Forge your destiny into a sword, slash your soul and ascend to immortality

Chapter 163 Imperial Prince and Duke
As the saying goes, "When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer the consequences!"

Although [Blood River] was in [Yingfu Pagoda Realm], his physical body in the mortal world was severed by Jing Qian.

But as long as the [Life Stele] stands, it will be immortal and eternal.

As long as the [Life Stele] slowly accumulates some [Immortal Spiritual Energy], it can help him reshape his physical body and return once again.

This is where the true authority of a second-rank master lies.

On this [Mountain of Immortal Qi], the location of the [Life Stele] is a mandatory course for every second-rank expert after their advancement.

Otherwise, if the [Destiny Stele] is exposed to the public, it will be like a piece of fat meat lying on a street corner. Before long, vicious dogs will come looking for it.

This [Mountain of Immortal Qi] appears to be a vast and ethereal immortal mountain, but upon closer examination, it is actually a place where countless powerful cultivators use their own magical power to create dimensional barriers, occupy territory, define boundaries, and nurture the [Life Stele].

Even the Dao Ancestor of [Yanfu] would never be able to break through the dimensional barrier of an ordinary second-grade cultivator and take away someone else's [Life Tablet] at will.

Even in death, Blood River couldn't understand how his deeply hidden Fate Stele had been leaked, allowing Yama to target him.

All I can say is that it's all about timing and fate!

……

Just as the Dao Ancestor of [Yanfu] got up to capture [Blood River], [Sick], who had been trampled under his feet for years and was tainted by evil energy, suddenly opened his eyes.

The next second, he suddenly plummeted, falling from the [Mountain of Immortal Qi] into the mortal world and disappearing into the shadows.

[I'm sick] I was so excited I almost cried out loud!

His tragic fate was so terrible that it was unbearable to write about it!
Fortunately, things took a turn for the better, and he eventually seized the opportunity to escape.

Moreover, although he had been tormented by the Dao Ancestor for thousands of years and was on the verge of collapse, the benefits that Yan Fuzi, as a member of the "Death-Borrowing" lineage, received from his illness were still quite substantial.

The dead skin of the Dao Ancestor clutched in his hand, the footprints of the Dao Ancestor imprinted on his back, and the evil energy of the Dao Ancestor contained in his alveoli were all supreme treasures for him to enhance his supernatural powers.

After descending from the [Mountain of Immortal Qi], he immediately headed towards the backup plan he had prepared long ago.

Among the Ten Palaces of Yama, he was in charge of the Freshness Palace. Before being tricked by the Eyeless One and sent to the Immortal Qi Mountain, where he was suppressed by the Dao Ancestor, he had already placed this precious palace in the Outer Heaven.

After escaping this predicament, he urgently needed to return to the [Fresh Food Hall] to quickly recover his cultivation and digest what he had gained.

However, not long after he left, the Dao Ancestor of Yanfu returned to the same place.

However, the Dao Ancestor always felt that there was something missing under his feet, making him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

And if even a hint of negative emotion from a powerful figure spills out, it's considered bad luck that's "sick" in the first place.

He had just found his hidden [Fresh Food Palace], and was about to find a realm to cultivate in seclusion, riding on his escape light.

Three powerful beams of light then pierced through the air above his head.

Immediately, the three streaks of light turned back, transforming into three powerful dragon-like streaks of light that attacked him.

[Sick] let out a miserable howl and hid in the [Fresh Food Hall] to be tortured by three great enemies.

The three Gu brothers were shocked to hear of the changes in their hometown and were on their way back when they encountered Yan Fuzi, whose aura was so unique and distinct. Naturally, it was like enemies meeting again, and their eyes were filled with hatred!
[I'm sick] It's just pure bad luck, one problem after another.

However, although these three formidable enemies before him are ridiculously strong, he is an unparalleled tough guy who survived the poison of the Dao Ancestor for three thousand years.

[Yanfu] The Dao Ancestor trampled on me like a cockroach, but I didn't utter a sound and was determined to fight to the death.

You bunch of bastards, you think you can step on me?

[I'm sick] I feel like I have so much pent-up anger that I can't release it anymore!
He was determined to make these three people experience the difference between stepping on an ordinary caterpillar and stepping on a venomous caterpillar.

……

Within Jing Qian's sea of ​​consciousness, the [Sword Anvil] was frantically grinding through his experiences of over fifty thousand battles with the [Yanfu] Dao Ancestor.

This is the best nourishment for the continued growth of the [Pure Yang Calamity Master]!
Having faced death tens of thousands of times, the power of this mid-grade title has increased dramatically, and it is not far from being a high-grade title.

Once it is polished to a superior grade, the character "劫" (calamity) will inevitably appear on the "命碑" (Life Stele).

If one continues to hone their skills and deepen their accumulation, it is even possible that by obtaining a title, the words "Calamity" could be engraved on the "Life Stele," greatly increasing their cultivation.

The advancement of the [Pure Yang Calamity Lord] is the same as the advancement of the [Myriad Manifestations Sumeru Lord], which can be described as achieving twice the result with half the effort.

While honing his sword and anvil, Jing Qian continued his cultivation practice, occasionally venturing to the "Book Mountain" to read for a while, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Right now, his combat system has reached a new bottleneck. It would be most efficient for him to accumulate and improve it before going to find Dao Ancestor [Yanfu] to be tempered.

This tug-of-war with the Dao Ancestor of [Yanfu] greatly helped his growth!
His cultivation of the [Yambhava Path] was fully formed, giving rise to a trace of wondrous divinity.

He is currently condensing his own [Yambhava Divine Embryo]!
This is clearly described in the "Yambhava Cave of the Reincarnation Dao Book," which is a sign that his system is about to be fully developed.

Once he fully achieves the [Yambhava Divine Embryo], he will transform from a human into a deity. When others see him again, they will have to call him [No Money] instead of [No Money].

This is a cultivation method that is only available to those at the upper three ranks. It corresponds to the "Immortal Sword Embryo" rank cultivated by the "Pure Yang Heaven" and is an important component for advancing to the first rank.

However, the [Yanfu Divine Embryo] seeks its essence internally, while the [Pure Yang Immortal Sword Embryo] is cultivated externally; their paths are completely different.

The ravages inflicted by the Dao Ancestor of [Yanfu] saved him a great deal of time, and the [Yanfu Divine Embryo] was almost complete.

The ever-changing nature of the Sumeru Great Way Stele continues to play an important role in Jingqian's spiritual practice.

During his seclusion, he suddenly sensed something. His Three Lives Eyes gazed into the distance, and a Celestial Sword Embryo pierced the sky, descending upon the Yingfu Pagoda Realm.

He was startled as a message entered his Three Lives Eye through the sword light, and he instantly knew the cause and effect.

Then, he raised his hand and took the [Sacrificial Immortal Sword Embryo] into his possession, and began to nurture it again.

This sword of the mind, combined with the [Bitter Mist], and connected with the [Blood River] mysticism, formed Jing Qian's mental barrier.

Moreover, he now has another extreme method of killing, which he is naturally quite satisfied with.

Just then, a ripple originating from his bloodline reached him.

The [Sacrificial Immortal Sword Embryo] was unleashed with a single slash, easily severing the ripple.

He instantly understood the source of the ripples.

He activated his Three Lives Eyes and looked towards Beishang Pass, where the figures of the three members of the Su family came into view.

Su Yan was silently activating the jade pendant in her hand to locate his position.

Jing Qian shook his head. Such blood ties are extremely difficult to sever. Since the other party is so persistent, it will have to be dealt with sooner or later.

He immediately stood up and quietly left the pass!
The arrival of the powerful clan of Tianjing presents an opportunity for Jing Qian, who is well-versed in the inner workings of the Wuji Dynasty.

Compared to the barren [Yingfutu Realm], the territory of that dynasty can be described as a hundred times more prosperous and a thousand times more abundant, truly fertile soil capable of nurturing first-rank powerhouses.

If there were an opportunity to extract some resources from the [Wuji Celestial Dynasty], that would naturally be a wonderful thing.

Jing Qian's "Three Lives Eye" is constantly making deductions, with countless solutions in mind.

There are naturally corresponding contingency plans for dealing with the "Wuji Celestial Empire".

With a flash, he disappeared into the [Void Realm].

When he reappeared, he was inside a restaurant in the [Hot Pot City].

Inside the restaurant's kitchen, Luo Tian was wielding a large ladle, stirring the food with great speed.

Upon seeing Jing Qian appear, he was quite pleasantly surprised and hurriedly took the dishes out of the pot and appeared in front of Jing Qian.

Old Luo then spoke:
"Master Chi, you've emerged from seclusion!"

Jing Qian smiled and nodded, saying:

"There are still a few dragon corpses left in your possession. Pick a fat one and cook a meal for me. I need to entertain my guests."

"Please help me make some arrangements!"

"Alright! Don't worry!"

Jing Qian had not seen Luo Tian for a long time. This fellow Daoist had already advanced to the [Subduing Spirit] realm. Moreover, after spending a few short years with Jing Qian, he had gained unimaginable benefits and his foundation was extremely solid.

Jing Qian held a similar position in Luo Tian's heart as Zhu Yun did in Luo Tian's heart, and naturally, he was treated with the utmost respect.

Jing Qian made a request, and he naturally cooperated fully.

Luo Tian led Jing Qian to the backyard of the restaurant, where they sat down in a quiet private room, and then went about his business.

Preparing a full dragon feast is no easy task; even though he had already prepared the ingredients, it would still take him a whole day.

Jing Qian sat comfortably in the private room, waiting for the guests to arrive.

With a thought, his avatar arrived at the [Book Mountain] and began reading during this fragmented time.

After his promotion, his reading efficiency increased tenfold. He could finish reading the vast and boundless mountain of books in less than thirty years.

As he was reading, a ripple of bloodline swept over him. This time, he did not sever the ripple, but allowed it to mark him before returning.

Far away in the north, Su Yan finally obtained the information she wanted and spoke:
“Su Zhao, I’ve found him. You and Min’er should come with me.”

A military-style wagon, pulled by a small horse about a foot long, soared into the sky and headed southwest.

In front of Jing Qian, a chubby little boy, just over a meter tall, was busily serving dishes.

Jingqian sat alone in the main seat, with Corn as his main companion and Cat as his secondary companion.

The two children sat waiting to eat the dragon.

As the sun sets in the west, all the dishes have been served, and we are just waiting for the guests to sit down.

The wait was not long, and the three men and their horses arrived.

Jing Qian, as the host, spoke first:
"It's a pleasure to meet you two seniors!"

"Min'er, it's been a long time. Please take a seat."

Su Yan looked her junior up and down before taking a seat.

Su Min'er's eyes shone with excitement, but she didn't speak. Instead, she sat down next to Su Zhao.

The dog and horse were not even qualified to be on the table; they huddled in a corner, not daring to make a sound.

The two of them stared wide-eyed at the corn cob and the cat on the table.

After everyone was seated, Jing Qian spoke first:
"My name is Jingqian. I am from the same island as Min'er, and we are related by blood."

"It is a great pleasure to meet several senior colleagues today. We have prepared some light wine and snacks to entertain you all."

As soon as he finished speaking, the three members of the Su family didn't touch their chopsticks, but the two guests couldn't help themselves and immediately started showing off.

The meal was made with real dragon flesh and blood, top-grade ingredients that ordinary cultivators could not even come into contact with.

The delicious aroma of the two snacks completely broke down the defenses of the pair of dogs in the corner. Fortunately, our [Good Corn] is very chivalrous and has the air of a big brother.

It used its roots to hook a plate of braised dragon meat strips from the table and tossed it in front of the two little ones in the corner.

The two boys couldn't wait to kneel down and acknowledge their elder brother, eager to serve him faithfully.

Seeing that everyone had started eating, Jing Qian spoke again.

This time, he got to the point:
"I wonder what brings you two seniors here, that you would use this bloodline secret technique to search the entire realm for me."

Su Yan was also straightforward and spoke her mind:

“Boy, you possess half of the Su family’s bloodline, so you should join my Su family for cultivation.”

"The reason I came to the [Yingfutu Realm] this time is to guide the Su family disciples to cultivate in the [Wuji Heavenly Dynasty] Tianjing Star."

“That [Tianjing Star] is not like the impoverished [Yingfutu Realm]. It is the true core of the Heavenly Dynasty, with millions of [Spirit Officials], countless geniuses, and is richer than the four seas, with endless resources.”

"With your talent, you will surely grow into a towering tree in the more fertile soil of [Tianjing Star]!"

Su Yan started by making empty promises, acting like a senior colleague.

Jing Qian's background was completely beyond the other party's imagination. He had been to the immortal mountain, sparred with the "Taoist Ancestor," and had seen the world.

He's completely unmoved by that!
He then replied:

"Thank you for your concern, senior. However, although my mother's lineage is from the Su family, I am, after all, a descendant of the Jing family. Let's not talk about joining the Su family."

"In the [Yingfu Pagoda Realm], I received care from the sect, and my cultivation progressed smoothly without being limited by resources."

"While the Wuji Celestial Empire is a good place, it is not a safe haven. There are clear class distinctions and fierce internal strife. It's not as easy to get by as you make it out to be."

Then Su Yan continued:

"Our [Wuji Heavenly Dynasty] is ruled by an Empress, and there is no distinction between men and women in terms of status."

"Moreover, the eldest daughter of the Su family has never married out of the family, and the children she bears are also members of the Su family."

“Your family, the Jing clan, is nothing more than a small, rural clan, which is far inferior to the prestigious Su clan, one of the top 100 lineages.”

"From the perspective of personal spiritual practice, you don't need to care about such trivial details at all."

"Moreover, once you truly leave this realm and travel within the Celestial Empire, anyone with even a modicum of insight will be able to see the magical aura of your Su family bloodline. This is an undeniable characteristic of your identity, and it's not something that can be used simply by denying it."

"You should seriously consider what I have said. It will be of great benefit to your spiritual practice."

Jing Qian continued to shake his head and said:

"Senior, what you call Baili is as worthless to me as weeds, utterly unattractive."

"I'm serving you this table of dragon meat, and I'm sure you all know my situation."

"I will not change my path because of some external resources."

He spoke with absolute certainty, firmly rejecting Su Yan's request.

To be honest, Jing Qian wasn't opposed to going to the [Wuji Celestial Dynasty].

He had even foreseen that he would eventually go to the Celestial Empire.

As a member of the Northern Heaven, it is only natural for me to step onto the highest stage of the entire realm.

However, for Jing Qian, the identity and entry point he takes when joining the Wuji Celestial Dynasty system make a big difference.

In such a competitive system, if one's initial status is too low, it can take a lot of effort and time to climb to the top.

However, if one were to contact the Celestial Dynasty under the identity of "Chunyangzi," one would never be able to enter the core of the system and would only be able to circulate on the outside.

Jing Qian read many books in the "Mountain of Books," and his understanding of the Celestial Empire was the best among all the "Chunyangzi" and "Yanfuzi" of all time.

There are still some valuable resources within this Celestial Empire that are worth exploring.

If he can make good use of the resources of the Celestial Empire, he can save a lot of time and greatly improve his cultivation efficiency.

At the very least, if he were to infiltrate the [Star Ranch], then the [Boundless Heavenly Dynasty] would be the place where millions of [Spirit Officials] nurture [Destiny Stars].

The problem with one's own "natal star" can be easily solved.

Therefore, when Su Yan took the initiative to find him and offered to take him to cultivate in the [Boundless Heavenly Dynasty], he was not opposed to it.

But it won't work if the other party tries to fool him with empty talk and grand promises.

Without some solid resources, how could we have selected such a top pick as him?

If the Su family doesn't provide enough support, he might as well try to get closer to the Celestial Empire through the Ying family's connections.

However, the Emperor Ying was also a cunning old fox. He knew that if he wanted something, he would probably have to exchange it for something of equal value, rather than just taking it by force.

Therefore, Jingqian had long ago made up his mind to make a big fuss about the Su family's business.

According to his speculation, the Su family had not seen their ancestor return for three thousand years since the fall of Su Jin, the first-rank official [Heavenly Granted Privy Councilor].

From the perspective of the family's development, it has inevitably fallen into an absolute trough.

At this moment, a distinguished member of the imperial family who can compete for the status of "Imperial Son" and even vie for the position of "Duke" is naturally the most valuable.

And this is precisely where Jonathan Stuart's greatest value lies.

He was waiting for the right price, wanting to see how many nails were still left in Su's dilapidated ship.

Su Yan, a heroine among women, has a magnanimous and generous nature, and dislikes the kind of slow and tedious communication style the most.

When Jing Qian rejected her directly, she didn't bother with any more words and prepared to use force.

She spoke:
“Boy, your cultivation is still low and your vision is narrow. You don’t understand at all how big the gap is between the Ying Clan Divine Dynasty in front of you and the real [Boundless Heavenly Dynasty].

“I will not get entangled with you. In our cultivation world, everything is based on strength and status to be considered equal.”

"If you can defeat the spear in my hand, then it's up to you whether you go to the Celestial Empire or not."

"But if you let me pierce you with one shot, then things won't be up to you anymore!"

Su Yan's words revealed her domineering nature!

She holds the martial rank of "Spirit Official" in the Wuji Heavenly Dynasty and is a core disciple trained by the Su family. Although her foundation is slightly lacking and she failed to pass the selection process of the Imperial Academy to become a "Guozi" (Imperial Academy), she is still quite confident in her abilities.

She planned to give this wild child a beating and then drag him back to the Celestial Empire, hoping to temper his arrogant nature.

Hearing this, Su Min'er finally couldn't help but interject:
"Grandma Yan, that's not being reasonable."

"Brother Qian is about the same age as me, how can he possibly stand against you!"

"Why don't you just tell Brother Qian about the benefits of going to the Celestial Empire?"

Little did she know, Su Yan's request was exactly what Jing Qian wanted!
Knowing his own lowly status, he realized that seeking an equal position was less effective than talking until he was hoarse; a fight would be far more direct.

He just opened his mouth and said:
"Min'er, don't worry about it. Let's eat first. After we finish eating, I'll learn from your amazing skills!"

He was perfectly aware of the benefits of the [Boundless Heavenly Dynasty], so there was no need for him to explain.

This is the only force in the entire [Dao Yuan Divine Shuttle Universe] that can dominate for a single day.

No other celestial realm or top-tier power could achieve this level of capability.

In other words, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the [Wuji Heavenly Dynasty] is the strongest force in the entire [Daoyuan Divine Shuttle Universe].

With such a powerful power structure, the system for cultivating cultivators is naturally extremely sound.

This is something that the half-crippled lineages of [Pure Yang Heaven] and [Yanfu Dao] cannot compare to at all.

The [Spiritual Official] system, personally established by [Goddess Ego], is an extremely authoritative and grand talent cultivation system.

With this system, she ruled over the entire [Bei'e Yinghuang Wuji Tian], suppressing all the heavens and myriad realms, and countless races.

Under the Celestial Empire system, any talented person, regardless of their circumstances, will always be captured and absorbed by the [Spirit Official] system, truly making the best use of everyone's talents.

This is also the fundamental reason why the Wuji Celestial Dynasty cultivates millions of "Spirit Officials".

Following this, the Empress boldly allocated almost all of the Northern Heaven's resources to cultivate the [Spirit Officials].

These million "spirit officials" are engaged in a frenzied infighting and competition within a single system.

People compete based on rank, ability, background, connections, learning, spiritual practice, achievements, and fortune—virtually everything can be competed for.

And those who raise millions of Gu worms and eventually manage to summon the "Great Spirit Official" are almost all hexagonal warriors.

Although these top-ranking [Great Spirit Officials] may not yet possess the ability to challenge the level of a Dao Child.

However, in terms of both numbers and average ability, these people are absolutely unparalleled in the Dao Yuan Universe, crushing all other forces.

Throughout the entire universe, even the most magnificent and grand [Shangqing] and [Lingshan] have never produced more than a hundred second-grade cultivators.

However, a single [Wuji Heavenly Dynasty] has [a hundred meridians at the top of the tower], not to mention the situation of one of its sects having two first-rank members.

Within the Celestial Empire, there are over six hundred Great Spirit Officials with the cultivation level of the second rank, almost double the number of the other three heavens combined.

The sheer volume of resources supporting such a system naturally makes it the most powerful and wealthy entity in the Dao Yuan Universe.

Within the [Spirit Official] system, the two elite sequences, [Prince] and [Duke], are particularly important.

These two sequences are the [Spirit Officials] sequences within the [Wuji Heavenly Dynasty] that possess the level of Dao Child.

The "Princes" and "Dukes" who emerge from the Celestial Empire represent the image of the Celestial Empire and are true geniuses who compete with the strongest prodigies such as "Chunyangzi," "Xuanyuanzi," and "Lingshanzi."

The Celestial Empire naturally lavishly cultivates such a status!
From a resource perspective, the Imperial Academy controls nine resource-rich dimensional caves, which are dedicated to serving the students of the Imperial Academy.

No matter what kind of resource it is, it can be nurtured.

Furthermore, the extremely extravagant cultivation facilities such as the [Book Mountain], [Fire Source Hall], and [Star Ranch] were originally intended to be exclusive to the [Imperial Academy].

However, it was only later, due to the overwhelming demand from the [spirit officials], that the restrictions were gradually lifted.

Under this system, every time the Celestial Empire selects officials, the competition among numerous prodigies to enter the Imperial Academy for cultivation is nothing short of a battle of gods.

Only the most outstanding geniuses in the entire Northern Heaven can enter the Imperial Academy.

For Jing Qian, the Imperial Academy was undoubtedly one of the most attractive places in the Wuji Celestial Dynasty.

As for himself, he was absolutely confident that he could outperform all his peers in China and win a chance to enter the Imperial Academy.

The only thing that troubled him was how to infiltrate the system of the [Wuji Celestial Dynasty] and get a fair chance to compete.

If he can get into the Imperial Academy, he will definitely take advantage of everyone else. Not only will he devour all the valuable resources there, but he will also take as much as he can to satisfy his enormous resource shortage.

(End of this chapter)