Chapter 154: Going Through the Back Door

Chapter 154: Pulling Strings

The Great Sage Zhenjun looked at Qi Yuan and said, “Since you’re unwilling to shatter your own golden core, then shatter another’s and forge your own divine infant?”

Qi Yuan swept his gaze over everyone present, then said bitterly, “Their golden cores are too weak—I can’t bring myself to take them.”

At these words, the several prodigies present all changed expression.

“I, Lü, though unworthy, have condensed an Earth-grade golden core from ten thousand years of Nether Yin Balefulness. When the core emerges, three li of land turns to Nether Yin. I ask you, fellow Daoist—is this core weak?” one prodigy could not help but say.

The singing girls on the flower boat, hearing this, all showed looks of envy.

For an ordinary cultivator, forming a single golden core was a joyous event.

Most golden cores formed ranged from ninth-grade to first-grade.

Those able to form a Mystic-grade, Earth-grade, or Heaven-grade core were one in a hundred million.

The living beings of a hundred nations—were they not more than a billion?

Yet in the end, aside from Qi Yuan, the highest was Kang Fulu’s first-grade golden core.

Qi Yuan glanced at that prodigy and said with a regretful expression, “Weak.”

Three li of land turning to Nether Yin?

What was that worth?

Back when he was in Qi Refining, he could have hacked it to death with a cleaver.

“Then what kind of golden core have you formed? Let us see it,” the prodigy sneered.

Qi Yuan shook his head. “I fear that if I show it, you’ll all die.”

The stellar golden core was not something to be summoned at will.

“You just don’t dare to show it,” the prodigy taunted coldly.

They naturally believed Qi Yuan was bluffing.

The other prodigies laughed and said, “Lü Ti, perhaps that one has a Celestial-grade golden core—naturally he looks down on your Earth-grade.”

Qi Yuan paid them no heed. These people were too young; it would take thousands of years for them to grow into his white moonlight. He simply couldn’t be bothered.

He continued to seek help from the Great Sage Zhenjun. “Their golden cores are too weak—I truly cannot accept them. Is there any other method?”

The Great Sage Zhenjun said, “Do you know why the divine infant is called the divine infant?”

Qi Yuan was stunned at these words.

To be honest, he truly did not know.

Generally speaking, wasn’t it just shattering the core to form the infant, with the soul taking residence?

“Actually, I don’t know either,” the Great Sage Zhenjun began. “But based on my many years of reading ancient texts, I have deduced that the divine infant is the foundation of the Yin Spirit.

As everyone knows, once one enters the Yin Spirit realm, one can give birth to the Primordial Spirit and roam the Great Void.

Tell me—how is this Primordial Spirit born?”

The soul was the spirit of a cultivator.

The Primordial Spirit was something far more mysterious.

Upon reaching the Yuan Dan realm, one could leave the body with the soul.

And the Primordial Spirit was a higher existence than the soul, capable of entering the legendary Great Void.

“Could it be that the Primordial Spirit is transformed from the divine infant?” Qi Yuan could not help but ask.

“Yes, that is my guess as well. Both bear the character ‘divine,’ so they must be connected.

Thus… all Yin Spirits, and even Yang Spirits, have their Primordial Spirits as divine infants.” The Great Sage Zhenjun shared his discovery with Qi Yuan.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan looked at the star projections in the sky and widened his eyes. “Are immortals and gods all divine infants?”

“I have told you this—do not tell others. There is great karma involved,” the Great Sage Zhenjun said gravely.

The singing girls on the flower boat and those prodigies, hearing this, were left speechless.

Immortals and gods as divine infants—what bold words.

“Rest assured, I will not tell anyone else.” Qi Yuan glanced at everyone on the flower boat.

For some reason, everyone present felt a chill in their hearts.

The Great Sage Zhenjun nodded. “Do you know what my divine infant is?”

“What is it?” Qi Yuan asked.

The Great Sage Zhenjun’s expression turned sorrowful. “My Dao companion fell into demonic deviation and perished. I took her hair and made it into an outer elixir; her body formed a golden core.

My divine infant is her hair.

I hope that one day, when I ascend to the Yin Spirit realm, the divine infant will transform and be able to conceive… her Primordial Spirit.”

Qi Yuan fell silent upon hearing this.

He was not good at comforting others, so he said, “May you succeed.”

“I take your kind words.” A sharp glint flashed in the Great Sage Zhenjun’s eyes. “One day, she will be reborn from the flames within my divine infant!”

Qi Yuan’s thoughts drifted far away.

He recalled the Five Ancestors—Gold Ancestor, Water Ancestor, Earth Ancestor, and the others—from the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

Back then, the five of them had sacrificed themselves to achieve Qi Yuan’s Five Elements Qi and allowed him to master the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

If he were to condense a divine infant as he imagined,

In the future, when he entered the Yin Spirit realm, could those old friends emerge from within his divine infant?

Of course, Qi Yuan was only thinking.

The Great Sage Zhenjun then said, “Having both a golden core and a divine infant is already an act against heaven. It may invite heavenly punishment. Take care of yourself, fellow Daoist.”

“Mm.” Qi Yuan nodded.

On the stellar golden core, the Solar True Fire had already been ignited.

The potential of this golden core would become boundless.

In Qi Yuan’s view, given enough time, he could even devour all the stars of an entire universe.

Even if Qi Yuan never entered the divine infant realm, he could still grow stronger by relying on his stellar golden core.

Thus, even if he did not perfect the *Qi Yuan Sutra*, he could slowly become a top-tier powerhouse across the myriad heavens.

The golden core was already a path of invincibility—why condense another divine infant?

But clearly, Qi Yuan had ambition.

He wanted to improve himself from every angle.

The *Qi Yuan Sutra* would naturally have to be perfected as well.

The divine infant must also be formed.

"Thank you for telling me, fellow Daoist. I have gained much insight," Qi Yuan said with emotion.

The path to the divine infant was not yet fully determined, but Qi Yuan already had many ideas.

...

As night fell, Qi Yuan returned to his cave dwelling.

The Ice Mountain Dominatrix of the Divine Flower Society had passed on over a hundred techniques to Qi Yuan.

These techniques were given to him by her sisters.

Among them, there were four Heaven-grade techniques, dozens of Earth-grade techniques, and countless Jade-grade techniques.

In an instant, Qi Yuan went from a pauper to a temporary wealthy man.

"With so many techniques, should that be enough to advance my *Qi Yuan Sutra*?"

Qi Yuan immediately threw himself wholeheartedly into the great endeavor of revising his cultivation method.

Time flew by swiftly.

The day of the Eastern Land Heavenly Pride Battle drew closer and closer.

More and more heavenly prodigies gathered in Cloud City.

Every day, one could see some prodigies flying through the skies of Cloud City.

Qi Yuan paid no heed to the outside world, focusing solely on perfecting the *Qi Yuan Sutra*.

One day, Qi Yuan suddenly jolted awake.

"In two more days, it will be the Eastern Land Heavenly Pride Battle..." Qi Yuan murmured.

To be honest, Qi Yuan's *Qi Yuan Sutra* had reached a critical juncture.

He did not want to attend the Eastern Land Heavenly Pride Battle.

But recalling that the top twenty in the battle could earn a spot to enter Wangyue Continent, and remembering his sect leader's entrustment, Qi Yuan's gaze grew resolute.

"It seems I must still participate in this Eastern Land Heavenly Pride Battle."

Thinking this, Qi Yuan stepped out of his cave dwelling.

Outside, Kang Fulu was chatting with a cat-eared girl.

Jiang Ya sat on a nearby bodhi tree, seemingly pondering some difficult problem.

Seeing Qi Yuan, Kang Fulu was a bit surprised: "Junior Brother, where are you off to?"

"To attend the Eastern Land Heavenly Pride Battle," Qi Yuan replied.

Kang Fulu looked horrified: "Today?"

He slapped his thigh, thinking he had lost track of time.

But after checking the date, he looked at Qi Yuan with a strange expression: "Isn't it in two days? Why are you going now?"

"I'm going to see if there's any back door I can use," Qi Yuan said softly.

"Back door?" Kang Fulu's face grew even more puzzled. He called out to Jiang Ya in the distance, "Is there a back door for the Eastern Land Heavenly Pride Battle?"

Jiang Ya snapped out of her thoughts, glanced at Qi Yuan, and said, "The Eastern Land Heavenly Pride Battle is jointly decided by three Yin Gods. There is no back door."

"In the beginning, there was no back door, but when many people walk it, a path appears," Qi Yuan said matter-of-factly.

Yet, for some reason, after saying this, he felt the words sounded odd.

Kang Fulu looked at Qi Yuan and said nothing more: "Junior Brother... I wish you success in finding that back door."

Qi Yuan left the inn.

An hour later.

Qi Yuan's appearance had changed drastically. He had donned a blood-red robe.

He stopped before a palace, a glint of joy in his eyes: "Finally found it."

The palace ahead was silent and desolate.

A young attendant at the gate was drowsy, seemingly dozing off.

Qi Yuan glanced at the attendant.

The sleeping attendant seemed to sense something and suddenly jolted awake: "You... who are you?"

He looked at Qi Yuan, an inexplicable fear rising in his heart.

"I... a Golden Core cultivator participating in the Eastern Land Heavenly Pride Battle," Qi Yuan answered truthfully.

The fear in the attendant's heart dissipated somewhat, and he asked slowly, "Why are you here for the Eastern Land Heavenly Pride Battle?"

"I heard that the overseer of this battle, the great cultivator Feng Lan, resides here."

"Not seeing anyone, no one at all," the attendant said with disdain.

In Cloud City these days, there were two Purple Mansion cultivators.

One was the Lord of Cloud Court, and the other was the great cultivator Feng Lan.

Sometimes, some clueless cultivators would come to visit Feng Lan.

The man before him was likely one of them.

Just then, the gate swung open, and a tall, slender woman stepped out.

"Attendant, what's the matter?" the tall woman asked.

"This one seeks an audience with the master," the attendant quickly said.

Qi Yuan looked at the tall woman, surprise in his eyes: "Booger Fairy, what a coincidence to see you here. It must be fate."

He glanced at her hand.

The nails on her fingers were now trimmed short; the long nails had likely been cut not long ago.

He couldn't help but marvel—these prodigies really took advice to heart. After he told her that long nails with nail polish were bad for picking boogers, she had immediately cut them off and switched to using Dao techniques.

Upon hearing this, Fengyue Fairy's expression twisted, her fury rising.

Recently, the most famous person in Cloud City, aside from the top three on the Heavenly Pride List, was her—thanks to the nickname "Booger Fairy."

Even her own sisters used it to mock her.

Not long ago, one of her suitors secretly sent her a technique. When she opened it, it was a spell for picking boogers!

She was furious!

She wished she could give Dazhi True Lord and Qi Yuan a good beating.

But in the end, she didn't bully the weak. She just thought that once the Eastern Land Heavenly Pride Battle began, she would definitely challenge that Qi Yuan and teach him a lesson.

Now, a stranger directly called her "Booger Fairy"—how could she not be angry?

"Who are you?" she glared at Qi Yuan, seething.

If he didn't give an explanation, she would have to beat him up.

"I... the Blood-Robed Sword God," Qi Yuan calmly announced his alias.

"What? The Blood-Robed Sword God?" Wind Moon Fairy was stunned.

Fear and awe surged within her heart.

She had not attended the Dragon-Fish Banquet, nor had she seen the Blood-Robed Sword God.

But the might and terror of the Blood-Robed Sword God, she naturally knew.

He was a ruthless man, a ruthless man who single-handedly annihilated the Bright Palace.

Why had he come here?

Wind Moon Fairy did not doubt for a moment that the blood-robed man before her was an impostor.

Because the Blood-Robed Sword God's fearsome reputation was known far and wide.

No one dared to impersonate him.

Moreover, many knew that the Blood-Robed Sword God had provoked Venerable Ye Qiong, nearly earning his enmity.

Impersonating the Blood-Robed Sword God—was that not courting death?

And as for the Blood-Robed Sword God before her, she looked at him carefully but could not discern his cultivation at all.

It must be the Blood-Robed Sword God without a doubt!

Her heart was filled with both fear and sorrow.

Even a big shot like the Blood-Robed Sword God knew of her... the title of Booger Fairy?

For a senior of the Blood-Robed Sword God's level, living ten thousand years was nothing.

That meant, for at least ten thousand years, she could not shake off the title of Booger Fairy.

"Senior, wait a moment. I will go inform the ancestor now!"

"Just take me in directly to save time," Qi Yuan said casually.

Wind Moon Fairy's expression shifted, and she finally nodded.

At that moment, deep within the palace.

Feng Lan was playing chess with the Lord of Cloud Court.

"I never thought that in just one month since arriving in Emerald Cloud Continent, such a great event would occur," Feng Lan sighed.

The Lord of Cloud Court also wore a melancholy expression: "Who could have imagined that the Bright Palace, so powerful, would be destroyed overnight?

This Blood-Robed Sword God is truly a god of slaughter.

I truly wonder how he managed to annihilate the Bright Palace.

Could it be, as he said, that the falling of the great sun that day was really connected to him?"

"How could that be?" Feng Lan shook his head. "In this realm... there can only be one, you understand."

The Lord of Cloud Court fell silent upon hearing this, daring not to speak further.

Out of respect for the venerable one, and especially that venerable one.

Then, Feng Lan spoke with a worried expression: "Once the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle ends, I must hurry back. Staying in Emerald Cloud Continent is far too dangerous.

The great calamity didn't wear me out, but dying here would be just my luck."

He was terrified of the Blood-Robed Sword God.

Because he was now in charge of the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle, serving three Yin Gods.

In name, he could be considered a temporary subordinate of Venerable Ye Qiong.

If the Blood-Robed Sword God found out...

Based on their understanding of the Blood-Robed Sword God, that madman would surely cut him down.

In Emerald Cloud Continent now, who was not afraid of the Blood-Robed Sword God?

Righteousness destroying evil?

It was merely a giant demon destroying evil!

"Ancestor, the Blood-Robed Sword God is here." Just then, an urgent telepathic message came.

The chess piece in Feng Lan's hand fell to the ground with a clatter, and his face showed terror.

The Lord of Cloud Court looked startled: "What's wrong, fellow daoist?"

"No, I must flee at once. The Blood-Robed Sword God has come to kill me!" Feng Lan was terrified, his face full of anguish.

As he spoke, he made to leave.

But in the end, he did not escape.

Because before he could go, he felt himself locked onto by a pair of terrifying eyes.

"Seeing me and ready to run—are you a villain, perhaps?

If you are a villain, I, the Blood-Robed Sword God, must act in Heaven's stead!" Qi Yuan's lazy voice came.

Even though Feng Lan was at the Purple Mansion realm, his soul trembled uncontrollably. His face twisted: "Not running... urgent... urgent."

"Your Feng family is truly strange—one picks her nose, the other has to pee," Qi Yuan said, glancing at Wind Moon and then at Feng Lan.

Hearing this, Feng Lan was somewhat embarrassed, a flicker of doubt passing through his mind.

Because, judging by the Blood-Robed Sword God's demeanor, he wasn't here to kill him?

He looked at Qi Yuan with utmost respect: "May I ask why the Blood-Robed Sword God honors us with his presence? What business do you have with this humble one?"

Now, he had none of the bearing of a Purple Mansion grandmaster; he was like a petty thug.

After all, facing a Yin God, he felt only reverence.

Facing the Blood-Robed Sword God, it was pure terror.

For this was a great demon.

"I signed up for the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle some time ago," Qi Yuan said, casually finding a chair to sit in.

Feng Lan was stunned.

The Blood-Robed Sword God signed up for the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle?

A Purple Mansion big shot signing up for the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle—what was he doing?

"Unfortunately, I've been delving into a cultivation technique recently, at a critical stage, and cannot attend the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle.

Can the time for the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle be postponed?" Qi Yuan asked gently.

Since he was asking a favor, his tone was very amiable.

"Senior... the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle cannot be delayed." Feng Lan was utterly perplexed, his face troubled.

The Blood-Robed Sword God's age must be around ten thousand years, right?

At such an advanced age, he simply could not enter the battlefield of the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle.

Feng Lan explained the reason why it could not be delayed—simply that the opening time of the secret realm was fixed and could not be altered by human means.

Then, Qi Yuan looked at Feng Lan: "What do you think—between me and the top ten prodigies on the Eastern Land Prodigy Ranking, who is stronger?"

Feng Lan was utterly bewildered.

Was this big shot here to make fun of him?

"Of course you are the stronger one, senior!" he replied cautiously.

"See, you admit I'm strong. Doesn't that mean that if I participate in the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle, I'll definitely make it into the top twenty?"

"Yes." Feng Lan could only nod. He glanced at Qi Yuan and said weakly, "It's just that senior's age is a bit too old. The Eastern Land Prodigy Battle requires participants to be under two hundred years old."

"I am very young. I'm only twenty... less than thirty," Qi Yuan said firmly.

Qi Yuan had originally wanted to tell the truth.

But then he thought, he had already married Xiao Jia.

Getting married before twenty violated the marriage law, so he falsely reported a slightly older age.

In the room, Yun Zhongting watched this scene and dared not speak.

Fengyue Fairy stood to the side, wanting to laugh but not daring to.

Feng Lan's expression was pained: "Senior... you do look very young."

"Not just look, I am!" Qi Yuan corrected Feng Lan's mistake.

"So, my strength meets the standard, and my age is suitable. In the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle, not to mention the top three, I can at least reach the top ten, right?

Since the result is the same, we don't need to pursue the process. Just directly rank me in the top ten," Qi Yuan said domineeringly.

It must be said, this feeling of pulling strings was really satisfying.

Feng Lan was speechless.

Blood-Robed Sword God, were these words human?

If it were anyone else, even a late-stage Zifu cultivator, he would have dared to call them shameless.

But facing the Blood-Robed Sword God, he truly dared not refute.

"This matter still needs to be reported to the three Yin Shen Venerables. This humble one... has no authority to decide," Feng Lan said weakly.

"Then report quickly, and get the result out soon," Qi Yuan said hastily, his voice turning stern. "If you maliciously obstruct me from getting into the top twenty of the Eastern Land Prodigy Battle, that means you are my enemy!"

Upon hearing this, cold sweat broke out on Feng Lan's forehead: "I'll go report immediately!"

Even if he had ten lives, he wouldn't dare to be an enemy of the Blood-Robed Sword God.

The experience of the Bright Palace was still vivid in his mind.

A legacy of ten thousand years, the most top-tier force in Cuiyun Continent, wiped out just like that!

(End of this chapter)