Chapter 338: "Is this condition too harsh?"

Chapter 338: "Is this condition too harsh?"

Half an hour later...

Chen Qiu, along with the disciples of the Mocking Heaven Sect, had returned to the First Rank Continent, the Mystic Heavens Continent. He had left the two elders of the Buddhist Sect in Zhongzhou and brought the rest to Quzhou, standing atop a snowy mountain.

He turned back to look at Quzhou, as if reflecting on his entire life.

His expression couldn't help but show a hint of absent-mindedness.

He had been in this world for over a thousand years. From the initial struggles to his current modest achievements, no one knew how much hardship he had endured or the price he had paid. Fortunately, after all the bitterness, the ending was sweet.

When he first left the Greater Xia Kingdom and arrived in Quzhou, he was at the peak of the Golden Core stage.

Here, he encountered a fateful sect, the Destiny Sect.

From that moment on...

His path to fame in the Mystic Heavens Continent officially began. With his Golden Core peak cultivation, he used the Virtue Token to annihilate the entire Evil Province Evil Clan, instantly becoming renowned throughout the world.

Now, he was returning to his true starting point.

"The Greater Xia Kingdom."

"Let's go."

Chen Qiu looked down at the entire Quzhou, remaining silent for a long time before turning his head towards the countless cracks on the distant sea surface and letting out a soft laugh. These were the traces left by his use of the Virtue Token on that day, and they still hadn't dissipated.

He had left Ao Tian and the Heavenly Axe Sect's Sect Master in the Mystic Heavens Continent, and during this time, they would all visit Dragon Island to receive Ao Tian's hospitality.

Along the way...

He seemed to have left many traces that were difficult to erase. The cracks in the sky above the sea would probably take at least a hundred years to dissipate.

The Virtue Token was no longer considered his trump card, but back then, he cherished it so much that he wouldn't dare use it lightly.

He still had two unused Virtue Attack Tokens in his storage ring.

When he was weak, he treasured these items as his trump cards and wouldn't use them casually. But as time passed, his strength grew, and he no longer needed them. His casual strikes were now more powerful than the Virtue Attack Token.

It was like a mischievous child who was given a bowl of noodles with two fried eggs by his mother. The child cherished the eggs so much that he wanted to save them for last. But by the time he wanted to eat them, he was already full and couldn't eat another bite.

Chen Qiu's lips curled upwards, and he shook his head with a soft laugh, not saying anything more. Although over a decade had passed, he didn't know why the scenes from the past were still so clear in his mind. He realized that his memory wasn't as bad as he thought.

Feeling the invisible barrier on the snow, Chen Qiu took out the Mocking Heaven Sect's Sect Master Token and infused it with spiritual energy. The token burst into a white light, and the calm air in front of him suddenly tore open.

"I'm home."

Chen Qiu stepped in first, followed closely by the disciples of the Mocking Heaven Sect.

The Greater Xia Kingdom, the capital city.

It was early morning, and the streets were filled with vendors shouting to sell breakfast. The lively atmosphere, with steam rising from hot and spicy soup in the winter cold, provided a deep comfort to the soul.

A maid was muttering to herself as she left the palace to purchase something.

But at that moment...

She suddenly noticed a very familiar figure standing before her. Her body froze, and after a moment of shock, she knelt down on the ground in disbelief: "This servant greets the Seventh Prince!"

The surrounding passersby, hearing the commotion, turned their eyes towards them. Hadn't the Seventh Prince left the Greater Xia Kingdom years ago? Was he back?

Upon recognizing the Seventh Prince's face, they confirmed his identity and exclaimed excitedly: "Congratulations on the Seventh Prince's return!"

If the Seventh Prince had returned, had Chen Qiu also come back?

At the same time...

In the Greater Xia Kingdom, many families discovered that their long-lost Grand Elders had suddenly reappeared, not only with greatly improved cultivation but also bearing numerous gifts. These individuals had left the Greater Xia Kingdom with Chen Qiu years ago.

As a result...

The Greater Xia Emperor personally welcomed Chen Qiu at the city gates and hosted a grand banquet in the palace. This news spread like a virus throughout the Greater Xia Kingdom after it was confirmed by an authoritative source.

Chen Qiu was back!

The Mocking Heaven Sect had returned!

For a while, many people rushed to the capital, even though they might not have the chance to speak with Chen Qiu. Still, they wanted to know how he had fared in the outside world.

Although Chen Qiu didn't enjoy such a lively scene, he didn't want to offend the Greater Xia Emperor, as they had once been good partners.

Many people attended the banquet in the palace, including the disciples of the Mocking Heaven Sect and some of Chen Qiu's old acquaintances.

"Xia Xundao."

Chen Qiu held a cup of rice wine and turned to look at Xia Xundao, whose face was flushed with happiness. He smiled and said, "Your current state is much better than when I left. Back then, you were near the end of your lifespan, but now you've not only broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, but your condition has also improved significantly."

Then, he frowned slightly.

"This is indeed good news, but I have one thing I don't understand. How did you break through to the Nascent Soul stage in the Greater Xia Kingdom?"

The Greater Xia Kingdom had a cultivation lock, preventing anyone from advancing beyond the Golden Core peak.

Xia Xundao sighed and said, "That was many years ago. Shortly after the Seventh Prince left, one day, everyone discovered that the lock in their dantian was gone."

"Everyone could freely advance to the Nascent Soul stage."

"If that's the case, why didn't you leave the Greater Xia Kingdom?" Chen Qiu asked curiously.

Xia Xundao sighed helplessly, "Your Imperial Preceptor, that sword cultivation puppet has advanced from the initial Nascent Soul stage to the initial Nascent Divinity stage! No one can defeat it. If the Seventh Prince had left a little later, he wouldn't have been able to leave in this lifetime."

"Just as Chen Qiu was about to inquire further about the Great Xia Kingdom and the events that led to the current state of affairs, with the Boundless Ice Plains encroaching on the southern regions, the lord of Feiyu City, who had been eagerly waiting, interjected with a hurried tone and eager eyes."

"National Preceptor, when you left, didn't you say that outside the Great Xia Kingdom was a First Rank Continent?"

"How about it? Have you shown those from the First Rank Continent what a true powerhouse is in these years?"

At that moment, everyone around them chimed in with various comments.

These people were all former subordinates from Chen Qiu's previous life as the National Preceptor.

"Hold on, hold on, hold on!"

At that moment—

Fat Dragon stepped forward, clearing his throat lightly. "This story is a long one, so I'll spare Qiu Ge the trouble of telling it. Since everyone is so interested in his adventures outside, I'll select some of the important parts and share them with you all."

"Recalling the past!"

"Qiu Ge led a group of Mocking Heaven Sect disciples out of the Great Xia Kingdom, heading for the Mystic Heavens Continent. Their first stop was Quzhou, where..."

Everyone's eyes were filled with a dazed expression as they listened to Fat Dragon's vivid storytelling, even forgetting the cups of wine in their hands. Their thoughts drifted away, as if they were accompanying Chen Qiu on his adventures, experiencing the thrilling scenes he described.

Each captivating scene, even without witnessing them firsthand, ignited a surge of excitement within them.

"With a Golden Core Peak cultivation base, he annihilated the entire Evil Clan!"

"With a twelve-grade Divine Transformation Domain, he subdued the Mystic Heavens Continent!"

"After forming twelve milestones, he ventured into the Vast Continent, slaying powerful foes at the gates of the Heavenly Palace, and ascending to the position of Heavenly King!"

"He obtained three Heavenly Dao Entry Groups, becoming renowned throughout the world!"

Each story was a miracle in itself.

These tales sounded like something a storyteller would concoct for dramatic effect, but Fat Dragon's precise narration of the details convinced everyone that these were not fictional embellishments but actual events that had transpired!

In an instant—

Not only those attending the banquet but even the disciples of the Mocking Heaven Sect were captivated, especially when it came to the parts about the sect's disciples taking action. They couldn't help but jump with excitement, exaggerating their own roles in the events.

After all, these were rare moments when they got to showcase their abilities.

Meanwhile, Chen Qiu had quietly slipped away from the banquet, disappearing without a trace under the moonlight. He strolled through the depths of the imperial palace, a place he had called home for many years, and was intimately familiar with its layout.

Much of the vegetation here had been personally planted by him during his tenure as the National Preceptor.

Standing in the moonlight, he gazed southward. Even from the capital, he could faintly sense the bone-chilling cold emanating from the Boundless Ice Plains. In recent years, the temperature in the Boundless Ice Plains had plummeted, enveloping the entire southern region.

In the past, he had ventured into the Boundless Ice Plains but hadn't gone too deep due to his limited strength.

This time, he wanted to explore further and discover what lay at the heart of the Boundless Ice Plains.

With his current strength, he could traverse the entire Great Xia Kingdom with ease. He intended to visit places he couldn't access before, curious about what secrets they held.

Moreover, he had another idea in mind. The treasure of the former sect master of the Mocking Heaven Sect, capable of summoning transmigrators, was likely lost somewhere within the Great Xia Kingdom. He didn't know its appearance or its hiding place, but if he could find this treasure, it might reveal hidden secrets about this world.

This night was undoubtedly lively.

Fat Dragon's storytelling within the palace was quickly recorded in detail and spread far and wide.

Over a decade ago, Chen Qiu was the legendary figure of the Great Xia Kingdom, unparalleled in his fame.

After his departure from the kingdom, news of him ceased, but now, his sudden return with so many tales to tell naturally captured the attention of countless people.

In an instant, the entire Great Xia Kingdom buzzed with excitement, except for a select few.

In the shadows, unnoticed by most, some individuals listened to the stories about Chen Qiu with complex expressions. They were transmigrators who had arrived in the Great Xia Kingdom in recent years. Initially, they were thrilled when they first transmigrated.

Perhaps every transmigrator, upon crossing over, believes themselves to be the protagonist.

But gradually, they began to sense something amiss.

The Great Xia Kingdom was filled with traces of transmigrators, especially Chen Qiu, who seemed to possess the protagonist's template.

Now, the situation was clear.

They had indeed transmigrated, but the protagonist's role was already predetermined, and they were merely side characters. This realization left many feeling conflicted, as no one wanted to be a supporting character, not because they craved the protagonist's glory, but because side characters often met mysterious and untimely deaths.

"Hmm."

In the Land of Inheritance, Cao Laotou, his face covered in stubble, sat on the beach, gazing out at the boundless ocean. He turned to the "Immortal One" beside him and smiled, "Your old friend Chen Qiu has returned. I have a connection with him, so shall we go and see?"

"I wouldn't call us friends."

Immortal One muttered, "I entered the Eternal Land out of fear of him, but he never heard my name, nor did he know of my existence."

"But..."

"Are the rumors about him true?"

"Did all those events really happen to Chen Qiu after he left the Vast Continent? In just a few years, he can casually slaughter powerful beings from a Sixth Rank Immortal World?"

"How could it be false?" Cao Laotou scoffed, "I know Chen Qiu's character; he wouldn't exaggerate about such matters. After all, there's not much left to exaggerate about."

"Let's go, I'll take you to meet him."

"I suddenly feel that my decision to enter the Eternal Land back then was a very wise choice."

"I think so too. At least, I managed to save my life."

Behind them, an elderly man with an air of gloominess stood in a daze. This person was none other than the former Sect Master of Mocking Heaven Sect, who was also barely surviving due to the effects of the "Eternal Land."

Perhaps in his heyday, his strength was unparalleled.

But after experiencing so much, for him at this moment, being able to cling to life was already a great hope.

As he listened to Chen Qiu's accomplishments, he also felt a sense of bewilderment.

He had wanted to nurture Chen Qiu, so he gave Chen Qiu some opportunities that were originally meant for himself. However, his initial goal was to cultivate Chen Qiu as a Sword Cultivator, but after discovering that Chen Qiu had chosen to be a Law Cultivator, he became angry and no longer wanted to pay attention to Chen Qiu, who had fallen asleep.

But who would have thought

Chen Qiu's achievements grew even greater, surpassing what he had accomplished in the Lower Rank Immortal World.

Could it be that Law Cultivators are indeed the version's answer?

Perhaps

Perhaps it was time to tell Chen Qiu about that matter. He could clearly sense that even with the Eternal Land, he didn't have much time left. His lifespan was less than three months, and he couldn't imagine what the scene would be like when the Heavenly Dao awakened a thousand years later. All he could do was to cultivate his heir as much as possible and pass on the spiritual legacy of the Mocking Heaven Sect.

If

He suddenly felt a bit mischievous. If he were to suddenly appear and tell Chen Qiu that he was the former Sect Master of Mocking Heaven Sect and actually his biological father, he wondered what Chen Qiu's reaction would be. That would definitely be interesting.

But soon, he dismissed the thought, feeling it was too presumptuous. He might get a beating, and his current body couldn't handle a beating.

The next morning.

Chen Qiu arrived at Fufeng City with Fat Dragon and several close confidants, including Xiong Gao. The Mocking Heaven Sect disciples returned to their families and reunited with their relatives and disciples.

"Here."

Fat Dragon pointed towards a forest ahead, surrounded by a crowd, and introduced to Xiong Gao, "This is where Brother Qiu used to chop firewood. That was the first time I met him."

"I was already a sixth-layer Refining Qi expert at the time, but Brother Qiu hadn't broken through Refining Qi yet."

"It was here that I gave Brother Qiu a bottle of medicine that could help him break through the Refining Qi stage. We entered a secret realm together, and I took countless blows for him there, almost dying. That's how we got to where we are today."

"If it weren't for those blows I took back then, you wouldn't be here today."

"But now, this place has become a scenic spot. Many people like to come here to seek enlightenment, as if they could become like Brother Qiu."

One of the reasons Chen Qiu was so popular in Daxia was that he had no noble background. Before his rise, he was just an ordinary firewood cutter, which gave many people room for imagination.

Perhaps

They too could rise from being firewood cutters, just like Chen Qiu, and soar to the heavens! All they needed was that one opportunity.

Xiong Gao also looked at the scene before him in a daze. His tribe, the Brown Bear Clan, had returned to the Endless Desert, or rather, the Endless Oasis. After being away for over a decade, he returned to find that his home was gone.

The fire beneath the Endless Desert had been diverted to the capital city to block the extreme cold from the south.

The desert had been transformed into an oasis, presenting a new landscape.

Even the Demon Clan was getting along harmoniously with the Human Clan. Xiong Gao's clan was eager to find the Demon Clan and show off their achievements.

In the following days.

Chen Qiu did only one thing.

He took Fat Dragon and the others to various places in Daxia where he had left his mark. Although many places had changed, there were still traces to follow, which brought back memories for Chen Qiu.

At the same time, his heart became more peaceful.

If one had to say who regretted the most in Daxia at this moment, it would probably be the Golden Core Peak cultivators who didn't leave with Chen Qiu.

At that time, they thought that after the Golden Core Peak cultivators left Daxia, they would become the strongest and could unify the country. However, as soon as Chen Qiu left, numerous Golden Core Peak cultivators emerged from the royal palace and took control of the situation.

As a result, they neither gained enough benefits in Daxia nor followed Chen Qiu to leave the country.

At this moment, they looked at the rather arrogant Mocking Heaven Sect disciples with envy. However, they didn't even have the courage to take a second glance.

After all, the cultivation levels of these Mocking Heaven Sect disciples were no less than the Transformation stage. Just a glance from them could kill them; their cultivation levels were on completely different levels.

Wang Jia Laoye sat there, counting on his fingers and muttering, "Nascent Soul, Transformation, Refining Void, Fusion, Great Ascension, Tribulation Transcending, Human Immortal, Earth Immortal, Heaven Immortal, True Immortal..."

"And now, Brother Qiu is at the eighth level of Earth Immortal, capable of easily defeating a True Immortal at the peak."

"Then..."

He looked at Liu Zide in a daze and said, "Doesn't that mean Brother Qiu can destroy the entire Daxia Country with a casual strike?"

"Mhm."

Liu Zide, sitting across from him, replied softly, "Forget about Daxia, even a First Rank Continent wouldn't be able to withstand Brother Qiu's full power."

Liu Zide had once served as a high-ranking official in the Wang Family and worked with Wang Jia Laoye for a period. They had a pleasant relationship, and since he had no family to return to, he came back to visit his former employer.

It seemed that Wang Jia Laoye was doing quite well.

He had become the landlord of Yun City, and with his past connections to the Mocking Heaven Sect, no one from the government bothered him. He was living a comfortable life. Liu Zide had initially thought that Wang Jia Laoye's decision not to leave with Brother Qiu might have been the biggest mistake of his life.

Now that he thought about it, perhaps it wasn't wrong after all.

After all, Wang Jia Laoye didn't seek fame and fortune but preferred a peaceful and simple life.

"Oh, right—"

Wang Jia Laoye suddenly slapped his forehead and hesitated, "You've been out for so long and have seen so much. There's something I want to show you, and I'm not sure if you'll recognize it. I used to have a treasure."

"As long as I sacrifice my flesh to it, I can receive a certain reward."

"But for some reason, it hasn't been working recently. Can you take a look and see what's wrong with it?"

Liu Zide's eyebrows furrowed slightly, "The thing you're talking about, is it a rather eerie-looking Buddha statue?"

"Ah, you know!"

". Take me to see it."

After several breaths, Liu Zide arrived at the Wang family ancestral hall with Wang Jia Laoye and saw the enigmatic Buddha on the offering table. It stood silently, expressionless, not uttering a word. Usually, the eyes of such statues were red, giving off a chilling aura.

But the eyes of this Buddha statue were a ghastly white, like those of a dead fish.

To be honest, he had never seen a Buddha statue in such a terrible state.

He was quite knowledgeable about the enigmatic Buddha statues, as he had worked with "Grinding Disc" for a long time. According to Grinding Disc, the enigmatic Buddha statues had the ability to transmit items and information across continents.

There was only one enigmatic Buddha statue that they couldn't contact, and not only could they not send items or information, but they also didn't know which continent it was on or even if it was alive or dead.

Now it seemed that this Buddha statue was the one Grinding Disc had mentioned.

"Is it because you haven't sacrificed to it in a long time?"

Liu Zide's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he felt a moment of confusion. He had never seen a Buddha statue in such a state; it was too pitiful. However, through the lit beads on the Buddha statue's wrist, he learned that Wang Jia Laoye had already made numerous sacrifices, just a few short of the required amount.

It was just a stroke of luck.

According to Grinding Disc, when the sacrifices reached the required amount, it would be Wang Jia Laoye's time to die.

But wait, something felt off to Liu Zide. Ever since he entered the Wang family compound, he had felt a faint sense of yin energy, and it became stronger after entering the ancestral hall. "Why is there a lingering yin energy above the Wang family's residence?"

"You're talking about this."

Wang Jia Laoye smiled with satisfaction, "The last time we parted, Chen Qiu was in Fat Province, and he had gathered a large amount of Malevolent Wood. At that time, I knew that Malevolent Wood would be a valuable item in the outside world."

"Then, in recent years, the temperature in the south dropped sharply, and the entire Fat Province was covered in a thick layer of Malevolent Wood several zhang high. There was so much that it couldn't all be collected. I thought of gathering some, just in case I ever had the chance to leave Greater Xia Kingdom. It would be a considerable fortune."

"I gathered flying boats and made several trips."

"Last time, we discovered that these Malevolent Woods could suppress ghosts, so I buried a lot of them under the Wang family residence, ensuring that no evil spirits could enter the compound."

"And..."

Liu Zide didn't listen to the rest of Wang Jia Laoye's words. Instead, he vaguely remembered a conversation he once had with Grinding Disc.

Grinding Disc had mentioned that the enigmatic Buddha statues feared these ghost-suppressing items the most, and the most effective among them was the Malevolent Wood.

One piece was enough to make a person feel uncomfortable.

Ten pieces would cause some pain.

A hundred pieces would bring one to the brink of death, and three hundred pieces would undoubtedly lead to death. Fortunately, Malevolent Wood was quite rare, and it was unlikely for an ordinary person to possess three hundred pieces. Moreover, this was the effect without burning them, and they became even more potent when ignited.

Liu Zide interrupted Wang Jia Laoye's self-satisfied narration, his face turning complex and hoarse, "How many pieces of Malevolent Wood did you bury under the Wang family residence?"

"Millions of pieces."

"That's good."

Liu Zide nodded silently, "Before the eyes of this Buddha statue turned completely white, didn't you notice anything unusual?"

Wang Jia Laoye thought for a long time before replying, "Yes, I noticed that it often trembled and broke out in a cold sweat. I thought it might have caught a chill, as the cold from the Endless Ice Plain is hard to shake off, and it's understandable to catch a cold."

"And then?"

"So, I lit a stove filled with Malevolent Wood in the ancestral hall to warm it up. You know, many people in Fat Province used to use Malevolent Wood for warmth. It's excellent for heating."

"Hmm."

Liu Zide nodded expressionlessly.

"How is it?" Wang Jia Laoye sensed Liu Zide's unusual mood and asked cautiously, "Can it be saved?"

Liu Zide paused before continuing, "The continents are ranked from First Rank to Twelfth Rank Immortal World, with the Twelfth Rank Immortal World being the highest. You need to go to the Twelfth Rank Immortal World to find the Immortality Grass, a spirit grass that can grant eternal life. Even someone on the brink of death can be saved instantly."

"What?"

Wang Jia Laoye stood there, stunned, "Isn't this condition too harsh?"

"Don't worry, I'm not finished yet."

Liu Zide said quietly, "Even if you find this, you can't save this Buddha statue. Not even a deity could save it. It's not easy for it to have lasted this long."

"You've suffered."

It was evident.

This Buddha statue was likely a powerful being among the "Evil Demon Clan." It was only because of its strength that it had survived for so long, though it was unclear why it ended up in Greater Xia Kingdom. If it were an ordinary Buddha statue, it probably wouldn't have lasted this long and would have died much earlier.

As Liu Zide's words fell, the enigmatic Buddha statue on the offering table in the ancestral hall seemed to have found a kindred spirit. Two streams of muddy tears flowed from its ghastly white eyes, and soon, the entire statue lost all signs of life.

After so many years, could someone finally understand its plight?!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end