Chapter 147: Offering Strategies, A Great Talent of the Canglan Realm

Chapter 147: Offering Counsel, a Great Talent of the Canglan Realm

“There are some matters on the spirit boat, Origin Heavenly Lord. We’ll talk when we arrive.”

Rogue Immortal Lord finished speaking and hastily logged off.

The group instantly fell silent.

Apart from Rogue Immortal Lord, who was always online, Blazing Sun Emperor and Icy Mountain Dominatrix only appeared from time to time.

He opened the forum and immediately saw the post made by his alt account, Blood-Robed Sword God.

Below it, many new comments had appeared.

“Senior, you really came!”

“The Radiance Palace has done countless evil deeds—they deserve to die!”

“Better to act sparingly. If the Radiance Palace’s Purple Mansions surround you, it would be troublesome.

The Radiance Palace has numbers on its side, and Cuiyun Continent is their stronghold. Senior Blood-Robed Sword God, caution is best.”

“This old man also has a grudge against the Radiance Palace. Blood-Robed Sword God, would you like to meet and discuss a joint attack?”

Below, comments of all kinds appeared.

Some cheered with “666,” others advised Blood-Robed Sword God to be careful.

“What a pity—Blood-Robed Sword God is my alt. Otherwise, I could boldly say: with my Heavenly Dao Foundation and Stellar Golden Core, why would I fear the Radiance Palace?”

After a moment’s thought, Qi Yuan replied to the post using his main account.

“I, Origin Heavenly Lord, with Heavenly Dao Foundation and Stellar Golden Core, hereby openly support Senior Blood-Robed Sword God.

If Senior needs it, I can lend my golden core from the heavens for your use.”

After posting the reply, Qi Yuan felt quite pleased. “When the people of the Radiance Palace see my reply, they’ll surely tremble in fear!”

After all, a Stellar Golden Core had come to support Blood-Robed Sword God—how could the Radiance Palace withstand that?

But a moment later, Qi Yuan froze.

Several more replies had appeared beneath the post.

“I, with an Immortal Pill Golden Core, openly support Blood-Robed Sword God!”

“I, with a million golden cores, openly support Blood-Robed Sword God!”

“I, with a Nine-Cycle Golden Core, openly support Blood-Robed Sword God!”

Qi Yuan stared at these, dumbfounded. “Can a Nine-Cycle Intestine even be refined into a golden core?”

Then, his gaze sharpened. “The virtuous have many allies; the wicked stand alone. Blood-Robed Sword God’s mission is sure to succeed!”

With so many terrifying golden cores—perhaps even a Gallstone Golden Core or a Quantum Golden Core—all supporting Blood-Robed Sword God, victory was certain!

Qi Yuan switched to his alt account, Blood-Robed Sword God.

“With such support from you all, I, Blood-Robed Sword God, shall go kill a few more Purple Mansions of the Radiance Palace to add to the excitement.”

He deliberately replied to the Nine-Cycle Golden Core comment.

At that moment, inside a cave dwelling.

A female cultivator’s eyes widened, and her face twisted into a sob.

“Senior, don’t reply to me!”

She had only imitated the earlier comments when she replied, and now she had been answered.

Now it seemed as though Blood-Robed Sword God had been incited by her to go kill the Radiance Palace’s Purple Mansions.

The Radiance Palace was a top-tier force even across the entire Eastern Lands.

This female cultivator naturally dared not truly offend them.

“Will the Radiance Palace come after me?”

“I’m not in the Eastern Lands right now—it should be fine.”

Thinking this, the female cultivator breathed a sigh of relief.

…

Three days passed.

Qi Yuan wore a blood-red robe.

Xu Yeli followed behind him, his expression numb.

Just earlier, he had followed Blood-Robed Sword God to another stronghold of the Radiance Palace.

The suona sounded, and Purple Mansions entered the coffin.

That stronghold had a full five Purple Mansions—

a fairly major outpost of the Radiance Palace.

Yet Blood-Robed Sword God had slaughtered them with ease.

The most difficult Purple Mansions to kill, in Blood-Robed Sword God’s hands, were easier to dispatch than Divine Infants.

Xu Yeli’s body was still trembling.

Now, he had walked too far down this dark path to ever sever ties with Blood-Robed Sword God.

“Senior… do you have a plan for dealing with the Radiance Palace?” Xu Yeli now had to consider his own future.

A powerhouse like Blood-Robed Sword God, even if he completely offended the Radiance Palace,

could simply pack up and leave.

Xu Yeli understood that even if all three palace lords of the Radiance Palace came out together, they could not detain Blood-Robed Sword God.

And as Blood-Robed Sword God continued to slaughter the Radiance Palace’s Purple Mansions outside,

those Purple Mansions would begin to retreat, falling back to the headquarters.

Dozens of Purple Mansions, plus the three palace lords, would defend the Radiance Palace together.

If Blood-Robed Sword God dared to go, he would surely die.

Thus, Xu Yeli knew that this feud between Blood-Robed Sword God and the Radiance Palace was nearing its end.

But he himself lacked Blood-Robed Sword God’s strength.

“Deal with the Radiance Palace?” Qi Yuan said casually upon hearing this. “I’ve already devised a Hundred-Day Plan to Annihilate the Radiance Palace. It will succeed soon.”

Now, he was constantly sweeping through the Purple Mansions outside.

The remaining Purple Mansions of the Radiance Palace would surely shrink back to their headquarters.

That was Qi Yuan’s opportunity.

If they weren’t gathered together, to be honest… they would be quite troublesome to kill.

After all, if a single Purple Mansion chose to hide, Qi Yuan would have a hard time finding them.

Xu Yeli listened to Qi Yuan’s words and coughed once. “I’ll await Senior’s good news.”

The plan to destroy the Palace of Light?

Xu Yeli naturally did not believe it.

If the Yin God did not emerge, who could destroy the Palace of Light?

He was filled with worry, feeling the road ahead was bleak.

Xu Yeli’s thoughts were, of course, unknown to Qi Yuan.

Even if he knew, it meant nothing to him.

Having slain five old and enchanting white moons, Qi Yuan reaped a bountiful harvest this time.

Returning to his cave dwelling, he quickly logged into his alternate account, entered the Divine Flower Society’s forum again, and continued posting.

“To celebrate the slaying of five Purple Mansions, I toast all fellow cultivators!”

“I, the Blood-Robe Sword God, abhor evil as a foe, and have executed the Purple Mansions of the Palace of Light.

I never imagined that my earlier post would gain so much support from fellow Daoists.

Thanks to ‘Lingshan Wenfeng,’ ‘Fox Den Xiaoli,’ ‘Dragon Tiger Daoist,’ ‘Origin Heavenly Venerable’… for your support.”

Qi Yuan listed the IDs of those who had supported him in the forum.

The only flaw was that he could not tag them.

“It is the support of these fellow Daoists that makes me believe justice will surely vanquish darkness.

I cannot sleep at night, always remembering the encouragement of these Daoists, and so I went again in the night to slay five more Purple Mansions of the Palace of Light.

These five Purple Mansions did not die by my Blood-Robe Sword God’s hand, but by the hands of all you fellow Daoists who support me, and by the hand of the great righteousness of the world!”

After posting, Qi Yuan felt his final paragraph was quite masterful.

He did not claim credit, but deepened the theme, moving from the small to the great—a fitting ending for a perfect college entrance exam essay.

Having posted, Qi Yuan was quite pleased.

Soon, a comment appeared.

Fox Den Xiaoli: “Senior, it wasn’t me, I didn’t!”

The female cultivator in her cave dwelling, flailing her arms, was both shocked and anxious reading the post.

The big shot had slain five more Purple Mansions?

Why did the big shot mention my name?

Wuwu… will the Palace of Light come after me?

“I remember your Nine-Turn Large Intestine Golden Pill vividly; I could not mistake you.

Destroying the Palace of Light—you have a part in it!”

Qi Yuan quickly replied.

His loyal fan must be maintained.

Fox Den Xiaoli was utterly lost; she wished she could play dead.

Time flew by, and more and more people replied.

“Senior… truly formidable; with his strength, he might be among the top twenty in the Eastern Lands.”

“No wonder Senior is so carefree, never taking the Palace of Light seriously.”

“Senior, as long as you don’t clash head-on with the Palace of Light, they can do nothing to you!”

Now, the replies to Qi Yuan’s post grew even more lively.

Some even offered strategies on how to destroy the Palace of Light.

“Senior, I have a plan to help you destroy the Palace of Light.

Senior need only journey far into the Eastern Lands, find a place to go into seclusion for ten thousand years, and upon emerging, you will surely be able to destroy the Palace of Light!”

“The Third Palace Master of the Palace of Light is a peerless beauty.

If I were Senior, I would make peace with the Palace of Light, then persuade the Third Palace Master to become my Dao companion.

Treat the Palace of Light as a harem; to win Senior over, the Palace of Light would naturally send more Dao companions.

Senior need only sow seeds, produce offspring daily, and with many children and blessings, after a few thousand years, would not the Palace of Light become Senior’s back garden?”

Qi Yuan read these comments, feeling enlightened; sometimes his eyes lit up, as if he had gained much.

“Who says there are no hidden talents in another world? These people… are all great minds!”

Especially that plan of bearing children to usurp the nest.

Qi Yuan thought it was highly feasible.

And it sounded thrilling.

But then he remembered that the Ice Queen and his junior sister were still borrowing high-interest loans from the Palace of Light.

He had to ignore these brilliant schemes.

Within a hundred days, the Palace of Light must fall!

How could he change a plan already set?

He was neither a superior nor a client.

Qi Yuan thought, and switched to his main account to boost the post.

“Blood-Robe Sword God, if you encounter problems destroying the Palace of Light, come to me, one of the Four Emperors of the Divine Flower; I lend you my Stellar Golden Pill!” He was showing off his golden pill again.

Just then, Qi Yuan noticed his communicator flashing.

The Spirit Maiden had sent a message.

Qi Yuan was startled: “Could it be that Junior Sister is going to show me the real thing?”

He thought, his heart racing, and opened the message from his junior sister.

“Senior Brother, I heard that lately you have been dual cultivating with a man for half an hour every day?”

“Senior Brother… in the Dao of obsession, be obsessed with games, that’s fine; just don’t be obsessed with other things.”

“Alas, Senior Brother, what is so good about men?”

Qi Yuan read these messages.

He was speechless.

“This Jiang Ya seems quiet and refined, like a lofty fairy, but why is she so fond of tattling?”

That Jiang Lingsu knew about these matters—no need to guess, it must have been Jiang Ya who told her.

“Junior Sister, do not misunderstand. Though I am dual cultivating with Xu Tongchen, it is proper dual cultivation.

He has awakened the Sun True Fire, and I observe it daily, hoping to learn it.

Your senior brother is a man with a family; how could he possibly be interested in men?”

Qi Yuan replied.

If it were any other misunderstanding, he truly couldn't be bothered to explain.

But this kind of misunderstanding—he had to explain!

……

Leaving the great hall, Xu Tongchen's expression was grief-stricken, as if mourning his own parents.

In truth, his heart was brimming with joy.

In recent days, the Bright Palace had been struck by one calamity after another, with Zifu cultivators falling one by one.

Now, nearly ten had already perished.

Ten Zifu in just a few short days?

That was more than had died in the past century.

And all of them were from the Bright Palace.

One could imagine how foul Huang Tu's expression must be.

The Blood-Robed Sword God, whom they had once casually mocked over their tables, had suddenly become a towering behemoth.

Even Zheng Fangxing's Zifu master had fallen, so Xu Tongchen's heart naturally swelled with smugness.

Of course, he had to feign deep sorrow.

"In just a few days, my Solar True Fire has grown by a tenth.

This Qi Yuan is truly my lucky star!" At the thought of Qi Yuan, Xu Tongchen's joy only deepened.

This was truly a double blessing.

Suddenly, a voice transmission landed in Xu Tongchen's ear.

Xu Tongchen's gaze sharpened; glancing back at the several spies who seemed lost in thought, he slipped into a small alley.

"Master, why have you come?" Xu Tongchen's eyes sparkled with surprise.

He hadn't expected to see his master here.

Xu Yeli looked at his disciple and said slowly, "Why have you been running out so often lately?"

"Disciple has encountered a... prodigy. He is very strange." Xu Tongchen told Xu Yeli everything that had happened between him and Qi Yuan.

Xu Yeli listened, frowning. "There is such a person in this world? He must have some fortuitous encounters."

Since the other was merely a youth participating in the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle, Xu Yeli naturally wouldn't pay him much heed.

Moreover, his own situation was now dire.

"Tongchen, be ready at all times these days. Be prepared to flee with your teacher at a moment's notice," Xu Yeli said gravely.

Xu Tongchen's face changed. "Master, what happened? Could it be... that the Bright Palace is moving against us?"

"The Solar True Fire is far too conspicuous. The Bright Palace won't let you keep it forever," Xu Yeli said, his expression dark.

In the past, the Bright Palace, though overbearing, at least had some face—they would still observe basic decency.

But lately, whether it was launching the Hundred Nations Blood War or other actions, they had become utterly direct.

Xu Yeli vaguely sensed that something major might be brewing.

Unfortunately, his level was too low; he had no idea what that great event could be.

"Master, now that the Bright Palace faces the great enemy, the Blood-Robed Sword God, do they still have the leisure to seize my Solar True Fire?" Xu Tongchen spoke first with indignation, then with fervor.

Xu Yeli remained silent.

Xu Tongchen continued, "The Blood-Robed Sword God is truly a supreme being—one man, one sword, slaying a full nine Zifu of the Bright Palace.

Adding the Bright Palace's lackeys, he killed over ten in total.

Such a supreme being should be the leader of the righteous path in our Jade Cloud Continent."

"But I am puzzled—why is there a black-robed Zifu who, in every battle, plays the suona behind the Blood-Robed Sword God?

Why doesn't he strike and help the Blood-Robed Sword God? Is his strength insufficient?" At this, Xu Tongchen voiced the doubt in his heart.

That black-robed Zifu playing the suona seemed utterly useless, like a mere bystander.

"Alas, why would the Blood-Robed Sword God keep such a worthless old servant?"

Xu Yeli's face grew darker and darker.

Xu Tongchen noticed and quickly asked, "Master, what's wrong? Has the Bright Palace bullied you again?"

Xu Yeli glared at Xu Tongchen. "Your master is that worthless old servant you speak of!"

"..." Xu Tongchen was stunned, and instantly felt a pang of guilt. After a long pause, he grew excited again. "Master, have you seen the Blood-Robed Sword God? What is his demeanor like? Is he as the legends say... like a sage?"

"A sage?" Xu Yeli snorted coldly. "He is a god of slaughter!"

Where was there ever such a sage?

……

When he again arrived outside Qi Yuan's cave dwelling, Xu Tongchen's mind was still in a daze.

His own master was actually the Blood-Robed Sword God's lackey.

The Blood-Robed Sword God had offended the Bright Palace and could simply walk away without a care.

But his master could not.

If discovered, the Seven Words Sect would meet a tragic end.

His thoughts scattered, he entered Qi Yuan's cave dwelling.

"You're here! Quick, summon the Solar True Fire—let me observe it," Qi Yuan said urgently.

"Alright." Xu Tongchen summoned the Solar True Fire.

Now, for him, dwelling on those things was useless; the best course was to quickly improve his own strength.

Qi Yuan's gaze once again fell upon the Solar True Fire.

He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing it closely.

At the same time, on the small sun in the sky, a wisp of flame seemed to leap.

Half an hour later, Qi Yuan revealed a delighted expression. "Not bad, not bad. I have gained something."

Feeling the thriving Solar True Fire, Xu Tongchen couldn't help asking, "Daoist Qi Yuan, have you comprehended it?"

"Comprehended a little bit," Qi Yuan replied seriously.

Indeed, just a little bit—like a tricycle can only carry a little bit.

Xu Tongchen was dumbfounded.

He had spent decades comprehending it.

Qi Yuan had only been at it for a few days and already comprehended something?

Wasn't he lying?

"Another ten days or half a month, and I should be able to fully comprehend it."

"Alright..." Xu Tongchen hesitated, uncertain whether Qi Yuan was telling the truth or not, but he still said, "Fellow Daoist, if you can comprehend the Solar True Fire before the Heavenly Pride Battle begins, you will surely sweep through all rivals and rank among the top twenty."

"Alas, to be honest, the top twenty puts a lot of pressure on me. After all, these heavenly prides are all of noble birth, unlike me, born lowly—I feel inferior just looking at them," Qi Yuan said.

Xu Tongchen was speechless. Not long ago, he had sharply criticized his golden core for being small, and now he was talking about inferiority?

"Fortunately, heaven rewards the diligent. I worked hard, finally emerged from the mountains, achieved Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, and at last widened the gap between me and these heavenly prides."

Sure enough, everything before was nonsense. Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment and still feeling inferior?

He was now fully convinced that this fellow Qi Yuan had a problem with his mind, speaking in a mad and incoherent manner.

Still, upon hearing about Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, he couldn't help but sigh, "In this Heavenly Pride Battle, there is indeed one with Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, named Gu Xiaoyao."

"Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment?" Qi Yuan's expression turned grave. "Is it perfect Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, or flawed Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment?"

According to the Ice Mountain Dominatrix, perfect Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment meant that words became law and gods fell.

As for him, his talent was insufficient; he only had flawed Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

This meant that even after achieving Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, his strength was pitifully weak.

At the Foundation Establishment stage, he could only kill Divine Infants.

So, every time he encountered a Divine Infant little wretch, he would roar.

I have Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment—what's wrong with killing a Divine Infant?

In truth, he wasn't showing off; he was venting the bitterness in his heart.

He, a dignified Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, could only slaughter Divine Infants like dogs.

Xu Tongchen was baffled by Qi Yuan's words. Since when was Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment divided into perfect and flawed?

"Naturally, it's perfect Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment," Xu Tongchen replied.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan's face grew even more somber.

In this Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Battle, he had finally encountered a fearsome enemy.

The legendary Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

"Tell me, with my Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment plus a Stellar Golden Core, can I be a match for that Gu Xiaoyao?" Qi Yuan asked in a low voice.

Xu Tongchen shook his head. "Fellow Daoist Qi, even if you comprehend the Solar True Fire, you won't be a match for that Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment."

Qi Yuan fell silent upon hearing this.

He was still too weak.

This Eastern Lands Heavenly Pride Battle... maybe he shouldn't participate?

Otherwise, if he ran into that Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment and couldn't win, it would be very awkward.

But thinking of his promise to the sect leader, he was torn.

He needed to find a way to avoid crossing paths with that Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

"Fellow Daoist, in two days, the Yellow Chart will host the Fish-Dragon Banquet. I must attend, so I won't be able to come and cultivate with you. I hope you'll understand," Xu Tongchen said softly before leaving.

Qi Yuan was taken aback. "Alright."

The Fish-Dragon Banquet was starting?

Was the Rogue Immortal Venerable also about to arrive?

(Chapter End)