Chapter 314: "When the killing intent arises, it's either kill or be killed."

Chapter 314: "When the killing intent arises, it's either kill or be killed."

"Huff!"

In the House of Wei, Duke Wei took a deep breath, clearing his mind of all emotions. At this point, pondering further held no significance, regardless of what might happen next.

All he could do was face the challenges as they came.

Jiang Taiping Continent.

The bonfire party continued, with many Mock Heaven Sect disciples excitedly sharing their experiences from the past few days. Their voices were loud, seemingly conversing with their companions, but their peripheral vision frequently glanced at Chen Qiu, indicating their concern about whether the Sect Master could hear their conversations. Not everyone dared to approach Chen Qiu individually.

Chen Qiu merely smiled lightly, listening quietly without interrupting.

After being imprisoned in that palace for seven years, he finally understood the value of this seemingly mundane freedom.

He was also enjoying this moment.

Especially the Secret Realm host, Little Shuai, who was relishing this moment. Sitting by the bonfire, slightly tipsy, he gazed at the infinite tribulation clouds above and the constantly flickering lightning within, murmuring, "It's so beautiful. I wish Little Mei could see this too."

"Beautiful?"

Fat Dragon tilted his head. "It seems you've never been struck by lightning. You're the first person I've met who finds tribulation clouds beautiful. When that thing strikes, you'll know if it's beautiful or not."

"Of course, I know tribulation clouds are extremely dangerous."

Little Shuai spoke in a daze, "But undeniably, they possess an irresistible charm. The more threatening something is, the more captivating it becomes. A rose without thorns lacks the stunning beauty of its bloom."

"For example?" Fat Dragon raised an eyebrow.

"For example, the senior."

Little Shuai took a deep breath, his expression serious as he turned to look at Chen Qiu. "The senior gives off an incredibly threatening aura, but he also exudes a strong personal charm. I was able to leave the Secret Realm and even establish my own clan, all thanks to the senior's help."

"If the senior is willing..."

"I, your junior, am willing to serve the senior for ten thousand years, never leaving his side, through life and death."

Fat Dragon remained silent, his face expressionless. He couldn't understand how this guy's thought process was so fast. Just a moment ago, he was reminiscing about his deceased first love, and now, in an instant, he had jumped to the process of flattering. How did he get from one thought to the other? It felt both eerie and natural.

Chen Qiu smiled lightly, raising his wine cup and clinking it with Little Shuai's in midair before tilting his head back to drink.

None of them had used their spiritual energy to refine the alcohol, so they were all a bit tipsy.

And when people are slightly drunk, their courage tends to grow.

Even Qu Gui, the Outer Gate Senior Elder of the Mock Heaven Sect, known as "Ghost Qu," had gathered the courage to approach Chen Qiu. He began to loudly boast about the great opportunity he had encountered, claiming that his cultivation had reached the third level of Refine Void.

His combat power was even comparable to that of the seventh level of Refine Void.

Both his combat power and cultivation had improved rapidly.

He was about to become the second-highest cultivator in the Mock Heaven Sect, and it was indeed worth boasting about. Chen Qiu didn't say much; he just smiled and looked at everyone, like a parent watching their child show off.

Just then—

Chen Qiu's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and after a moment, he slowly stood up and sighed. "It seems this bonfire party will have to come to an end here."

"Next, I'll have to ask these esteemed guests to make way."

He waved his hand, gathering the Mock Heaven Sect disciples, Fat Dragon, Little Shuai, and others into his small world. As for Badan and the Bai Family Patriarch, he did not bring them into his small world for two reasons. First, their strength was relatively high, and leaving them in his small world could lead to unpredictable consequences.

Second, these individuals would not be affected by the tribulation lightning that was about to strike, so there was no need to bring them into his small world.

"Understood."

Badan, who had been drinking wine and was now forced to stop halfway, looked up at the tribulation clouds in the sky that had already condensed into a substantial form, almost at their peak. He nodded seriously and solemnly, "Take care, senior."

Without turning back, he shot off into the distance.

The Bai Family Patriarch and the others also bid farewell and shot off in the opposite direction, fearing they might be caught in the tribulation clouds.

In the blink of an eye,

The once lively wasteland was now left in disarray, with only Chen Qiu standing alone, his hands clasped behind his back, suspended high in the air.

Beneath the infinite tribulation clouds, Chen Qiu's tall and slender figure resembled a solitary sail on the ocean, insignificant and unremarkable. The idea of humans overcoming heaven was almost uncontrollably spreading in his mind.

The entire atmosphere gave off a sense of utter despair.

However, Chen Qiu's heart remained calm at this moment, a benefit of possessing immense power. If he were an ordinary person, this sight would indeed be terrifying, but he wasn't, and this scene could only make him feel the coolness of the weather, nothing more. There was no emotional turmoil within him.

The next moment—

"Boom!!!"

A lightning tribulation several dozen feet thick descended from the sky, slamming down on Chen Qiu with the intent to crush him. However, Chen Qiu didn't even flinch; not even his eyebrows moved, and he remained suspended in the air, gazing into the distance.

No one knew what he was thinking at that moment.

But everyone felt the terror of this lightning tribulation. When it struck, almost everyone on the Jiang Taiping Continent who sensed this scene had their breath abruptly stop. They were certain that if this strike had landed on them,

Even if they were at the late stage of Great Vehicle cultivation, or even at the early or mid-stage of Tribulation Transcendence, they would have died instantly.

There was no means of escape.

Who was this mysterious person, and what was their identity, that they could withstand such a strike and appear completely unharmed? How could someone like this have emerged on the Jiang Taiping Continent without anyone knowing?

Following the previous chapter, a thunderous roar reverberated as a massive lightning tribulation, several zhang thick, slowly formed within the tribulation clouds. It tore through the night sky once more, transforming countless tribulation clouds into a bluish-gray hue under its radiance. This tribulation was significantly thinner than the previous one, appearing less formidable, but the power of the tribulation clouds involved had grown even more intense!

The might of this tribulation was already approaching the "First Rank Tribulation" he had experienced on the Vast Continent.

"Boom!"

The third lightning tribulation descended swiftly, and from this point on, its power had already surpassed that of the previous First Rank Tribulation.

"Is this the Second Rank Tribulation?"

Before the fourth lightning tribulation struck, Chen Qiu, suspended high in the sky, looked up at the tribulation clouds above him, which were surging like ocean waves. He could clearly sense the frenzied flow of the power of heaven and earth.

If things proceeded as expected, the intensity of this tribulation would indeed be that of the Second Rank Tribulation.

Indeed.

The strength of a tribulation primarily depends on the means at one's disposal. Possessing items like the "Heavenly Dao Entry Set," "Twelve Stage Golden Core," and "Rainbow Entry" would all contribute to increasing the power of the tribulation. Chen Qiu had maxed out these items, and with the accumulation of numerous minor tribulations and the tribulation during his breakthrough to the Tribulation Stage, it was no surprise that the tribulation had evolved into the Second Rank Tribulation.

This was completely normal and understandable.

However, this tribulation was one rank higher than the previous one, but Chen Qiu wasn't as flustered as he had been before. The present was different from the past, and he was no longer the same person who had faced tribulations with such disarray.

He wouldn't be forced to reveal all his trump cards and end up heavily injured on the ground again.

But he remembered that during his previous encounter with the First Rank Tribulation, at the last moment, he had summoned the "Little Ant"—the creature summoned by the "Ant Holding a Hammer" codex entry.

During the previous tribulation, this Little Ant had helped him block the final strike, although it couldn't withstand the entire blow. Nevertheless, the Little Ant's cultivation had skyrocketed at that time. In other words, this Little Ant could also benefit from the lightning strike and increase its cultivation.

He decided to summon the Little Ant to boost its cultivation.

To be precise, referring to it as a "Little Ant" was no longer quite fitting. After acquiring the "Giant" codex entry, the Little Ant had transformed into a Giant Ant, making it an ideal shield, especially with its absolute immortality. It was virtually invincible.

The only drawback was...

Ants, when they are small, can be quite adorable, but once they grow in size, the fear they inspire is far beyond that of ordinary lions or tigers.

To be more accurate, all insect-like creatures are best when they remain small. Once they grow in size, they tend to evoke a sense of psychological fear and physical revulsion.

As these thoughts ran through his mind...

"Boom!!!"

Another lightning tribulation struck! Finally, after the ninth lightning tribulation, a loud proclamation from the heavens reverberated across the Jiang Taiping Continent!

"Heavenly Dao Proclamation: The Heavenly Dao has sensed that Chen Qiu, the Master of Mock Heaven Sect, the Heavenly Dao Sage, the Heavenly Dao Villain, the Guardian Deity of the Human Race, the Peerless Talent, and the Heavenly King, has successfully overcome the Second Rank Tribulation, the 'Godslaying Thunder Tribulation,' at the Tribulation Seventh Layer in the Pale Province of the Jiang Taiping Continent!

He is the first in the history of the Jiang Taiping Continent to triumph over the 'Godslaying Thunder Tribulation'!

As a reward, he is bestowed with one hundred million medium-grade spirit stones. May all living beings learn from this example."

In the moment the proclamation echoed, Chen Qiu stood motionless, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. The reward for overcoming the First Rank Tribulation included the Peerless Talent Fortune and the Heavenly Dao Fortune.

He had anticipated the Second Rank Tribulation, but this reward was something new to him.

He was directly granted one hundred million spirit stones.

This was the first time he had seen such a substantial spirit stone reward in a Heavenly Dao Proclamation, as previous rewards had always been various treasures.

If given a choice...

If it were a choice between the Peerless Talent Fortune, the Heavenly Dao Fortune, and one hundred million medium-grade spirit stones, he would likely opt for the former. After all, while one hundred million spirit stones seemed like a substantial amount, he could soon reclaim his own seventeen billion medium-grade spirit stones.

Compared to seventeen billion spirit stones, one hundred million seemed rather insignificant.

Oh.

With the green codex entry "Imperial Decree Regular," the reward should be two hundred million spirit stones.

However, this cultivation node felt a bit odd. Logically, tribulations like the "Second Rank Tribulation," which had entered the ranks and possessed immense power, were typically encountered when breaking through major cultivation boundaries. Yet, he had encountered this tribulation at the Tribulation Seventh Layer, giving him the feeling of wearing slippers to a five-star restaurant on the side of the road.

As for injuries...

There were almost none.

Aside from a slight tingling sensation throughout his body, he could feel the remnants of the tribulation's power flowing on his skin's surface. Other than that, there was no discomfort, and minor wounds had already healed on their own. With the increase in his cultivation level and the enhancement of his physical constitution, his body could now completely heal minor injuries.

At this moment...

Badan and the others arrived after the tribulation clouds gradually dissipated, having come from a distance.

Badan, who arrived first, had originally intended to provide assistance, but upon seeing Chen Qiu unscathed, a look of astonishment flashed in his eyes. "Senior... that was the Second Rank Tribulation. Are you... are you really unharmed?"

Normally, tribulations don't have ranks; they only have names.

For example, there are the First Nine Tribulations, Second Nine Tribulations, and so on.

However, once a tribulation enters the ranks, like the First Rank Tribulation or Second Rank Tribulation, their power becomes extremely exaggerated. These ranked tribulations are often found in high-rank continents and immortal realms.

For instance, the First Rank Tribulation is the tribulation many celestial virtuosos encounter when breaking through the Tribulation Stage.

If one's means and foundation are slightly lacking, they might not even face the First Rank Tribulation when breaking through the Tribulation Stage.

The Second Rank Tribulation is what many celestial virtuosos encounter when transcending the Human Immortal Realm and ascending to the immortal realms, also known as the "Ascension Tribulation!"

The difference in strength was slight, and even during the Ascension Tribulation, he only encountered a Second Rank Tribulation, perhaps a First Rank Tribulation, or even a lowly one. In other words, the rank of the Tribulation one faces during Ascension largely determines their potential and combat power afterward.

And yet, at this moment, the senior had only reached the Tribulation Seventh Layer and had already overcome the Ascension Tribulation.

So, when the senior attained Immortality, what level of Tribulation did he face? It couldn't have been a Third Rank Tribulation, right?

A look of horror flashed in Badan's eyes. His cultivation was far superior to the senior's, and he had already reached the Peak Heaven Immortal stage. In recent days, his cultivation had fully recovered to its peak state, just one step away from breaking through to the True Immortal stage.

But at the senior's cultivation speed, it wouldn't be long before he caught up to Badan.

"Hmm."

Chen Qiu lightly nodded, but his eyes also held a hint of confusion. Was this senior the first in this continent to overcome the Second Rank Tribulation? No, this was the Fourth Rank Continent, the Jiang Taiping Continent, and wasn't there a rumored private son of an Immortal Emperor, Jiang Taiping, here? Didn't he have a Second Rank Tribulation?

However, he didn't think too much about it.

He released the remaining members of the Mock Heaven Sect and smiled, saying, "Just a minor interruption, the party will continue later."

Soon, the atmosphere became lively again, even more so than before, with the constant clinking of cups and glasses. After all, they were all disciples of the Mock Heaven Sect, and the stronger the Sect Master was, the more they would benefit.

To put it bluntly, in this day and age, who wouldn't want to follow a powerful Sect Master? Not only would they have a sense of security, but also a strong sense of cohesion and pride.

To be blunt, even if one were to die outside, they wouldn't have to worry about their enemies living peacefully in their final moments. The Sect Master would definitely avenge them. This is a kind of confidence, and with the Sect Master around, they felt more assured. The stronger the Sect Master's strength, the more confident they felt.

". . ."

Sitting by the bonfire, the Deceptive Buddha touched his nose and remained silent. He had once been a Celestial Immortal, but after contracting Immortal Cancer, his cultivation had declined, eventually leading to his downfall to a First Rank Continent.

Although the Immortal Cancer had been resolved, he didn't have Badan's advantage of using the Maan Clan's foundation to rapidly restore his strength. At this moment, both his cultivation and combat power were still far from his peak.

This was also the reason why he hadn't returned to the Immortal World yet.

Firstly, since he had promised Chen Qiu, he needed to intimidate other clan members in the Inferior Rank Continent to ensure normal cooperation for the next few hundred years.

Secondly, his combat power hadn't fully recovered. If his old enemies found out he wasn't dead, they would surely take advantage of his weakness, and they were very adept at such actions.

He had high standards, and with his insight, he could clearly see the terrifying potential within Chen Qiu. This was why he had always been friendly towards Chen Qiu. As long as such a person didn't meet an untimely end, they would undoubtedly rise to a terrifying height in the future.

There was just one condition that must be met: not dying prematurely.

This was an extremely difficult condition, especially for high-risk professions like Celestial Virtuosos. It's not as simple as having strong enough strength to avoid an untimely end. Chen Qiu's strength was formidable, and he had no rivals at the same cultivation level, but what good did that do? He was still imprisoned in a certain place for over seven years.

A slight difference in strength, and he might never return. This world was too vast, and absurd and ridiculous things could happen. In such a situation, avoiding an untimely end was genuinely challenging.

However,

"Badan."

After hesitating for a moment, the Deceptive Buddha spoke, "I'll also join in the fun at this Ascension Assembly, but my cultivation hasn't fully recovered yet, and as you know, I have some enemies. If I go in my true identity, I'm afraid..."

"I understand."

Badan's expression turned serious as he patted his chest, "I get it. When the time comes, I'll take you in, and we'll go together. Since you're on good terms with the senior, you're also my friend, Badan. In the future, let's help each other. If there's anything you need my help with, don't hesitate to ask."

"Just say the word."

"Oh, right."

Badan suddenly remembered something and turned to Chen Qiu, scratching the back of his head, "Senior, you once asked me about a continent, the Seven Wives Continent, also known as the Tricolor Continent. In that continent, all newborns are born with three Rainbow Entries."

"Senior, you asked me about some specific news regarding that continent, but at the time, I hadn't heard much about it. Recently, I received some information. Do you still need the information about that continent?"

"Oh?"

Chen Qiu raised his eyebrows and smiled, "Tell me more."

A long time ago, when he met the Deceptive Buddha, the latter had mentioned that the Seven Wives Continent had an entrance to the Underworld, and Chen Qiu had planned to go there to obtain the Soul Fortune. As this continent was polluted, he had asked Badan about it.

Now, a long time had passed since then, and he had obtained the Soul Fortune from other continents, so there was no need to visit the Seven Wives Continent anymore. Gradually, he had forgotten about it.

However, he had always been quite interested in that continent and didn't mind listening to more.

"It's a long story, but not too long. Let me cut to the chase."

Badan took a deep breath and continued, "The Ascension Assembly in the Tide Immortal Plane is quite a spectacle, with many elderly recluses coming out of seclusion to seize their own opportunities at the banquet. Among them, there's an old recluse who, after appearing this time, we only then learned that he had come from the Seven Wives Continent."

"Senior, you may not know this, but very few people manage to escape the Seven Wives Continent and reach the peak of Tribulation to ascend to the Immortal Realm."

"The competition on the Seven Wives Continent is quite cruel. We used to only know that it was harsh, but we didn't know the specifics until we had a brief encounter with someone from there, and we finally understood the nature of this cruelty."

"When a child is born on the Seven Wives Continent, they receive three Rainbow Entries, and one of them is..."

"Void Targeting."

Chen Qiu silently mouthed the four words in his mind. He now understood the nature of this continent and why, despite being born with three Rainbow Entries, it was considered a polluted continent.

Three Rainbow Entries should be a good thing, and logically, there should be no connection to pollution.

-

Entry Name: Void Targeting

Entry Grade: Rainbow

Entry Effect: When you know your enemy's appearance and real name, you can attack them across space regardless of distance and ignore the Heavenly Dao Shackles.

The effect of this Rainbow Entry is simple—an unlimited-distance remote attack.

This means that the Seven Wives Continent has completely transformed into a dark forest, where everyone hides in the shadows, afraid to reveal their identities and information. Once exposed, they face attacks from countless others.

Needless to say, masks are prevalent.

Almost everyone has one.

"If nothing unexpected happens..."

Chen Qiu silently said, "The Seven Wives Continent's human skin mask-making craftsmanship must be top-notch."

"Exactly," Badan sighed with emotion. "The human skin masks made on the Seven Wives Continent are truly exceptional. Even a small workshop can produce high-quality masks, and if the major sects put their full effort into it, the masks they create are top-notch, comparable to directly changing one's identity!"

"The masks are one thing, but how do they handle names? Since they're born in such an environment, there's no need for names, right?"

"If you don't have a name, doesn't that naturally reduce the chances of being targeted?"

"No."

Badan shook his head. "Names are necessary, but there's no limit on surnames or the number of characters. To prevent exposure, some parents keep their children's names a secret, not even telling their children or anyone else, ensuring complete confidentiality."

"Some people, on the other hand..."

"Due to the unlimited character limit for names, some people give themselves names with hundreds of thousands of characters, ensuring that even if their names are leaked, no one will remember them."

"?"

Chen Qiu paused, then asked subconsciously, "Can names really be hundreds of thousands of characters long? How would that work with the Heavenly Dao Proclamation?"

He couldn't imagine such a scene.

Just reciting the names on the Heavenly Dao Proclamation would take a long time, during which everyone on the continent would have to listen to the heavenly proclamation.

"I don't know about that," Badan shook his head helplessly. "I'm not entirely sure, but perhaps allowing unlimited characters for names on that continent is a form of protection from the Heavenly Dao."

Fat Dragon, sitting nearby, thoughtfully said, "Normally, with such thorough protection, there shouldn't be any major issues."

Badan looked at Fat Dragon with a complex expression.

"Basically, no one dies from an enemy's Void Targeting. They die at the hands of their own family members."

"You can keep your name and appearance a secret from outsiders, but it's hard to maintain that secrecy with your family, whom you live with day and night, right?"

"And once..."

"A quarrel or argument occurs, the outcome is inevitable."

"When you're fighting enemies outside, and suddenly someone stabs you in the back, who can withstand that?"

"Holding a weapon, murderous intent arises."

"In many cases, it's just a matter of an unresolved grudge. After a while, people might think it through, but if they happen to have a means of retaliation at hand, like Void Targeting, the tragedy often unfolds."

"Many tragedies happen this way."

"That's why, on a continent where everyone has the means to attack, the mortality rate is higher, even significantly higher, than on continents where mortals are the norm."

"When murderous intent arises, it leads to killing oneself or others."

Chen Qiu nodded, even more curious about the other two Rainbow Entries. He asked, "What about the remaining two Rainbow Entries?"

"I don't know."

Badan shook his head with a hint of regret. "That senior's personality was a bit eccentric. He didn't stay to chat for long, but it's understandable. After all, coming from such a harsh environment, it's easy to develop a more extreme personality."

"Right."

Badan turned to the Bai Family Patriarch and said, "You should also leave your Third Rank Continent as soon as possible. It's best not to linger on polluted continents. Wash away those entries that have altered your body, and replace them with a new set. Although your strength will decrease significantly, and the process will be painful, a mutated body has a low upper limit and cannot progress further."

"Since you've had the fortune of following a senior, broaden your horizons and aim higher.

"Don't be fixated on short-term gains."

It was evident that Badan cared about everyone around Chen Qiu, or perhaps he had come to view this group as a collective with the senior as its core, and he wanted to help everyone become stronger and foster closer relationships within the group.

However, he was cautious with his words, careful not to overstep his bounds.

He had no intention of vying for power.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end