Everybody is Kung Fu Fighting, While I Started a Farm

by Little Merger

Rejuvenation of spiritual energy, prevalence of martial arts, and extraordinary awakening, Jiang He said that he didn’t panic at all. With a farm system, farming can become stronger. What should I do if I practice too slowly? Don’t panic, plant some cucumbers to eat. Cucumber effects: clearing away heat and detoxification (relieving hundreds of toxins), strengthening the brain a

9. 265

Read Everybody is Kung Fu Fighting, While I Started a Farm Chapter 265 - A Construction Team of Awakened Folks online for free - NovelFull

Chapter 265: A Construction Team of Awakened Folks

Wang Siyu had put on some makeup and light-colored lipstick, although she rarely did so.

She was also wearing a round-neck T-shirt with a black high-waisted skirt, a simple pairing that perfectly accentuated her figure.

Beside her, Li Fei teased, "Old Jiang, she insisted on following when she heard that I was delivering you rice seeds, even going out of her way to put on makeup."

Even as he spoke, he shot Jiang He various gestures and signs.

Blushing, Wang Siyu scolded, "Why don't you offload the rice, Two Dog Li?"

Smiling mockingly, Li Fei placed one pack of rice seed at the yard before heading off to carry another bag before saying, "Old Jiang, Wang Siyu, you two go ahead and chat. I'm going home for a look."

Clearly, he was giving them some personal space.

Just as he was about to step out of the front gates, he ran into the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers, Dumbo and Turmbo, who were playing chase, and could not help exclaiming in surprise, "Woah, where did these septuplets come from?"

Since the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers looked identical to each other, they would naturally be seen as septuplets. However, they completely ignored Li Fei and scampered away right in front of him.

Dumbo, on the other hand, paused and tilted its head to study Li Fei.

Li Fei smiled. "Well, if it isn't Dumbo!"

Even as he spoke, he walked up and tried to pat its head.

Dumbo suddenly stood on its rear legs and slapped off Li Fei's hand with its paw, barking, "Moron, did Daddy allow you to pat my head?'

Li Fei was did a double take, but then started to laugh out loud.

It was no secret to the Lingzhou City Martial Arts Department (MAD) that Jiang He's dog could speak human. Li Fei had naturally heard about it as well, and so simply climbed in his BMW and drove off, disappearing from the end of the alley.

Three alleys separate Li Fei's house and Jiang He's house. Though there were no big houses there, it was one of the most imposing yards in Jinyintan village.

Back at Jiang He's yard, once Li Fei left, Jiang He began to study Wang Siyu.

He was…puzzled.

Why wouldn't girls consider the feelings of their T-shirts when they dressed up?

It would be alright to buy a bigger-sized one, but they would rather stretch them to their limit… that said, it didn't actually look bad when stretched too, though there was no telling how elastic it was and how it would feel to the touch.

Meanwhile, Wang Siyu blushed from Jiang He's unrestrained gaze, and deliberately pouted cutely. "Thug."

Hehe!

Jiang He chuckled evilly and said, "Don't women love thuggish men these days? Alright, let's chat inside."

Wang Siyu slid a glance at the mansion then.

Even across the window, she could still see Sora busying away at the kitchen in her maid costume and promptly shook her head, saying, "I'm not going in."

"Why don't we have a stroll outside, then?"

With that, they left the house and had a stroll outside, with Wang Siyu looking at the houses around Jiang He's.

The farmyards near his house were a mess, and signs of battle were everywhere. The Sky Demon Cultists' attack and the clash against Three Blades Lin led to most of the houses collapsing into rubble.

The two of them had a lively chat talking about anything and everything, but after a while, they soon ran out of topics.

As always, a long silence ensued after several exchanges.

With that, air became rather awkward between them.

Deciding to get some topics to break the ice, Jiang He asked smilingly, "By the way, is your brother still working?"

"He went off to Sichuan."

"Eh?"

Jiang He exclaimed in surprise. "Your brother may be an Awakened, but isn't his power a support-type ability? It's quite dangerous out there, so why would he run off to Sichuan?"

"Don't you know? My brother founded a construction company consisting of Awakened, recruiting several D-class earth-type and metal-type Awakened and even had a contract with the government. They're now in charge of many construction and maintenance projects in many city bases."

Jiang He could not help laughing.

That Wang Sizhen was quite something.

Still, it did not come as a surprise.

Both Wang Sizhen and Wang Siyu's father had made their living as construction supervisors, with Wang Sizhen furthering his study in that field after graduating in high school. After that, he had joined his father's group, more or less inheriting his father's work.

Moreover, his awakened power was a rubber mallet, which was a natural advantage for construction work.

"By the way, I understand why your brother would recruit earth-type Awakened since that is very useful for building stuff. However, why would he recruit metal-type Awakened too?"

Jiang He was rather puzzled.

Wang Siyu held back her laughter and answered, "Tying rebars…"

Jiang He was dumbfounded.

Screw me!

If developed well, metal-type Awakened had a good chance of becoming Magneto himself, but they would rather tie rebars instead?

Really…they made good use of their powers!

Jiang He and Wang Siyu then talked about cultivation.

At present, Wang Siyu had developed inner strength and True Qi and formally reached rank-four, and rank-four intermediate at that. She had begun her martial arts training a month ago, and having developed so well in such a short time was godly progress.

Still, it was not that Wang Siyu had great talent—it was all thanks to Jiang He providing her with fine cultivation resources.

"Rank four martial artists can cultivate by taking qi pellets, but I don't have any left."

Despite having planted a lot of qi pellets before, Jiang He found no use for those after his cultivation improved.

That was why he had fed his pets the qi pellets before dumping what was left at Chongming Island when he needed space in his System Backpack.

However, he still had the blended qi pellets.

It was useful for rank-six individuals or even rank-seven grandmasters, but a little too extravagant and wasteful for rank-four martial artists.

Nonetheless, that was just spare change for the rich and generous Jiang He.

"I have some blended qi pellet here," he said. "You can have a hundred of these and it would be enough for you to cultivate up to rank-six. Come to me after you've finished them."

Wang Siyu was stunned, and she quickly waved him off to decline.

"No way, blended qi pellets are so expensive. I can't have them."

As a matter of fact, the Superpower Research Department had recently introduced the blended qi pellets using certain rare materials to substitute for the original ingredients in subsequent researches. Though the production cost had almost been halved thanks to that, it was lacking in effect compared to version 1.0 of the blended qi pellets which Jiang He used.

Moreover, even though the MAD sold them, one pellet would cost around 1.5 million dollars even with the MAD staff discount.

As such, one hundred of those would basically fetch 150 million dollars, so how could Wang Siyu accept them?

But despite her firm reaction, Jiang He scowled and barked, "Why are you women so troublesome? A hundred blended qi pellets are nothing to me. I've fed them to the dogs by the buckets before."

"And it's me. Do you have to be so cagey?"

Wang Siyu almost giggled but retorted, "Keep boasting. Feeding dogs buckets of blended qi pellets? Do you have a mine in your house or something?"

"Mines?"

Jiang He shook his head seriously. "How much money could a mine make? I'm several times richer than those with mines at home now."

As they continued strolling along and chatting, they returned to find Li Fei waiting at the front door.

The man must have earned even more money now and had swapped his BMW for a big Mercedes G-class SUV. Winding down his window, he asked, "Old Jiang, Wang Siyu, done chatting yet? Should I go back first?"

"Just leave!" Jiang He barked, before adding, "Oh, and do come by again in two days' time—I have something to give you."

Li Fei was one of his handful of close friends, but this dog…had always lacked ambition. Even though those who awakened superstrength had always had an advantage in martial arts cultivation compared to others, it was clear the man had never cultivated.

"Alright, I'll get out of the hair of you lovebirds," Li Fei teased before flooring the pedal and left.

After Li Fei left, Jiang He led Wang Siyu to his mansion.

Inside, Sora came to greet them, asking sweetly, "Master, Miss Wang, dinner will soon be ready. Would you like to have it now?"

"Hold on."

Jiang He waved her off, saying, "I have something to discuss with Miss Wang…by the way, Sora, please fetch me a handbag."

Sora soon found a handbag and brought it to them.

It was a freebie from when Jiang He had bought some shoes and it even has the business slogan that read 'Feels like flying'.

Jiang He then poured all hundred blended qi pellets he had in it, filling half of it.

He added two bottles of Origin Fluid as well.

"So, your free blended qi pellets come with mineral water too?" Wang Siyu teased. "Are you afraid that I would choke when I eat it?"

Giving her a little chop on the head, Jiang He smiled, "There's rank-nine Origin Fluid inside those bottles. One is for spirit, while the other for cultivation and qi. You can easily reach rank-six pinnacle with these blended qi pellets and Origin Fluid. After that, I'll help you ascend to rank-seven."

Wang Siyu facepalmed and pouted, shooting a deliberate glare at Jiang He.

That look…

It was so cute.

They shared mutual feelings in the first place, and these intimate movements did bring them closer.

"Oh!"

Jiang He exclaimed then as he remembered something. "Come upstairs with me."

He turned and headed above, while Wang Siyu hesitated for two seconds before clenching her teeth and followed.

Her heart was pounding, and her cheeks were a puffy red as if on fire.

What should I do?

Is Jiang He bringing me to his room…and do those stuff to me?

No way! I, Wang Siyu, am not someone so casual. I should play hard to get…I can't just go with it! Eh?

Even as her thoughts run wild, she found that Jiang He had led her to the third-floor swimming pool when she looked up.

Jiang He himself had also took out a Blazing Tomato and said with a straight face, "Take off your clothes, get in the water, and eat this."

Wang Siyu's eyes widened. Tugging at the hem of her skirt, she stammered shyly, "I… I didn't bring a swimsuit."

Swimsuit?

Jiang He smile begrudgingly. "What are you thinking? This is a Blazing Tomato and you would awaken A-class fire-type powers right after eating it. However, its power is so overwhelming that it would burn all your clothes into ashes."

And I'm having you strip to help you awaken fire-type powers, but you're thinking about swimming?

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Chapter 266: I, Jiang He, Never Lose Out!

After struggling internally for a while, Wang Siyu clenched her teeth and took off her clothes, then strode out on her white feet while only wearing her underwear and entered the swimming pool.

Jiang He stared at her without averting his gaze, and could not help praising, "Nice body."

There was no lie at all in his praise.

Before this, Wang Siyu's figure was lacking.

Her skin was fair and her legs were long, not to mention her hourglass figure. Nevertheless, she was lacking in a portion where she should protrude, and that was here only flaw.

Now, she blushed even harder at Jiang He's praise, and murmured with a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, "Stop looking, Jiang He!"

Naturally, Jiang He could not stop looking.

Handing the Blazing Tomato to Wang Siyu, he said, "Hurry up and eat it. I'll stand guard right beside you."

Taking the Blazing Tomato, Wang Siyu took a deep breath, repressing her many complex thoughts as she opened her red lips, and took a soft bite.

Right then, she seemed to feel a fire burning up in her mouth.

"Hurry up and eat!" Jiang He barked softly.

Was she still minding maiden manners even in this situation?

If she started to awaken without finishing the entire tomato, the extent of awakening might not be on par.

Hence, Wang Siyu quietly munched away, quickly finishing the entire Blazing Tomato.

Her face dropped in the next instant as her fair skin began to turn red.

It was a blast from the past for Jiang He, happening right before his eyes…

"Ah…"

"It burns…it's so hot…"

Wang Siyu clutched at her belly as she fell into the swimming pool. Crimson flames arose over his body, and the water of the entire pool boiled in an instant.

Jiang He reached out his hand, then levitated all the water in the pool with a grabbing motion and tossed it out of the window. Then, he hurried up to Wang Siyu to check on her and found that her underwear had been reduced to ashes by the flames.

She was already unconscious and looked like she was in pain.

Jiang He walked up and infused a mild vein of mana into Wang Siyu's body to alleviate her pain.

Soon after, she became accustomed to the energy and the look of agony on her face disappeared, replaced by calmness instead.

The flames over her body were also all withdrawn within, but her skin was still a little red.

Jiang He put his hand on her… and could feel that she was very hot, and was at least seventy or eighty degrees.

Be that as it may, while a normal person would have already kicked the bucket at such temperatures, Wang Siyu was merely in her awakening phase after eating the Blazing Tomato and that temperature was normal.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Jiang He smiled. 'Looks like the awakening is a success… but if Zhou Xiaolian is to be a precedent, she would only wake up after over an hour.'

He did some thinking.

Leaving a lady like Wang Siyu on the stiff, hard tiles of the swimming pool was not ideal, which was why Jiang He picked her up and caried her to his bedroom and placed her on his big, soft bed.

He stayed bedside, reaching out to feel her body heat every ten minutes.

After around an hour, Wang Siyu's body slowly returned to normal. The redness from her elevated body temperature also slowly faded and soon she slowly opened her eyes.

Her gaze looked a little lost just then, just like Zhou Xiaolan's when she woke up.

Jiang He could imagine that the burning heat from the awakening must have struck the brain, causing such a reaction.

It could be considered a side effect from eating the Blazing Tomato.

"You're awake?"

"How does it feel?" Jiang He asked with concern.

Wang Siyu rubbed her temples and appeared a little lost, but soon recovered after an entire minute. Feeling out the energy around her body, she exclaimed in delight, "Did I really awaken, Jiang He?"

"Yeah."

Muah!

Jubilant, Wang Siyu lunged at Jiang He and kissed him.

As a matter of fact, she just regained consciousness and had not put on her clothes yet.

All at once, Jiang He was displeased and barked angrily, "A-Are you trying to take advantage of me?"

He lunged back at her.

No way.

He must get something in return. Was he even Jiang He if he did not?

Did you assume that you've won just by kissing me?

Sorry, you might have won a little there, but, I, Jiang He…

Never!

Lose!

Out!

Naturally, everything that happened next could not be described.

Around an hour later, Jiang He went downstairs first and instructed, "Sora, prepare dinner. We'll start eating when Miss Wang is done bathing."

It was already nighttime.

Soon, Sora served dinner, while Wang Siyu came downstairs as well, having just finished her bath.

Her hair was still a little damp, and she complained coquettishly, "Where's your hairdryer, Jiang He? I searched everywhere but couldn't find it…"

"Hairdryer?"

Jiang He could not help laughing. "Does a fire-type Awakened need a hairdryer?"

Wang Siyu realized that then and released a fraction of her power to dry her hair, while Jiang He explained beside her, "I've always thought that all superpowers exist to improve one's quality of life. For example, fire-type powers could blow-dry hair and clothes, even grill food, cook and light up the room."

"Likewise, earth-type powers could be used for construction and farming…water-types are even more useful since they are able to water the fields, and those stronger can conjure artificial rain within a small area."

"Your brother has the right idea of tying rebars with metal-type powers and that is absolutely a good way of living for metal-type superhumans."

Wang Siyu appeared baffled from his lecture.

Everyone would always think about how to make effective use of superpowers in combat. How did that change so drastically when it came to Jiang He?

"Alright, stop spacing out. Let's eat."

After dinner, Wang Siyu insisted on returning home…it seemed that the young lady was a little overwhelmed after her first time, and afraid that Jiang He would bother again at night, so there was no helping it…

In truth, Jiang He was feeling upset too.

Could he even be blamed for this?

If anything was to be blamed, it would be the unserious cultivation that was the Nine Heavenly Stars Body Formula.

He was already strong, so wouldn't being strengthened meant that he had become godly?

After seeing off Wang Siyu, Jiang He called out to his maid who was cleaning the kitchen, took out the last Blazing Tomato, and said, "Sora, come upstairs with me…"

It was another sleepless night.

Jiang He only fell asleep at three in the morning and slept all the way until twelve. After washing up, he went downstairs with a spring in his step.

Sora had already prepared lunch then.

"Ordinary rice has such poor texture…"

Jiang He stepped out of the mansion after finishing lunch, turning his eyes to the two sacks of rice Li Fei carried there yesterday.

Both sacks of seeds had evolved to some extent. Jiang He opened one sack, took out one seed and crushed the husk, exposing the finger joint-sized grain inside.

The grain was ample and its texture crystalline.

Others notwithstanding, the appearance alone whets one's appetite.

Nonetheless, planting rice was a technical livelihood. In the early days, humans had initially used small sheds to nurture rice shoots before transplanting rice seedlings, although everything had become mechanized with technological processes.

Machines would be used to sow seeds directly. Once the sprouts grew, they simply had to fill the seedlings in the sparse space within the paddy fields.

Nonetheless, machine sowing required skill as well. First, the rice grains would have to be soaked for some time to wash off the abscisic acid which inhibits seeds from sprouting, thereby easing the seeds' growth.

Jiang He was only too familiar with paddy.

Be that as it may…

Still, that only applied to normal farms.

On the other hand, even rocks planted in his farm would bud. Why bother with the complicated procedures?

Shouldering a sack of rice into the farm, he instructed Dumbo and Trumbo to plough a 'paddy field' spanning three Mu before pouring the entire sack of rice grains into the ground.

It was an experience Jiang He gained after diligent ploughing—anything goes.

After he was done sowing the rice grain, Jiang He had Dumbo dig more holes on the ground to plant the Doom Shrooms.

Jiang He calculated that since one Doom Shroom would earn him 1,000 Farm Points, then the 1,380 Doom Shrooms that he harvested would earn him around 1.38 million Farm Points.

Of course, he did not include the cost of Mysterious Soil in that calculation.

If he were to stick to his previous standard of using one pack of Mysterious Soil for two Doom Shrooms, then not only would he earn nothing but he would lose several million instead.

After adding in half a bag of Mysterious Soil, the Doom Shroom reaped would have a yield of 500,000 tons… the yield would be much smaller if I don't, but that's fine—I'm no bomb maniac, why plant so many high-yield Doom Shrooms?

I'll swap Mysterious Soil for on nitrogen fertilizer to each of the remaining Doom Shrooms.

Jiang He did some calculation.

At the moment, he still had 48,000 Farm Points.

He planted 38 of the 1,380 Doom Shrooms before, making it a total of 1,342.

Each would amount to 1,000 Farm Points. Minus 100 points for each nitrogen fertilizer means a net profit of 900 Farm Points… 1,342 Doom Shrooms…

Three times three is nine, four times four is sixteen, nine times nine is eighty-one…It should be around 1.278 million Farm Points.

That also means over 130,000 EXP!

It was more than a considerable gain.

Hence, Jiang He began planting the Doom Shrooms.

Since there was a total of 1,342 Doom Shrooms, even with Dumbo digging holes ahead and Trumbo burying them behind, Jiang He had to throw in each Doom Shroom with one nitrogen fertilizer…

It was so difficult.

But was there a time farming has not been difficult?

Jiang He remembered the saying that goes, 'The heavens would confer a title upon mortals, but they would be worked to the bone before that.'

He hence brought out a stool and sat beneath the shade of the willow tree, throwing the many Doom Shrooms sharply into the holes that Dumbo had dug…missing occasionally, in which case he would scold Dumbo, "Would I have missed if you had dug a bigger hole?"

After planting all the Doom Shrooms, Jiang He thought of something. With a turn of his hand, he drew out three walnut-sized pitched-black seeds from his System Backpack…

Seeds, which resembled pebbles.

It was the Mysterious Seed that the System had awarded him.

Even now, Jiang He had no idea what these Mysterious Seeds were.

As he looked at the Mysterious Seeds, a bunch of data showed up.

[Mysterious Seed]

[Attribute: A seed of mystery.]

"Mysterious seed…mysterious seed…"

Jiang He personally dug a hole and put the pitch-black pebblelike seed within, smirking. "Let me see how mysterious you can be, seed. Or what, are you going to grow into real, living person?"

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Chapter 267: Actually Planting A Real, Living Person

The rice paddy Jiang He planted at the start had begun to sprout, with dense patches of rice shoots breaking out of the ground rapidly like mushrooms after rain.

Judging from their growth, Jiang He estimated that the rice can be harvested in three hours. By tomorrow, he could eat the fragrant big-grain rice he himself planted.

That was when a question came to Jiang He's mind—

'Do I have to water my paddy field?'

After musing to himself for a while, Jiang He got an answer and thought, 'Most likely not, given how special this farm is… but would paddy be paddy without water?'

Either way, Dumbo and Trumbo both possessed water-type powers.

He just had to get them to water it.

Jiang He's opinion is that rice from dried paddy would be soulless when consumed.

Soon, the Doom Shrooms began to grow as well.

The many pitch-black shrooms that resembled 'dog pee caps' were rapidly growing out of the earth and Jiang He counted that the Doom Shrooms would grow in batches of fifty…

Jiang He scowled unhappily then.

Fifty in each batch…and judging from the growth rate, it would take over two hours to finish harvesting them.

And even if he did not sleep or rest, the 1,342 Doom Shrooms would need at least sixty hours to be fully harvested.

But that was fine.

Jiang He's impression was that he never fell short compared to others when it comes to diligence and weathering hardships.

"What's going on?"

"The Mysterious Seeds I planted have not budded yet?"

"Hasn't it been twenty minutes already?"

The pebblelike black 'Mysterious Seed' had been planted for some time, but it might have a longer growth cycle because it was not showing any reaction.

Still, waiting for a crop to mature is a long process.

Jiang He believed that as a diligent farmer, he must learn how to use his free time to work as well.

He took out the Dragoncroc Emperor's corpse and cut a quarter of it and threw it to the Cloudscraper Vine. The meat of a prehistoric mutant Feral was an incredible supplement for the Cloudscraper Vine and it was more effective than the Feral King corpses even if it was just a quarter.

All eighteen tendrils of the Cloudscraper Vine curled into itself, the needles beneath the branches and leaves stabbing into the Dragoncroc Emperor's flesh and began to absorb the essence within.

The many tendrils then began to glimmer in green light, slowly lengthening and thickening.

"Oh, right!"

"They are both unique plant life. And since the Cloudscraper Vine can evolve and strengthen by consuming Feral meat, what about the willow tree?"

Jiang He turned his eyes and looked towards the ten-meter tall willow tree that had already grown a massive tree crown.

Piles of whitened bones lay beneath the shade of Mount Helan's willow tree. Every Feral and beast that passed beneath its tree crown were whipped to death by its branches, their blood and flesh becoming its growing nourishment.

Nonetheless, Jiang He asked about it.

The branches of the willow tree swayed and a thought rippled.

"Master… I… I don't know, but eating meat is so dirty!"

Wow.

And it was even acting cute.

Jiang He couldn't help chuckling. It did make sense after some thought—was it reasonable for the 'willow tree girl' to eat Ferals every single day?

If that's so, I think I probably wouldn't kiss even if it assumes human form…hold on, why would I think that?

Jiang He was stunned by his own idea.

That…is a tree!

Why would he have such lewd thoughts about a tree?

What a beast!

"Well…"

Jiang He studied the willow tree which tree crown spawned several dozens meters. Even as he listened to the willow tree's tenderly crisp voice, he could not help thinking, 'So what if it's a willow tree? It might transform in the future, and become a great beauty.'

So what if I think such things about my willow tree?

Love cannot be bound by factors like race or age. What if a little immortal lady who lived several thousand years old wanted to pursue a relationship with him? Could he refuse her?

Hmmm…

About that… I don't think the answer is certain since it depends on said immortal lady's looks and personality…

Jiang He put away the many complicated thoughts in his mind and asked, "Right, have you tried Sky Daemon Invincibility?"

"I can't cultivate it."

The willow tree's many branches slumped, appearing desolate.

Jiang He consoled it, saying, "The Sky Daemon Invincibility is a daemonic cultivation but you are a plant, so it's normal for you to be unable to cultivate it… Legend has it that there are many great abilities that plant life can cultivate, so something suitable for you might have been passed down. I'll get you something in the future."

Delighted, the willow branches glinted in emerald light, its slumped posture all gone without a trace.

Jiang He scowled.

Why was the willow tree such an actress too?

Still…

It was very likely that he could find a cultivation method for plant life.

"Ancient daemons might know such cultivations… maybe I could go to Shennongjia and ask that daemonic cultivator who materialized his Yuan Spirit…"

"I could create something myself even if I can't get anything from him. Legend has it that the Willow God and the Cyan Emperor were plant life that had cultivated into almighties, so with some referencing, it would not be that difficult to create a plant-life cultivation method myself."

Then, Jiang He took out some Orirocks and handed them to the Willow Tree.

"These are Orirrocks and they contain pure Yuan Qi. It works for both humans and daemons—since plant life evolve and strengthen by absorbing Yuan Qi, they would be useful for you as well."

Without a proper cultivation method, relying solely on absorbing the Yuan Qi in Orirocks would definitely see a portion of the Yuan Qi wasted or oozing out. Still, Jiang He had all the Orirocks he needed and since keeping them served no purpose, wasting five thousand Orirocks was nothing.

After that, Jiang He called upon the two golden eaglets.

The two golden eaglets were definitely mutants that had inherited the Golden-Winged Roc's bloodline. In just a few days, they appear much larger and stronger, even flying briefly on low altitudes by flapping their wings.

Of course, that was far from enough.

Jiang He were grooming the two golden eaglets as mount. Why bother if they could only fly several hundred meters above air and eight hundred meters distances?

"The two golden eaglets probably could cultivate Sky Daemon Invincibility… Dumbo, you're in charge of supervising their cultivation. Here's another 1,000 Orirocks—share it between them."

"The Orirocks are effective for divine-tier elites, even Void-tier elites. Using it to cultivate would quickly bring you up to full-fledge rank-nines… After that happens, I'll come up with something to help you reach Daemon Pellet-tier."

After cultivating a daemonic cultivation, they would not be Feral Kings after surpassing rank-nine, but Daemon Pellet-tier eminences.

It was more less the same situation with the Graywolf King back then.

And since Jiang He had planted three Condensed Pellet Fruits from the Graywolf King's corpse, it was not a problem for Dumbo and the others to ascend with those.

As for the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers, their cultivation was relatively dull and boring. They were all simply going 'hetui' skyward to breathe air blades, and after doing that for three days, they had actually managed to grasp blade will…

Perhaps that was their cultivation talent.

Jiang He was actually a little of jealous of their talent on the path of blades, since he did not have such talent himself. In fact, he had to force himself to grasp blade will by leveling his blade techniques.

After around two hours…the first batch of Doom Shrooms were ripe.

[Ding!]

[1,000 Farm Points.]

Jiang He plucked one of the Doom Shrooms and looked at it closely, before shaking his head and chuckling sadly. "My hunch is right. Without Mysterious Soil, the power of the Doom Shrooms is much weaker."

The explosive yield of Doom shrooms with half a pack of Mysterious Soil was five hundred thousand tons, whereas Doom Shrooms with one pellet of nitrogen fertilizer was merely three hundred thousand tons.

"Ah!"

Jiang He sighed. "Three hundred thousand tons it is, it is more or less enough…"

After plucking the first batch of 50 Doom Shrooms, Jiang He was about to harvest the paddy when his eye turned towards the spot where he planted the Mysterious Seed.

It had sprouted two lotus leaves at some unknown point in time with a lotus flower at the center.

Jiang He looked closely at the center of the lotus flower, and found a thumb-sized… hourglass figure?

As the leaves and the flower grew larger, the hourglass figure also slowly grew.

"What the hell!"

Jiang He was dumbstruck.

A real, living person had really grown out of the Mysterious Seed?

As he walked up and studied the hourglass figure at the center of the flower, he could not help gasping in surprise…

That woman is so beautiful!

Her facial features were exquisite and her figure fantastic.

Even though she was merely thumb-sized, he noticed that she appeared to have a certain anime-style about her.

Hold on…

Anime?

Jiang He's eyes widened, and could not help thinking about a woman in one of the classics… and it matched the figure growing at the center of the white lotus flower perfectly.

"What was that anime called?"

"Voyage?"

"One Piece?

"Right, right, it's One Piece…"

"And what was that character's name? Charlotte Linlin?"

"No, no. Wasn't Charlotte Linlin the Big Mom, one of the four emperors? Fat and ugly? No, this one is named Hancock or something!"

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Chapter 268: Forefather, Save Me!

Boa Hancock, captain of the Kuja Pirates, Empress of Amazon Lily, and formerly one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, was also universally acknowledged as the most beautiful person in the pirate world.

Jiang He felt a little baffled even as he recalled details about Boa Hancock.

What the heck.

Was the doggone System having a laugh?

The world view that he attained a few days ago of this world being a galactic immortal series began to crumble—how did he manage to plant an anime character?

Right now, the two lotus leaves were almost a meter wide, just as the lotus flower and Boa Hancock continued to grow. However, it did not stick to human growth process that starts with infanthood, progressing to childhood, youth, and adult.

Instead, it was immediately adult in figure and appearance, although it was merely thumb-sized.

Her hair was long and jet-black and her eyes blue, and there were a pair of snake-shaped earrings. Her tall and alluring figure left Jiang He's thoughts straying, and he thought, 'If I could pluck her off that pistil right now…'

'Nope, can't do it. It would be premature to pluck her right now.'

'And she's just around a meter tall. What good would plucking her right now do?'

The Boa Hancock that grew out of the Mysterious Soil was not exactly growing quicky. It had been there for four hours and Jiang He estimated that it would take another four hours to 'harvest' it.

As such, Jiang He went off to harvest the rice.

The paddy field was still drenched since it was just watered around two hours ago. Still, that was no big deal, and neither Dumbo or Trumbo's water-type powers were needed—circulating his mana, he materialized a massive hand up in the air.

The hand then made a grasping motion, and there was a splash!

All at once, every drop of water in the temporary three-Mu paddy field was grasped by Jiang He's magic hand and reduced to water vapor up in the air, with not even a chunk of mud left in the paddy field.

With that, the paddy field turned into a golden hue.

Aside from the rice grains, the stems were also glimmering in a faint golden hue as if the entire plant was forged from gold.

Jiang He measured them with his eyes.

The rice straws stood up to two meters tall—a little taller than himself, and that was only because the grains were too large and too heavy that each plant was slumping. Jiang He estimated that each plant would yield three catties worth of rice grain, and two catties even after processing.

Jiang He walked up and pulled out one straw.

[Ding!]

[1 Farm Point.]

The crisp jingle of a System Notification sounded.

Jiang He's eyes lit up as delight showed on his face, and he exclaimed in surprise, "A random plant like rice earns me Farm Points too?"

Before planting the rice, Jiang He had not thought about earning Farm Points. All he wanted was rice cooked from mutated rice grains strengthened with his farm, which would provide more flavor for meals.

How could Jiang He not be excited by such unexpected delight?

Most importantly…how much rice grains would he get from his three-Mu paddy field?

In standard soil, a single Mu paddy field could only be sowed with one catty worth of rice, which would be around twenty thousand grains.

Jiang He's three-Mu paddy field, on the hand, was sowed with an entire pack of rice, which was at seventy catties…of course, Jiang He was also planting mutated rice, each grain of which was equal to five average rice grains.

In other words, one catty meant a yield of around 4,000 grains.

Multiplying by the seventy catties of rice grains planted over three Mu, that would make 280,000 grains.

Moreover, the successful growth rate for the rice was 100% since this was his farm…

That was why the three Mu worth of farm would earn Jiang He at least 280,000 Farm Points.

With delight written all over his face, Jiang He hummed a tune as he harvested the rice rapidly by drawing out his Dragon-Slaying Saber with a turn of his hand, keeping it close to the ground as he slashed out horizontally.

[Ding!]

[1 Farm Point.]

[Ding!]

[1 Farm Point.]

[Ding…]

The System Notifications jingled repetitively in Jiang He's head for an entire hour even though Jiang He had harvested three Mu worth of rice with a single slash within a single second.

In the end, Jiang He actually got irritated and simply used his spirit to block the System's sounds.

As for the cut rice straws, Jiang He did not need to manage it.

He called out to Dumbo who was mid-cultivation and said, "Go with Trumbo and the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers and tie up the straw."

Still wearing its baggy pants, Dumbo stood up on its rear legs and held its paws as it hips as it called out. All at once, Trumbo on the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers went to work as well.

Meanwhile, Jiang He pulled out a bench and sat beneath the shade of the willow tree, taking out some purple-gold sunflower seeds and walnuts which he had not eaten for some time to munch on. Even as he shook his legs, the next batch of Doom Shrooms would soon be ready.

In the end, farm life has always been that plain and boring.

Even as Jiang He continued farming back home, he was unaware of the many major events occurring outside.

In the afternoon on the twenty-third of October, the day Jiang He left Jingdu city, Wang Hu gathered the many elites and the military big wigs of the Hua Nation and held a two-hour long conference.

Then, on that very night, the many elites of the Hua Nation combined forces with the military and began a partial culling of the Feral Kings across the country.

As for why it was partial…

It was a decision made following serious discussion and deliberation in the conference.

The first reason was that chaos would certainly ensue if all Feral Kings were killed in one go, and every Feral in the Hua Nation was left leaderless.

Secondly, despite the death of the two Feral Emperors in the Dragoncroc Emperor and the Golden-Winged Roc, the ancient daemons had yet to show up.

The mass slaughter of Feral Kings might just draw the ancient daemons out, and the losses caused then would far outweigh any gains.

Otherwise, everyone would have went with Wang Hou's idea of kill'em all.

If he had his way, every Hua Nation elite would go forth with military support, killing every Feral King and then the high-ranked Ferals, and the Hua Nation would no longer have any worries.

Even so, Lin Tianzheng stopped Wang Hou, the latter of whom mused to himself for a long time before agreeing to his suggestion.

After all…

Keeping some Feral Kings and high-ranked Ferals would keep the fighters pressured to train, and a target to kill for, would they not?

Hence, on that very night, report of victories came in as a total of three Feral Kings were killed.

More news followed on the next day, the twenty-fourth of October, as two more Feral Kings were destroyed.

"Keep up the pressure!"

"Right now, there would still be nine Feral Kings in the Hua Nation…of course, there is the possibility of some hiding themselves deep in the mountains and never once showing up."

Wang Hou commanded.

On the other hand, the Feral Kings were absolutely petrified when they received the word, with some actually fleeing out of Hua Nation borders or to the depths of the oceans, just as others hid themselves deep in the jungle where no humans reached.

Later…

At 6 pm on the twenty-fifth of October—in other words, after Jiang He finished harvested the rice—at the northwestern region of the Hua Nation, the depths of an unending chain of mountains.

This was the northernmost part of the Hua Nation, packed with dense virgin forests and was the region with the historically lowest temperature in the Hua Nation.

Winters here were long and difficult here, while summers brief but breezy. There was a huge difference between daytime hours and night, and the yearly average temperature was minus 2.8 degrees, the lowest of which was minus 53 degrees.

It was merely the end of October, but there was fluttering storms of snow in the mountains.

Even the dense virgin forests were covered in thick snow.

Whoosh!

A figure was dashing through the forest.

It was a gigantic scarlet fox with a pair of wings growing from its back, one of which had been severed and bleeding profusely.

The blood had a blazing texture to it, and it causes a sizzling sound whenever a drop would fall upon the snow, just like what happens when fiery-red coal falls upon snow.

Behind it, an elite was walking up in the air.

In the forests, there was also a pursuer with blades in hand.

The scarlet fox spoke in human tongue then, barking, "Blade King, are you humans so bent on wiping us daemons out?"

Incidentally, Three Blades Lin was its blade-carrying pursuer.

He was the face of absolute smugness right then, having deliberately released his Blade Will and his entire being now appearing no different from an unsheathed combat blade. "Scarlet Fox King, spare me and stop acting that pitiful," he said and sneered. "Did you really think I would spare you?"

"You've massacred three small towns when you first ascended to Feral King, killing 190,000 people, as well as inciting multiple Feral Swarms to assault human cities. This blood debt could only be paid by your blood!"

Swish!

Suddenly, Three Blades Lin slashed out while yelling on top of his lungs, "You're not getting away, Scarlet Fox King… Daddy just need three cuts to take off your head!"

Having chased the beast from Daxing'anling to Mount Changbai, Three Blades Lin had lost all patience.

The instant he attacked, he burst out with the 'Three Blades Ultimate Move' that he developed himself.

Once his first slash extends, the second and third followed immediately.

Being a divine-tempest pinnacle elite and just half a step away from divine-union, he was equal in cultivation to the Scarlet Fox King… but with its injury, how would the beast be a match for him?

Be that as it may, a loud yell could suddenly be heard from the skies when Three Blades Lin's third slash extended.

"Watch out, Blade King!

Oom!

A small three-floored tower descended from above the Scarlet Fox's head.

Veins of obscure earthen-yellow luster descended from the small tower, rigidly blocking Three Blades Lin's third slash.

The Scarlet Fox King opened its mouth and spat, the Daemonic Qi in the blood welling within its mouth splashing on the three-floored tower before it reared its head skyward and shrieked, "Forefather, save me…"

"Sigh!"

A soft sigh resounded from the distance.

Then, a massive hand that blocked out the skies descended from above.

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Chapter 269: Wang Hou The Cheater

The hand was several hundred meters long, its fingers closed as Daemonic Qi churned over it.

As it descended directly overhead, Three Blades Lin was left absolutely astonished.

The hand had locked on to his Qi and there was nowhere to go.

Resist?

Resist, his foot!

The land around him was crumbling under the tremendous force that hand wrought even for it reached, forming a huge palm print. Three Blades Lin himself would have been pressed into the rocks if he himself had nothing go for him.

Even so, there was a flash of despair in his eyes.

Neither fight nor flight were options…so he had to rely on his wits!

Looking skyward, he bellowed in rage, "Sir, my gramps is the disciple of the Penglai immortal sect…"

Boom!

The air rumbled.

The gigantic hand paused above, just three feet short of Three Blades Lin's head. The mighty gusts it swept up were crashing through every direction, causing a tempest that extended over a thousand meters and snow to dance, cutting down untold numbers of ancient trees.

Three Blades Lin was fully dumbstruck, his eyes going blank as he sweat buckets all over, his breathing becoming raspy right then.

He had truly felt the brush of death in that split second.

It took him over ten seconds to finally regain his senses. He wheezed as he gulped in mouthfuls of air, his face now looking a little pale.

He looked up with much difficulty, but there was no seeing what was behind that hundred-meter-long hand that materialized out of Daemonic Qi.

Whoosh!

Nearby, another figure came dashing—it was Pei Donglai, the military elite stationed at the Jiangnan City base.

Being another elite of the blade, he had strong links with Three Blades Lin and could be considered a disciple of Three Blades Lin's father, having studied the way of the blade under the man's tutelage.

However, Three Blades Lin's father failed to reach divine-tier and had passed away some time ago.

Blade in hand, Pei Donglai stood at Three Blades Lin's side and communicated with acoustics. "Brother Lin, don't be reckless. It's probably an ancient daemon eminence. I've already informed both our grand-master and Minister Wang, and we should wait until they arrive."

Three Blades Lin said nothing.

Reckless, my foot.

Can't you see that daddy here doesn't even dare to breathe too loudly?

Beside them, the Scarlet Fox King called out shrilly, "Forefather, kill him, kill him…"

A wave of killing intent resonated up in the air just then.

Three Blades Lin caught it sharply and seethed, "Sir, are you really going to interfere?"

"My gramps…"

Cold laughter echoed from up in the air then, "Young human, do you really take me for a fool?"

Whoosh.

The Daemonic Qi palm faded.

Up in the skies, an elderly person wearing an ancient scholar's gown strode towards them.

His frame was a little hunched and his ears were pointy, and he had a wooly fox tail dangling behind his back. The tail wagged restlessly even as he strode forward, making him look very unusual.

He landed from above, stood before the Scarlet Fox King and took out a pitch-black medicinal pellet which he handed to the beast before eyeing Three Blades Lin and saying flatly, "If your grandfather was truly a disciple of the Penglai immortal sect, why aren't you cultivating immortal arts?"

"I feel not a single ripple of mana within your body."

Although Lin Tianzheng had mentioned that the foreign heritage site he entered was left by the Penglai Sect, he did not mention one word about the immortal art or Dao technique that he cultivated over there, only that he had sworn an oath before accepting the legacy.

Therefore, Three Blades Lin had used the Penglai Sect's fame only with the intent of staying his opponent's hand, and certainly did not expect that he would rouse suspicion. Even so, he gained another moment of inspiration and smiled coolly, "I'm me, and my gramps is my gramps. Why should I learn those doggone immortal arts?"

Now that things had come to this, he had to make it up as he went along.

Every minute he could buy counted, and anything could wait until his gramps and Minister Wang rushed to the scene.

Staying alive was top priority.

"I am of the Lin clan, having trained diligently in the martial arts since I was a child whether it was winter or summer, and only then did I excel in the martial world and become the man I am now. If you ask me to give up on martial arts to learn immortal arts…daddy here won't cave in easy!"

As Three Blades Lin's laughter continued, his frightful demeanor was all gone and his very gaze changed. In fact, his very speech and laughter was resounding… even bearing a curious boldness!

Meanwhile, the Scarlet Fox King had recovered considerably as well. It opened its mouth to swallow the three-floored tower back into its stomach before pointing at Three Blades Lin and screaming, "Forefather, kill him! His gramps is a martial elite of the Hua Nation just like him and there's no way he's a disciple of the Penglai Sect… No one in the Hua Nation has received legacies of immortal arts or Daoist traditions!"

"Nonsense!"

Three Blades Lin barked, blade in hand as he shot the Scarlet Fox King a glare. "You piece of trash! Don't you believe that I'll cut down your doggone head if you dare to spout more rot?"

"Not killing you is me giving your forefather face. Do you really believe yourself a bigwig now?"

Scarlet Fox King was dumbfounded.

In that very moment, the Scarlet Fox King, whose entire body was red like flames, was left a little baffled.

That…tough?

Was he for real?

Was the Blade King's gramps really a disciple of the Penglai Sect, a name that left even its forefather wary?

As a matter of fact, Pei Donglai was as baffled as the Scarlet Fox King.

He gave Three Blades Lin a surprised look why subtly communicating, "Are you for real, brother?"

"Nonsense. Of course it is!"

Three Blades Lin was speechless, and shot back, "The old man really did inherit a legacy from the Penglai Sect…don't you know?"

"I know that. I'm talking about…you refusing grand-master's offer to teach you immortal arts…"

Three Blades Lin was speechless.

What the hell.

When did that old man even offer that?

I wanted to learn, but the old man was always about oath this, oath that… and very stubborn about it. That said, I'm different since swearing oaths is no different from drinking.

As for unhappy about cultivating immortal arts…that was clearly me putting on airs.

But if I don't make things up at a moment like this, how am I suppose to buy time until the old man and Minister Wang arrives?

Meanwhile, the ancient daemon cultivator released a sudden burst of killing intent when he saw Three Blades Lin scold the Scarlet Fox King, but soon withdrew it and laughed coldly, saying, "Young human, you are quite spirited… you are the first one who would dare to be so smug even in my presence."

Three Blades Lin smiled but said nothing.

Spirited?

I might look like my guts could reach the heavens, but I am actually scared witless inside!

And smug? Is this being smug?

You must have never met the smugger ones.

If Wang Hou were here, his imposing aura would be overflowing and would start coming to blows once he hears something he doesn't like.

As for Jiang He…

He would not even bother talking and would simply raise his blade to cut you down.

Still, as Three Blades Lin stopped talking, the ancient daemon cultivator stopped saying a word as well. Even so, the vague aura emanating from his body was locked on tightly upon Pei Donglai and Three Blades Lin, keeping them from making any false moves.

Nonetheless, a blade light cut through the horizon around half an hour later.

Lin Tianzheng was the first to arrive.

He landed in front of Three Blades Lin, but could not help twitching upon seeing the ancient daemon.

Nonetheless, he offered him a fist-palm salute. "The name's Lin Tianzheng, a titular disciple of the True Habitant of Nine Dragons hailing from the Penglai Sect. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

The ancient daemon frowned.

He could confirm Lin Tianzheng's identity.

Anyone who could mention the Daoist title 'True Habitant of Nine Dragons' would definitely not be a phony…that said, merely being a titular disciple did not amount to much, and the man before him had not even reached Golden Pellet in immortal arts despite having passable martial arts cultivation.

Even so, the Penglai Sect had sealed its mountains for over two thousand years, so there must be something special about him to have been taken in as a titular disciple.

Whoosh!

Wang Hou arrived then as well.

He descended from the skies, combat blade in hand while emanating a towering killing intent. Frowning at the ancient daemon, he muttered, "Spirit clone?"

"No… this should be the Yuan Spirit Clone that kid Jiang He mentioned, isn't it?"

Wang Hou's insight naturally identified that the aura of the 'old man' was above himself, but he was completely fearless. Putting fist to palm in salute, he flatly asked, "Are you an ancient daemon cultivator, sir?"

"Why interfere in this matter if you are?

In truth, the 'old man' was stunned upon seeing Wang Hou.

His unique Qi Sight could see Wang Hou's fiendish aura that seemed to reached the heavens…

Curiously, however, a virtuous aura seemed to coexist alongside it.

Most importantly, Wang Hou's luck aura was unbelievably powerful as well.

He had wanted to teach these men a lesson by subjugating them, but changed his mind right then.

The foxes…had no feud with the world after all.

It was the same two thousand years ago, and so it would be the same two thousand years later, as enlightenment returns with the Revival of Qi.

The 'old man' hence pointed at the Scarlet Fox King and said, "This old man has no intention of meddling with worldly matters. Even so, the Scarlet Wolf is a descendant of the foxes, and this old man's reluctant to allow it to die to a human blade. That is why I would act to save it—please be understanding over any transgression."

Lin Tianzheng's gaze twitched.

Inwardly, he was rather surprised.

He had read about the foxes in one of the texts in the heritage sites. Though they had no feud with the world, it did not mean that they were weak.

In fact, that 'old man' did not even look him straight in the eye even when he mentioned his identity as a titular disciple of the True Habitant of Nine Dragons from the Penglai Sect.

On the other hand, he seemed to regard Wang Hou with importance, and even appear to humble himself.

Be that as it may, Wang Hou took no notice of such manners. Furrowing his brow, he said at the 'old man' and said, "Sir…do you mean to protect the Scarlet Fox King?"

The 'old man' nodded and offered a fist-palm salute. "I hope you would honor us foxes, friend."

Ignoring the 'old man', Wang Hou turned to Lin Tianzheng and asked, "Old Lin, how powerful is this Yuan Spirit Clone?"

He was not using acoustics—Wang Hou had never bothered with using acoustics when facing a subject directly.

After some thought, Lin Tianzheng answered, "The clone itself already wields power equal to a full-fledged Yuan Spirit…the true form would be Yuan Spirit-tier, equal to Zero Void tier in martial arts."

"Of course, daemonic cultivations are diverse. They might be slightly superior against martial artists despite being on the same level."

"Fart off!"

Wang Hou barked, and started to laugh coldly. "Immortal arts are superior to martial arts? That might not be true. If I were Zero Void, I could definitely beat that Yuan Spirit or whatnot cultivator."

With that, he shot the 'old man' a look and said flatly, "Since your clone is more powerful than I am, you certainly would get your wish if you want to keep the Scarlet Fox King alive."

And then…

"Let's go!"

Whoosh!

Wang Hou took to the air.

Sighing, Lin Tianzheng followed.

Pei Donglai did so without a blink as well, whereas Three Blades Lin did a double take before yelling, "Minister Wang! The Scarlet Fox King has the blood of two hundred thousand lives on its paws and we're letting it go just like that?"

Wang Hou, who had flew several kilometers away laughed out loud before speaking with a thunderous voice that resounded over Mount Changbai. "Since we can't kill it for now, why would letting it go matter?"

"Would we really fail to kill it in the future as well?"

"Let's leave that bunch of monsters alive for a little longer!"

"As long as I don't die, every single one of their blood debts shall be repaid."

Three Blades Lin laughed at those words, feeling revitalized as every grief he felt being swept away. His entire body relaxed and he took to the air as well, chasing after Wang Hou.

Back at Mount Changbai, the Scarlet Fox King watched as Wang Hou and the others left, smirking as it did. "A bunch of trash trying to kill this king?"

Pow!

Even before if finished, the fox elder had slapped into the ground.

"Forefather…"

The Scarlet Fox King was stunned, whereas the Fox Elder growled, "Us foxes had no quarrel against the world, but you would slaughter two hundred thousand mortals? What monumental karmic vileness."

Sigh!

The 'old man' breathed a long sigh.

He stared at the direction from which Wang Hou left for a while before reaching out to grab the Scarlet Fox King and disappearing in a flash.

If he knew this would happen, he shouldn't had bothered with this piece of trash.

Still, since he had made a move, he naturally could not surrender the Scarlet Fox King for the dignity of the foxes…after all, the Scarlet Fox King possessed a special bloodline, being a descendant of the foxes' greatest.

Otherwise, it would not be this scarlet and grow wings on its back.

Damn it!

After flying over fifty kilometers away, Wang Hou, getting increasingly frustrated the more he thought, suddenly released a slash, chopping a peak off a mountain.

Such grief!

If he had stuck to his guns, he would have gone on a rampage at a single wrong word. Would he have bothered with enduring such grief like he did today?

Once he reached Void-tier, he was honored as the Hua Nation's First Man…even though it was mostly flattery, did it not have a ring to the ears?

Still, no one would have expected that some monstrosity would pop up in the blink of an eye.

Did the title Hua Nation's First Man even matter now?

That said, if he were not Void-tier, but Zero Void or even stronger, would he have given face to that fox elder?

He would kill the Scarlet Fox King on the spot, and destroy the Yuan Spirit Clone of the 'old man' as well if he dared to get in his way!

'My cultivation at the moment is lacking… I must go in seclusion to cultivate for a while!'

'No way, that's too slow. I need to seek a chance encounter…' Wang Hou thought to himself.

While such 'chance encounters' were as hard as shooting for the skies, especially for others who would not gain such providence over the course of their lives…

Wang Hou had the experience.

He was merely in his forties, but his cultivation did not fall short even against 200-year old antiques like Lin Tianzheng, Dong Haichuan, and Yang Luchan.

But what had he relied upon?

Ancestry? Schooling?

Wang Hou had none of those.

Before the Revival of Qi, he was an ordinary public servant whose hobby was martial arts.

His martial arts skills were not passed down in his familiar or from a master.

Instead, he simply picked it up at the mountains, when he was on a trip.

Then, a dozen years ago, when signs of the Revival of Qi were becoming obvious deep in the forests across the world, Wang Hou's 'chance encounters' became even more outrageous.

Any trip would end up with a discovery of curious treasures and floral spirits, developing upon the dawn of the Revival of Qi.

He would find heritage sites if he went up a mountain and secure the legacies within.

In fact, Wang Hou's claim that he alone inherited the legacies of seven heritage sites were not false.

If he was in a novel, he definitely possesses a protagonist's template, and on a cheater's level at that.

Meanwhile, at Jinyintan Village, inside the farm of Jiang He's house—having finished harvesting the third batch of Doom Shrooms, Jiang He arrived before the massive lotus flower.

At the center of it was the 'dangling' Boa Hancock…

Ripe for the plucking.

Chapter 270: My Insomnia Is Relapsing?

On the white pistil, Boa Hancock was folding her arms before her chest and sleeping soundly…

But why would Jiang He find that description a little weird?

His eyes were still fixed on Boa's body.

She was clothed, wearing something resembling a qipao—sleeveless and open-collar, and the skirt slit almost reached the hip.

Maybe because it felt breezier wearing that.

Either way, the first impression she had on Jiang He was… beautiful.

Everything from her facial features to her figure to her body ratio was perfect. If he had to put his finger on one flaw, it was her breasts being too huge… almost on Mu Wanqiu's level.

Of course, that would be nitpicking.

Another person's looks were her own business.

Sick of grains? Even carrots and green veggies have their own admirers.

One must not deny others just because they are big.

"Wonder how that feels to the touch, though…"

Jiang He plucked Boa Hancock off the pistil.

[Ding!]

[30,000 Farm Points.]

A System Notification jingled beside his ear.

Jiang He stared at Boa Hancock closely, watching as the beautiful brows over her closed eyes twitched.

Then, she slowly opened her eyes.

Her pupils were dark-blue, just like the depths of the deep blue sea.

Upon seeing Jiang He, Boa immediately bowed and greeted him reverently, "Master…"

With her open collar which was a little large in the first place, once she arched her back… well, describing it in detail was inconvenient.

Her data popped up in front of Jiang He's eyes as well.

[Boa Hancock]

[Ability: Mero-Mero Fruit]

[Skill 1, Mero-Mero Mellow: Boa Hancock forms a heart with her hands and fires a heart-shaped beam from them. Those attracted to Boa Hancock would turn to stone when struck by the beam.]

[Skill 2, Perfume Femur: A kick that instantly turns a part of the target's body into stone and shatters it. Note: applies to inorganic objects.]

[Skill 3, Slave Arrow: Hancock breathes in deeply and kisses out a giant heart. She then pulls the heart back like a bow, firing hundreds of pink arrows that would petrify the target, regardless of whether they are attracted to the Empress. Note: applies to inorganic objects.]

Outrageous!

Jiang He could not help exclaiming in awe.

He had watched One Piece before, and the many Devil Fruits depicted were unbelievably powerful…

"But shouldn't there be limits to such abilities?"

Jiang He thought and smiled. "Boa Hancock, use your skills on me."

"Master, that's…"

There was a flash of hesitance on Boa Hancock's face.

Jiang He's crops were fully loyal to him, but that did not mean it was blind loyalty.

For example, if Boa felt that her powers would harm Jiang He, she naturally would hesitate.

Jiang He smiled. "It's fine, do it."

Boa nodded tamely and coquettishly spoke, "Master, I shall attack now. Please be careful."

In the original work, Boa Hancock's personality was tsundere, whimsical, and held great disdain for those she felt to be beneath her, often kicking out at little creatures like kittens or what not.

Ooom!

A unique pulse of energy arose over her body.

She held her hands before her chest and made a heart gesture, and that energy instantly formed a pink love beam that shot towards Jiang He.

Jiang He did not move an inch, allowing the love beam to land squarely on himself. Flexing his body a little, he said, "Not bad, not bad. Your Mero-Mero Mellow does not petrify me, but in the instant that it hits me, my body stiffened for half a second, and my agility dropped considerably."

What was half a second to the average person? Just a blink of an eye.

However, for a fatal battle for elites on Jiang He's level, it was enough to decide between life or death.

Then, Boa Hancock unleashed Perfume Femur and Slave Arrow on Jiang He too.

For the former, her alabaster feet rubbed all over Jiang He's body to the point that his thoughts were going wild.

As for Slave Arrow…

It was not much different from a flying kiss for him.

Frowning, Jiang He asked, "Could you three skills be released using another style?"

"I can't, Master…"

"Try training yourself."

Jiang He said. "Wear your shoes when using Perfume Femur… as for the other two skills, try some other variants. How could I bear having my woman throw hearts and flying kisses out at others?"

Jiang He got the general idea after personally testing Boa Hancock's skills and abilities.

She was not physically powerful, but when applied well, her Mero-Mero Fruit skills could take down even martial artists on Three Blades Lin's level.

"As for physique…"

"That's simple. Eat a little more cucumber, eggplant, and black wood ears to strengthen yourself a little…"

Jiang He then led Boa to the mansion and introduced her to Sora.

Yes, with two maids now, things were much more convenient with them cooking and cleaning around the house.

A thought occurred to Jiang He then, and he took out the other two Mysterious Seeds and planted one.

He was a little hopeful.

What would grow this time around?

After having supper, Jiang He continued harvesting Doom Shrooms.

As for the Mysterious Soil… it would take eight hours for it to sprout, bear fruit and ripen, so there were no rushing things.

That was why Jiang He prepared to get back inside the house to sleep.

Everything could wait until he wakes up.

Meanwhile.

Martial Arts Department (MAD) Headquarters, Jingdu City.

Wang Hou, Lin Tianzheng, Pei Donglai, and Three Blades Lin had returned to the city. Along the way, Wang Hou had issued orders for every elite hunting Feral Kings to withdraw from their missions.

"Right now, the Hua Nation only has eight Feral Kings left after the Scarlet Fox King was whisked away by the Fox Elder. Even if there were Feral King hiding deep within the mountains, there would not be too many them."

"They must be scared witless now, and wouldn't dare to cause trouble in the next two years."

Wang Hou looked around at the others, mused to himself for a long while before summoning Zhou Yu and asked, "What's everyone's opinion after today's proceedings?"

The office was silent for a while after he spoke.

Three Blades Lin was the first to speak. "Minister Wang, gramps… does the Hua Nation have ancient martial artists or cultivators in seclusion?"

"With the ancient daemon cultivators making their appearances one after another but the human cultivators nowhere to be seen, that Scarlet Fox King's tiny tower would block even my strongest strike, even though it was severely injured and when it was my equal in power in the first place… If this continues, there's no winning for us—how could we compete against the Ferals when the ancient daemon cultivators groomed more daemon eminences?"

"Wenshu!"

Lin Tianzheng scolded. "Do not speak lightly. There are elites in the Hua Nation, slumbering and cultivating in secret unknown to the world. They are unable awaken as long as the timing isn't right."

Three Blades Lin smiled but said nothing.

Lin Tianzheng was his ancestor by blood.

But if anyone else would dare to pull such nonsense in his face, he would not spare them even if he could not win—anything could wait after hitting them for half-an-hour!

Timing isn't right?

Unable to awaken?

Then sleep forever. Why bother waking up?

Beside them, Wang Hou simply smiled. "We can't pin our hopes on the ancients… So what if they awaken?

"Would they protect our country?

"Would they fight for the Hua Nation?

"That's not very likely, is it?"

Wang Hou stood up and sighed. "They've lived for thousands of years, and what they pursue would only be their respective paths… the era they lived and served had been destroyed in the course of history, and putting our hopes on them… is impractical."

"I could only hope that those codgers that are too old to die wouldn't give me more problems. I would thank the heavens for that!"

Suddenly, Wang Hou's tone changed as he growled, "We could only depend on ourselves for everything now. And I've decided I would take a leave of absence to wander, meditate and take my time to cultivate…"

"Minister Wang…"

Zhou Yu quickly asked before even Wang Hou finished, "What about the MAD?"

Wang Hou chuckled. "Aren't you here, Old Zhou? I'm never worried as long as you're at the helm. Moreover, I'm just wandering and not disappearing—just give me a call when something comes up."

Zhou Yu could not decide if he should laugh or cry.

'Call you?

'Are you sure a call would reach you when the time comes?'

Still, that was not the time for that.

"Minister Wang," Zhou Yu said with a solemn look. "I have an important piece of news…"

"We've received word from intelligence officers across the land that every Sky Demon Cultists suspect they had been monitoring are leaving their respective city bases… several wiretaps intercepted exchanges that they are gathering at the headquarters of the Sky Demon Cult."

"There really is no end to that cheap drama!"

Wang Hou was a little lost for words.

Still, his gaze soon turned solemn.

The Sky Demon Cult gathering every cultist definitely would not be for fun and games…

"Activate every asset. We must find out the goal of the Sky Demon Cult!" Wang Hou ordered.

While Yan Dehao was the only undercover agent they had in the upper hierarchy of the Sky Demon Cult, there were quite a lot of other double agents seeded in the bottom levels of the cult.

They usually would have no authority to enter Sky Demon Cult Headquarters or come in contact with their hierarchy, which was why they usually were not assigned any missions.

But now, they must all be put to work!

Meanwhile.

Jinyintan Village.

Jiang He was tossing and turning in his soft, large bed… feeling not one ounce of drowsiness.

'How irritating!

'Could my insomnia be relapsing?'

Report chapter

Chapter 271: The Sky Demon Cult's Mountain Guarding Array

Once again, Jiang He could not sleep.

He lay in his bed, tossing and turning but never dozing off.

For some reason, once he closed his eyes, Wang Siyu, Sora, and Boa Hancock's silhouttes would appear in his mind.

Hell, forget them showing up—they would actually do embarrassing stuff to him! It was too much!

And that was not all.

Aside from that trio, even Mu Wanqiu would join the fray. Therefore, while Jiang He first assumed that he was simply brimming with energy, he changed his mind…

How could he be brimming with energy?

He had had a tough time farming the entire day, and he should be tired and worn out. Moreover, if he were brimming with energy, why would Mu Wanqiu suddenly appear in his mind?

It was not like he lusted after her body.

Sitting up on his bed, he glanced at the time…

It was not even two in the morning.

"How am I suppose to weather through a long night like this?" Jiang He breathed a long, helpless sigh, and stood up to wear his clothes.

With no signs of falling asleep over the night that stretches on, he had to get something to do, releasing the Twenty-Three Swords in passing to help him get drowsy.

After getting dressed, Jiang He step out into the farm, nonchalantly retrieving the Cloudscraper Vine.

Jiang He shivered for some reason as he watched the Cloudscraper Vine's eighteen tendrils turned into a green light and creep inside his own body.

Still, he froze as he stepped out of the farm.

"I'd only thought of getting dressed and ready to go, but I forgot that I didn't decide on where I'm going…"

Right then, Jiang He felt as if he had nowhere to go despite the vastness of the world.

Should he head to Shenongjia and ask the ancient daemon cultivator about plant life cultivation?

"That's…not good, is it?"

"After all, cultivation techniques tend to be secrets not easily passed to others. And I've only met the ancient daemon cultivator once, and the process hasn't been pleasant…boldly going them isn't quite right."

Jiang He felt that demanding—no, loaning a plant life cultivation manual from the ancient daemon cultivator would need an appropriate excuse.

And since he was not going to the ancient daemon cultivator, he would have to look for the Sky Demon Cult.

"Yes."

"That bunch has been sending their people after me every other day over the last two months. Even if I don't take that into account, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint had actually made a pact with the Dragoncroc Emperor to try to kill me. If I did not feel inspired enough to take the initiative and kill the Dragoncroc Emperor, I would be living in fear everyday and fearing being ambushed."

Moreover, Jiang He and the Sky Demon Cult's Saint were friends in spirit who have never met.

He had always wanted to see for himself what the Sky Demon Cult's Saint was like that he could dupe such a big bunch of imbeciles to serve him.

Yan Dehao had mentioned that in the handful of occasions he had entered and left the Sky Demon Cult's base, it would always be in the region of Mount Thunder in Miaojiang.

Jiang He turned on his phone and checked online.

It turns out that Mount Thunder was a scenic spot in the outback of Miaojiang called Mount Thunder National Forest Park.

There were even those who claimed that Mount Thunder, the tallest mountain in Miaojian, was a Holy Ground a realm of clouds. Dense mist wafted along its unending mountain forests like a realm of immortals existing in the mortal world.

Yan Dehao had mentioned Mount Moon as well, so Jiang He searched about it as well.

As a matter of fact, Mount Moon was in the outback of Miaojiang and not too far from Mount Thunder…

"Yan Dehao said that whenever he teleported, he would not be more than 50 km away. It seems that the Sky Demon Cult's base must be between Mount Thunder and Mount Moon…"

"Still, is that old chap screwing with me?"

"I remember him saying that there is also a flatland aside from the Sky Demon Cult's base… are there any flatlands in the outback of Miaojiang?"

As Jiang He had never been to Miaojiang, he was not sure.

However, he suspected that what Yan Dehao had seen was a mirage.

After confirming the location Mount Thunder, Jiang He placed his phone inside his System Backpack and unsheathed his Scarlet Flame Sword.

There were now twenty-four boxes in his System Backpack, which allowed him to store more things inside. This was unlike before when he could not actually fit in some of his spoils, let alone his phone, which Jiang He had to worry about breaking every time he fought.

Still, there was one drawback from putting his phone in the System Backpack—having no signal.

That being said, it was now in the middle of the night and there were no calls to be expected, so going without signal is fine.

Clasping his hands behind his back, he stood on his sword and felt the whistle of the winds beside his ears, although his thoughts were a mess.

"Right now, what is sure is that there must be a mountain guarding array outside the Sky Demon Cult's base."

"I've only learned the Ice and Fire Duality Sword Array and know nothing about the mountain guarding array, and I would have to rely on brute strength to break it if I can't get in. I just hope that I am able to break it."

Jiang he was rather apprehensive.

After rushing several thousand kilometers so boldly in the middle of the night, it would be embarrassing if he failed to break the mountain guarding array.

"If I really can't infiltrate the Sky Demon Cult's base or break the mountain guarding array, I would have to use my ultimate move!"

Meanwhile, at the great canyon where the Sky Demon Cult's base stood, the remaining two Sky Demon Cult Cardinals, four Holy Children, three Elders, over a dozen Decans, fortyish Fiends, and the average cultists who near a thousand in number were kneeling in a vast square.

They had been kneeling over a dozen minutes, but not only was there not one ounce of impatience in their faces but they were actually filled with zeal!

Soon…

They shall meet the Saint!

For the many Sky Demon Cultists, they were not afraid of getting their bodies mangled and their bones broken to be in the Saint's good graces.

Still, it was not their idiocy, but them being extensively brainwashed…and not through evangelism, but by a secret spirit technique that sowed a seed of 'faith' in the realm within their heart.

Of course, from Jiang He's perspective, they were all idiots.

What year is it?

And you are still joining cults?

Even so, the truth was that most Sky Demon Cultists had no other options. Most of them were wanted criminals and fugitives who committed grievous crimes.

Another few minutes passed.

Suddenly…

Roar!

A deafening bellow echoed from the depths of the canyon, and in the next split second, the colossal Water Serpent took to the clouds.

Its monstrous form slithered amidst the mists and arrived at the center of the square in a flash.

Then, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint stepped off lightly from the Water Serpent's flat head and drifted down from above.

"Your Holiness, you grace us with your presence!"

"Long may Your Holiness live!"

Thunderous voices resounded from the lips of the many kneeling cultists.

Soon, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint touched down.

She studied the crowd, extended her hand and gently pressed the air, and the raucous cultists all quieted immediately.

"Is everyone here?"

The Seventh Elder came forward then and answered reverently, "Your Holiness, there are still three Grands, fourteen Heavenly Generals and three hundred believers who have yet to return. They are in action abroad, unable to return at the moment."

After all, it would be a dream for a handful of rank-eights and rank-sevens to cross the oceans, given how much more dangerous the seas were compared to land in this day and age.

With Feral Avian occupying the skies, catching a flight to cross the seas was…impossible.

Nonetheless, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint did not fuss about it.

She spoke flatly, "On this day, every believer has been recalled for the great plan of the Holy Ones. They have spoken to me, and in twelve days, the Holy Lord shall personally move to open the Stargate, allowing the Holy Envoys and the Holy Legion to descend upon Earth…"

Her voice was hoarse and androgynous, but despite its evenness, it rang clearly beside the ears of every Sky Demon Cultists.

All of them were roaring in fervor, their zeal flaring even harder.

"In twelve days, every believer shall charge with me into Lingzhou City, offering the hundred thousand souls residing in that place as blood sacrifice to welcome the Envoy's Legion…"

"All who serve shall be rewarded, for the Holy Lord would generously award you with the sacred forms of the Holy Ones and bless you with longevity."

"Is life even worth celebrating? What is there to fear of death? People, it is time to present your bodies for the Holy Faith!"

One of the Holy Children roared.

"For the Holy Faith!"

"For the Holy Faith…"

Endless bellows echoed like a tidal wave, while a disdainful smile appeared beneath the golden mask of the Sky Demon Cult's Saint.

What a bunch of morons.

Holy Faith?

Holy Ones?

There has only ever been sky demons and their singular Demon Lord. What even are the Holy Faith, the Holy Ones or the Holy Lord?

Of course, demonic or holiness had no difference for these zealous believers.

She waved her hand impatiently.

The three Elders and the four Holy Children hence rose, driving forth their qi like thunder as they cried resoundingly, "Silence! The Saint has decreed that all shall be baptized in the Holy Lake. From now on, all shall enter the lake in groups of a hundred, and we shall flatten Lingzhou City after the baptism!"

The many cultists roared once again.

The three Elders and the four Holy Children had to speak up again for them to slowly clam down, and soon, a hundred cultists were selected to go forth towards the Holy Lake.

"Your Holiness!"

The two cardinals came before the Sky Demon Cult's Saint then.

She smiled. "You two shall escort the divine beast to the vault and bring out every treasure within and improve everyone's combat ability as much as possible."

"By the way, there may be spies mixed in among the believers, and I shall single them out later and offer them to the Sky…Eh?"

Suddenly, the Saint's face twitched and she quickly looked up into the distance.

Boom!

A dull rumble echoed as if the entire canyon was struck by an earthquake, shaking likely once.

In the next instant…

Ooom!

Around the great canyon, a streak of radiance arose like a wave.

The Sky Demon Cult's mountain guarding array was attacked and activated on its own!

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Chapter 272: The Array Can't Be Broken?

At Mount Thunder in the outback of Miaojiang—just as stated on the Internet, Mount Thunder was indeed the tallest mountain in Miaojiang. It was constantly shrouded in mist and anyone looking down from the peak would feel as if they had stood upon a sagely realm that existed in the mortal world.

It was now three in the morning and pitch-black.

Dark clouds obscured all in the skies above, and neither stars nor moon were anywhere to be seen.

The night was very dark.

It was no different from daytime for Jiang He, however. After having eaten substantial liver and eye-nourishing carrots, his night vision was stronger than Ferals'.

As he advanced with Royal Sword Flight above the mountains, Jiang He searched most of Miaojiang several times but did not find anything out of place.

'What's going on?'

Jiang He's spirit extended as he scanned every inch of ground beneath him, leaving he frowning. 'Is the level of the mountain guarding array that the Sky Demon Cult put up so high that my spirit has a hard time discovering it?'

After musing to himself for a while, Jiang He landed among the mountains.

As a matter of fact, he could use his spirit to scan and screen every inch of ground. An array would definitely be different from the natural environment. But Miaojiang was too vast, and if he did search with that method…

He might find nothing even after several hours passed.

And would he have such patience anyway?

Standing over a mountain stream, a thought occurred to Jiang He. His Scarlet Flame Sword, which had been hovering up in the air, rapidly expanded up to a hundred meters.

Controlling the sword, he launched it forward and split a mountain in two.

Since he was too lazy to screen through every inch of ground, he had to change to another idea…

'If an array is really present between the mountains, I shall destroy everything indiscriminately—it would definitely trigger the array then.'

'It might be a silly solution, but it is practical,' Jiang He thought.

He had actually split a second mountain then.

Jiang He would definitely not have done that before the Revival of Qi, since this was the outback of Miaojiang. There had been many dated villages here before belonging to the Miao tribe where many civilians lived.

Even so, the civilians had long since been evacuated, leaving many deathly silent uninhabited villages.

Meanwhile, Jiang He was cutting mountains harder the more he ever did.

It was such a pleasant feeling!

Every Feral nearby were shrieking endlessly and fleeing across every directions, and some that ran too slowly were buried directly beneath the mountain boulders Jiang He sliced through.

Then, as Jiang He unleashed a six slash…

Clang!

A dull clang between clashing metals echoed, and the Scarlet Flame Sword was sent flying.

In the night, the glimmer of a watery ripple gently arose.

"Got you!"

Jiang He's eyes lit up and he could not help sighing. 'My luck is over the top… just six little hills and I've found it, and I was actually prepared to chop up every mountain in Miaojiang.'

As he stretched out his hand and beckoned, the Scarlet Flame Sword returned to his grasp. He held it as he looked out form the distance to find the watery glimmer from five kilometers away, accentuating a gigantic barrier.

It was shaped like a giant bowl flipped upside down, shielding a circular area of fifty kilometers.

The area which the giant barriers covered had originally been forests, but now, the area within the barrier was a vast canyon.

Clearly, the forests before was just an illusion that even Jiang He himself could not see through.

Jiang He focused his gaze and found a small town full of buildings beneath the ripple barrier, and further into the canyon were an even more majestic temple and a pavilion.

There was a massive square in front of the temple, with the grotesque sculpture of a monster standing upon it and many Sky Demon Cultists standing around it.

And up in the air above the canyon, the Water Serpent with black-and-white bands was floating in the air, its horrific aura able to be felt even from beyond the gigantic array.

'A Feral Emperor…the Sky Demon Cult was actually hiding one?'

Jiang He remembered something vaguely then…someone had previously mentioned to him that the Sky Demon Cult's Saint was a beast-tamer and had a Feral King as a pet. Still, that information was disproved now—that snake was not a Feral King, but a Feral Emperor instead.

Moreover, Jiang He detected a familiar aura from the monstrous form of the Water Serpent.

It was the presence unique to beings that learned daemonic cultivation.

'I'm afraid that the snake wouldn't be much weaker than the Dragoncroc Emperor. With its daemonic cultivation, it could assume human form too.'

Jiang He sighed rather dejectedly.

Assuming human form…

He was getting traumatized from eating Feral meat, so it was a shame that such scrumptiousness would go to waste. Now, he could only hope to obtain something like a daemonic item from that beast, which made up for not eating it.

Roar!

That gigantic snake bellowed.

A single figure rose to the air from the square below then and stood above the even head of the snake.

Aside from her, two more Sky Demon Cultists took to the air.

Meanwhile, the other cultists were in an uproar in the square below, with everyone from the Holy Children to the Elders and Decans panicking.

Enemy attack?

Still, they could not help breathing a sigh of relief when they saw that Jiang He was alone.

Was he all by himself? Did he come to die?

'Those two cultists' auras are equal to Three Blades Lin's, so they must be the other two Cardinals. As for the one standing on the snake's head…'

Needless to say, it must be the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult. She was dressed quite flamboyantly and even had a golden mask on her face, though there is no telling if she is ugly or just shy.

Jiang He narrowed his eyes and flew ahead, stopping just one and a half kilometers away from the array and laughing out loud, "Dear friends of the Sky Demon Cult, I'm here. Are you not opening the array to let me in for tea?"

"Who are you?" one of the cardinals roared angrily.

He flew towards Jiang He but did not dare to leave the mountain guarding array, and merely glared at Jiang He coldly from across the ripple barrier.

Soon, he could not help narrowing his eyes and exclaiming in surprise, "You're…Jiang He?"

Every Sky Demon Cultist was left astonished at those words.

They were all too familiar with that name…and yet, most of them were not aware of his true power.

After all…

Most that did know were dead.

The average member of their fraternity or even the Elders and the Holy Children knew not of Jiang He's real abilities. However, the Saint and the two Cardinals knew!

They had been in touch with the Dragoncroc Emperor and were even ready to work together to kill Jiang He. Naturally, they knew that Jiang He had slain the Black King Drake, the Red Toad King, the Violet-Crowned Golden Eagle, the Golden-Crowned Black Eagle, the Graywolf King, and the Golden-Winged Roc.

After a brief shock, the cardinal turned furious. Killing intent welled off his body as he cried, "You're a bold one, Jiang He. Running here to the Sky Sage Faith's very doorsteps?"

Jiang He was a little lost for words, and said, "I say, bro, can't you come out to talk?"

Quit yapping from behind that mountain guarding array.

If you are that good, why don't you say it in my face?

I promise that I'll instakill you so you can die without any pain.

The other Cardinal flew towards them as well, yelling in rage, "You really want to die, Jiang He!"

Damn it!

Jiang He did not bother himself with them.

That was when the Saint arrived atop the Water Serpent's head and barked, "Stay back!"

The two Cardinals who were ready with more barbs had to back off then.

Beneath the golden mask of the Sky Demon Cult's Saint, her eyes flickered as she studied Jiang He from head to toe. She was about to step up personally and get rid of Jiang He…

But her eyes suddenly found the Scarlet Flame Sword on Jiang He's hand.

"That flying sword is fire-type mystic treasure…"

"So you're the one who killed the Dragoncroc Emperor, Jiang He!"

Her heart skipped a beat then as she immediately realized a great many things, her face hidden beneath the bolden mask filled with shock.

'That's impossible…even if Jiang He did defeat the Dragoncroc Emperor, how did he managed to destroy the ancient daemon cultivator's Yuan Spirit Clone? The one who was backing the Dragoncroc Emperor?'

'Could he possibly possess Yuan Spirit fighting power already?'

Though it was long thought process, it happened in a mere instant.

It had been less than a second since the Saint had sent away both Cardinals when she realized the truth.

She regained calm in the second and repressed her impulse to kill Jiang He as she flatly said, "Jiang He, I had obtained this array from a Secret Realm by chance and it possesses both the capacity of illusion and defense. No one can break it unless they are a full-fledged Yuan Spirit elite with a premium siege soul weapon."

Pausing for a moment before suddenly laughing out loud, her very laugher was overflowing with grievance and killing intent as she growled, "You're never a threat to me because you would never break this array. I can even inform you that in half a month, our legions would descend, and the first thing they would do is bathe your Lingzhou City in blood…"

Jiang He did not listen to the rest of what the Saint had to say.

In that very moment, Jiang He was absolutely stunned as if thunderstruck…

The sky demons from beyond were coming in half a month?

They were an extraterrestrial race from the stars…while he was merely a full-fledged Golden Pellet.

How was he supposed to stop them?

He fiercely clenched his teeth and seethed, "I won't believe I'm that unlucky…so what if I'm not a full-fledged Yuan Spirit?"

"I would never break it?"

"Watch as I break it in your face!"

With a flip of his hand, a pitch-black mushroom that resembled a dog pee cap appeared in his hand.

The Saint did a double take when she saw it, before bursting out in laughter.

"Jiang He," she mocked, "are you trying to kill me with laughter and take over the Sky Demon Cult?"

Jiang He did not answer.

He was thinking.

Which was more powerful—a full-power blow from a full-fledged Yuan Spirit-tier, or a Doom Shroom with an explosive yield of 500,000 tons?

Would it blow up the giant mountain-shielding array of the Sky Demon Cult?

Jiang He was actually apprehensive since there was nothing to compare to—he was not a full-fledged Yuan Spirit individual, just as he did not know how powerful the soul weapons such people wielded could unleash.

"Forget it. I'll use a few more 500,000-yield Doom Shrooms just in case."

Jiang He took out ten shrooms with a turn of his hand!

"If ten is not enough, I'll use twenty…I won't believe I can't blow up your shell!"

Report chapter

Chapter 273: The Skies Were Lit

It was three in the moring at the Martial Art Department (MAD) Headquarters in Jingdu City.

However, every light was lit at the MAD, with every personnel busying away.

The quintet of Wang Hou, Lin Tianzheng, Three Blades Lin, Pei Donglai and Zhou Yu were hurrying towards the intelligence wing.

The intelligence wing was located in a separated six-floor building above ground, with three more floors below.

Moreover, given the tremendous value Wang Hou placed upon intelligence work, he afforded them a huge budget that reaches dozens or even over hundreds of billion dollars…and that was only for the headquarters.

After all, most MAD branches in various city bases had their own intelligence wings, with some of the smaller cities having their intelligence cells too.

At present, every intelligence officer would rise and salute Wang Hou and the others when they entered.

Wang Hou waved them off, saying, "Don't mind us, people, and keep working. Try to contact our undercover assets embedded among the Sky Demon Cult hierarchy and find out what they are planning as soon as possible!"

There was a somber look on Wang Hou's face.

The Sky Demon Cult's sudden summoning of every cultist was exceedingly abnormal. They must be up to something big and Wang Hou even suspected that the Sky Demons of the beyond were on the move too…

Suddenly, one of the intelligence officers stood up and exclaimed in delight, "Minister Wang! I've received a Morse code-encrypted signal—it's the latest encryption code that our department has come up with and it has to be one of our undercover comrades."

Wang Hou's eyes twitched and barked, "Decipher it immediately and try to tract the origin of the signal!"

The personnel used only one minute to decipher the Morse code and wrote it on a sheet of paper, but could not help turning pale in shock after he wrote everything and checked it.

Wang Hou's gaze darkened when he walked up to take the sheet of paper too.

Likewise, Lin Tianzheng and the others saw what was written.

Three Blades Lin, who always had a fiery temper, was the first to start cursing through clenched teeth. "Damn it, the Sky Demon Cult have really lost their minds this time! Give the order, Minister Wang! Let's go all out against them this time!"

There were several simple lines on the paper:

[The Sky Demons' legion descends upon Lingzhou City in twelve days.]

[Every cultist has received the Saint's summons to slaughter their way into the city and has offered hundreds of thousands of civilians as a blood sacrifice!]

Wang Hou was almost sweating despite his dark look.

He seemed to stayed silent for a long while, and it was only after two minutes that he breathed a long sigh and growled, "Old Zhou, contact General Li at the military and inform Master Dong, Elder Luchan, the five Holy Grounds, as well as every martial clan and martial school across the nation…"

Zhou Yu carried out his orders immediately without a word.

Then, Wang Hou turned towards Lin Tianzheng, offered a fist-palm salute, and bowed before saying, "Elder Lin, could you ask for assistance from the elites of the Penglai Immortal Sect?"

"Well…"

Lin Tianzheng hesitated for a moment before flashing a reluctant smile. "I'll leave for the foreign heritage site right now, Minister Wang…that said, there's not much hope to be had."

"The fact is that I had not encountered anyone else back when I accepted my legacy from the heritage site left by the Penglai Immortal Sect and I might not be able to meet them on this trip either."

"I'm counting on you!"

Wang Hou bowed once more as he pleaded earnestly. "Elder Lin, with your received legacy, you would know if there are other places where immortals from the Era of Qi Refinist have confined themselves…the strength of the Hua Nation would not stop the Sky Demons if they truly descend upon us."

"Minister Wang…"

Lin Tianzheng sighed. "Those secluded immortals hold no sentiment to the Hua Nation…Since they have yet to present themselves to the world, it would only mean that the timing isn't right and not many would come out of their seclusion."

Hoho.

Wang Hou chuckled coolly but said nothing more.

Who would bother about that at this point?

It did not matter whether those people would step up or not…everyone would be happy if the Sky Demons could be stopped, but if not, it would merely be mutual destruction at worst.

Nuclear weapons were something that this nation absolutely did not lack.

"Minister Wang…"

Someone exclaimed in shock then, "More information had come in, and it's Morse code as well… I've decrypted it, and—woah!"

The personnel began spouting gibberish as if doubting the information, he just received, and muttered blankly, "It's saying that someone is already striking the Sky Demon Cult's base…"

"More information! It's Jiang He! Jiang He is attacking the Sky Demon Cult's base! "

"What?"

Wang Hou's face dropped, but he promptly barked, "Quick, call Jiang He… no, wait! He wouldn't have time to answer calls now. Track his location and send backup immediately! His number is…"

Even so…

That did not work.

The intelligence personnel feebly said, "Minister Wang, the last known location of his phone's signal is Lingzhou City…"

Wang Hou realized with a start then.

Did that brat dump his phone in Void Storage again?

Beside them, Three Blades Lin's eyes twinkled as an idea occurred to him. "Minister Wang," he said, "you should issue orders right away to every MAD branch, and have them keep an eye out for massive explosions."

Wang Hou appeared puzzled.

On the other hand, Three Blades Lin was smiling confidently, saying, "Just trust me this one time, Minister Wang."

Jiang He had no idea what was happening at the MAD headquarters.

Not that he could care about that right now.

The Sky Demons…were coming.

It was too astonishing a piece news for him, and that damned extraterrestrial race even had to descend upon Lingzhou City…

Earth would not know peace if they arrive.

When that happens, could he still farm in peace and quiet like he did now?

Would he still have a good night's sleep?

"The Sky Demon Cult alone have tormented me so severely and have even tried to off me every other day… and now, just as I almost get to destroy them all, the Sky Demon Cult would arrive soon. What's worse, they might bother me every other day too!"

Even imagining such a life would leave one chilled to the bone!

That was why Jiang He had decided to destroy the Sky Demon Cult before all else.

As for the Sky Demons…he would have to proceed accordingly.

Meanwhile, behind the ripple barrier, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint was laughing away… and suddenly stopped.

An inexplicable fear suddenly arose within her.

In the next instant, Jiang He took the air outside the array.

And in that split second, he had already charged the Nine Heavenly Stars Body Formula, with starlight flickering around him.

Then, with a wave of his hand…

He threw out ten mushrooms.

"Cloudscraper Vine!" he then barked.

In no time at all, the Cloudscraper Vine wrapped itself as a green armor around Jiang He's body.

At the same time, Jiang He rose further above the skies even after he threw out the ten Doom Shrooms, streaking wildly up towards the night sky.

Still behind the array, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint looked up to glance at the skies.

She could clearly see the ten uniquely-shaped mushrooms descending from the night, and in that split second, her heart pounded with infinite force as the mysterious sense of danger grew within her.

Her pupils reflected the sight of the ten Doom Shrooms, which seemed to be falling extremely slowly…

In the next instant, the first Doom Shroom had already landed on the ripple array that guards the Sky Demon Cult's mountain base.

It was as if time had stagnated.

Boom!

Then, one of the Doom Shrooms blew up!

And then the second, the third and the fourth…

In just one second, all ten Doom Shrooms detonated. The world seemed to pause at that, as if everything froze within that single instant.

And then…

Boom!

The skies were lit.

Chapter 274: There Is Poison On The Sword!

Boom!

A world-shattering rumble resounded.

Jiang He, having flown several thousand meters up in the air, looked down to find a shocking scene!

The ten Doom Shrooms had detonated at almost the same instant, unleashing white hot radiance that illuminated the night sky. All at once, the pitch-black night had become brighter than day, whereas a blazing inferno ignited upon the world in the company of rolling thunder.

Then, the white-hot radiance, blazing inferno, and red smoke rapidly churned in the night sky, growing in size with every passing moment, especially for the towering ball of inferno, which was expanding in size like a chicken egg.

Up above the inferno was a straw-hat shaped cloud combined with the pillar of dust kicking up from the ground forming a colossal ring-shaped mushroom cloud.

And in that very instant, Jiang He thought it was as if a blazing sun was arising from the horizon.

By the next second, the apocalyptic energy of the 'sun' violently burst apart. Its incomparable shockwave crashed across every direction and the nearby mountain forests were instantly reduced to nothing in its wake. Even the hardest of stone were reduced to clear liquid as the heat that reached hundreds of millions degrees Celsius washed upon it.

Pop…

And with that detonation, the Sky Demon Cult's mountain guarding array shattered without lasting two seconds.

"What the hell…"

Up in the air, Jiang He was crying out in surprise.

All he felt was a rolling heat wave rushing from beneath him and in the next second, his body was sent flying higher above the night sky by the unstoppable shockwave.

Though it appeared to be a long process, it all occurred in a matter of seconds.

It took minutes for the shockwave to fade.

Up in the night sky, Jiang He steadied himself before slowly descending and could not help dabbing the sweat on his forehead.

And when he could clearly see the sight below…

Gasp!

He could not help inhaling sharply.

The explosive power which the ten Doom Shrooms unleashed in a split second was simply frightening. The protective array that only a full-fledged Yuan Spirit elite armed with a premium soul weapon could break was no different than a toy in the face of the ten Doom Shrooms.

Everything within three kilometers away from the epicenter was reduced to ashes and even Mount Thunder, which was said to be the tallest in sea level, was gone!

Under the scorching heat, the mountain's boulders were reduced to transparent fluid, leaving a layer of glassy material upon the ground.

Jiang He estimated that even the mountain forests further away would be devastated.

There might not even be a handful of Ferals that survived over ten kilometers, as even a dozen kilometers away, aged trees and mountain boulders were left a mess from the violent shockwave.

"The Doom Shrooms are so scary!"

Jiang He was beside himself with lingering fear.

Luckily, he was not being careless and had taken to the air beforehand, even casting every defensive measure.

If he had remained on the ground, he would have been carbonized or liquified.

What a shame…

The Doom Shrooms did not have the immunity rule of 'clutch your head and drop to the ground' attached to them after being planted. Otherwise, he could drop down after throwing the Doom Shroom and personally experience the actual power and more explosive details of the Doom Shroom.

Even as that thought crossed his mind, Jiang He looked up to glance at the Sky Demon Cult's great canyon.

The landscape itself was a mess too, and every building in the antiquated small town had crumbled.

Still, the canyon itself ran too deep.

As the square and temple deep in the canyon was thirty kilometers away from the epicenter, they were not affected much.

Moreover, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint, the Feral Emperor water serpent, and the two cardinals had used some unknown measures to quickly retreat back to the square in the instant the Doom Shroom had blown up, avoiding the fate of dying from the explosion.

Jiang He sighed.

What a shame.

How much trouble would be spared if they would just die from the explosion?

If he were to pin the blame on anything, he would have to blame elites of their level for their exceedingly powerful sense. They must have picked up on the danger one second before the Doom Shroom detonated and rapidly withdrew. With the mountain guarding array buying them over a second, they naturally managed to escape the heart of the explosion.

Be that as it may, how could Jiang He give up so easily?

Laughing out loud and carrying his sword as he moved, two more Doom Shrooms appeared in his grasp as he turned his hand. Arriving at the square, he said smugly, "Weren't you saying that the array would not be broken unless struck by a full-fledged Yuan Spirit elite? What do you have to say now that your array has been blown?"

"Jiang He!"

One of the Sky Demon Cult's cardinals stood on the edge of the square and looked up into the sky, shaking even as he looked at the two Doom Shrooms in Jiang He's hand. "There are thirteen undercover agents from the military and the Martial Arts Department among us. Do you intend to blow them up as well?"

Even so, that man was freaking out now.

Still, it made sense—who wouldn't after seeing the ensuing sight after Jiang He throw those explosive shrooms?

Nonetheless, the other Sky Demon Cultist echoed, "Jiang He, we're all martial artist. If you are that powerful, why don't we fight with our skills? How are you a gentleman if you fight with nuclear weapons?"

"Tut, tut…"

Jiang He slowly descended and stood up on thin air, thirty meters away from the square and unable to repress a laugh. "It's really been hard on you, what with you having to say something so shameless."

As for nuclear weapons…

Jiang He smiled but said nothing.

These were mushrooms he planted himself. How did they manage to warp them into nuclear weapons?

However, that was when a rank-four woman strode out from amidst the crowd of Sky Demon Cultists, crying out, "Mister Jiang, don't mind us! We've already resigned ourselves to our fate on the day received our mandate!"

"Blow them up, Mister Jiang! My death is worth it with so many Sky Demon Cultists going to hell with me!"

The many military and MAD agent stood forward then.

Some Sky Demon Cultists immediately moved the instant they did so, but even before they could actually draw out their weapons…

Swish!

With a flash of scarlet sword radiance, hundreds of Sky Demon Cultists that surrounded the agents fell like straws of harvested wheat.

"For the Holy Faith! Death!"

There was actually one Sky Demon Cultist who roaring as he lunged suicidally at Jiang He.

Jiang He did not even bother to look. When the cultist arrived reached ten meters away from him, a pulse of mana destroyed the cultist.

With a nonchalant throw, the green armor which the Cloudscraper Vine had turned into green light, landing before the thirteen agents.

In one brief second, it changed forms again, once again into the Cloudscraper Vine now.

"Protect them, Cloudscraper Vine!" Jiang He yelled.

Swish!

When he spoke, Jiang He's figure turned into a flash.

He had already rushed toward one of the Sky Demon Cult Cardinals.

Even so, he did not use his Scarlet Flame Sword, nor did he use any martial art or palm technique—he simply swung an absolutely normal punch at the Cardinal.

Reflected upon the Sky Demon Cult Cardinal's pupils, the fist rapidly enlarged…

And then…

Pow.

That one punch blow up the divine-tempest pinnacle Sky Demon Cult Cardinal.

Jiang He was so quick that the Cardinal did not have the time evade at all, and of course…he could not escape even if he wanted to.

Moreover, Jiang He was too strong. Having mastered the third-tier of the Nine Heavenly Stars Body Formula, his physically strength alone could match a Void-tier pinnacle individual's. As such, destroying a divine-tempest martial elite who was for most parts the same as Three Blades Lin was not all that different from crushing an ant.

Then, Jiang He turned and charged toward the other Sky Demon Cult Cardinal.

The Cardinal tried to turn and leave, burning his essence and True Qi to burst forward, moving faster than he ever did in his life.

Even as he fled, he screamed, "Your Holiness, save me…"

Still, would the Sky Demon Cult's Saint be bothered about him?

After he learned that the Dragoncroc Emperor and the Yuan Spirit Clone of the ancient daemon cultivator backing it had died to Jiang He's sword, she could hardly muster any fighting spirit with Jiang He, who was now standing directly before her.

At her command, the water serpent beneath her took to the air and made a wild dash towards the distant horizon.

As a matter of fact, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint was at a complete loss inwardly.

"How did this happen?"

"How did this happen?"

"How did the mountain guarding array fall apart…"

Her entire head was filled with images of the pitch-black, even laughable mushrooms Jiang He was holding…

What universal joke was that?

Mushrooms…blowing up?

Most important, it was no different from hydrogen bomb in power! It was simply unbelievable!

"Trying to run?"

Jiang He laughed out loud and pursued the Sky Demon Cult's Saint after catching up to the other Cardinal and destroying him with another punch in just two seconds.

Swish!

He flew, blade in hand while charging his mana to the extreme, his flight speed several times quicker than the Sky Demon Cult's Saint's.

"We're not getting away…"

The water serpent bellowed at that, "Master, we're not getting away. You should go, I'll hold the rear…"

Roar!

Rearing its head skyward and bellowing in rage, it abruptly turned around, opened its maw, and spat black Daemonic Qi towards Jiang He. In truth, a single well-concealed dark sword flash was hidden beneath the qi breath, and not even Jiang He noticed it.

Jiang He dispersed the Daemonic Qi with a single punch before his eyes narrowed…

Snikt!

The single streak of dark sword flash stabbed onto his chest.

"A hit! It's a hit…Master, we don't have to run! That superior daemonic weapon was refined with the venom from my poison sac. If struck by my sword, even a full-fledged True Child cultivator would lose mana, their cultivation fading, let alone a Golden Pellet sword cultivator…"

Both the water serpent and the Sky Demon Cult's Saint stopped, appearing rather delighted.

They did not expect that Jiang He, who had slain both the Dragoncroc Emperor and the Yuan Spirit Clone of the ancient daemon cultivator backing it, would be so easily handled!

In that very moment, Jiang He was stunned too.

He grabbed the sword that was entirely pitch-black and glimmering with the pale blue glint of poison, exclaiming in surprise, "A superior-grade daemonic weapon?"

Did he just obtain a superior-grade daemonic weapon just like that? And a flying sword at that?

Wouldn't he get a premium soul weapon flying sword if he brought it home and planted it? Did he just collect all three premium-grade flying sword with such ease?

Even though it carried a monumental force when it flew towards him and was trying to shrug itself free of him to flee, would meat already in his mouth get to escape?

Jiang He's mana poured forth and subjugated the pitch-black flying sword, and he handily stuffed it into his System Backpack.

That was when he finally looked down at his wound.

It was a powerful sword, and it had actually… left a half-inch deep wound on his chest.

The wound itself was not much, but black qi was already spreading around it.

Clearly, the sword was poisoned.

Even so, Jiang he did not panic at all.

He took out three Bezoar Detox Pills with a turn of his hand, reared his head and gulped them down.

Over at the distant horizon, the water serpent's giant ice-cold eyes blinked twice.

It was rather dumbfounded.

Was that an illusion?

That must be it! An illusion!

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Chapter 275: The Sky Demon Cult is Wiped Out

The water serpent doubted its existence right then.

It was a Feral Emperor and one of the strongest Ferals in the world, and was even trained in daemonic cultivation.

When it comes to ability, it wouldn't lose out to the Dragoncroc Emperor.

Once it charged its superior-grade daemonic weapon, it could shatter a mountain with a single strike…but it did not even manage to wound Jiang He?

No.

There was a wound and blood could be seen.

But it was only a half-inch deep wound…wasn't that too light an injury?

How strong was that fellow's physical defense?

Still, the water serpent was initially stunned when it saw that its daemonic weapon did not inflict actual damage upon Jiang He, but then quickly said, "Master, it wouldn't matter no matter how strong his physical defense is. My poison spreads once it reaches the bloodstream and not even all the immortals in the world could save him…eh?"

Its eyes widened even before it finished.

It could see Jiang He grabbing the daemonic weapon it had refined for years and collected it by force. With its connection to the flying sword severed by force, the recoil left the water serpent's body shuddering, its aura withering by several major fractions.

But even before the water serpent could utter a serpent race's profanity it had in its mind, it saw Jiang He eating something it did not know about and then clearly felt it…the poison on Jiang He's body was gone!

The water serpent blinked its ice-cold eyes before muttering, "Illusion! It must be an illusion, Master!"

"Let's go!"

Be that as it may, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint turned and left with a quiet prompt, not even bothering to ride her mount. Even so, the water serpent did not leave but instead, it release a burst of Daemonic Qi out of its body which formed rolling dark clouds around itself and cried, "Master, go on! I'll cover you!"

It opened its mouth and breathed out a pale-blue Daemonic Pellet, and it gusted towards Jiang He within its poisonous shroud of Daemonic Qi.

But in the very next instant, it saw two sword radiances shooting toward itself.

Both sword radiances were shaped like godly dragons. One was entirely scarlet and blazed with raging flames, whereas the other was fully blue and rippled like water. They mutually coiled with one another up in the air, exuding a sharpness that left the water serpent's heart pounding.

Snikt!

The sword radiances tore through the Daemonic Qi around the creature's body and cut down upon its Daemonic Pellet.

Walking in the air, Jiang He arrived and beckoned with an outstretched hand. Both the Scarlet Flame Sword and the Autumn Water Sword returned, unleashing a burst of the Ice and Fire Duality Sword Array before cutting down upon the water serpent's humongous body.

The Daemonic Pellet shattered.

The serpent's body was sliced apart.

The frightening and powerful Feral that would have proved a match for the Dragoncroc Emperor was slain by Jiang He in two seconds.

He is a sword cultivator, a class that was unmatched in offensive strength compared to those of equal tier. Moreover, he was wielding premium soul weapons that would buff his attacks to a certain extent and the Ice and Fire Duality Sword Array which they had laid out was even more horrific. It was how he could easily punch above his weight and easily cut down that water serpent even though it was equal in strength to a True Child.

Nonetheless, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint had fled over five kilometers away. Demonic Qi was rolling off her body and though she was standing on top of a black cloud, she was using some unknown technique that could almost match Jiang He in speed.

"Jiang He!"

"Don't you push me too far!"

The Sky Demon Cult's Saint bellowed in rage, her voice overflowing with seething grief, "You have basically buried the Sky Demon Cult! And you would still come after me?"

"If you kill me, the Sky Demons' legion shall bathe the Hua Nation in blood once they arrive and the humans of this country would have no path of return!"

Be that as it may, Jiang He remained in hot pursuit.

He was riding the Scarlet Flame Sword, streaking through the air and leaving a long rainbow trail that tore through the night sky at four times the speed of sound.

As he gave chase, he was laughing endlessly and cursing, "Funny. I had no grievance with the Sky Demon Cult, and yet you people kept sending your people after me. I basically did not have a good night's sleep for two months and whenever I closed my eyes, I feared that someone standing in front of my bed while carrying a knife would hack off my head!"

"I would've been dead over ten times if I didn't have some extent of power to protect myself. And yet, you're still bent on bathing Lingzhou City in crimson and offering its hundreds of thousands of civilians as blood sacrifice? Don't you know that I live there?"

Indeed, Jiang He pretended he did not hear stuff like the Sky Demons' arrival or bathing the Hua Nation in blood.

When such a race invades, was there any hope for them to coexist in peace with them earthlings after they descend upon Earth?

No way.

Though he did not say much, his expression had turned somber.

Now that things had come to this, it seems that he must strike first for the initiative…if he was worried about the Sky Demons' wanton rampage which denied him from his quiet farm life, the only thing to do was to prevent their arrival.

The Sky Demon Cult's Saint who was busy fleeing almost wanted to utter a profanity.

Are you kidding me?

You can't sleep?

If you had revealed your full-fledged Golden Pellet strength from the very start, our believers would not have been so foolish that they would go on suicidal crusades like the Bottle Gourd Brothers did to save their gramps!

You were the one baiting us, pretending to be a weakling while you inflicted devastating losses to the cult! And now you are acting like you were given grief?

It was only now that the Sky Demon Cult's Saint thought that every piece of information they had gathered up to the present were all faked.

Turning the tables as a rank-five on a rank-seven grandmaster and slaying a rank-eight as a rank-six? It was all Jiang He's impersonations and illusions, with the sole goal being to ruin the Sky Demon Cult—she would never believe the truth even if Jiang He told her now.

Nonsense.

What person could improve so far, starting out as a weakling who did not even reach the rank of grandmaster to become a full-fledged Golden Pellet while possessing such freakish combat ability?

Nonetheless, as the pursuit continued, both sides were reaching four times the speed of light. They soon covered over fifty kilometers, and were about to leave Miaojiang.

"Damn it!"

"He is too quick!"

Jiang He gritted his teeth. He was not going to catch up if this continued!

Moreover, once they leave Miaojiang, they would reach a city base in just one hundred kilometers.

If the Sky Demon Cult's Saint landed there…

He would have to return without his prize.

With an elite like that, Jiang He could do nothing if he took several hundred thousand civilians as his hostage. Even before Jiang He could kill him, he assuredly had the ability to go on a massacre.

The Sky Demon Cult's Saint had clearly noticed that as well, and did not even bother to hide her voice as she cried out shrilly, "Don't push me now, Jiang He, or you don't get to blame me for being ruthless and dragging an entire city full of people to hell with me!

However, Jiang He ignored everything she said while quietly drawing out a pepper.

Jiang He actually did not want to use it since its side effects were absolutely horrible, but now was not the time to care about such things.

"Shit!"

"Can't be bothered about that now!"

"So what if the pepper has some serious side effects?"

"At worse I'll just have to head home straightaway after killing the Sky Demon Cult's Saint… with Sora and Boa Hancock, it can easily be handled."

With that, Jiang He opened his mouth and gulped down the pepper.

Boom!

His aura instantly strengthened by half, and the rainbow trail he left accelerated by one-fifth.

Up ahead, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint immediately noticed that and was freaking out. Even so, she had already used her secret technique to burst forward as fast as she could…and now, she could only watch as the distance between them only grew shorter.

Suddenly, she stopped and slapped a palm out at Jiang He.

And once she attacked, her black robes flew like a living thing.

It rapidly expanded against the wind and gusted towards Jiang He like a dark cloud that shrouds skies and heavens, revealing her voluptuous figure underneath, which had only been covered under thin black silk.

Then, she pointed a finger…

Her golden mask detached on its own and shot towards Jiang He as a golden flash.

The face beneath was decorate delicate white skin and exquisite facial features.

After that, she extended her hand and grasped, a crescent blade hence materializing in her hand as she cried coquettishly while charging at Jiang He.

Since there was no escaping, she had to fight with her life on the line.

In the end, there was no telling who would live or die!

With that desperation, a horrific aura actually burst out of the Sky Demon Cult's Saint's body, making her two notches stronger than her peak power.

Swish!

In the next instant, the massive dark cloud that the black robes formed had been sliced apart by a sword's radiance as Jiang He advanced, sword in hand. However, just as he was about to charge the Ice and Fire Duality Sword Array, he found the Sky Demon Cult's Saint and her voluptuous figure, her exquisite lokes and her black hair that seemed to dance up in the air…

And was left dumbstruck.

Whoosh!

The golden flash that the mask had formed knocked into his body and sent him flying.

Then, the crescent blade that the Sky Demon Cult's Saint reached Jiang He's head.

Shing!

There was a ring resembling colliding metal, but the blade which could cut a mountain…stopped after cutting through Jiang He's skin!

After all, what was the hardest part of a person's body?

It was their teeth, followed by their bones.

Having cultivated the Nine Heavenly Stars Body Formula up to the third tier, even the full-powered daemonic flying sword released by the water serpent could only cut half an inch into his flesh. Even then, his bones were far more unbreakable than his skin and flesh!

And though the Sky Demon Cult's Saint was superior to the water serpent, her blade certainly was not cutting deeper after it reached Jiang He's scalp.

Hence, her beautiful eyes alternated between looks of shock, bewilderment, and panic. She pulled out her sword and tried to retreat, but in the next instant…

Jiang He caught her wrist.

His look appeared fearsome as he stared tightly at the Saint's cheeks, her body, and her jade-white skin, occasional exposed beneath that thin black silk…all of which seduced him.

"Damn it!"

Jiang He cursed through clenched teeth. "Is the side effect of the peppers getting even more serious?"

"I'm actually seeing things now?"

Before this, he merely found anyone a little attractive after eating a pepper.

But that was getting even more ridiculous now.

Why the hell was he finding every person he sees drop-dead gorgeous?

If he really could not help himself and did that indescribable deed, and after the side effects faded and he were to find that he had bedded not a gorgeous woman but a butt-ugly, foot sniffing man…

Jiang He was sure he would kill himself.

So…

Shunk!

Twenty-Three Swords, triggered.

With a single cut, Jiang He destroyed the Saint's spirit and consciousness, and quickly threw her corpse into his System Backpack…

That way, he could avoid certain…'gruesome' incidents.

Nonetheless, Jiang He actually felt mixed feelings right then.

Did he wipe out the Sky Demon Cult just like that?

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Chapter 276: Fight is Over, Clocking Out?

Up in the night sky, Jiang He was travelling with Royal Sword Flight and soon returned to the great canyon where the Sky Demon Cult's base had been.

Deep within, the Cloudscraper Vine's eighteen tight, massive, and lengthy tendrils were thrashing around wildly at the square where a towering statue stood. Around it was many Sky Demon Cultist corpses, and though there were pockets of Sky Demon Cultists still charging at it, the sight was not as grand as it was before.

At the first, the Sky Demon Cultists were really getting wild.

Even if they knew that death was certain, all of them were lunging at the Cloudscraper Vine like moths to a flame, screaming stuff like 'for the Holy Faith' as they rushed towards their deaths.

Even so, with their two Cardinals dead, the strongest among them was their three Elders. However, were they even a match for the Cloudscraper Vine when they had even grasped the Boundary of Wills?

Moreover, only one among their trio was doing anything.

When Jiang He started chasing after the Sky Demon Cult's Saint and their sacred beast sentinel, two of the Elders had already fled.

In fact, it was not only them—two among the four Holy Children, as well as some of the Decans and Fiends, had all slipped out.

After all, when should they run if not now?

Those escapees were clearly no different from that Fourth Elder who was a magician, having not been subjected to thorough brainwash.

As Jiang He landed on the square, he released his powerful spirit to knock out every remaining Sky Demon Cultist. Then, after retrieving the Cloudscraper Vine, he told the thirteen undercover military and Martial Arts Department (MAD) agents, "Contact your superiors on your own. I have some other business to attend to and will get going now!"

He then sped off, leaving a rainbow streak of Sword Qi before vanishing into the night.

Nonetheless, he could not help frowning by the time he flew within the Lingzhou City jurisdiction…

He realized that his body did not actually suffer excessively from the pepper's side effects.

"What's going on?"

"Could I have developed towards the pepper's side effects after my improvement in ability?"

As he landed in his yard, Jiang He strode into his mansion and released his spirit in a sweeping glance, and 'saw' both Sora and Boa Hancock sleeping soundly on the same bed…

And they had kicked off their blankets too.

"How old are they, kicking off their blanket while sleeping?"

Jiang He decided to teach them a serious lesson.

Though her body seemed unaffected by the pepper's side effects, it was better to be safe than sorry. Hence, while he taught the ladies a lesson, he handled the side effect issue as well.

Meanwhile, at a relative quiet office at the intelligence wing of the Jingdu City MAD, Wang Hou and the others appeared rather anxious as they waited for further developments.

Lin Tianzheng glanced toward Three Blades Lin then and could not help asking, "Wenshu, is your idea reliable?"

"Don't worry, gramps."

Three Blades Lin smiled. "I know Jiang He—the kid is basically a mad bomber and there would be major explosions at any place he shows up. Moreover…"

Pausing, Three Blades Lin then added, "Is there a better way to confirm the Jiang He and the Sky Demon Cult's base's location?"

Lin Tianzheng said nothing.

His grandchild had really grown…and actually had the guts to retort. He would have received the slap treatment if he was younger.

That was when Zhou Yu ran up to them with a perplexed look, and said, "Minister Wang, the person in charge of Xiangxi City Base just called and asked if there was an ongoing military operation…"

"What happened?"

Wang Hou was confused.

Taking a deep breath, Zhou Yu then added, "The person in charge mentioned that there was a massive explosion at the outback of Miaojiang near Mount Thunder, and a modest estimation puts it around four to five million tons. Did the military throw a hydrogen bomb?"

The office was suddenly silent.

Gasp!

There was a sharp inhale before Three Blades Lin exclaimed, "That brat…did Jiang He managed to get his hands on hydrogen bombs too?"

Meanwhile, Wang Hou, Lin Tianzheng and Pei Donglai were at a loss.

Just a while ago, Three Blades Lin mentioned before that Jiang He liked his booms and told them not to worry and just 'follow the explosions'. Though they said nothing, they had more or less been doubtful.

Mad bomber?

Bomberman?

For real?

Even with the truth out in the open, they were still doubtful.

A hydrogen bomb with a five-million-ton yield?

Did Jiang He have that?

He had mentioned that his bombs were homecooked, which neither the military nor the MAD pursued further since it was unnecessary—cooking a bomb is not difficult as long as the necessary materials are available.

But how the heck did homecooked bombs end up as hydrogen bombs?

Be that as it may, now was clearly not the time to consider such questions. Soon, Wang Hou, Pei Donglai, Three Blades Lin, and Lin Tiangzheng were streaking through the night sky towards Miaojiang.

Before they left, Wang Hou had mobilized every other divine-tier guarding other locations, even contacted the Void-tier elite Dong Haichuan.

It was a major commotion, the first purpose of which was to support Jiang He, while the second…

Was to wipe out the Sky Demon Cult.

The location cult's base had been a mystery over the years and with the Feral Kings on the prowl, the Hua Nation was simply unable to make time to deal with the cult. But now that Jiang He had found the location to said base and every other Feral King had gone into hiding following a major culling of their ranks, it was the best moment to root out the Sky Demon Cult.

Nonetheles…Wang Hou and the others were stunned when they arrived at 'Mount Thunder'.

Where even was Mount Thunder?

There was only nothingness now where that mountain once stood. Under the searing heat of the explosion that exceeded a hundred million degrees Celsius, its boulders were reduced into glassy liquid that were now congealing into a layer of transparent glance on the ground.

Further away was more crumbling mountains and shattered trees. It was all rubble and a mess, and forests were actually burning over a dozen kilometers away.

They continued forward, and the vast canyon was soon within sight.

Wang Hou's gaze twinkled as he exclaimed in surprise, "I've patrolled this place before, but I did not notice this canyon."

"It must have been covered by an array."

"If it could fool your eyes, the array must have been high-level."

Lin Tianzheng added, providing his take. "It seems that the explosion Jiang He caused was to blow it up and he clearly succeeded."

The canyon was utterly silent and no one could have imagined that a great battle had taken place.

After that, they flew into the canyon and landed on the vast square.

The thirteen undercover agents quickly approached them and one of them, who was acquainted with Wang Hou promptly exclaimed in delight, "Minister Wang! You're finally here!"

Wang Hou looked around at the hundreds of corpses and the many fainted Sky Demon Cultist sprawled over the square, unsure what to say just then. He simply listened as each of the undercover agents tried to get their word in, leaving him with a headache after all that noise.

Rubbing his temples, he then said, "No rush, people, let's leave the specifics for when we return… could anyone tell me what actually happened? Where are the other Sky Demon Cultists?"

"And where is Jiang He?"

That was an odd idea suddenly occurred to him.

Perhaps…everyone had arrived late and Jiang He had clocked out after the fight was over?

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Chapter 277: How Do We Snipe The Sky Demon Legion?

"Minister Wang, I have found a substantial amount of blood at the canyon, which is suspected to be remains of a Feral Emperor!"

Pei Donglai exclaimed as he flew towards him. "It seems that Jiang He had been in pursuit of the sacred beast sentinel, splashing blood down on the ground after slaying it high above."

Then, Three Blades Lin arrived with a dark look as well. "I found two corpses and they must have been the Cardinals of the Sky Demon Cult. One died to a sword wound which pierced his heart from the back while Jiang He was in pursuit."

"The other one is a little horrible—Jiang He punched through his chest entirely."

Puzzled, Three Blades Lin asked uncertainly, "It is actually good news if Jiang He killed both the Cardinals of the Sky Demon Cult, so what's with that scowl on your face?"

"What the…"

Three Blades Lin was about to resort to profanity, but when he remembered that it was his very own grandfather who was asking, he promptly composed himself and calmly said, "These two cardinals would have been equal to me in combat strength, with both of them being divine-tempest pinnacle. In other words, the kid whom I had gone to Lingzhou specifically to protect just twenty days ago has become perfectly capable of killing me in just the blink of an eye…how could I be happy here?"

Lin Tianzheng was taken aback at first…

But soon, he laughed insincerely.

Nearby, Pei Donglai and Wang Hou started laughing as well after they heard that.

Still, their astonished spirits recovered slightly.

Three Blades Lin was speechless. What was so funny about that?

"Why are you laughing?" he muttered. "Jiang He first slayed the Golden-Winged Roc, then the Dragoncroc Emperor, and now even the sacred beast sentinel of the Sky Demon Cult. Or could any of you be stronger than the sacred beast sentinel or the Dragoncroc Emperor?"

There was silence once he said that.

Lin Tianzheng traded glances with Wang Hou, unable to say anything for quite a while.

Then, Three Blades Lin added more fuel to fire and said, "Moreover, according to the undercover agents, Jiang He had left in pursuit of the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult and did not return. I have a hunch that he must have died by Jiang He's hand too."

Even as he spoke, he deliberately shot Wang Hou a look, leaving him scowling.

He immediately understood Three Blades Lin's meaning…the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult had wounded Wang Hou just a few days ago and yet somehow ended up being killed by Jiang He now. As such, the gap between them was very obvious.

Without saying a word, Jiang He quietly took out his phone and gave Zhou Yu a call.

The general gist was…

To belay the earlier orders: the redirected elites did not have to come.

Moreover, they must arrange for other elites to start a search in the Miaojiang province in pursuit of the Sky Demon Cultists who had fled.

After that, he tried to call Jiang He again, but his phone remained not within the service area. So, he simply said, "Let us look carefully. The Sky Demon Cult has deep pockets and they must have a treasure vault as well as a Secret Realm…"

While Wang Hou and the others were busy searching everywhere across the great canyon where the base of the Sky Demon Cult was located, Jiang He was very busy back home as well.

He only fell asleep after the sun got up.

Sleeping all the way until four in the afternoon and waking up invigorated, he found that Sora had prepared food after washing up.

It was a shame that he had not ground the rice he planted yesterday down to rice grains, which was why he was still eating normal rice today.

After finishing his food, Jiang He took out a bottle of rank-nine Origin Fluid and took a few sips before he went to sit at the sofa, taking a break before going out to the farm for a look.

As he leaned back on his sofa, he whipped out his phone from his System Backpack.

But just as he took it out, it started ringing.

It was Three Blades Lin.

Jiang He frowned. Why would Old Lin be calling?

Nonetheless, he answered albeit after waiting for several seconds, smiling as he asked, "Why would you call me suddenly, Old Lin? By the way, where is Bro Lin? Has he been well?"

Back at the base of the Sky Demon Cult, located deep inside the great canyon in Miaojiang, Three Blades Lin had been a little thrilled when his call was answered, but what Jiang He had said left him feeling as if Jiang He dumped a bucket of water that Jiang He had used to wash his own feet right into his face.

After appearing taken aback for a moment, he then seethed, "Are you really taking advantage of that, Jiang He?"

"Why would I?"

Jiang He laughed out loud.

Damn it!

Three Blades Lin really wanted to duel Jiang He to the death then.

Not only did you address me as 'bro', but my grandfather too—did you think that is appropriate?

That said, others would certainly find that inappropriate…and Three Blades Lin was actually fine with that. It was certainly better than becoming grandson, was it not?

Then, catching a glimpse of the dark look on Lin Tianzheng's face, Three Blades Lin promptly changed the topic and said, "Jiang He, Minister Wang, my grandfather, and Commander Pei are standing at the base of the Sky Demon Cult right now. We found a treasure vault and a Secret Realm, and Minister Wang intends for you to collect them since you wiped out the Sky Demon Cult single-handedly."

Treasure vault?

Secret Realm?

On the sofa, Jiang He's eyes lit up and he said, "Alright, I'll be coming over right now."

After slaying the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult last night, he had been rushing home to sleep and searching for a treasure vault never crossed his mind. And one should know that he had been gunning for the Sky Demon Cult's Secret World for quite some time.

To be precise, the 'sun and the moon' in the Secret Realm.

Of course, Jiang He was uncertain if those stuff existed in the Sky Demon Cult's Secret Realm.

"I am hoping I would not be let down here… Moreover, the giant snake in the Sky Demon Cult wielded a daemon weapon too, just as the black robes, golden mask, and even the crescent blades of the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult were all mystic treasures—perhaps there would be more in the treasure vault."

Jiang He got up and rushed to the farm at that.

He harvested the dozens of Doom Shrooms that had matured before heading off to Miaojiang.

'If I move quickly, the next batch of Doom Shrooms would mature by the time I get back…' Up in the skies, Jiang He thought to himself as he traveled with Royal Sword Flight while arranging his schedule.

The sky demons would be arriving in a matter of ten days.

Time was short and every second must be used well to improve his personal ability.

'I need to spare some time.'

'Stating from today and until I take down the Sky Demon Legion, I'll sleep five…or maybe three hours less every day.'

Jiang He thought about it.

He would be sleeping around six to seven hours if he were to sleep three hours less. The specific timeframe was uncertain, since his sleep quality had been lacking—there was no order to when he wakes up and when he falls asleep, and he would usually just sleep after dozing off until he woke up naturally…

At times, he slept up to fourteen hours, or just eight hours before waking up all on his own.

Swish!

Sword radiance cut through the skies.

Standing atop the Scarlet Flame Sword, Jiang He had a grim look on his face.

The Sky Demons must die!

They founded the Sky Demon Cult that were bent on killing him every other day, bothering him so grievously. And now, after he got rid of them after much difficulty, the Sky Demon Legion was about to reach Earth.

Soon, Jiang He arrived at the outback of Miaojiang.

As he looked at the rubble that the ten Doom Shrooms left, Jiang He suddenly got an idea. 'The Sky Demons must pass through the Stargate if they want to descend upon Earth, so could I blow the Stargate up instead?'

His head went into action at once.

'With my strength alone, it would be definitely impractical if I tried killing my way into the Stargate and snipe the Sky Demon Legion. So, I would have to target the Stargate instead.'

'If they could only come through it, wouldn't they be unable to enter if the Stargate was blown off?'

Jiang He thought that the idea was very viable then.

The only problem was that there is no telling how tough the Stargate was…how many yields of Doom Shroom would he need?

"The Stargate must have a limit in durability!"

"At worst, I could try throwing a few more Doom Shrooms… I will throw ten to start with and if I fail, I will throw fifty, and then one hundred if fifty fails…heck, I would throw five hundred Doom Shrooms if one hundred still isn't enough!"

Jiang He breathed a long sigh.

In truth, that solved the problem but not the cause—in the end, if the Sky Demons were able to open the first Stargate, they definitely could open a second and a third. He certainly could not keep blowing them up, could he?

Therefore, the best solution was to counter-invade when the Sky Demons opened the Stargate, kill his way through them. After slaying enough Sky Demon champions, they definitely would not dare to invade anymore.

"Though that idea would leave no future problems, implementing it is exceedingly difficult."

"Though I am powerful, I am still a martial arts newbie with only two months' worth of experience, and a one-month novice of Immortal Arts. Would my strength alone be able to repel the forces of an entire extraterrestrial force?"

Even as the thought crossed his mind, Jiang He flew into the canyon.

Several figures flew towards him from the deeper reaches then.

As the four elites—Wang Hou, Lin Tianzheng, Three Blades Lin and Pei Donglai—sensed Jiang He's arrival, they personally went to greet him. In fact, Wang Hou bowed, offering Jiang He a fist-palm salute and prostrating himself reverently.

Jiang He quickly went to him and pulled him up, exclaiming, "What are you doing, Minister Wang?"

"The Sky Demon Cult has plagued the Hua Nation for years. But now, you have rooted them out entire with your strength alone, and that deserves my gratitude." Wang Hou appeared solemn.

Jiang He was left a little embarrassed at that.

To tell the truth, Jiang He had no thoughts about serving the country and the people.

After all, he had no such profound ideals. All he wanted to was live in peace and quiet as he farmed without having to worry about being ambushed when he slept, ate, walked the streets, or even went to the toilet.

Then, following a few exchanges, the party landed.

Jiang He cut straight to the point and asked, "Where is the Sky Demon Cult's Secret Realm, Minister Wang?"

Wang Hou led the way, guiding Jiang He into the huge temple.

He had discovered how to unlock the Secret Realm and was able to quickly open it.

Once inside, Jiang He looked up to find a great sun hanging high up in the air. Curiously, however, it was shining in a gray radiance, blanketing the entire Secret Realm in a sheet of gray.

When he imagined hanging a gray sun in his farm, Jiang He almost threw up!

Damn it!

Jiang He cursed before looking at Wang Hou and asked, "Minister Wang, do you want this Secret Realm?"

Eh?

Wang Hou did a double take, unable to react immediately…

What does that mean?

Do we want it?

Nonsense! Who wouldn't want a Secret Realm?

Possessing this meant an unending stream of elites groomed. As a matter of fact, the Five Great Holy Grounds of martial arts had survived for so long because they each possessed a Secret Realm.

Indeed, aside from the martial clans to possess legacies dating from the Old Martial Era, martial schools, as well as the many providences and Heritage Sites found in the Revival of Qi, the Hua Nation was able to groom so many martial elites thanks to Wang Hou securing a Heritage Site himself.

Of course…

The legacies of martial art cultivations were vital too.

Still, that was not an issue for Jiang He at all. His strength alone was entirely capable of founding clans and schools, and possessing this Secret Realm could mean it would end up as another Holy Ground for martial arts.

After a while, Wang Hou came to his senses and exclaimed a little agitatedly, "Jiang He…are you saying that you're giving me this Secret Realm?"

Jiang He was speechless.

Do you take this stuff for walnuts?

"Not give, sell."

Jiang He said, "The Secret Realm is useless to me and could be sold to the country for grooming martial artists, although we can save the specifics for later…by the way, where is the treasure vault of the Sky Demon Cult? Could you lead me there?"

With that, Wang Hou guided Jiang He to the treasure vault.

There were many combat armor and medicinal pellets there, along with other curious novelties, floral spirits, and cultivation manuals.

And yet, Jiang He needed none of those things—after a glancing scan with his spirit and ascertaining that there was neither mystic treasures or daemon weapons in there, he could not help cursing in disappointment…"What the hell? Is the Sky Demon Cult that poor?"

Still, he quickly came to a realization before he was done cursing.

Wait a minute…

Daemonic weapons and mystic treasures were far more valuable than anything that could be found inside this treasure vault.

Perhaps the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult carried them with her!

He promptly took out her corpse from his System Backpack with a wave of his hand and simply threw it on the ground.

After a glance, he could not help exclaiming in surprise, "The Saint of the Sky Demon Cult was actually a woman?"

The Saint of the Sky Demon Cult appeared to be resting in peace.

With her spirit and consciousness having been vanquished by Jiang He's Twenty-Three Swords technique, there was not a single wound left on her body at all. In fact, her corpse appeared very much alive, and it was as if she had merely fallen asleep.

Her facial features were as exquisite as ever. The black silk she was wearing accentuated her stunning figure and it was obvious she had been a great beauty when she was alive.

Shocked, Wang Hou turned towards Jiang He and exclaimed, "Jiang He, do you really not know the gender of the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult when you were the one who killed her?"

Jiang He felt pained right then.

I would know…my foot!

After eating a pepper at the time, and then assuming its side effects had become worse when he thought the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult was very hot, he quickly ended her with Twenty-Three Swords and stuffed her inside his System Backpack. How was he supposed to know her gender when he only checked now?

And was he supposed to tell Wang Hou about the entire course of events?

No way.

Keeping a straight face, Jiang He laughed. "The clouds were too thick last night and everything was pitch-black. Moreover, I killed her too quickly and destroyed her spirit and consciousness with a single stroke, so I did not actually see if she was a man or a woman."

Wang Hou suddenly felt very miserable right then.

Nonetheless, he put on a strong face and smiled, while Jiang He had already dropped to a crouch and carefully studied the corpse of the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult. After he stretched out his hand to stroke her cheeks a few times and even pinching them to ensure it was not a disguise, he said, "Before this, I assumed that she was a Sky Demon when I heard the way she spoke. Could it be that she actually was not a Sky Demon?"

"Oh?"

Wang Hou shifted his gaze then as he asked hesitantly, "What would you think that?"

"Aside from the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult, I've killed all four of their cardinals as well. Every single one of them had been baptized at the Holy Lake, and parts of their body had turned into Sky Demon."

"Their faces were grotesque and their skin a steel blueness. Moreover, they also had fangs and nails that resembled the Chinese zombies spoken of in legends, although the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult was no different from a normal human."

Wang Hou mused to himself for a long while when a lightbulb lit in his head, having thought of something. "We can't actually tell for certain," he said. "From what I've read in some of the ancient text that I procured from the Five Holy Grounds, the brief mentions about the Sky Demons assert that were an incredible great race from beyond the skies, and that they maintain a very strict guard over their bloodline hierarchy. While ordinary Sky Demons would definitely look ugly, their royals appeared no different from normal humans."

"You have information about the Sky Demons?" Jiang He exclaimed in delight then. "Could you give me a copy of that?"

Still, he soon became perplexed and added, "Minister Wang, the Stargate has yet to be opened and logically speaking, the Sky Demons should not be able to descend. So how did the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult managed to make her way to Earth?"

"Around five to six hundred years ago, the Sky Demons had once invaded Earth. She might be a remnant that had survived from back then."

And that was about the only plausible explanation.

Five to six hundred years ago was by coincidence the age where the Old Martial Era had fallen to decline. Perhaps the decline of that period had something to do with the invasion of the Sky Demons?

If the opportunity arose, there should be a conversation held with the people from the Five Holy Grounds—those people just might know something.

Then, noticing a rather old but ordinary ring that the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult Was wearing on her finger, Jiang He took it off and studied it closely.

"A Spatial Ring…" He could not help exclaiming in delight.

Shedding a drop of blood to refine the item, and use his spirit to look into the Spatial Ring.

The Void Storage it held was not actually vast and just around a hundred squared meters. Aside from daily necessities and clothes, there was also a pile of Orirocks—it was not much, just around 300 of them.

Besides those, there were three weapons: two swords and a blade.

The blade was a blood-colored combat blade of outstanding quality. Still, it was no mystic treasure, but a weapon from the Old Martial Era.

On the other hand, both swords were mystic treasures!

Delight showed on Jiang He's face, though just as he was about to say something, there was another change in his expression. Drawing one of the blades that was breathing out blackened Demonic Qi, he gasped in surprise, muttering, "The aura flowing from this sword is a little familiar…"

"Minister Wang, did the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult stab you the other day with this sword?"

Wang Hou was speechless.

Chapter 278: Pellet Path Heritage Site

"An inferior grade flying sword…it meets the tier requirement, though there's no telling how powerful it is…"

Jiang He stretched out his hand, rolled out his sleeve, and slashed the black sword heavily upon his own wrist.

Clang!

Sparks shot out everywhere on the tip of the sword as if metals collided, whereas only a single white mark was left on Jiang He's wrist.

"Sigh…"

"Inferior grade soul weapons are still a little weak. I used forty percent of my strength, and I have a hunch that the sword would snap if I were to put in more strength!"

After a soft sigh, Jiang He put away the black sword and took out the other flying sword.

It was mediocre-grade and fully golden.

Jiang He tested its strength as well.

The golden sword was much sharper compared to the inferior-grade flying sword. Coupled with the fact that it was a heptaurum sword, it was slightly sharper than weapons of the same grade…which was why it scratched through Jiang He's skin.

"Not bad, not bad."

Jiang He praised and smiled. "This mediocre-grade flying sword has actually scratched me a little even though my physical defense is equal in power to premium-grade soul weapons…which would actually maim me."

Beside him, Wang Hou appeared weirded out.

What the hell!

You call a slit artery a scratch?

Glancing at Wang Hou then, Jiang He could not help asking, "What's wrong, Minister Wang? Why do you look pale all of a sudden?"

"By the way…"

"Why don't you learn a physique refinement technique on the side?"

"If you are half as tough as I am, you wouldn't be maimed when the Sky Demon Cult's Saint ambushed you with that inferior-grade soul weapon. In fact, she would have a hard time piercing your defenses instead."

Jiang He remembered the Saint's moon blade then.

It must have been her preferred mystic treasure, and she clearly was holding back when she blindsided Wang Hou—he would be dead with a single strike if she had used that moon blade instead.

"Jiang He, about the treasure vault…"

Wang Hou asked then, switching subjects since he was reluctant to continue on that topic.

"I have no use for the stuff inside the vault, use them as you see fit," Jiang He simply replied.

"Many thanks."

Wang Hou smiled. "The Martial Arts Department (MAD) lacks martial art resources the most at the moment, so I'll accept the vault."

Most items in the treasure vault were actually quite common, which was fine for the average martial artist, but not at all useful for rank-nine or divine-tier individuals. Either way, Jiang He would no lack those cultivation items, and he could buy a favor from Wang Hou by selling it to him.

Once they left the temple, Wang Hou swiftly arranged for helpers to move out the items in the treasure vault.

Then, he turned towards Pei Donglai and smiled. "General Pei, please contact Chief Commander Li and request him to send in some troops for guarding this troops. Of course, it would be best if the military builds a base here."

"About that…"

Pei Donglai appeared puzzled and asked, "You've already arranged for people to move the items here, Minister Wang. Is there a need to place a garrision here?"

"Moreover, there would be radiation left from the hydrogen bomb blast, and this is not a very suitable place to build a base… eh?"

Even before Pei Donglai finished, his eyes abruptly widened as he glanced at the direction where there was a huge explosion last night.

Radiation?

There was none at all!

Wang Hou realized that too and did a double take before turning to Jiang He, who laughed out loud. "I used my own homecooked bombs to blow up the mountain guarding array of the Sky Demon Cult. It's non-nuclear, so why would there be radiation?"

Suddenly, there was silence.

After just a dozen seconds, Wang Hou's mouth twitched as he forced a smile.

Homecooked bomb?

How the heck was that a homecooked bomb?

Mount Thunder was gone and every boulder upon it had melted into liquid crystals. Why bother with nuclear bombs or hydrogen bombs if a homecooked bomb could do that?

Still, Wang Hou and the others would not ask if Jiang He was unwilling to say anything.

Right now, Jiang He was head and shoulders above them in ability. It was no exaggeration to say that he could match a nation alone, or perhaps more…

As such, they had to guess for themselves where he had actually obtained those bombs from.

A heritage site?

There were some heritage sites left from the Old Martial Era or by immortals. Could there be bombs left behind from those places?

Perhaps…what Jiang He had obtained was no bomb at all, but something like a divine seal instead?

Nonetheless, Jiang He himself did not bother to explain.

Would you have believed me if I told you I throw mushrooms, not bombs?

Either way, I would say it is a homecooked bomb no matter who asked…as for the power, can't the bombs cooked from my family recipe be a little powerful?

Back to the matter of whether they should station a garrison and build a military base here…

Wang Hou did not hold anything back and directly revealed that Jiang He was willing to sell the Secret Realm, leaving Pei Donglai and the others greatly astonished. All of them promptly bowed and offered him fist-palm salutes, conveying their solemn respect.

That left Jiang He a little embarrassed.

Could these people be assuming that he was selling the Secret Realm to contribute to the country?

Would any of them understand Jiang He's predicament?

Heritage Sites were completely useless to Jiang He and it is very troublesome to unlock them on every other turn. His initial plan was to extract the celestial bodies of the Secret Realm and hang it in his own farm, but the sun here was gray and did not fit Jiang He's aesthetical values, which was why he would not bother.

As for the concentrated Yuan Qi in Secret Realms… the Yuan Qi in his own farm would not lose out to that of Secret Realms.

Meanwhile, after Pei Donglai had informed the military hierarchy about the entire matter, he asked, "Chief Commander Li would arrive in an hour, Mister Jiang. Should we head to the nearest city base of Xiangxi for further discussions?"

"There's no need."

Jiang He waved him off saying, "It's just a Secret Realm and not a big deal. I have no conditions in mind either, although I have certain stuff which I'm hoping that the MAD and the military could help me find."

"Just shoot, Mister Jiang. The military would try to meet your conditions as best as we can, if it is within our ability."

Wang Hou had made his stance as well, indicating that as long as Jiang He stated his requests, he would search, gather, and steal for Jiang He right then even if the MAD did not have it.

"Well then, I won't hold back."

Jiang He thought about it and said, I need mystic reassures and soul weapons, and it would be best if it were flying swords, and fragments work too…some of the martial clans and martial schools might have those, and others might have unearthed them from heritage sites. With your wide networks at the military and the MAD, you could help me ask around."

"Also, medicinal pellets."

Jiang He then said. "There had been quite a number of heritage sites discovered in the nation, but I wonder if there are medicinal pellets effective even for divine-tier individuals. I'd purchase them in bulk, as much as I can get, if they are available."

"Those medicinal pellets definitely exist—I myself had a few."

Wang Hou said rather feebly, "Even so, anyone who finds medicinal pellets of such grade would definitely consume it once they find it to improve their strength. No one would bother keeping it."

"That said, the military did discover a heritage site with substantial medicinal pellets, which must have been left by an ancient sect that brewed pellets."

Pei Donglai added then, "I actually benefited from that heritage site and reached divine-tier thanks to it. Nonetheless, we determined that the heritage site date back 1,400 years ago and the medicinal value of the pellets had waned considerably, and almost 90% were useless.

Jiang He's eyes lit up and said, "Useless works too. Where are the pellets now?"

"The Superpower Research Department."

Pei Donglai answered honestly, "They have taken away all the medicinal pellets and recipes. In fact, the qi pellets and blended qi pellets available on the market right now were developed by the Superpower Research Department based on those recipes."

The Superpower Research Department?

Jiang He appeared thoughtful then…

Since he could plant even the broken fragments of mystic items at his farm, planting scrap pallets should not be a problem.

He just might be able to earn a big load of Farm Points if he had substantial high-grade medicinal pellets.

Report chapter

Chapter 279: Jiang He's Two Plans

Utterly delighted, Jiang He said, "Please help me reach out to the Superpower Research Department, then. I'd pay for some high-grade scrap pellets."

"That won't do."

Wang Hou quickly said, "How could we have you break the bank for pellets that have lost their medicinal value? I'll contact the Superpower Research Department later and have them get in touch with you."

"I'm counting on you then, Minister Wang."

Jiang He said his thanks before adding, "By the way, Duan Tianhe did get me some mutated rice, which I thought was quite good. I wonder if you could get me more, Minister Wang, General Pei?"

Planting the mutated rice to earn farm points was good too.

Of course, he should not limit his crops to mutated rice only since he would need any mutated variants of fruits and vegetables.

Both Wang Hou and Pei Donglai nodded in affirmative then, but then asked puzzledly, "Jiang He, a Secret Realm is inestimable in value and you could have asked for an army. Why would you want this stuff instead?"

"What use do I have for an army?"

Jiang He chuckled. "I have to raise them, and instead of the cost for upkeep, it's better if I planted—I mean, made more homecooked bombs."

Around 6 pm, when the sun was almost setting, Chief Commander Li of the military arrived.

Jiang He had heard about him frequently but had never actually met him, and so was very curious.

The man turned out be a white-haired elderly man who was around sixty, dressed in military uniform and sporting inch-long hair. His gait was so upright he resembled a javelin.

He surpassed Three Blades Lin in strength, having reached divine-union, the third rank of divine-tiers.

"Mister Jiang!"

As Chief Commander Li landed on the square, he promptly made his way toward Jiang He, shaking his hand after a brief preamble and speaking with gratitude, "I've heard from Pei Donglai about the Secret Realm. You are truly a national hero, serving both our country and our people."

"You flatter me…"

Jiang He quickly replied, "We merely have our respective pursuits and I'm not that noble."

After further exchanges, Chief Commander Li's tone then shifted and he said, "By the way, I heard from Pei Donglai that you need flying swords?"

Jiang He nodded and Chief Commander Li waved his hand, drawing out a plain old longsword from his spatial ring.

It appeared simple and ordinary, but upon a closer look, one would find a wooden pattern on the sword that resembled the age rings of a tree.

"Is that…a mystic item?"

Jiang He appeared taken aback.

The wooden sword certainly looked like a mystic item from its aura, but it was so outstanding in grade that it outclassed even his Scarlet Flame Sword a little.

In return, Chief Commander Li stroked the wooden sword and said, "This is a treasured sword of my family, the Li Clan. I remember my grandfather telling me that there were immortals among our forebears, and that this was a saber that a Li once used to slay and subjugate demons."

With that, he handed Jiang He the wooden sword, leaving Jiang He inwardly stunned.

An immortal?

While he was not sure if there was an immortal among the Li Clan ancestors, Jiang He was sure that there would definitely be a powerful cultivator among them since the sword itself may be a sage item.

After all, there were different tiers for mystic treasures too: mystic items, soul items, and sage items, each of which were divided to the four grades of inferior, mediocre, superior, and premium.

Still, Jiang He declined despite his thrill, saying, "No way! I can't accept this sword since it's a treasure passed down from your ancestor, Chief Commander Li. It's too precious!"

"Why not?"

Chief Commander Li reacted stiffly. "Though my ancestors have kept this sword so the descendants of the Li Clan would wield this sword to slay demons, none in the family could use it for almost a thousand years. Instead of having it collect dust here, it would be better to give it to you, Mister Jiang. It would not be going against my ancestors' will if you use it to destroy demons."

After the man himself put it that way, Jiang He stopped refusing and promptly accepted the wooden sword, saying, "Don't worry, Chief Commander Li. I would never insult the memory of this sword."

Then, the conversation shifted to the approaching sky demon legion after several more exchanges.

The Sky Demon Cult's Saint did not hide the fact that the Legion was coming, having revealed it previously when she mobilized every asset. That was why the undercover agents knew, and immediately sent word via encrypted measures.

Clearly, the Sky Demon Cult's Saint had no intention of keeping it secret as she had revealed it despite knowing there were moles among her believers.

From her perspective, the Sky Demon Legion was unstoppable. As their endless ranks arrived in the absences of ancient cultivators or ancient daemons, they were absolutely enough to sweep their way across the globe.

And it was certainly true: once the Sky Demon Legion arrived, the Hua Nation would have a hard time stopping them.

Chief Commander Li spoke frankly, "Though the sky demons are powerful, the Hua Nation still stands a chance. I suggest evacuating all civilians in Lingzhou city and station a heavy military presence within, so as to keep the Sky Demon Legions outside the city."

Wang Hou indicated his agreement and turned toward Lin Tianzheng. "Elder Lin, I hope I can still count on you on the matter I've asked of you before."

Lin Tianzheng nodded, but said, "According to old text in the Penglai Immortal Sect, there are many such immortal legacies both inside and outside the Hua Nation. However, it would be difficult to find them as the text did not record the specific locations of those sects."

Sighing, he said, "Some sects are already lost after more than two thousand years have passed. Likewise, even if some sects still remain, it's hard to tell if they would help."

"We have to try."

Wang Hou said with a smile, appearing a little helpless, "It's not just the immortals. I would talk it out with the ancient daemon cultivators as well."

Nearby, Jiang He was left utterly bemused, and asked hesitantly, "Gentlemen, there's no need to go through such trouble, is there?"

Evacuate Lingzhou City?

If that really happened, wouldn't he have to go very far to buy clothes and daily necessities?

It left him with a headache just thinking about it.

Once he spoke, Chief Commander Li and the others turned toward him, asking, "Would you have another solution for stopping the sky demon legion, Mister Jiang?"

Their eyes were actually alit with expectation.

Could Jiang He, a youth who had accomplished feat after feat and single-handedly wiped out the Sky Demon Cult, be able to turn the tide?

As a matter of fact, no one should take to heart that they appear ready for a fight…because there was no helping it.

After all, they had no chance of victory against the sky demon legion at all, and all they could do was fight courageously. With themselves being the leaders of the Hua Nation, who would dare to fight if they were cowed from fighting?

Now, with everyone looking on expectantly, Jiang He did not dare to exaggerate—after musing to himself for a long while, he said, "I don't think there's a need to be that pessimistic about this. Based on how most world settings go, the Sky Demon Cult would only be able to send in a limited number of forces and champions once they open the Stargate this time."

Wang Hou and the others all looked confused, with Three Blades Lin unable to resist asking, "What world setting?"

Jiang He was dumbstruck.

How frightening was the uncultured!

Do these people not read high fantasy novels?

Do they not know even the most basic of settings?

Honestly, what could anyone do if a bunch invincible champions descend upon Earth from the very start? Would the book's setting not fall apart?

Still, not bothering to explain himself, Jiang He simply said, "Actually, I have a few immature ideas on how to stop the Sky Demon Legion."

Unconcerned with the heated gaze from Wang Hou and the others, he continued, "For one, we could throw hydrogen bombs into that Stargate or whatnot when it's about to form and blow it up."

"That idea won't work."

Chief Commander Li refuted Jiang He's plan, saying, "Actually, some of our country's specialists have done their research and it appears that the Stargate would cause spatial distortion when it forms. Nuclear weapons would be affected with space itself becoming incredibly unstable, and there is a chance they might not even detonate."

"That thing is so impressive?"

Jiang he was surprised, but…

His Doom Shrooms weren't hydrogen bomb but crops, so it wouldn't be affected, would it?

As he was uncertain, he did not mention it right then but instead continued, "I have a second plan, too—we could lay an ambush outside the Stargate and wait, killing any sky demons that come through. Crisis solved."

Wang Hou and the others scowled.

They would not have to worry about the sky demons' arrival if they really had such ability.

Then, Jiang He added, "Actually, I have a third plan, but that's not workable at the moment so I won't say it out."

As a matter of fact, his third plan was simply to kill his way into the sky demons' territory and root out the problem at its source, curbing any future issues.

Wang Hou and the others breathed a long sigh.

It was better that Jiang He did not tell them.

Everything that he said was not worth a fart. The first plan might not be workable but at it least was reliable, whereas the second plan was utter nonsense…

Do you even have to tell us if the Hua Nation has such power?

Jiang He was a little upset at that.

What are you saying?

Are you belittling me now?

My first two plans are not bad even though they are not perfect, but you have no opinion even after you've heard me out?

'Whatever…they can't be of help to me anyway. I'll just carry out my own plan when the time comes,' Jiang He thought to himself.

In the end, his trip today had been quite fruitful.

Although finding that the sun in the Sky Demon Cult's Secret Realm was a significant setback for Jiang He, Chief Commander Li's wooden swords, which could prove to be a sage item, was definitely an unexpected surprise.

"Minister Wang, Chief Commander Li."

Jiang He called out to them, saying, "I suddenly remembered that I have stuff to do back home, so I'll be off."

Wang Hou came to him and said, "I've arranged for people to help you search for what you were asking, and send word to the Superpower Research Department as well. Someone will contact you around tomorrow morning."

Jiang He hence took to the skies and disappeared in the night skies as a sword light, while Wang Hou and the others began discussing how they would handle the Sky Demon Cult.

After flying over four hundred kilometers at one go, Jiang He suddenly remembered something and could not help mouthing an expletive.

"Sh*t…wasn't Minister Wang saying that they are going to talk to the ancient daemon cultivators about fighting the sky demons?"

He slipped up!

He actually did not notice that.

Before this, he had wanted to make an excuse to go on a round trip to the ancient daemon cultivators' territory, and see if he could borrow floral cultivation manuals… but had ended up missing out on such an opportunity.

"Forget it."

"A waste is a waste. I wanted to visit the ancient daemon cultivators' territory anyway, so I shouldn't bother coming up with excuses."

The most pressing matter right now was to improve his own ability.

When he was strong enough, would he still need excuses to borrow cultivation manuals from ancient daemon cultivators?

He just had to fight his way in!

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Chapter 280: Dragontooth Rice, Premium Crop

A planet far away from Earth, in distant space.

The planet itself was almost same in circumference compared to earth, with its vast oceans occupying almost 85% of its surface while the rest of it was majestic mountains and ancient forests.

Upon the ocean was a vast ancient city, and right now, five hundred thousand sky demon soldiers had convened. Their champions were converging upon the city as well, and several overflowing auras could vaguely be felt.

A golden-armored sky demons general arrived then, landing in front of the gathered army.

"Salutations, Heavenly General Molo!"

The army of five hundred thousand kneeled on one knee, chanted on top of their voice, and moved in synchrony.

Only Sky Demon-tier champions could assume the rank of heavenly generals, an accomplishment in power even among the sky demons. It was equal to the immortals' convergence tier, being head and shoulders above Yuan Spirit individuals—one step further and it would be time for them to weather their retribution.

And now, the heavenly general named Molo spoke, declaring with a sonorous voice, "The Demon Lord has decreed—the army shall advance. The plan has been brought forward three days early and the Demon Lord himself shall personally come to open the Stargate!"

Jiang He was completely unaware that the sky demon legion was bringing their schedule forward.

He had just returned home, and humming a tune as he harvested mushrooms at the farm.

"The little lass who picks mushroom, carrying a big wicker basket on her back…"

"Sai-luo-luo-li-sai-luo-luo-li-sai…"

[Ding!]

[1,000 Farm Points.]

[Ding!]

[1,000 Farm Points.]

[Ding…]

As the System Notifications jingled one after another in his head, Jiang He's mood soared further.

Soon, he was done picking fifty Doom Shrooms and headed to his yard while waiting for the next batch to grow.

The rice harvested there was piled there.

Dumbo, Trumbo and the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers had done their job quite well to string the rice together into stacks, even forming a battlement with it.

"After today's delay, I would have to wait for tomorrow to eat my fragrant rice."

Jiang He sighed.

He plucked one of the rice grains, peeled its shell and checked the content.

The original appearance of the mutated rice would make it sell well already, and it looks even better now after it was planting in his farm. The finger-joint size grain was extremely ample and crystalline—it could even be used a jewelry after grinding it a little.

Of course, appearances alone were not enough, as the effect also plays a role.

As Jiang He stared at the huge rice grain, a series of data popped up.

[Dragontooth Rice]

[Grade: Premium soul grain]

[A legendary soul grain said to be cultivated by immortals. Strengthens physique, improves spirit and brain, detoxes excesses in the body.]

Tut, tut.

Dragontooth Rice?

Premium soul grain?

A rice that immortals cultivated?

Jiang He sighed in wonder, muttering, "Well, effect is secondary since cucumbers strengthen the body and minds too, and the Shaolin Temple's Tendon Easing Scripture helps to cleanse excesses from the body too. The texture is the most important—it only matters that the big grain rice is delicious."

Since the rice was not reaped with a combine harvester, a threshing machine was needed to deshell the rice.

Still, Jiang He did not have one, and so had to rely on manual labor…

'Well, I could leave the deshelling to Dumbo, Trumbo, and the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers. After that, I'll take the grains to the grinder machine in the city for processing,' Jiang He thought to himself.

There would definitely be a lot of rice grains with such a massive pile.

After all, since the rice was planted from a mutated plant, each rice stalk would yield one catty of grains.

Jiang He had planted over two hundred thousand stalks, meaning that he would get at least two hundred thousand catties of rice.

While that might sound ridiculous…Jiang He decided that it was not much after some calculation.

Whose fault was it that there were so many mouths in his house?

The Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers, Dumbo, Trumbo, the Golden Eaglet, and the Blazing Violet Golden Eaglet all ate rice, and not even three hundred catties would be enough if they ate it freely.

"Let's see if Wang Hou can get more mutated rice. We'll need more reserves in the future since this stuff is needed every day."

Jiang He grinded out several catties of rice with his hand for now before calling Sora and had her cook it to taste the texture. After that, he returned to his farm, took out the two flying swords he got from the Sky Demon Cult's Saint as well as the superior-grade daemonic weapon he got from the water serpent.

"I would have to use Daemonic Qi as offering since the daemonic weapon is too thick with it, but that's too troublesome. Not only would planting it directly rapidly help me dispels the Daemonic Qi—it would improve its grade too."

Digging a hole, Jiang He planted the daemonic weapon and redeemed a pack of Mysterious Soil, which he sprinkled on it before burying it underground.

Then, he planted the two flying swords he procured from the Sky Demon Cult's Saint as well.

Both weapons could be used directly since an inferior-grade and a mediocre-grade soul weapon was assuredly enough for a sword array… still, Jiang He tried planting it anyway. After all, would he not profit if the weapons really did upgrade?

Jiang He only planted the wooden sword he received from Chief Commander Li at the very end, planting it with pomp and circumstance.

After he was done, Jiang He took out a silver combat suit from his System Backpack with a turn of his hand.

He had obtained the combat suit after slaying the Graywolf King. As it was an inferior-grade defensive soul armor, its value was higher than a offensive item of the same level and definitely would not be outshone by mediocre-grade flying swords in valuie.

Moreover, humans could use that combat suit as well.

Regrettably, it was too poor in quality.

The protection from an inferior-grade armor is less than Jiang He's physical defense, and at best a little stronger than the emerald armor that the Cloudscraper Vine morphs into.

In no time at all, the daemonic weapon which Jiang He planted first began sprouting. A sword radiance grew out of the ground, and it was no different form the original daemonic weapon form, although there was now no Daemonic Qi on the sword at all, and the Sword Qi that it now exudes was considerably sharper and stronger too.

Jiang He's eyes lit up.

His hunch was absolutely right!

By adding sufficient Mysterious Soil, the mystic treasures could be upgraded.

For example, he could stand to harvest the daemonic flying sword as a premium-grade item.

After that, the two flying swords that Jiang He had retrieved from the Sky Demon Cult's Saint started growing as well.

Of the two, the mediocre-grade heptaurum sword's radiance was emanating a sharp and golden Sword Qi, dyeing the entire farm a golden hue. On the other hand, the black sword that the Saint stabbed Wang Hou with remained pitched black without changing in any way.

Nonetheless, Jiang He's brightened gaze soon dulled.

What was going on?

Was there a mistake?

The heptaurum sword had clearly improved greatly and would improve by two grades from mediocre soul weapon to premium soul weapon from the rate of its growth.

However, the black sword remained no different.

What was this?

Why was this happening?

Could the improvement of a mystic treasure's grade depend on chance?

The black sword was not upgraded even though the two other flying swords which were originallly of superior quality had improved?

"This damned farm. Could it be treating the black sword differently because this sword was used to stabbed Wang Hou before?" Jiang He complained, hence coming to a decision…

When he had no use for the sword, he would just give it to Wang Hou since it could be considered commemorative.

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Chapter 281: Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud

Even as Jiang He complained, the sudden 'snikt' of a sword sounded as a blue Sword Qi shot out from beneath the ground, covering the entire farm.

At that very moment, the other three soul swords hummed gently as if fearing that blue Sword Qi, and even the radiance of their edges dulled considerably.

Jiang He turned to look and found that a blue sword radiance slowly growing out of the ground right beside him.

The wooden sword had taken root and was sprouting!

Jiang He's face twitched as he looked closely. He saw that the seemingly plain and ordinary wooden sword was now glimmering with a faint blue sword light throughout. Even the markings upon it that resembled tree rings were now flickering.

Drawn to the brilliance shining off the wooden rings, Jiang He was left in a trance even as he looked.

When he finally came to his senses, he found…

"Huh?"

"Is that… wood will?"

Jiang He was stunned. He had merely been staring at the wooden markings for just a dozen seconds and yet, he had managed to grasp wooden will already. It was simply unbelievable, though he found it reasonable after some thought.

He had been farming everyday and interacting with his crops, so would it not make sense that he grasped wood will?

Of course, the primary reason was the wooden markings on the sword.

Those natural patterns seemed to contain a distinct character to it and appeared no different from describing a profound truth as its radiance glimmered.

Nonetheless, the swords were not 'ripe' though the new batch of Doom Shrooms could be harvested now. As such, Jiang He went off to get them before turning around, finding that the first item he planted—the black daemonic weapon—had already stopped growing.

He walked a few steps ahead, arriving before the daemonic weapon as he reached out and grasped, drawing it out from amidst its faint sword radiance.

[Ding!]

[10,000 Farm Points.]

The pitch-black longsword that exuded a cold, sinister qi hovered atop Jiang He's hand, its pale glint making it appear as a hair-raising sight. Stunned, Jiang He mumbled in surprise, "Is that…poison light?"

"Why does that poison light look shinier than when the water serpent stabbed me with it? Could its poison light have become more potent?"

"All I wanted was to plant a soul weapon… his ridiculous farm! Upgrading the flying sword to a premium soul weapon is completely enough, why would you strengthen its poison too?"

Jiang He scowled and was at a loss for words.

I, Jiang He, had always been straight and honest. Why would I resort to poison?

Moreover, the poison is not that powerful—three Bezoar Detox Pills down the stomach and problem solved.

What Jiang He did not know, however, was that the water serpent was among the most poisonous of creatures. After incessant cultivation and evolving, its venom had strengthened further, and being one of the strongest Feral Emperors, even True Child cultivators would have to keep their distance.

It had spent seven years using its own venom sac to refine the sword and maximize the toxin of the superior-grade daemonic weapon. Without a high-grade antidote pellet, True Child cultivators struck by that sword would promptly be poisoned, losing their mana and dropping considerably in combat ability. In serious cases, they would be maimed or die as their True Child cultivation dissolved.

But now that the farm had strengthened it, it was so poisonous that even a full-fledged True Child cultivator would not survive it and Yuan Spirit cultivators would be affected considerably as well.

As Jiang He stared at the sword, a batch of data popped up.

[Sunflower Water Sword]

[Grade: Premium soul weapon]

[Sacrifice a drop of blood to use.]

"Another premium-grade flying sword with the water attribute?"

Jiang He shook his head. He already had the Autumn Water Sword—that said, it was the more the better when it comes to premium-grade flying swords, and no one would complain about having too many. After all, in the Era of Qi Refinists 2,000 years ago, a premium-grade soul weapon was extremely precious and even full-fledged Yuan Spirit cultivators wielded it.

Even with the Sky Demon Cult's Saint being royalty among the sky demons, the crescent blade that she wielded was only superior-grade.

After that, Jiang He turned towards the Heptaurum Sword that was breathing golden Sword Qi.

He reached out to plucked the full-golden sword that floated within the sword light…

[Ding!]

[10,000 Farm Points.]

A System Notification jingled in his head. As Jiang He focused his gaze, a batch of data appeared before his eyes.

[Esoteric Golden Sword]

[Grade: Premium Soul Weapon]

[Sacrifice a drop of blood to use.]

Delight showed on Jiang He's face. This was the fourth premium-grade flying sword now, and most importantly, it was one with the metal attribute. Counting in the sage weapon, he would have flying swords of all four elements—metal, wood, water, and fire, and an additional premium-grade flying sword of the soul weapon. Add one more earth-attribute premium-grade flying sword to the mix and he would be able to cast the Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses.

Jiang He even estimated that should he really learn it, it would not be a problem for him to turn the tables against a Yuan Spirit cultivator with his Golden Pellet abilities.

"Hmmm…"

"Still, turning the tables against a Yuan Spirit is still a little low…I could achieve the same end if I cultivate the Twenty-Three Swords on top of that with much less effort!"

The Twenty-Three Swords specialized in cutting down Yuan Spirits after all.

Meanwhile, Jiang He estimated that it would take over two hours to reap the wooden sword since it was a sage weapon and grew much slower than the other swords. Hence, he promptly took out the 'little bell' that he had dented with a turn of his hand.

He learned from the Dragoncroc Emperor that it was called the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud.

Clearly…

It was another mystic treasure, fashioned in imitation of another natural soul treasure.

Legend had it the there were twelve golden immortals ranking beneath the founders of the Sect of Enlightenment. Of the twelve, the True Habitant of Taiyi possessed a mystic treasure known as the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud, which he had restrained and burned the Rocky Empress with.

Be that as it may, Jiang He was a little let down as he fiddled around with the little bell. Sighing softly, he said, "Such a shame. My farm has limitations and any crops planted cannot be replanted as a seed. Otherwise, I would've planted this thing dozens or even hundreds of times and I just might restore it to its natural soul treasure grade in the myth, making it comparable to the genuine Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud."

Of course, he could only fantasize about it inwardly.

Hence, Jiang He personally dug a hole in the ground to plant the dented counterfeit Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud.

He was just finished when he heard a noise from another corner of the farm. Trumbo, the Golden Eaglets, and the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers were suddenly fighting.

Jiang He looked out to find that all of them were actually standing on one side as they denounced Dumbo together, who was laughing coolly as it stood on two feet, adjusting its baggy pants as it spoke coolly, "What a bunch of fools. You lot are actually coming together to fight daddy? Don't you know who Master values most?"

Hah!

Jiang He could not help sneering.

What a bunch of fools…

It was as if Dumbo was driving a car and slamming into the faces of Trumbo, the Golden Eaglets, and the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers.

In the meantime, Jiang He had brought out a small stool and grabbed a pinch of sunflowers to start munching on.

It was such a shame he had no watermelons or he could munch on it while he enjoyed the show.

Still, Jiang He was forced to speak out after watching for several minutes as that doggone crowd looked like they were ready to fight.

"What's going on?"

When he called Dumbo to him with a frown, the dog's face appeared utterly miserable and tearful. It dropped down to its knees at Jiang He's feet, crying, "Master, please defend my honor…those doggone things are blaming me for stashing Orirocks…"

"Eh?"

While Jiang He was left puzzled, it continued, "I didn't stash anything! I shared every Orirock that Master gave us for cultivation, giving everyone an equal share of fifty Orirocks—nothing more, nothing less."

Jiang He was left speechless.

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Chapter 282: Sky Daemon War Armor

Jiang He suddenly remembered that Dumbo could not do math

Oh…

Actually, he could, although he was lacking a little, with the ability to only count to fifty.

Musing to himself for a few seconds, Jiang He then stared at Dumbo and asked, "How did you actually share out the Orirocks?"

"Everyone gets fifty."

Dumbo was acting very upset, even feigning wiping tears with its paws as it howled tearfully like wolfdogs did, saying, "I had even let them take first and then took what remained. Good for them, but they started arguing and say that I was hogging the Orirocks."

Meanwhile, Jiang He had already imagined the scene.

He had given Dumbo a total of 1,000 Orirocks.

After it had given each of the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers, the two Golden Eagles, Trumbo fifty Orirocks, it would have 500 Orirocks remaining…actually, that was incorrect since Dumbo could only count to fifty and anything more than that would still remain as fifty.

That was why Dumbo saw no issue since it had taken 'fifty' Orirocks as well.

It seemed that some education needs to be brought ahead of schedule.

Unable to hold back his laughter, Jiang He took out another 1,000 Orirocks and threw it out.

This time, he left the job of distribution to Trumbo, the most cultured individual in the farm.

Being both full-fledged rank-nine Ferals now, Dumbo and Trumbo had assumed different paths of evolving after cultivating Sky Daemon Invincibility, and could evolve to Daemonic Pellet tier once they condensed their Daemonic Pellets.

After some thought, Jiang He took out the three Condensed Pellet Fruits that was planted from the Graywolf King's corpse and handed one to both pets, saying, "These Condensed Pellet Fruits would help daemons cultivate their pellets. You two may take them now to ascend now."

Delighted, both Dumbo and Trumbo wordlessly ate the fruits once they had received them before scattering off to a corner in the farm to cultivate.

Condensing Daemonic Pellets required the support of substantial Daemonic qi, which was an incredibly difficult step for daemonic cultivators. They would spend months or even years to absorb Yuan Qi, converting it into their own Daemonic Qi to slowly condense their Daemonic Pellets.

And yet, neither Dumbo nor Trumbo had to consider that stuff. Leaving aside having substantial Orirocks, the Yuan Qi in Jiang He's farm was thirty times thicker than the outside, enough for them to safely ascend.

At the same time, the two Golden Eaglets were improving rapidly as well, with the Golden Eaglet having reached rank-eight intermediate while the mutated Blazing Violet Golden Eaglet reaching rank-eight advanced.

In fact, they did not even need cultivation, for their bloodline was so powerful that they just need to mature to ascend as Feral Emperors.

Furthermore, having learned Sky Daemon Invincibility, used the Orirocks, and cultivated in the farm with its concentrated Yuan Qi, their cultivation was progressing by leaps and bounds.

"They would probably condense their Daemonic Pellets in half a month if they continue with such progress. They could be my mount when the time comes and I don't have to fly everywhere by myself."

Jiang He thought then that one should not focus on how Royal Sword Flight covered several thousand miles in a whoosh, because having to run everywhere on his own for over two hours each day was exhausting.

Moreover, when he was flying alone atop the clouds, he found it monotonous and boring after the initial excitement and delight faded.

He then turned to look at the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers who were each gnawing at nitrogen fertilizers.

They bodies were emanating powerful blade will, having almost grasped it by 40%. Their natural disposition was so excellent that consuming nitrogen fertilizers alone improve their cultivation, and it got quicker after they absorbed the Yuan Qi from Orirocks and breathed a dozen air blades every day. Being able to improve their blade will with those techniques certainly made reaching divine-tier easy.

'Maybe I could give them a strengthening boot camp to have them ascend in the shortest time possible, and they could help me fight when the sky demon legion arrives,' Jiang He thought then, and he found that the plan was not bad.

Of course, the most important element there was the Cloudscraper Vine. It had evolved rapidly after devouring the corpse of the Dragoncroc Emperor, and so, Jiang He threw it the corpse of the water serpent as well as a few hundred Orirocks.

It would probably evolve again after eating those.

As much as it was voracious, the Cloudscraper Vine's digestive system was fantastic enough to finish everything in around three days and reach Emperor rank. When that happened, it would be the vanguard while Dumbo, Trumbo and the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers backed it up, and their combat ability would definitely not lose out to Wang Hou!

Boom!

Nonetheless, Yuan Qi suddenly stormed just as Jiang He planned for the future. Dumbo reared its head skyward and barked, its aura abruptly expanding.

It was crouching on the ground, Daemonic Qi rolling off its body while a Daemonic Pellet hovered. At the same time, scores of Yuan Qi was surging towards the pellet, continuously strengthening and refining it.

Beside Dumbo, Trumbo's aura was changing too.

Jiang He's gaze twitched and he grasped from across thin air, dumping Trumbo over at another corner.

The feline's aura was a little unstable as it opened its eyes and looked over. In response, Jiang He barked, "Focus on your own ascension and don't waste anything. Condense the Daemonic pellet as soon as you can."

What were those two fools doing hanging together?

Thought there were abundant Yuan Qi in his farm, these two would affect each other if they were too close. There was no stopping it if something unexpected were to happen and the Daemonic Pellet blew up.

Still, Jiang He was a little envious at the sight of the cat and dog condensing their Daemonic Pellets.

How nice.

They could experience the physical thrill of almost ascending while he could not enjoy that at all. Even after having cultivated for so long, the best occasion was when his ascension lasted for three seconds before it was over.

Ascending too quickly sucked.

It was over before he could feel the thrill—how could that be good?

Withdrawing his envious gaze, Jiang He looked down at the spot where he planted silver armor and could not help chuckling. There was actually a mannequin, just like the ones at clothing stores.

And the silver armor that he planted was crowing over the mannequin.

While it had clearly strengthened considerably after being planted, the most important part was that it had become much cooler.

"Tut, tut."

"So cool!"

"No matter how its defense is, that design is enough. Only a war armor that cool matches me!"

Jiang He walked up. Reaching out his hand with a grasp, he pulled the silver armor off the mannequin.

[Ding!]

[20,000 Farm Points.]

The System Notifications left Jiang He taken aback. After all, each premium-grade flying sword only earned him 10,000 Farm Points when he harvested them, and yet the silver armor rewarded him with 20,000.

His eyes shifted towards the silver armor in his hand, and a batch of data appeared before his eyes.

[Sky Daemon War Armor]

[Grade: Premium soul item.]

[Sacrifice a drop of blood to use.]

It was another premium-grade item as expected and in fact, Jiang He had guessed it when he heard '20,000 Farm Points'.

Still, a guess was a merely a guess. Jiang He could not help being delighted when he saw the grade of the war armor. Having premium-grade protective armor, and a soul item at that, was quite nice. Otherwise, it would not be all that useful if it was only superior-grade and looked cool on him, since his own physical defense was equal to a superior-grade item.

With this armor offering both protection and coolness, was it not the best of both worlds?

That said, the only thing Jiang He wanted to complain a little about was the name of the armor…

Sky Daemon War Armor?

He was no daemon, so why Sky Daemon War Armor?

Still, he found it reasonable after some thought. After all, he had obtained it from the heritage site of a daemonic cultivator. Since the daemonic cultivation method inherited there was called the Sky Daemon Invincibility, it was normal that the inherited combat suit was called the Sky Daemon War Armor.

"Sky Daemon…"

Jiang He appeared thoughtful. According to the Sky Daemon Invincibility's categorization of daemonic cultivators, 'Sky Daemon' was a tier.

Condensed Pellet, Morphling, Refined Soul, Sky Daemon.

And Sky Daemons would probably be Convergence-tier for human cultivators.

"Damn it!"

"To think that the heritage left by a great daemon who reached Sky Daemon-tier is so barren… Just a set of war armor and the Sky Daemon Invincibility technique aside from a counterfeit Immortal Cutting Flying Gourd?" Jiang He could not help complaining.

Nevertheless, he bit through his finger and dripped a drop of blood on the Sky Daemon War Armor.

Soon, the armor was refined.

At Jiang He's thought, the Sky Daemon War Armor latched on in its own over his body before withdrawing itself into his body with another.

"Hmm?"

Jiang He's eyes twitched as he noticed another function of the Sky Daemon War Armor then…

The armor could transform into T-shirts, trousers, jeans, wool clothes, and even laced underwear. That delighted Jiang He—did that not mean he would not have to buy clothes?

Normal clothing was poor since they tore if he used just a little use of strength. On the other hand, he could change into any form of clothing as he wished whenever he stepped out of the door, nor did he have to worry about tearing during fights, making it so utterly useful.

With a single thought, the Sky Daemon War Armor turned into a suit over his body.

Using his mana to conjure a mirror, he looked at his reflection closely and was left a little disappointed…

No shirt.

No tie either.

"Maybe I could get another inner armor similar to the Sky Daemon War Armor, which I could use to transform into shirts. As for ties…"

Jiang He vaguely remembered most female cultivators in immortal novels loved their laces or floating belts, and feathery rainbow dresses if they were a little richer. In fact, everything from their hairbands, headbands, hairpins, and even earrings were mystic treasures.

Perhaps he could imitate them and get lacey mystic treasures—one that changed into ties.

"With that, I could learn item refinement as well…it's a little unacceptable not knowing how to do that as a cultivator."

Collecting his thoughts, Jiang He turned towards the black sword that was once inside Wang Hou.

It was now ripe for the plucking.

Being fully-pitch-black, it appeared quite mundane when compared to the other swords. There was nothing like shiny Sword Qi flickering upon it, and it was simply normal and perfectly plain.

Jiang He assumed that it was an example of 'failed strengthening', like planting a tree which died when it was no more than a sprout.

Still, he was taken aback when he plucked the black sword.

A System Notification jingled in his head—

[Ding!]

[10,000 Farm Points]

What?

The seemingly plain inferior-grade black sword was actually strengthened up to a premium-grade soul weapon?

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Chapter 283: Superior Sage Weapon: Bluewood Sword

[Nameless Sword]

[Grade: Premium Soul Weapon]

[Sacrifice a drop of blood for use.]

Jiang He stared at the batch of data for quite a while, seething, "Oh, System, System, you really are such a genius at naming… Nameless Sword? Nameless Sword!? You can't think of a better name, can you?"

That said, after thinking about it for a while…

Nameless Sword, Nameless Sword… it was quite awesome.

With that, he sacrificed a drop of blood.

Still, his eyes lit up after he fully refined the Nameless Sword and familiarized himself with its abilities.

The flying sword possessed the earth-attribute, meaning that he definitely could cast the Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses of the Nameless Sword array.

Be that as it may, he was left a little hesitant after his initial delight.

This black sword which no light could escape from is actually earth-type?

Everyone knew that earth could be divided to black earth, red earth, and yellow earth. Black earth, however, refered to soil suitable for growing crops and merely had a dark hue, and not something pitch-black like that.

"Perhaps the sword was forged by a sky demon smelter and their black earth is that black…"

Jiang He usually would not think about stuff that he would not understand.

After a glance at the wooden sword that was still in 'puberty', he found that the wooden sword was not glinting as sharply as it had been before. The blue Sword Qi that covered the entire farm had already receded with only a blue shroud of sword radiance covering its edge, though the circular wooden patterns on top of it appeared even more mysterious now.

With that, Jiang He promptly withdrew his gaze, afraid of looking further.

He would gain epiphany with a few more glances, therein grasping wood will.

Grasping another Boundary of Will is a good thing, but was there not a time and place for everything? It had already been two hours since Sora cooked his meal, and he had yet to eat.

He checked the time on his phone.

"It's already two in the morning…it would be another three hours until the wooden sword ripens though the Doom Shroom would be ripe soon. I'll reap the Doom Shrooms after eating and it would be around five in the morning when the next batch of Doom Shrooms and the wooden sword is ready for the plucking."

Jiang He had filled his schedule to the brim.

Moreover, he had made an extremely difficult decision right then…

He was not sleeping tonight!

He was not feeling drowsy anyway and trying to brew some drowsiness for a couple of hours was too much of a waste of time.

With that, he headed inside his mansion.

Even though the rice had been cooked over two hours ago, the inside of the mansion was still wafting with its fragrant aroma. It was a scent that revitalizes the mind once it reached the nose, grandly whetting one's appetite.

Jiang He could not help recalling the classical quote of a certain martial grandmaster—

'I want to fight ten men…'

Oh, that's not it. It should be 'I want to eat ten bowls'!

He washed his hands and headed to the dinner table.

Sora was not asleep even though it was already two in the morning. Dressed in her sexy maid costume, she stood beside Jiang He as he ate…well, there was no helping it. A maid's lifestyle had always been that harsh.

She served him a bowl of rice steamed cook from the premium-grade soul grain—the Dragontooth Rice.

The grains were large and ample, and it had a crystalline hue. It was as if the bowl was not holding rice but pearls.

Jiang He held a single grain with his chopsticks and gently put it in his mouth. Then, imitating the gourmets in movies, he closed his eyes as he chewed it softly.

A faint rice aroma unfurled within his mouth…

A thought abruptly occurred to Jiang He then—

Is this…

The feeling of first love?

That would be a joke.

How outstanding would it be to feel first love from eating rice? At best…it would be the feeling of one's first kiss.

Jiang He hence went to work, devouring three large bowls of rice along with the scrumptious stir-fried eggplant over meat. He usually ate two bowls, and though by logic he should be feeling a little stuffed with three bowls, he did not feel that way at all.

Instead, he felt his entire body relaxing and becoming spirited after his meal. He even noticed a 'crystal-clear' sensation to his physique, which may be the Dragontooth Rice at work.

Though it was no miracle medicine or spirit pellet and no obvious effect would be observed from a single meal, said effects would definitely become outstanding when consumed over long periods of time.

Then, Jiang He settled on his sofa after dinner as he usually did.

Crossing his legs on the tea table and leaning back, he whipped out a bottle of rank-nine Origin Fluids and had a few sips.

Such little days could not be more leisurely.

And yet…

Once Jiang He remembered that the sky demon legion would descend upon Lingzhou City in ten days and would shatter his leisurely days, he could not help feeling pressured. Unable to care about rest, he got to his feet, heading out to his farm to work.

Meanwhile, Sora was done washing the dishes and she quietly slipped beside Jiang He, asking coquettishly, "Shall I warm your bed tonight, Master?"

"No need!"

Jiang He refused staunchly at once without offering an inch of compromise, saying, "It's already three in the morning! Hurry upstairs and go to sleep. I still have farming to do!"

With that, he headed straight to the farm where another batch of Doom Shrooms was ripe.

[Ding!]

[1,000 Farm Points.]

[Ding!]

[1,000 Farm Points…]

Jiang He checked his System after the Doom Shrooms were plucked. The Farm Points he finished spending just a few days ago had reached the million mark once again, and after all the Doom Shrooms were harvested, he would have accumulated over 1.7 million Farm Points after planting the other soul weapons, war armor, wooden sword.

1.7 million…

It was far from enough.

The third fold of the Three Thousand Calamites alone needed three million Farm Points.

Moreover, it was time to learn the second and third style of the Twenty-Three Swords—both Yuan Spirit cutting sword techniques would cost 500,000 Farm Points.

And then there was the fourth fold of the Nine Heavenly Stars Body Formula…

Don't even think about it. That costs five million Farm Points!

Of course, Jiang He would increase substantially in ability if he could gain mastery over the fourth fold of the Nine Heavenly Stars Body Formula. When that happened, his physical strength alone would be equal to a full-fledged Yuan Spirit and his iron fists could blow up most Yuan Spirit elites, not to mention that his physical guard would be comparable to premium-grade soul weapons, making him a raging dragon in human form.

"I mustn't get ahead of myself."

'I should set little targets for myself. For example, I should first cultivate the third fold of the Three Thousand Calamities before the sky demon's legion descend upon us, as well as complete my cultivation as a True Child. There is also the second and third style of the Twenty Swords, the Sword Array of Yin-Yang and Three Realms, the Sword Array of Four Harmonies and Universality, as well as the Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses."

Jiang He made an estimation.

He would need around 4.5 million Farm Points for that.

It left Jiang He missing the days when he had planted Orirocks to earn Farm Points, which was really easy to earn back then.

Meanwhile, the wooden sword had yet to ripen even now, although the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud was.

Now, a single bald tree towered in the center of the farm, with a mantle dangling from the thickest and strongest branch.

The mantle looked completely different from the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud, which was just a bronze bell and appeared very plain. On the other hand, the cloak that was planted was fully scarlet, and there were fiery patterns marked on it, as well as the vivid sculpting of nine dragons on the outside.

Effect notwithstanding, the appearance alone was much better than what the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud had been.

What the heck was that bronze bell?

Does it even deserve the name Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud?

Jiang He walked up and plucked the mantle from the branch.

[Ding!]

[30,000 Farm Points]

A System Notification jingled in his head.

Jiang He could not help reacting—

30,000 Farm Points!

It was ten thousand more than the Farm Points rewarded from the Sky Daemon War Armor. Even so, the planted Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud was still a premium-grade soul weapon, having yet to surpass that grade to reach the superior grade of sage weapons.

Jiang He understood just then.

Did that not mean that even though they were all premium-grade soul items, the value of the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud was much greater than a premium-grade war armor, and was worth three premium-grade flying swords?

Blooddrop, refinement.

Jiang He could not help clicking his tongue in wonder, having quickly familiarized himself with the function of the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud. "No wonder it's worth 30,000 Farm Points." He sighed. "It could kill, bind and, during a critical moment, defend after giving an offering. Isn't it the strongest premium-grade soul treasure there is?"

As the thought struck Jiang He, he charged the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud.

Oom!

With a flash of scarlet radiance, the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud expanded against the wind, rapidly expanding to ten Mu as it hovered in the air. Outside, its nine vivid godly dragons seemed to have come to life, turning into nine fiery dragons that breathed fire under the mantle.

Moreover, the fires they were breathing were not ordinary flames but True Samadhi Flames. Jiang He had a hunch that despite his strong physique, he would be cooked in seconds and reduced to ashes if he were caught by the True Samadhi Flames.

It would incinerate even Yuan Spirit elites!

"What a fine treasure."

Jiang He thought as he put away the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud, 'When the sky demons open the Stargate, I can cover the shroud over its entrance directly and release the True Samadhi Flames, burning away scores of them if there weren't any champions amongst their ranks…'

'Moreover, I can use it in tandem with the Doom Shrooms.'

'I'll throw in hundreds of Doom Shrooms when the Stargate opens, and instantly seal it with the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud…'

Jiang He's eyes lit up, but soon shook his head with a pained laugh. 'However, even my Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud would be blown to pieces if I do that…'

Then, the wooden sword was finally ripe around five in the morning.

[Ding!]

[200,000 Farm Points.]

Jiang He walked up, plucked the wooden sword and fixed his gaze upon it—

[Bluewood Sword]

[Grade: Superior sage weapon]

[Forged from a ten-thousand-year-old Thunderstruck Tree, the great truth of wood is contained within this sword. All evil goes into hiding once this sword is unsheathed, cutting down ghosts and gods alike.]

[Sacrifice a drop of blood for use.]

Imbuing a blooddrop to refine the Bluewood Sword, Jiang He felt out the effect of the Bluewood Sword… to find in surprise that aside from buffs when used against ghost and daemons alike, it was not as awesome as the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud.

Of course, that was mainly because Jiang He's cultivation was too low to truly unleash the might of the sage weapon.

As their name would suggest, sage weapons held the truth of the universe. Generally, only Convergence-tier elites could utterly release the power of such weapons.

Meanwhile, the next batch of Doom Shrooms was ripe and it was past seven when Jiang He was done harvesting them.

"Awooooo!"

That was when a wolf's howl suddenly echoed. It was Dumbo, who was beside itself with smugness, rearing its head skyward as it shrieked bizarrely.

At the same time, Trumbo was done ascending over at another corner too.

"Alright!"

"Alright!'

Jiang He nodded, feeling quite pleased inside. Still, those his pets were now a little stronger, the difficult part comes soon.

At Condensed Pellet tier, they would have to use daemonic weapons.

As Jiang He had use for every treasure he possessed, he had nothing to spare…

"It seems that not creating an item refinement manual wouldn't do…"

Jiang he found himself pen and paper, closed his eyes. Still, just as he was ready to apply his knowledge in item refinement, a car honk sounded from outside his gates.

Jiang He left the farm to find Mu Wanqiu approaching in spandex that hugs her stunning figure. Once they locked gazes, she went straight to the point. "Why do you keep turning off your phone, Jiang He? My grandfather has been wanting to speak to you but he couldn't reach you."

Phone?

A little lost for words, Jiang He promptly whipped out his phone from his System Backpack.

"That old dog Cheng Jingzhou!" he exclaimed. "He even bragged to me how this was the most advanced satellite phone in the military and would get signal everywhere. Why can't I receive a call once I put it inside Void Storage?!"

Report chapter

Chapter 284: The Superpower Research Department

"Jiang He, did you really wipe out the Sky Demon Cult alone?"

"Not exactly."

"That's what I was saying. How could you wipe out such a behemoth like the Sky Demon Cult all by yourself?"

Mu Wanqiu chuckled over the sofa in the mansion. "Do tell, were you hiding a bunch of help in secret?"

That left Jiang He a little speechless and he replied earnestly, "Where would I get help from?"

"I mean to say that as long as the Elders and the Holy Children of the Sky Demon Cult survive, they aren't really wiped out."

Mu Wanqiu rolled her eyes, unwilling to continue speaking with Jiang He.

To tell the truth, when she received her grandfather's call and was learned about the incident, she was left dumbstruck and only recovered over a dozen minutes later.

After all, Jiang He was around rank-four when they first met, when he killed a Sky Demon Cult beast tamer, another rank-four cultist, and over a dozen rank-ones and rank-two Feral at a cornfield behind Jinyintan Village.

Jiang He was a little wet behind the ears back then, even a little thuggish and often teasing Mu Wanqiu at the drop of a hat. She certainly did not expect that the tall, muscular, handsome, and imposing youth before her had reached unimaginable heights in the blink of an eye.

Being raised in a military compound herself, Mu Wanqiu did not grow up hearing about Andersen's fairy tales. Instead, she heard the old people speak of heroes on the battlefields, which was why she worshiped the strong and the gallant at a young age.

And right now, Jiang He was one of those composites of strength and gallantry, and most importantly, he was handsome.

Even as she chatted away with Jiang He, her cheeks reddened for some reason after she thought about something, her maiden heart hence pounding incessantly.

Then, Jiang He's phone started ringing in the middle of the conversation.

Mu Wanqiu craned her neck to check the caller and said, "It's my grandfather."

Jiang He answered.

A booming voice spoke from the other end of the call, going straight to the point. "Mister Jiang, I'm Mu Yanming from the Superpower Research Department. Minister Wang had spoken to me about the recipe for the medicinal pellets."

"How do you do, Elder Mu?"

Jiang He greeted the man before asking about the discovery of the medicinal pellets.

Old Mu did not hold back from Jiang He either and explained, "Back then, a total of 4,380 medicine pellets which lost all medicinal values along with twenty-eight pellet recipes were obtained from the heritage site. The qi pellets, blended qi pellets as well as the initiation pellets and the yuan pellets that our department are researching right now were all concocted through those pellet recipes."

"I will give you a copy of all twenty-eight pellet recipes. As for the 4,380 pellets that have lost their medicinal value… we've actually crushed a lot of those in the last few years we were studying them, and less than two thousand are left now. Shall I arrange for someone to send them to you, Mister Jiang?"

Jiang He thought about it and said, "How about this, Elder Lin—could you tell me where the Superpower Research Department is specifically? I'll come visit myself."

"Very well."

Old Mu did not hesitate and laughed, "By the way, my granddaughter is over at your place, isn't she? She knows where it is."

After that, Jiang He hung up.

He turned to look at Mu Wanqiu, who whipped out her phone and drafted a message, saying, "Shall I send you the detailed location of the Superpower Research Department headquarters?"

"There's no need for such hassle."

Jiang He smiled. "You could come with me and give directions, can't you?"

"Eh?"

Mu Wanqiu did a double take before quickly saying, "That won't do! A round trip would take at least two days at least and I still have much work to do."

"Why would we need two days?"

Jiang He was speechless.

Who are you belittling here?

How fast am I, Jiang He?

Just around two hours is enough. Moreover, it is just past seven right now and we would still be in time for breakfast when we get back.

The reason he had suggested going to the Superpower Research Department was because having their people sending the stuff would be too slow. He quickly said, "Please wait a while. We'll be leaving soon."

With that, Jiang He headed straight into his farm.

The batch of fifty Doom Shrooms were ripe. After plucking them, Jiang He left the farm and released the Autumn Water Sword at a thought.

Ooom!

The Autumn Water Sword promptly morphed into its Sword Qi: a water curtain hovering up in the air.

Grabbing Mu Wanqiu and leaping atop the Sword Qi, he spurred the Autumn Water Sword on and streaked towards Jingdu City, leaving Mu Wanqiu gaping. Unable to regain her senses from the shock as Jiang He casted Royal Sword Flight, she only reacted after half a day. "So quick… is this twice the speed of sound?"

"A little over thrice the speed of sound."

Jiang He sat crossed legged on the water curtain Sword Qi, grabbing a handful of Purple Golden Sunflower Seeds and giving half to Mu Wanqiu, smiling as he munched on his portion, "In a straight line, the distance from Lingzhou City to Jingdu City is around 1,100 kilometers. Since my Royal Sword Flight is thrice the speed of sound, we'll reach Jingdu City in fifteen minutes."

Mu Wanqiu stared blankly as she munched on the sunflower seeds, inwardly finding everything unrealistic.

Royal Sword Flight and munching on sunflower seeds over the clouds…it was an experience that most would not even dare imagine.

Hence, as she spaced out, she did not notice that she was holding the Purple Golden Sunflower Seeds and kept munching it with Jiang He. Then, her body shivered out of the blue and she exclaimed in shock, "Did my spirit just strengthen?"

"F*ck me, are these Purple Golden Sunflower Seeds?"

Jiang He scowled and said, "Calm down. Aren't they just some sunflower seeds? Do you need to be that shocked? And don't you know how inappropriate it is for a woman like you to mouth profanity?"

Mu Wanqiu blushed, noticing her loss of composure as well. "Sorry," she quickly said, "I lost myself a little there."

Though Jiang He was flying up to thrice the speed of light with Royal Sword Flight, there were no winds as they sat atop the sword. All they could see was the rivers and lakes beneath, as well as mountains and cities that kept flying past.

Soon, they arrived at Jingdu City.

Following Mu Wanqiu's directions, Jiang He stopped around ten kilometers outside Jingdu City at a research base. There were military squads stationed outside along with parties of martial artist that the Superpower Research Department groomed on their own.

They landed then.

A soldier promptly approached them, extending a hand to halt both Jiang He and Mu Wanqiu as he barked, "This is a restricted area and outsiders are prohibited. Do the two of you have passes?"

Mu Wanqiu explained things a little before taking out her phone to call her grandfather. Minutes later, an old man in a large white lab coat arrived to receive them along with several other middle-aged men and women.

"Grandfather!"

Mu Wanqiu snuggled up to the old man, greeting him adorably.

The man in the lab coat smiled kindly. Though most granddads would often have a few words with their granddaughters at such occasions, he knows that now was not the time for chatter and promptly turned to Jiang He, asking, "Xiao Qiu, would this be Mister Jiang?"

Jiang He stepped up and smiled. "Elder Mu. You may call me Jiang He."

They shook hands and Old Mu introduced the various feats Jiang He had accomplished to the others. He even emphasized how Jiang He had foiled the Sky Demon Cult's schemes many times and wiped them out all by himself, as well as the Feral Kings and Feral Emperors that he had slain, leaving the many researchers of the Superpower Research Department spacing out from his stories.

Clearly…

These researches had always been busying themselves with research and did not take notice about news of the outside. Jiang He even glimpsed that one of them, a middle-aged man, had such a messy beard that he must have not shaved for over a month.

Another female researcher who looked around her forties had skin on the side dark. From a single glance, it was obvious she had been busy researching over long nights and did not care for any upkeep.

Nevertheless, though these people were not fighting in the frontlines or fighting Ferals, their contribution did not fall short in comparison to the elites fighting on the frontlines. Others aside, the development of the qi pellets and blended qi pellets not only helped martial artists rapidly improve their cultivation but had also allowed them to recuperate True Qi rapidly, which was equal to increasing their lifespans by half.

Still, the researchers showered such incredible flattery over Jiang He after learning about his feats, so much so that it left him a little embarrassed.

The bearded research turned towards Old Mu then and sighed, "Your Xiao Qiu is really blessed, Professor Mu, to be able to get such a young and prodigious boyfriend…It seems that my silly son back home doesn't stand a chance."

"Bleh!!!"

Mu Wanqiu's cheeks promptly flushed, "Please don't misunderstand—Jiang He and I are just friends, Uncle Wang."

She sneaked a glance at Jiang He even as she spoke, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Jiang He was smiling but saying nothing.

After having a few more words with the researches, Old Mu said, "Come on, Jiang He. I'll take you to our research center for a look."

"Sorry for the trouble, Elder Mu."

Beside them, Mu Wanqiu was pouting and said on purposed, "You're so partial, Gramps. I've been wanting to visit your research center many times but you've never brought me there. On the other hand, you're letting Jiang He in just minutes after knowing him?"

The group hence laughed as they headed to base and entered an elevator that goes below ground.

They were not actually excessively reverent towards Jiang He's ability and merely showing typical respect toward all he had accomplished.

It was quite a good feeling for Jiang He, at least—in the end, he was just a martial arts newbie and novice immortal cultivator. How dull would it be if everyone who saw him were shaking in their boots upon seeing him?

Meanwhile, the elevator descended several dozen meters before stopping.

Jiang He followed the others out of the elevator and could not help being left shocked by the scene before him…

It was a vast space filled with various state-of-the-art equipment, apparatus, and busy researchers. It looked like a scene right out of a science fiction story.

"The Superpower Research Department is the largest lab in the Hua Nation and is divided to multiple departments: military technology, ancient history research, and deciphering cultivation methods. We, on the other hand, specialize in medicinal pellets."

Acting as a tour guide, Old Mu led Jiang He on several leisure strolls around the underground base before they eventually arrived before a huge door forged entirely from S-grade alloys.

Stepping forward, Old Mu stepped forward, scanning his fingerprint and retina as he explained smugly, "This door is made entirely from S-grade alloys and is 1.2 meters thick…"

Gasp!

Mu Wanqiu inhaled sharply.

A 1.2 meter-thick door forged fully from S-grade alloys!

Perhaps…

It would be very solid?

Hmmm…

That really seemed to be the case after coming to think of it, but it would blow up anyway after one punch from Jiang He even if it was twice thicker.

Report chapter

Chapter 285: Initiation Pellets

Old Mu's territory was behind the S-grade alloy door.

It was the lab for researching medicinal pellets and was huge with a large number of personnel.

All of them turned towards Jiang He when they saw him, appearing rather curious since the lab for researching medicinal pellets was a restricted area and not just anyone was allowed to enter.

Meanwhile, Old Mu led Jiang He straight to his own office, where a security vault stood.

Old Mu opened the vault door and everyone was greeted by the sight of innumerable racks welded on the alloy walls with over a thousand porcelain bottles kept over them.

"Ever since we obtained the medicinal pellets, we've broken a lot of them in our research. These are all that's left."

Old Mu went up and took a porcelain bottle off the rack, pouring out one rather shriveled pellet, its medicinal effect having faded entirely.

Jiang He noticed the appearance of the medicinal pellets and asked hesitantly, "This pellet…is it a qi pellet?"

"That's right. Our qi pellets are developed according to the recipe of these medicinal pellets."

Old Mu introduced it to Jiang He, saying, "There are now 1,800 medicinal pellets left with a total of 24 types left. Most of them are qi pellets, blended qi pellets, and yuan pellets, totaling over 1,700 pellets. Aside from those are several initiation pellets, as well as other medicinal pellets that heal injuries and aid cultivation."

Jiang He frowned. "Elder Mu," he said, "I know about the qi pellets and the blended qi pellets, but what are the initiation pellets and the yuan pellets?"

The bearded professor smiled. "It makes sense that you wouldn't know. Both of those pellets are still under clinical trials and not in use."

Though the professor felt like a shut-in and looked rather dispirited, his eyes lit up at the mention of the initiation pellets and the yuan pellets, saying, "We developed the initiation pellets by improving on an old pellet recipe. Martial artists who consume it can initiate some of their orifices, hence quickening their cultivation."

Jiang He was completely perplexed and completed did not understand.

Orifices?

He knew about those since many novels depicted cultivation systems that unlocked one's orifices, but did real-life cultivation actually need initiating?

Seeing that Jiang He had many questions, the professor smiled and explained, "Mister Jiang, being a martial elite yourself, it's natural that you would know martial cultivation requires the absorption of Yuan Qi to refine one's Blood Qi, physique and even True Qi."

"That said, how do martial artists go about absorbing that?"

"Naturally, it is through their orifices."

"And thanks to our research, we've noted that humans have over 1,700 orifices including those in their nerves, but usually only use around 361 of them. Of those, some people are born with a lot of them initiated, while others less so."

Jiang He understood with a start at that and said, "So, does that means people with more initiated orifices cultivate quicker, while those with few would cultivate slower?"

"That's right."

The professor replied, "We've even picked some non-martial artists to test and have found that their naturally-initiated orifices were less than that. In other words, only those with ten or more than ten orifices initiated could cultivate martial arts."

"Moreover, the greater the number of orifices initiated, the stronger the power one is able to unleash in combat. For those with fewer orifices opened, forcing themselves to unleash more power than what their body can take would harm one's orifices and nerves."

"As such, our initiation pellets would clear out any stuffed orifices, so those who cannot cultivate martial arts would initiate ten or more orifices, hence assuming the path of martial arts!"

"Likewise, martial prodigies born with over a hundred orifices opened would initiate even more orifices and hence cultivate even quicker!"

Jiang He appeared thoughtful at that, and smiled, "If that's the case, wouldn't everyone be able to cultivate or become martial prodigies once the initiation pellet goes on sale?"

The professor chuckled bitterly at that. "However, the materials needed for initiation pellets are too expensive and its manufacturing cost alone reach ten million. How can normal people afford it? Moreover, I believe that users would develop an immunity if they use this pellet excessively and would have a hard time initiating more orifices in the future."

"That's true."

Jiang He's eyes lit up, being one of the most experienced people in that front. "Like the qi pellets and the blended qi pellets, since their effect diminish over time after consuming them over time."

"Have you used our other products before, Mister Jiang?"

The bearded professor's eyes lit up once more as he asked with a smile, "What do you think about the effects of the qi pellets and the blended qi pellets developed by the Superpower Research Department?"

"Well…"

Jiang He mused to himself for several seconds, and scratched the back of his head awkwardly, saying, "Actually, I didn't take that many qi pellets or blended qi pellets since I cultivated relatively quicker and use them less frequently eventually. That said, my cat and my dog had a lot of them, and the effect was quite good."

There was an abrupt silence in the security vault at that.

The professor's eyes widened as he exclaimed in shock, "You feed your pets qi pellets and blended qi pellets?"

He was a little angry at that, since he had overseen and was involved in the entire development process of both pellets.

Us researchers developed those medicinal pellets, working day in day out without sleeping or eating occasionally, and yet you feed our work to a cat and a dog?

Indeed, it was not just him—Old Mu and the other researchers were a little upset too.

Jiang He frowned as he realized what they were thinking, but then smiled. "What?"

"Are you belittling my pets?"

"They have accomplished great things, including working together to kill the Sixth Elder of the Sky Demon Cult. Wouldn't it be normal for me to groom them by feeding them some medicinal pellets?"

The scientific researcher traded glances in disbelief, while Mu Wanqiu quickly came forward to explain, "Mister Jiang is actually a beast-tamer as well and his pets are actually powerful Ferals. As a matter of fact, Mister Jiang had helped me capture the rank-seven advanced Feral we have at Lingzhou City."

"Oh?"

The researcher's interests were piqued at once.

They were aware that the research branch at Lingzhou City had a rank-seven advanced Feral, although they did have living rank-nine Ferals here at the Superpower Research Department headquarters as well.

Still, Jiang He turned out to be a beast tamer as well?

The bearded professor immediately put on a smiling face at that, saying, "So you were a powerful beast tamer too, Mister Jiang. Forgive me for being blind, Master Jiang… I wonder if our department could make a deal with you…"

Jiang He grinned.

Meanwhile, the professor continued, "Since you are both powerful and a beast tamer, Mister Jiang, I wonder if you could tame a Feral King? As a matter of fact, our research regarding initiation pellets is in the latter phase and we just lack a Feral King's essence as a catalyst. We have seen many failed attempts, but Elder Mu has hypothesized that the Feral King's essence must be animated to some extent."

Jiang He's gaze changed.

The initiation pellet needed the essence of a Feral King?

No wonder the manufacturing involved costs exceeding ten million…

That said, since it did need the essence of Feral Kings, was it not an indication that the initiation pellet was very high-level?

With that, why should he resort to planting the useless medicinal pellets? He could definitely use the initiation pellets to earn Farm Points…not only were the useless medicinal pellets waning in medicinal effect, the important thing was that most were low-level and would not earn Jiang He that many Farm Points.

Beside them, Old Mu sighed. "Are Feral Kings that easily captured? Moreover, I heard that every other Feral King in the country has run off to hide deep in the forests. Finding them would be extremely hard, let alone capturing them."

"That's not a problem."

Jiang He chuckled. "Where could they hide? The wildlands are only that vast, not to mention that there are many other Feral Kings in the seas and on foreign soil that even those in the country have hidden themselves away."

Pausing, he then added, "That said, I'm not too familiar with foreign Ferals, so I would need some data from the military and the Martial Arts Department to ascertain their specific location…how about this? I'll have my pets come by for a bit and you could take some of their blood to experiment while I try to capture a live Feral King when my schedule frees up later?"

The many researchers were delighted, with the bearded professor first to thank Jiang He before saying, "Mister Jiang, you don't have to bring your pets. The catalyst for the initiation pellets would definitely need to be Feral King essence."

"Well…"

Jiang He mused to himself.

Did it really have to be Feral Kings?

That was a little hard-pressed, and he said hesitantly, "Does it have to be Feral Kings? Both my cat and dog have assumed another path for evolving on Daemonic Pellets. Logically speaking, they are equal in rank to Feral Kings and would only be stronger, not weaker."

There was once again silence in the vast security vault, followed by waves of cold gasps. Mu Wanqiu was especially shocked and could not help exclaiming, "Is your Dumbo Feral King already, Jiang He?"

"Not Feral King, but Daemonic Pellet—equal to Feral King in tier, but in a fight, Dumbo could easily handle three average Feral Kings."

"Mister Jiang!"

Old Mu stepped up and grasped Jiang He's hand in agitation, thanking him repeatedly and almost nonsensically. As he conveyed that he had no repayment to offer, the others teased him, saying that he could just betroth his granddaughter off to Jiang He.

Jiang He said nothing, but Mu Wanqiu flushed and dashed out of the security vault.

What the heck.

Jiang He was stunned.

Are you…

Blushing?

Are you embarrassed?

What's on your mind???

Could you be having thoughts about me?

Old Mu then suggested that he would send someone immediately to bring Dumbo and Trumbo to Lingzhou City, but Jiang He turned him down with wave, smiling, "No need, that would be too slow. I'll have them fly over, although I do have a condition…every initiation pellet and the yuan pellets in the first batch must be provided to me."

Jiang He took out his phone and called Sora, saying, "Pass the phone to Dumbo, Sora."

On the other end, Dumbo was standing upright in his baggy pants and holding his phone on his ear with one paw, asking, "You're looking for me, Master?"

"Come to Jingdu City and bring Trumbo with you. I'll have someone wait for you outside Jingdu City."

Dumbo was delighted.

Getting to go on a stroll outside was great news.

Report chapter

Chapter 286: A Gathering of Elites, The Nation's All-Out War

A human-looking smile was all over Dumbo's face.

Going to Jingdu City?

Word had it that it was the busiest and greatest city in all of Hua Nation. Ever since Dumbo had started following Jiang He, the furthest place it had ever gone to was Lingzhou City and it had been there only once at that. But now, its master was suddenly asking it to head to Jingdu City…

The dog was actually a little thrilled at the thought!

Dumbo even went to its kennel on purpose, putting on the flowery baggy pants he had been saving and put on the shades he had appropriated from Two Dog Li's BMW. Then, with a wave of its paw and a release of water-type powers, it condensed a watery mirror in front of itself.

Once it checked its own reflection, Dumbo exclaimed in utter astonishment, "It has only been a few days since I last looked into a mirror, so why am I handsomer now?!"

Dumbo sighed a little forlornly.

Such was a dog's life. What else could it want?

Later, Dumbo headed to the farm only after it settled everything that needed doing.

At the farm, Trumbo was holding a blade and practicing calligraphy on the ground with Blade Qi.

As for what it was writing…Dumbo neither understood nor wanted to ask.

Shoving Trumbo on the rump, it barked, "Stop writing. Master is having us go to Jingdu City, so pack up, we're leaving right away."

"Got it!"

Trumbo wrote on the ground with its blade

"Sh*t!"

Furious, Dumbo slapped out at Trumbo with its paw and scolded, "Are you insulting me? You know I can't read and you're still freaking writing?"

Trumbo chuckled and said, "I forgot I could speak."

Indeed, Trumbo could speak human language after condensing its Daemonic Pellet too.

With that, a ball of water descended from overhead with a wave of Trumbo's hand and after a simple shower, shaking of fur, and releasing fire-type powers to dry its fur in seconds, Trumbo took out the broken reading glasses from out of its butt and stood up. Putting the glasses on and clasping its two-front paw behind its back, it then slowly headed out of the farm.

Dumbo, left gritting its teeth at the sight, barked, "Get a move on! Why are you being so pretentious?"

With that, the cat and dog stepped out of the farm, charging their Daemonic Qi. All at once, a daemonic cloud gathered beneath their feet and they stood upon it as they flew all the way toward Jingdu City.

It was after ten full minutes that they finally remembered…they had no idea where Jingdu City was!

They hence descended from the skies, incidentally running into a part of martial artists and Awakened training in the wildlands.

There were a dozen people in that group, and they were no weaklings—a rank-six martial artist led them and they also had a B-class fire-type Awakened.

They had just fought and were resting at a base when they saw the cat and dog approaching, standing on their rear legs like humans.

The dog was wearing shades and a pair of baggy flower pants, whereas the cat had reading glasses on and was holding a blade several times its own size…

Most of the party members were left baffled.

Still, their sniper who was hiding above the trees was the first to come to his senses. He yelled, "Enemy attack!"

Bang!

A sniper's bullet had already left the barrel.

Raising its blade and cutting through the air, Trumbo's Blade Qi arced like a rainbow and sliced through the bullet before it adjusting its reading glasses with its paw. "No need to get excited, everyone," it then spoke slowly and politely, "we just want to ask for directions."

"It speaks! It's a Feral King!"

The party of warriors, ready for a fight turned ashen faced right then.

"There's no need for alarm, people. I won't hurt you!"

Trumbo walked up and wrote on the ground with its blade, "Brothers, which way to Jingdu City?"

When they saw the flickering of blade radiance, the party was convinced Trumbo was about to attack and they had their eyes closed. However, after nothing happened for a long time, they opened their eyes to find the line of words on the ground and were left baffled once again, though someone quickly answered, "Jingdu City is around 600km southeast from here…"

"Southeast?"

Dumbo arrived then, barking in its native dialect, "Who the hell knows where southeast is? Do you guys not have phones? Mark it on the map and hand it over."

Hence, the martial artist watched wide-eyed as cat and dog took away his satellite phone worth a hundred and eighty thousand bucks…

While Dumbo and Trumbo were heading toward Jingdu City, the military and the Martial Arts Department (MAD) were on the move as well. Aside from certain vital personnel stationed at various garrisons, a major convoy of army forces were speeding on their way toward Lingzhou City.

In fact, the elites were rushing toward Lingzhou City en masse as well.

They came from all walks of life—military, MAD, civilian martial clans or schools, and even several powerful parties of martial artists were summoned, all of them ranging from rank-seven up to divine-tier…

There were void-tiers as well, including Dong Haichuan, Yang Luchan, and the ancestor of the Ji clan, along with other forebears from several great schools and clans who were beginning to leave their confinement.

After all, the sky demons were coming.

And this time, the Hua Nation was clearly ready for an all-out war!

Meanwhile, over at the Lin residence beneath Mount Qingcheng, Sword Qi was gathering like clouds above, a phenomenon that stretched over five kilometers and lasted for half an hour before vanishing.

Elder Lin of the Lin clan had reached divine-tier.

As he left confinement and learned about the impending invasion of the sky demons, he promptly sought out several of his sons and his grandson who had reached the rank of grandmaster, saying, "Eldest would stay here. Everyone else, go home and ready up. All of you are coming with me to Lingzhou City tomorrow!"

"Father!"

His eldest son tried to stop him, but Elder Lin waved him off, saying, "This is a race war where life and death hands in the balance. A rank-eight wouldn't change the tide and our comrades in the martial world would not speak out against keeping a rank-eight to watch over our home when I am bringing every son and grandson to battle. Moreover, you are the chief of Sichuan's MAD and you have a lot to do."

Clearly, Elder Lin was ready to die.

In fact, it was not just him. Most who knew about the sky demons were courageous enough to prepare for war at Lingzhou City, clearly ready to meet their end.

Meanwhile, at Jingdu City, Dumbo and Trumbo had flown over an hour and had asked for directions multiple times, before finally landing at the Superpower Research Department headquarters outside Jingdu City.

A professor had personally come to receive them.

Still, he was left dumbfounded when he saw the bipedal cat and dog.

Then, when he greeted Dumbo and Trumbo, as well as conversed with them, they were even more dumbfounded…

What the hell!

Had this cat and dog duo gained human intelligence?

As a mater of fact, they had indeed after condensing their pellets as daemonic cultivators.

Soon, they became close after several exchanges.

As they entered the elevator heading to the underground research center, Dumbo put a paw over the professor's shoulder and chuckled, "Bro, do you know what my master called us here for?"

The professor's legs were shaking at that.

Damn it.

That was a Feral King daemon! One that could tear him apart one hundred times over with a twitch of its paw!

Hence, as the countless research personnel at the underground lab looked on, both Dumbo and Trumbo arrived before Jiang He flamboyantly. Still, after Jiang He explained the reason, Dumbo actually pounced, its canine fur bristling in uncontrollable fear.

On the other hand, Trumbo adjusted its reading glasses, saying calmly, "It's my honor to contribute to Hua Nation's research."

Then, twenty minutes later…

Dumbo stepped out of the blood vault with a look of disdain, sneering, "And here I thought how scary drawing blood could be…but it's no different from a mosquito's bite."

However, Trumbo's legs were shaking as it suddenly darted towards Jiang He and clutched his thighs, shaking as it muttered, "Master, I'm scared of needles…"

Its two jet-black eyes then closed as it fainted.

Jiang He smiled awkwardly. Flinging Trumbo aside nonchalantly, he asked with a smile, "With enough essence now, Elder Mu, how long would it take to cook the initiation pellets?"

Old Mu mused to himself for a while before saying, "We actually have some half-finished pellets. If everything goes smoothly, the first batch of initiation pellets would be finished by nightfall."

"Very well."

Jiang He said after some thought. "I'll catch some shut-eye then, since I've been farming overnight and didn't sleep at all."

Old Mu was puzzled.

Chapter 287: The Second Mysterious Seed

Old Mu had intended to stroll around Jingdu City with Jiang He and get closer to him, but he found it hard to suggest that after Jiang He had spoken.

As he escorted Jiang He off the research facility, he smiled, "Rest well, Mister Jiang. I'll inform you immediately once we finish the initiation pellets."

It was only after Jiang He left that Old Mu turned to Mu Wanqiu and asked in surprise, "Is Jiang He still farming?"

"Let him talk."

Mu Wanqiu smirked. "He's the type who is as lazy as a pig and would only wake up when the sun is high above their heads. Moreover, his yard has just one Mu worth of farmland—who does he think he's fooling!"

Nonetheless, Old Mu could not help smiling knowingly when he saw his granddaughter's tone and expression.

She stamped her feet at that. "Gramps! There's nothing between Jiang He and I!"

"Why would you deny it? I hadn't said a word."

Old Mu smiled, twiddling his beard. "Anyway, visit home for a bit since you hardly ever come back. The frontlines have been freed up recently and your father is incidentally at home."

Mu Wanqiu's father was a rank-eight martial artist and a ranked official in the military, although he would be leading his forces in field operations most of the year. Indeed, it was thanks to Jiang He that he could obtain leave and return home.

Meanwhile, Jiang He found a hotel as soon as he entered Jingdu City. He then booked a room, bathed, and slept.

Beside him, both Dumbo and Trumbo were a little restless and seeked permission to go out and play.

Though Jiang He did bring them along the last time he came to Jingdu City, they were kept in the farm at the time and did not come out.

"Going out?"

Jiang He thought about it and said, "Sure, but don't cause trouble."

"By the way, here are two Spatial Rings I got from the Sky Demon Cult's Saint and cardinal. Use them."

He took out the two Spatial Rings nonchalantly. Then, Jiang He also stuffed dozens of golden Yuan Bao and several thousand RMB. He did not actually have much cash and that money had all been plucked from his money-growing tree.

As for his bank account…it might have contained three to five billion? Jiang He himself had long since forgotten the specific number or where his bank card was since it was just a few billion and inconsequential to him—it was just numbers even if it was a dozen more.

"Thanks, Master!"

Delighted, both Dumbo and Trumbo quickly left the hotel.

Meanwhile, Jiang He lay in his bed and let his drowsiness brew…

And somehow did not fall asleep.

Sitting up on his bed, he shook his head with a pained smiled.

He actually could not fall asleep after farming overnight!

Most importantly, he had no targets now even if he wanted to let loose his Twenty-Three Swords on some Feral King, having learned that most of the Hua Nation Feral Kings had gone into hiding following the culling of their ranks.

"The Sky Demon Cult!" Jiang He muttered a little helplessly.

He was having trouble sleeping before because the Sky Demon Cult had been coming after him every other day, leaving him feeling wary every single day.

"And here I was thinking that my poor sleep quality would improve after I wiped out the Sky Demon Cult…it seems that I've been overthinking on that front."

Leaving his bed, Jiang He walked to the window. Whipping out a bottle of rank-nine Origin Fluid worth dozens of billions and gently shaking it, he sighed after having a few sips. "But even with the Sky Demon Cult gone, the sky demons are coming right after them. It would have been nice if they could come from another location, but how am I supposed to sleep when they're arriving near Lingzhou City?"

"Fortunately, there is still time before the sky demon legion arrives. I shall develop myself steadily over the next few days, and I just might find a solution to the threat they pose."

Jiang He then quietly counted the time.

He had gone to the Sky Demon Cult's base on the twenty-eighth, did he not?

Weren't the cultists bragging about the sky demon legion arriving in twelve days' time?

After doing some math…

"Is today the thirtieth of October?"

"Huh… it's already the thirty-first? Does that mean there are nine days more before the sky demon legion arrives?'

Finishing the entire bottle of rank-nine Origin Fluid, he was about to throw it away when he saw that there was some left…closing the bottle cap once more, he decided he would give it to Cheng Dongfeng when he returned to Lingzhou City.

"Okay!"

"Nine days is enough."

"When I reach home today, I'll try planting the initiation pellets and if the Farm Points earned is high, I'll head overseas to capture two Feral Kings. That way, the Superpower Research Department's medicinal pellet division could help me cook up another batch of initiation pellets as soon as they can and I just might reach Yuan Spirit by the time the sky demons arrive…"

"Right now, I've mastered the Blind Princess's Eight Practices the least…but I can give up on that cultivation method now since it's just a form technique. Being a Sword Sage, cutting down my foes with a sword from over hundreds of miles away is now the norm and form techniques are unnecessary."

"That said, my Dragon-Elephant Prajna has improved with the Nine Heavenly Stars Body Formula to mastery. Additionally, I've also learned the seventh fold of the Ninefold Thunderblade and the eighth tier of the Strengthened Nine Yang Technique!"

Taking a deep breath, Jiang He sat crossed legged on his bed as he began to cultivate the Strengthened Nine Yang Technique.

He had made up his mind to bear with the loneliness this time…and cultivate for over an hour at the very least!

"I fall short a lot in terms of martial talent and have cultivated little over ten minutes on average during the last few occasions without getting much…" Jiang He muttered, recognizing his shortcoming.

Lacking talent must be made up for with double the effort.

Though he was diligent in farming, he could try cultivating too.

Charging his Strengthened Nine Yang Technique, the True Qi in his body promptly flowed. Then, the sounds of a tidal storm could be heard and after around half an hour later, Jiang He's aura stirred…and actually strengthened considerably!

Well…

Was he divine-tempest already?

Jiang He was a little speechless.

I wanted to cultivate the Strengthened Nine Yang Techniques because I intend to make a breakthrough and gain mastery over it…but I've somehow ascended from the first level of divine-tier to the second? What does that even mean?

Moreover, this little bit of improvement in martial art rank would not affect my current combat strength by much.

Nonetheless, Jiang He continued cultivating after calming his impulse to complain.

But after another half hour of cultivation, his aura stirred once more.

He had reached union, the third level of divine-tier.

What the hell!

Jiang He was furious now.

His cultivation technique did not develop but his martial arts rank had somehow improved again!

Was the technique glitching?

"I quit…Nine Yang Technique, my foot. I'll train my Ninefold Thunderblade outside."

Leaving his hotel, Jiang He took to the air and arrived at the wildlands fifty kilometers away from Jingdu City.

He had to cultivate out in the wildlands since the Ninefold Thunderblade was exceedingly fearsome and devastating, destroying several towers at once with just a few strikes.

Standing in front of a mountain, Jiang He whipped out his Dragon-Slaying Saber and cut down on it.

Boom!

A seventy-meter-long thunder slash burst forth, a slash that left the very air shaking.

"Not bad. Thunder slashes really are cooler when they extend over dozens of meters."

Be that as it may, Jiang He sighed.

It felt like…this was the first time he trained with his blade in the two months since he started cultivating martial arts, was it not?

Jiang He was still unsure about how he actually should cultivate. All he remembered was that novels often depicted protagonists repeatedly practicing a blade or sword technique over thousands or even dozen thousand times, after of which the technique would be inscribed in their very bones.

"Perhaps the same principle applies in practicing the Ninefold Thunderblade too…"

With that, Jiang He started releasing slash after slash, slicing out multiple times in each second. Every 70-meter thunder slash would erupt in the air, startling Ferals across five kilometers and sending them fleeing.

Though his thunder slash was just 70 meters long and the mountain ahead over 500 meters away, the Blade Qi firing out of the thunder slash sliced through the mountain endlessly.

Boom-crack!

Out of the blue, one of Jiang He's 70 meters turned into 80 meters…

Ka-boom!

Jiang He was delighted as the mountain ahead collapsed…

It seems that in the end, the Ninefold Thunderblade was more reliable. So, a blade technique that he had read about in a novel was actually reliable?

Unbeknownst to him…

That cultivation technique was only suitable for novices of blade or sword techniques…

Moreover, blade techniques like the Ninefold Thunderblade utilized extreme amounts of True Qi with each slash, which was an equivalent to an ultimate technique for divine-union martial artists. It was already exhausting to let loose several slashes and they would have killed themselves from overexertion if they had trained the way Jiang He did.

However, that was not a problem for Jiang He since his True Qi was exceedingly abundant. Coupled with the fact that he was so rich, he could recharge with rank-nine Origin Fluid and absorb Yuan Qi from Orirocks if he was worn out…

And come afternoon, Jiang He was done mastering the Ninefold Thunderblade.

Be that as it may, the wildlands before him was now a mess. There were ditches sliced through with his Blade Qi and the earth's crust was actually turned upside down, just as the occasional cracking of thunder could be heard in the air.

Jiang He broke out in cold sweat then…

Fortunately, no one cared about the wild following the Revival of Qi or he would definitely be punished for destroying the environment…

Then, he received a call from Old Mu at around six in the evening.

The man appeared extremely excited as he exclaimed, "We did it, Mister Jiang! We did it!"

Twenty minutes later, at the medicinal pellet development center of the Superpower Research Department, 200 porcelain bottles were placed in front of Jiang He.

Gratitude was written all over Old Mu's face and he thanked Jiang He many times, saying, "Mister Jiang, every initial pellet that we've developed is basically here."

Before this, some of the half-finished pellets were used for research, but a lot of those were lost in the research process.

More were lost in today's concoction process as well, just as some were used for clinical trials, leaving just 200 pellets.

"Do I have to spare you some for research?" Jiang He asked then, but Old Mu shook his head, saying, "We've recorded the process of research and development in detail. All that is needed now is to invest into production, though we lack the raw materials."

"I can't help with other materials aside from the essence of Feral Kings. I would definitely help you capture a Feral King when my work at the moment is done."

Jiang He left the Superpower Research Department at around seven.

He found Dumbo and Trumbo and gave Mu Wanqiu a call before returning to Lingzhou City when he learned that she was not going back for now.

Once home, Jiang He told Sora to cook him dinner while he returned to his farm. After plucking the ripe batch of Doom Shrooms, he took out ten initiation pellets and planted them.

Indeed, Jiang He was a little expectant.

There was no telling if he could hoard Farm Points with the initiation pellets.

He then turned around and looked towards a corner of the farm where two fresh sprouts had grown out of the ground.

Jiang He frowned.

Why was the mysterious seed growing so slowly?

He had a total of three Mysterious Seeds, the first of which he had planted Boa Hancock from.

As dawn arrived, he planted the second…

There was no telling what he could get from it.

It would not be another living person, would it?

Report chapter

Chapter 288: The Cloudscraper Vine Ascends Again!

After planting the initiation pellets and checking on the Mysterious Seed that had just sprouted, Jiang He returned inside his mansion.

Sora was busy in the kitchen, dressed in her maid costume.

A thick aroma of rice was wafting within the mansion.

Boa Hancock came up to Jiang He then and spoke attractively, "Tea, Master."

She had put on a maid costume like Sora's, which flawlessly accentuated her prided figure.

Usually, Jiang He would never drink tea since it raised spirits, exciting the brain's nerves… in short, it reduced drowsiness, so how was that acceptable?

His quality of sleep was poor in the first place, and if he drank tea…

Would he not be sleeping at all?

Still, Jiang He had prepared some fine tea since there would occasionally be guests at his house. After all, he couldn't keep giving out mineral bottles' worth of Origin Fluid to his guests, could he?

Those who knew about the Origin Fluid was fine, but those who did not would assume that he was belittling them.

Nonetheless, he had a sip of tea.

Feeling the faint sweetness in his mouth, Jiang He could not help grinning. "This Big Red Robe tea worth over twenty million dollars each kilo is really good."

Jiang He had asked someone to buy those tea leaves.

Harvested from the mother trees in Mount Wuyi of the Nine Dragons Nest Scenic Zone, those tea leaves were not so expensive initially. However, as the Nine Dragons Nest became shrouded in toxic miasma following the Revival of Qi, and with even divine-tier elites losing themselves after they entered, those tea leaves were now unmatched in worth, with its price rocketing from eight million to over twenty million in just a few years.

Jiang He had a thought then—shouldn't he find a chance to take a trip to Nine Dragons Nest and move the six mother trees that stood for hundreds of years to his farm?

When he got older, he could then trim the tea trees every day and have a taste of genuine Big Red Robe tea.

Meanwhile, Sora was done cooking after two cups of tea.

By the time Jiang He had his fill and rested briefly, it was already ten.

Heading out to the farm and then plucking the latest batch of Doom Shrooms, Jiang He turned to look at the ten plum trees nearby.

He called them 'plum trees' since the tree leaves were remarkably similar. Most importantly, the initiation pellets dangling from it were similar in size to plums as well, each glimmering with a golden hue just like ripe plums.

"Initiation pellet trees…"

Jiang He counted carefully. It turns out that there were a hundred initiation pellets on each tree just as he expected.

He reached out and gently plucked one.

[Ding!]

[100 Farm points.]

The jingle of a System Notification in his head stirred Jiang He's spirits immensely.

If one initiation pellet was worth 100 Farm Points and each tree bore 100 pellets, it meant that he would earn 10,000 Farm Points for each tree, not to mention that he had 200 of those pellets to plant it.

"That's two million Farm Points…"

Utterly motivated, Jiang He planted the remaining 190 initiation pellets after he was done harvesting all ten trees' worth of initiation pellets.

When that was done, Jiang He went beneath the willow tree and took out one of the initiation pellets, then ate it.

He appeared rather surprised after eating it.

Not only did the pellet resemble plums, but it also tasted deliciously sweet and sour just like actual plums.

And once the initiation pellet was in his stomach, Jiang He circulated his True Qi and began cultivating it.

Around five minutes later, the entire pellet was converted to pure medicinal essence and flowed around within Jiang He's body.

Be that as it may, after flowing around for quite a while…

Whoosh.

It faded away.

"Eh?"

"What's going on? Wasn't the initiation pellet supposed to open my orifices? Why isn't there any effect after I take it?"

Jiang He frowned, unable to comprehend the situation no matter how much he thought about it, and so took out another initiation pellet for consumption but that was to no effect as well. Not one to believe in jinxes, he therefore ate ten, and finally exclaimed in shock when nothing happened at all. "What… did the Superpower Research Department develop a fake pellet?"

"No way, no way. My planting worked and the Farm Points rewarded me with many points. The initiation pellets are clearly authentic!"

"The Superpower Research Department had also performed clinical trials with human subjects and each martial artist who consumed them succeeded in opening an orifice."

That was when an idea occurred to Jiang He, but he rather doubted it.

Taking out another initiation pellet and holding it in front of his eyes, data appeared before his vision.

[Initiation Pellet]

[Function: Aids the initiation of human orifices.]

[Warm reminder: Effect of the Initiation Pellet diminishes the more initiated orifices the user possesses.]

"Just as I've thought!"

Jiang He sighed with a bitter smile. "It seems that I have plenty of initiated orifices… that said, the System did mention that the imitation pellet only diminishes in effect, not that it wouldn't have any effect at all… But with nothing happening after eating ten pellets, doesn't that mean…"

"All my orifices are opened?"

That was about the only possibility.

In fact, even Jiang He had a hard time believing it.

What the heck?

Wasn't it said that those with more orifices opened were more talented?

So how was he a genius?

Calling out to Dumbo, Trumbo, the Blazing Violet Golden Eaglet, the Golden Eaglet and the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers, Jiang He took out over dozens of initiation pellets and shared it among them, saying, "These are initiation pellets. Try them and see if you are able to clear some orifices."

The Bottle Gourd Brothers immediately opened their mouths, ready to take the pellets while a red-eyed Dumbo promptly lunged forward and stopped them, shrieking, "No… Don't eat that!"

At the same time, Trumbo had gone off to the stop the Blazing Violet Golden Eaglet and the Golden Eaglet as well, seemingly understanding something else as well. In fact, its whole body was shuddering as it squealed, "Don't eat it, don't eat it…"

"What?"

Jiang He frowned. Had these two gone mad?

Still, come to think of it, both Dumbo and Trumbo appeared a little different now. It was as if their fur had been groomed by specialists. Jiang He asked about, and only then did the cat and dog admit, "We went to a hairdresser back at Jingdu City."

Jiang He was suspicious.

A hairdresser grooming a cat and a dog?

Most importantly, they had done such a good job?

Dumbo sniggered and said, "Actually, the shop owner had refused and had even smashed apart the golden Yuan Bao we offered him, saying that they work for humans and not animals!"

"And then?"

"And then Trumbo took out its blade and used Blade Qi to write some thingmajig on the floor. The shop owner then shut up immediately."

Jiang He turned towards Trumbo at that, who was about to start writing again, only for Jiang He to stop him with a look. Scratching its ears with its paw, it said awkwardly, "I was just explaining about equality among all life, but for some reason he suddenly became very scared of us."

Jiang He was speechless.

How could anyone not be scared when you've actually drawn your blade?

Then, he asked both pets as to why they were not letting the others take the initiation pellet.

Hence, Dumbo spoke in grief while wiping a tear, "Master, those medicinal pellets are cooked using our blood… letting them take it feels like they're eating us."

Jiang He could not help laughing and assured them then, "It's fine. I planted the initiation pellets, so they are no longer the original pellets. Moreover, it is just as you've said—the imitation pellet is cooked with your blood as a catalyst, so they would at most be drinking your blood. Is it even as serious as you put it?"

Dumbo and Trumbo thought about it for a while and nodded together, since that made sense.

With that, cat, dog, two eaglets and the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers all ran off to another corner of the farm to cultivate. Meanwhile, Jiang He himself took out his phone and browsed the web to pass his time, waiting for the initiation pellets and the Doom Shroom to ripen.

It was another sleepless night.

Finally, when it was seven in the morning…

Jiang He plucked the last initiation pellet, after having finished harvesting all Doom Shrooms as well.

"Phew~~"

Breathing a long sigh, a faint smile appeared on Jiang He's face… he was finally done.

His eyes turned away as he opened his System and checked his stats.

[Name: Jiang He]

[Cultivation: Immortal Path—complete Golden Pellet; Martial Arts—divine-tier (divine unity)]

[Ability: Royal Sword, fire]

[Martial Arts Cultivation: Indestructible Diamond (Mastery), Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms (Mastery), Blind Princess's Eight Practices (Third Practice), Strengthened Nine Yang Technique (Eighth Tier), Ninefold Thunderblade (Mastery), Dragon-Elephant Prajna (Mastery), Nine Heavenly Stars Body Formula (Third Tier), Three Thousand Calamities (Second Style), Ice and Fire Duality Sword Array (Mastery), Twenty-Three Swords (First Style)]

[Owned Land: 9 Mu]

[Farm Level: 5 (EXP 458000/500000)]

[System Backpack: 24 boxes]

[System Shop: Unlocked]

[Farm Points: 4,250,000]

"How is it only 4.25 million?"

Jiang He frowned as he quietly did his math.

"Two million from the initiation pellets… discounting the cost for nitrogen fertilizers, it would be over a million from the Doom Shrooms… and then there is the premium-grade soul items and the sage weapon, as well as Boa Hancock… hmmm, the numbers are more or less correct."

Even so… 4.25 million was a little lacking.

It was just short of what he had expected—around 4.5 million. With that, he could reach the third tier of Three Thousand Calamities and improve his cultivation to full-fledged True Child, as well as master the Twenty-Three Swords and learn two more Sword Arrays.

But even as he counted and planned…

Boom!

A dull thundering of Yuan Qi erupted in the farm.

The Cloudscraper Vine, which had been quiet for two days, had suddenly burst out with a raging aura.

Its eighteen tendrils that stretched up to 400 meters long were flailing wildly, all of them shooting up in the air before splitting into thirty-six tendrils, each of them still growing.

"Is the Cloudscraper Vine ascending?"

Jiang He appeared delighted at first, but soon frowned.

He could feel vines of aura and spirit boldly and conspicuously reaching out in the direction of the farm, observing.

Rising up into the air, his spirit stirring to knock off the many energies, he coolly seethed, "Who could be that brave, daring to spy on Jiang He?!"

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Chapter 289: The Stargate Opened on Top of My House?

In that very instant, Jiang He treaded over thin air while the silhouette of a dragon and an elephant circled above his head, their roars and trumpeting never-ending.

Starlight flickered around his body as he charged the Nine Heavenly Stars Body Formula, while the sound of a tidal storm resounded form his body when he triggered his Strengthened Nine Yang Technique.

Snikt!

His Scarlet Flame Sword hung above the air, its Sword Qi stretching over dozens of kilometers.

Jiang He was actually aware that many elites had gathered at Lingzhou City because of the Sky Demons and those elites were drawn to the burst of aura from the Cloudscraper Vine. Also, they were driven by their curiosity, which was why they extended their spirit to observe.

Even so…

Is my house for you to spy upon on a whim?

If you and everyone else came to peek a little, would I still have any privacy left?!

What Jiang He must do was to threaten every elite there was and have them perish the thought of spying upon him.

Indeed, the face of every elite dropped even as they looked in that direction. Even Void-tier individuals felt a tremendous pressure as well as a mysterious panic that arose within them…

They would be struck down with a single strike if Jiang He attacked them.

Hence, there were looks of shock and fury as the many figures hovered up above the skies of Lingzhou City. Even Dong Haichuan took a step forward and offered Jiang He a fist-palm salute from the distance, saying, "Brother Jiang He, everyone was merely curious when they sensed that frightening aura extending from the direction of your house, and so, they came to take a look. Do be understanding, Brother."

"So it's you, Grandmaster Dong."

Jiang He returned his salute. Sweeping his gaze over the crowd of elites from almost twenty kilometers away, he then withdrew his presence and sheathed the Scarlet Flame Sword, smiling, "And here I thought the Sky Demons had come…But don't peek on me on a whim, people. I've always been hot-tempered and might start stabbing with my sword—it would have been alright if it ends with an injury since I could help with that, but if someone's killed… there's no helping that."

Dong Haichuan's mouth twitched at that.

Jiang He had quite the short fuse.

Still, it was as it should be.

Having accomplished such feats despite his young age, if he had been born in their age, would Yang Luchan even gain the title of 'Peerless Yang'?

He would beat the snot out of him!

As Dong Haichuan and Jiang He conversed from the distance, the other divine-tier and Void-tier elites who were not acquainted with Jiang He hence descended.

"By the way, that aura just now…"

Dong Haichuan's tone changed as he asked with a smile, "Have you reached Void-tier in martial arts, Brother Jiang He?"

He was aware that Jiang He was a cultivator and that his martial cultivation was outstanding, but Jiang He shook his head and smiled. "My martial cultivation only reached divine-union yesterday, and I'm still far away from Void-tier… it was one of my pets that had ascended just now."

Dong Haichuan was dumbstruck.

He opened his mouth, but was unable to say anything right then.

Damn it!

Comparing oneself to another person was truly frustrating.

He had been a top elite in the martial world 200 years ago and only Yang Luchan was an equal in that generation. Who would have dared to tell him what's what in all of Jianghu, despite all its vastness, innumerable sects, clans, and fine gentlemen?

Even so, it took him 200 years to reach Void-tier, and along came that brat Jiang He…

Who was comparing him to his pets?

Meanwhile, the many elites in Lingzhou City found their jaws dropping to the ground when they heard it. Some of them who were rather upset with Jiang He's arrogance appeared mystified now.

That was when another figure took to the air—it was Elder Lin.

Laughing out loud, he congratulated Jiang He.

Jiang He's eyes lit up too, and he exclaimed, "Congratulations on reaching divine-tier, Bro Lin."

Elder Lin waved him off, saying that he dulled in comparison to Jiang He's pet, although the smile on his face could hardly be disguised.

Having escaped the gates of hell and now living over 200 years, how could he not be happy?

Jiang He invited both Elder Lin and Dong Haichuan to his house as guest, and both accepted, assuring him that they would drop by doing lunch. Laughing, Jiang He said, "Very well, I'll have my maid start cooking right away. Coincidentally, I've just cultivated some soul grain that tastes incredible."

Soon, both Dong Haichuan and Elder Lin landed within Lingzhou City.

Likewise, Jiang He returned into his house.

The Cloudscraper Vine had finished ascending now, its eighteen tendrils having split into thirty-six. Each were now immeasurably colossal, reaching 500 meters long and ten meters thick.

"Tut, tut!"

Jiang He could not help clicking his tongue in wonder.

Special flora were so incredible.

Other aspect aside, its size alone was Feral Emperor level…was there anything bigger?

Still, there seemed to be that Thunderflood Titanoboa, an ancient mutant that had ranked among the top Feral Serpents of the world and was one of the strongest Ferals there was, reaching around eight hundred meters in length and living in the depths of the ocean.

Though the Cloudscraper Vine was lacking compared to the Titanoboa, did it not have thirty-six tendrils?

"An 800-meter-long snake…"

Jiang He clicked his tongue in wonder once again.

Even with the number of mouths to feed at his house, it would last them a long time if he killed the snake for meat.

Then, a massive tendril reached out toward Jiang He.

Touching it, Jiang He felt the simple mind extending from the tendril and couldn't help scowling…

The Cloudscraper Vine was that not that intelligent in the first place.

Therefore, even if it was Feral Emperor now, its wits were still lacking in comparison to the willow tree. Right now, its thoughts were conducting toward Jiang He intermittently. "Master, I want to enter you… I want to enter your… body."

Slapping away the tendril, Jiang He was ready to leave the farm when his eyes lit up and he turned toward the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers who were practicing their air blades in a corner of the farm.

Hetui!

Hetui!

Their weird exclamations were extending incessantly.

The Blade Will emanating from their bodies were becoming stronger the more blades they breathed. Adding that to the huge increase in Yuan Qi within the farm recently and cultivation assisted by substantial Orirocks…

In that very moment, the Seven Bottle Gourd Brothers' auras changed slightly.

Their auras were mutually connected, developing an exceedingly unique balance.

But suddenly, Eldest Brother's aura was wildly expanding with a boom… and thanks to that unique balancing, the other six brothers' auras were developing as well.

A phenomenon was occurring over the horizon—Yuan Qi was rolling towards them, and affected by the phenomenon, it was dyed like a rainbow stretching over dozens of kilometers, corresponding to the Bottle Gourd Brothers' red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue and purple hues respectively.

Back in Lingzhou City, the many martial elites who had just landed minutes ago all looked up at the horizon, all of them looking stunned. Despite wanting to take a look, they remembered what Jiang He said and became rather wary.

Fortunately, Jiang He took to the air in time and laughed awkwardly, before saying, "No need to panic, people… it's the grandkids I planted—I mean, adopted, reaching divine-tier together."

There was silence as the martial elites were left weirded out.

It took the seven-colored Yuan Qi that stretched over dozens of kilometers over half an hour to slowly fade. But just as they were about to sit down together, share about their cultivation, and discuss how they should fight the Sky Demon legion, another frightening aura reached out from above Jiang He's house.

"Damn it!"

Three Blades Lin yelled at the top of his lungs, "What is Jiang He actually doing?"

While the other martial elites traded jaded looks and were actually not bothered to find out, Jiang He's loud cursing could be heard just then—

"Curses!"

"What the flying freak?!"

"The Sky Demons…have actually opened their Stargate above my house?!"

Treading upon a sword light up in the skies above his house, Jiang He appeared ashen-faced. He was a little baffled at first, but when he felt a faint stirring in the air…

Jiang He mostly understood then.

The Sky Demons were arriving ahead of schedule.

And up in the sky, the Stargate was gradually taking shape.

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Chapter 290: True Child! The Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses!

The air was stirring as if a rock had been thrown upon the surface of a placid lake.

Jiang He looked up and found the center point of the stirring.

It was directly in the skies above his yard.

Elite auras were taking to the skies from the direction of Lingzhou City as well and streaking toward his direction rapidly. Frowning, Jiang He promptly put away his farm as a 'pebble'.

Whoosh!

The first person to reach was a burly white-haired old man dressed in a Tang suit and canvas shoes. He offered Jiang He a fist-palm salute before looking up somberly at the skies.

An elder of the Ji clan?

Jiang He's eyes twitched as he deduced the old man's identity with his aura.

The old man's aura was remarkably similar to Ji Dongxu's, having clearly cultivated from the same discipline. His aura was also firm and strong, even a little superior to that of Yang Luchan, Wang Hou, and the others.

Soon, Dong Haichuan, Yang Luchan, and another Void-tier elite arrived as well, while Three Blades Lin, Pei Donglai, and the other divine-tier elites arrived just behind them.

Then, even the rank-nines, eights, and sevens reached them.

Jiang He studied the crowd, quietly gasping in astonishment…

The elites of the Hua Nation were truly many, and martial arts would definitely flourish once again after another few decades of development.

Even so, the Stargate was about to open and the Sky Demons would never give the Hua Nation time to develop.

Now, everyone was looking together in the skies somberly.

"Damn it!"

Three Blades Lin cursed. "What are the Sky Demons doing? Weren't they supposed to come in another ten days? Why would they come ahead of schedule?"

Beside him, Pei Donglai had a dark look on his face.

The Sky Demon legion's early arrival had instantly interrupted every military and Martial Arts Department (MAD) operation—right now, Lingzhou City had yet to be evacuated, not to mention that the military's forces and their ammunitions had yet to be moved here.

He whipped out his satellite phone and headed off to a corner to contact military command, while another MAD elite contacted Minister Wang.

The other elites were all looking grave.

"Ah!"

The Ji clan's elder suddenly breathed a long sigh. "The Stargate would form in either half a day or two days. When that happens, all of Earth would be reduced to ashes once again."

"That is not certain."

Jiang He said, looking at the horizon as well. "If we are able to keep them stuck in the Stargate, unable to get out, they naturally can't cause any trouble on Earth."

Everyone looked toward him then, while the Ji clan elder did a double take before smiling. "The Sky Demons are so powerful that even their weakest become powerful warriors after reaching adulthood. Their last invasion six hundred years ago saw the heroes of Hua Nation's martial world all repelled even when they tried to ambush the Sky Demons at the mouth of the Stargate, and if the Wudang's elder had not came out of confinement and repelled their legion as a one-man army, sealing the Stargate, Earth would long since have been conquered by the Sky Demons."

It turned out that the Ji clan elder actually knows about many secrets. He continued, "Countless casualties were inflicted upon the martial world in that battle, with many legacies hence becoming lost. Coupled with the dormancy of Spirit Qi, the Old Martial Era hence ended, leaving the Five Holy Grounds surviving by a hair's breadth, relying on their Secret Realm's to maintain their legacies while each of them guarded a Stargate."

Most of the people present were not even aware of such mysteries.

It was the first time Jiang He had heard about that, and with his interest piqued, he smiled. "Elder Ji, since everyone here is a martial artist, why don't we all have some tea in my house since the Stargate hasn't formed anyway? We'll talk about our own journeys and how to fight the Sky Demon legion, how about that?"

The Ji clan elder nodded in agreement, smiling, "How could I refuse if it's you inviting, Mister Jiang?"

Pei Donglai, Three Blades Lin, as well as the other military elites and MAD elites declined, however. Now that the Stargate was open, the Sky Demon legion was about to descend upon them and they had much to do.

Meanwhile, the Ji clan elder, Dong Haichuan, Yan Luchan, and Elder Lin all landed at Jiang He's mansion, and Jiang He order Sora to cook and Boa Hancock to make tea.

After a few exchange, Elder Lin then started discussing about the Sky Demons.

The air turned somber once again, leaving Jiang He speechless…

What the heck?

The Sky Demon legion had yet to arrive and the battle had not even started but everyone is scowling reluctantly. Where is the courage needed when the demons really arrived?

I'm not acting like that even though the Sky Demons opened the Stargate right on top of my house, you know?

Soon, the aroma of rice wafted from the kitchen.

Everyone was surprised by the Dragontooth Rice. The Ji clan elder even asked to buy some, though Jiang He refused.

As his own house did not even have enough stock, how was he supposed to sell it?

After eating, the Ji clan elder, Dong Haichuan, and Yang Luchan all offered a fist-palm salute and left. They were all returning to Lingzhou City to help the military and other MAD personnel to support the temporary evacuation of civilians from the city.

"Oh."

Jiang He breathed a long sigh, saying, "It is fortunate that this is temporary or I would have to move as well if the hundred thousands of civilians are really moving away."

Elder Lin stayed.

He was closer to Jiang He, and could not help chuckling. "If you really are considering moving, you could move to Sichuan and be my neighbor. There's an antiquated air in our city and the scenery is not bad."

"Let's save that for later."

Jiang He smiled. "To tell the truth, I've been living here for so long that I have feelings for this place… I wouldn't leave unless I'm really forced to."

He then looked up at the horizon, feeling the spatial ripple that was growing in strength and said, "I did not mention it when Elder Ji and the others were present, afraid that they would assume that I was bragging…"

Pausing, Jiang He's tone changed as his killing intent abruptly rushed into the air and he said sinisterly, "How dare the Sky Demons open the Stargate above my head? Do they really take me for someone easily bullied?"

Elder Lin actually took a few steps back from Jiang He's killing intent.

And yet, in the very next instant, Jiang He's aura was already withdrawn and he smiled, "Brother Lin, could I trouble you to be guard the house while I head upstairs to cultivate some secret techniques for use against the Sky Demon legion later?"

Elder Lin's ancient face appeared blank.

The Stargate is already forming—isn't it too late for you to cultivate now?

Even so, Jiang He was already striding upstairs, thinking to himself that he would cultivate the second and third style of the Twenty-Three Swords even as he climbed up.

Ooom!

As the single hum of a sword echoed out of Jiang He's body, countless swords resonated to it within fifty kilometers.

By the time Jiang He reached the split landing, his body's aura had abruptly expanded.

Boom!

A towering presence rushed into the air.

The Golden Pellet shattered as a True Child was born.

Jiang He had reached True Child with a single thought, completing his ascension by the time he reached the third floor…

He was now a full-fledged True Child Sword Sage.

Glancing at his system stats panel, Jiang He noticed that he had over five hundred thousand Farm Points left…

The second fold of the Nameless Sword Array—the Sword Array of Yin-Yang and Three Realms—cost two hundred thousand points to learn. On the other hand, the fourth fold, the Sword Array of Four Harmonies and Universality cost three hundred thousand, while the fifth fold, the Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses cost five hundred thousand.

After some thought, Jiang He asked, "System, could I skip the second and third folds, and learn the fifth fold, the Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses directly instead?"

Having gathered flying swords of all five elements and all of them being premium-grade soul weapons with one superior-grade to spare, Jiang He would dare to stand up against even Convergence-tier cultivators, left alone Yuan Spirits—if he could indeed lay out the Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses!

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Chapter 291: Waiting For The Trap to Be Sprung

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Back on the first-floor sofa, Elder Lin's mouth was hanging open slightly with a look of astonishment over his face.

He was a little too stunned to react.

Such cultivation was possible?

Ascending just because one wanted to?

Nonetheless, before he could compose himself from the shock, he heard footsteps from the stairs—Jiang He was already coming downstairs.

"Brother Jiang He," he could not help exclaim at that, "Why… are you coming down already?"

"I'm done ascending."

Old Lin did a double take and asked, "You've just ascended, shouldn't you stabilize your cultivation?"

Even so, he regretted almost as soon as he asked that.

Stabilize, my foot!

Jiang He's aura went as deep as the oceans. Was there even a sign of the shakiness of a recent ascension?

In return, Jiang He smiled. "Brother Lin, you wouldn't know this, but though I've only started practicing martial arts recently, my depth is strong. That is why I would have a fractional improvement after each ascension and I don't have to out of my way to stabilize my cultivation."

At the same time, Jiang He also thought to himself, 'I'm full-fledged right after I ascend, so it more or less counts as a fractional improvement, right?'

After all, major improvement went leaping up to Yuan Spirit right away.

On the other hand, Long Mountain Lin was wondering if could Jiang He have reached Void-tier right after ascending?

No way, he has now assumed the immortal path, and I'm not sure how their tiers are categorized…

Still, he asked about it after hesitating for a while, while Jiang He smiled. "Actually, I'm not sure how cultivators are categorized back in the Era of Qi Refinists, although I myself had made a detailed tier-list."

"I divide it into Qi Refinist, Golden Pellet, True Child, Yuan Spirit, Convergence, Weathering Retribution, Mastery…"

Jiang He paused at that, gasping in surprise, "Huh… have I categorized the tiers too simply? Shouldn't I add a 'Rising Flight' after Mastery, a level that could shatter space and rise to the immortal realm…"

Long Mountain Lin blinked.

What the hell.

You are categorizing that stuff by yourself?

Don't you have information about it from what you inherited?

And was this not already simplest?

Most importantly, why are you adding another tier on a whim?

Meanwhile, overseas, Lin Tianzheng had been kneeling in front of a heritage site for a long time.

"Master, the Sky Demons are coming and Hua Nation is in danger. Please help us, Master!"

"Master…"

Even so, there was no response from within the heritage site.

But Lin Tianzheng did not give up and continued to plead for assistance over two days and one night. Finally, around noon on the second of November, his satellite phone suddenly started ringing and his face fell after he answered it and heard what the other end said.

A long silence followed.

Then, Lin Tianzheng said hoarsely, "I understand. I'll head to Lingzhou City right away."

Hanging up, Lin Tianzheng pleaded loudly once again, "Master, the Stargate is forming soon and the Sky Demon legion would descend upon Earth latest by tomorrow. Please, Master, give Hua Nation a hand."

With that, he stopped asking.

He kept kneeling quietly for another half an hour before the heritage site.

After that, he rose to his feet and offered the heritage site a fist-palm salute. Then, his aura stirred and the mana in his body rapidly faded.

He crippled the mana he cultivated.

Being a Void-tier elite but only reaching tier-nine as a Qi Refinists, his combat ability was not affected at all despite the crippling. His spirit surged as he erased all his memories about the cultivation of the Penglai Immortal Sect, saying, "If this is how it is, I'm cutting all ties with the Penglai Sect."

Whoosh!

He took to the air without turning back.

At Mount Kunlun, Wang Hou was sitting quietly outside without saying a word.

He had received word that the Stargate was taking shape.

Hence, he quietly looked on for a long while before suddenly smiling and turned to fly away.

A Yuan Spirit clone abruptly appeared on the peak of Mount Kun'lun once he left.

It was a white-haired elder in Daoist robes, staring at the direction where Wang Hou left for a long time before sighing softly, "True Habitant, are we really not helping?"

"The Sky Demons… are they not one of the hundred races back then?"

"Though the Sky Demons were rock-bottom among them, Hua Nation cannot stop them even now."

There was flashing ripple atop of Mount Kunlun then, caused by the movement of a great array.

The array itself was incredibly massive and covered all of Mount Kunlun, inside of which was dense sagely mist. Further inside, a pavilion stood and a voice spoke calmly, "The time isn't right."

There was nothing else spoken after that.

In the grand temple constantly shrouded in darkness at the Tantra Sect.

A candle flame abruptly ignited, dispelling all darkness as a shriveled figure stepped out of the temple.

He was wearing a tattered tunic and monk robes, and the muscles exposed over his right arm were withered.

His visage was elderly, his eyes turbid and his back hunched. Not only did he appear to have one foot in the grave but he actually had one foot in the grave.

"Guru…"

The many disciples welcomed him outside the temple, just as there were others dissuading him—Corban, the monk with an iron staff knelt on the ground, saying, "Master, I am willing to leave the mountain in your stead."

The shriveled elder walked up and stroked Corban's huge bald head.

He then looked at the many lamas around him, saying, "Hear my call, disciples of Tantra!"

Every disciple looked solemn at that as the shriveled old man somberly said, "Our sect has guarded the Tantra Realm for over a thousand years and our ancestral master had even used his body to seal the Stargate. Remember, this gateway is not to open as long as the Tantra Sect is not gone!"

Every Tantra Sect disciple answered affirmatively, while the shriveled old man's body released frightening Blood Qi, his elderly face reverting to youthfulness and his skinny body instantly turning robust.

"Guru…"

The many Tantra Sect disciples were kneeling, some wailing while others appeared grieving.

They knew that guru was holding back his final talents.

His youthful state allowed him to maintain his peak fighting ability, but regardless of the outcome, the guru would die in three days.

In his youth form, the guru had shoulder-length black hair and he tore off his monk robes before putting on a set a white robe that he got from his Spatial Ring. He even took out a fan, and appeared quietly handsome and elegant.

As he left, stepping up on the air, his voice echoed beside the ears of the many Tantra Sect disciples. "Remember, do not seek my reincarnation. I have lived for three lifetimes and almost 800 years, and am still a body pure Yang even now."

He had left behind all shackles in that very instant.

At the same time, at the ancient Shaolin Temple, a Buddhist radiance shone as an old monk wearing a kasaya descended form the mountain, shippala in hand.

Likewise, an old Daoist stood atop a blue snake as they headed toward Lingzhou City.

Up on Mount Wudang, another sloppy old Daoist leapt off the mountain and left, stepping upon blue clouds.

At the Yellow Emperor's tomb, an elderly man stepped out of his Secret Realm, treading upon the yellow ground as he headed for Lingzhou City every step of the way.

Meanwhile, Jiang He had quietly flown into the clouds above his own yard.

Refining his many swords, he hid himself in the Stargate that was about to form. Then, summoning a cloud with a wave of his hand, he sat cross-legged beside it and took out a pinch of purple-golden sunflower seeds, munching on them.

After ascending to True Child and cultivating the Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses, Jiang He made the perfect-plan:

He would be waiting for the trap to be sprung!

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Chapter 292: Throwing a Doom Shroom Tentatively?

At the chief's office at the Lingzhou City Martial Arts Department (MAD), though Duan Tianhe was chief, he was merely serving tea here.

Of course, he was happy to do that.

Would most rank-seven martial artists even enjoy such a situation?

They certainly would go their whole lives without a chance of waiting upon so many divine-tier or Void-tier elites.

Wang He, however, taking out his own thermal flask from his Spatial Ring instead of drinking the tea that Duan Tianhe had served him.

He took a few sips before gesturing for Duan Tianhe to pour some hot water into his cup.

"How's the evacuation of the civilians in Lingzhou City going, Duan Tianhe?" he asked after Duan Tianhe did so.

"Everything is going smoothly…" Duan Tianhe quickly answered. "With several elders escorting and the military diverting their vehicles for the time being, almost fifty thousand people have left the city and the last of them would be evacuated before the wee hours of the morning."

As a matter of fact, there were many cars inside Lingzhou City.

Nonetheless, the price of fuel had skyrocketed following the Revival of Qi and most could not even afford to drive. Still, with their lives hanging in the balance, who would care about that?

Such was a fine aspect about the people of the Hua Nation, since during such times, no one would be jumping out and yelling 'freedom' slogans or rioting.

Meanwhile, Wang Hou nodded at Duan Tianhe's words and turned towards Pei Donglai, who rose to his feet.

He smiled bitterly. "The Stargate has formed ahead of schedule, Minister Wang, which is why our forces could not be diverted in time. At the moment, only one battalion has arrived at Lingzhou City. In addition to that, Chief Commander Li has sent an emergency summon of all military elites above rank-five to form a temporary party and come before dawn."

Wang Hou then stood up as well and offered a fist-palm salute to all divine-tier and Void-tier elites before him, declaring sonorously, "I'm immeasurably grateful to everyone for being here. If I don't fall in this battle, I shall treat everyone to a night at Men in Heaven and no one shall return before they get drunk."

Some martial elites who know what Men In Heaven was laughed out loud and explained it to the ones who were left puzzled.

Then, a middle-aged female martial artist spat, "Men!"

Everyone could not help laughing again at that.

There were a total of twenty-six divine-tier elites here, as well as five Void-tier elites in Wang Hou, Lin Tianzheng, Dong Haichuan, Yang Luchan, and Elder Ji.

Basically, these were most of the Hua Nation's elites.

All of them know that this fight would be extremely difficult and there was a major chance of casualties. Even so, they were having a jolly time without showing any fear at all.

"By the way, where is Jiang He?" Wang Hou suddenly asked with a frown.

Jiang He actually wasn't here?

It was getting lively here, but the brat did not come to put on airs? That was not his character.

Long Mountain Lin, having just returned from Jiang He's house, hesitated for a moment before he quietly said, "He said that the Sky Demons were clearly belittling him since they opened the Stargate right above his house and that he's setting things up to teach them a lesson."

There was a sudden silence in the office.

Wang Hou did a double take before saying, "Reckless, truly reckless… Get him here right now, Long Mountain Lin—we know not a single thing about the strength of the Sky Demon legion at all, so how could he act so rashly?"

Be that as it may, after a brief curse, Wang Hou breathed a long sigh and said, "Jiang He… is the hope of all humanity. Ascending and becoming a Golden Pellet at such a young age while commanding combat ability that could match even Void-tier pinnacle elites? Even if we fail to stop the Sky Demon legion in this battle, there's still hope for all!"

"That's right!"

Three Blades Lin cried himself hoarse as he exclaimed, "Jiang He must never die!"

With that, he strode one foot out of the window and was ready to fly in the direction of Jiang He's house, saying, "Minister Wang, I shall leave right now to persuade Jiang He so that he comes back…"

"Persuade who?"

That was when a voice could be heard.

It was Jiang He, who was walking toward them in the air from the distance.

He stood outside the window of Duan Tianhe's office and he offered everyone a fist-palm salute with a somber look. "Everyone," he said, "I have come to notify you that no one should panic later right after the Sky Demon legion arrives. It's best if you could stay here at Lingzhou City and not come out, since I've prepared some homecooked bombs with several dozen million ton-yield and you could get caught in the blast when they detonate."

Every elite present appeared to be freaking out, though Three Blades Lin did not hear it clearly and could not help asking, "How many catties?"

Jiang He gave Three Blades Lin a look, just like how one would look at a mentally handicapped person with concern…

Are you freaking kidding me?

How many catties?

He was supposed to blow up the Sky Demon legion. If his bombs could be calculated in units of catties, would it even threaten them?

Jiang He had already made his preparations. When the Stargate takes shape later, he would take the initiative and attack, first charging into the Stargate to intercept and slaughter that bunch of animals, and if he could not win… he would throw a few hundred Doom Shrooms in their faces.

Right now, he had over a thousand Doom Shrooms.

Though the highest yield of Doom Shrooms is merely five hundred thousand tons while the average yield is three hundred thousand tons… I have a lot of them.

Let us take the Doom Shrooms with three hundred-thousand-ton yield, for example. If daddy throws two or three hundred Doom Shrooms into the Stargate, would you not be frightened with the ensuring explosive yield reaching up to several hundred million tons?

"Mister Jiang!"

Pei Donglai said then, "The space inside of the Stargate is extremely unstable, Mister Jiang. Explosives… might have a hard time detonating."

"That's fine."

Jiang He waved him off and flatly said, "Even if the Stargate is unstable, my explosives are equally unstable."

Since my Doom Shrooms were going to blow up after a single touch anyway, if just one of them blew up, the horrific destructive force that would erupt in that single instant would cause the rest of the Doom Shrooms to blow up as well. It was even better if the space within was unstable, as that would ensure the detonation.

And with those few words, Jiang He turned and flew away, turning his head around to remind them even as he did, "Keep that in mind and do not go to my house under all circumstances. I would never take responsibility if someone really gets killed."

The many martial art elites present were left at a loss for words.

Three Blades Lin, who did not even have the time to return from outside the window, scratched his head and muttered, "Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Why did I see Jiang He spitting sunflower seed shells while flying?"

Was he really that relaxed?

Nonetheless, just minutes after Jiang He had flown away, Wang Hou and the other Void-tier elites all abruptly turned to look towards the distance skies where they found a lone figure flying towards them from the horizon. He appeared to be a middle-aged man wearing hemp clothes and sporting a small beard.

"Elder Guo!"

Having recognized the man, both Yang Luchan and Dong Haichuan rose to their feet.

Wang Hou himself personally walked up to receive him.

He had a good impression of the elder from the Guo clan. Word had it that the Guo elder was born in an age of chaotic war and after mastering martial arts, he had put on his armor and stood watch over Xiangyang to protect the country, repelling all foreign enemies over decades even though he could have enjoyed fame and riches.

Though he was nearing the end of his lifespan and was confining himself to avoid it, he had stepped out at once upon hearing that the country was facing a crisis.

Roar!

Far in the horizon, the roar of a behemoth resounded as a colossal blue serpent over three hundred meters in length streaked through the skies with an old Daoist standing atop the serpent's head, his Daoist robes flapping against the wind.

"Amitabha!"

A Buddhist chant could be heard from a completely different direction just then and a Buddhist radiance flickered as an old monk arrived, walking across the air.

"Old Bald Donkey, Old Cow Nose, wait for me…"

The sloppy old Daoist from Mount Wudang was following from behind, whereas the Jiang clan elder of the Yellow Emperor's tomb was dressed plainly. He was walking barefooted up in the skies, seemingly shrinking large gaps into inches, covering hundreds of meters with every single step and moving at a speed comparable to flying.

The expressions on the many elites changed, all of them rising to their feet to welcome the new arrivals. Wang Hou, who just had a few exchanges with Elder Guo, was immediately left stunned and began to laugh loudly in delight. "With our predecessors here to aid us, the Sky Demons would definitely be beaten!"

That was when another figure flew towards them as well.

Incidentally, the figure was flying from the direction of Jiang He's house.

It was the guru of the Tantra Sect.

He was wearing white robes and holding a folding fan, his hair now shoulder-length and his skin a bright whiteness, which actually gave him an air of handsomeness. As he passed through the white cloud in the skies above Jiang He's house, he offered Jiang He a fist-palm salute and smiled. "Mister Jiang, you have been well… eh?"

Even before he could finish, his gaze changed and his eyes were twinkling.

"Have you already ascended to True Child, Mister Jiang?!"

Up in the white clouds, Jiang He was folding his legs and munching on his purple golden sunflower seeds as well as sipping on rank-nine Origin Fluid from time to time.

When he saw that the white-clothed youth actually recognized himself and was able to see through his cultivation at once, he could not help exclaiming in surprise, "Who are you?"

"Do you know me?"

The guru of the Tantra Sect chuckled in response. "I am the guru of the Tantra Sect. As for my name… I once went by the name of Ge Rili, as well as the name of Harrick… although I am without a name in this life."

He was talking about his mortal name in his first and second lifetimes.

At the time, he had been merely around thirteen to fourteen when he was brought back to the Tantra Sect. As for the third lifetime, he had just been born when his mother died from profuse bleeding due to labor complications. Then, in that very same afternoon, he was brought back to the Tantra Sect without being afforded the time to be named.

As a matter of fact, the grief in his heart was severe.

Three lifetimes, living over eight hundred years.

A poussin of Pure Yang…

Who could have been unluckier than himself?

"The guru of the Tantra Sect?"

Quietly putting away his purple golden sunflower seeds and rank-nine Origin Fluid, Jiang He stared at the white-clothed youth for a while before laughing coolly, saying, "Would the guru of the Tantra Sect look as smug as you do?"

His True Qi pulsing, Jiang He was about to yell 'How dare you, demon! Show your true self right now!' but he held back, even though the words were on the tip of his tongue.

After all, he could feel a familiar surge of blood and Qi inside the white-clothed, smug-looking youth.

The Dragon Elephant Prajna!

Screw me!

So, he really is the guru of the Tantra Sect?

Has the world gone mad?

Nonetheless, the young white-clothed guru certainly understood Jiang He's thoughts and he grinned carefreely, replying, "I have been guru for eight hundred years. In these last moments of mine, I am hoping that I could be myself."

Jiang He was dumbstruck.

Here comes another one with a pessimistic outlook.

These people…

The fight had yet to begin and they were already thinking about dying. Most importantly, every single one of them looked as if they were proud of themselves, carrying themselves as if they did not fear death at all.

"Hmm?"

"Something isn't right…"

There was a flash in Jiang He's eyes out of the blue as he had noticed something unusual about the body of white-haired youth. Though his skin, figure, blood, and even Qi appeared to be extremely youthful and healthy at the moment, the truth was that the scent of decay was wafting from his body.

Even if the vigor of his body was strong, it felt a little like a 'rewinding' of time.

"He must have used some secret technique, tapping into the last bit of potential in his body…"

Jiang He became solemnly respectful of him just then.

The reason he had done that was to repel the Sky Demon legion!

When he remembered the white-haired youth's show of goodwill toward himself back then…

After some thought, Jiang He held back the white-clothed youth who was about to rush toward Lingzhou City and gather with the elites of the other four Holy Grounds of martial arts, smiling. "Guru, you have rushed all the way here—you must not have eaten yet, have you?"

"Come, come…"

"Here, I have a lunchbox filled with soul rice I planted myself. Please, have some."

The guru refused tactfully, saying, "Thanks for your kindness, Mister Jiang, but I'm not hungry!"

Even so, Jiang He was not letting go.

Grabbing the guru by the arm, he gently puled him and pinned him down, holding down the full-fledged Void-tier guru of the Tantra Sect up in the clouds like a baby.

There was a look of bewilderment on the face of the young face of the Tantra Sect guru.

He had cultivated the Dragon Elephant and possessed immense strength in the first place… why did it seemed like he was no different from a young chick in front of Jiang He?

On the other hand, not caring about anything at all, Jiang He brought out a box of rice.

The rice was cooked from the Dragontooth rice and it was served with stir-fried eggplant over meat.

It was one of the new lunchboxes that Sora had prepared for him yesterday.

"I don't eat meat or fish… Eh? Mister Jiang? What are you doing?"

Even before the white-clothed youth could finish, he could see the lunchbox disappearing from Jiang He's hand, replaced by a long, thick and large purple eggplant.

Jiang He chuckled. "Since you don't eat meat or fish, guru, then have some vegetables instead."

The youth's expression turned dark even as Jiang He continued with an introduction, "This eggplant is a species that I've stumbled upon by coincidence. It would count as a floral spirit, having the ability to extend a person's lifespan."

Only then did the white-clothed youth's face relax. Understanding what Jiang He had in mind, he flashed him a pained smile. "Thanks for your goodwill, Mister Jiang. Even so, it is now the end for me. Any treasure that would prolong lifespans would not work on me at all."

The life expectancy of all martial artists who did not reach Zero Void was only five hundred years old.

And the guru of the Tantra Sect was already that old.

To be precise, he had been that old for five months, and even if he did not tap into the last bit of his potential, he would not have lived past winter.

But now, Jiang He chuckled in response to his words, saying, "Guru, this eggplant is nothing so mundane. Moreover, since there's no harm in eating an entire one, so why don't you take a few bites first?"

"If you would eat it, I'll… eh?"

Even before Jiang He could finish, the youthful guru had already taken the eggplant and crunched down on it loudly. Then, once some pieces went down to his stomach, his entire body shuddered as brilliant light shone out of his eyes and he continued crunching down on the eggplant, finishing it!

Jiang He was left gaping at the sight…

I have not even finished speaking.

What's with the hurry?

It was such a massive eggplant and yet you've stuffed it down your throat raw and directly… I could have arranged for my maid to help you cook it into a dish!

Be that as it may, the youthful guru could not care less whether the eggplant was cooked or raw in that very moment. A look of astonishment registered all over his face as he exclaimed in shock, "What godly item is this eggplant? It actually works for me! I can actually feel as if my lifeforce is improving and that I could at least live for one more year!"

Just one year?

Jiang He frowned.

For most people, that eggplant would extend their lifespans from three to five years.

So, he promptly took out two more eggplants, passed it to the guru and said, "Have some more, guru. Let's see how long you could extend your lifespan…"

"No need!"

The youthful guru appeared overflowing with confidence then and was laughing out loud. "My blood and Qi had been withering before, my lifeforce decaying. Even so, I'm now confident I can reach Zero Void and I would live another five hundred years once I do!"

After all, Zero Void Elites lived up to a thousand years.

Meanwhile, from a long distance away…

Wang Hou, Elder Guo, the old monk of Shaolin Temple, and the old Daoist of Mount Qingcheng all looked toward Jiang He's house.

That little bit of distance did not actually matter much for elites of their rank. Their vision was perfectly capable of observing the youthful looks of the white-clothed guru, which left them all besides themselves in surprise…

Where had that elite showed up from?

He looks so young, but he is actually a full-fledged Void-tier?

Nevertheless, in that very moment…

Ooom!

A formless ripple unfurled across the world.

Starting from the spot above Jiang He's house, the clouds up in the skies over fifty kilometers were crushed by the ripple.

A large black dot was taking shape up in the air.

And within the black dot, a horrific spatial energy was building up. As space rippled and stirred, the black dot rapidly expanded!

Everyone's faces dropped right then.

"The Stargate has opened!" someone gasped softly.

Others appeared grave. In fact, even Wang Hou and the other elites were looking somber just then.

"They are coming!"

In the distant horizon and beneath the black dot, Jiang He watched as the cloud beneath his feet was crushed and could not help frowning. Turning to glance at the youthful guru, he said, "Guru, please back away."

The white-clothed guru appeared baffled.

On the other hand, Jiang He smiled calmly and said, "I'm afraid that I might hurt you once I attack."

As the guru looked on in shock, Jiang He had flown to the Stargate which was no bigger than a washing basin.

With a turn of his hand, he took out a pitch-black Doom Shroom, which was growing a pair of fiery-red eyes.

Extending his hand, he threw it inside the Stargate.

Okay.

No rush.

Let's throw one to see the effect for now.

Meanwhile, in outer space, the Sky Demon legion of five hundred thousand strong was standing upon the plains of a dried-up planet, all of them wearing black armor and forming an intimidating black field.

Even the weakest among them was a rank-five.

After all, Sky Demons would become warriors even without cultivation once they reached adulthood, making them equivalent to any human warrior… Moreover, this force of five hundred thousand was the best among the Sky Demon legion, so it was normal for the weakest to be at least rank-five.

They stood silently, forming groups of hundred that were each led by a hundred-men commander with powerful aura, and was equally matched to rank-seven grandmasters.

And above hundred-men commanders were thousand-men commanders and ten thousand-men commanders, the latter of whom was equivalent to rank-nine martial artists.

Aside from them were marshals, chief marshals and generals…

Not to mention that there were more than a hundred divine-tier champions, almost thirty Void-tier champions, and nine Zero Void champions.

The leading general of the five hundred thousand himself possessed an aura as deep as the ocean. Demonic Qi floated like clouds around him.

He was a full-fledged Zero Void, which was equivalent to a full-fledged Yuan Spirit in cultivator terms.

However, none of the legion of five hundred thousand or the Sky Demon champions dared to even breathe to loudly as they silently watch the towering and majestic figure up front.

He was surrounded in Demonic Qi, preventing others from seeing his face.

Holding a pitch-black steel ruler and throwing it, the steel ruler took to the air, unleashing a violent tremor.

The tremor actually tore spirit space apart, forming a pitch-black Stargate.

Even if the demon lord of the Sky Demons was personally there, he did not have the power to open the Stargate and must rely upon the steel ruler—a sacred item of the Sky Demons that only the demon lords could wield.

And now, rage was showing upon the demon lord's face.

He could sense it…

The descendant he left on Earth was gone…

It was his biological daughter!

Royal Sky Demons were dwindling in the first place and not many of the demon lord's own descendants were as powerful as he was. Moreover, he had sent his daughter there at great cost, so how could he not be furious before she fulfilled the grand task of unifying Earth?

It was also the reason he had opened the Stargate ahead of schedule.

Ooom!

The air rippled and stirred.

The pitch-black Stargate was stretching into the depths of space…

It lasted over hours when the demon lord's aura suddenly stirred and he growled, "The Stargate is open but I shall continue expanding it. Generals, prepare the materials to stabilized the Gate, and the legion shall move to Earth in two hours!"

"Eh?"

That was when the demon lord's figure shuddered.

He felt a tremendous energy erupting from the other side of the Stargate.

"Someone is bombarding the Stargate! Generals, stabilize the Gate at once and send your forces within…"

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Chapter 293: An Awkward Encounter Inside The Stargate

On Earth, in the skies directly above Jiang He's mansion in Jinyintan Village, the spatial ripple that the Stargate had caused when it formed had left all martial elites stunned. The old monk of the Shaolin Temple, the old Daoist of Mount Qingcheng, and the others were about to move and rush to the scene when Wang Hou quickly stopped them, saying, "Dear elders, patience."

He then repeated what Jiang He said…

Of course, he had to replace some words and his tone since Jiang He had put it rather badly. Though Wang Hou himself did not mind since he was used to it, he was afraid that the elders present would get uncomfortable.

Still, the Void-tier elites—the old monk from Shaolin Temple, the old Daoist from Mount Qingcheng, the sloppy Daoist of Mount Wudang, the Jiang clan's elder and the Guo clan's elder—were left taken aback by those words…

"Reckless…"

The old Daoist of Mount Qincheng muttered, and that was when a resounding rumble echoed and everyone turned to look.

What they found was a flame brighter than the sun ejecting out of the Stargate that had barely formed.

Even from afar, the might of the explosion left them palpitating after the fact.

"It's here!"

"It's here!"

"Bomberman…" Cheng Dongfeng cried out in shock inside Jingdu City.

Beside him, the ears on a pudgy figure pricked up, his already small eyes narrowing to slits upon hearing the explosive echoes, and he exclaimed in shock, "A thermonuclear bomb?"

"No, no, the sound of that explosion is different."

"But judging from the bang and the flames… the explosive yield is at least two hundred thousand tons!"

The fat self-proclaimed 'munitions expert' was speaking eloquently.

Outside the Stargate, Jiang He's eyes shifted as he slapped out with one palm. A draconic roar thundered through the air as the silhouette of a golden dragon flew, knocking the flames back into the Stargate.

In the air above Lingzhou City, there was a twitch in Elder Guo's look as he exclaimed in shock, "The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms?"

The old Shaolin monk and Elder Jiang all turned towards Elder Guo then, saying, "Is that Jiang He your brother?"

Elder Guo shook his head, looking baffled.

He did not even pass down the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms to his own clan disciples. How did that youth learn it?

Nearby, Wang Hou quietly said, "Perhaps… he had created it himself."

He did not dare to believe it himself, and so, had to stiffen himself right then. "The truth is that Jiang He is quite adept at creating martial techniques on his own. Aside from Elder Guo's Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, he had also developed a body shielding technique that looked like a cross between the Shaolin Temple's Indestructible Diamond and Golden Bell Shade along with something similar to Dragon Elephant Prajna."

Being an honest and frank person, Elder Guo exclaimed in awe at those words, "Are there actually such wonders in this world?"

However, the old Shaolin monk and the old Mount Qincheng Daoist clearly doubted it…

"Minister Wang is right."

That was when a voice reached them as the white-clothed guru arrived walking on air, smiling. "Jiang He is really good at creating cultivation techniques and I've seen the Dragon Elephant Prajna he created. It is superior in both potential and power compared to my sect's own Dragon Elephant Prajna."

Everyone turned toward the white-clothed guru with baffled looks.

Was he from the Tantra Sect?

When did such an elite like him appeared among the Tantra Sect?

Weren't everyone in the Tantra Sect lamas?

On the other hand, this person had that shoulder-length hair, scorn on his face and a folding fan between his fingers…

The white-clothed guru was not bothered to explain much to the others either… these old men shared no common ground with himself, since he was 200 years older than Elder Guo, who was the oldest among the others…

After a long silence, everyone looked up toward the horizon.

Up in the skies, Jiang He was sitting cross-legged just outside the Stargate and munching on sunflower seeds. Then, getting a little thirsty, he flew back inside his house and took out a pot of Big Red Robe.

There was not one bit of impatience or worry on his face.

Why rush?

Would the Sky Demon legion not come if he was worried?

As for the Doom Shrooms…

Throwing those now was too early since there was not even a whiff of the Sky Demon legion.

The Doom Shroom just now was just a test.

He had to ensure the stability of the Stargate so he wouldn't blow it up directly when he threw hundreds of Doom Shrooms inside. When that happens, he certainly could stop the Sky Demon legion from coming, but…

His own house might be flattened from the ensuing shockwave as well, and not even Lingzhou City, which was fifteen kilometers away, could be said.

If that happened, the loss far outweighed the gains.

"It seems that my worries were excessive. I definitely could use the Doom Shrooms as much as I want."

Jiang He then threw a handful of sunflower seed shells into the Stargate, thinking to himself, 'Opening the Stargate involves spatial energies. Brute force from bombs alone can't destroy it.'

"The only thing that could prove troublesome is when hundreds of Doom Shrooms blow up and the shockwave spills out of the Stargate when that happens…"

Jiang He looked down at his yard.

The Stargate was aimed straight at his own house and if the energies vented out from there, his house would definitely be gone.

"So, I must come up with an idea to block the Stargate to ensure the explosion would not spill out."

Meanwhile, Jiang He continued munching on purple golden sunflower seeds for over an hour and could actually feel his spirit improve by a small notch, but somehow could not find any signs of the Sky Demon legion for a long time.

"What the heck?"

"Is the Sky Demon legion all talk?"

Jiang He frowned, a little impatient now.

The Stargate before him was now almost ten meters wide… and seemed to have stop expanding.

Reasonably speaking, they should be coming.

"The Stargate is stable. Legion, move out!" one of the high generals roared.

He had long fangs, a blue face and appeared very grotesque. Still, his aura was powerful and almost equal to a Yuan Spirit. Brandishing a sword, he leapt up into the Stargate.

"Kill!"

"Take Earth and avenge Her Highness!"

With that, the Sky Demon champions rushed into the Stargate and the legion of five hundred thousand went in last…

After all, the Stargate could not hold them all at once. That was why their champions had to be the vanguard, clearing all obstacles outside the Stargate to ensure that the entire legion could enter safely.

"Should I… go in for a look?"

Outside the Stargate, Jiang He hesitated for a moment and gritted his teeth. Striding forward with a single step, he entered the Stargate.

He did not feel the sensation of the world spinning around him that he had expected, just as there was no spatial storm, space beam, space behemoths, or whatnot as described in novels. Likewise, there was no vast starry sky, just the single layer of spatial barrier.

Whipping out his phone, Jiang He wanted to take a photo in commemoration but found that he could not even turn on his phone in the Stargate. As such, he kept striding forward for around ten minutes since he had no sense of distance at all in the Stargate…

"Hmmm?"

Suddenly, Jiang He turned to look ahead.

There was an echoing sonic boom up front, following by a voice—

"Kill!"

"Take Earth and avenge Her Highness!"

After that, there were thunderous raging bellows and the sound of an army of millions on the move.

Then, a black-armored sky demon general appeared within Jiang He's sight. He was leading the way alone, flying at the very front and shouting a battle-cry as he moved, "We shall take Earth, and…"

"Earthling?"

Screech!

The sky demon general abruptly stopped, his eyes tightening and glimmering as he stared at Jiang He.

Behind him, many figures were streaking through the air.

There was a total of seventy Sky Demon champions…

Jiang He did a double take.

It was such an awkward encounter…

He had wanted to wave in greeting, but once he remembered that they were Sky Demons, his unrelenting archnemeses…

Therefore, Jiang He took out another Doom Shroom.

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Chapter 294: How Dare You Throw A Tantrum At Me?

In the skies above Lingzhou City, the many martial elites were left stunned at the sight of Jiang He stepping inside the Stargate on his own.

"Jiang He!" Wang Hou cried, flying out in a flash.

Lin Tianzheng promptly got in Wang Hou's way, exclaiming somberly, "No, Minister Wang! Jiang He is as powerful as his methods are varied—he might have his own plans when he entered the Stargate."

"Step aside!" Wang Hou barked.

Even so, Lin Tianzheng did not move an inch and continued persuading Wang Hou, "Jiang He had told us before not to approach the Stargate. What if we recklessly go ahead and ruin his plans in the process? Moreover…"

He glanced at the many elites around them and used Secret Acoustics, saying, "The Hua Nation would be in dire straits if something really happened to you, Minister Wang."

Wang Hou turned ashen faced at that, staring at the Stargate for minutes before growling, "Send word—we'll be preparing for battle. Dispatch several elites to hurry with the evacuation of Lingzhou City civilians."

"We must do our best to protect the citizens before the battle really starts."

"General Pei, contact Chief Commander Li right away and half the military make preparations. If we can't stop the Sky Demon legion, execute our last resort at once!"

Having received his orders, Pei Donglai promptly turned to make the phone call.

As for what the last resort was…

Pei Donglai naturally knew what it was since he was a part of the discussion.

If the Sky Demon legion descended upon them and the many elites failed to hold them back, they would bombard the Sky Demon legion with nuclear bombs from every direction…

Nuclear radiation?

Who would care when it came to this point?

After the orders were issued, the many elites no longer spoke. Instead, they quietly charged their cultivation techniques and aura, waiting for the Sky Demons to arrive and killing them six ways from Sunday.

They were not aware that Jiang He had already run into the Sky Demons inside the Stargate right then.

Dozens of black-armored sky demon champions stood before him, all of them looking ugly with their blue faces and big fangs. Still, Jiang He was not being discriminating… the universe was very vast after all and it was normal for several uglier races.

Racial discrimination was unnecessary. All Jiang He wanted was to kill them, and that was all there was to it.

Be that as It may, Jiang He did not throw the Doom Shrooms he had already taken out.

There were merely dozens of the Sky Demons and not even a whiff of the Sky Demon legion. What if he alerted the bigger catch?

Moreover, Jiang He was perplexed that the Sky Demons' language… was not different from Mandarin.

Could Mandarin be a lingua franca of the universe?

"Kill!"

"Take Earth and avenge his highness!"

Raging bellows were echoing from the rear—the Sky Demon legion was clearly not far.

Meanwhile, Jiang He watched the dozens of ugly Sky Demon champions, each of whom were exuding frightening auras and brute strength… he was about to find a topic to ease the awkward, heavy atmosphere, and promptly squeezed a smile in, greeting the Sky Demon champions, "Hi, how are you doing?"

Weirdly, however, the many Sky Demon elites were not attempting to kill Jiang He right away.

They communicated in spirit while the Sky Demon champion with aura matching an advanced Yuan Spirit stepped forward, studying Jiang He from head to toe and frowning. "Did you come to receive us?"

That was the only thing that made sense, after all.

Why else would a True Child-tier human have the guts to enter the Stargate on his own?

The Sky Demon champion was also aware that 'Her Highness' had founded the Sky Demon Cult on earth, drawing a group of humans to their cause.

"Why did you come alone?" He then asked. "Do you know who murdered Her Highness?'

The questions thrown out left Jiang He blanking out.

Receive you?

Hmmm…

That is true in a way… but how am I supposed to know who the heck kill Your Highness?

"Hold on…"

"Her Highness?"

"If I recall correctly, Wang Hou did mention that the Sky Demon Cult's Saint had royal blood, did he not?"

Jiang He realized with a start then and was about to answer in understanding when the Sky Demon champion continued, "I heard that everyone in the religion Her Highness founded has a token plate to identify themselves. Where is yours?"

So, they really are taking me for a Sky Demon Cultist? Are these elites of the Sky Demon cult that retarded?

Jiang He then glanced at the Stargate behind the Sky Demon champions.

The Sky Demon legion had yet to arrive, so buying some time was a good idea.

Moreover, he had all the Sky Demon Cult token plates he needed, and so he promptly drew out a cardinal's token plate with a turn of his hand and threw it to the Sky Demon champion. Catching it and sensing a strand of Demonic Qi it exuded, the Sky Demon champion could not help laughing, "It does contain the aura of the Sky Demon Arcanum. It must have been personally crafted by Her Highness."

With that, Jiang He passed the identity check, but the Sky Demon champion repeated the question of 'who killed Her Highness' once more.

"Jiang He was the one who killed the Saint and he was also the one who wiped out our fraternity, inflicting endless casualties. Only a handful of us escaped." Jiang He told the truth as it was and killing intent arose immediately from the Sky Demon champions, seemingly bent on skinning him and draining his soul, sealing his spirit and tormenting him over endless days.

Jiang He shivered.

What the hell.

Weren't these Sky Demons too cruel?

They want to kill and torment him right in front of his face?

"Are there earthlings guarding the Stargate from the outside? You would know about them, so do tell." The Sky Demon champion asked again after a brief cursing rant at 'Jiang He'.

Jiang He mused to himself for a while, and soon decided there was nothing to hide. "There are definitely many martial elites gathered outside the Stargate, with approximately ten Void-tiers and thirty divine-tiers."

Disdain showed all over the Sky Demon champion's face and he flatly said, "Maggots. I alone could slaughter all of them! Everyone, follow me—we shall charge out of the Stargate and clear the obstacles for the legion!"

Killing intent broiling, they were about to charge out of the Stargate.

How could he allow that?

Stunned, Jiang He promptly stood in the Sky Demon champions' way and said, "No rush, everyone. Why not wait until the legion arrives?"

"Move!"

The Yuan Spirit sky demon champion at the fore laughed fearsomely before saying sinisterly, "Piece of trash, getting in my way? Move!"

Jiang He expression darkened.

Aren't you supposed to treat me as your ally?

Is this how you Sky Demons treat your own ranks?

The Sky Demon champion laughed coldly once he saw that Jiang He was not moving and reached out with a grasping motion, his fingers turning into claws streaking at Jiang He's head. His turquoise nails, nourished by Demonic Qi, were harder than diamonds—even full-fledged True Child cultivators would have their brains squeezed out with that single strike.

Even so…

Was Jiang He your average full-fledged True Child cultivator?

Trying to kill me at the drop of a hat?

Laughing from the indignation, Jiang He promptly went all out and retaliated with a punch. With a booming collision, the Yuan Spirit advanced Sky Demon champion had his whole hand blown apart, his body instantly sent flying backwards.

Snikt!

Virtually at the same instant he punched out, Jiang He charged his Twenty-Three Swords. The crisp humming of a sword resounded in the Stargate right then, with veins of sword light 'special effects' filling the entire Stargate at once.

In the distance, many swords belonging of the Sky Demon legion who had yet to arrive were humming in resonance.

Ooom!

Formless sword light shot into the Sky Demon champion who had lost a hand, hitting him between the brows.

Thud.

The Sky Demon elite landed heavily and did not rise again.

The arcanum that the Sky Demons cultivated was similar in system to cultivators. They could condense their Yuan Spirits too, but their accomplishment on that front were not comparable to cultivators of the same tier.

How was he supposed to stop the Twenty-Three Swords that specialized in cutting Yuan Spirit with such a weak Yuan Spirit of his own?

After all, secret Yuan Spirit techniques were exceedingly rare. Jiang He did not know how awesome a martial technique he had actually copied from a movie about martial warriors!

Now, as the sword light 'special effect' that filled the Stargate faded, Jiang He brandished his Sunflower Water Sword, scanning the many baffled Sky Demon champions before laughing coolly, "What a bunch of trash. I was merely asking you to wait for a while but you would actually throw a tantrum in my face?"

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Chapter 295: Waiting For Trap To Be Sprung Version 2.0

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

In that single instant, Jiang He's aura was overflowing, his full-fledged True Child aura utterly exploding.

Starlight shone around his body and his clothes instantly morphed into silver armor as he kept smiling coolly at the dozens of stunned Sky Demon champions, Sunflower Water Sword in hand…

"Prodo!"

One of the Sky Demon champions cried then.

He promptly looked up, his faintly glimmering eyes brimming with killing intent. With a grasping motion, a pitch-black hammer reached his hand and he struck toward Jiang He from the distance.

Ka-boom!

The air thundered. Even before it reached, the hammer was kicking up a storm that almost stopped Jiang He from opening his eyes.

Swish!

Jiang He responded with a backhand slash, but after a loud bang in the next split second as sword and hammer collided, the Sunflower Water Sword was actually sent flying by the hammer.

"What the hell…"

Jiang He's face dropped.

The hammer was exceedingly powerful that his arm was knocked numb even with his Nine Heavenly Star Body Formula. Losing his grip on the Sunflower Water Sword and with the web between his thumb and forefinger split open, he was then sent flying.

"Die, human!"

The Sky Demon champion roared furiously, holding his hammer as he darted forward in pursuit.

He was actually equal in ability to the Bordo whom Jiang He had just killed but possessed more brute strength and clearly treaded the path of physicality. Indeed, Jiang He had killed Bordo so quickly because he caught the Sky Demon off guard, but now that a Sky Demon champion was attacking, a single strike actually left Jiang He's blood and Qi churning.

As he landed, he flipped around and summoned the Sunflower Water Sword which had dropped over on the ground, having it streak towards the back of the Sky Demon champion. Nonetheless, the Sky Demon champion sent the sword flying again with a back hand smite as if he had grown eyes over his back.

"That hammer must be a premium-grade soul weapon too!"

Jiang He's eyes shifted and he summoned the Sunflower Water Sword once again, although he was summoning it back into his grasp, and not to ambush the Sky Demon champion.

"Die!"

The Sky Demon champion charged forward again, hammer in hand.

"Are you getting addicted to smiting?"

Jiang He was furious. Daddy has just shown off a little and was being dished a beatdown right after—would I still have any dignity left if I don't kill you?

"Go forth, Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud!"

As he withdrew, the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud flew out from between his brows toward the Sky Demon champion.

The Sky Demon champion's face fell. Raising his hammer, he was about to knock the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud away when it abruptly enlarged and covered him.

In the next instant, True Samadhi Flames turned into nine dancing fire dragons within the shroud, drowning the Sky Demon champion immediately.

"Aaaaaargh!!!"

Screams echoed over the last three seconds and he was burned to ashes.

The other Sky Demon champions all reacted at once. Exchanging glances, some of them charging forth together with raging bellows. At the same time, Jiang He reached out his hand and summoned the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud, having it roll up before turning to run.

Even as he did so, he threw out a Doom Shroom offhandedly.

One of the Sky Demon champions reacted instantly, his combat blade slicing directly upon the Doom Shroom, perhaps under the impression that it was some sort of concealed weapon…

Boom!

The 300,000-ton yield Doom Shroom instantly detonated among the ranks of all the Sky Demon champions. Being just a True Child, how could the champion who had cut the Doom Shroom withstand such a blast?

He was blown to hell instantly, just as the other Sky Demon champions beside him were left either dead, maimed, or coughing blood.

Meanwhile, the searing flames were shooting toward the entrance of the Stargate.

Jiang He was ready for it. Ritualizing the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud, he climbed inside it—though it was sent flying out of the Stargate due to the violent shockwave that ensued, Jiang He was fine from the inside.

Up in the skies above Lingzhou City, shocked filled the faces of the many martial elites….

Huh…

Had the fighting started already?

Wang Hou was about to ask a question, only to find Jiang He extending his hand and beckoning. Up in the air, veins of sword light took flight, and five swords including the Scarlet Flame Sword and the Autumn Water Sword circled around Jiang He's body.

All Wang Hou could hear was his furious seething. "Mongrels of the Sky Demons! Bullying daddy by numbers? Daddy is going to kill you all…"

Whoosh!

With that, he returned inside the Stargate.

What in the hell was going on?

The Sky Demon legion had already arrived?

Jiang He was going at it with the Sky Demon champions inside the Stargate?

He couldn't sense what went on inside the Stargate at all, leaving him curious and anxious right then. In a flash, he flew towards the Stargate…

"Minister Wang…"

Three Blades Lin hurriedly stood in his way. "No, Minister Wang! Jiang He said…"

"Said your grandfather!"

Wang Hou glowered at that.

Your gramps stopped me, and now you too?

Three Blades Lin quietly left at that.

Watching as Wang Hou flew inside the Stargate, the other martial elites were about to follow suit when they saw it. However, even before they could get close to it, there was a resounding explosion in the Stargate, and in the next instant…

"Oh, sh*t…"

A cry of surprise could be heard from within the Stargate.

It was Wang Hou…

At the same instant when he cried out in surprised, he was flying out of the Stargate at top speed, the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud right behind him.

The Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud rolled in the air as it was sent flying over a thousand meters before coming to a stop. Then, Jiang He strode out, opened his mouth and belched a mouthful of blood as he exclaimed in shock, "The Sky Demon champions are so frightening and powerful!"

"They can actually cast a combined array, focusing the power of four Yuan Spirits, eighteen True Children, and thirty-three Golden Pellet elites. A single burst actually blew up my Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses!"

"Eh…"

"Minister Wang?"

Jiang He turned to find Minister Wang nearby and exclaimed in surprise, "Minister Wang, what's wrong? Who attacked you?"

Wang Hou's face was pale right then, his body ragged and bleeding over many spots including his nose and mouth. He kept wiping his nose, but the bleeding just wasn't stopping.

Jiang He quietly took out an adhesive bandage at that. Delighted, Wang Hou promptly tore it open and pasted it on his own nose.

It was a rather bizarre sight.

After all, the adhesive bandage was a little large and it rather resembled a certain necessity for women.

Jiang He glowered…

Screw me.

Could Wang Hou be an idiot?

You have six broken ribs, one of which had punctured out of your body. The adhesive bandage was meant to let you heal that, but you are using it to stop a nosebleed?

"What actually happened, Minister Wang?" Jiang He pressed.

"You crashed into me…" Wang Hou mumbled.

Jiang He was speechless.

His expression darkened as he could not hold back from yelling, "Didn't I tell you people not to run around? Just now, I was merely bombed out of the Stargate by the Sky Demons' combined array but I had already maimed you from the collision. You would be dead if I had been using my homecooked bombs!"

Even as he spoke, Jiang He took out a lunchbox with a turn of his hand.

It was stir-fried eggplant over meat.

He did not eat the rice, instead merely quickly grabbing a few mouthfuls of eggplant and meat to heal his internal injury.

"What is actually going on in there, Jiang He?" Wang Hou could not help asking, and the others were looking curiously at Jiang He as well…

The Sky Demon champions had arrived? Why didn't they come through the Stargate if they did?

Musing to himself for a while to ponder his words, Jiang He did his best to make himself simple and understandable.

"Didn't the Stargate stop expanding just now?" he said. "I thought that the Sky Demons must be here…"

"However, there was no sign of their legion even after I waited for a long time, and when I went inside for a look, I soon ran into their champions who were playing vanguard."

Everyone's faces twitched while Jiang He appeared to suffer from lingering fear, saying, "The Sky Demons really have a lot of champions. Even the weakest among their vanguard is equal to a full-fledged Golden Pellet…yeah, or at least divine-union tier. They also have a dozen of champions as strong as Minister Wang and around seven Yuan Spirit champions."

At those words, everyone's faces fell.

Jiang He's tone changed then as he added gravely, "People, the Sky Demon legion would soon arrive. Back away immediately or don't blame me if you die or get hurt when I go for the big one!"

With that, everyone quickly backed away.

They were not brave enough for any false moves, with Wang Hou as precedent.

Even so, Wang Hou still did not dare to leave and kept asking to fight alongside Jiang He, which only left Jiang He frowning and shaking his head. "Minister Wang, you are too weak. The shockwave from the battle would only hurt you if a big fight ensues, so go to a corner and wait."

Wang Hou was dumbstruck.

He turned and flew away without a word.

Still, it felt like someone had slapped him inside.

I was the Hua Nation's First Man just a while ago. How did you, in just the blink of an eye, reach the level where the shockwave from your battles could hurt me?

As the others left, Jiang He quickly returned to the entrance of the Stargate. Even so, he did not enter recklessly but instead, casted the Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses while remaining outside.

Yeah.

There was no need to get in there again.

Moreover, the Sky Demon champions were able to attack with a combined array. Should they rendezvous with the main legion and use it alongside more elites, not even his Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud or his Sky Daemon War Armor could protect him.

"After attacking them twice, I'm sure the Sky Demon champions would not come out so recklessly… and it's about time for the Sky Demon legion to arrive as well."

Jiang He's spirit extended into the Stargate.

Being a full-fledged Yuan Spirit, his spirit could reach over fifty kilometers…

He just had to wait until the Sky Demon legion showed up, and when that happened…

He would blow them all to hell.

Whoosh!

With a wave of his hand, 300 Doom Shrooms appeared and floated around himself.

Project wait for the trap to be sprung, version 2.0.

Commencing.

Meanwhile, inside the Stargate, the many champions of the Sky Demons looked as if they had a hard pill to swallow.

Two clashes…

Ending with nine comrades dead and a handful injured, losing all combat ability.

"Damn it!"

"What is that Earthling? I'm sure that he cultivates immortality, but how could he be that frightening when he has yet to reach Yuan Spirit?" One of the Sky Demon elites appeared as if he had a difficult time.

Of course, it was not in his visage but from his tone.

After all, what was one supposed to see from the Sky Demons' blue face and fangs?

"Chief Marshal!"

One of the Void-tier junior marshals asked hesitantly, "Chief Marshal… what should we do?"

The other Sky Demon champions all turned towards the chief marshal.

Among the Sky Demon legion, only Zero-Void (Yuan Spirit) Sky Demon champions were assigned the position of chief marshal, each of whom command a hundred thousand troops.

However, though there had been nine chief marshals who entered the Stargate…

Jiang He had already killed two.

After musing to himself for a long while, the chief marshal said through gritted teeth, "We'll wait until General Bodo arrives."

Bodo was formerly a chief marshal as well, but he was incredibly powerful, having already become a full-fledged Zero-Void. Moreover, after cultivating the Royal Arcanum which the demon lord had bestowed upon him and acquiring demisage weapon, he was an equal match against weaker Convergence elites.

Then, around twenty minutes later…

Bodo's towering figure arrived alongside the Sky Demon legion, donning black armor and carrying a blood-hued war axe behind his back.

Appearing rather taken aback, he stared at the many vanguard elites before him and frowned, asking, "What's going on?"

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Chapter 296: Stopping An Explosion With Another Explosion?

"General!"

One of the Sky Demon champions stepped up and answered, "We have been ambushed by an Earthling human… both Marshal Prodo and Marshal Mogo have fallen."

"What?"

General Bodo's tone changed at that as he exclaimed in surprise. "How could that be… Her Highness had relayed information before her death that the strongest human was merely Golden Pellet! Could their slumbering elites have come forth?'

"No, no…"

"The demon lord would certainly had sensed it if those elites had awakened and certainly would not send us here to die!"

Silence ensued.

It was only after a dozen seconds had passed that the Sky Demon elite who had spoken just now added hesitantly, "The one who attacked us was a True Child cultivator, general, and…his methods are rather peculiar, first instakilling Marshal Prodo and then cooking Marshal Mogo to death with a premium-grade soul weapon."

"Though he is a full-fledged True Child, his ability is frightening and he possessed many premium-grade soul weapons, even casting a horrific Sword Array. We were unable to take him even with our combined technique."

General Bodo appeared stunned at that, but soon relaxed and laughed out loud. "He is but a True Child. He would have a hard time stirring waves no matter how stronger he gets, and we shall walk all over Earth as long as their slumbering elites do not come forth."

"Relay my orders, have the legion hasten their advance."

With a sonorous cry, Bodo's terrible aura that could match a full-fledged Yuan Spirit's burst forth. He reached out his hand and grasped the blood axe behind him as he strode into a dash, leading the charge with a raging bellow, "Brothers, with me! To Earth!"

"The demon lord has decreed that he would personally award everyone according to their accomplishments!"

General Bodo was about to personally clear the path for the Sky Demon legion.

As he charged, he was roaring in fury, his stirring words leaving most of the legion and spurring them on. The legion soon filled the entire Stargate, shrieking like locusts as they poured forth.

The legion of 500,000 formed a long dragon that stretched over dozens of miles.

Outside the Stargate, Jiang He, who had been observing the Stargate with his spirit all along had a twinkle in his eye…

"They're here!"

"The Sky Demon legion is finally here!"

Still, his face soon dropped and he could not help gasping… he saw the burly Sky Demon general who was holding that blood-colored axe with his spirit.

To Jiang He's senses, that humongous Sky Demon's aura was utterly frightening, and he ran with the force of a moving mountain.

"Who dares spy upon me?"

Sensing Jiang He's spirit observation then, Bodo's figure promptly shook. The strength of Qi and Blood arose like flames upon his body, and all Jiang He felt was an aching in spirit as if he was burned by True Samadhi Flames.

'That Sky Demon general is too powerful!'

'His ability is overwhelming like his blood and Qi,' Jiang He could not help thinking. 'Even I would have a hard time killing him if used Twenty-Three Swords… Moreover, using Twenty-Three Swords would harm my spirit, leaving me fatigued and drowsy.'

'Even if my cultivation has reached full-fledged True Child now, I've already used Twenty-Three Swords once. I would definitely feel unbearably drowsy if I use it again…'

Nonetheless, Jiang He's eyes flashed then, a look of resolve showing up in his eye!

The Sky Demon general was too powerful for him to defeat or kill, so…

He had to try the Doom Shrooms.

He slowly rose to his feet, rapidly gathering the 300 Doom Shrooms hovering around himself…

Jiang He was extremely careful with that process, afraid that the Doom Shrooms would collide when he gathered them and detonate… and there would be nothing left of him when that happens.

"Ah… what a pity!"

"How nice it would be if the Doom Shrooms had the same drop to the ground and clutch your head function like the pea bombs or the potato landmines. I could throw one face-to-face against the Sky Demon legion if that's so…"

After an emotional sigh, all 300 Doom Shrooms flew inside his Stargate, driven by Jiang He's mystic powers.

He did have a good control over his strength.

Moreover, he thought that the 300 Doom Shrooms could at least fly up to eight kilometers away, reaching the Sky Demon general who was at the forefront around five kilometers…

"Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses, seal!"

"Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud, stand!"

In the instant that the 300 Doom Shrooms flew inside the Stargate, Jiang He promptly invoked the Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses as well as the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud while he quickly pulled back!

Inside the Stargate, blood hued axe in hand, Bodo was still sprinting forward.

His aura continued bursting forth as he ran, his killing intent climbing by every notch.

"Kill!"

Behind him, the legion was roaring in fury, their many champions following Bodo tightly.

And yet, all of a sudden, Bodo saw a wave of pitch-black objects flying toward them.

Sneering, he brandished his axe and cut down at them.

Having cultivated to his level, he had a powerful sense of danger.

However…

Doom Shrooms were crops.

What could one even sense before that stuff blew up?

Not even the demon lord himself would sense any danger, let alone a full-fledged Yuan Spirit like Bodo.

Still, in the split second he swung his axe, the many Sky Demon champions' steel-blue faces turned purple immediately… wasn't those pitch-black objects simply clusters of the explosive mushrooms from before?

"No!"

One of the Sky Demon champions shouted at the top of his lungs, "General, do not touch it!"

However, how quick was Bodo's axe swing?

Even as the Sky Demon champion was finished, the edge of Bodo's axe had already touched the field of pitch-blackness that was 300 Doom Shrooms…

And in the very next second, the entire Stargate…

Brightened.

Everything seemed to freeze in that single instant.

There was only silence as Bodo's pupils widened.

He saw a terrible and blinding white light erupting from the pitch-black object he just cut.

And in the very next second…

Boom!

White light more scorching than the sun abruptly exploded within the Stargate.

On that note, one could actually observe the Stargate as a huge pipe.

It was very stable, however, for it merely shook a little even if 300 Doom Shrooms had blown up at once… And since the ensuing white light and blaze from the explosion could not be vented out, it flowed along the Stargate itself.

Bodo was hence consumed in the searing white light from the explosion… the dozens of Sky Demon champions behind him were next, and then it was the Sky Demon legion that filled the Stargate to the brim like locusts…

The Sky Demon legion did not know what had happened at all. Some were still shouting slogans like 'Kill', 'Take Earth', 'avenge her highness', and 'fight for honor'.

Boom…

The violent, searing white light blazed towards the Sky Demon legion, most of whom did not have the time to struggle before the white light melted them…

Likewise, the searing white light was ejecting out of the other end of the Stargate.

Jiang He's Sword Array of Five Elements and Six Pulses lasted just two seconds when it was blown up while the many premium grade and superior-grade soul weapons were all scattered over every direction.

Blargh!

After being send half a dozen kilometers away, Jiang He's figure abruptly shuddered and he coughed out a large mouthful of blood.

The flying swords were all Jiang He's mystic treasures. His spirit was hence struck violently when the swords collided so terribly, leaving his qi, blood, and mystic powers all churning.

"Keep holding on, Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud!"

Jiang He roared in rage, pouring forth all his mystic powers in his body.

Ooom!

The Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud instantly enlarged, completely covering the mouth of the Stargate…

But it was all futile.

The simultaneous explosion of 300 Doom Shrooms erupted with a yield of 90 million tons. With nowhere to vent the explosion, everything was ejecting out from both ends of the Stargate.

How horrific was that force?

Another two seconds later, the Nine Dragons God Fire Shroud was sent flying.

Meanwhile, the searing white light spilt out from the Stargate… bearing down straight at Jiang He's house.

The farm had already been kept inside Jiang He's backpack, with both Boa Hancock and Sora within. On the other hand, the mansion was no more than a capsule—if it was destroyed, it was destroyed… however, such a tremendous explosion would definitely cause a major earthquake if it reaches ground, and with Lingzhou City being a straight line distance of less than ten kilometers away from his own house, it would probably be reduced to ashes.

Jiang He coughed blood at that, and cried angrily, "I'll never believe in jinxes, damn it!"

He took out a dozen Doom Shrooms with a wave of his hand.

Since he could not hold the explosion black, he would disperse it with another explosion.

It was ten thousand meters up in the air here anyway. When the shockwave from the eruption dispersed, it would not reach ground. Most importantly, these were Doom Shrooms, not lacking in power compared to nuclear or atomic bombs, and it was 'green', as it was not poisonous, nonpolluting, and not radioactive.

"Hmmm…"

"I did add nitrogen fertilizer when I plant them, so they aren't fully green…"

With that thought, Jiang He threw out the Doom Shrooms he was holding, feeling apprehensive in that instant…

Would stopping explosion with another explosion really work?

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