Chapter 359: Nowadays It's About Equality for All, I'll Compare Myself with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator

Chapter 359: Now We Advocate Equality for All; It’s Only Fair for Me to Spar with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!

A cycle of sixty years passed in the blink of an eye.

Worldly affairs drifted like clouds, vanishing in an instant.

Time could wash away everything; even the deepest marks could not withstand its erosion.

“Congratulations to contestant Qi Yuan for once again defending his championship at the Martial Arts Tournament!”

A clear voice rang out, and Qi Yuan gazed calmly at the ninety-year-old elder lying on the ground before him.

“Young man, not bad—you’re a cut above last year!”

The elder’s face twisted into a helpless smile. “Alas, I’ve lost again.”

“It’s fine; you may have lost, but you’ve earned glory. You’re the runner-up, aren’t you?” Qi Yuan showed respect for the aged and care for the young, comforting the elder.

“With just the two of us contestants, what good is the runner-up spot?” the elder grumbled. “This Martial Arts Tournament… how hasn’t it gone under yet? Truly strange.”

As he spoke, the elder swept his gaze across the arena.

Indeed, the arena was vast, but somewhat dilapidated.

Though in his youth the tournament had never been hugely popular, at least half the seats would be filled.

Sometimes, if the organizers were willing to spend money, they’d even hire fake spectators to boost the atmosphere.

But now… not a single spectator.

No, there was still one.

On the spectator stands, a beautiful young girl waved a glow stick, her face brimming with excitement.

“So strong—champion again!”

“Qi Yuan, you’re amazing!”

“This young lady is your fan!”

Indeed, this sole spectator was the Goldfinch, who followed Qi Yuan in his madness.

Every match, she would act as Qi Yuan’s cheerleader, fan, and family member, shaking her rattle and cheering for him.

Hearing this, the ninety-year-old elder’s face grew even more bitter. “Esteemed immortal, could you please stop participating in the Martial Arts Tournament? This old man’s childhood dream was to be champion just once.

You’ve already beaten me nearly sixty times—can’t you give me a chance?”

The elder was utterly exasperated.

In his youth, he had loved watching fighting shows on TV; gripping a wooden stick, the rape flowers in the fields had suffered terribly.

But his martial talent was mediocre; he couldn’t even qualify for the main competition.

Later, when the immortal path revived and martial arts declined, fewer and fewer contestants joined the tournament.

That was when he rekindled his desire to participate.

His rankings improved steadily, and he began to hope for the championship.

But every time… he lost.

“Immortal, I don’t have many years left. Could you indulge this old man?

After all, the Martial Arts Tournament is cruel; flowers, applause, and fame belong only to the first place. No one remembers the runner-up’s fading figure as he leaves the stage.” The elder appealed to emotion and reason.

For nearly sixty years, Qi Yuan’s appearance hadn’t changed—wasn’t he clearly a cultivator?

A cultivator joining a martial arts tournament—wasn’t that just bullying?

“You’re different; you’ve always been the runner-up. Someone will remember you.” Qi Yuan smiled.

With that, he walked toward the Goldfinch, taking her fair, delicate hand. “See you next year, young man.”

The Goldfinch bounced joyfully, clinging to Qi Yuan. She waved a hand. “Quick, look—what’s this?”

“An invitation?” Qi Yuan eyed the object in her hand.

“Mm. Haven’t you been wanting to break through to the Purple Mansion realm?

I’ve been keeping an eye out lately, and I found out… cultivators from the Three Realms, along with some beast cultivators from Canxing, are hosting a gathering to discuss the path of Purple Mansion. Participants must be Nascent Soul cultivators. If you go, you might gain something.”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan nodded seriously.

“You make a good point.”

Though in this game, Qi Yuan had long reached Purple Mansion,

his breakthrough had been muddled.

The real him was still a weak Nascent Soul cultivator.

He had to look up to Purple Mansion grandmasters.

“Perfect timing—after this gathering, I’ll compile what I’ve learned, then ask the netizens. I’m sure I’ll get the right answer!”

Qi Yuan was clever; he knew that listening to many views brought clarity.

Hearing only a few Nascent Soul or Purple Mansion masters preach wasn’t enough; the wisdom of the working people was boundless.

Post a question online, and inspiration might strike.

“I have an invitation too. I’ll go with you.” The Goldfinch waved her hand, and two masks appeared. “Put them on—this gathering requires anonymity; we can’t show our faces.”

Qi Yuan stared at the masks, his expression odd. “Are you sure this gathering is legitimate?”

These masks looked like something he’d only seen in certain videos.

“What are you daydreaming about?” The Goldfinch blushed.

Sometimes, for fun, she would wear a mask; she knew exactly what Qi Yuan was thinking.

“Nothing. Let’s go—to the gathering.” Qi Yuan wrapped his arm around the Goldfinch, and their forms vanished.

Now, the quest in this game was nearly over.

He was about to clear it.

But regarding the Purple Mansion realm, he still had no clue.

Though he had consulted Great Wisdom True Lord and learned much, it still felt insufficient.

He needed creativity.

Otherwise, if he ended up with a shoddy Purple Mansion, it would be rather awkward.

After all, he was about to become the first Purple Mansion in the Divine Radiance Sect—unprecedented!

He needed some real strength.

…

The gathering was set to begin over a stretch of sea.

On the sea floated a dilapidated cruise ship.

Occasionally, a streak of light would flash and vanish into the ship.

Xie Tang’s face was covered with a black cloth, her expression quite wistful.

A full cycle of sixty years had passed, and she had become a cultivator at the Divine Infant level.

In the Xuantian Sect, aside from the Sect Leader, she was the strongest.

As for her senior sister… well, there was still no trace of her.

The heavy burden of the sect fell upon her shoulders, and she had grown mature.

“Master, there are so many strong ones here.” Wang Zhiqi surveyed the abandoned cruise ship ahead, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

This former neighbor of Qi Yuan had now reached the perfection of the Foundation Establishment stage; sixty years had passed, yet she still retained the appearance of a young maiden.

“Conceal your aura properly—don’t let anyone discover your identity!” Xie Tang warned, her star-like brows knitting together.

Now, the ancient Wu and Qin Yuan were still locked in battle.

This conflict had lasted for nearly sixty years.

The Three Realms Alliance had also fallen apart, warring among themselves with genuine fury.

With the addition of some demon tribes entering the fray, the world’s situation had grown chaotic.

Among those attending this gathering, there might well be enemies; if their identities were exposed, it could provoke a lethal strike from their foes.

“Understood, Master!” Wang Zhiqi quickly concealed her cultivation level once more.

Just then, Xie Tang’s brow suddenly twitched, for not far ahead, a man and a woman had descended—their faces unclear, but their bearing was exquisite.

Most importantly, for some reason, she sensed a familiar aura emanating from that pair.

But exactly what was familiar, she could not recall for the moment.

“Fellow Daoists, are you also attending the small gathering? Why not go together, so we can look out for each other?” Xie Tang promptly said.

Wang Zhiqi followed along, her face brimming with curiosity.

She too felt a sense of familiarity.

That perfect couple was, of course, Qi Yuan and Jinsique.

He looked at Xie Tang and Wang Zhiqi approaching, then nodded: “Agreed.”

Wang Zhiqi was Yang Shan’s daughter.

When he first entered this game, Qi Yuan’s martial cultivation was shallow, and Yang Shan had given him much help on his martial path. His first participation in the martial arts tournament was even through Yang Shan’s backdoor connections.

Toward his daughter, Qi Yuan still harbored goodwill.

Xie Tang looked at the two, her expression curious, many thoughts flashing through her mind.

Because, across the Three Realms and among the demon tribes, there were very few Divine Infant cultivators who formed such a couple.

Moreover, none matched the physiques of these two.

Yet, judging vaguely by their age, they seemed to be like her—newly entered into the Divine Infant stage, not old monsters.

Her enemies were all old monsters, so she was wary of Qi Yuan, but not overly so.

“The path of immortality is truly difficult, especially the Purple Mansion… it’s on a completely different level from the Divine Infant. I wonder if I’ll ever have the chance to step into the Purple Mansion in this life.” Xie Tang could not help sighing at that moment.

“Alas, I fully agree,” Qi Yuan nodded. “Every step on the immortal path is fraught with hardships and obstacles.

To break through to Foundation Establishment, I once fought against two thousand seven hundred old men and nearly died there.

When breaking through to the Golden Core, it was even more perilous—my golden core was a bit too large and almost burst me open.

At the Divine Infant stage, I encountered the greatest crisis of my life; that person nearly crashed the game I was playing.”

Qi Yuan’s sentiments were heartfelt.

His journey had been far too difficult.

Xie Tang heard Qi Yuan’s words and found them somewhat odd, but she still agreed.

Breaking through to Foundation Establishment and nearly being killed by two thousand seven hundred old men—though a bit absurd, was still acceptable.

But… when you broke through to the Divine Infant, what did you mean by crashing the game?

“Fellow Daoist must be a rogue cultivator; your path of breakthroughs has been rather arduous,” Xie Tang remarked.

Wang Zhiqi’s eyes also showed sympathy: “Senior, though you are a rogue cultivator and your early breakthroughs were harder than us sect disciples, now you have finally tasted sweetness after bitterness, transforming from mortal to dragon.”

Wang Zhiqi added her timely flattery.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan became displeased.

He did have a sect.

Wasn’t the Shenguang Sect a sect?

He was about to break through to the Purple Mansion and become the first Divine Infant in the Shenguang Sect since ancient times—such a glorious achievement for his ancestors!

“I am not a rogue cultivator!”

“Ah?” Wang Zhiqi was taken aback. “If you’re not a rogue cultivator, why were your breakthroughs so hard?”

She looked at Qi Yuan, her gaze turning to admiration.

Surely it was due to poor talent.

“Senior is a late bloomer!”

Qi Yuan was speechless.

This daughter of Yang Shan, already a little old lady of seventy or eighty, still couldn’t speak properly and had no emotional intelligence.

“Is it possible that my Foundation Establishment is different from yours?” Qi Yuan looked at Wang Zhiqi, his urge to show off surging. “A Foundation Establishment like yours is far too weak—I could defeat ten thousand of you with one hand!

If you don’t believe me, let’s have a spar?”

“A hundred thousand,” Jinsique said with a giggle.

Wang Zhiqi was stunned, a bit bewildered.

Come on, Senior, you’re a mighty Divine Infant cultivator, sparring with a Foundation Establishment cultivator—isn’t that a bit bullying?

“Ahem, Senior, how would this little woman dare to spar with you?” Wang Zhiqi quickly said, also flustered. “This little woman is unworthy.”

“Alas, the Qing Dynasty has been gone for so many years, why do some people still have queues?

Nowadays, we advocate equality for all, equality between men and women.

You and I are both human; we are equals. Sparring with each other—where is the unworthiness?”

Qi Yuan decided to properly “educate” Yang Shan’s daughter. This Wang Zhiqi was younger than him, yet she held feudal thoughts—she was hardly a modern independent woman.

Wang Zhiqi was momentarily stunned; for some reason, she felt what this senior said seemed… quite reasonable.

But at the thought of sparring with a Divine Infant senior, she immediately pulled a bitter face, wordless, and cast a pleading look at Xie Tang.

Xie Tang smiled: “Senior, why tease a junior?”

“I’m not teasing; I’m serious,” Qi Yuan said earnestly. “You are an ancient person; it’s fine if you have feudal thoughts. But she is a modern person, yet still so old-fashioned.”

Xie Tang too was left speechless.

The originally harmonious atmosphere grew awkward at that moment; the four fell silent, with little further exchange.

After presenting their invitations, they all boarded the cruise ship to attend the small gathering.

I must say, quite a number of cultivators attended this small gathering—over thirty Divine Infant cultivators in total.

As for younger disciples like Wang Zhiqi, there were even more.

All Divine Infant cultivators were given seats, while juniors like Wang Zhiqi stood, nearly a hundred people gathered together.

An old man wearing a pure red mask entered, exuding a powerful aura, unmistakably a perfected Divine Infant.

He swept his gaze over everyone present, passing over each one, then spoke: "Since all have arrived, I'll say no more—let this small gathering begin. I'll cast a brick to attract jade; let us all exchange and spar together."

The old man with the pure red mask sat in the seat of honor, his face unreadable. He spoke slowly, his voice ethereal, like celestial music.

"The Divine Infant transforms from the Purple Mansion; the core secret lies in the soul.

Only when the soul is refined to its utmost can one break through.

The greatest difference between the Divine Infant and the Purple Mansion is divine abilities.

The Divine Infant is about Daoist divine abilities, while the Purple Mansion leans toward the primal divine abilities of heaven and earth's laws.

Thus, I believe that to break through from the Divine Infant to the Purple Mansion, one must temper the soul and comprehend the primal source.

The hardest part is comprehending the primal source—through the ages, how many cultivators have been trapped on this path.

Comprehending the primal source can only be done alone; no outsider can help, not even if a god descends to the mortal world.

Both are indispensable.

If the soul is sufficient but comprehension of the primal source is lacking, one cannot advance.

If the primal divine ability is successfully comprehended but the soul is lacking, one can use a Soul-Burning Pill to stimulate the soul and still enter the Purple Mansion."

As the old man with the pure red mask spoke, many cultivators present bowed their heads, showing agreement or deep thought, feeling they had gained much.

Especially some rogue cultivators—they had never encountered such knowledge before.

But when Qi Yuan heard this, he was greatly disappointed.

Not even a fraction of the Great Wisdom True Lord.

"Ah, you said 'cast a brick to attract jade'—I thought it was modesty.

But you meant it—truly casting a brick.

I have to say, you're quite honest." Qi Yuan felt that continuing this exchange would yield nothing for him. Should he... guide them in the right direction?

As soon as he said this, it immediately drew everyone's attention.

Wang Zhiqi's eyes widened as she looked at Qi Yuan; she felt this senior had a truly venomous tongue.

How could anyone speak like that?

"This senior is a perfected Divine Infant, willing to share his experience with us—that's a good thing. Fellow Daoist, why slander him?" A rogue cultivator at the Divine Infant stage couldn't help but speak up.

The Divine Infant cultivator in the pure red mask showed a hint of annoyance in his eyes: "Since what I said is but a brick, does the gentleman have any jade to offer?"

"No jade, but... your brick is a flawed one.

For example, what you said about using a Soul-Burning Pill to enter the Purple Mansion when the soul is insufficient—is that feasible?

Well... not to be absolute, but maybe one in a hundred million succeeds.

And as for comprehending the primal source, who says no one can help with that?

I know many people who were stuck at the perfected Divine Infant, unable to break through, and with others' help, they entered the Purple Mansion." Qi Yuan said earnestly.

Back in the Flowing Wind Realm, he had taught the Dao, helping many strong cultivators comprehend primal divine abilities and step into the Supreme Realm.

"Absurd! Nonsense!"

"Primal divine abilities are one's own path—how can they be taught by others?"

"Find such a person!"

As Qi Yuan's words fell, they immediately sparked discussion and incomprehension among those present.

Among them, a man entirely shrouded in a purple robe suddenly felt a jolt of terror upon hearing Qi Yuan's words, as if he had heard something horrifying.

He looked at Qi Yuan, his face full of fear and suspicion.

ps: The pace has already been quickened a lot; many foreshadowings and side plots have been cut. This month, this arc should probably end, returning to Canglan.

(The chapter ends)