Chapter 195: "Have you always played chess like this?"

Chapter 195: "Have you always played chess like this?"

The Azure Mountain Palace Transcendent Elder stared at the chessboard before him, his face expressionless. After a long silence, he finally looked up at the Buddhist Ancestor and spoke softly.

"Have you always played chess like this?"

"Hmm."

The Buddhist Ancestor seemed rather pleased with himself. After gathering all the chess pieces into the chess basket, he smiled and said, "This Xuantian Continent is like this chessboard."

"Since I've entered the game, I've never lost."

"If you're going to make a move, do it with all your might, ensuring they can never turn things around in this lifetime!"

"Just wait for my good news."

"Good!"

The Azure Mountain Palace Transcendent Elder took a deep breath, nodded heavily, and then stood up to bid farewell.

Although he didn't agree with the Buddhist Ancestor's way of playing chess or his moral principles, he couldn't deny that this old fellow had some skills.

Collaborating with the Buddhist Ancestor.

They would surely wipe out Chen Qiu from the Xuantian Continent.

If you're going to do evil, do it openly, like those demonic sects. Although they slaughter mortals, at least they openly declare themselves as not good people, unlike the Buddhist Sect, which lures people into goodness and disturbs their minds.

Such methods are more akin to the schemes of demons and monsters than those of the demonic sects.

Meanwhile, in another state of the Nine States, in Jiazhou...

Jiazhou was different from other regions. Although the spiritual energy here was not as dense as in Central Province, there were several Caverns of Heavenly Bliss, where the spiritual energy was even denser than in Central Province.

Consequently, many factions would fight over these Caverns of Heavenly Bliss every year.

Moreover, due to the relatively fierce local culture in Jiazhou, the Sin Values of many cultivators here were generally higher than in other regions.

"Finally, I've waited for this day!"

In Jiazhou, on one of the Caverns of Heavenly Bliss, an old man with a fleshy face, wearing a white robe, sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, looking towards the outside of the cave dwelling with eyes full of joy.

Just by looking at his appearance, one could tell that this person was quite ruthless in his actions.

His name was Zhang Kui.

He was also a well-known figure on the Xuantian Continent.

On the Heavenly Dao Sin Value Rankings, he held the second spot with 300 million Sin Points.

If not for the appearance of Chen Qiu, he should have been in the top spot.

With his Transcendent late-stage cultivation, 300 million Sin Points was already a terrifying number before Chen Qiu's arrival, and it was enough to prove that his hands were stained with blood.

He had been stuck at the seventh level of the Transcendent stage for many years.

He had never broken through.

He forcibly suppressed his cultivation, trying his best not to advance, not because he couldn't break through, but because he knew that after reaching the Transcendent stage, every breakthrough in cultivation would require facing a Thunder Tribulation.

Each one more powerful than the last.

Furthermore, with the Thunder Tribulation triggered by his 300 million Sin Points, it was not something he could withstand, and it was almost certainly a death sentence. So, for these years, he had been searching for spiritual treasures that could reduce the power of the tribulation.

Even so, he still lacked confidence!

Until the "World Chaos" version arrived, introducing the "Sin Value Shop," where he could spend all his Sin Points.

This way, he could not only enhance his foundation but also reset his Sin Points to zero, allowing him to stop suppressing his cultivation and no longer worry about the Thunder Tribulation of 300 million Sin Points turning him into ashes! It was a double benefit!

Moreover, he could continue to crazily plunder Sin Points, not having to worry about the tribulation, and the plundered Sin Points could further enhance his foundation in the Sin Value Shop.

This Sin Value Shop opening was indeed most suitable for someone like him.

Zhang Kui, with a satisfied expression, searched for his desired items in the Sin Value Shop. Being an Array Cultivator, he naturally sought items suitable for his cultivation path.

Indeed.

Although he possessed 300 million Sin Points, he was not a demonic or evil cultivator.

Who said Array Cultivators couldn't kill?

Moreover, Array Cultivators were far more efficient at killing than demonic or evil cultivators. Once the array was formed, the number of deaths was just a statistic to him, and all life within the grand array would perish.

Just then—

A disciple entered the cave dwelling, his eyes filled with fear as he spoke in a low voice.

"E-Elder, the legacy you left behind in the Void Observation Sect, their sect ancestor, has been abducted."

"Abducted?"

A flash of ruthlessness crossed Zhang Kui's eyes. He immediately stood up from the meditation cushion, picked up the whisk beside him, and started walking out of the cave dwelling. "Damn, I've lived long enough to encounter all sorts of new things."

"This is the first time I've seen a sect ancestor being abducted."

"Who dares to be so bold?"

"They're practically asking for death!"

"Don't they know that the Void Observation Sect is the legacy I, the second most evil person on the Xuantian Continent, Zhang Kui, left behind? Don't they know how many lives I had to take to accumulate 300 million Sin Points? Don't they know how ruthless I, Zhang Kui, can be?"

"That..."

The disciple kneeling outside the cave dwelling buried his head in the ground, his voice trembling. "That person claims to be Chen Qiu, the Sect Master of the Heaven-defying Sect, with a First Rank Transcendent cultivation. He has a Dragon Clan member at his side, also at the Peak Transcendent stage."

"The Void Observation Sect's sect ancestor was only at the First Rank Transcendent stage, and his Soul Transformation Realm 'Instant Array' had just been activated when he was crushed into powder."

"Now, the Void Observation Sect is in disarray without a leader, and I beg the Elder to help!"

"..."

Just as Zhang Kui was about to step out of the cave dwelling, he heard the name Chen Qiu, the Sect Master of the Heaven-defying Sect. His body stiffened slightly, and he suddenly became expressionless again, taking a few steps back and sitting down on the meditation cushion.

"This name does sound familiar."

"My connection with the Void Observation Sect ended years ago. After all, I'm no longer the Supreme Elder of the Void Observation Sect, so let's discuss this matter later."

"Besides, it's just an abduction.

"Since I didn't kill him on the spot, there will always be a day we meet again."

"Go."

Three breaths later.

Zhang Kui still couldn't help but glance at the disciple who was about to retreat, frowning as he asked, "When Chen Qiu went to Void Observation Sect to abduct someone, did anyone mention my name?"

"No idiot blurted out that Void Observation Sect has you, Zhang Kui, backing them up, daring others to make a move?"

"No, no one did."

The disciple outside the cave dwelling bowed his head and whispered fearfully, "They didn't have time to say it."

"Phew," Zhang Kui exhaled in relief, then waved his hand dismissively, "It's fine, you may leave now."

As he watched the disciple's departing figure, Zhang Kui's lips twitched slightly. He felt as if he had narrowly escaped a calamity.

He was the second most evil person in the world, and he was at the late stage of Divine Transformation!

Logically, he could walk across the Xuantian Continent with ease. As long as he didn't provoke those at the peak of Divine Transformation, who could dare to challenge him? Even if he did provoke a powerful peak Divine Transformation cultivator, he had a chance in battle.

For those with weaker combat strength, it was still possible to fight, and if he couldn't win, he could always escape.

He could go wherever he wanted in this vast world.

There was no one on the Xuantian Continent that he feared.

But...

Chen Qiu happened to be the most evil person in the world, and with his initial Divine Transformation cultivation, he had created a Twelfth Rank Soul Transformation Realm, slaughtering the peak Divine Transformation Elder of Green Mountain Palace at the ruins of Three Springs Palace!

The recently advanced Half-step Condensation Void Realm Elder of Three Springs Palace, along with the two peak Divine Transformation Elders and other guests who had accompanied him, were now vengeful spirits on the road to the underworld.

These were bloody lessons.

Although it had only happened last night, by dawn, the news had spread throughout the Xuantian Continent.

Perhaps those with lower cultivation levels were still unaware of this news, but at his level, he was well-informed about such matters.

During the Golden Core stage, he had single-handedly annihilated the entire Evil Race, amassing 2.9 billion Sin Points to top the Sin Value Rankings of Xuantian Continent.

At the Nascent Soul stage, he attained the Twelfth Rank Nascent Soul, triggering a celestial phenomenon and earning nearly a trillion Virtue Points. With the cultivation of the Fifth Layer Nascent Soul, he seized the top spot in the Nascent Soul Battle Power Rankings.

Upon entering the Divine Transformation stage, he created the Twelfth Rank Soul Transformation Realm and exterminated the Half-step Condensation Void Realm cultivator and multiple peak Divine Transformation elders.

Throughout his journey.

The blood on his hands had multiplied countless times.

In terms of strength, he was inferior.

In terms of ruthlessness, he was outmatched.

In terms of influence, he was far behind! In every aspect, he was at a disadvantage. If Chen Qiu really came knocking on his door, he would have no choice but to face death. His greatest relief now was that Void Observation Sect hadn't revealed his involvement.

If only there had been an idiot who had said, "Zhang Kui is protecting us."

He highly suspected that the messenger who brought the news might not have been his disciple but Chen Qiu himself.

"It seems the Xuantian Continent has become more dangerous."

Zhang Kui anxiously gazed outside the cave dwelling, his unease rapidly fermenting within. Chen Qiu must have had a use for the array formation cultivator he abducted.

Perhaps he wanted to set up an array.

That array formation cultivator was only at the initial Divine Transformation stage, far weaker than him. He, on the other hand, was at the late stage of Divine Transformation. If Chen Qiu found out that the array formation cultivator was inadequate, a simple inquiry would lead him straight to Zhang Kui.

If Chen Qiu came looking for him, things would take a turn for the worse.

No!

After wandering the cultivation world for so many years, Zhang Kui's strength lay in his decisiveness. Without hesitation, he packed up everything in the cave dwelling and, without waiting for his disciples, transformed into a streak of light and shot off into the distance!

He was going into hiding.

Xuantian Continent, deep within the ocean, on Dragon Island.

Chen Qiu sat cross-legged atop a mountain peak, gazing at the panel shrouded in clouds above his dantian.

In his hand was the Shadow Stone he had bought from the young servant when he went to the city. He hoped it would bring him some luck this time.

After all, this was his first time selecting a trait after breaking through to Divine Transformation.

As the saying goes, a good start is half the battle.

If he randomly selected a useless trait at the beginning, the rest of his choices would likely be just as disappointing.

-

"Your cultivation has greatly increased, officially entering the First Layer of Divine Transformation."

"Please choose one of the three random traits below within ten breaths."

1:

"Trait Name": Annihilation Thunder Tribulation.

"Trait Level": Blue.

"Trait Effect": When you successfully pass through the Annihilation Thunder Tribulation, there's a chance to randomly obtain this trait, which will enhance the power of your lightning-based spells. The higher the opponent's Sin Points, the greater the damage these spells will inflict.

2:

"Trait Name": Idiot Self.

"Trait Level": Blue.

"Trait Effect": Your innate talent will significantly decrease, and your intelligence will be equivalent to a three-year-old human child. However, any form of attack will only inflict 30% damage on you.

3:

"Trait Name": Equal Rank Invincible.

"Trait Level": Purple.

"Trait Effect": Damage inflicted by cultivators of the same realm will be greatly reduced, but those of lower realms will deal increased damage. The lower their realm compared to yours, the more damage they will cause.

-

"Hmm."

Chen Qiu stared at the three traits, deep in thought. For now, the first trait was the most suitable and the rarest, only obtainable by surviving the Annihilation Thunder Tribulation.

It could significantly boost the power of his Lightning Summoning Art!

His Lightning Summoning Art, a common Foundation Establishment Stage spell, would become a powerful tool even at the Divine Transformation stage.

As for the second trait, he didn't even consider it.

No one wanted to lower their intelligence.

However, it might be suitable for those naturally foolish, like those born with the intelligence of a one-year-old human who, after choosing this trait, could gain the intellect of a three-year-old.

It was still an enhancement.

Moreover, a three-year-old human wasn't exactly stupid; they could already speak, but their thought processes might be a bit erratic.

In exchange for a significant boost in defense, it wasn't a bad deal.

The third trait also didn't suit him, and he wasn't sure how much damage it could cause. After all, you couldn't have a situation where an invincible Emperor-level cultivator, who was unmatched in the world, was walking on the road and suddenly got struck and killed by a rock thrown by a mortal.

Currently, the first trait seemed to be the most suitable for him.

However—

He had a "Fortune Approaching" trait, which allowed him to randomize once more. With only 100,000 virtue points, he decided to take a chance and see if he could randomize a better trait.

This time, he remembered.

Soon.

The third trait on the panel began to change slowly, and before long, a brand-new trait appeared.

-

Trait Name: Eight Directions Watch

Trait Level: Pink

Trait Effect: For every ten members of different races you kill, an additional eye will grow on your body.

".”

Chen Qiu stared at the trait expressionlessly, surprised that he had randomized another pink trait. However, it was of no use to him, and he could guess that this trait might be linked to other traits.

For example, a self-destructing eye trait.

It seemed to be a powerful pink trait. If one didn't care too much about their appearance and had the opportunity to acquire the corresponding linked trait, it would indeed be formidable.

But

He couldn't quite imagine what it would look like if someone's body was covered in thousands of eyes. Even without using any illusions, just their physical form would be enough to affect people's minds.

It would take half an hour every day just to clean the eye boogers.

Eyes on the soles of their feet, their tongue, and the palms of their hands.

Pink traits usually had no upper limit, and he was curious. If he killed millions of members of different races, could his body still grow that many eyes?

There wouldn't be enough space.

Unfortunately, he hadn't met anyone with this trait, so he couldn't witness it.

The race he had seen with the most eyes was the Evil Race, with eight eyes on their abdomen, looking like an old sow. If he remembered correctly, the eyes on the Evil Race's abdomen could be used for attacks, indicating that this trait was quite suitable for them.

He shook his head.

Without further thought.

He immediately chose the first trait, "Annihilation Thunder Tribulation." He vaguely noticed a pattern; for instance, the "Annihilation Thunder Tribulation" trait only had a certain chance of being randomized after enduring the Annihilation Thunder Tribulation.

This meant that one should strive to break through limits as much as possible. Not only would there be a high probability of obtaining rewards at that time, but there would also be many hidden rewards in the future.

These hidden rewards often became the foundation for pushing one to break through limits again.

Forming a positive feedback loop.

This was how he gradually rose.

From a mere woodcutter, he had now cultivated to the Divine Transformation stage!

"Hmm."

After selecting the trait, he glanced at the Nascent Soul floating above his dantian, its surface shimmering with golden light, before turning his gaze to the mini-universe.

The Divine Transformation array cultivator he had captured from the Void Observation Sect was diligently repairing the grand array, appearing meek and lacking the arrogance typical of a Divine Transformation cultivator.

A very honest person.

The manager of Daxia Country was also in the Mock Heaven Sect's disciple dormitory, cultivating with dark circles under his eyes. There were numerous storage rings waiting for him to decipher, but his cultivation had fallen behind, so he needed to quickly improve.

In Daxia Country's Haizhou, the Golden Core female demon he had captured was now in the backyard, building a small house for herself. She was chopping wood and cooking, and a wooden bucket filled with freshly picked flowers stood outside her house.

This Golden Core female demon was captured to help Fatty Dragon improve his cultivation.

But now, Fatty Dragon no longer needed her. When Chen Qiu asked Fatty Dragon what to do with her, he said he couldn't bear to kill her, as they had been together so many times, and he had developed some feelings. So, he suggested releasing her in the backyard.

And so, she was set free.

After her release, the Golden Core female demon seemed like a reformed courtesan, no longer displaying the ferocity she had shown during their first meeting. She lived a quiet life in the backyard, secluded from the world."

All the other Mock Heaven Sect disciples are diligently cultivating."

His spirit beast, the little wolf cub, was also sound asleep on a clearing in the backyard.

Everyone was busy, and the entire Mock Heaven Sect was bustling with vitality.

"Hmm."

Chen Qiu nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to his cultivation panel, deep in thought. His biggest concern now was how to improve his cultivation progress.

He didn't have any Divine Transformation Heavenly Dao Cultivation Pills.

Although absorbing spiritual energy from the heavens and earth or using Spirit Gathering Formations could also enhance cultivation, and eight out of ten people did so, he felt that this method was a bit slow for him.

The Dragon Clan also didn't have any Divine Transformation Heavenly Dao Cultivation Pills.

He only had the seventeen in his hand.

He looked down at the seventeen Divine Transformation Heavenly Dao Cultivation Pills in his palm and felt a headache. These seventeen pills were the ones he had gathered from those families the night before.

Forget it.

He shook his head and didn't think further. He would worry about it after using up these seventeen Divine Transformation Heavenly Dao Cultivation Pills. With the tenfold cultivation speed boost, he couldn't afford to waste time.

He immediately popped a Divine Transformation Cultivation Pill into his mouth, sat cross-legged, and began to cultivate diligently, circulating his cultivation method.

Vast Continent.

Inside a certain palace, a young man sat at a dining table, his face serious as he gazed at the food on the table. He closed his eyes and prayed quietly.

In the vast palace, a long black-red table stretched for several zhang in the center.

In front of the young man.

There was a small circular hole on the tabletop.

At this moment, a member of the Evil Race was fixed beneath the table, his face filled with fear and despair. One-third of his head protruded from the small hole on the table.

He wailed and begged for mercy incessantly.

The shrill sound stood out starkly in the empty hall.

The Evil Race was different from the Human Race, neither fully human nor non-human.

The man's abdomen was born with eight extra eyes, and his head was devoid of skin, as if his scalp had been torn off, exposing his brain to the air.

It was like soft tofu.

Only a thin transparent membrane covered the top of his head, preventing his brain from falling out.

The young man sitting at the long table listened to the wails coming from beneath the table and nodded with satisfaction, "This one is very fresh, full of vital energy."

Servants stood on both sides of the long table, bowing their heads, not daring to look at their master, and standing cautiously.

The young man picked up a knife and fork from the side.

He held the knife in his left hand and the fork in his right.

After a moment, he opened his eyes and nodded, turning to the elder beside him with a slight smile, "This one is very fresh, from now on, only provide me with this quality."

But his body was firmly controlled, unable to move even a little.

The young man at the long table put down his knife and fork, picked up a handkerchief from the table, and wiped the oil stains from the corners of his mouth. He turned to the butler beside him.

"I'll be coming out of seclusion in a month."

"On the day I come out of seclusion, get me one of this freshness again."

"Young Master." The elder standing beside him, his face full of wrinkles, bowed respectfully and said in a low voice, "It will be difficult to eat something this fresh again in the future. We only have some stock left, and after that, there will be none."

"Hmm?"

The young man, who was about to stand up and leave, stopped in his tracks and looked at the elder. Suddenly, he laughed, "I, Nan Gong Tian, can't even afford to eat the Evil Race?"

The elder shook his head, "The Evil Race is only found in the Xuantian Continent. Recently, there haven't been any Evil Race members transported from the Xuantian Continent."

"They must have been exterminated."

"Exterminated."

After a pause, the young man spoke softly, "Who exterminated them?"

"Chen Qiu."

The elder reported quietly, "In the Central Palace of the First Rank Xuantian Continent, six milestone tasks have been completed, and six Heavenly Dao statues have been erected."

"One of the Heavenly Dao statues represents the extermination of a race."

"So, according to my guess, it should be this person named Chen Qiu who exterminated the Evil Race."

"..."

After a long silence, the young man spoke indifferently, "I understand. Gather as much of the Evil Race stock as possible from the market. Even though they're not as fresh, it's better than nothing."

"I'll go to the Central Palace of the First Rank Xuantian Continent to take a look."

The Vast Continent is a Second Rank Continent.

The Nan Gong Clan had spent thousands of years to journey from the First Rank Dawn Continent to the Vast Continent, establishing their foundation. So, he knew the difficulty of completing a milestone task.

Anyone who completes even one task is a Celestial Prodigy!

And completing six...

He had never seen anyone like this before. There were only twelve milestone tasks on a continent, and half of them had been completed by this person.

Such a person should have come to the Vast Continent long ago. Why did they stay in a First Rank Continent all this time?

"Ula, Ula!!!"

Perhaps there had been too many incidents in the Central Province recently, as no one noticed that the Demon Race had officially started a war!

A matter that should have dominated the headlines went unnoticed!

Few even knew about it.

"..."

In the underground cavern.

The young Demon Race member stood expressionless, gazing at his father standing on a rock in the distance, holding a long sword and shouting excitedly, and at the Demon Race members charging forward below, pushing back the Dwarf Race.

He suddenly felt that the script might be a bit off.

The Demon Race elder from tens of thousands of years ago in the small jade ball had told him that the Demon Race's nature to avoid combat, and their longevity was due to their skill in inciting discord and surviving in the cracks.

But...

Now, the Demon Race seemed quite adept at fighting!

A fair and square battle.

They had been pushing forward relentlessly, and the fearless Demon Race didn't seem to fit the description of 'not adept at combat' at all. But you could also say there's no connection."

At this rate...

If nothing unexpected happens...

Within three months, they might even exterminate the Dwarf Race, with whom they've had a long-standing feud.

Just like that.

The entire Xuantian Continent entered a strange period of silence.

"Huff"

Chen Qiu, sitting cross-legged on the cliff, exhaled a turbid breath, slowly opening his eyes and looking at the seven remaining Transcendent Heavenly Dao Cultivation Pills in his hand, sighing lightly.

Ten hours had passed.

It took one hour to digest a Transcendent Heavenly Dao Cultivation Pill, and each pill only increased cultivation progress by 5%.

This was after a tenfold increase in cultivation speed. Without it, it would be only 0.5%, and consuming ten pills would only result in a 5% increase.

It wasn't that the pills were ineffective.

Transcendent cultivators who consistently consumed Transcendent Heavenly Dao Cultivation Pills would undoubtedly cultivate much faster than others, but it just didn't meet his expectations.

Ten hours passed, and after consuming ten Transcendent Heavenly Dao Cultivation Pills, his cultivation progress reached—

-

"Cultivation": First Rank Divine Transformation (50%).

-

At this rate, even after consuming all seven remaining Transcendent Heavenly Dao Cultivation Pills, he wouldn't be able to break through to the Second Rank Divine Transformation.

And this was with a tenfold increase in cultivation speed.

Without it, even with an infinite supply of Transcendent Heavenly Dao Cultivation Pills, the daily cultivation progress would increase by at most 12%.

To reach the Peak Divine Transformation, it would take an eternity.

Just then—

A distant and ancient voice echoed across the Xuantian Continent.

PS: I accidentally published this while fixing typos. This is tonight's chapter.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end