Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 602 - 597 The Cunning Jia Ren? An Unfair Challenge_1
Yunxiao Marketplace is the closest marketplace to Shenxiao Sect. It is one of the main marketplaces operated by the Sect itself and bustles with people coming and going.
The marketplace accommodates over fifty million cultivators and mortals alike, a scale that is truly astounding.
Cultivators come from far and wide, using the Teleportation Array to seek shelter within the Sect.
Since Bizarre Demons descended upon the world, they have roamed everywhere unchecked.
Small marketplaces on the fringes lacked the strength to fend off Bizarre Demons. Since people naturally gravitate towards good fortune and away from disaster, these places were inevitably abandoned.
The marketplaces of top-tier sects displayed a siphoning effect, attracting cultivators from all directions.
The same scenario played out everywhere, including the former Taiqing Sect, Taming Demon Sect, Lingbao Sect, and now the Shenxiao Sect.
"Every cultivator entering the city must register and record their Cultivation Level."
"Nascent Soul Stage cultivators and above must cooperate with Shenxiao Sect for conscription to maintain the Marketplace’s order and safety."
Jia Ren had just teleported to Yunxiao Marketplace and heard the Guards responsible for overseeing the Teleportation Array explain this to the cultivators arriving through the nearby Array.
Similar words were spoken countless times a day.
Too many cultivators arrived each day, and the number only grew.
To date, Yunxiao Marketplace had undergone thirty expansions to achieve its current size, and yet... the Marketplace was still too small.
The Guard glanced towards the Teleportation Array where Jia Ren had arrived and quickly put on a smile, "It turns out we have an esteemed guest from the Lingbao Sect; you don’t have to go through any trouble."
This was a one-way Teleportation Array linked with the Lingbao Sect. The Lingbao Sect had good relations with the Shenxiao Sect, which was currently at war with Samsara Valley. This Teleportation Array was used to send reinforcements.
"I will notify the Steward immediately."
The Guard performed a spell, sending a burst of light skywards. Moments later, a Steward and a Shenxiao Sect Disciple dressed in a purple-striped Taoist Robe arrived.
"An esteemed guest has arrived. May I inquire which senior member of our Sect you are acquainted with?"
"Please inform the Lord of Shenxiao Sect that Lingbao Sect’s Jia Ren has come for a visit," replied Jia Ren.
The Sect Master? Not looking for a friend?
A few people escorted Jia Ren away from the Marketplace and hurried towards Shenxiao Sect.
Shenxiao Sect was a thousand miles away from the Marketplace, a special region perennially enveloped in dark clouds and lightning.
The climate was extreme, with frequent thunderstorms and lightning, unbearable for ordinary people.
The news of Jia Ren’s arrival to Shenxiao Sect caused a stir among its cultivators.
Many of them had a deep impression of that name.
The Western Land Destroyer, who collaborated with Hidden Cultivation Sect, had an infamous reputation.
The Lingbao Sect declared to the outside world that these were slanders by Demon Cultivators and Evil Cultivators. Unfortunately, this had little effect, as few believed them.
Shenxiao Sect maintained friendly relations with Lingbao Sect and sought their help in crafting Spiritual Treasures. There would be no murdering within the premises of Shenxiao Sect.
Jia Ren wasn’t worried that Shenxiao Sect would make a move against him and entered the Sect boldly.
This was his first time stepping into the gates of another top-tier Sect.
The Spiritual Energy was rich in Shenxiao Sect, with Cultivation Techniques leaning towards the Thunder Attribute, extremely lethal.
The Formation outside the Sect had the effect of absorbing Thunder Attribute Spiritual Energy, which also affected other types of energy, subtly transforming it into Thunder Spiritual Power.
Jia Ren sat in the Shenxiao Sect’s reception hall, a cup of fragrant tea placed before him as dozens of inquisitive gazes swept over him.
The intangible Deceiving the Heavens Pearl concealed his presence, with only the Spiritual Power Fluctuation of the Early-stage of Void Refinement detectable.
Any prying eyes were like stones cast into the sea, unable to discern any useful information.
Jia Ren picked up the teacup and took a sip, only to feel electric arcs dancing within the tea, leaving his lips and tongue slightly numb.
The fine threads of Thunder Attribute Spiritual Power integrated into his body, offering a peculiar flavor.
"Young friend, please forgive my delay, I was tied up with sundry matters," said the Lord of Shenxiao Sect, appearing via Instantaneous Movement, his gaze fixed on Jia Ren without a trace of humor.
The presence of a Mid-Stage Integration cultivator was imposing and captivating.
"Why have you come to my Shenxiao Sect?" he inquired.
Jia Ren passed over a Token from Tian Lingzi, bearing a clear mark of a thunderbolt.
This was a special token given by Shenxiao Sect to Lingbao Sect, which allowed the bearer to exchange it for the right to use The Ancient Thunder Spirit Pool.
The Lord of Shenxiao Sect glanced at Jia Ren indifferently, remarking, "Tian Lingzi truly holds you in high regard."
"With that token, head to the rear mountain where someone will lead you to The Ancient Thunder Spirit Pool."
With that said, and without a desire to speak further, he disappeared from sight.
Not being favored by the Lord of Shenxiao Sect...
Jia Ren wasn’t particularly concerned; after all, he did not rely on his reputation to get by.
"Esteemed guest, please follow me!"
A Green-robed Cultivator came forward and led the way toward the rear mountain.
Halfway through the journey, the leading Cultivator vanished, leaving only Jia Ren standing still in his spot.
Jia Ren looked around to find the environment desolate, without a trace of human presence.
"Considering he’s a guest from Lingbao Sect, won’t the Lord of Shenxiao Sect hold us accountable for this?" the leading Steward asked with a troubled expression, hesitating before he spoke.
"Hmph, the chance to use The Ancient Thunder Spirit Pool was already reserved for my elder brother, yet it was given to this man, causing him to miss the opportunity!"
"Lingbao Sect doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Shenxiao Sect, a disgrace of the righteous Sects! A man who colludes with Sinful Denizens and consorts with Bizarre Demons has no right to use The Ancient Thunder Spirit Pool!"
"We are only giving him a lesson, not intending to kill him."
Benefitting the most from the Bizarre Demons roaming freely after the Sealed Land was broken, who was it? Of course, it was Lingbao Sect!
Not only did they avert the disaster of their Sect being annihilated, but they also saw a chance to regain their former glory.
If it wasn’t for Jia Ren’s great contributions to Lingbao Sect, how could they possibly offer the opportunity to use The Ancient Thunder Spirit Pool to someone in the Early-stage of Void Refinement at such a cost?
Are the cultivators who have reached Virtual Refining Stage Completion and earned merits for Lingbao Sect not worthy?
People tend to believe only what they want to believe, and it wasn’t something Lingbao Sect could resolve with explanations.
"If it weren’t for being in Shenxiao Sect, where I can’t take action, I would have taken his head already."
"Let him out after my brother has finished with The Ancient Thunder Spirit Pool; it’s not too late."
Qi Chuankang laughed carelessly and turned away.
A Formation that could trap even a Body Integration Realm cultivator posed no problem; it was more than enough to besiege an Early-stage of Void Refinement cultivator.
A Formation?
Jia Ren had not expected to encounter complications while within the Shenxiao Sect.
It was incomprehensible how foolish the Shenxiao Sect Disciples must be to slaughter one of their own within their Sect.
Upon confirming that the Formation was not offensive but simply a besieging type, he finally relaxed.
His eyes shone with a dark light, for the Soul Source Devil Eye was already activated.
In an area seemingly devoid of anything, a dense network of patterns and nodes appeared, intricate and profound.
A Seventh-Order Formation! They really think highly of me!
Ban-breaking Finger struck out in succession, landing on the nodes one after another.
As the glow of each Formation node dimmed, new ones took their place, seemingly endless.
Ban-breaking Finger was too low-level; the destruction couldn’t keep up with the pace of regeneration, making it futile against the Seventh-Order Formation.
"Deceive the heavens!"
Jia Ren was enveloped in an invisible force; no trace of information could be gathered about him.
"Taiqing Jade Void Finger!"
This skill was obtained from the Taiqing Sect. Without confirmation of nearby surveillance, the rash use of Taiqing Sect Divine Skills would only invite trouble.
A hint of jade-colored finger light touched the node, as if an invisible force of etherealness acted upon it. The node, along with its interwoven lines, gradually faded into nothingness.
The Formation blocking the path seemed to vanish like an illusion, revealing the true path.
Jia Ren’s figure dissipated like a gentle breeze and vanished.
Qi Chuankang hadn’t even made it back to his Cave to report the good news to his elder brother when his Spiritual Consciousness stirred. He looked incredulously in the direction of the Formation.
"How is that possible?!"
"How did he escape from the Nine-Bends Heavenly Corridor Formation? A Formation that could trap Body Integration Realm cultivators!"
"A Boundary-breaking Talisman can’t break it!"
"This person is not to be underestimated! Worthy of the name ’Treachery!’" A voice materialized out of nowhere, and a man who looked similar to Qi Chuankang but slightly more mature appeared.
Shenxiao Sect’s number one True Disciple, Qi Chuanan, with his Virtual Refining Stage Completion Cultivation Level, was the most likely in the Sect to advance to the Body Integration Realm.
The chance that comes only once every three hundred years with The Ancient Thunder Spirit Pool was supposed to be for him, but Lingbao Sect offered far too much in return.
The Shenxiao Sect had to revoke Qi Chuanan’s opportunity—letting the cooked duck fly away.
Others might simply be disgruntled by Jia Ren, but considering the friendship between the Lingbao Sect and Shenxiao Sect, they would rather keep him out of sight and out of mind.
Qi Chuanan and his brother Qi Chuankang harbored deep hatred for Jia Ren, leading to their earlier plot.
Jia Ren lifted his eyes toward the source of the tumult in his heart, then slowly withdrew his gaze.
This was the Shenxiao Sect’s territory; he would note this grudge for now, to be avenged in the future.
"Is this how the Shenxiao Sect treats its guests? Seizing others’ opportunities? Disappointing indeed!"
No one in the Shenxiao Sect responded, all pretending to be mute.
Indeed, the Shenxiao Sect was in the wrong on this matter.
However, the Sect also owed Qi Chuanan.
Advancing from the Lianxu Stage to the Body Integration Realm is extremely perilous; a slight mistake could lead to the risk of perishing.
The Ancient Thunder Spirit Pool could increase a cultivator’s chance of breakthrough by an extra ten percent, but for Shenxiao Sect cultivators practicing Thunder Attribute techniques, the chance increased to a full twenty percent.
That twenty percent chance decided whether Qi Chuanan could advance to the Body Integration Realm.
Wait another three hundred years?
With the Sect’s interests entangled, waiting another three hundred years could mean that it might not be him who gets to use The Ancient Thunder Spirit Pool next time...
The Shenxiao Sect’s upper echelons remained silent, igniting a spark of anger in Jia Ren’s heart.
Still, securing his current benefits and advancing to the Body Integration Realm was the priority.
"What are you standing there for? Aren’t you going to lead the way?" Jia Ren’s voice grew colder as he addressed the Steward.
"Hold on!"
Qi Chuanan and his brother Qi Chuankang flew over, fixing their gazes firmly on Jia Ren.
Since the dispute had already escalated, they might as well blow it up even more.
"Treachery Jia Ren is a name I’ve heard much about, having killed several of our Shenxiao Sect Disciples. Today I’ve come to witness your Divine Skills."
"If you lose, leave the Ancient Thunder Token and get out of the Shenxiao Sect!"
Treachery Jia Ren? What a crap nickname!
"I have not done such a thing; the Shenxiao Sect must have been deceived."
It could very well be the schemes of the Heart-devouring Illusion Bizarre or the Hidden Cultivation Sect pinned on him, a blame he would not carry.
Qi Chuanan didn’t give Jia Ren a chance to explain; a Purple Supreme Spirit Treasure Longsword appeared, his gaze coldly fixed on Jia Ren.
"Let’s see your strength!"
The gathered Spiritual Consciousness around them, not a single person stepped forward to stop the fight, content to watch the scene unfold.
Jia Ren’s expression grew colder, realizing no one would intervene. "What if you lose?!"
"I won’t lose!"
Truly shameless! All the benefits without any risks?
Even clay figures have their limits of tolerance; did they think he was that easy to bully?
"Then your Cultivation Level will be crippled!"
A blood-red longsword materialized in Jia Ren’s hands, condensing a figure identical to Jia Ren himself, bathed in crimson.
Compared to the killing intent radiated by Qi Chuanan, it was as different as a firefly to the bright moon.
The terrifying might, comparable to the Peak Integration Stage, burst forth, dominating the skies, the sword’s tip aiming straight at Qi Chuanan.
