Chapter Thirty-Four: Another Fortune Beckons

A faint buzzing echoed through the air. Lost in thought, Chu Xiaotong glanced down at her jade slip on the table as it vibrated, its radiance flickering continuously. A tiny avatar bounced atop the screen—a photo of an old man grinning mischievously and flashing a peace sign, his scalp bald save for a few wisps of white hair, giving him the look of a formidable master.

“Master, your grandmaster is looking for you,” Qu Hongxiu remarked after a glance.

“Hm? What does that old man want now?” Chu Xiaotong snapped out of her reverie, frowned, but ultimately accepted the voice transmission.

Laughter, sly and unrestrained, burst through the connection. “Ha ha ha! Xiao Chu, your master has fantastic news! I’ve found that true man who can slay enemies across realms—”

She didn’t even let him finish. Chu Xiaotong hung up instantly and blocked him.

“A true man who can slay across realms? Was Grandmaster talking about Uncle Xu?” Qu Hongxiu asked, puzzled.

“Qu Hongxiu, are you so idle? Have you drilled your troops today? Has your cultivation advanced?” Chu Xiaotong’s demeanor changed abruptly, her gaze frosty.

“Uh?” Qu Hongxiu looked utterly confused.

“You wander about aimlessly all day, or else you’re holed up in the barracks surfing the Spirit Web. I’m confiscating your jade slip. Until you break through to the Nascent Soul stage, don’t even think of getting it back. Now get out and train your troops!”

“Master, how could you—ah, I was wrong! I’m going, I’m going to train and cultivate!”

After sending Qu Hongxiu off, Chu Xiaotong picked up her own jade slip again, logged into the Myriad Phenomena Spirit Web, and found the footage of Xu Zhe’s fierce battle with Qi Ming. She silently chose to “purchase and download.”

Settling into her chair, her slender white fingers interlaced to support her delicate chin, she frowned in thought. After a while, she murmured to herself, “Lin Keyi was right—Xu Zhe really is different now. Did I remember wrong, or has something changed him? And his physique… how did he achieve that?”

As she spoke, a playful smile tugged at her lips. “What a pity Lin Keyi’s gone to Tiangang Pool. Otherwise, I’d have loved to see her reaction to this footage.”

—

Meanwhile, in the Northern Continent.

Within a vast mansion, several black-clad figures darted across the courtyard, finally halting before a closed room. The doors and windows were tightly shut, utter silence reigning inside.

The black-robed men knelt, bowing low. “My lord, the matter of the death row prisoners is resolved. The Four Continents Council will find no traces.”

Silence greeted them from within.

They exchanged glances before one continued, “My lord, Qi Ming failed his mission and perished in Tianhe City. However, his accumulated military merit entitles him to a single chance at life reversal. Shall we retrieve his past self and resurrect him?”

Still, there was no response.

“We understand, my lord.” After waiting a moment longer, they sighed inwardly, rose, and departed.

—

In the Western Kunsun Continent, at the Jade Pool Holy Land.

Disciples gathered, all watching the footage released by Celestial Path. Faces were a canvas of varying emotions—anger, surprise, curiosity, utter indifference.

“He must have colluded with demons to wield such power.”

“Exactly. In just two days, he’s gained the strength to crush a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Qi Ming wasn’t just any Foundation Establishment practitioner, either—he was suppressing his cultivation!”

“When Senior Sister Li and the others were trapped on Soul Binding Night, those fiends showed Xu Zhe unusual respect. Clearly, he’s in league with them, which is why he didn’t lift a finger to save anyone.”

—

“Too bad the Holy Lord forbade us from causing Xu Zhe any trouble before entering seclusion, or I’d avenge Senior Sister Li and the others myself.”

“Just because we can’t, doesn’t mean others won’t. Don’t forget, Qi Ming was engaged to the Mingzhu of the Mo family.” Someone spoke up suddenly.

The other disciples’ eyes lit up.

“Right, I almost forgot. Two years ago, the Mo family’s Mingzhu borrowed our Jade Pool’s secret realm for closed-door cultivation.”

“If she learns of this, no one will be able to protect Xu Zhe.”

“Tonight, we’ll be reinforcing the secret realm with spirit stones. We can ‘accidentally’ mention a few things in casual conversation…”

—

The major powers of the Four Continents quietly began their machinations after Celestial Path released the footage. The smaller sects and factions were thrown into even greater uproar.

Debates raged from the real world to the Myriad Phenomena Spirit Web and back again.

Some accused Celestial Path of fabricating the footage—how could Xu Zhe be so strong just after awakening? Some even doubted Xu Zhe’s very existence, claiming the final prodigy had been replaced. Others argued the last prodigy was always destined to be the strongest; power and talent were only natural.

The arguments escalated, some even arranging to settle their disputes in person.

But that night, the Mingzhu of the Mo family posted a single message on the Spirit Web, and the entire discussion fell silent.

The Mo family—one of the few ancient powers to survive till this day on the Azure Gift Continent—was rumored to have a history spanning tens of thousands of years, predating even the arrival of the hundred prodigies. Longevity didn’t guarantee eternal glory, but the Mo family, still a powerhouse rivaling the Jade Pool Holy Land in Western Kunsun, was proof of their deep roots and formidable strength.

This generation’s Mingzhu was the apple of the family’s eye from birth, spoiled and willful. As a child, she caused chaos wherever she went, but the Mo family always cleaned up after her with ease.

Though she grew more restrained with age, anyone who crossed her—or simply displeased her—was destroyed without mercy.

Thus, nearly every cultivator on the Azure Gift Continent, upon hearing her name, thought of the same words: domineering, caustic, untouchable.

Yet this very woman had favored Qi Ming, ninety-ninth of the prodigies, and was even betrothed to him, with their marriage set for after her ten-year seclusion.

Now, Qi Ming had been beaten half to death by Xu Zhe and finished off by other cultivators. After two years in seclusion, the Mo family’s Mingzhu emerged to this news—and posted a message that sent chills through everyone on the Spirit Web:

“I, Mo Xiaolian, swear to flay Xu Zhe alive, grind his flesh to oil, and see him dead or myself.”

—

The message had barely been posted before countless disciples of Celestial Path leapt onto their bicycles and sped toward the Valley of Prodigies.

Liu Gaoqing and Zhang Wuma, the fastest among them, had only just left the valley at dawn and were already back by nightfall.

Meanwhile, Xu Zhe was still seated in the Tower of Prodigies with several cultivators.

That morning, after they’d exchanged the secret password—“change odds, keep evens”—the visitors had immediately knelt before Xu Zhe, greeting him as Grand Hall Master.

With Hou Shanyue’s example fresh in his mind, Xu Zhe had been ready for a fight.

But the newcomers quickly introduced themselves and explained their purpose: they’d been sent by a senior of the Rooster Hall.

So began a long conversation that stretched until dusk. Xu Zhe learned a great deal: about his old classmates, the four flight attendants, and the Twelve Halls.

“So, of the Twelve Halls, only your Rooster Hall remains loyal? The rest are either in seclusion or have already betrayed us?” Xu Zhe frowned. That complicated collecting the full set of secret techniques.

“Grand Hall Master, actually…” one cultivator bowed.

Xu Zhe cut him off. “Don’t call me that! I’ve told you all countless times—I may fit your descriptions, but I’m not your Grand Hall Master.”

“But Grand Hall Master, we’ve explained countless times as well: you really are him.” They spoke in unison.

Xu Zhe could only sigh, exhausted.

A loud knocking interrupted them.

“Prodigy Xu, you haven’t retired for the night, have you? We have urgent news—please open up,” called a familiar voice from outside.

Xu Zhe started. Weren’t these the two Celestial Path disciples who’d left at dawn? Why were they back so soon?

He stood, motioned for the cultivators to stay silent, and opened the door.

Liu Gaoqing and Zhang Wuma stood at the threshold, travel-worn but grinning obsequiously. Liu Gaoqing held out a jade slip, clearly meant for Xu Zhe. Zhang Wuma lifted his own, apparently filming Xu Zhe’s reaction.

“What’s the meaning of this?” Xu Zhe frowned.

“Prodigy Xu, it’s a long story. Two years ago, Qi Ming was betrothed to the Mingzhu of the Mo family in Western Kunsun. Today, she learned of his death and posted a declaration on the Spirit Web that she would… cough, well, you’d better see for yourself.” With that, Liu Gaoqing handed over the jade slip.

Reading it, Xu Zhe’s frown deepened.

“So, Mo Xiaolian means to avenge Qi Ming by flaying me, breaking my bones, and grinding my flesh to oil?” he asked.

“Yes, exactly,” Liu Gaoqing nodded rapidly.

Zhang Wuma nodded too, still filming.

“And this one? Cursing me to die miserably, meddling in others’ business, even cursing my family?” Xu Zhe’s face darkened.

“Yes, she posted that as well, less than half an hour after the first message,” Liu Gaoqing confirmed.

“Outrageous.”

Xu Zhe snapped, “What kind of young lady is so utterly without manners, her mouth so vicious? Is it because Qi Ming had uremia?”

With a resounding slam, he shut the door.

Outside, Liu Gaoqing and Zhang Wuma stared at each other, stunned.

Moments later, their expressions shifted to delight as they exclaimed in unison, “Damn, we’re going to strike it rich again!”

—

—