Chapter 265: "This Kid's Status is Quite Impressive Now?"

Chapter 265: "This Kid's Status is Quite Impressive Now?"

Chen Qiu took a deep breath and sat cross-legged on the Heaven Sovereign Throne, beginning his cultivation by circulating his Heart Method. He had already entrusted the task of capturing demonic beasts to Bear Gao, and once enough beasts were captured, he would emerge to gradually increase the size of his little ant.

Cultivation required his full attention, leaving no room for multitasking. He couldn't cultivate while simultaneously engaging in other activities.

The command to have the little ant attack the demonic beasts needed to be issued by him. After each beast was killed, he had to give another order for the ant to attack the next one. This entire process required his personal involvement, leaving no time for cultivation.

It would take some time.

Until a large number of demonic beasts were captured, he would remain here to cultivate, striving to improve his cultivation realm as much as possible for his "Sole King" competition. Although he believed that with his "Twenty-Seventh Grade Fusion Strike," his strength should be sufficient to crush his opponents, he was still at the Body Fusion Stage.

Even the weakest cultivators at this stage had their trump cards. Those who had reached this level of cultivation had undoubtedly experienced numerous fortuitous encounters, and it was pointless for anyone to pretend otherwise.

It was best to enhance his strength as much as possible to avoid any unexpected setbacks.

Time passed swiftly, and soon a month had gone by.

In the Mystic Heaven State, within Yun City, a formation disk shop stood in the bustling center of a street.

A ginger cat lay on a stone stool at the entrance, gazing at the passersby with a dazed expression. Its body was relaxed, exuding a sense of laziness.

Yes, it was July Cat. As for how she had transformed from a fox into a ginger cat, that was a long story. At the moment, she was pondering a serious matter.

- Attribute Name: Nine Lives

- Attribute Level: Blue

- Attribute Effect: You possess nine lives. Each time you die, you will randomly resurrect in a new body, and your cultivation will depend on the body's level.

She had only one attribute, and it granted her nine lives. This attribute had allowed her to travel from the Great Xia Kingdom to the Vast Continent, a Second Rank Continent, which was indeed a remarkable leap.

However, a problem had arisen.

First Life: She had just crossed over and was singing on the streets of Fufeng City when she died during the demon race's invasion.

Second Life: She became a demon during the invasion and was killed by Chen Qiu's Lightning Invocation Art.

Third Life: She was a rabbit demon in Mountain Opening City, caught and roasted by Chen Qiu.

Fourth Life: Again, as a rabbit demon, she ventured into a canyon and was struck down by Chen Qiu's full-power attack.

Fifth Life: Returning to Fufeng City, she became a black crow, only to be caught and grilled by Liu Zide.

Sixth Life: In Fat Province, she became an Earth Devouring Rat, determined to dig out a giant underground palace. Just as the palace was taking shape, she emerged from the ground for some fresh air and saw Chen Qiu suspended in mid-air, casting countless bolts of lightning downward.

Seventh Life: In the capital city, she became a stray cat and was killed by a lion in the Mock Heaven Sect's backyard.

Eighth Life: As a kitten in Great Destiny City, her owner insisted on seeking apprenticeship at the Destiny Sect. She fled to Evil Province to avoid the disaster but was caught in Chen Qiu's five-thunder strike once more.

Ninth Life: As a Nine-Tailed Fox, she followed the Ten Thousand Beast Sect and became Xiao Yue's pet. However, this good fortune didn't last long, as she was scared to death.

Yes, her ninth life ended in fear. She had no idea that the heart of this body was so weak. During Chen Qiu's First Rank Heaven Tribulation, the Heaven-Slaying Thunder Tribulation, the vast and terrifying power of heaven and earth, along with the deafening thunder that reverberated throughout the world, terrified her to death.

Well, at least that was over.

Now, she had a question.

Wasn't her attribute supposed to grant her nine lives? But she had already died nine times. She had thought that the Nine-Tailed Fox life would be her final one, and after its death, there would be no more chances of reincarnation. Yet, she had unexpectedly gained another life as a ginger cat.

"Hmm," July Cat unconsciously extended her tongue to lick her paw before gazing into the distance with a sense of bewilderment. Was it because she had one life when she first crossed over, and with the nine lives from the attribute, she now had ten lives? Or was there a bug in the attribute, and she possessed not just nine lives but the ability to revive infinitely?

She wasn't sure which was the case.

Without the means to test it, she could only say that she had luckily gained an extra life and should make the most of it. This time, her luck was good; the ginger cat she reincarnated into was near Yun City. Without hesitation, she sought out the Ten Thousand Beast Sect again, as she was already familiar with them, and going elsewhere would feel strange.

The members of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect treated her well.

What was even stranger was that—

Her ability to see through others' thoughts remained intact. This ability was unique to the Nine-Tailed Fox, a distinctive demonic beast with its own special abilities. Unexpectedly, even after her death and reincarnation, this ability had been passed on.

Several months had passed since her death as a fox.

The Ten Thousand Beast Sect had long accepted her presence. After all, no one could refuse a fat ginger cat that lay lazily at their doorstep every day, clean and adorable. On the first day she was officially accepted, Xiao Yue personally brought her to an altar where a memorial tablet for her fox life was placed.

She was asked to pay her respects to her predecessor.

Xiao Yue was also quite saddened by the sudden death of the little fox. From time to time, she would look at July Cat and mutter that her personality seemed similar to the little fox's, as they both ignored people by drooping their ears to cover their ear canals.

Hehe, of course, they were similar. If they weren't, that would be strange.

July Cat also ignored these people. If it weren't for the need to find someone to feed her, she wouldn't even bother looking at them. Although there had been a slight mishap, transforming her from a Nine-Tailed Fox into a ginger cat, and her attribute seemed to have some issues, she didn't bother to investigate why.

Her life consisted of only two things: living and waiting to die.

It wasn't that she was giving up, but that she couldn't put in any effort. This time, the orange cat was still a completely ordinary mortal beast, without any Qi Cultivation. Even if she wanted to cultivate, she had no direction or room for progress.

It was better to laze around in the sun, eat some dried fish, and watch the bustling streets. This life was also quite happy.

If only Chen Qiu could quickly ascend and stop causing trouble in Mystic Heaven State.

If he stopped making a fuss in Mystic Heaven State, she would be even happier. She genuinely feared Chen Qiu; he had no temper at all. The only good news was that with Chen Qiu's strength, once the State Continent Constraint was lifted, he would definitely head to the Third Rank Continent.

At that time, her master, Xiao Yue of the Ten Thousand Beast Sect, would definitely not have the strength to go to the Third Rank Continent. Then, she could live in this continent without Chen Qiu, a world without Chen Qiu. She couldn't even begin to imagine how happy that would be.

At least, at least she wouldn't be inexplicably struck dead by random lightning. This way of dying was truly bizarre, wasn't it?

Did Chen Qiu even know that she had died many times because of him?

Damn!

[Heavenly Dao Edict]: The Heavenly Dao senses that in the Vast Continent, within Sky-Surging Province, a human cultivator named Li Xiuhua has firmly established herself on the Sky-Surging Throne for a year, officially becoming the Sky-Surging Sovereign!

When the rulers of the other eleven provinces are decided, the battle for the Sole King will commence.

.

Hearing the Heavenly Dao Edict ringing in her ears, a white-robed girl stood on the ocean's surface in Sky-Surging Province, a faint smile appearing in her eyes. Finally, a year had passed, and she had officially become the Sky-Surging Sovereign!

She only needed to wait for the rulers of the other eleven provinces to be decided, and then it would be her time to shine.

Everyone knew that Chen Qiu was a twelve-rank Fusion Strike, but how many knew that she, Li Xiuhua, was also a twelve-rank Fusion Strike?

Moreover, she had hidden some crucial information from her adopted sister, the one she had picked up.

When she left that small town full of mortals, she not only took away a great opportunity that could elevate her Fusion Strike rank, allowing her to reach the twelve-rank Fusion Strike, but she also obtained a jade slip with an attribute.

The attribute was named "Curse Name."

Its effect was that anyone attacked by her spells would have their Fusion Strike rank automatically reduced by one.

With this advantage, she didn't know how she could lose.

Her cultivation realm was already superior to Chen Qiu's, and her Fusion Strike rank was also one rank higher. How could she possibly lose?

In these past few months, her adopted sister hadn't come to find her again, probably because she was angry that Li Xiuhua insisted on becoming the Sky-Surging Sovereign and didn't want to associate with her anymore.

"Hmph, childish temper," Li Xiuhua scoffed.

Only a child would act like this. When she first met her adopted sister, she keenly sensed that her background was extraordinary, and she was likely the young mistress of a prominent family from another province. By deliberately approaching her, Li Xiuhua easily gained her favor. Over the years, she obtained many good things from her adopted sister.

But even if they parted ways now, it didn't matter. She was about to become the Sole King of the Vast Continent, and it didn't matter if her adopted sister didn't want to sever ties with her. After becoming the Sole King, she would go to the Third Rank Continent to see what a higher-rank world was like.

In this situation, they might never meet again, and it was pointless to think about it any further.

Li Xiuhua turned her head and gazed into the distance, murmuring towards the direction of Mystic Heaven State.

"Chen Qiu, your only chance to beat me is to avoid being hit by my spells. Only then will you have a slim chance to fight me. Otherwise..."

A light laugh filled with anticipation echoed across the empty ocean.

[Heavenly Dao Edict]: The Heavenly Dao senses that in the Vast Continent, within Endless State, a human cultivator named Immortal One has firmly established himself on the Endless Throne for a year, officially becoming the Endless Sovereign!

When the rulers of the other eleven provinces are decided, the battle for the Sole King will commence.

Listening to the sound of the Heavenly Dao Edict in his ears, Immortal One calmly tidied up his thatched cottage in Endless State. Yes, he had successfully secured the Endless Throne, but he felt no joy within. In the Celestial Palace, he possessed two statues, so he understood the Fusion Strike ranks these statues represented, and he was even more aware of Chen Qiu's current Fusion Strike rank, which was at least around twenty.

With such a huge rank difference, there was no way he could be a match.

Such a vast gap in ranks couldn't be bridged by cultivation alone.

The moment the battle for the Sole King began, it would be his time to perish!

The only solution he had come up with during these days was to go to the Land of Eternal Life, even though doing so would be like throwing away half his life. But this was his only chance to survive.

After tidying up his thatched cottage on the mountain peak, he began inspecting the multiple storage bracelets on his body.

Spirit stones, spirit wine, spirit tea, snacks, toys, children's books, women, and erotic books.

And more.

He had prepared for a long time, knowing that once he left, he might have to live in the Land of Eternal Life for a very long time. He had to bring everything he could, to ensure that when the time came, he wouldn't even be able to have a sip of spirit wine. As for the erotic books, they were also a necessity.

Although he hadn't been interested in women for many years, in a situation where time was stretched to the extreme, who knew if he might develop different thoughts?

Cultivators didn't need erotic books; they could create illusion formations to provide the most realistic and dreamlike experiences. He brought the erotic books mainly because he was worried he might forget what women looked like.

What a pity.

When he broke through to the Body Fusion Stage, his Refining Void clone had already merged with him. Otherwise, in the long river of time, the Refining Void clone would have been an excellent way to pass the time.

After making all the necessary preparations, Xian Yi sat in the middle of the thatched hut with a complicated expression, gazing at every detail of the place he had lived in for so long. He had left his mark everywhere, and it was a little hard to leave this place behind.

Before leaving, he meticulously cleaned the thatched hut, making it spotless. He also left behind some opportunities in the hut, hoping that some lucky person would stumble upon this place in the future and discover the opportunity he had left behind.

Xian Yi had a sense of responsibility, after all, his name was carved on the plaque above the door. If someone with fate found this place and saw that it was a mess, they might think that Xian Yi was a slovenly person.

For this reason, he decided to tidy up his messy house before leaving, making it look brand new. To be honest, it was quite tiring, not because the task was difficult, but because he had unearthed many items he had once stored away. Each item evoked sad memories, making him feel a little down.

The next moment—

Xian Yi took a deep breath, no longer hesitating. He clenched the token in his hand and crushed it.

Soon, a pitch-black hole appeared in front of him, and Xian Yi gritted his teeth before taking a big step into it!

"Oh?"

In the Great Xia Kingdom, at the place of inheritance, Old Man Cao lay bored on the beach with his legs crossed. Suddenly, he raised his eyebrows and chuckled, "A newcomer? Even in such an out-of-the-way place, someone new has arrived."

"It seems that my master was right. If you keep stretching out your hook, someone will eventually take the bait."

His words were a bit rough, but the logic was sound.

This world was too vast, and even the most absurd things would eventually become inevitable with the passage of time.

Just like now.

"Welcome, welcome."

Old Man Cao sighed and nodded in satisfaction. Later, he would ask if this newcomer knew anything about Chen Qiu. He genuinely wanted to know how Chen Qiu was doing and if he had made a name for himself. The last time he had heard news of Chen Qiu was when the Dragon Clan leader, Ao Tian, from the Profound Heaven Continent, contacted him and shared some information about Chen Qiu.

But after the last incense stick burned out, he completely lost contact with Chen Qiu and the others. At that time, Chen Qiu's cultivation had not yet broken through to the Primordial Soul stage, and he wondered how far Chen Qiu had progressed since then.

He had high hopes for Chen Qiu for many reasons. This young man had great fortune, a sharp mind, and a resilient character, all qualities he admired. To plan for nine lifetimes and a thousand years after leaving the Great Xia Kingdom required incredible perseverance, something that nine out of ten people lacked.

After failing once, less than seven out of ten people would try again.

After failing twice, less than five out of ten would attempt a third time.

After failing three times, less than one out of ten would dare to try again.

And after failing eight times, only one in ten thousand would still be willing to try a ninth time.

For most people, three failures were the limit before they gave up entirely on a matter. But often, the fourth attempt would bring a turning point.

At that moment—

From the depths of the beach's forest, a middle-aged man in a Daoist robe cautiously approached Old Man Cao, his expression wary. He looked at the old man's back and asked in a hoarse voice, "Senior, is this the Land of Eternal Life?"

"Hmm."

Old Man Cao casually waved his hand, "Can't you feel it yourself? Sit down and have some grilled meat first."

On the beach, there was an old grill that had clearly been there for some time, now emitting a fragrant, smoky aroma. This grill was a parting gift from Chen Qiu before he left.

"Okay."

Xian Yi nodded slightly, feeling a bit nervous. He couldn't quite gauge the old man in front of him, but since he was an elder in the Land of Eternal Life, calling him 'Senior' seemed appropriate.

The air was filled with spiritual energy, and a faint fragrance could be detected. There was no doubt that this was the Land of Eternal Life.

By staying here, one could attain immortality.

The so-called longevity that only immortals could achieve could be easily attained here, with just a small price to pay. For example, one would basically be unable to leave this place again, effectively imprisoning oneself.

"Hmm."

Old Man Cao put a skewer of grilled meat to his mouth and turned to look at Xian Yi, casually asking, "You've cultivated the Buddhist path, but you're wearing a Daoist robe. Isn't that a mismatch? Or is this mixed style in fashion now?"

"Which continent are you from?"

"The Vast Continent."

"The Vast Continent? The Upper Continent of the Profound Heaven Continent? I'd like to ask you about someone, Chen Qiu. Have you heard of him?"

As his words fell, Xian Yi's body trembled, and his voice shook as he cautiously asked, "May I ask what relationship you have with Chen Qiu?"

He had been driven here by Chen Qiu, and now, even in this place, he was hearing Chen Qiu's name again.

"Tsk."

Seeing Xian Yi's reaction, Old Man Cao couldn't help but smile, "From your reaction, it seems you do know him. Chen Qiu and I are like friends despite our age difference. We have a good relationship, and he's treated me to several barbecue meals. He also took quite a few opportunities from me."

"How is he doing now? He should have made a name for himself in the Profound Heaven Continent, right? Otherwise, you, staying in the Vast Continent, wouldn't have heard of Chen Qiu's name."

". . ."

Xian Yi's mouth twitched slightly, and after a long silence, he said in a hoarse voice, "He's made a name for himself, a big name. Not just in the Profound Heaven Continent, but even in the entire Vast Continent."

"Over a year ago, Chen Qiu came to the Vast Continent from the Profound Heaven Continent."

"He kept a low profile at first, completing only twelve milestone tasks in the Profound Heaven Continent. Then, he initiated the 'Sole King' competition and became the King of Profound Heaven. After that, he went into seclusion."

"Upon entering the Refining Void stage, he effortlessly killed countless Refining Void experts at the Peak. With his fourteen-grade Refining Void Domain, he slew all the Peak Refinement Void cultivators. Then, he continued his low-key seclusion, forging a twelve-grade outer body. With the support of the Heavenly Mandate Milestone, he further elevated his outer body's grade by twelve levels. After that..."

Xian Yi continued, sharing everything he knew.

Old Man Cao remained silent for a long time before speaking in a faint voice, "This kid has quite the reputation now, huh?"

"Mhm."

"So, you were forced here by Chen Qiu?"

"Mhm."

"Well, I'm sorry about that. I was wondering how, in this day and age, someone would willingly enter the Land of Eternal Life. But why did you compete for the 'Endless Sovereign' position back then?"

The Immortal One looked at the elder with deep resentment, "Before competing for the Endless Sovereign, I didn't know there was a monster in Mystic Heaven State. Normally, with such a huge fortune in front of you, how could you not seize it? Of course, I had to fight for it!"

"Mhm," Old Man Cao fell silent again for a long time before suddenly grinning, "This kid does have some tricks up his sleeve."

Even he hadn't expected this.

The once-ordinary Chen Qiu had reached such heights, a place he himself had never set foot in and never experienced the view from that position.

If given the chance, he would like to see what it was like to stand in that position, overlooking countless Celestial Prodigies. Unfortunately, this might only be possible in the next life.

"But this is already good enough."

The Immortal One sighed, "Not everyone can enter the Land of Eternal Life. I have this opportunity, but others don't. Some rulers of other states already understand the severity of the situation, while others are still unaware of the existence they are about to face."

"Next, they can only await death in despair. To be honest, it feels quite hopeless."

"Being here is already good enough."

"You've got a good understanding of the situation." Old Man Cao nodded and then asked curiously, "Why did you choose to come to the Land of Eternal Life instead of the Yin Realm? Someone in your position should be aware of the existence of the Yin Realm, right?"

"No."

The Immortal One shook his head, "One of the lower-tier continents in the Vast Continent has collapsed. In another ten thousand years, the Vast Continent will also collapse, and the Yin Realm of the Vast Continent will collapse along with it."

"If something else happens during this period, the collapse might even be accelerated."

"After much thought, I feel that the Land of Eternal Life is still a better choice. I can hide here for a long time."

"That's true," Old Man Cao nodded. "But you must have had some expectations before coming here, right?"

"Yes, since I have to stay in the Land of Eternal Life and can't go anywhere else, I brought many illusion formations. If you need them, I can offer them to you, Elder."

"Tsk."

Old Man Cao clicked his tongue in admiration, "That's very considerate of you, but no need. I prefer the real thing over the fake."

"Let's go. The Land of Eternal Life here is different from others."

"We can leave."

"I'll take you to experience something real, but we can only go to one place—the Great Xia Kingdom."

"Great Xia Kingdom?"

The Immortal One furrowed his brows in confusion, "Where is that? On which continent?"

"It's not on any continent," Old Man Cao extinguished the flames in the stove beside him and stretched lazily, "It's a country hidden within a mini-world, and the only force I've seen that exists in the form of a country."

"Not bad."

"This is also Chen Qiu's hometown. He came from here. I'll take you to see it."

"The Land of Eternal Life here has a happiness index that is more than just one or two times higher than other Lands of Eternal Life. You're very lucky, kid."

"Chen Qiu's hometown?" The Immortal One's pupils instantly lit up with anticipation. He wanted to see what kind of special place could give birth to a monster like Chen Qiu. Was it a place with extremely dense spiritual energy, or were all its inhabitants descendants of a powerful being, born with great fortune, or born with Rainbow Entries?

"Mhm."

Old Man Cao waved his hand with a smile, and the space beside him was torn open, revealing a black hole, "But there's been some trouble recently. The temperature has dropped significantly, so be sure to keep warm."

After saying this, he stepped into the black hole first.

Following behind, the Immortal One shook his head in confusion. With his cultivation level, how could he fear the cold? These words sounded so foreign to him.

But the moment he stepped into the black hole and arrived above the Endless Ice Plains, a bone-chilling cold pierced his body like needles. His body's first reaction was not to the cold but to the intense pain!

"This..."

The Immortal One was shocked and couldn't believe his eyes as he gazed at the Endless Ice Plains, where the icy wind howled, carrying countless ice shards. He stood there, stunned, as the cold here penetrated his spiritual energy and flesh, striking straight at his heart.

That chill appeared directly in the depths of his heart, ignoring any means he had to resist it.

He had reached the Body Fusion Stage, and although he felt his cultivation suppressed to the Nascent Soul peak here, he should still be able to withstand the icy wind. This didn't make sense.

He had never heard of a Nascent Soul cultivator freezing to death.

"Mhm," Old Man Cao, holding a burning Malevolent Wood in his hand, gazed calmly at the endless icy wind in the distance, "It seems you've felt the intensity of this cold wind. The Great Xia Kingdom hasn't been peaceful lately. This phenomenon has been going on for many days. If nothing unexpected happens, something might crawl out from there soon."

"I wish you could have contacted Chen Qiu before coming here and told him that his hometown is about to be raided."

"Although I want to protect Chen Qiu's hometown..."

"But we 'Heavenly Prisoners' here cannot take action, even if the sky falls. We can only be spectators."

"A qualified spectator only needs to do two things."

"Keep quiet and clap."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end