I Can Reap Qi Fortune from Players-Chapter 499 - 286: Awakening

Sword Casting Manor.

Deep beneath the ocean, a thick layer of black mud envelops a protective shield.

The coastline of the continent stretches extremely long. The hidden location of the manor is exceedingly difficult to find, and with 99% of the land environment uninhabited, it’s even more secluded in the sea.

Aside from the occasional school of fish passing by, almost no one traverses this area.

Number one Jiucai Rong is still the shopkeeper at The Shop, but number two Jiucai Rong Embers has already appeared at the manor, busy with official duties during this time.

"This is today’s task."

Embers Jiucai Rong posted a task board, urging everyone to continue moving bricks and forging iron.

Almost all the blacksmiths at the manor have Embers clones, repeating their previous work in a continuous cycle.

And above the mud-covered black sky, a sun radiates its brilliance, endlessly cycling, rising and setting.

Clatter.

After finishing a day’s work, Embers Su Yuniang returned to the courtyard at the foot of the mountain and saw Ning Jiaojiao fishing at the well.

This time, she was fishing for real sea fish.

"Has he not awakened yet?" Su Yuniang asked.

"Brother said he wanted to sleep, and then he lay down." Ning Jiaojiao showed no reaction, remaining lively.

Ning Zheng was now in slumber at the manor.

An eligible Embers Eternal Divine Soldier must be forged from body + Embers.

Ning Zheng’s body was used as material and put into the Square Cauldron, but the Embers invested by Ning Zheng were merely that of the giant Embers Avatar.

His true Embers and muddy qi are still within the manor.

In short, he merely lost his physical body, and his complete soul sleeps here, waiting to awaken.

Once he awakens, he will transform into a Ghost King, regrow his physical body, complete his Immortal Path Foundation, and step into the door of dual spirit roots cycle.

"Then forget it, let’s go fishing!"

As a logically solidified ghost, quite carefree, Su Yuniang quickly called Ning Jiaojiao to start fishing.

The solid logic of ghosts repeats their daily life, unknowing of fatigue, unaware of age.

...

Capital City.

The reconstruction of the Imperial Palace is in full swing.

Though the Imperial Palace suffers constant disasters, rebuilding it remains a simple task.

Even after more than half a month, some of Xin Xichen’s henchmen, who were weaker in cultivation and were killed during his frenzy in the capital, have resurrected as Earth-bound Spirits, helping to oversee the capital.

Although the chaos in the capital was severe, some people like Princess Xin’e survived by hiding on the fringes.

For her, this battle was surreal.

Turning into a monkey, now reverting back to a human, made her deeply aware of her weakness.

...

Deep within the Imperial Mausoleum in the Capital City.

Xin Xichen, who had regained mastery over the Square Cauldron, entered the mausoleum.

He grasped the core, not only being able to suppress those ancient mausoleums but also moving in and out freely.

[Between the Scales]

Xin Xichen quietly observed this unprecedented super tomb, bustling streets, and numerous people, as though the cities constituted a miniature Nine-State.

Because the Nine Spikes era was special.

An earth vein was established here, drawing in Nine-State embers from 150 years of the Red Sun’s reversal.

"It’s even become a small Nine-State now."

Xin Xichen remarked secretly.

He approached an unremarkable street and saw an artist painting on the street.

The artist glanced up at Xin Xichen, then continued painting, casually saying, "You’ve arrived."

"Yes, I’m here."

Xin Xichen always wished to find time to visit the ancient tomb to meet Jiu Shui, but he never had the opportunity.

Jiu Shui was once the shadow of an era.

Numerous people feared him, becoming their lifelong obsessions!

The losers who fell during the Nine Spikes era, their awakened obsession conditions, all involved outlasting or defeating the Ghost Saint of Nine Spikes.

Yet upon hearing the news of the Ghost Saint’s death, why did these ancient beings in the tombs not awaken?

Because any rumor might be just hearsay; they had to see him dead with their own eyes, or even defeat him, to awaken!

These are incredibly hard to achieve.

But now, Xin Xichen has arrived.

Others feared meeting Jiu Shui because doing so meant certain death, but Xin Xichen was not afraid as his royal throne was given by Jiu Shui, and he knew the other would not kill him.

Clatter!

Upon meeting Jiu Shui, Xin Xichen suddenly reached out to grasp.

Jiu Shui wiped the canvas, and Xin Xichen’s terrifying attack vanished into thin air.

Yet, in that instant of action, Xin Xichen felt a trace of externalized aura.

Death energy.

"You’re indeed dead." Xin Xichen stated.

But the words ’you are dead’ appeared as censored gibberish to Jiu Shui, automatically ignored.

"Great, you’ve finally come; I’ve been waiting for you for a long time."

The Ghost Saint of Nine Spikes showed a pure smile, eyes full of tranquility, "Looks like you’ve had a tough time recently."

Xin Xichen hesitated to speak, eventually saying, "Sorry... my ultimate victory relies on Nine-State’s foremost divine craftsman to pave the way for me."

In the world, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.

The Ghost Saint of Nine Spikes overthrew him initially due to different factions, being mortal enemies.

Yet, after the Ghost Saint of Nine Spikes passed, he returned the throne to Xin Xichen, an unquestionable gift.

However, Xin Xichen frequently encountered various people’s manipulations, feeling ashamed of the entrusted era.

"I chose you because your spiritual roots are most suitable; considering various aspects, you’re the one."

Jiu Shui glanced at him, "After all, you as a dead person, your awakened obsession, can be controlled; I’ll make you a Ghost King."

"You’re the dead one; I am still alive!!"

Xin Xichen sneered coldly, feeling immense emotion.

Unexpected that a once-dominant, despair-inducing existence has been reduced to this by the ravages of time.

Time cuts down the heroes like a blade.

No one can escape the passage of time.

"You’re the dead one!" Jiu Shui laughed, shaking his head.

"You’re already dead." The Last Saint sneered.

These two dead people, the two most powerful Saints of the Nine-State, were arguing childishly.

Talking endlessly about who died first, if this got out, it would surely leave all beings astounded.

As they argued, both couldn’t help but laugh.

"But you still need to be careful."

Jiu Shui suddenly said warmly, "Those ancient remnants in the Imperial Mausoleum have all been suppressed...but they ultimately left once, encountering a lot of new knowledge."

"Once they digest everything by all means, each of their combat powers will increase more than tenfold, even with the core in your hand, sitting in the Imperial Mausoleum, blocking the entrance will become difficult."

Xin Xichen of course knew this.

After all, they had escaped once; they weren’t as primitive as before, as easy to deal with.

But he wasn’t afraid, smiling as he said:

"What is there to fear from a bunch of dead people? I have already developed an Immortal Path Dharma Method. With this method, I will soon complete the Immortal Path Foundation, step into the Immortal Spirit Root...becoming the first Emperor in human history, even surpassing you."

Jiu Shui couldn’t help but laugh and cry, softly saying, "You are dead, how can you break free from the shackles and achieve the Immortal Spirit Root? Dead people don’t have such potential for growth."

The Last Saint of the Xin Dynasty sighed, "A dead person like you certainly can’t see that I’m still alive. I won’t argue with you anymore. When I reveal the Immortal Spirit Root and accomplish my supreme career, then I’ll see you, and you’ll know who is truly dead."

"However, even if you achieve the Immortal Spirit Root, with irrefutable evidence before you, your logical cognition will instinctively overlook the evidence proving you are already dead."

Xin Xichen felt infinitely sorrowful.

Once the first person of the Nine-State had fallen to such a state.

Unclear logic, cloudy understanding.

A sense of superiority arose in his heart, causing Xin Xichen to sigh at the horror of time, which had killed everyone.

"Enough."

Jiu Shui suddenly paused, "Come, let’s have a fight."

"Alright!"

Xin Xichen suddenly flew up into the sky, "Let me show you my true strength."

Jiu Shui also flew high in the sky.

With a loud crash, two auras suddenly exploded.

After a long, long time, the two people in the sky finally determined a winner.

Jiu Shui fell, while Xin Xichen was victorious.

"Why did you let me win?"

Xin Xichen stared blankly at the scene.

Jiu Shui let him win, clearly seeking death intentionally.

But the very next second.

A huge aura suddenly burst forth.

Xin Xichen completely stepped into awakening, with black Three Flowers growing on top.

The blooming black jade glass flowers were pristine and full, luxurious and noble, with an aura of utmost majesty.

"I see now."

"Because I killed you, I will awaken! You are my obsession."

He fully understood now, "I was already dead...and you too have died...we two dead people argued here endlessly."

When the missing logic was fully filled in, he finally understood the reason behind everything Jiu Shui did.

Jiu Shui knew better than anyone that he was the obsession of countless awakenings; as long as he let someone kill him once, the opponent would awaken.

And he chose to die by Xin Xichen’s hand.

Just as he said before: I chose you because you are the most suitable, even able to help you awaken. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Saint Jiu Shui did not know whether he was dead or alive now.

But does it matter?

Even if alive, death wasn’t far off; giving his life to him, helping fulfill his obsession—what of it?

Being dead means being an Earth-bound Spirit, reviving after some time without losing anything.

This was his plan before his death.

No matter what, he wanted to use his life to pave the way for Xin Xichen.

This was the only thing he could do.

"You obviously have many fallback options, but you..."

Xin Xichen remained silent, "You were the number one in the world, proud as you were, strong as you were...yet, now in your twilight years, you chose..."

The Core Square Cauldron came into the world, Saint Jiu Shui could have also fought for it, but he did not.

Because he had long prepared for death and was not planning to re-ascend the world, what was there to fight for?

Everything was to pave the way for him, the Last Saint!

With the groundwork laid by Jiu Shui’s various strategies, Xin Xichen would become an awakened Ghost Saint of the Nine-State, completely suppressing the era, and likely usher in a new flourishing peaceful era.

"So this was all your arrangement."

Xin Xichen extended his hand, black flames rising, burning away the Saint Jiu Shui, as immense information and books poured into his mind in an instant.

This was Saint Jiu Shui’s gift.

He turned and left, bearing a trace of heaviness and burden in his expression.

He suddenly felt a tinge of loneliness; having returned to his youthful mindset after awakening, he should have been spirited, but this loneliness and sense of desolation grew even stronger.

The dead are dead, the gone are gone, all the heroes of the present world, paved the way for him, the failure...step by step pushing him to the throne.

Not for the world, not because he was strong, simply because he fit the role.

"Now, I am thoroughly awakened, become the Ghost King, remold the foundation, which also means I can plant a second spirit root, achieving the Yin Yang Cycle."

"I will be the first in human history to possess the foundation of an Immortal Spirit Root!"

"Truly the first person of the era."

He opened his eyes again, having returned to the palace of [Between the Embers], surrounded by historic murals expressing joy or anger, and he gazed dazedly at those old years.

He slowly bent down, again putting on the crown of the Xin Dynasty, draped in the golden imperial robe surrounded by the Firewood Ring, sitting quietly on the throne.

Suddenly, a young man silently sneaked into the palace.

Gui Pu.

He removed his black cloak, gazing up at this high and mighty Emperor with a smile.

"You have come. Now that peace reigns, it’s time to settle some matters, you know you can’t escape now?" Xin Xichen looked at him, "Firewood Flower, who are you really? I don’t remember there being any remnant royal blood."

The mastermind behind the scenes, widely rumored in the Nine-State to be the Crown Prince of the Last Saints, this unknown entity finally spoke:

"I am you."