Chapter 245: Chapter 243: What a Coincidence, I’m Also in the Nascent Soul Stage (Part 2)

Sure enough, the crying child gets the candy. That’s a truth as old as time.

Watching the Heavenly Tribulation over Jocelyn’s head intensify, a slight smile touched Celeste Grant’s lips.

’Good. Now things feel fair.’

’I knew it. The Heavenly Dao of this world is a living entity. It’s probably because I helped it patch up its rules last time. I’m practically an old friend to the Heavenly Dao, so it took my suggestion.’

’So what if you’re the heroine, Jocelyn Grant? So what if the World’s Will is on your side? Even the Heavenly Dao won’t back you up.’

At this thought, Celeste Grant cheered up.

She quickly added, "You live up to your name, Lord of Providence! You’re incredible! You rock! I’m ready to accept any of your trials. Your venerable self is the epitome of fairness and justice. Honestly, if you’d let me, I’d kowtow to you and call you Dad."

The moment she finished speaking, a single word appeared in the sky: ’Scram’.

The Lord of Providence had no intention of adopting her.

Her attempt to get an adopted father was rejected again.

Celeste Grant figured she could just keep trying. Even if she couldn’t get the Heavenly Dao to be her father, just getting on its good side was worth it.

Then, Celeste Grant sensed the Heavenly Tribulation above her head weaken. Although it looked just as powerful, she could definitely feel that it was less intense.

’So even in the Cultivation World, you could pull some strings. Was the Lord of Providence going easy on me?’

"Thank you, thank you."

"Lord of Providence, you’re really spoiling me."

Celeste Grant immediately formed a finger heart with her hands, only to be struck by a descending bolt of Heavenly Thunder that left her head smoking.

She coughed, sputtering out a mouthful of black smoke.

Although her Heavenly Tribulation had weakened considerably, Celeste Grant didn’t dare let her guard down. This tribulation was still powerful—it had already destroyed two of her Protective Dharma Treasures. While being struck by lightning, she simultaneously guided the bolts to temper her body.

This was a Two-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, and its eighteen bolts of Heavenly Thunder were immensely powerful.

When the Heavenly Tribulation finally ended, the ground around Celeste Grant sizzled, still crackling with residual electricity.

The thunderclouds in the sky at last dispersed, and the night sky grew calm once more.

Nature’s spiritual energy continued to pour into Celeste Grant’s body. Even after her breakthrough, her Cultivation level kept rising, not stopping until she reached the Mid-stage Nascent Soul.

Just then, voices drifted in from all directions.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage."

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist."

The members of the Demonic Sects, however, addressed her differently.

"Congratulations, My Lady."

"Congratulations, My Lady, on becoming a Nascent Soul Cultivator."

Celeste Grant was in a good mood.

She cupped her hands in a salute.

"The joy is mutual."

She was now a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.

She stood up.

Her Divine Sense unfurled, instantly covering the entire South Mountain Mines.

’So this is the Nascent Soul Stage. I feel more than ten times stronger than I was at the Golden Core Stage.’

Just then, a tremor started deep beneath the South Mountain Mines, and Celeste Grant felt the ground beneath her feet begin to collapse. The phantom of a Soaring Serpent appeared in the sky above the mines, and at the same time, a figure slowly flew up and hovered in the air.

With her long hair flowing and dressed in red, her figure stood in mid-air.

This person was Jocelyn Grant.

She tilted her head down slightly, a sense of looking down upon all mortals washing over her. ’This feeling of power, of having the whole world at my feet... it’s incredible.’

’There was a mishap, but I still managed to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage at the critical moment.’

’While I was absorbing the Spirit Vein, I felt an immense aura cut me off, preventing me from drawing any more power. Luckily, my fortune held, and I managed to get my hands on an Earth Heart Flower at the very end.’

It was a Spiritual Treasure born from nature’s spiritual energy. After she ate it, the resulting surge of Spiritual Energy was just what she needed to push through to the Nascent Soul Stage.

’Now, my bloodline has been fully awakened.’

’Next, I just need to find a place for some proper Cultivation. In less than a century, I’ll be unmatched in the entire Cultivation World. What does it matter if the Demonic Sects have the Blood-Venerate? I’ll kill all those who follow such a wicked path, those who can’t even tell right from wrong.’

’And that little bitch, Celeste Grant... I’m going to kill her.’

Wait...

’I thought I sensed Celeste Grant’s aura just now... No, no, that’s impossible.’

’Celeste Grant is just a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, someone from the Lower Realm. Without the help of spiritual blood, how could she possibly reach the Nascent Soul Stage as quickly as I have?’

’It must be my subconscious playing tricks on me because I’m so fixated on killing her.’

Jocelyn Grant refused to admit that Celeste Grant could be stronger than her. So even if she had truly sensed her, she was unwilling to acknowledge it, subconsciously dismissing it as false.

Just as she was thinking it was impossible, a familiar voice reached her ears.

"Long time no see, old acquaintance."

Perhaps because she had suffered so many losses at Celeste Grant’s hands, Jocelyn Grant took a reflexive step back upon hearing her voice.

She looked over with a wary expression.

A figure then appeared in the air a short distance away. Her hair was swept into an intricate updo, and she was adorned with so many jewels she seemed to glow. Jocelyn Grant found her utterly and unbearably vulgar.

Jocelyn Grant’s face twisted in disgust. ’Other than her pretty face, I have no idea what that demon Javier Sinclair sees in my cousin.’

"Celeste Grant."

"Yep, that’s me."

"What are you doing here?"

"What a question. You should take a look at whose turf you’re on. If you can show up here, why can’t I?"

"You’re courting death! Did you have people capture me and bring me here? Celeste Grant, you’re as vicious as ever."

Celeste Grant lightly brushed a tassel on one of her hairpins and chuckled. "Vicious? Why, thank you for the compliment, *dear cousin*. As the villain, it’s the image I have to maintain. If I weren’t vicious, how else could I highlight your kindness?"

Jocelyn Grant was so angry she felt like she could cough up blood.

No, wait...

’This aura...’

Jocelyn Grant’s pupils constricted in shock.

She pointed a finger at her.

"You... you broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage? No... this is impossible."

’So the aura I sensed from underground really was hers.’

’That would explain everything.’

’No wonder the Spiritual Energy vanished right as I was about to break through, causing my qi and blood to flow backward.’

Thinking of this, Jocelyn Grant said, "You stole my Spiritual Energy."

Hearing this, Celeste Grant sneered and said, "What do you mean, *your* Spiritual Energy? Does it answer when you call its name? Do you think you’re the only one who needs Spiritual Energy to break through? I was also in the middle of a breakthrough, so that was *my* Spiritual Energy. When did it become yours? Besides, you need to get one thing straight."

As she spoke, she waved a hand, pointing down.

"Need I remind you? This is the territory of the Demonic Sects. The entire South Mountain Mines belongs to my family. By that logic, all the Spiritual Energy here is mine. You should be counting your lucky stars I haven’t charged you for using it."

’When it comes to arguing, I’ve never lost.’

Jocelyn Grant was furious.

"You’re just twisting words! Nature’s spiritual energy belongs to all living beings! Since when did it become your family’s?"

Celeste Grant casually fiddled with the Storage Ring on her finger. "Haven’t you ever heard the phrase ’might makes right’? Final interpretation is at my sole discretion."

She held out her hand as she spoke.

"Primordial Sword."

’Perfect. Now that I’ve reached the Nascent Soul Stage, I can use Jocelyn Grant for some target practice and see just how powerful I’ve become.’

The words had barely left her lips when an ice-blue sword shot out of its sheath with a SWOOSH. It flew into her hand, instantly growing to its full size.