Chapter 284: 1 Just a Beginning

“`

“…That’s roughly everything.”

Inside the Jade Void Palace, Qiu Changtian recounted the events that occurred within the Immortal Slaying Formation “truthfully” to the Ziwei Master, who appeared somewhat baffled.

In short, Qing Yang True Person Xu Changqing fearlessly sacrificed himself, drawing the fire from the sword array mechanism and allowing the two to significantly advance their position.

Then, Xu Yinglian also selflessly gave herself up to cover Qiu Changtian’s continued advance, eventually allowing him to luckily reach the vicinity of the formation’s heart and fortuitously succeed.

“Luck” and “fluke” were the main reasons Qiu Changtian summed up for the success of their mission, comments that made Ziwei Master want to retort but leave him speechless.

For who could “just happen” to evade most of the sword array mechanisms and rush near the formation’s core to disrupt the hub without enough luck?

Even if the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation had various issues at the time, it definitely was not something a Foundation Establishment realm disciple, who hadn’t even reached the Golden Core stage, could solve.

After much thought, the bond between master and disciple prevailed, and Ziwei Master waved his hand, indicating he had fully understood and that Qiu Changtian could leave.

As for the rumors circulating within the Taiqing Sect… let them be.

Qiu Changtian respectfully saluted his master, then turned and left.

Stepping out of the Jade Void Palace, he let out a long sigh and said in his mind:

“I truly didn’t expect the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation to be breached so easily.”

“Even though it is a divine weapon, it is like a toy in the hands of a child,” the Green Duckweed Sword commented bluntly, “If even the Immortal Slaying Formation Map cannot be properly utilized, what good would the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation be?”

“Now, the entire Kunlun is spreading rumors that I alone slaughtered my way through the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation,” Qiu Changtian said with a wry smile, “The most preposterous version is that I, pressing forward under the onslaught of the swords named Slaughter and Trapping, rushed directly to the center of the sword array and defeated several hundred Nascent Soul Cultivators from the Demon Cult.”

“That’s a good thing,” the Kunlun Mirror remarked indifferently, “It fits quite well with your invincible character setting.”

“You don’t understand, Ah Jing!” Qiu Changtian stated with a heartfelt distress, “I have an invincible character setting, not a mysterious one! When everyone’s expectations of my power rise to unlimited heights, my strength must truly match those expectations. Otherwise, as much as the synchronization value is satisfyingly high now, it will crash terribly when my character setting collapses later on!”

“We have confidence in your abilities,” the Kunlun Mirror said with a chuckle.

Qiu Changtian could not be bothered with the worthless mirror; during the siege of Penglai by the hundred thousand gods and demons, it had not proven to be of any use, not as intuitive as my Green Duckweed.

He rode on a sword light, leaving Kunlun Heavenly Pillar and headed towards his cave abode at Golden Ridge.

On his way, every Kunlun Cultivator he met, whether they had interacted with him before or were seeing him for the first time, stopped to greet him—among them were even Golden Core Cultivators, which also secretly flattered Qiu Changtian.

After his experience with the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation and the straightforward praise from the Grand Elders in front of so many Nascent Soul Elders and Golden Core True Persons, Qiu Changtian’s fame had escalated beyond what could be achieved by a “Chief Disciple in Foundation Establishment,” spiraling uncontrollably towards even more exaggerated heights.

This corresponded with the exceedingly high synchronization of his character, and his innate Daoist Heart Clarity talent seemed so seamless that Qiu Changtian almost believed “this was simply my talent all along.”

“Sigh,” he lamented suddenly, “now the Demon Cult will surely view me as a thorn in their eye, a pain in their side.”

“If you wish to make a name for yourself in Kunlun, this would have happened sooner or later,” Qing Ping Sword said leisurely.

“Not only that,” the Kunlun Mirror added, “you must have also realized that the hundred thousand gods and demons attacking Penglai was not the end but merely the beginning… The worst is yet to come.”

“Hmm,” Qiu Changtian nodded somberly.

Would the Orthodox Sect suffer such a great loss without seeking retribution?

Knowing that the Orthodox Sect was planning revenge, would the Demon Cult not prepare?

This exchange was nothing but a rapid escalation of conflict. Plus, with the absence of strategic deterrents like nuclear weapons that ensure “mutual destruction” in this world, it would likely evolve into a dire situation resembling a comprehensive war between doctrines.

I have three identities in the Orthodox Sect and one in the Demon Cult, which may sound like reaping benefits from both sides, but in truth, it’s like quadrupling my risks… To speak uglier, what if the Sect assigns me a mission where my two identities are forced into mutual slaughter and one must die?

“`

The time to test Great Wisdom has come!

Qiu Changtian, weighed down by heavy thoughts, unknowingly returned to the Golden Ridge Cave Abode.

There he saw Xu Yinglian standing at the entrance of her own cave abode, feeding some spirit grass to a passing immortal crane.

“Senior Brother.” Seeing Qiu Changtian’s return, she gave a frail but beautiful smile.

“Junior Sister.” Qiu Changtian landed beside her, asking with concern, “How’s your health? Is the damage to your essence still severe?”

Xu Yinglian shook her head, her expression serene, but inside she felt a small triumph.

By now, it had spread throughout Kunlun that she (and Great Grandfather) had saved her Senior Brother, giving him the chance to single-handedly break through the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation and prevent their Kunlun fellow disciples from being massacred.

Although the lion’s share of the fame had gone to her Senior Brother, if it weren’t for her self-sacrifice, his success wouldn’t have come so easily… Thinking this, Xu Yinglian rejoiced, feeling a sense of achievement as if her self-worth had been realized.

Seeing her color to be fairly healthy, Qiu Changtian too breathed a sigh of relief.

That day within the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, Junior Sister Xu had been willing to sacrifice herself for him, and he would be lying if he said he wasn’t moved.

But if we’re talking about the significance of Junior Sister Xu’s rescue… well, it probably amounted to him wasting a lifesaving Daoist magic.

“Senior Brother, this time you’ve truly made our sect proud.” Xu Yinglian said with a smile.

“Hardly, hardly.” Qiu Changtian initially responded with subconscious modesty, then followed with curiosity, “Junior Sister, why do you seem…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, which amounted to “Shouldn’t your attitude at this time be ‘resentful,’ ‘angry,’ ‘I won’t accept this’?”

“Senior Brother…” Xu Yinglian looked slightly uncomfortable, silently twirling her hair with her fingers, “Do you really think I’m one to be easily jealous?”

“Of course not!” Qiu Changtian’s survival instinct was still very strong, “It’s just that Junior Sister used to be more competitive, and now it seems you’ve changed, which just took me by surprise, that’s all.”

“Competitive?” Xu Yinglian shook her head, her expression suddenly resolute, “Senior Brother, even now, I won’t give up my determination to catch up with you, even to surpass you.”

Then, she revealed a gentle smile:

“But that doesn’t mean I should be jealous of what Senior Brother has achieved, after all, you didn’t get to your position today without my help, did you?”

Qiu Changtian thought deeply for a moment, and had to admit that was indeed the case.

Where did his Tenth Rank Immortal Sword come from? It was a gift from the Xu Family of Southern Heaven when he promised to become Daoist Companions with Junior Sister Xu.

Where did his Five Thunder True Law come from? It was obtained from the Ziwei Master to ensure he constantly surpassed Junior Sister Xu in strength.

Even the biggest reliance for the character setting of Qiu Changtian, the Daoist Heart Clarity’s exceptional talent, who provided the constant Synchronization Value?

It was his dear Junior Sister Xu!

“Junior Sister makes a fair point, I was indeed being thoughtless.” Qiu Changtian laughed, “I almost forgot, we are actually Daoist Companions.”

Xu Yinglian’s cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head to fiddle with the spirit grass in her hands.

“By the way, Junior Sister.” Seeing her shy demeanor, Qiu Changtian immediately smiled, “I wonder how you’re feeling about the idea of cohabitating in the same cave abode that I mentioned last time…”

“Cough, cough cough cough!” Xu Yinglian quickly covered her mouth with her fist, feigning weakness as she coughed, and said, “It seems the injuries I suffered last time still haven’t fully healed, I wouldn’t want to bother Senior Brother with my presence here.”

With that, she gracefully turned and darted back into her own cave abode.