Chapter 14: The Hardships of Cultivation [Fourth Update]
Yang Dai fell into silence. He admitted his heart was stirred, but reason warned him that it might be dangerous.
Tian Zhong spoke, “Master, although your cultivation method is powerful, Earth’s exploration of the Deep Domain is still shallow. The strongest cultivator on Earth is only at the Spiritual Illumination Realm, but the most powerful cultivator in the Great Xia Dynasty far surpasses that. I’ve heard in the cultivation sects, the Spiritual Illumination Realm can only make you an elite disciple, nowhere near the elders’ rank. With your talent, you’ll soon catch up with Earth’s top cultivators. One day, you will lead humanity into the Deep Domain. This opportunity is rare, perhaps once in a thousand years.”
The other Yin followers chimed in, urging him as well. Iron Ox and the new Yin followers, after hearing about the might of the Nine Demon God Diagram, grew eager with anticipation.
Qi Gathering, Heart Rotation, Spiritual Illumination, Void, Soul Refining...
Earth’s strongest cultivators are only in the third stage of cultivation. He certainly couldn’t remain forever in the shadow of his predecessors; sooner or later, he would catch up and even surpass them.
Iron Ox thought of something and said, “By the way, that woman’s helpers are only two, though skilled, but from what you say, you don’t fear martial artists—their numbers are far fewer than ours.”
Cheng Hungry Ghost grinned, “You needn’t worry too much. When the time comes, it’ll be us Yin followers who snatch it.”
Those words made Yang Dai’s eyes light up.
Of course.
He didn’t need to seize it himself.
Then there was nothing to fear.
He slapped his thigh decisively, “Let’s pursue them! Let’s chase through the night. They likely wish to enter the city as well, but it’s late, no pursuers behind, so they’re probably resting somewhere.”
Iron Ox nodded furiously, snarling, “We must kill her and avenge ourselves! Our master treated her kindly, yet she stole the treasure. That woman is despicable and shameless—she deserves to die!”
His subordinates were equally incensed, cursing along with him.
Yang Dai’s gaze was deep, his tone calm, “If she fights to the death, then kill her—regardless of whether she’s a woman.”
Cheng Hungry Ghost’s smile grew more sinister.
They immediately set out, pursuing the direction the red-clad woman had taken.
...
Late at night, in the wilds.
Beside the official road, a cluster of campfire burned, with the red-clad woman and two men meditating beside it.
The red-clad woman cradled a scroll with chipped edges, reading. The flickering firelight made the demon depicted within seem to writhe, lending it an eerie presence.
A bald man took a swig of wine and smiled, “Girl, what is this picture, really? You’ve been looking at it for two hours, and those people have chased you for days. This can’t be ordinary, can it?”
The other man, whose eyes were narrow and sharp, also gazed at the scroll in the woman’s hands.
She replied offhandedly, “It’s the work of a master, worth a fortune. Of course, it’s extraordinary. I’m checking if it’s authentic.”
A master’s painting?
The two men exchanged glances, each detecting suspicion in the other’s eyes.
Though they didn’t believe her, they refrained from probing further.
“It’s definitely a treasure, but I still need her to get into Frostfall Valley. I can’t offend her,” thought the narrow-eyed man. His name was Liu Feng, a trial-taker who had entered the Deep Domain a year ago, gaining skills through hard work. Yet he knew his abilities were nothing special. Only by joining a cultivation sect could he truly soar.
The threshold to cultivation sects was exceedingly high, especially regarding innate talent. Besides that, fate played a role.
What was fate? It was connections.
Most people couldn’t even locate the sects, which were usually hidden deep in mountains, places mortals couldn’t reach.
There were countless trial-takers faring worse than Liu Feng—after a year, perhaps only a bit stronger than ordinary folk. The reason for their improvement was the abundant spiritual energy in the Deep Domain; spending a year there automatically enhanced one’s physique.
According to statistics, among the hundreds of millions of trial-takers in Xia, only about a million had set foot on the path of cultivation. In ten years, a million Qi Gathering trial-takers had accumulated. Such numbers were only possible because of the Secret Web: powerful trial-takers donated cultivation methods and spells to the nation, which then established professional regulations for trial-takers. Upon becoming a trial-taker, the state would grant a basic breathing technique—but it was too basic. The more advanced methods required task points, which could be earned through missions at the trial-taker battle bureau. With enough points, one could exchange for cultivation methods and magical tools.
Liu Feng possessed the basic breathing technique, but lacked talent. Though he had a trace of spiritual power within, it wasn’t enough to become a true cultivator. It only helped him quickly become a martial arts expert.
He had met the red-clad woman after joining a martial arts sect. Half a year ago, she claimed to have a connection to a cultivation sect. If they served her for a year, she would recommend them to Frostfall Valley as outer disciples.
He knew little of what she actually did, only meeting her at designated places each time.
“Ah, if only I had an SS-level talent, I wouldn’t have to play the fool every day. I wonder what the talent of ‘The Tyrant Who Never Crosses the River’ is—surely an exceptional spiritual root, or perhaps, like the Sun God, able to grow rapidly, advancing in a month what takes me ten years...”
Staring at the fire, Liu Feng felt bitter.
Just then, a chilling wind swept in, extinguishing the campfire.
The three sprang to their feet in alarm, as four figures emitting green light suddenly emerged from the earth beside them.
Liu Feng was startled and instinctively struck with his palm, channeling the only bit of spiritual power in his body—enough to shatter a large rock. Yet his attack passed through the green-glowing figure before him.
Bai Wei grinned and dodged, then materialized his soul and kicked Liu Feng, sending him flying.
Blood spurted from Liu Feng’s mouth as he crashed onto the grass, his chest caving in—clearly broken bones.
Terror overtook him, quelling any anger.
Cultivators!
...
They were definitely cultivators!
No martial arts master could move or strike with such speed and force!
Not just Liu Feng; the bald man was swiftly incapacitated as well.
Tian Zhong seized the red-clad woman’s hand, attempting to wrest away the Nine Demon God Diagram. She flung her left hand, scattering powder laced with deadly poison, but it failed to harm the Yin followers.
Crack!
Tian Zhong tore off the red-clad woman’s right arm, blood spraying as she screamed in agony.
Whoosh!
A sharp sound split the air, startling Tian Zhong into dodging. A flying sword embedded itself into the ground, scattering fragments. The four Yin followers turned in unison.
Across the mountaintop, a white-robed figure soared in, standing atop a yellow banner, descending like a celestial being.
“Not good! Retreat at once—follow the plan!”
Tian Zhong barked, and the four vanished underground, leaving the woman’s severed arm behind.
The white-robed figure was a man—black hair draped carelessly, handsome features, scholarly bearing.
He landed before the red-clad woman, pressing her shoulder to staunch her bleeding.
“Grandfather, I found a fragment of the Nine Demon God Diagram, but it was just stolen!” she cried anxiously.
Though the white-robed man appeared young, he was the woman’s grandfather.
Hearing her words, his expression changed. He rose swiftly, wiped his eyes with his right hand, and golden light burst forth. He immediately sped off in pursuit.
“Nine Demon God Diagram… that was really the Nine Demon God Diagram just now…”
Liu Feng lay on the grass, eyes reddening. The Nine Demon God Diagram was legendary on Xia’s internet, because one of the Pillars of the Nation rose to power through a fragment of it, contributing a cultivation method considered by trial-takers the country’s greatest treasure—the Divine Thunder True Heart Formula!
He’d had two hours earlier to kill the red-clad woman and seize the Diagram—he could have turned his fate around!
Damn!
He must spend more time surfing the web in the future. Such a priceless treasure was right before him, and he hadn’t even realized it.