. Without further qualms, he pressed his palm against the stone.

    The stone immediately released strange swirling lights, forming a hovering talisman.

    The same old man that summoned the portal took hold of the talisman and started reading out aloud the results.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ 7<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm¡­ one essence¡­ 17 years old¡­ ok, next!¡±

    Forming a long straight line, the various disciples started being tested one by one. So far, the examined candidates were of the 7<sup>th</sup> or 8<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm, and all of them possessed one essence. This was within everyone¡¯s expectations.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    It was only when it was the turn of the Cult that interest arouse. The Cult of Blood had always registered second in the rankings, and their cultivators always displayed extraordinary talents.

    The first of the three to touch the stones was the youngest-looking cultivator.

    ¡°8<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm¡­ two essences¡­ 14 years old...¡±

    This particular cultivator¡¯s age surprised the audience. The sounds of clapping resounded while the oldest-looking cultivator placed her hand on the stone.

    ¡°9<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm¡­ two essences¡­ 19 years old¡­¡±

    These two cultivators alone were enough to confirm the difference between the various regions.

    It was then the turn of the last contestant, the same cultivator that had noticed Jack¡¯s glance earlier. With a grin on her face, she casually extended her finger towards the stone.

    The old man seemed more excited than anyone else as he took hold of the resulting talisman.

    ¡°10<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm¡­ three essences¡­ 18 years old!¡±

    His thundering voice was instantly followed by the spectators¡¯ cheers. There was no doubt that she was a prodigy, and one of the hot favourites to win the Spirit Realm Treasure.

    She coolly walked away, ignoring the angry and jealous gazes of the other female cultivators. Instead, she expressed a mocking smile towards the cultivator behind her.

    It was impossible to observe what the masked cultivator was thinking as he began walking towards the telepathic stone. He stood at the side, without even bothering to face the stone, punching his fist outwards.

    The old man¡¯s hands couldn¡¯t stop shaking as he extended them, waiting for the talisman to form.

    ¡°11<sup>th</sup>! 11<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm! Three essences, 19 years old!¡±

    An uproar instantly erupted. An 11<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm cultivator and only nineteen. This was a genius amongst geniuses that only appeared once in a century! No wonder the Empire was acting so cocky by sending only this disciple. With such a monster within their ranks, they really had every right to be arrogant!

    With everyone¡¯s attention on the masked man, few took notice of the Desert Tribe¡¯s group. Indeed, there was nothing extraordinary about the first four cultivators. They all had ranked at the 8<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm, with only one essence.

    However, the last candidate was different from them.

    He wore a sleeveless robe and had a large axe affixed on his back. His hands were quite muscular and a part of his face was covered by one large tattoo that extended well below his neck. As the direct disciple of Chief Iron Hand, he walked with his head held high.

    The old man seemed calm at first as he took note of the talisman.

    ¡°Oh? What a nice surprise. 9<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm¡­ three essences¡­ 18 years old!¡±

    The arena reacted positively to this unexpected evaluation. One had to keep in mind that the resources of the other regions where quite limited when compared to the Empire and the Cult. For such a genius like this to appear elsewhere was praiseworthy indeed.

    The Grand Elder was one of the few that were frowning, still seated on the stand as he waited for the process to conclude. He had already distributed the protective talismans, but he still had a lingering feeling of uneasiness that he couldn¡¯t suppress. All he could do now was hoping for the very best.

    Soon, it was the turn of the alliance, which coincidentally happened to be the last group.

    There was nothing remarkable about them as they began ranking themselves. Tian Jinse was 7<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm while Shui Tao was at 8<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm, same as the Grand Elder¡¯s disciple. All these three registered one essence.

    Jack kept staring at the mysterious disciple and was about to ask her who from them was going to go first. However, she didn¡¯t give him any face as she walked ahead of him, her ponytail waving left and right according to her footsteps.

    Like the masked cultivator, she didn¡¯t even glance at the stone as she punched it.

    The old man wasn¡¯t expecting any more surprises, and with only two candidates left, he was looking forward to everything to end. However, when he held the talisman in his hand, all his apathy dissolved away like an ice cube melting on a hot summer day.

    ¡°9<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm¡­ three essences¡­ 18 years old!¡±

    Leaving the entire arena stunned, Zheng Zexi expressed her usual cold face as she walked away from the stone.

    ¡°Wait a moment!¡±

    The one who interrupted was an old monk from Vajrayana Temple. ¡°I don¡¯t believe a lowly region such as the Divinities Alliance is capable of producing such a young genius! This cultivator is surely not related to them and should be disqualified!¡±

    Soon, more elders from different stands began supporting the monk¡¯s view. In reality, they didn¡¯t actually believe his allegations. However, the appearance of another strong competitor would lower their chances of achieving a decent rank. Thus, there was nothing to lose in trying to disqualify potential obstacles.

    Zheng Zexi displayed an angry face as she locked her eagle eyes on the monk who dared to spout such nonsense. She raised her voice, making sure she was heard by everyone.

    ¡°My name is Zheng Zexi. I am the biological daughter of the Sky Water Sect¡¯s Patriarch. Can I even be more related than this, you donkey-ass face?¡±

    The monk wished he could reply back to this question, but he didn¡¯t know what to say without further embarrassing himself. He lowered his head, not daring to look at anyone.

    On the other hand, Tian Jinse, Shui Tao, the Grand Elder¡¯s disciple and Jack, all stared at her with their mouths wide open. Even Elder Tian and the elder from House Shui were acting as they had just heard the shocking news of their lives.

    The Grand Elder let out a long sigh. He was expecting her identity to eventually leak out. But he never thought that she would be this reckless and reveal herself with all this fanfare.

    Only Dai Jun didn¡¯t bother to show any emotion, although that was understandable given his weird personality. As for Long Mu, he was too busy rubbing his own ass.

    The Palace Head glanced angrily at the monk, then signalled for the old man to finish the selection. It was then that a random voice from the stands was heard, triggering a chain reaction.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t each region leave the very best cultivator for the last? If she is this strong, then how much stronger is the remaining cultivator?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve almost forgotten about him! If he is stronger than her, then he is at the level of the top regions¡¯ candidates!¡±

    Unwillingly, Jack ended up becoming the centre of attention. The several competitors were looking at him with terrified expressions as he approached the stone. In the stands, a number of spectators were already biting their nails, while others were feeling proud that they were present here, about to witness history in the making.

    Jack was regretting this entire affair, but if he wanted to obtain the herb, his only choice was to proceed forward. Observing the anticipating eyes, he didn¡¯t know whether he should start laughing or crying.

    He gently pressed his palm against the stone.

    The muscles on the old man¡¯s face were twitching with excitement as he grabbed the talisman like it was the most precious treasure in existence. His eyes instantly opened wide.

    Seeing this reaction, some spectators couldn¡¯t wait any longer and stood up on their feet. This started an infectious wave, and in just a couple of breaths, almost the entire arena rose up, awaiting the big news to drop.

    Perceiving the numerous glances, the old man¡¯s face turned bright red as he coughed multiple times. Then, he spoke with a soft voice that was barely audible.

    ¡°Ehh¡­ 19 years old¡­ one essence¡­ 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm¡­¡±

 Chapter 28 - Mystical Pine Twig

    Normally, it would be impossible to completely silence a massive crowd such as this one. But Jack had managed to do just that.

    A soft breeze accompanied the sounds of his retreating footsteps. Although he tried his best to act as nothing had happened, he still couldn¡¯t hide the redness over his face.

    The spectators were still having a hard time digesting the result. Their disappointment was evident as they slammed their bottoms one by one, feeling dumb for their previous conduct.

    What was a 19-year-old 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm cultivator? Worthless rubbish.

    The Palace Head was also surprised as he glanced at an apprentice of his. The apprentice immediately activated his analysing essence, nodding and confirming that there was nothing wrong with the evaluation.

    There were few records of 6<sup>th</sup> Qi seeking Realm cultivators participating in the past. But a 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator was a complete novelty. The Palace Head could understand if Jack was eleven or twelve, but not nineteen.

    Amidst the silence, Chief Iran Hand expressed a widening smile. ¡°I see the Divinities Alliance are keeping to their tradition of providing us with free entertainment. They didn¡¯t want to disappoint us today.¡±

    He then showcased his teeth as he called Jack out. ¡°Little boy, someone like you wouldn¡¯t even qualify to be a servant in my tribe. You should be thanking the heavens that the Divinities Alliance is this weak.¡±

    These words were enough to make a lot of people snicker. Soon, numerous competitors viewed Jack with ridicule, and some even started taunting him. There were also a number of spectators that couldn¡¯t help themselves from bursting into laughter.

    Facing this direct humiliation, Jack remained still, body slightly trembling. Right now he wished he could bury himself into the ground, disappearing from everyone¡¯s sight.

    Shui Tao noticed that Jack was about to have a mental breakdown, so he lowered his head and quickly hurried towards him. He grabbed him by his shoulder, gently pulling him to the middle of the arena, next to their group.

    The Sky Water Sect¡¯s stand was gloomy as they watched everything unfold. Dai Jun was frowning while Long Mu had already stood up, seeing red.

    The Grand Elder was confused. ¡°Long Mu, what is the meaning of this?¡±

    ¡°Insulting my boy is like insulting me! These idiots are asking for some face slapping.¡±

    ¡°Your boy? And what do you think? Aren¡¯t my fists itching for a fight as well? But these are the Palace¡¯s lands, and there are around forty spirit realm experts present here, what exactly can we do? Especially you, a mere foundation realm expert!¡±

    Dai Jun remained silent. He was curious about how Jack would react in such a situation. As he examined him, he could detect alarming signs of negative emotions.

    Jack¡¯s beautiful view of the cultivating world was indeed crumbling. His mental defensive mechanisms had shattered, revealing deep-rooted sentiments of hatred, vengeance and anguish.

    Sentiments that originated from the mortal world due to his cursed faith. There, only the rich and nobles had status. They could do whatever they wanted, while the poor like him were destined for a life full of sufferings. This was the way of life in that world, and it couldn¡¯t be changed.

    And it seems that the cultivation world wasn¡¯t much different either. One just had to replace the word ¡®rich¡¯ with ¡®strength¡¯, and the same principle would apply. This was the harsh reality, regardless if Jack accepted it or not.

    Lost in a myriad of negative emotions, his vision unexpectedly changed.

    He found himself inside his own internal world, standing half-submerged in a pool of qi, the same qi he had accumulated since he started the road of cultivation. He was completely naked, but there were no signs of embarrassment inside his eyes. He actually felt quite at ease.

    Gently pushing through the waters, he started walking towards a particular object that broke through the darkness of his world. It was a small pine twig that had a number of golden leaves, illuminating the pool of qi similar to the moon illuminating the sea at night.

    From this twig, Jack could feel a sense of familiarity, closeness and affection. He wished to touch it, to uncover its mysteries, to hold it and never let go. But there was an invisible barrier that prevented him from doing so. As if reaching it required some type of understanding that his current self lacked.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    It didn¡¯t take much longer for his inner world to start fading away. Jack was already struggling against the currents, pushing his body and slamming his fists against the rebelling qi. He let out a soul-piercing cry before he was expelled from this world.

    When he opened his eyes again, he found himself resting on a bed. Standing next to him, were Dai Jun and Long Mu.

    ¡°Ah, finally awake? You gave us quite a scare... fainting in the arena¡­¡±

    ¡°I Fainted? And the tournament... What about the tournament?!¡±

    ¡°Chill, you¡¯ve only been here for two hours. Portal is about to open.¡±

    Jack appeared relieved as he hurriedly got out of bed.

    Long Mu frowned. ¡°Are you really gonna participate like this? Why are you making my life hard?¡±

    Jack shook his head. ¡°No, I must go in. I was wrong, for all this time, I was terribly wrong. It is not about the herb, and neither is it about proving myself worthy to anyone. I need to push ahead and challenge the trials of life. Otherwise, the others are going to keep looking down on me. Otherwise, my existence will never matter, no matter which world I am in.¡±

    ¡°Jack, you stubborn fool... Dai Jun, hand him over some pills.¡±

    Without any warning, Long Mu punched Jack hard on the stomach. Jack fell writhing on the floor, spitting out some blood.

    ¡°Ugh... w-why¡­?!¡±

    ¡°To protect you, you idiot.¡± Long Mu was clearly pissed off as he exited the infirmary.

    Dai Jun appeared puzzled, handing out a bottle containing some healing pills. ¡°Hurry up and go join the others.¡±

    Jack was cursing the creature as he swallowed one of the pills, then hastened out from the infirmary and back to the arena.

    He was anticipating another round of mocking, but surprising enough, his return seemed to go largely unnoticed. He realised that most eyes were affixed on a particular woman sitting next to the Palace Head.

    The Holy Daughter was all smiles as she waved the various spectators. As she surveyed the audience, her phoenix eyes soon locked over a young man holding his stomach, barely able to walk. Her blood immediately started to boil.

    ¡°Lai... Lai Kun, who¡¯s that young man? Tell me everything you know about him!¡±

    Lai Kun shrugged. ¡°Remember that good for nothing I told you about earlier? That¡¯s him...¡±

    The Holy Daughter appeared perplexed as she relaxed her shoulders, leaning back against her seat. She kept blinking at Jack, analysing every bit of his body and making sure she didn¡¯t miss out any particular details. She then smiled, her curious eyes soon burning with desire.

    She graciously leaned against the Palace Head, whispering softly, ¡°Father, I think I¡¯ve found the man we are looking for.¡±

    The Palace Head nodded but was forced to postpone this conversation for later. This is because the five Pillar Arcs had activated.

    The various contenders watched with awe as a sizeable oval-shaped portal formed. Several spiralling energies could be seen on its surface, but there were no hints of where it led to.

    ¡°The Portal has finally connected. It¡¯s time for the official competition to commence.¡± The Palace Head confirmed amidst everyone¡¯s excitement.

    ¡°You already know the details, so I will not keep you waiting here for much longer. The Counterbalance realm is an ancient realm of unknown origins, but it¡¯s relatively a safe place. We rarely had any reported causalities in the past. But I feel I should warn you about two particular matters.

    ¡°The portal will only stay open for three days, maybe a bit more. But I want everyone to report back within three days. If the portal closes, there will be no way for you to return back. Since the portal always opens in different locations, this virtually means that missing out the portal would result in you being permanently trapped inside the realm. Right now, our stewards are handing you a talisman that will guide you towards the portal, just in case you get lost.

    ¡°Furthermore, the counterbalance realm is also a realm that ¡®tries to balance things out¡¯. When someone enters it, the realm will try to balance your existence by creating an image, usually a demonic beast or human being of equivalent strength. These are usually existences you have connections with, or that you will have in the future. And I said it tries because the powers of the realm have weakened throughout the ages. The images created lack common sense and are easy to kill, so there will be no dangers whatsoever. Just informing you, in case you happen to cross their paths.¡±

    The Palace Head didn¡¯t take much longer to finish his speech, signalling for the event to start.

    The candidates immediately began rushing inside the portal in sequence, amidst the applause of everyone.

    ¡°Stay safe, everyone,¡± Shui Tao said as he disappeared inside the portal.

    Zheng Zexi was as cold as ever as she entered after him, followed by the other two.

    Jack was still holding his stomach, both from pain and anxious rumbling. He was excited and also fearful of the unknown. Who knows what this new adventure was going to bring? Whatever it happens, he had already decided to make the most out of this opportunity.

    As soon as he entered the portal, he was sucked inside a storm of elements. Unaffected, Jack could feel his body travelling at unfathomable speed towards the indefinite. Here, he could sense an archaic Qi that was much denser than anything he had experienced before.

    Without realising, he suddenly found himself standing on firm land. He took his time to adjust to this new environment.

    The lands before him were mostly reddish coloured. The whole place seemed devoid of life, with some ancient structural ruins scattered around. The winds felt warm as he observed the several mountains, canyons and narrow abysses that laid before him.

    But what struck him the most was the moment he glanced upwards. It was daylight, but there was no sun, no moon, and no source of light. Funnily enough, there wasn¡¯t even a sky.

    Instead, there was a continental mass hanging down facing back at him. It was actually an upside-down copy of the same landmass he was standing on. However, whatever down here was white, up there it was black. And whatever here was black, up there it was white. All the colours seemed inverted.

    Jack couldn¡¯t stare for too long without hurting his eyes.

    ¡°This is the counterbalance realm? I am starting to have my doubts about the fertility of these lands. How can a herb survive in a place like this?¡±

    He sighed, examining the talisman. He could sense he was only three hours of flight away from the return portal. Also, he noticed that he was alone, with no other presence in sight. However, he assumed that the others should be in close proximity.

    He soon took flight without further delays, searching for anything unusual.

 Chapter 29 â€“ Counterbalance Realm

    Jack had wasted an entire hour just to travel one bloody mountain. Lacking the necessary qi to proceed any further, he had no choice but to descend down for a rest.

    Once landed, he swiftly shifted his irises towards a nearby location. There, a blue coloured rock with several gems attached to it seemed to be calling him out. His face was all smiles as he looted it, storing it inside his dimensional pocket.

    This was the third gemstone he had found thus far. However, there were still no hints about the rainbow coloured camellia, or any other herb for that matter.

    He let out a soft sigh, examining his shiny dagger. Although everything here appeared quiet and peaceful, he didn¡¯t risk lowering his guard.

    This particular dagger was actually one of the two foundation realm treasures he had received from House Yu. It was true that the Creature was a pain in the ass at times, but he did acknowledge that it actually cared for him.

    He finally resumed his journey after recovering his strengths.

    He couldn¡¯t find any more gemstones along the way. Neither did he manage to find any treasures or herbs. Instead, he was met with aridity, desolation and eventually, boredom.

    Initially, he had high expectations for this Counterbalance Realm, especially after he had listened to the Palace Head speaking about ¡®central locations¡¯ and ¡®great treasures¡¯. But it seems that his speech was just useless boastfulness.

    Focused on detecting anything unusual, Jack was distracted when a flash of light blinded his vision. It took some time for his eyes to recover as he stopped in his tracks, searching for the source. With nothing abnormal on the surface, he soon assumed that the light originated from a nearby abyss.

    Jack didn¡¯t waste any time as he flew straight down inside the void.

    His descent was smooth, but the deeper he went, the darker it got. As for the abyss, there seemed that there was no end to its depths.

    Hugging close to one of the walls, he slowed down the moment he noticed a sizeable platform protruding from the opposite cliff. Deciding to stay well-hidden in a secluded spot, he got a glimpse of two cultivators.

    One of the five swordswomen laid defeated on the platform. Her entire attire was covered with blood, her miserable eyes staring at the male cultivator opposite of her.

    Resting his back against the base of a collapsed pillar and holding his right shoulder over extreme pain, a disciple from the Hidden Hands Sect had an ugly expression.

    Although quite far, Jack could barely hear them speak, thanks to the silence and echoing generated by the cliffs.

    ¡°Fool¡­ if you had listened to my warning, none of this would have happened¡­¡±

    ¡°Arsehole, I-I was the first one... to find this place...¡± Her voice was full of resentment and disappointment.

    The male cultivator struggled to stand up again, slowly approaching the defenceless opponent.

    ¡°Good, very good. I might have spared you if you behaved like a good girl. But since you decided to act naughty, I am sure you don¡¯t mind if I had to do some nasty things to you, right?¡±

    His anger soon transformed into a wicked smile.

    The swordswoman could only shiver. Down here inside this bottomless abyss, there was nobody who could come to her aid. Feeling hopeless, her hatred for this man could only deepen.

    ¡°Just give up, not even the gods can save you now. Let¡¯s see how many gemstones you have under that dress of yours.¡±

    The Hidden Hands Sect¡¯s disciple was about to lay his hand on her when he heard the sounds of approaching footsteps.

    ¡°I may not be as gracious as the gods, but still better than nothing.¡±

    Being one of the weaker competitors, the male disciple appeared alarmed. He was about to use his remaining qi to flee when he recognised the identity of this new arrival. His facial muscles soon relaxed.

    ¡°Well, well. And here I was afraid that some terrible opponent had appeared. Turns out it is this joker.¡±

    As soon as he finished his speech, the aura corresponding to a 7<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm cultivator burst out. However, its intensity wasn¡¯t constant but instead started oscillating at different frequencies. This was clearly a result of the injuries he had sustained.

    Jack didn¡¯t seem worried. ¡°Indeed, I probably can¡¯t win against you in your best form. But in your current state? I am more than confident. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have appeared here, what you think?¡±

    The male cultivator grinned. ¡°Good, good, seems like there is something wrong with your brain. I, Ren Tu, promises to the heavens that if I can¡¯t kill a weakling like you, then I will walk on one leg from now on!¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    He then glanced at the swordswoman. ¡°Just wait for me a while longer sweetheart. I¡¯ll entertain you once I am done with this wannabe hero.¡±

    His voice was partially interrupted by crackling sounds as Jack summoned the Spectre. Growing to half a human length, it appeared like a miniature golem, dropping its feet on the platform and generating a mini quake.

    Jack didn¡¯t waste any time as he immediately sent it flying towards his opponent. Wanting to test something out, he suddenly decided halfway to let go of his control and giving the Spectre free will.

    The Spectre was already approaching the surprised Ren Tu when it suddenly started swearing, changing its course and instead aiming its fist against Jack.

    Jack could only respond with another curse. He quickly exerted full control, stopping the approaching fist just a couple of metres away from him. Even though the attack was neutralised in the nick of time, it still generated a wave of winds, enough for Jack¡¯s hair to be blown away horizontally in the opposite direction.

    The paralysed Ren Tu had sensed a hint of danger emanating from the mysterious golem. He was aware that the cultivators of the Divinities Alliance had a strange power-up that traded a part of their humanity in exchange for obtaining powers of demonic beasts. But this weird golem didn¡¯t seem related to that very power.

    When he noticed that Jack couldn¡¯t even control the strange golem, Ren Tu burst out into laughter. His face was full of mockery as he summoned his damaged zither, slamming the air and producing a wave of concentrated vibrations that tuned towards Jack.

    However, the same wave was unexpectedly met head-on by the returning Spectre. Crackling with solidifying essence, the golem kept charging towards the puzzled Ren Tu, slamming straight into his stomach.

    Ren Tu cried out miserably as he relied on his speed to dodge the follow-up attacks. Holding his stomach, he was forced into doing some fancy footwork, dodging erratically on the platform. Clearly struggling against the barrage of attacks, his face soon flashed with incredulity.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Ren Tu to exhaust himself.

    After being pummelled by the Spectre multiple times, his battered body ended up rolling over the platform, never to move again.

    The female cultivator was left speechless. She couldn¡¯t believe how easily Jack had disposed of Ren Tu, the same opponent that had reduced her to this sorry state. Although Ren Tu was injured, he was still a 7<sup>th</sup> Qi Realm Cultivator. But Jack remained arms crossed almost the entire fight, without having to break a sweat.

    Indeed, Jack appeared to be having the time of his life as he approached the swordswoman, leaning down and about to drop a medicinal pill on her palm.

    ¡°I don¡¯t... need... your pity...¡±

    ¡°Oh? Ok then.¡± Jack coolly walked away from her without giving her anything.

    ¡°No... please¡­ wait...¡±

    Jack ignored her as he began examining the mysterious platform. The several symbols and diagrams were all foreign to him. Buried inside the cliffs, he noticed a large metallic door that towered up for several metres. Unlike the platform, it was still in perfect condition.

    Jack was left fascinated as he observed the picturesque scene depicted on the door.

    At the very top, he could notice five symbols: a flame, a sun, a flag, a flower and a skull. Slightly lower than these were drawn seven existences, prostrating and worshipping the five symbols above them.

    At the very bottom were portrayed several worlds of different size. These realms seemed to be inhabited by various forms of life, everything co-existing in perfect harmony. The entire scene seemed to describe the ideal world.

    Jack occupied himself trying to understand the meaning of this piece of art. Sliding his palm against the door, he could feel his qi reacting to its touch.

    An idea suddenly surfaced inside his mind. Looking as calm as ever, he did a small cut and dropped some of his blood onto the door. The blood drops were instantly sucked inside, but there didn¡¯t seem to be any further reactions.

    The swordswoman was all the time observing Jack¡¯s movements. She had already spent some time trying to figure out a way to open the door, but she couldn¡¯t find any mechanical mechanism to operate it. Unfortunately, her attempts were prematurely interrupted by Ren Tu¡¯s appearance.

    Is he trying to open that door by spilling his blood? Is he crazy?

    Jack rubbed his chin as he kept examining the door. Noticing how it kept absorbing his blood, he decided to feed it some more.

    It was precisely on the seventh drop that the door began to react.

    The sound of several mechanical chains revibrated throughout the abyss as a small crack appeared in the middle of the door, enough for a human being to sneak through.

    Jack didn¡¯t waste any time. Clearly excited, he ventured inside.

    Unable to move her body, the swordswoman could only widen her sparkling eyes. She began realising that there was more to this cultivator than meets the eye. Deeply regretting her previous behaviour, she could only remain to stare at his back as he vanished from her line of sight.

    ***

    Somewhere else inside the realm, a monk from Vajrayana Temple was standing over a small cliff, staring at the shallow pit ahead of him. His face was whiter than snow as he carefully felt a cold bead of sweat sliding against his cheeks. His pupils started shaking as a cloud of noxious gases made it inside his nose, smelling like something that would originate from the underworld.

    Below him, numerous dismembered bodies rested in a pool of blood. The decapitated heads of the various beasts all had expressions of disbelief, despair and misery. He could almost relive their terror just by looking in their eyes.

    He had seen and experienced the death of many, but this carnage was something that not even his imagination could create. He wanted to run away, leave this place as fast as he could. Alas, his legs were only responding to his trembling. Unable to do anything else, he suddenly noticed another female cultivator on a nearby cliff.

    Zheng Zexi was also staring at the gruesome scene, her face devoid of any expression. When she detected the monk, her body flashed, reappearing in front of him.

    She pointed her sword, almost touching his neck. ¡°Was this your doing?¡±

    The Monk had expected his head to be sent off flying. He fell onto his knees, tears leaking from his eyes. ¡°Th-thanks the g-gods. I thought, it was you, who killed them.¡±

    Zheng Zexi retracted her sword, glancing again at the pit below.

    The Monk took his time to recover from his trauma. Knowing how strong Zheng Zexi was, he started to feel more at ease. ¡°This¡­ who could have done it?¡±

    She remained silent for an extended period before replying, ¡°These are our images. I¡¯ve counted thirty-two heads, one¡¯s missing.¡±

    The monk was left shocked by her analysing skills. Although he was an 8<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator, he felt that the difference in strength between her and him was like the difference between a flourishing tree and a wilting flower.

    ¡°I know I stand no chance against you. If you want my gemstones I¡ª¡±

    Before he could even finish his sentence, Zheng Zexi had already disappeared from his sight. Unwilling to stay here alone, he summoned the talisman and hurried towards the return portal.

 Chapter 30 â€“ Iâ€™ve Been Waiting for You

    The Counterbalance Realm¡¯s immensity was not something a human cultivator could comprehend. Being limited to just three days, most cultivators didn¡¯t dare to venture far away from the return portal. They had many plans, but dying in such a place was not one of them.

    The return portal was located in the middle of a large open area. It was a replica of the same portal that had brought everyone here, with an always-active dimensional tunnel linking the realm back with the outside world.

    They could indeed choose to return to the Divine Vajra Continent at any time, but then it would be impossible for them to re-enter the realm. Also, if they had to leave after a couple of hours, their respective elders would definitely rock the earth with their furies. Thus, nobody considered such an option for the time being.

    With the portal being the only exit from the realm, some cultivators naturally started gathering in its immediate perimeter. They all seemed to be keeping a safe distance from each other, and there were no signs of conflicts, at least for the time being.

    The Desert Tribe group was also present, and it was actually the only group where everyone was gathered.

    Chief Iron Hand¡¯s leading disciple was sitting on a flattened cultivator. Strangely enough, the cultivator resting under him also belonged to the Desert Tribes.

    ¡°Tell me All, who¡¯s the big boss around here?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s you, Young Chief! We should always follow the orders of our big boss without questions!¡± The beaten cultivator replied, body trembling.

    ¡°And what did this big boss say before we entered this realm?¡±

    ¡°That we should all gather by the portal in one hour.¡± The almost crying cultivator replied again.

    ¡°Then why weren¡¯t you here before the one hour mark passed? Why we suckers had to wait an additional thirty minutes? Oh, because our little boy was summoned far away? Tell me another one! Someone unreliable as you doesn¡¯t deserve to be part of our group!¡±

    Nobody dared to interrupt the Young Chief as they let him fume to his heart¡¯s content. It was only after he seemed to calm down that Li Bai, the same cultivator that had intruded inside the Divinities Alliance¡¯s dwelling, butted in. He also happened to be the only person who was allowed to call the Young Chief by his real name.

    ¡°Wang Guo, serves this dumb idiot right for ignoring your instructions. I am sure he has learned his mistake by now, let¡¯s give him another chance.¡±

    Wang Guo didn¡¯t seem amused as he rose. With a powerful kick, he sent the poor soul flying away.

    ¡°Listen well you f*ckers¡­ I¡¯m only giving you two days. By then, I want the heads of every Divinities Alliance cultivator delivered to me. And the moment you locate that ponytailed bitch, immediately use the talisman to summon me. Weaklings like you can never beat her.¡±

    No one dared to object to his command. In the meantime, the beaten cultivator was trying to stand up, holding his chest in pain. As for Li Bai, he appeared worried.

    ¡°Wang Guo, we will try our best. But it seems that these Divinities Alliance cultivators are as good as hiding as cockroaches. Finding them may be a bit harder¡ª¡±

    Wang Guo eyes instantly flashed red as metallic spikes erupted over his arms. His appearance resembled a demon god; an unstoppable killing machine. ¡°Failure¡­ is not, an option¡­ leave, all of you, leave! Before I lose my temper!¡±

    This was the command the four cultivators were eagerly awaiting. They immediately hurried away with top speed, their faces expressing signs of temporary relief.

    ***

    Jack strolled carefully along the middle of the tunnel, almost slipping a couple of times as he stepped on the ancient tiles. His eyes glanced thoroughly at the spatial distortions on both of his sides.

    Wanting to verify something, he took out a needless book from his dimensional pocket, throwing it inside one of these walls. The book was instantly ripped to shreds.

    Jack swallowed a gulp of saliva. Lowering his head frowning, he moved ahead in the hope of finding the tunnel¡¯s exit. However, this only happened thirty minutes later.

    Once outside, the scene that welcomed him left his mouth wide open, his eyes unwilling to trust what they were viewing. He remained to stare dumbfounded, his hair waving along with the rhythms of warm currents that originated from this new world.

    ¡°Is¡­ this¡­ paradise?¡± Jack found himself inside a sea of colours. Uncontrollable emotions were surging inside his heart. He wanted to forget all preoccupations, to go ahead on an endless adventure and recklessly explore this fascinating world.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    He really wished to take a step forward, but it seemed impossible for him to do so without crushing a beautiful herb. Amongst the small hills and various flatlands, there wasn¡¯t a place where a rainbow-coloured camellia wasn¡¯t growing. And there wasn¡¯t one, not a hundred, not a thousand, but probably over a million of this herb growing inside this place.

    ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you, little one.¡±

    This sudden voice startled Jack as he glanced over a nearby shadow.

    A woman laid elegantly over a human-sized bench, the bench decorated with the most beautiful marble. Her curly hair dropped below her chest, her skin looking as smooth as the finest soaps. A large wooden wheel floated before her, glittering with mysterious lights.

    Jack gazed at this unknown woman, pressing onwards without relaxing his focus.

    ¡°The Wheel of Life, infinite promises, infinite karma. Like a circle, which has no beginning, and no end, so are the threads of our destinies. Us meeting again today was decided by the Wheel of Life the day you were born.¡±

    Her adorable eyes never left Jack for a moment as she assumed a sitting position, placing the wooden wheel on the bench behind her.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious? Have you never questioned your origins? Don¡¯t you wish to know¡­ who your mother is?¡±

    Her smile widened, her watery eyes slowly releasing a stream of tears.

    Jack froze in his steps. His hands were trembling. ¡°W-who are you?¡±

    The woman exhaled a breath of sorrow. ¡°Back then¡­ we were left with no other choice¡­ we were forced to you leave behind in that mortal realm. It was predicted by fate that we had to separate. There was nothing we could do. But karma would not allow it. No, karma is just, karma is compassionate. We were destined to meet again, my child.¡±

    Jack appeared startled, moving two steps forward and one backwards. Tears couldn¡¯t stop leaking from his eyes.

    ¡°Mother? You¡¯re my mother?!¡±

    She nodded, her mouth trembling, her lips curving upwards.

    ¡°I know you have a lot of questions. I can¡¯t believe what a fine man my little baby has become. You definitely belong to your father, there is no doubt.¡± She chuckled sweetly. ¡°Come, my son, I don¡¯t deserve you, but allow this old woman to hug you again after all this time.¡±

    Her arms were wide open as Jack rushed ahead full of joy. He jumped towards her like a little kid looking for his mother¡¯s support and warmth.

    Coming close to her, he forcefully buried his dagger between her chests.

    He barely managed to dodge her retaliating attack, retreating in reverse away from her.

    ¡°You¡­. why¡­¡±

    She fell on her knees, expelling out black blood. Both of her hands were over the dagger stuck in her body, trying hard to pull it out.

    Jack wore a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ve to admit you¡¯re very good at acting. But unluckily for you, my acting skills are quite awesome as well.¡±

    The woman was heavily panting on the ground, her life fading away with every passing breath. ¡°How¡­ did you¡­¡±

    Jack couldn¡¯t hold his laughter anymore. ¡°Do I look like some random idiot to you? My never-before-seen mother suddenly appearing inside a realm that is in the inside of another realm. What sense does that make?¡±

    He began walking towards the dying woman. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you managed to read my desires, but you terribly suck with herbs. A rainbow-coloured camellia cannot grow within a distance of one metre from another camellia. Otherwise, the two herbs would suck each other¡¯s energies, and both would die.

    ¡°Now, speak up. Who are you? What are your intentions?¡±

    The woman kept coughing up black blood. Soon, the entire world began degenerating away. When the illusion faded, a large circular hall was revealed.

    A black humanoid creature was whirling in the middle. Stuck inside it was the dagger.

    ¡°I am one¡­ of the three aspects left behind¡­ to guard¡­ heavenly scripture... only the one¡­ who manage to pass the¡­ trials¡­ is¡ª¡±

    Without any life-force left, the strange existence¡¯s body began slowly disintegrating into fine dust. A door immediately materialised on the other side of the hall, clearing a path for the second trial.

    Jack sighed as he recovered his dagger. The words ¡®heavenly scripture¡¯ had already made his blood boil with excitement. This was a subject that fascinated him and was also one of the topics he researched the most during his time on the Ark.

    A cultivator¡¯s life was focused on harvesting qi. Then there were the essences, a power one could steal from the heavens for his own use.

    A Heavenly Scripture involved a process of deep comprehension. A cultivator would first need to gain enlightenment from the heavens about a particular mystery. A copy of this mystery is then forged into one¡¯s soul, forming the scroll of enlightenment. This scroll would then remain sealed into one¡¯s soul, disintegrating only after the person dies. However, the scrolls of Spirit Realm Cultivators and above remained intact even after their deaths. The physical forms of these scrolls were collectively known as Heavenly Scriptures.

    In general, if a person cast a martial art without holding a scroll, then it means that he is using his own personal martial art, originating from the scroll of enlightenment resting inside his soul. If a cultivator is instead holding a physical scroll, then he is using a heavenly scripture of a fallen cultivator. In this case, the total power released would depend on the user¡¯s comprehensive ability and the level of cultivation.

    The scroll of enlightenment was different for every cultivator. Some scrolls only had the capacity of three martial arts, while others could hold more. The number of arts correlated with the bloodline¡¯s potential of a cultivator. Regardless of this, the maximum number of arts was set to seven, a limit dictated by the heavens. However, some legendary existences had indeed surpassed this limit. These very rare arts were called taboo or forbidden arts and were in direct defiance against the heavens.

    Jack still had no idea how he should even start forging his own scroll. Thus, the opportunity for him to inherit a Heavenly Scripture was like finding the most significant treasure.

    Not wanting to waste any more time, he decided to start the 2<sup>nd</sup> trial immediately.

    As soon as he stepped inside the second hall, a voice greeted him.

    ¡°Congratulations on passing the trial of desires, and welcome to the trial of endurance. This trial is simple; survive against my finger for three hours. Remember well that you will fail the trial if your body doesn¡¯t show any movement for ten consecutive breaths. This will result in your expulsion from this place. You will not be allowed to return again after you fail.

    ¡°Please wait while the difficulty of this trial is adjusted according to your cultivation¡¯s level.¡±

    Jack nodded as he brandished his dagger, still stained with blood. Fighting against a finger didn¡¯t seem a hard test, and his face was full of determination.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready, bring it on!¡±

 Chapter 31 â€“ Trial With a Difference

    Jack had long geared himself up in position; excited for the trial, ready for the unknown. He patiently waited for the adjustment¡­ five minutes¡­ ten minutes... thirty minutes... one hour...

    The supposed trial never commenced.

    Jack slammed his body onto the ground, starting to tap his dagger in a disorganised tempo. He heaved a sigh, strong enough to make his lips vibrate a couple of times.

    Many assumptions flooded his mind, the most believable being that the trial had somehow malfunctioned. Fearing the possibility of becoming permanently trapped inside this place, his eyes started probing for an exit.

    PLAK~

    Unexpectedly, a golden lamp dropped from above, bouncing a couple of times before resting some metres away from his sandals.

    The room became silent again.

    Jack blinked, assessing the hall for any abnormalities. He quickly jumped to his feet, creeping around the lamp in an always contracting spiral. Noting nothing strange, he leaned his finger towards it.

    ¡°Ho ho ho ha ha, ho ho ho he ha.¡±

    The moment he touched the lamp, strange laughter accompanied a spilling stream of qi. The white cloud floated upwards, coalescing and rotating on itself like a leaf swirling along with the wind. Floating and reclined in a relaxed position, a spectre eventually formed.

    ¡°Hola!¡± The petite old man stared at Jack with glassy eyes, wearing a strange ethereal hat. His voice was different from the one that had greeted Jack earlier and he looked nothing like the previous aspect.

    Jack¡¯s pupils constricted, raising his dagger. ¡°Who are you? You don¡¯t sound like the guardian of this trial.¡±

    ¡°Ho ho ho he ha, I am now, and the trial started one hour ago.¡±

    Jack tilted his head. ¡°Eh?¡±

    The Spectre narrowed his eyes, his smile becoming more wicked with every passing moment. ¡°How did it feel, waiting one hour like an a-hole? Don¡¯t be mad, don¡¯t be mad. Very normal for peasants to wait for the noble ones. I am indeed a royal presence, an emperor of the sky!¡±

    The strange spectre lifted his head, pulling his chest out, standing tall. He proceeded by extending his right arm, pointing his two little fingers. ¡°You see these? That¡¯s how many minutes I need to crush a peasant like you, ho ho¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough! I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but if this test isn¡¯t starting any soon, then let me out of this place! I¡¯ve more important stuff to do than listening to your monotonous jabbering!¡±

    The Spectre grinned. ¡°You were instrumental for my plan to succeed, but you are still a peasant after all, with a peasant¡¯s attitude.¡±

    Jack interrupted his rant when he suddenly heard whistling sounds to his left, observing an ethereal arm developing from the wall. The arm pointed the index finger at him, firing a beam of light. He dodged it with ease.

    He didn¡¯t have time to relax, though. Soon more and more of these arms began popping up randomly.

    Jack nimbly danced back and forth through the various beams of lights. He knew that any of these beams could leave him injured for dead. However, he was confident that he should be able to survive in these conditions for two more hours.

    Strangely, the attacks stopped after ten minutes.

    Jack rubbed his forehead as he severely glanced at the Aspect. He had the strange feeling that this thing was up to no good.

    The Aspect elevated himself further up, like a divine being where his presence was everything, and his words were the law. ¡°Four existences have lived inside this realm since its inception. A mother ghost who safeguards the Lost City, and us three aspects who administer these trials. But this realm has weakened throughout the ages, and so did the mother ghost. Why should I keep obeying that old hag when I can become the supreme ruler? You killing the first aspect has finally allowed me to overpower the second aspect, and I now have full control over this trial as well.¡± The Aspect laughed madly. ¡°Which means... that I can change the difficulty of the trial whenever I want, ho ho ho he ha.¡±

    The Hall suddenly quaked, the several walls flushing red as an automated voice was heard. ¡°Trial¡¯s difficulty raised to maximum, adjustment in progress.¡±

    Jack shivered. ¡°Shameless bastard!¡± He didn¡¯t wish to waste any more time. Eyes like an eagle, he threw out his dagger. He followed after it, summoning his sword-less hilt that was already crackling with solidified essence.

    The Spectre remained cool without moving, whispering happily. The dagger flashed past through him like he didn¡¯t even exist. The ruthless heavy sword arrived a moment later, and it too cut through his body without injuring him.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Jack backed away immediately, gliding all the way towards the golden lamp. The Aspect had initially been resting inside it, so Jack assumed that it must have some unique properties. He hurled it with all strength he could muster towards his target¡¯s head.

    Face full of ridicule, the Aspect placed his hands behind his head as he welcomed the attack. Much to Jack¡¯s disappointment, this attack also had no effect.

    Now thoroughly convinced that physical attacks weren¡¯t going to work on this bastard, Jack quickly summoned his own spectre. He was about to supply the 3<sup>rd</sup> Patriarch¡¯s clone with essence when he noticed the Aspect holding his belly in hysterical laughter. A bizarre idea flashed inside Jack¡¯s mind, deciding to relinquish his control and instead observe how the situation played out.

    When the 3<sup>rd</sup> Patriarch clone recovered his senses, the first thing he saw was another spectre laughing at him. ¡°%#$& What are you laughing at, you f*ckface?¡±

    ¡°What is this joke?! This little fairy here, even my willy is bigger than him!¡±

    The Patriarch¡¯s clone trembled more than the biggest earthquake. ¡°You son of a b*tch!!! How dare you insult me, a Divinity?!¡±

    The Trial¡¯s Spectre rebuked, ¡°A divinity my ass! I bet someone as useless as you is still a virgin. Unlike me who had over twenty concubines, each one more beautiful than the other, ho ho ho he ha¡­¡±

    ¡°Pfft! Only twenty hahaha! I had so many beauties that if they had to line up, they would cover the length of an entire sect! Duh, Duh, no wonder you only had twenty, a senile old dotard like you... very hard to keep up at that age¡­¡±

    ¡°You...!¡± The two spectres seemed to be radiating steam as they kept insulting each other. In the meantime, Jack¡¯s face was losing colour with every passing breath.

    Several arms had already begun emerging from the walls almost simultaneously. Besides the previous white-coloured arms, there were now three additional threats: a red finger that burned with a flame, a blue finger that seemed capable of freezing the very air and a black finger that formed spherical Qi of gravitation. All of these appeared to be brewing with the energy of a peak Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator.

    Jack was about to take control of the spectre when he heard the voice of the unexpected.

    ¡°Kiddo, this monkey doesn¡¯t know the difference between an esteemed being like me and a charlatan like him. Now be a good boy and give some energy to daddy, I need to send this bonehead to oblivion.¡±

    Jack didn¡¯t mind the Spectre¡¯s arrogance this one time as he quickly channelled his essence. Willingly cooperating with Jack, the Spectre began absorbing the essence much more efficiently than usual. His body kept enlarging until reaching the same height as Jack. The golem of destruction then glanced at his opponent with heated eyes.

    The Aspect was still having a hard time digesting this sudden transformation. With nowhere to flee, he started running in circles around the edges of the hall. The Spectre accelerated after him.

    The Aspect was fuming. He thought he had everything under control, but he never suspected this little boy to have such a secret stratagem. However, when he noticed the fingers charging up, his eyes flashed with hope. ¡°This is the end for you all! Die!¡±

    The several hands all fired in unison. With no way for Jack to avert this attack, all he could do was using his own hands as a shield.

    BOOM~

    ¡°Arghhh!¡± The Aspect shrieked as the Spectre¡¯s fist struck him from behind, blowing a hole right through his chest. His eyes were full of incredulity as his mortally wounded existence plunged down, his remains disintegrating shortly after.

    The triumphant Spectre remained pensive as he shrunk, Jack¡¯s essence consuming away. Reverting to his former little self, he transformed into a stream of lights, disappearing back inside the fog.

    With the Aspect dead, the several hands dissolved back inside the walls. It didn¡¯t take long for the dust to settle, and everything inside the room returned to normality.

    Amidst the prolonged silence, a hand holding a broken protection talisman emerged from a pile of rubble.

    Jack managed to crawl out of the hole with great difficulty, immediately swallowing some of the healing pills. He remained resting facing the roof, heavily panting and feeling lucky he was still alive. That was indeed a close call.

    Even with the pills, it took Jack three whole hours to partially recover. Finally able to walk again, he hobbled towards the third trial¡¯s doorway. As he had assumed, he found an empty room, and he passed through it without any obstacles.

    Once out of the trial¡¯s tunnels, he a gigantic cave came into vision. The cave¡¯s roof was covered with thick fluorescent vines, illuminating the cave enough for Jack to see through the other end. Several scattered ruins of what was once a glorious city laid ahead.

    Jack felt like he had been transported back to an ancient era as he limped through the various ruins, examining the muddy ground for any treasures. He headed straight ahead, slowly approaching the only structure that stood firm inside these ruins.

    It didn¡¯t take long for Jack to eventually arrive at the strange pavilion located at the very middle of the cave. His heart accelerated the very moment he began climbing the vine-covered stairs. He had the strange sensation that back in the day, these stairs had been traversed by an extraordinary being.

    Once inside the pavilion, he took note of a cylindrical altar. The promised heavenly scripture hovered above it.

    Jack¡¯s body trembled, but he pulled back his impulse for the time being. Instead, he called out with a soft and respectful voice. ¡°Mother Ghost, this humble one requests an audience.¡±

    Jack remained standing on the same tile as his face moved according to his observing eyes. This building was eerie and silent, with no presence of any other living creature.

    A soft, ancient voice suddenly rang. ¡°Respect is a virtue few people possess.¡±

    Jack slowly turned around to examine the source, detecting the spectre of an old woman.

    She was tall, elegant and mysterious. Just from her looks alone, Jack could tell that her real self was a being of noble status. However, her eyes were concealed by a veil of sorrow. ¡°My master had prophesied that the heavenly dice shall one day return back to this place. After ten million years of endless waiting, this prophecy has finally come true today.¡±

    Jack remained to stare stupefied. The time scale mentioned was too outrageous, and even more ridiculous was for someone to correctly guess a prophecy after all this time. But the most unbelievable matter was that the catalyst of everything was him.

    His hands started shivering. ¡°H-how? How do you know I have the dice?¡±

    The old woman sighed, waving her hands. ¡°I know not where you fit inside this complicated puzzle of time. By my master¡¯s orders, my remains had to remain here guarding her scroll of enlightenment. My soul can finally rest now that the dice has reappeared.¡±

    She then invited Jack to approach the altar. ¡°Come, as the heavenly dice¡¯s successor, I need to show you what exactly transpired on that terrible day.¡±

 Chapter 32 â€“ Counterbalance Sovereign

    Jack crept towards the altar, his eyes unwilling to part with the floating scroll.

    The Heavenly Scripture looked precisely the same as illustrated by the books. It was not possible to tell what level this particular scroll was, but it was quite apparent that the original owner was more than a mere Spirit Realm Cultivator. Jack had the sentiment that he had stumbled on a priceless treasure.

    He carefully approached the altar, observing the lights swirling on its surface. He didn¡¯t place his hands on it immediately, instead appearing pensive, still undecided if he should trust this woman. He was aware of the possibility of concealed dangers. As his past experiences clearly showed, in the cultivating world he could not afford to lower his guard in any situation.

    ¡°Young man, the strings of faith have brought you here; you have to trust at least in them. My Master perished a long time ago and my willpower is what remains of her. Please fulfil our final wish so that my soul can finally find eternal repose.¡±

    Jack¡¯s irises examined the woman for a moment. He believed her words were spoken with honesty. He nodded, placing his hands prudently onto the altar.

    His vision flashed. Feeling himself being transported away like he was entrapped in some kind of magical formation, he soon realised that he was standing inside the same pavilion. However, it looked miles better than its current abandoned state.

    Several golden curtains hang affixed against the walls, with a number of crystalline chandeliers dropping from the roof, sparkling with lights. A royal red carpet protected the floor while an empty throne was standing instead of the altar.

    Jack quickly assumed that this was a memory of the past, even though the various riches made this place look futuristic rather than antiquate. He began analysing every minuscule detail with extreme precision, making sure not to miss out on anything.

    His breath was turning heavier the more he advanced towards the outside world. Hurrying his pace, his hands struggled to lift the long thick curtains that covered the entrance. Panting slightly and leaning forward, Jack could finally observe the Counterbalance Realm of ten million years ago.

    The sky was crimson red, churning with turbulence and spatial distortions. Giant rocks spat out from the burning inferno above, cascading down, and accompanied by ear-piercing sounds in a series of explosions that brought about only destruction. Several tornadoes moved aimlessly around, sucking and annihilation anything that happened to be in their paths.

    Jack quivered; terrified by the apocalyptic sight unfolding before his eyes, stupefied by the otherworldly presence climbing the stairs before him.

    A young woman wearing an imperial garment approached. She had no crowns on her head and neither did she wore any jewellery. Not like she needed them anyways; any outside decorations would only stain her natural appearance.

    Her ascending the stairs contrasted greatly with the destruction that was happening in the background, two completely opposite scenarios playing inside Jack¡¯s mind simultaneously.

    Chun Meili? Holy Daughter? These two beauties would pale in front of this woman. Jack tried hard to find the adjectives to describe her, only to realise that his vocabulary was far too limited for him to do so. This woman wasn¡¯t even a human in front of his eyes; she was a goddess.

    She walked past him, her long orchid hair almost touching his face. He couldn¡¯t resist not glancing at her back as she assumed her position on her rightful throne.

    Despite the calamity, she appeared calm, composed, focused. Her arms resting on the throne, she observed a panicked-stricken servant running inside. Although she looked a bit younger, Jack could identify this woman as the Mother Ghost.

    ¡°My Sovereign, the situation is the same in all seven realms. Everything is falling apart, the heavens are crumbling everywhere!¡±

    The young woman remained to stare blankly for a moment. Her thoughts enshrouded in mystery, she flipped her palm, summoning a treasure that Jack instantly recognised; the heavenly dice.

    ¡°M-Master, I d-don¡¯t understand...¡±

    The sovereign sighed. ¡°Teng Fen, there is nothing I can do to prevent this calamity. Take the heavenly dice with you and escape to the lower realms.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    ¡°Master! You can¡¯t! The dice is the symbol of your sovereignty! It is the status of your title!¡±

    ¡°My title doesn¡¯t matter anymore. The heavens are changing.¡±

    The Sovereign exhaled, rising. She walked back to the entrance, pulling the curtains and observing the ensuing destruction. ¡°I am the Counterbalance Sovereign, one of the seven sovereigns that rule over humanity. But even I have to bow to the will of the gods. Please Teng Fen, you are the only one I can trust. Take the heavenly dice and go hide it inside the lower realms. Afterwards come back here, I have a special mission for you. The Divination Sovereign was right all along.¡±

    Teng Fen grabbed the dice, flashing away but not without first leaving a couple of tears that tainted the carpet below.

    The Sovereign remained to stare outside, her hair blowing at the mercy of the powerful storms outside.

    ¡°I wanted to see my future successor with my very own eyes¡­ you are very different from what I imagined you to be.¡±

    Jack¡¯s body convulsed. ¡°Im-impossible!¡± Jack hurriedly took three steps in reverse. ¡°Are you not dead? Isn¡¯t this thing only an illusion? How can you sense me after ten million years?!¡±

    The Sovereign remained silent for a while, her eyes not moving away from the ravaged lands.

    ¡°This is an illusion, this is also reality, both intermixed together in perfect harmony. For everything in this world, there is an equal and opposite force to counterbalance it. Yin and yang, the sun and the moon, hatred and love, good and evil, the poor and the rich, black and white, the heavens and the earth.¡±

    Jack couldn¡¯t stop shivering. He could suddenly feel an aura that far surpassed anything he had felt since he stepped inside the cultivating world.

    The Sovereign raised her thoughtful eyes towards the sky. ¡°There are the gods who rule above all, and us humans who serve the gods. But the gods have abandoned us today, and humanity is destined to fall. The balance has been shattered forever.¡±

    Jack appeared confused. ¡°The legendary realm of the Gods, it really does exist?!¡± He paused, thinking of something. ¡°Wait¡­ in my time, the heavens are still there, humans are still around, and there are no signs of any disturbances. Humanity surely hasn¡¯t fallen!¡±

    The Sovereign rounded her eyes a bit. ¡°A human successor appearing before me today already surprised me a lot. Maybe everything that is happening today was the gods wanting to refresh the balance, for the new generations to take over.¡±

    She finally glanced at Jack for the first time, her eyes looking straight into his eyes. ¡°The Counterbalance Scripture is the work of a lifetime, please take good care of it.¡±

    The vision began fading. Jack¡¯s eyes had been frozen by her gaze, now also depressed that they were about to lose the view of such a goddess. He glanced at her one final time, trying to memorise her appearance forever inside his heart. In actuality, it was a feeling of a mortal admiring the divine, rather than a feeling of lust.

    The Sovereign curved her mouth into a smile, her final words spoken softly and slowly. ¡°According to Divination Sovereign, my official successor had to be born from a seed of hope, be a child of many. I don¡¯t know exactly what he meant; talking cryptically was that man¡¯s forte. But I am pleased to have met you today, my successor. Farewell.¡±

    Jack¡¯s vision changed again, and he was now back inside the previous boring pavilion. The mother ghost was staring at him, eyes curious.

    ¡°Have you seen everything? What do you plan to do with this scroll?¡±

    Jack shook his head, hands unable to stop shaking. ¡°I don¡¯t know Madam. Aren¡¯t you pretending too much from a Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator? I am young and ignorant of most mysteries, so I¡¯ll just move step by step. Whatever the future brings, I will not shy away from the challenge, being humans, beasts, the heavens, and whoever dares to block my route. There are too many injustices in this world. Who are these gods? Why aren¡¯t they upholding law and order? Have they really abandoned us? Teng Fen, I think the best answer I can give you right now, is to leave everything to the ¡®strings of faith¡¯, like you said when we first met.¡±

    The mother ghost expressed a warm smile, enjoying the inexperienced Jack trying so hard to answer her question. She proceeded by slamming her palms against the scroll, generating a large pulse that caused several ruins in the vicinity to collapse further.

    The scroll generated a protective barrier, entrapping Jack inside it.

    Jack was on alert as he summoned his dagger. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?!¡±

    The mother ghost¡¯s face turned sweet and adorable. ¡°It will take two months for the scroll to bind with you. You can safely cultivate here as you wait.¡±

    Jack frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t wait that long! The Realm¡¯s portal will close in less than three days!¡±

    ¡°I know about that. The time inside this space runs much slower than the outside. Two months here is the same as one day on the outside. You should be fine.¡±

    The mother ghost¡¯s appearance began washing-out. ¡°The scroll is what allowed this realm to exist for ten million years. The moment the scroll binds with you is the moment that this realm loses its source of power. I estimate only three hours before the entire realm self-destructs.¡±

    Her voice ended with a serene smile. ¡°Please, make sure you treasure deeply the powers of my dearest lord. She was my everything, the one I dedicated my whole life to.¡±

    Jack nodded. ¡°I will, you can set your mind at ease.¡±

    Teng Fen shed a ghostly tear, defragmenting away.

    Jack sighed sorrowfully. ¡°Teng Fen, may your soul finally find the solicitude and peace it deserves. I can¡¯t believe you have been guarding this place for ten million years... I would have gone crazy after one year at most... Your master was surely lucky to have such a loyal person as her servant.¡±

    He dropped onto his feet, kowtowing for a while out of respect.

    He then glanced at the Counterbalance Heavenly Scripture. In two months, this scripture was going to be his.

 Chapter 33 â€“ Moving Ahead

    Jack remained calm, his ears only distracted by soft whistling sounds generated by the protective barrier. He pressed his lips together. So many crazy things had happened all of a sudden, and it looks like he was now trapped inside this place for two whole months. Hopefully, time really slowed down inside this place. He didn¡¯t want to end up eternally f*cked.

    He examined the scroll. The Heavenly Scripture of a Sovereign, a being who had ruled over humanity, the original owner of the heavenly dice. Jack could only imagine the disaster he would bring on himself if knowledge of this scroll were to leak out to the outside world. Thankfully, all heavenly scriptures looked the same regardless of rank, and there was no way for one to note the difference unless not personally witnessing the raw power of the scroll.

    Deciding to postpone his worries about the scroll, he slowly assumed a meditation position. He wondered how the competition was progressing, and if the other Sky Water Sect¡¯s disciples were doing fine. He did find three gemstones, though he doubted that they would make much difference towards the final score. He wanted to make himself more useful, but alas, the circumstances didn¡¯t permit him.

    The matter about the rainbow-coloured camellia remained one of his major concerns. Jack realised that once he got out of this place, he would only have at most three hours at his disposal. That damn Patriarch, couldn¡¯t he have come up with a more straightforward test?

    Jack let out a sigh, focusing instead on something even more critical than the herb, the severing of the 2<sup>nd</sup> essence. For the last few days, he actually had an inspiration of where to start. He knew that this severing was going to be much complicated than the first, not to mention that during the first severing he had the assistance of a relict.

    He took out one of the Essence Attractor Pills. Apparently, these pills could be only used once per day, reducing the time needed for a cultivator to start comprehending a particular essence. He observed the pill for a moment, then threw it inside his mouth.

    As he felt the pills energies dissolving inside his body, Jack started recalling a particular experience; the moment he had collapsed in the arena. He closed his eyes, focusing. Lost meditating, he finally managed to enter his inner world after a couple of hours.

    This time he didn¡¯t end up submerged inside his sea of qi, but instead he was crosslegged floating over it. His face was full of motivation as he glanced through the darkness towards the shining pine twig.

    Jack had already decided that the second essence would have to do with the powers of this mysterious plant. He still couldn¡¯t understand why such a thing was growing inside his inner core, or from where it had appeared. Back then in the Azure Realm, he had refused the inheritance of the flame as instructed by the Creature. Thus, he shouldn¡¯t possess any additional powers inside him.

    Jack grinned. ¡°Growing inside my body without paying any rent, you sure are a leecher. Don¡¯t you think you owe me some explanations? What exactly are you doing inside of me?¡±

    The mysterious pine twig seemed to react, moving its leaves in a particular pattern. However, this type of communication was not something Jack could understand.

    Jack rolled his eyes. ¡°Do I look like a fricking plant to you?¡±

    The twig¡¯s golden leaves moved back and forth, radiating brilliance of different colours. Particles of fragrance materialised, meekly approaching Jack¡¯s nostrils. This otherworldly aroma brought with it mixed emotions, feelings of familiarity, hope and love; and feelings of hatred, revenge and justice.

    Jack remained encaptivated by these smells for quite a period of time before regaining his senses. He proceeded by laughing.

    ¡°Trying to bribe me, aren¡¯t you? Well, I may consider you letting you living inside me if you let me use you as the catalyst for understanding my second essence. At least you can serve me as a purpose rather than only sucking and wasting my qi¡­¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Jack then closed his eyes, full of determination, meditating on the mysterious properties of this plant.

    Days began passing by, Jack only interrupting himself daily to swallow the Essence Attractor Pill. He stopped doing this after seven days however, when he completely lost himself in a deep trance.

    The process of severing the 2<sup>nd</sup> essence had officially started, and everything was now up to his potential and luck.

    ***

    In a remote location inside the Counterbalance realm, a cultivator was fast travelling over the barren terrain, his eyes surveying anything of particular interest. He had already looted twenty gemstones, though that wasn¡¯t his primary concern at the moment. His main objective was something more sinister.

    Suddenly detecting a nearby presence, he quickly dropped down, hiding himself behind a large boulder. He threaded on his toes, careful not to alert the oblivious cultivator on the other side of the rock. He sneaked towards the edge, his left eye half showing as he peeked, trying to verify the identity of the cultivator on the other side.

    His eyes immediately enlarged. He quickly took a couple of steps in reverse, rubbing his hands with surprise and expectations. Barely unable to suppress his joy, he proceeded by extending his arms and raising his face towards the heavens, even though what greeted him was a large mass of land.

    Tears oozed over his cheeks, unable to contain his excitement any longer. He dropped, kowtowing and kissing the ground multiple times. He didn¡¯t seem to mind the dust that remained stuck onto his lips, he was too happy to care about that.

    ¡°Heavens! Heavens! I thought you had abandoned me! Have you finally shown mercy to this poor little guy?¡± His trembling smile soon transformed into a devilish grin. ¡°Just wait for me Wang Guo! Why did you have to beat me to that extent?! I am not someone useless as you think! I am a proud warrior of the Desert Tribes!¡±

    He burst out in mad laughter. He didn¡¯t care any longer about concealing his identity. So what if he the other presence detected him? The heavens were finally showing him mercy, and everything was under his control.

    Like a little kid about to bully another kid, the Desert Tribe¡¯s cultivator was all smiles as he revealed himself. ¡°Surprise¡­ surprise¡­ look who we have here.¡±

    His feet lumbered ahead, his mocking eyes affixed on the grey robbed cultivator. He extended his arms. ¡°Aw, is something wrong little kid? Has my presence scared you shitless? I know that you cultivators of the Divinities Alliance lack valour, but I never thought it would be at this level.¡±

    He summoned his weapon, a blade with a silver hilt in the form of a dragon. He then pointed it towards his prey. ¡°I am quite a generous person, so I am giving you a choice. I have over one thousand ways to kill you. Which one of these do you prefer? Come on, don¡¯t be shy. I am all ears.¡±

    The grey robbed cultivator had yet to show any type of reaction, however. Fear, surprise, hatred, vigilance, emotions typical of such situations were all missing. This bizarre reaction confused the Desert Tribes cultivator for a moment, before proclaiming in a loud voice.

    ¡°Who are you trying to fool by pretending kid? Everyone knows who you are, the joke of this year¡¯s festival!¡± As soon as he finished, the aura of an 8<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Cultivator pressured out. ¡°I was planning to play with you for a bit, but you are clearly no fun. Duh, it doesn¡¯t matter. That head of yours, I¡¯m taking it.¡±

    It was then that the grey robbed cultivator finally showed a reaction. He raised his hand, slowly, very slowly, as if he was trying to lift the entire sky with it. He paused his palm facing the sky, remaining firm in that position without any further movements.

    The grin on the Desert Tribe Cultivator began dissipating, gradually replaced by feelings of an impending disaster, a sensation that a terrible calamity was about to descend over him. However, he seemed to recover himself just before he broke down in despair, his breathing increasing a bit.

    ¡°You¡­ you almost fooled me¡­ so this is the power of your essence, intimidating others¡­ Sorry to burst the bubble for you, such a petty trick isn¡¯t going to work on me! Now¡ª¡±

    CRACK ~ CRACK~

    Loud cracking sounds similar to lightning suddenly formed around the grey robbed cultivator. The air over his palm started compressing on itself, soon developing into an arrow made of solidifying essence. It appeared made of glass, but it wasn¡¯t transparent. It was pure white, with white smoke emerging from it.

    The Desert Tribe Cultivator didn¡¯t understand. This cultivator was only a 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator. Why did he suddenly perceive a feeling of dread? Why was his body telling him to flee as far as he could?

    Undecided what to do he took a step backwards. And that was the last thing he did.

    The arrow flashed forward, generating ripples of lights as it cut through the winds. It slammed straight into the Desert Tribe Cultivator¡¯s forehead, sending him flying straight against the boulder.

    Large cracks appeared as the boulder partially collapsed. As for the poor soul, his dead body slid slowly in a sitting position, his dead eyes expressing a myriad of negative emotions and astonishment. His mind didn¡¯t even have the time to process the exact way he had died.

    The grey robbed cultivator remained immobile, staring indifferently at the corpse before him. His eyes radiating bone-chilling terror, he soon took flight, his silhouette disappearing over the horizon.

 Chapter 34 â€“ Battle of the Giants

    The atmosphere inside the arena was as vivacious as ever, but there was a particular individual who appeared cut off from the outside world. With his hands crossed and a meaningful frown dulling his face, he stared blankly towards the opposite stand, well aware that he was unable to influence the situation. Ultimately, all he could do was to let out a hefty snort from his nose.

    Earlier, he had felt his heart throbbing as he observed a group of Spirit Realm Cultivators joining forces with the Palace¡¯s elites, departing cheerfully towards the Crimson Abyss. The sight of these powerful experts was actually quite a spectacular show to watch, but for him it only added insult to the injury.

    The Crimson Abyss was after all the main reason why he, the Grand Elder, was excited about this festival. But now both he and the rest had to suck it up and remain solemnly seated. With Chief Iran Hand observing their every move, he didn¡¯t have much of a choice.

    With nothing to distract his wandering mind, the Grand Elder instead spent most of his time worrying about the wellbeing of his disciples. He had naturally expected these worries to subside as time passed, but for some reason the opposite was happening. As he struggled against his racing thoughts, he would occasionally focus his vision towards the five talismans floating around the telepathic stone. All of them would flash back at him with swirling lights, indicating that everyone was still alive.

    It was precisely at one of these moments that the unexpected happened.

    The Grand Elder instantly rose up like a corpse. Sweat had already formed over his pallid face when he let out a sigh of relief, quickly replaced by a widening mouth that projected his glittering teeth.

    The breaking of a talisman signalled to everyone that the first fatality had occurred, and it was precisely a disciple of the Desert Tribes who had the misfortune of doing the honours.

    The arena immediately fell silent.

    Chief Iron Hand didn¡¯t allow his hatred to reveal itself as he cast two prolonged glances, one towards the Cult of Blood¡¯s Elder, followed by another affixed onto the Empire¡¯s Elder. He then closed his eyes. Even though this death was a direct affront towards the Desert Tribes, causing a scene because of this particular disciple was not worth it. If this useless kid couldn¡¯t survive inside such a pitiful place, then he shouldn¡¯t have been part of that group in the first place.

    As for the other regions¡¯ remaining elders, they expressed mixed feelings. They were somewhat happy for having one less competitor around, but also preoccupied that an 8<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator had perished so early in the competition. Either the disciples of the prominent regions were causing trouble, or the realm wasn¡¯t as safe as indicated to be.

    The Palace Head produced a frown, not wanting the festivities to be dampened. He immediately signalled a nearby elder to summon the three conclave disciples. The Holy Daughter appeared surprised by his decision, her bodily movements clearly showing that she didn¡¯t agree.

    Usually, the Palace¡¯s disciples would enter the realm after the competition would have ended. But this year¡¯s chaotic competition meant that the Palace Head didn¡¯t want to take any risks. But if things made a turn for the worst, he would be constrained to send internal reinforcements to control the situation.

    He pressed his back against the seat, inwardly hoping that no other casualties occurred until the end of the competition.

    ***

    Inside the Counterbalance Realm, a cultivator was flying unhindered over the desolate lands, his eyes dull and lifeless. However, not even an eagle could match his observational skills and nothing seemed capable of escaping his sight. Always travelling with his head facing parallel to the ground, he was unable to feel the wind blowing against his face because it was blocked by an annoying mask.

    He subconsciously knew he was the strongest and had nothing to fear. Counterbalance Realm? Easy as taking a stroll on the beach. Cult of blood? He was more than ready for them. If they attacked ¨Cno, they would definitely attack¨C, he would welcome them with open arms. But he preferred if they were the first to make a move; reputation mattered to him.

    During his unpredictable journey, he had already encountered some unfortunate beings. He would appear before them like a stroke of lightning, then remain to stare at them without producing the slightest sound.

    The unlucky fellows would quiver, detesting the heavens for their ill lucks. They would quickly summon their gemstones, leave them down below, then flee without daring to look back, while also praying that this monster would not give them chase.

    This tactic of his was actually quite successful, earning him a considerable amount of gemstones already.

    Currently searching for his next victim, he suddenly forced himself to a halt. Not visible behind his mask, a broad smile began developing. ¡°Finally... it begins...¡±

    He didn¡¯t even finish that sentence before five red pillars emerged from the ground, surrounding him. All of these were covered with endless metallic chains that were always on the move, continuously intertwining with each other. An opaque formation soon established itself, entrapping him inside a dome-shaped barrier.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    The Masked Cultivator responded at this surprise attack by maddened laughter. He remained still, grinning from within the barrier while also trying to locate his aggressor, to no success.

    With a sound similar to pouring water, his opponent¡¯s face finally revealed herself on one of the pillars. He recognised her as the head disciple of the Cult, the red-haired cultivator that came second in the arena rankings.

    ¡°Here you are... I intentionally gave you ample time to spice things up, and this is the best tactic you could come up with? I am actually embarrassed in your stead!¡±

    He shook his head with incredulity as he summoned a bronze coloured sword, which on first glance appeared nothing special. He then struck down towards the barrier, producing a small tear. Unfortunately for him, the formation repaired itself the same moment it was damaged, giving him no chance to escape.

    The red-haired cultivator began merging her face back inside the formation. ¡°My, my... the Empire¡¯s cultivators surely lack proper etiquette...¡±

    The masked cultivator frowned at this bizarre sorcery, his irises switching left and right, expecting the unexpected. He knew that this barrier was definitely created from a powerful heavenly scripture. He was also aware that he had underestimated this particular cultivator. Although he believed that it was impossible for him to lose, he began anticipating a much tougher fight than he had originally planned. And if the other two joined forces with her, things were going to get ugly.

    ¡°Hah? Hiding like a coward? Not gonna work.¡±

    He immediately aimed his sword towards one of the pillars, waving a slash that seemed capable of crushing a block of steel. As per his expectations, the pillar couldn¡¯t withstand this attack and immediately crumbled. The barrier then flickered, clearly losing a bit of its strength.

    He continued laughing as the several chains encircling the four pillars seemed to become sentient. They started oscillating like snakes as they charged towards him, trying to bind him in position. He didn¡¯t seem worried however as he rotated his sword, cutting down any chain that approached him with ease.

    ¡°Hey love, I admit that you are of the few women who qualify to warm my bed at night. But we need to do something about this bad temper of yours first eh.¡± His mocking words were partially interrupted by the bangs of severed chains dropping onto the ground.

    He remained immobile waiting for his opponent¡¯s next move. Seeing how she decided to stay concealed, the masked cultivator was about to target the next pillar. His eyes suddenly rounded. ¡°Shit!¡±

    The four pillars rapidly expanded on themselves, bursting out in a network of ear-splitting explosions that spread throughout the area. Several rocks were sent skyrocketing upwards, just for them to gravitate back downwards, generating a series of sharp sounds. The original barrier was utterly obliterated, instead replaced by four deep craters that intersected with each other.

    Staring attentively at the cloud of dust, the red-haired cultivator stood on the nearby ground, rubbing the blood that oozed from her mouth. Soon, she heard a soft moan.

    The masked cultivator had emerged from the cloud, his annoyed eyes flashing brightly through the holes of his mask, which now had two long cracks crossing over it.

    She mocked him. ¡°Your body is still in one piece? You definitely deserve to be chained on my bed for a day.¡± Her smile widened. ¡°Everything will depend on that face of yours though, I have my own standards.¡±

    The masked cultivator clenched his fists. He had completely misunderstood the barrier. It was not created to seal him inside, but to detonate itself up. Not daring to take it easily any longer, he raised his sword, pointing it up. The power of an 11<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator enshrouded his body, the winds of the area seemingly becoming under his control.

    ¡°Everything and everyone will tremble before the might of The Empire! 3<sup>rd</sup> Art: The Great Throne.¡±

    With a flash of incandescent lights, a celestial throne began materialising just behind him. Several crystals seemed to be protruding from within the throne, rising up for several metres. These crystals depicted images of several creatures, including dragons, tigers, monkeys and snakes.

    The lands rumbled and the air seemed to turn heavy as the masked cultivator sat comfortably on the hovering throne, like a god looking down over his opponent. His voice became slightly lower-pitched.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you were thinking by starting a fight against me. Even in the Empire, there is nobody around my age who can stand up against me. What makes you think that you can beat me? I haven¡¯t even used half of my strength.¡±

    As he finished his speech, he summoned his index finger and pointed it towards his enemy.

    The red-haired cultivator immediately felt suppression of her powers. Her will seemed to have been cut off, her motivation to continue this fight evaporated away like a droplet of water in a desert. With her face drenched in sweat, she fell on one knee, struggling for breath. She couldn¡¯t stop her muscles from cramping as she bit her tongue, trying to regain clarity from pain.

    With difficulty, she managed to summon a heavenly scripture. Her eyes unyielding, she began proclaiming a particular art. She coughed out a lot of blood as soon as she finished, clearly taking a heavy backslash for using the scroll. She fell flat on the ground, almost unconscious.

    The masked cultivator frowned, his mask slowly changing colour to red. When he raised his head upwards, he observed a burning globe of blood rushing down towards him.

    He quickly rose up standing on the throne, a tempest of winds encircling his body. His eyes flashed with hatred as he slashed his sword towards the approaching sphere. The attack was so strong that it ripped the air in two, creating a visible vacuum in between.

    The Sphere shattered on impact. However, it didn¡¯t dissolve. Instead, it detonated, generating an even bigger explosion than the one created by the earlier barrier. The masked cultivator let out a roar of despair as his body was engulfed by the resulting burning inferno.

    Barely holding against the fury of the elements, the red-haired cultivator managed to rest her back against a rock, her body healing at a hurried pace. She then licked her dried up lips with satisfaction, pleased by the magnitude of the resulting attack. The Spirit Realm heavenly scripture provided by her mother surely hadn¡¯t disappointed her.

    From her location, she carefully observed the lonely throne falling apart piece by piece. She couldn¡¯t find any trace of the masked cultivator, but she knew he was still alive. This monster appeared even stronger than her initial estimations, but she wanted to continue this fight regardless.

    She slowly stood up, pressing her fingers against a set of daggers as she patiently waited for him to resurface again.

    With the warming up session finally over, she eagerly awaited the start of the real battle.

 Chapter 35 â€“ Reaching the Apex

    When the dust obstructing her field of view finally settled, the red-haired cultivator focused her eyes over a particular rock. ¡°Enjoying an underground tea break by any chance? Show yourself already, or are you really going to force this lady to pluck you out herself?¡±

    She crept forward, timidly walking ahead. She eventually stopped when a plume fired up opposite of her.

    The masked-cultivator finally revealed himself. He appeared vigorous on first glance, although his robe had some holes that let bare parts of his skin.

    The red-haired cultivator let out a sigh of disappointment; not because her opponent appeared full of vitality, but because his identity was still enshrouded in total mystery. She wondered which material was used to construct that mask, starting to believe that it was harder than diamonds.

    The masked cultivator appeared in no hurry as he flexed his ankle. ¡°You are the first genius to push me to this extent. Might as well congratulate you, asshole.¡± He retracted his left arm behind his back and proceeded by sliding one of his legs backwards. ¡°But don¡¯t start having any delusions, I am in a league of my own.¡±

    He grinned as he waved his weapon twice, seemingly inviting her forward.

    She glanced at him for an instant, not losing her composure by his provocative methods. Her body flashed forward, showcasing an unhappy face as her daggers targeted his vitals.

    A tooth-irritating sound echoed as her attack was met head-on by his sword.

    She didn¡¯t give up. Rotating her daggers, she kept slashing them without relenting, each round more vicious than the previous. Her attacks seemed capable of shredding a column of iron into fine dust, but they were all effortlessly blocked by her opponent. Not only that, but he did so by only using one hand.

    Soon realising that close combat was futile, she pulled back away from him.

    Heavily panting, she understood that he still wasn¡¯t taking this fight seriously. She clenched her fists, unwilling to accept that there was such a big of a gap in their strengths. She was the strongest disciple of the cult, but this man was just toying with her.

    Indeed, the masked cultivator didn¡¯t even bother to chase after her. Instead, he unsheathed his sword, preparing to leave. ¡°This fight is pointless. All you¡¯re good with is exploding stuff. You should consider joining the Palace¡¯s fireworks team, you would fit with them perfectly. Challenge me when you are at least twice as strong as now, though by then I¡¯ll probably be three times stronger than you. I am a mountain you can never overcome, an apex you can never reach, not in this life, and neither in your next.¡±

    The red-haired cultivator frowned as she examined her daggers. Several lines were etched on their metal, clearly damaged by the previous clashes. She knew that her daggers were crafted with durable materials, imbued with the power of a Fusion Realm Expert. She quickly assumed that her opponent had a type of essence that allowed him to leave a cut on anything he hits.

    For a moment she stared blankly, the next moment she suddenly disappeared in thin air.

    The Masked Cultivator wasn¡¯t expecting this development. He recalled how she had merged with the barrier earlier, so he skyrocketed upwards.

    Hovering in the air, he lowered his gaze. ¡°Silly tricks will not¡ª¡±

    Before he could notice, two arms wrapped around him from behind.

    ¡°Gotcha.¡± The red-haired cultivator was all smiles as she held him tight, proceeding by digging her teeth inside his lower neck.

    The masked cultivator groaned with pain. His qi soared, shaking his body left and right, struggling to release himself from her grasp. When he assumed he couldn¡¯t shake her off, he tried summoning a martial art but suddenly felt his conscious waning.

    ¡°Ugh...¡± His skin turned red, beads of sweat forming under his mask. His breath became heavier as he felt her body pressing against his back, tighter and tighter. From his fixed position, he could see her hair sliding down onto his chest, the smell of feminine fragrance infiltrating his nostrils.

    ¡°You are not the only one with awesome abilities, masky boy¡­¡± She stopped biting down on him, instead hugging her head against his face, her lips almost touching his mask.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°Feeling hot, aren¡¯t you? My body has been tempered by poison since the first day I was born. Now close your mouth and enjoy the last few moments of your life; not everyone has the luck to die in such a beautiful fashion.¡±

    The masked cultivator was fuming internally. This lass was clearly much weaker than him, but she was one hell of a trickster. ¡°The one.... who will die... is you...¡±

    She wasn¡¯t amused by his reaction. On the contrary, she had taken a strange liking to his arrogance. ¡°Earlier, you told me that there are mountains that I cannot climb, summits that I cannot reach. That may be true, but what¡¯s the point of trying to climb a mountain when you can blast it out of the way? What¡¯s the point of trying to reach an apex, when you can destroy its foundation? Wouldn¡¯t the apex come down crumbling below your feet?¡±

    She grabbed him by his mask like a goddess ready to pass judgement, proclaiming her favourite martial art.

    ¡°1<sup>st</sup> Art: Beam of blood.¡±

    A red beam fired from her arms, smashing his mask into smithereens and sending his dying body slumping downwards. The impact generated a localised shockwave, strong enough to cause a nearby cliff to partially collapse.

    Victorious, she dropped down, clearly exhausted. Merging with the air was cool and all, but it consumed almost all of her essence¡¯s power. Her face appeared vacant as she stared sideways, watching the aftermath of their battle. The nearby landscape was completely unrecognisable.

    She sighed. ¡°It¡¯s over, sooner than I expected.¡± She waved her hair on the side, using both hands to brush through it. ¡°Today is the day the Empire is humiliated, the day our Blood of Cult rises. Mother, Aunt¡­ consider this my first repayment for all the efforts you have invested in me.¡±

    With her first objective achieved, she briefly thought about the arduous journey that laid ahead of her. She had a tough mission to fulfil, but it was too early for her to worry about that. She had a long way to go before she obtained Divinity and ascended to the higher realms.

    Face full of joy, she couldn¡¯t wait to share the news of her victory with her fellow companions. She had already flown away a couple of metres when a nearby explosion sent shivers running through her spine.

    She almost choked on her own saliva as she turned around, her face full of incredulity. ¡°Im-im-impossible! He¡¯s still alive?!¡±

    There was nobody who knew better than her how lethal her poisons were. Her body couldn¡¯t stop shaking as she watched a young man approach her.

    The male before her laughed out like a maniac. Amidst his laughter, different parts of his body would occasionally emit white smoke, dispelling out toxic liquids in the process.

    Finally catching a full glimpse of his face, she couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. ¡°You are ¡®The tornado of the Four Winds¡¯! The fourth Prince of the Empire, Dong Li!¡±

    ¡°Yep, his royal highness here, right in the flesh.¡± Grinning, he pointed his sword towards her. ¡°This fight, you shouldn¡¯t have started it. You ought to have escaped when I showed you mercy, not trying to bite off more than you could chew. You have overestimated your abilities, and this will be the consequence of your tragic fate.¡±

    He moved ahead, unrestricted. ¡°What is this that I see, the face of a coward? What happened to that face that was acting so tough just a moment ago? Life is full of decisions my lady, and choices always come with consequences. I can say that you handle yours pretty badly.¡±

    Now that his identity has been exposed, there was no point in hiding specific techniques. He raised his sword, its tip shining brighter than a star. The aura of an 11<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm exploded outwards, swallowing everything in an enclosed perimeter, including his opponent who seemed to have lost her will to continue this fight.

    About to fire his deadly attack, his movements suddenly froze midway. He frowned, slipping his irises at the edges. Soon, lines of confusion formed on his forehead. He immediately annulled his attack, instead turning around, awaiting the rushing presence to come into view.

    The red-haired cultivator appeared relieved by this sudden development. She wanted to use this opportunity to run away, but when she glanced at the same direction he was facing, she immediately understood the reason why he had stopped.

    Another cultivator had appeared.

    A dull face that lacked blood, a familiar young man. He had a grey robe that fitted perfectly against his body, the lower part stained by patches of fresh blood. His hands held no weapons but were terrifying nonetheless, because seized tight between his fingers were the severed heads of two cultivators.

    Dong Li appeared perplexed. Usually, the other competitors would run with their tails between their legs once they came into contact with the strongest two. But this man came out in the open, clearly unafraid of the consequences. Bizarrely enough, he also happened to be the weakest one, a ridiculous 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Expert.

    Glancing with utmost attention, Dong Li identified the two heads as pertaining to cultivators from the Desert Tribes, both 8<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Experts. He had already conjured a number of theories, but all of them arrived at the same conclusion that this particular scenario shouldn¡¯t be happening.

    Dong Li¡¯s frown deepened, not daring to remove his examining eyes from the intruder. He could sense that there was something peculiar about this man¡¯s aura. Also, why did he had a strange feeling that this was not the first time that he had met him face-to-face?

    ¡°You there, what is the meaning of this? Was it really you who killed those two?¡±

    The grey-robbed cultivator didn¡¯t respond to his questions, neither did he react to their gazes. Instead, he released his grip.

    The two heads dropped down, hitting the ground with two soft thuds. They kept rolling on themselves, their lives long snuffed away.

 Chapter 36 â€“ Mysterious Jack?

    A dense atmosphere developed as both Dong Li and the Cult¡¯s disciple watched the heads rolling away. They could feel the winds around them calming down, the lights slightly dimming, producing a small but noticeable drop in temperature.

    The red-haired cultivator kept her distance on nearby ground, deciding to try and gain something from the situation. ¡°Dong Li, this guy, his known as Jack Sky Water, of the Divinities Alliance. The rest, you should already know.¡±

    Dong Li couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. Just a moment ago she was trying to kill him, and now she was acting like she was his best buddy? And he was a fricken Prince, her addressing him like some ordinary cultivator! This woman was truly shameless!

    His expression dulled as he switched his attention towards the grey-robed cultivator, stretching out his sword. ¡°Jack, I have to acknowledge that not even I can make such a colourful entrance, but I think you should do a reality check. I am at the 11<sup>th</sup> rank, and you are only a 5<sup>th</sup>. Try anything funny, and I¡¯ll send you straight down to the underworld with this sword of mine.¡±

    He uttered those words with calmness, but one could detect some annoyance in the mixture. Indeed, the red-haired cultivator had already pissed him off enough, and now this weirdo had to appear from nowhere. And when he realised that this man actually ignored him again, veins cropped up all over his face.

    ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?! Are you deaf?! Wait¡­ why am I even bothering with this shit?¡±

    Flashing his sword, he fired a visible slash aimed at the mysterious young man. Dong Li was sure that his strike had enough power to take down ten 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm experts lined in a row, and he had actually held his strength back.

    Jack remained immobile as he extended his arm, producing a white barrier that fully blocked the incoming slash. The barrier didn¡¯t even show any signs of breaking.

    Dong Li slowed down on his movements, hesitating for a moment. He appeared confused, unable to comprehend how his opponent was able to block this attack with such ease.

    He had no time to think however. He could already hear ear-piercing crackles as he watched his opponent¡¯s body flare up with golden electrical currents. The sky above distorted, forming a cloud of solidifying essence that generated hundreds of luminous white balls in the process.

    Uneasiness overtook Dong Li¡¯s face. This peculiar technique seemed more akin to something that a Spirit Realm Expert would create, rather than a skill belonging to a 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm Expert. He didn¡¯t understand how his opponent was able to generate so much essence without tiring himself out, and neither could he understand the strange electrical lights that swirled around his body.

    Whatever the case, whatever was happening, he figured that he couldn¡¯t underestimate this particular man. Revealing his peak aura for the first time, he assumed a defensive stance, trying to uncover the mysteries empowering his opponent¡¯s attack.

    The several spherical balls of lights illuminated the skies like miniature stars. Their shapes soon began reforming, altogether transforming into solidified arrows. Like the rains of the apocalypse, they showered down over the entire area indiscriminately.

    Dong Li could feel a drop of sweat sliding against his cheek as he raised his arm upwards. A protection talisman activated, encompassing his body inside a see-through barrier. From the inside, Dong Li could observe the terrifying might of the arrows, slamming against his barrier for a long period of time.

    The red-haired cultivator widened her eyes in disbelief. She had exhausted her merging essence, so escaping underground in her current form was out of the question. Aware that it was impossible for her to dodge the numerous arrows, she hurriedly proclaimed a martial art.

    ¡°2<sup>nd</sup> Art: Snake Clone!¡±

    Her throat expanded, chocking out a small snake. The saliva-covered creature quickly slithered through the dust, digging a hole and slipping underground.

    Her original self let out a miserable scream as the arrows shredded her body piece by piece, annihilating her completely.

    The long haul of explosions kept shaking the area, creating a cloud of dust that towered up like an erupting volcano, catching the attention of almost everyone present inside the realm. Confusion naturally arose, some deciding to abandon the competition and instead head towards the return portal. Whichever circumstance created that explosion, they knew that their current strengths couldn¡¯t handle it.

    Little did they know that trapped inside his own barrier, in the very centre of the catastrophe, stood the strongest cultivator. His body shivered uncontrollably; not because of the ensuing destruction, but as a consequence of the cold-blooded eyes that stared at him from just outside the barrier.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Dong Li braved himself, recovering his composure. No matter how much resilient his opponent was, in the end he was only a 5<sup>th</sup> rank. He may use weird techniques to match him in strength, but there was no way he could match his speed. Narrowing his eyes, he retracted the barrier, at the same time slicing viciously towards his opponent¡¯s belly.

    The mysterious Jack remained expressionless as he solidified his hand, catching Dong Li¡¯s sword with bare hands. Dong Li appeared surprised as he tried plucking out his weapon from Jack¡¯s grasp.

    Seeing how it wasn¡¯t working, he decided to abandon the sword and widen the distance. But before he could do that, his entire physique was transformed into a white statue.

    Jack kept the solidified Dong Li suspended from the sword for an extended period of time. The life-like statue depicted the eyes of incredulity, a work of art expressing despair. After a while, Jack did a turning kick, sending the statue rocketing down with incredible speed.

    Unable to do anything, Dong Li¡¯s immobile body kept slamming against several rocks, until finally resting at the edge of an abyss. It took some time for the solidifying essence to melt away, revealing a young man covered with injuries.

    Dong Li spat out blood as he heavily panted, still recuperating from his trauma. He made some effort, barely dodging the incoming fist. He unleashed his speed to the maximum, finally able to widen the distance. Feeling safe, he paused, observing his opponent.

    Freak of nature, that¡¯s the only phrase Dong Li could think to describe this monster. Thanks to the fountain of knowledge laying inside the Empire¡¯s Great Library, he had unearthed secrets that not even Spirit Realm Cultivators knew about. At his young age, he had experienced instances of the supernatural, but out of all these legends, none of them came close enough to what was happening before his eyes at this very moment.

    His heart swelled with flames of anger. He was a prince, the number one genius of the Divine Vajra Continent. He was born to rule over others, the one destined to become a god amongst immortals. And yet here he was, getting trashed by a 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Real Cultivator.

    He let out an earthshattering roar, devastated by his current humiliation. He thundered out his first art, reinforcing it with his own wind essence.

    The winds around Jack suddenly started revolving around him, trapping him inside. Not giving any chance for his opponent to make a move, Dong Li proceeded by having the same winds suck out rocks from below, summoning a spiralling rock pillar that crashed straight into his target.

    Dong Li didn¡¯t lower his guard for even the slightest moment as he awaited the results of the attack. His eyes were frantically moving all over the place. When they detected what they needed to detect, they froze, rounding up with vibrations.

    A white cube hovered up in the air, the size of a room. Its lower part slowly crumbled away, revealing Jack in all of his glory. His eyes were dull, his face barren as ever. He lacked emotions, as if the purpose of his existence was to kill anything that showed signs of movements. At least, that¡¯s what the quivering Dong Li thought about him.

    Unexpectedly, Jack extended his finger. It crackled with golden sparks, firing a lightning bolt towards his victim. It pierced straight through Dong Li¡¯s shoulder, cutting a small hole from which blood spurted out.

    Dong Li cried with pain, holding his shoulder in disbelief. He could observe the lingering electrical currents that encircled his body. He froze, understanding that this wasn¡¯t a regular lightning bolt. Even though he had never experienced the phenomenon before, he had read about Heaven¡¯s Fury before.

    He glanced at his hands. ¡°This is¡­ the legendary tribulation lightning?!¡± He couldn¡¯t fathom how it was possible for someone to possess the power of the heavens. What he did understand was that his own life was now in great peril. Not wanting to play with fire any longer, he reverted to his three trump cards. Due to the emergency, he decided to opt for the most straightforward method, though it was also the riskiest.

    Dong Li¡¯s eyes flashed with determination as he darted his body forward towards Jack. He didn¡¯t use any weapons but instead charged ahead with a fist of his own.

    Jack didn¡¯t seem to react as he awaited the attack to arrive. This was precisely what Dong Li was hoping for. He waved his hand, smashing a talisman with force onto Jack¡¯s forehead.

    The moment they made contact, both him and the talisman were frozen into a white statue. However, the talisman still activated itself, summoning a series of corporeal chains that bound Jack in position, entrapping him inside a cubic formation.

    Dong Li¡¯s statue appeared grinning as it dropped down with a soft bang. When he could finally lift his face again, he looked pleased by the outcome. He had taken an enormous gamble, but it had paid off.

    Grinning, he skyrocketed upwards, gazing with hatred at the now restrained Jack. This formation was a top-level formation created by the number one specialist of the Empire. Binding a fusion realm expert for seven days should be possible, so Dong Li had no doubts that Jack would remain trapped here for three months at least. By then, he would find himself stuck inside this realm for all eternity.

    Dong Li laughed like a maniac, rotating his hand and taking out his middle finger. ¡°Motherf*cker, are you an offspring of a great clan who somehow managed to fool the heavens and sneak inside the middle realms?! I learned from our books that only those monsters are capable of showing such extraordinary talents, even though I found them a bit exaggerated to tell you the truth. So, how does it feel now? Trapped like a rat? Not in control anymore? F*ck you, really, f*ck you, son of a b*tch.¡±

    He vented out his fury for a while before deciding to drop down below. He coughed out blood, forcing some pills down his throat.

    Utterly Pathetic, that¡¯s how he could describe his current form. He would have never thought that one day he would be reduced to this sorry state. He may have won, but it was a pyrrhic victory at best. Besides, his opponent appeared still in perfect physical condition.

    He sat down like a frustrated child, waiting for his injuries to heal. Periodically, electrical bolts would flare around his body, reminding him of the tribulation lightning¡¯s terrifying might. Even after all this time had passed, the residual energies had yet to dissipate.

 Chapter 37 â€“ A Tempest of Fury

    Dong Li rested his face over his fist, reclined on the sofa he always carried with him. He was a royalty after all, with his own set of comfortable items. All in all it was a well-earned moment of relaxation. He actually had the temptation to stay here for a couple more hours, but he couldn¡¯t ignore his mission.

    He smirked, moving his eyes on a nearby rock. ¡°For how much longer are you going to spy on me?¡±

    The rock responded by rolling itself up, revealing a small snake that hissed out from behind it. Illuminating lights spread around the snake¡¯s body as it transformed, turning into a beautiful red-haired maiden.

    Her body completely naked, she gazed at the hovering formation. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you killed him?¡±

    Dong Li rolled his eyes. ¡°Same reason why you couldn¡¯t. How about you put on some clothes first, eh?¡±

    She didn¡¯t appear ashamed as she took out a new set of garments, taking her time dressing up. During the process, her eyes never left the cage for a moment. ¡°Back then¡­ the entire arena laughed at him. I would like to see their faces now if they had to see him in this state.¡±

    Dong Li didn¡¯t comment but appeared pensive nonetheless. This whole affair didn¡¯t add up. He had already used a special talisman to double-check that this Jack was actually of the 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm, and not someone who was suppressing his own power. But a 5<sup>th</sup> Qi Seeking Realm cultivator shouldn¡¯t be able to use an essence to such a degree, and neither should he be able to employ the strength equivalent to twice the average 5<sup>th</sup> ranking cultivator. But the most shocking of all, was him displaying powers that fitted the descriptions of tribulation lightning.

    Earlier, he had observed this Jack in the arena. He saw him drinking wine, chattering, smiling and laughing; just a normal young man enjoying his life. But this Jack here, if one had to ignore his human appearance, there was nothing else that could associate him with anything human.

    That¡¯s why he conjured that either this Jack ended up being possessed by some powerful spirit, or was an image created by the realm. But both these theories had their flaws. Considering the first scenario, the being that possessed Jack would have targeted someone stronger. And an image created by the realm was supposedly weaker than the original, not to mention that it didn¡¯t make any sense for someone to have himself as an image.

    The more he tried to solve the puzzle, the more confused he became. Giving up, he stood up, sucking in the sofa and preparing to depart. ¡°I¡¯m heading away, and you¡¯re going to stay here, guarding this formation. It is very fragile from the outside; I am sure you don¡¯t want that man to break out, right?¡±

    She frowned. ¡°I am not your lapdog.¡±

    Dong Li floated upwards. ¡°Consider this as punishment for acting like an asshole earlier. Maybe I¡¯ll come back to check in two days. So long.¡±

    Without giving her the chance to say anything, he transformed into a prismatic beam, disappearing from her vision shortly after.

    She crossed her hands, lifting her breasts. ¡°As if!¡±

    She had already flown herself away for a couple of metres when she thought about the sealed monster, shivers running through her entire body. Letting out a sigh of hopelessness, she stopped, actually deciding to stand guard. With the other two supposedly hunting for gems, she didn¡¯t have to worry about the competition.

    Calming down, she stared again at the formation above her, praying that it would hold until the competition ended.

    ***

    From outside the arena, one could hear the cries of the spectators. However, they weren¡¯t the screams of celebrations.

    The audience frantically pumped into each other as they watched a giant beast ascending above the central platform.

    A humanoid beast, twice the size of an ordinary cultivator, standing on a dark cloud of smog. A set of coiled horns spiked out from its forehead, while on its back appeared a set of wings, and below a tail that swung fervently.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Its demonic eyes surveyed the ten Spirit Realm cultivators that surrounded it. ¡°Despicable¡­ one death, I could close an eye... but three¡­ you are purposely targeting us!¡±

    It pointed both claws at the Empire¡¯s and Cult¡¯s stands. ¡°Come, both of you, I¡¯ll take you both on. I don¡¯t care who you are, I am not afraid of you.¡±

    The Cult Elder frowned. ¡°Chief Iron Hand, this behaviour is beyond you. Haven¡¯t you heard the Palace Head already sent in reinforcements? Don¡¯t be jumping to conclusions.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± His roar deafened not only the arena but the entire city. ¡°I feel their blood... boiling for revenge¡­ I will not rest¡­ until their deaths are paid with blood!¡±

    The aura of a peak Spirit Realm Expert blew-out like a cyclonic tempest of elements, suppressing the arena and causing cracks to appear over a number of stands. A large boom resounded from above as the artificial moon cracked bit by bit, exploding into large chunks of rocks that bucketed down all over the place.

    The Palace Head was shocked by this show of strength. Face full of disbelief, he immediately ordered his subordinates to protect the vulnerable. ¡°Chief Iron Hand! How dare you act like this inside the Palace¡¯s lands?!¡±

    The Beast laughed in anger. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have made any difference even if these were the lands of hell! Better tell these ten f*ckers to stand down. Otherwise, you will be picking up their corpses soon enough.¡±

    For all this time, the Masked Elder had remained passive observing how the argument progressed. Finally deciding that it was time for him to make an entrance, he rose, removing his mask.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough, everyone.¡±

    It was a simple phrase, but it contained a pressure equivalent to one hundred mountains pressing down. Everyone inside the arena was forced to a halt, as if time was frozen in place.

    ¡°Iron Hand... I wouldn¡¯t be surprised at all if our competitor killed them. If that¡¯s the case, we can settle this in a one on one match after the competition ends. This competition is of utmost importance for us, so I suggest you stand down for the time being,¡± he paused, expression turning serious, ¡°Unless¡­ you don¡¯t want to see an entire army come knocking at your tribes. Trust me, I am more than capable of that.¡±

    Chief Iron Hand narrowed his beastly eyes. He never expected another powerhouse appearing here. He paused, examining his course of actions.

    After a while, his body reverted back to his usual self, flashing back over his stand. His face still showcased anger as he glanced back from the side. ¡°I¡¯ll take you at your own word.¡±

    Noting this development, the Palace Head let out a sigh of relief. He was also a Peak Spirit Realm Cultivator, but he had the premonition that this Iron Hand was much stronger than him. It seems that the legends surrounding this man weren¡¯t exaggerated in the slightest.

    Leaning back down on his seat, he nodded appreciatively towards the Empire¡¯s Elder, or more precisely, the Empire¡¯s number two, Crown Prince Dong Wei.

    The audience that remained behind couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. The famous Dong Wei, the second most powerful expert of the Divine Vajra Continent? Initially confused, they eventually figured why he was here when they glanced at the Holy Daughter.

    With the commotion finally over, work for repairs had immediately started as the frantic stewards ran in circles trying to fix up the mess, helped by the Palace¡¯s Spirit Realm Cultivators who were forced to do the dirty work. However, it was clear that people had lost the motivation to continue the festivities, and now the arena was almost empty.

    From the Divinities Alliance¡¯s stand, the Grand Elder¡¯s heart was jumping with joy, though he didn¡¯t express it out. On the other hand, Dai Jun was frowning. ¡°Had to end when it started to get interesting¡­¡±

    Long Mu grinned, staring at Dong Wei. ¡°This kid¡­ he would make a fine genius even in the higher realms.¡±

    ¡°And what does an idiot like you understand about the Greater Realms?¡± The Grand Elder shook his head with incredulity, just to appear pensive a moment later. ¡°Please, boys and girls, be safe inside there. I am praying the gods that you don¡¯t meet the same fate as those three.¡±

    ¡°Good luck with that, praying to the gods...¡± Long Mu rose, his body movements hinting that he was about to leave the arena.

    ¡°Huh? Where are you going?!¡±

    ¡°Need some fresh air, boring here.¡±

    Without giving any further explanations, he suppressed his strength and left with a flash. His sudden movements had gone mostly unnoticed by the rest. He flew straight ahead, jumping from roof to roof like a ninja. On his way he had extended his aura, making sure that nobody was trailing after him.

    After travelling to the City¡¯s edge, he eventually stopped on the platform, not far away from the spot where the Ark had landed.

    From that position, he could glance in the direction of the Divinities Alliance. Soon feeling a bit lonely, he softly chatted with himself. ¡°Hah, did that idiot give up? I¡¯ve never felt my soul this calm before today. And it seems that the remaining memories of my lesser half also started to awaken.¡±

    He narrowed his pensive eyes. ¡°Descendant of the Ancestral Divinity? My ass! I am a creature brought here from the Greater Realms to serve as its substitute! Damn fools¡­ what kind of method did they use to travel between the realms without invoking Heaven¡¯s Wrath? This... I need to find out¡­¡±

    His expression changed, similar to a little boy who was scheming of something nasty. ¡°Quite a few tricks you have under your sleeves, eh, Sky Water Sect?¡± His grin widened. ¡°Though calling you Sky Water Sect is also inaccurate at this point¡­ right? Lackeys of the Cathedral...¡±

 Chapter 38 â€“ Breakthrough!

    The space around the return portal became more and more crowded as time went on, though no conflicts ensued, mostly thanks to the presence of a particular cultivator.

    The young man appeared solemn as he leaned against the portal¡¯s pillar, occasionally scrubbing his sandals through the sands. His overall appearance was rather peculiar, attracting several rounds of gossip.

    As one of the three new arrivals from the Palace, his primary mission was to enquire about the demise of the three Desert Tribes cultivators. So far, all investigations seemed to arrive at the same conclusion; that all deaths were caused by an unexplained explosion.

    Aware of this development, one of the trios had already left outside to inform the elders, while the strongest one had departed towards the impacted region to investigate. As for him, he had no other choice but to assume the only available job; guarding the damn portal. Well, still better than risking his life out there.

    Appearing somewhat pensive, he extended his vision towards the horizon. ¡°Lady Bai... what¡¯s taking you so long¡­?¡±

    Unbeknownst to him, faraway in that particular direction, a sealing formation hovered up in the air, still glowing with the same intensity. Several ethereal chains hung out from its walls, wrapping themselves tightly around a mysterious man, his eyes as cold as ever.

    From the outside, a female cultivator examined him.

    An average looking woman with a helmet resting over her head, two silver feathers attached to it. Her short hair cascaded down on her right side, rhythmically flapping with the winds along her mantle. A tight skirt seemed to make it a priority to showcase the most attractive part of her body; her breathtaking legs.

    ¡°I still don¡¯t buy it... how am I supposed to believe that this guy was the cause of everything?¡±

    The Cult¡¯s disciple raised her shoulders. ¡°If you are unsure, why don¡¯t you take down the barrier? Just let me know before you do that however. I don¡¯t want to be around when that happens.¡±

    Lady Bai frowned. She had already spent a whole day in pointless waiting. With roughly one day and a half remaining for the competition to end, her chances of finding treasures were dwindling away like a burning stick of incense.

    If she left now to report the situation to the Palace Head, not only she would have wasted this fantastic opportunity, but she would end up being scolded for her incompetence. Seriously, not even an idiot would believe that the cause of their deaths was this 5<sup>th</sup> ranking fool.

    Her time running out, she glanced at the red-haired cultivator. ¡°If I find you¡¯ve been keeping secrets from me I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Aaa, F*ck off! Your face is becoming more irritating than the thing I use to wipe my ass when I empty my bowels.¡±

    Lady Bai¡¯s face turned dark as she wielded her weapon; a heavy sword hilt that supported four swords, similar to a large claw. ¡°Oi, keep that mouth of yours under control. The word out there is that you are the strongest female disciple, but I only see the face of a coward.¡±

    The red-haired cultivator smirked. ¡°Oh, why don¡¯t we test it out?¡±

    They kept gazing at each other, their breaths increasing along with the tension. However, their little game was interrupted when the air around them rippled with strange waves.

    Lady Bai furrowed her brows. ¡°Eh? Waves of breakthrough?¡±

    The Cult¡¯s disciple also detected the anomaly. She assessed the nearby space for quite a while, but she couldn¡¯t discover anyone.

    Clink~ Clink~

    Odd sounds alerted the duo as they both turned their surprised gazes towards the formation.

    It was at that precise moment that they both came to a terrific realisation. The one that broke through was none other than the man sealed inside.

    Lady Bai extended her arms in confusion. ¡°What? How is it possible for someone to experience a breakthrough while chained inside a formation?!¡±

    The Cult¡¯s disciple froze, staring with rounded eyes. Shivering, she examined the formation while constantly reassuring herself that one difference in level shouldn¡¯t cause the structure to collapse.

    But reality was different than expectations.

    A series of strange vines began creeping out from Jack¡¯s body, pushing against the formation¡¯s walls and producing soft audible sounds. White leaves emerged from the various branches, attaching themselves onto the walls like parasites ready to suck out its power.

    The formation vibrated, immediately showing signs of weakening.

    The red-haired cultivator instantly jumped up with a blast, forcing herself to maximum speed and fled in the direction of the return portal.

    The surprised Lady Bai could only shake her head in embarrassment. Still laughing at the supposed number one, she proceeded by proclaiming her second martial art, producing a rotating stream of ice that slowly transformed into an ice phoenix.

    The summoned creature kept hovering in circles around her, leaving a trail of snow particles that brought some splendour over the dull-looking lands.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    She then aimed her weapon towards the fading barrier. ¡°Handsome, make sure to come out as soon as possible. Lady Bai promises that she will kill you fast and swiftly. Once I obtain your head as a trophy, I¡¯ll be able to show to everyone what a coward that wh*re literally is.¡±

    Anticipating her imminent triumph, her evil snickering reverberated out into the distance.

    ***

    The occasional sounds of bangs resounded as five young swordswomen utilised whatever techniques they had, trying to break the only obstacle that blocked the Pavilion¡¯s entrance. But no matter which martial art or essence they used, the barrier would not budge an inch from its position.

    With their faces drenched in sweat, the group eventually sat down in a circle, a clear hint of disappointment showing over their faces.

    ¡°We have explored every part of this darn cave, and all we¡¯ve found is mud and junk. This darn shield¡­ there is something inside it, something beyond extraordinary!¡±

    Crack~

    A small tear suddenly appeared on the barrier the moment one of them finished speaking, expanding on itself like a dropping bolt of lightning. Soon, these cracks spread out to cover the full barrier, causing it to shatter in a wide range of glittering colours.

    The five rose, their bodies shaking with shock, excitement and anticipation. The barrier that they had struggled so much to take down had disappeared just like that.

    They hurried forward but stopped at the entrance, trying to ascertain that there weren¡¯t any hidden dangers.

    It was then that they heard the most random voice ever. ¡°Done already? Faster than she told me... this is amazing, just great.¡±

    A male cultivator walked out from the shadows. A young man expressing a broad smile, making his face stand out from the rest of his body. Strange golden dust swirled around him, settling down on the tiles below and evaporating soon after.

    He strolled ahead, passing straight through the five, forcing them to spread out of his way. Their eyes appeared stupefied as they watched him passing by, undecided if they should interrupt him or not.

    Jack noted their confusions. He paused, pointing his index finger up.

    This strange acting from his part only added to their bewilderment as they glanced upwards, observing the dulling vines.

    ¡°Leave this place, and tell the others to return back to the arena. This realm is about to self-destruct.¡±

    He smiled wryly, then disappeared from their sight.

    The five opened their mouths wanting to say something, but nothing could come out. Instead, they stared at each other, blinking their eyes stupidly.

    Jack hurried through the trial¡¯s passage. Once on the outside platform, he skyrocketed upwards, ascending the entire abyss in a blink of an eye.

    He landed on the ground with a soft thud, inhaling a long stream of fresh air while he awaited his eyes to adjust to the brightness.

    ¡°This¡­ is¡­ simply amazing!¡±

    He lifted his face upwards, enjoying the light breeze that stroke against his face. He could feel his body brewing with renewed strength. He actually began fearing the immense power concentrated inside his body.

    He remained in this position for quite a while. Afterwards, he extended both palms, trying to invoke both essences simultaneously. He found out that he couldn¡¯t, but wasn¡¯t surprised. He had read about this matter before; it wasn¡¯t possible for a cultivator to utilise more than one essence at a time until progressing to the fusion realm.

    Still smiling, he switched his focus on finding that impossible herb. Preparing to depart, he suddenly paused, frowning.

    Two cultivators had appeared, blocking his path. One of them was Ren Tu, the guy Jack had trashed just before entering the trial grounds, and the other Li Bai of the Desert Tribes, the troublemaker that had infiltrated the Divinities Alliance¡¯s dwelling place.

    Ren Tu crossed his hands, smiling sardonically. ¡°See? I wasn¡¯t imagining things when I told you that one of them was here.¡±

    Li Bai could barely contain his excitement, clearly unaware of the other Jack¡¯s existence, and the tragic fates of his three companions.

    Jack let out a sigh of annoyance. He really detested it when he had a plan in place, just for some random shit to come popping up at the very last moment.

    Not taking any risks, he reinforced his physique with solidifying essence. They surely weren¡¯t here to congratulate him for his breakthrough.

    Li Bai pressed forward. ¡°Hey, Ren Tu. Wanna make a bet? Killing him with three moves, 1000 silver.¡±

    Ren Tu nodded in agreement, mostly because he was aware that Jack possessed that weird golem.

    Li Bai extended his hand, taunting Jack to make the first move.

    Jack responded with a smile, mimicking the opponent¡¯s posture while waving his solidified sword. He had fought many back then inside the mortal realm, and he could tell that this man was good at taunting others, but similarly easily provoked. If he could somehow piss him off, the fight would naturally become more manageable.

    ¡°Li Bai, is it? Had your strength depended on your nonsense, I would be trembling with fear right now.¡±

    Li Bai forced a fake smile. ¡°Ren Tu, start counting that money!¡±

    He proceeded by leaning his neck forward, sticking his finger inside his throat and exhaling out an endless stream of smog. His lungs appeared infinite as the entire landscaped was engulfed by a large cloud of fog, swallowing both Jack and Ren Tu.

    Li Bai immediately rocketed upwards, observing with pride the magnitude of his attack. He rubbed his hand against his chin, thrilled by his improving cultivation.

    Amidst the receding fog, a cultivator struggled to emerge, holding his chest in pain while spraying out droplets of black blood. ¡°Bastard! Are you trying to kill me?¡±

    Li Bai laughed it out, placing his hand on Ren Tu¡¯s shoulder and sucking out the residual smog that still lingered inside Ren Tu¡¯s body.

    ¡°Funny, I truly am a bastard child hehe¡­¡± Li Bai smiled. ¡°But I am not an asshole towards those who assist me.¡±

    Patting on Ren Tu¡¯s shoulder, he then turned his attention downwards, awaiting the cloud to disperse.

    ¡°My smog essence contains degenerative particles. He is probably already crawling like a snake begging for mercy.¡±

    As he lost elevation slowly, his eyes soon bulged outwards.

    Jack had emerged, coughing but unharmed. He appeared annoyed as he tried to wipe off the black particles that remained stuck against his skin. ¡°What the hell are you trying to do? Blowing this smelly shit...¡±

    Li Bai blinked his eyes once, followed by a fast slap against his face to regain his clarity. He couldn¡¯t understand. Did this freak had an essence that cancelled toxic fumes or was he somehow immune to the degenerative toxins?

    Judging from Jack¡¯s reaction, Li Bai quickly assumed that it was the latter.

    He suppressed his confusion, reassuring himself that there was nothing to worry about. Besides, there was a reliable Ren Tu who could assist him anytime.

    Unwilling to take his opponent too lightly, he plucked his hand inside his dimensional pocket and summoned a spear, levitating it upwards as a show of force.

    His face then convulsed. Not out of anger, and neither because of Jack. At that precise moment, his eyes unexpectedly came into contact with the most horrifying scene of his life.

    The sky above him had darkened, and the dimensional space twisted on itself.

    Spatial tears began forming all over the place as black tentacles of horror broke through the boundaries of the Realm, accompanied by roaring, eerie winds. The various tentacles then funnelled into each other, condensing themselves into towering dark clouds.

    The thunderclouds expanded outwards as they took position between the two continental masses, blanketing a large portion of the Realm with a vast shadow.

    Unable to do anything but observe, Jack, Ren Tu and Li Bai had their faces turn paler than white, a feeling of impending doom building inside their hearts.

 Chapter 39 â€“ Disaster Approaches

    The clouds above churned with lightning, the flashing lights temporary illuminating the darkness that had befallen the region.

    Li Bai retracted his spear, feeling completely insignificant before the alarming powers. ¡°W-what in the world is h-happening?¡± He turned facing Ren Tu, who mirrored the same expression, unable to console him.

    Jack too appeared solemn as he stared high up. Amidst his confusion, he suddenly thought of a terrible conjecture. Already feeling the cold beads of sweat dropping against his face, he raised his sword, assuming a defensive stance.

    The thunderclouds roared. Golden lightning covered the entire sky, seemingly charging up to unleash the ultimate annihilation. The lands below trembled, and a number of crevices had already appeared.

    The terrified Li Bai spat out blood, immediately activating a talisman of speed. He proceeded by grabbing Ren Tu from his robe, who had actually peed himself wet, then both bolted in the direction of the return portal.

    Jack followed suit, but in the opposite direction. He travelled at full speed, having no idea where he was heading. It actually didn¡¯t matter where he went, as long as he made it out of this cloud¡¯s range.

    Unfortunately for him, he soon realised that the more he travelled, the more chaotic the elements became. Sensing that something was clearly amiss, he stopped, glancing up again.

    Directly above him, a black-golden vortex rotated, melting away his previous doubts and replacing them with unprecedented fear. Whatever this phenomenon was, he understood that it was directly targeting him. Shivering, he raised his eyes towards the clouds, clenching his fists. He proceeded by shouting so hard that it left a lingering pain inside his throat. ¡°What are you? What have I done to you?!¡±

    The thunderclouds seemed to recognise his voice, churning with even more ferocity than before.

    Perceiving the hostilities, Jack immediately raised a barrier of solidified essence. He patiently waited, but not for too long.

    A lightning bolt struck down, cutting through the air and generating a series of ripples. It slammed heavily against his barrier, pulverising it on impact. The remaining energies infiltrated his body, producing electrifying shocks that swarmed all over his skin.

    Jack¡¯s face twisted, inundated with immense pain. He struggled to raise his arms, quickly creating another barrier, just in time to meet the upcoming bolt. His defence crumbled again, forcing himself to roar in pain while he burned inside the electrifying hell.

    Jack heaved, falling miserably on one knee, swallowing with difficulty the blood that arose from his stomach. It only took two lightning bolts to reduce him to this sorry state. But no matter how astonishing or powerful these bolts were, he couldn¡¯t give up on his life this easily.

    He switched essences, now covering his body with strange vines. Golden leaves grew out, producing golden particles that slowly healed his body. But the clouds up there gave Jack no time to recover, unleashing bolt after bolt, each consecutive strike increasing in frequency and power.

    Unable to resist any longer, Jack fell down on both hands, his face expressing incredulity, anger and despair. Unexplained feelings of hatred clouded his mind, ones that he couldn¡¯t control. He let out a miserable cry as the golden lightning slowly buried him inside a large crater.

    As the attacks kept accumulating, the lands around the crater started shivering, glowing up with a show of golden lights. The winds also intensified, carrying with them horrifying cries of anguish.

    While the thunderclouds vented their furies, several eyes watched the phenomenon from afar.

    A feeling of uneasiness clouded Dong Li¡¯s heart as he watched the developing storm. In the meantime, those already hugging the portal moved even closer, now standing idle only a couple of metres away from it.

    Some cultivators were still missing however, including all cultivators from the Divinities Alliance. In reality, Shui Tao, Tian Jinse and the Grand Elder¡¯s disciple had already grouped up with each other and were working together. However, the strategy that they were using was clearly not having the desired effect.

    The trio appeared in a bloody mess as they glanced at the lone cultivator that hunted them now.

    ¡°Utterly pathetic, all three of you. You haven¡¯t even touched my body once.¡± Wang Guo left marks on the ground as he advanced forward. Already thinking about dealing the fatal blow, he noticed black cumulonimbus clouds had appeared over the horizon.

    But what really caught his attention was the appearance of another cultivator. He smirked with satisfaction. ¡°Perfect timing... just in time to watch me send your companions to the afterlife.¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    He affixed his eyes on the nearby bolder, an expressionless Zheng Zexi standing on it.

    Her falcon-like eyes ignored him, instead gazing at the trio in distress. Her body flashed, disappearing from her position and reappearing next to them.

    ¡°Return to the arena. You¡¯re no longer needed.¡± Her voice couldn¡¯t be any colder, but her words still sounded like the sweetest honey to them.

    ¡°No way! We can¡¯t just let you face that monster all alone. In honour of the Patriarch I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Enough,¡± The Grand Elder¡¯s disciple grabbed Shui Tao by his shoulder, shaking her head. ¡°We already did our part, we gotta trust the orders of our young patriarch. If we stay here, we would only be getting in her way.¡±

    Wang Guo observed their little reunion with a frown. He assumed that this pony-tailed bitch had the troublesome essence of teleportation. Not wanting anyone to escape, he switched strategy. ¡°The only place you all will be going is in your f*cking graves.¡±

    His bones would occasionally snap as his body expanded on itself, turning into a ten-metre giant. He then grabbed his sword, which too enlarged until it corresponded to his new size.

    Before he could react, Zheng Zexi suddenly appeared before him. She summoned a leather whip, slapping his face multiple times in the span of few breathes. She then teleported away dodging his retaliating attack.

    ¡°F*cken bitch!!¡± He swung his sword randomly like a mad dog. ¡°You dare touch my f*cken face! I¡¯ll torture you to death!¡±

    About to slam his sword, he almost lost his balance when an earthquake appeared from nowhere. A storm of winds suddenly hit the area, undoing Zheng Zexi¡¯s pony-tail, her hair now waving at the wind¡¯s mercy.

    Wang Guo paused for a moment, surprised by the strange event.

    Zheng Zexi took the opportunity to glance to the side, watching the three fading silhouettes. A faint smile appeared on her face at that very moment.

    With her main concern finally cleared, she could now fight without restraining herself.

    ***

    At a particular spot inside the Counterbalance Realm, ice particles slowly precipitated down, turning the entire area into a wintry paradise. The surface reflected back the continental mass above, producing a bizarre yet wonderful effect.

    An ice phoenix docilely dropped down, letting out a soft shriek as it hit the glowing ground, disintegrating into tiny fragments that scattered on the slippery ice.

    Lady Bai¡¯s vision showed signs of dwindling as she stared straight into the eyes of her opponent. She couldn¡¯t feel anything from them; no feelings of anger, hatred, arrogance or pride. There was just an empty vacuum of darkness, a bottomless abyss. And that scared her. Scared her a lot.

    She could feel droplets slanting against her several parts of her body. But they weren¡¯t droplets of sweat, but of blood. She had grossly underestimated her opponent. No, this man couldn¡¯t even be considered her opponent; he was clearly on an entire different level.

    She let out a cry of despair, summoning another ice phoenix. She jumped on it without looking back, then sped away.

    The expressionless Jack remained immobile, hovering. After a while, he charged after her.

    Lady Bai trembled when she noticed this. Fortunately, she was clearly faster than him as she observed his image becoming smaller and smaller until completely disappearing from her sight. However, she could still sense him chasing after her, so she didn¡¯t relax, not even for a moment.

    Already flying for several minutes, she noticed the occasional quakes shaking the lands below, growing in intensity and numbers the more she travelled. Behind her, large clouds had appeared, but now they looked like they were slowly dissipating away.

    Seeing how everything inside this place was falling apart, she abandoned all wishes to search for treasures, her only goal to return back to the palace as soon as possible.

    When her eyes finally recognised a familiar landscape ahead, she let out a sigh of relief. Arriving at the return portal, she jumped down with haste.

    The others immediately noticed her arrival. Everyone¡¯s eyes flashed with curiosities, really wanting to know the cause of the explosion, and the reason behind those weird thunderclouds¡­ and why these earthquakes are suddenly spreading across the lands¡­

    In actuality, there wasn¡¯t even the need for her to explain anything, because when they saw her covered in blood, they understood that the situation was much grimmer than they had anticipated.

    She struggled to speak. ¡°Leave! Everyone, leave now! This place isn¡¯t safe any longer!¡±

    ¡°Lady Bai! Who! Who did this to you?!¡± Her companion panicked as he hurried to her aid, wrapping his arms around her. ¡°Tell me who did this to you!¡±

    Lady Bai shook her head. ¡°Please¡­ leave this place. Don¡¯t have much time¡­¡±

    Her companion was fuming with anger when he heard the sound of footsteps. Behind him, he saw a red-haired cultivator approaching with an ugly expression. Without any warning she kicked him in his stomach, forcing him to drop down on the floor, writhing with pain.

    She proceeded by grabbing Lady Bai from her neck. ¡°Where is he? Did he follow you?¡±

    Lady Bai remained silent, neither confirming nor denying. This angered the Cult¡¯s cultivator, slamming Lady Bai¡¯s face on the ground. ¡°You¡­this is the only safe place we have left! Are you trying to get everyone killed?!¡±

    Lady Bai despaired as she raised her head. ¡°There is¡­ still time¡­ can escape¡­¡±

    The cult¡¯s cultivator trembled. Her companions were still out there hunting gems, oblivious of the precarious situation. She really wanted to exterminate this woman right on the spot but it wasn¡¯t the ideal time right now.

    She instead turned around addressing the others. ¡°Everyone, return back to the arena. I haven¡¯t told you anything earlier not to alarm you, but the situation has changed now. There is a crazed maniac out there killing anyone he encounters. Not even I can stand against him.¡±

    The numerous cultivators had their faces lose colour. A fatso punched the ground, causing a small crater to appear. ¡°That arrogant Empire Bastard!¡±

    The Cult¡¯s disciple sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not him.¡±

    Everyone blinked their eyes. If not him, then who?

    About to explain, her eyes suddenly rounded with shock. A solidified arrow had breezed past her face, leaving a small cut on her cheek that leaked a small stream of blood. The arrow pierced straight through one of the Portal¡¯s pillars, generating a deafening bang.

    The column shuddered, collapsing under the force of the attack. The dimensional portal immediately lost some stability, turning wavy.

    The crowd expressed shock and anger as their eyes moved up along the arrow¡¯s path until locking on the source.

    A grey-robed cultivator appeared before them, his face absent of any humanity.

 Chapter 40 â€“ Massacre

    Everyone could feel their hair fluttering along with the winds, but the remaining parts of their bodies froze up. A weak earthquake happened to poke the lands at that specific moment, disrupting the rhythmic sounds of their irregular breathings.

    Shock, bewilderment and confusion radiated out of their eyes. By only using one attack, this strange man had completely shattered their logical understandings, distorted their definitions of the possible.

    The Cult¡¯s disciple trembled the most from everyone present. In normal circumstances, she would have fled, running as far as she could from this horrifying existence. Alas, her near-death experience had clouded her thoughts.

    She may have been the strongest amongst them, but in the end she was only a Qi Seeking Realm Cultivator; the lowest cultivating realm.

    Still trying to wake herself up from this terrible nightmare, she could only watch as Jack dropped over his knees, burying both of his fists into the ground and generating an even stronger quake than the previous one. Strange white lights and diagrams appeared all over the visible parts of his skin, giving him an otherworldly appearance.

    Solidifying essence suddenly sprung out from underneath the portal, constructing a barrier that effectively sealed their only means of escape. The lights and diagrams disappeared as soon as the barrier formed, returning back to his normal form.

    The monks from the temple didn¡¯t appreciate this move from his part. They wasted no time in summoning their staffs, coordinating an attack together aimed at a particular spot. The barrier shivered a bit under the pressure of their combined forces, but no visible damage was done.

    One of the fatties frowned, not amused by this little show. He dashed forward, stopping just before Jack. ¡°What¡¯s the big idea? Do you honestly believe you can take us all on? You, the weakest from all of us?

    Jack didn¡¯t respond, staring blankly in his face, expression as cold as ever.

    The fatty let out a sigh of annoyance, now joined in by another female fatty.

    ¡°Big Bro, this skinny man doesn¡¯t know how scary Big Bro can be when he is angry. Look at his face, he can¡¯t even talk because he has exhausted his essence.¡±

    The Cult¡¯s cultivator couldn¡¯t believe her ears. ¡°Get the hell out of there!¡±

    Before they could react to her warning, the duo felt two clamps pressing over their necks. One moment they wanted to struggle, next moment they had turned into two shining statues.

    Jack seemed like a demon as he stared at them for a while. He proceeded by punching and kicking them several times, crushing the statues into tiny pieces of white rocks that scattered all over the place.

    The rest looked on with incredulous eyes as the remains began melting soon after, revealing the most gruesome scene of their lives.

    ¡°H-he a-actually k-killed them?!¡± A female cultivator from the Hidden Hands Sect screamed, literally sobbing behind the lone male cultivator from her own sect.

    Expressions started to turn dark as everyone discarded their differences, forming a temporary alliance consisting of the remaining three from Flower Valley, the Cult¡¯s disciple, Lady Bai and her mate, the five monks and the three from the Hidden Sect.

    The five monks prepared their weapons, nodding at each other. They charged forward together.

    Two of them darted behind Jack, while another two assumed their positions up in the front. Meanwhile, the remaining one acrobatically jumped over, blocking Jack¡¯s route from above.

    All of them yelled together, preparing to unleash their most formidable formation.

    Their roars resounded, immediately replaced by howls of anguish as five golden bolts erupted from Jack¡¯s body, incinerating the group on the spot before they could do anything else.

    Their bodies dropped down one by one, the scent of burned flesh suffocating the air.

    Jack remained impassive as he casually walked through the middle of their corpses, taking aim towards his next target.

    Lady Bai¡¯s eyes rounded up. She agitatedly banged her weapon against the barrier, but there wasn¡¯t much she could do in that weak condition of hers.

    She heaved heavily, leaning her back against the barrier. From her position, she could observe the shadow of death creeping closer and closer.

    Desperation flared, tears streaming out of her eyes. She didn¡¯t want to die, not in such a cruel way. She was a sweet and young maiden, yet to experience what life had to offer.

    ¡°Help me!¡± Her frantic eyes shifted left and right, looking at the others. ¡°Someone! Please save me!¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    The others heard her pleas, but their minds were still having a hard time trying to digest the death of those five. Feeling hopeless, Lady Bai fell on her knees, removing a part of her dress. ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯ll give you anything you want! I¡¯ll do anything you ask of me!¡±

    Jack paused, gazing at her for a moment. He proceeded by placing his finger against her forehead.

    About to fire a lightning bolt, help arrived from the most unexpected source. The Cult¡¯s cultivator had assimilated herself out of thin air, firing a powerful blood beam from behind. The attack pierced straight through Jack¡¯s back, cutting a visible hole through his chest.

    Jack coughed out blood, swinging his hand and trying to grab his attacker, but the red-haired cultivator had already retreated to safety.

    Seeing the injured Jack, everyone¡¯s eyes suddenly flashed with hope; maybe this man wasn¡¯t invincible after all.

    Lady Bai too seemed to recover herself. Feeling guilty for the crises she had unleashed, she utilised her remaining ice essence, sealing the distracted Jack inside a boulder of ice.

    She then fell unconscious on the ground.

    Her companion immediately noticed this, advancing forward and taking her body away from the area, running randomly to a safer place.

    The atmosphere remained tense as the rest observed the glittering ice sculpture.

    ¡°Is it over?¡± A Hidden Hand female disciple asked.

    Nobody replied to her question as they kept switching their eyes from the barrier to the ice sculpture. Both showed no signs of weakening.

    After a while, the Cult¡¯s cultivator detected abnormal movements coming from within the ice. She immediately yelled with all the force she could muster. ¡°Everyone! Attack with everything you¡¯ve got!¡±

    Her voice had yet to die as numerous techniques began raining down on the ice structure, generating a series of explosions. The Cult¡¯s cultivator didn¡¯t appear satisfied by the magnitude of the attack, summoning her ultimate heavenly scripture.

    ¡°4<sup>th</sup> Art of the Crimson Sea Scripture, Purification Rain!¡±

    The moment she finished her chant, her vision faded along with the lights of the realm. The ground rumbled while the sky turned red, showering down red acidic rains that corroded anything that came into contact with.

    Thanks to her optimal control, the others weren¡¯t affected by her attack.

    Silence reigned as everyone waited for the elements to settle down, revealing a number of red coloured lakes. The tension couldn¡¯t be any higher, every person surveying the area for the slightest movement.

    Seeing that Jack had disappeared without a trace, smiles soon appeared on their faces. The red-haired cultivator cleaned the sweat from her forehead, letting out a sigh of relief. It seemed that this nightmare was truly over.

    The three fatties grouped together, sorrowfully glancing at their now dead companions, or what remained of them. So many lives had been tragically lost because of this man. Not wanting to stay inside the Counterbalance Realm any longer, they approached the barrier, on the way discussing how they were going to explain everything to Big Boss.

    About to punch the barrier, strange vines suddenly emerged from the sand, coiling up against their legs.

    ¡°What in the world?¡± The three tried to free themselves out of these weird things. But not only they didn¡¯t manage to do that, but they soon found themselves wholly entrapped inside these vines that kept climbing from the underground in endless waves.

    The trio cried in despair, restricted by their bulky sizes that only made it easier for the vines to immobilise them. Amidst their screams and struggles, their eyes soon began losing colours. Their bodies slowly shrunk, eventually becoming mere skin and bones.

    It was then that ripples started forming on one of the lakes.

    The submerged Jack slowly emerged, his eyes similar to a prince of the underworld about to execute his next victim. His upper half laid bare, blood still oozing out from the hole inside his chest. He flipped his hands, forcing the vines to retreat as he switched back to his solidifying essence.

    The Cult¡¯s cultivator appeared without motivation, at the same time conveying an apologetic expression towards the remaining three from the Hidden Hand Sect. She then used her last remaining essence to vanish in the air and flee the area.

    The male cultivator couldn¡¯t stop trembling. He slammed out a chessboard, hastily placing black and white pieces in a particular pattern. He then bit his tongue, spilling blood all over the board.

    ¡°1<sup>st</sup> Art: Seal of Xiangqi!¡±

    The gravity surrounding Jack suddenly amplified, sending him down on one knee.

    ¡°2<sup>nd</sup> Art: Sixteen Pains of the Mind!¡±

    Not even a moment had passed when metaphysical forces infiltrated Jack¡¯s mind, forcing veins to crop up all over his face. His face expressed no pain however.

    The male cultivator trembled with agony, coughing out more blood. He kept staring at Jack, praying the heavens that this fanatic would remain trapped inside his arts.

    Unfortunately for him, the inhibited Jack still showed signs of movement, albeit each step was done with great difficulty. Golden lightning bolts would occasionally arise from his body, just for them to be immediately suppressed by the power of the arts.

    The Hidden Hand¡¯s Cultivator addressed his companions without having the strength to look at them. ¡°Run... I can¡¯t keep him¡­ at bay...¡±

    The two female cultivators shook their heads, both summoning a zither. Strong melodies played out as they banged the zithers together, producing an aerial shockwave that travelled towards Jack, pulling out rocks from below along the way.

    The shockwave roared as it slammed against Jack¡¯s chest, forcing him to tilt his head to the side, spraying out blood from his nostrils.

    The duo heaved, somewhat shocked by the physical endurance of this man.

    Meanwhile, the male cultivator coughed out more blood, feeling his power waning. In actuality, he should have fainted long ago, but his determination to keep on living had allowed him to surpass his limits. Exhausting his last energies, his body leaned forward, dropping over the chessboard and spilling out some of the chess pieces.

    The moment the martial arts dissipated, Jack rushed ahead, shooting two lightning bolts that finished the guy and burned alive one of the female cultivators.

    He then extended his crackling finger towards his last target, the same woman that had cried earlier. Tears couldn¡¯t stop flowing from her eyes, closing them as she awaited her demise.

    But her supposed demise never occurred.

    After a while, she opened her eyes, just to realise that Jack had disappeared, much to her dumbfoundedness. She limped forward, mouth open. Confused, she walked around, not knowing where to go, or what to do.

    She shifted her watery eyes over the barrier of despair. It stood supreme shining brightly around the portal, now decorated by the corpses of many.

    Unable to take it any longer, she let out a prolonged cry of agony.

    As her shouts echoed out over the barren lands, the mysterious Jack unleashed his maximum speed, following an exact track. It was faint, but he could finally detect the spiritual aura of the real Jack again.

 Chapter 41 â€“ Number One and Number Two

    Two cultivators peeped their eyes from the shadows, the rest of their bodies obscured by the rough terrain.

    ¡°Finally... they¡¯re gone. Would have been troublesome if they had noticed me...¡±

    ¡°Uh oh, how exactly did you manage to piss off those five? Do you suck this much with women?¡±

    ¡°Meh, a little mishap arose with one of them...¡± Ren Tu sighed before his body slightly shivered. ¡°Wait! Where are you going?¡±

    ¡°Obvious, isn¡¯t it? We need to learn the whereabouts of that guy.¡±

    ¡°Kidding me bro? I don¡¯t want to judge your way of thinking but... are you really sure you want to head back to that place? What if those clouds reappear?¡±

    ¡°Ren Tu, don¡¯t disappoint me. Use your brains, think, before you panic. Haven¡¯t you noticed? Those clouds were targeting him, not us. Now, all we need to do is find his corpse and reap the benefits.¡±

    Ren Tu nodded in agreement, not feeling much better than before. Along the way, his preoccupied face contrasted greatly with Li Bai, who spent most of the journey whistling and singing.

    The Duo eventually made it above a large crater, glancing at the pitch darkness radiating from within. Once inside, they could feel their feet burning hot, observing the black streams of smoke escaping from the underground.

    Li Bai furrowed his brows. He urgently needed to find the evidence that would associate him with killing Jack. If his companions had already eliminated the rest, then he would end up being the only one who had failed his mission. Wang Guo would certainly not be pleased then...

    His preoccupied eyes soon flashed with hope however. Moving slightly ahead, he shoved off the rubble that blocked his way, eventually pulling out a corpse.

    The suspended Jack remained immobile, streams of blood staining the rocks below. His skin appeared mostly black while several sections of his flesh were missing, to the extent of having some of his bones visible.

    Li Bai proceeded by placing his other hand onto Jack¡¯s chest. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he is still alive¡­ but first things first, let¡¯s see our little guy¡¯s collection.¡± Li Bai immediately summoned his Qi, shattering the spiritual lock that sealed Jack¡¯s dimensional pocket.

    It didn¡¯t take long for the ground to get littered with countless treasures.

    Ren Tu opened his eyes wide. ¡°Aren¡¯t those Essence Attractor pills?! And that dagger, and that fan, they are brewing with spiritual energies¡­ Holy sh*t! Isn¡¯t that scroll a Heavenly Scripture?!!¡±

    LI Bai appeared too shocked to reply. How was it possible for this guy to possess so many precious items? Was he a child of a prominent personage? His confusion soon transformed into unexpected delight, but a frown appeared shortly after. ¡°Hey... stay your hands...¡±

    Ren Tu had already picked up countless of pills when he rubbed his nose in embarrassment. ¡°Oops... I¡¯ve never seen so many treasures gathered in one place¡­ got carried away he he...¡±

    Li Bai began regretting partnering up with this guy as he glanced over the remaining treasures. He suddenly let go of Jack¡¯s silent body, instead moving towards a particular object.

    He picked up a strange cube, examining it with an inquisitive look. ¡°This¡­ its touch seems harder than a block of steel.¡±

    Ren Tu soon butted in with curious eyes. They both kept pondering for a long time, but they couldn¡¯t make any sense out of this object. But why were their instincts telling them that there was more to this cube than it meets their eyes?

    Still trying to unlock its secrets, Li Bai decided to place the cube on the ground, knocking it with a soft kick. The dice turned to the side, but instead of stopping, it kept rolling away from them.

    Ren Tu blinked his eyes. ¡°Am I dreaming? Is it moving on its own? Is this thing alive or what?!¡±

    Both of them marvelled as they watched the gravity-defying dice roll and roll until suddenly stopping, not on a side, but on an edge. The duo then glanced at each other, mouths wide open. They didn¡¯t understand a thing of what had happened, but an object that resisted gravity in such a way must surely be a peerless item¡­

    Li Bai quickly came up with a decision. ¡°I am taking this object with me; you can have the scripture.¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    No objections were voiced by Ren Tu; not because he had accepted the proposal, but because he was too distracted watching two blobs of flesh growing out of Jack¡¯s body. The strange meats let out soft squeaking sounds as they kept expanding, soon forming two separate entities that affixed their eyes on the dying Jack.

    ¡°Hmm, his life is hanging on a thread¡­¡±

    ¡°Hah, serves him right! So weak!¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t he the dice¡¯s owner? If he dies, we will also die with him¡­¡±

    ¡°Hah? Who are you trying to kid? We will irrespectively die once the power of the dice deactivates in a few hours time. Help him if you must, I don¡¯t care. My life is already short enough!¡±

    Li Bai and Ren Tu had their chins almost falling to the ground as they watched two ¡®other Jacks¡¯ arguing with each other.

    One of these Jacks eventually summoned net of vines that surrounded the original, while the energetic-looking Jack approached the stunned duo, slamming his fist against his palm. ¡°Now, now, who you guys are trying to kill exactly?¡±

    Ren Tu shivered. ¡°You! What magic is this?!¡±

    The energetic Jack grinned, extending his arm and slapping Ren Tu¡¯s face like a thunderclap. ¡°It¡¯s called karma, bitch.¡±

    Both Ren Tu and Li Bai retreated with shock, not expecting this sudden aggression. Meanwhile, Ren Tu held his palm over his face, already feeling his cheek inflating. ¡°Why you little¡­¡±

    ¡°¡®You¡¯, ¡®you¡¯¡­ is ¡®you¡¯ the only thing you can say? If you want to insult me, try coming out with something more original.¡±

    Ren Tu almost lost himself in a frenzy when a hand grabbed him by his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t lose your cool, something¡¯s weird going on with this guy.¡±

    ¡°Wow! I don¡¯t need you to tell me that! First that strange golem, and then those clouds, and now these f*cken clones! What else is there left to happen?!¡±

    Li Bai blinked his eyes. ¡°Golem?¡±

    ¡°Argh! Forget it, I am done with this shit.¡±

    The Energetic Jack grinned. ¡°No leaving now! Not when things are just heating up¡­ now, which one of you want to join the party first?¡±

    Li Bai expression turned dark. ¡°Enough! You aren¡¯t him; tell us who you are!¡±

    ¡°Me? I am number one beneath the heavens.¡± He proceeded by summoning vines from his hand, capturing both targets in one swoop. ¡°If I remember correctly, you all have one essence and are of the 7<sup>th</sup> and 8<sup>th</sup> rank. Looks like this fight going to be very boring indeed...¡±

    Li Bai roared out with flashing eyes. ¡°3<sup>rd</sup> Art: Spears of Madness!¡±

    The air hummed while five ethereal spears materialised behind his back. The spears immediately took flight, cutting through the vines until allowing the duo to break out from their restrictions.

    Number One grinned. ¡°Our boy loves playing with little sticks, eh?¡± He raised his arm, forcing the air around his fingers to solidify and forming a transparent claw that extended to around one metre. He then skyrocketed upwards, shattering his footing in the process.

    Li Bai attentively observed the approaching enemy. He then flipped his hand, sending the five spears flying down.

    An always increasing sound filled the area as the claw and spears slowly headed into each other. They eventually collided, generating a shockwave that pushed both Ren Tu and Li Bai backwards by a couple of metres.

    Li Bai used both hands to protect his face, trying hard to locate his enemy.

    ¡°Searching for your common sense?¡±

    Li Bai could only widen his eyes in shock as he felt a solidified claw tearing through his body from the side. He let out a miserable shriek, his body spiralling until crashing down with a soft bang.

    Meanwhile, Ren Tu¡¯s face had turned white as snow. He tried sneaking away, making sure not to produce any sound. However, he soon felt vines grabbing him by the legs, summoning him back to the same man he wanted to escape from.

    It took only three strong punches on the stomach for Ren Tu to fall unconscious. Both defeated bodies were then brought away towards the original Jack¡¯s location.

    When Number One returned, he glanced triumphantly at his companion. ¡°You¡¯ve missed all the fun, Number Two.¡±

    Number Two rubbed the sweat from his forehead. ¡°Phew, I made it just in time. He would have died if we were summoned a tad later... how about you give me a hand?¡±

    Number One rolled his eyes, extending his own vines. ¡°Hmm¡­ didn¡¯t that no lifer said that this realm would lose its power and self destruct? Doesn¡¯t seem the case to me.¡±

    ¡°I too believe the realm will last longer than that¡­ but my concern lies up there.¡±

    Number One followed his glance, observing the vast continent above. ¡°Hey, wait a minute¡­ don¡¯t tell me that... that shit up there... is about to come falling down on us?¡±

    ¡°Yeh, most probably...¡±

    Time slowly passed like this as the two ¡®strange Jacks¡¯ kept chattering with each other. After several minutes, the real Jack finally seemed to have regained back some of his senses.

    The first thought that surfaced inside his mind was that he had actually died, his body still vibrating uncontrollably as it recalled the might of the lightning bolts. He struggled to raise his back in a sitting position, barely able to feel the vines wrapped tight against his body.

    Sitting next to him in an organised fashion, he noticed his own treasures. Not far away from them, he detected the defeated duo that rested unconsciously on nearby ground.

    ¡°Done taking a nap? Let¡¯s make things straight from the start. You are Number Three.¡±

    Jack rounded his blinking eyes. ¡°Eeeh?!¡±

    Number two sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid of us. He and I are kind of copies of you, generated by the heavenly dice that those two activated. We will disappear once the power of¡ª¡±

    ¡°We aren¡¯t just any power dude! We are the Dice¡¯s second-ranking power! We rule over the six faces, and only the point stands above us! And don¡¯t even mention that power¡­ it never got activated so we can safely exclude...¡±

    Jack remained to stare at his clones dumbfounded, still having a hard time trying to understand what was playing in front of his eyes. Feeling too shitty to deal with this weirdness, he summoned his own set of vines, accelerating the healing process. What really mattered right now was that he had somehow survived the entire ordeal, no matter how strange things appeared to be.

    He reclined himself on the ground again, totally unaware of the incredible danger that was heading straight towards him.

 Chapter 42 â€“ The Man Who Started it All

    Soft rhymes of humming could be heard as Number One immersed himself studying the Counterbalance scroll.

    Jack observed him attentively from nearby ground.

    He still felt somewhat ignorant about the artefact¡¯s true powers even though he had learned some specifics from the creature. And the reason he never bothered to activate the dice again was that he didn¡¯t wish to experience that weird Buddha transformation, although the ¡®real Buddha transformation¡¯ was apparently more impressive than that, and he only turned out into that giant fatso due to his limited cultivation.

    A voice similar to his snapped him out of his current thoughts. ¡°We¡¯re done here. Affixed anew you are.¡±

    Jack nodded appreciatively. ¡°Thank you both, I wouldn¡¯t be here breathing without you.¡±

    Number Two laughed. ¡°We three are like siblings, ok? We will always support each other whenever you are lucky to summon us.¡±

    Jack nodded with a smile, examining his trembling hands. He may have recovered from his physical trauma, but those thunderclouds had left behind them a permanent mark of fear. His brain couldn¡¯t stop recalling the terrifying rage that accompanied each and every lightning strike, piercing through his body, cutting apart his flash, burning his every organ.

    Already making it a point to ask the Creature for explanations, he stood up, concentrating his QI and soon forming another dimensional pocket. Afterwards, he recollected his items, then approached the defeated duo.

    Jack could still hear their weak breathing from up close. Face turning dark, he didn¡¯t hesitate to slice both of their necks, effectively ending their lives. ¡°God job assholes, you are the first cultivators I¡¯ve killed.¡±

    Number One had been observing Jack. He laughed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you kill your mother already?¡±

    Jack pretended not to hear him as his eyes began scanning through their items, though a wryly smile betrayed his acting.

    The Duo didn¡¯t seem particularly wealthy on first glance, but at least they had some decent stuff, most notable being Li Bai¡¯s spear. But what forced a broad smile to appear on Jack¡¯s face was the ridiculous amount of gemstones they had collected.

    Clearly satisfied with the looting, he summoned a talisman that pinpointed the location of the return portal.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t find that herb¡­ but I did well overall... can¡¯t have it all¡­¡±

    He let out a roar of determination, surprising his two clones. ¡°Let¡¯s head back to the portal guys, staying here for longer isn¡¯t a good idea.¡±

    The trio nodded at each other, transforming into bright prismatic beams. Number One smirked however, accelerating his speed a bit more and forcing the others to follow suit.

    It didn¡¯t taking long for the journey to turn into a race.

    While the trio enjoyed their little games, a nearby cultivator could be seen rubbing his chin.

    He had noticed a substantial drop of cultivators wondering around. He could only think of one possibility... that something had gone wrong with the formation. Wanting immediate answers, he decided to check on the red-haired cultivator, although a part of him didn¡¯t really wish to see that man again.

    All set and ready to depart, he suddenly detected three beams of lights approaching from the horizon. His eyes flashed with anticipation.

    He quickly dashed into hiding, grinning. ¡°Three little lambs, walking straight in a wolf¡¯s nest¡­ time to experience the most shocking moment of your life, ha ha ha¡­¡±

    He focused his eyes, his heartbeat increasing the closer they arrived. Waiting impatiently for a while, he eventually fired up like an arrow, pointing his fingers.

    ¡°Surren¡ª¡±

    His flamboyant voice resounded out, the echoes slowly fading and eventually replaced by chilling silence.

    He wanted to utter something, a word, a scream, a cry; anything would do. But nothing wanted to come out from that mouth of his no matter how much he forced his lungs, as if a hard object got stuck inside his throat.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    Instead, tears of despair accumulated over his eyes, while shock, astonishment, and terror inundated his mind, causing his brain to start spiralling.

    Body shaking more than a banging gong, he remained to stare stupidly at the three Jacks, who mirrored his exact behaviour, creating a very bizarre scene.

    ¡°This... isn¡¯t this that f*cker?¡± Number One¡¯s face eventually turned ugly. About to recklessly charge forward, Number Two appeared next to him, blocking his way.

    They both paused, glancing at the real Jack who appeared overwhelmed with emotions, his eyes never to leave the man before him.

    How could he ever forget his face? The being who summoned the coffin at the lake, the one who tried to kill him when he was still a defenceless mortal.

    The man that started it all.

    Dong Li¡¯s face had already turned similar to crap, his breathing like a dying old man. Was this his heavenly tribulation? How was he supposed to deal with three of these monsters, when he couldn¡¯t even deal with one?

    Almost fainting on the spot, a glimmer of hope recovered his reason. These three appeared somewhat different from the other one, and they had expressed emotions. Maybe he could reason with them.

    ¡°Why are you doing this? What are you exactly?¡± He wanted to ask more questions, but he stopped at those two.

    Number Two expressed a frown. ¡°Guys, I know how you feel against this man¡­ but we shouldn¡¯t fight him. Remember, he has a heavenly artefact and that particular essence¡­¡±

    Number One rolled his eyes. ¡°Aye? He can stick that stick in his ass. It¡¯s shit, the lowest out of the seven.¡±

    Dong Li¡¯s face instantly turned white as snow. The bamboo stick and the godly essence were secrets that nobody knew about, not his brothers, not his master, and not even his father, the emperor. And yet these two here were casually talking about his ultimate trump cards as if they were some unimportant matter.

    That faithful day, he had made sure that nobody trailed after him, and the only person who knew about his little adventure was just a barbaric mortal that should have been decimated by that wraith.

    He suddenly recalled the image of that man, full of scars and messed up hair. The image of his memory then began overlapping with the image of this Jack before him.

    He soon arrived at a terrific realisation; this Jack and that mortal were one and the same.

    His eyes couldn¡¯t stop vibrating. Even a fairy-tale was more believable than this reality presented before him. Amidst this ocean of absurdities, the most unexpected questions rose up. How did this guy manage to survive the wraith of the underworld? How did he manage to follow him to the Divine Vajra Continent? Was the godly essence actually destined for this guy, and he stole it away? Is this Karma?

    Dong Li shook his hand, glancing at his opponent. ¡°You¡­ I finally recognise¡­ I cannot fathom how you followed me here, or how you succeeded in unlocking your cultivation¡­ there must be someone else pulling the strings from behind... but it matters not, this time I¡¯ll make sure to finish my job properly.¡±

    Powerful spiritual energies exploded out, causing the winds in the area to encircle them. The three Jacks could already feel their bodies succumbing to the heavy pressure.

    Number Two raised his hand, protecting his face from the winds. ¡°What unbelievable strength!¡±

    ¡°Bleh, stay back you wuss.¡± Number One created his solidified claw, then charged ahead.

    Dong Li awaited the attack to arrive. He appeared unfazed, smashing the bamboo stick against the claw with ease and also crushing it in the process.

    Number One uttered a soft moan, retreating back towards the other two.

    That one exchange was enough for him to understand the gravity of their situation. He switched his irises towards the real Jack. ¡°Hurry and leave, we will keep him busy as long as we can.¡±

    The real Jack hesitated however, addressing his opponent with anger. ¡°Shameless bastard! Just wait till I become stronger! One day I¡¯ll pay you back for everything you¡¯ve done to me!¡±

    Dong Li let out a sigh of disgust. ¡°Oh really? Says the maniac.¡±

    Jack grinded his teeth, clenching his fists. ¡°Hypocrite bastard¡­¡±

    Dong Li gazed at the angered Jack, then furrowed his brows, pausing for a while. What¡¯s with this sudden change of attitudes? Did this man suffer from multiple personalities? What the hell was wrong with this guy and his clones? And why these three seemed much weaker than before? The more he tried to understand, the more confused he became. Faced with a dilemma, he decided that no matter how many Jacks appeared before him, he had to kill them all. He couldn¡¯t afford his secrets to come out in the open. That would be a disaster of unprecedented proportions.

    He aimed his bamboo stick, aiming a lethal slash towards the real Jack, but an overbearing aura suddenly approached from the west, taking everyone by surprise.

    Amidst the confusion of the elements, Jack stared dumbfounded ahead.

    Back in the Navira Planes, he always felt deep sorrow whenever he looked at a body of water, the reflection reminding him about the various scars that ruined his face. But since his rebirth inside the Azure Realm, any reflective surface made him generate a smile of a healthy young man.

    But the reflection that appeared before his eyes right now made his previous scarred face pale in comparison. It seemed very real, very perfect, and yet it was empty, lifeless and disturbing.

    He wanted to react, to ask anything, but a hefty punch had already slammed against his stomach.

    Blood sprayed from his nostrils as his body was sent flying down with incredible force, eventually slamming against a cliff and producing a soft plume of dust.

    Number One, Number Two and Dong Li both rounded their eyes with a sense of dread, affixing their shocked gazes over the new presence.

    Another Jack had arrived, like a devil of destruction about to judge the final moments of their life.