“What!?” Chu Yinyin, listening at the side, was the first to be shocked out of her wits.

Her pair of lively big eyes instantly rounded, looking at Chu Huaixu in utter disbelief.

The dead fox, relying on Jiang Zhi’s current patience with him, wasn’t in a hurry to answer; acting a bit spoiled, he instead asked back:

“How did Junior Martial Uncle discover it?”

Jiang Zhi looked at him and didn’t avoid the question:

“It’s because I have refined one before, my body contains Power of Origin, so naturally I can sense the same source of power.”

This made Chu Huaixu realize something in his heart.

“The black bead on the Sword Scabbard is quite mysterious, it isolates outside probes.”

“Back then at the Martial Arts Arena, I used [Dao Generating One] against the Bronze Sword right in front of everyone, and none of them noticed a thing.”

“But the Power of Origin is truly unique.”

“All the Profound Yellow Origin Fragments were already absorbed into the Medicine Cauldron, yet this aura was still detected by Jiang Zhi!”

“From what he said, he probably only sensed a trace of the same Power of Origin.”

The dead fox looked at him and replied, “Junior Martial Uncle is quite right, disciple indeed got two in one go.”

“No way!” Chu Yinyin was so startled she nearly jumped.

Chu Huaixu looked at the startled old maiden and just found her hilarious.

Honestly, are we messing around and teasing you here?

He continued, “Earlier, Elder Situ and others asked me why the suppressive force inside the Origin Spirit Realm had weakened. I didn’t answer at the time, and it was precisely for this reason.”

Jiang Zhi seemed to have guessed something and immediately said, “Let’s discuss this once we return, the Sect Leader and the others must be waiting for you.”

After speaking, he sped up, taking the two along, flying toward the Daoist Sect.

But before leaving, he glanced back at Li Meishan and the others, his eyes flashing with a sliver of caution—yet also a hint of satisfaction.

…

…

Far away, someone was walking through empty air.

He wore a pale green cross-collared robe, top and bottom connected. The robes had slanting lapels and wide sleeves, made of plain cloth, with a ribbon tied at the waist.

On his head was a scholar’s cap, two flowing sashes trailing behind him with every step.

This outfit made him resemble the scholars from Mirror Country and Moon Country.

He thus strode through the sky, each step spanning several miles, taking only seven steps to arrive beside Li Meishan and the group.

“Cheng the Scholar, did Jiang Zhi really not use Power of Origin?” Li Meishan looked at the newcomer, unable to resist asking.

“Naturally. With the Daoist Junior Martial Uncle’s temperament, would he really lie just to boost himself?” Cheng Yuyan replied.

“Don’t overthink it. Do you truly believe this Fallen Realm of his is because his cultivation was damaged and his strength diminished?”

“Even if I didn’t act, if everyone left in Deviation joined in, the ending would’ve been the same.” He smiled as he spoke.

Li Meishan’s face immediately turned a bit unpleasant.

He was the one in Deviation closest to Ninth Realm, also the one who needed Origin Fragment the most.

“The Six Major Forces have never once looked at us loose cultivators with respect!” someone said fiercely, frustrated.

Cheng Yuyan raised his hand, laughing, “Not so, not so, the tides may well be turning.”

He gazed deeply in the direction where Chu Huaixu had vanished.

“Blessings and dangers always come together in this world. It seems the Origin Spirit Realm inside has changed somewhat,” he told the group.

“What do you mean?” Li Meishan asked.

“Meaning in previous times, once the Six Major Forces handled the inner layers of Origin Spirit Realm, promotion to Ninth Realm was essentially internal distribution.”

“But that’s because the difficulty wasn’t so high; Profound Yellow Realm always had better odds.”

“The reason the First Realm and Third Realm hold the East and West Continent Competition is because Profound Yellow Realm and Kunlun Cave Heaven have different cultivation systems—Low Tier Cultivators have fewer divine techniques than Low Tier Cultivators.”

“Even Celestial Pride Level Low Tier Cultivators from Profound Yellow Realm may not be a match for ordinary Low Tier Cultivators from the other side.”

“It’s normal; cultivators at the peak of Qi Refining Stage there could be thirty or forty years old, maybe even fifty or sixty. Their fights against Profound Yellow Realm’s Low Tier Cultivators are like old men teasing children.”

“So you have to pick the Profound Yellow Leader, then you’ll have better odds.”

“That’s why I got the chance to enter the second layer of Origin Spirit Realm.”

“That year’s competition was hosted at the Daoist Sect. Thankfully, the Daoist Sect always keeps its word, and truly let me refine inside their sect, even protected me during the process—though I refused to become a direct disciple, they still let me leave the mountain, and even escorted me out.”

“I’ve always remembered that favor.”

“Alright, I’ve wandered off topic.”

“But once one enters the realm of Great Cultivators, with Power of Origin suppressing cultivators in this realm, the difference in strength isn’t that large.”

“For example, in layer three of Origin Spirit Realm, the Six Major Forces may select a Fifth Realm cultivator, but he may not be the Profound Yellow Realm’s strongest Fifth Realm.”

“They may stand out among the Six Major Forces, but their strength is still quite high.”

“Given previous circumstances and odds, that’s already sufficient.”

This is what has led to hundreds of years of monopoly.

Li Meishan immediately understood, his eyes lit up, “So, Cheng the Scholar, you are guessing… things have changed?”

“That’s exactly my deduction,” Cheng Yuyan said.

“And how did you learn this?” Li Meishan pressed.

“Can’t say, can’t say.” He laughed.

In the end, he merely said, “Anyway, it’s very likely that the next part of Origin Spirit Realm will also require Profound Yellow Realm’s top expert in that realm.”

“You Seventh Realm folks now have a chance.”

“It’s just, among the Seventh Realm experts, there is a mountain you likely cannot climb—Daoist Sect’s Shen Man.”

Cheng Yuyan sighed with still a slight smile on his face.

“As for the Fifth Floor, there’s no limit on numbers there. I think… maybe they’ll need our strength too.”

“Then, you can negotiate the terms as you see fit.”

Everyone, upon hearing this, felt their extinguished hopes gradually reignite.

Years of failed roadblocks had made them realize the Power of Origin and the Ninth Realm’s strength more deeply.

Repeated humiliation had left them unwilling to accept their fate!

Add those up, and their yearning to enter Origin Spirit Realm was stronger than ever!

After finishing, Cheng Yuyan leisurely glanced at the Daoist Sect’s direction.

“One person holds two [Profound Yellow Origin Fragments]?”

“Profound Yellow Leader, Chu Huaixu.” The former Third Realm Profound Yellow Leader thought to himself, “Now this is getting interesting.”

…

…

Daoist Sect, Wenda Peak Hall.

Jiang Zhi led Chu Huaixu and Chu Yinyin into the hall, landing in the center.

Han Shuangjiang and Xu Ziqing, seeing them, rose immediately to greet them.

“Chu Huaixu!”

“Senior Brother!”

Everyone looked him over with concern. His Black Gold Robe was covered in blood and sported two big holes.

It was clear that a fierce battle had taken place inside the Origin Spirit Realm.

Chu Huaixu’s injuries likely weren’t light—his whole body was drenched in blood.

Of course, since the Black Gold Robe was a Middle Grade Magic Robe, it should have a Clothes Cleansing Array to remove filth.

But the dead fox hadn’t used it yet.

“Seriously injured?” Han Shuangjiang’s eyes showed a trace of heartache.

“It’s nothing, you know me, I’m not afraid of pain.”

Saying so, this devious fox finally activated the Clothes Cleaning Array and cleared the blood from his Black Gold Robe, looking utterly unconcerned about his injuries.

“Only problem is there are two holes in the robe—Elder Nangong, could you help re-refine it for me?” he asked.

“Of course,” Nangong Yue agreed immediately.

Thus, inside the hall, everyone started questioning the hero about his adventures in the Origin Spirit Realm.

Back in his own sect, Chu Huaixu was obviously much more at ease.

He began recounting everything animatedly, leaving no detail out.

The old storyteller sitting there thought, “How does it feel like you’re the storyteller, not me?”

This kid’s storytelling skills aren’t inferior!

Some parts were thrilling; others moved everyone deeply…

He described himself as both clever and brave! Selfless, fearless, and bold! Absolutely the kind who spills blood for Profound Yellow!

And somehow, everyone was totally swept along by his emotions.

What else can you do? After all, the enemy was actually someone doing Possession and Reincarnation at the Nascent Soul level, and even brought an Origin Fragment!

Just hearing it made everyone’s hearts pound, and made them feel that any misstep could have cost Chu Huaixu his life!

The dead fox kept chattering nonstop, and finally summed up:

“Fortunately, disciple lived up to our sect’s trust, having captured this Nascent Soul Dog alive! I’ve brought him back for the sect to deal with!”

The crowd, hearing this youth, felt a wave of satisfaction.

The last time anyone in Profound Yellow Realm captured a Primordial Spirit, it was Zhong Ming, who sealed it in his own body by force.

Since then, in nearly a thousand years, no one else has achieved such a feat!

Even more impressive, he’d brought back two Origin Fragments—two for the price of one!

But right away, Chu Huaixu’s face turned troubled as he took off his Sword Scabbard, passing the buck:

“But for some reason, after I took the Origin Fragment off that Nascent Soul Dog’s forehead, the Daoist Ancestor Sword Scabbard absorbed it.”

He was careful to stress it’s the Daoist Ancestor Sword Scabbard…

“Now, only this fragment I got inside the Origin Spirit Realm remains.”

He made it clear—the one absorbed by the Sword Scabbard was brought by Ye Kongxuan.

The one left is the one I fought for!

Xiang Yan couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Zhi.

Jiang Zhi merely nodded, giving him a meaningful look.

Sect Leader, seeing this, laughed and scolded, “Such a young age, and already playing games!”

“You think we’d take away the Origin Fragment that belongs to you?”

All the elders in the hall were smiling.

Li Chunsong even lifted his finger, fondly saying, “You, you!”

Chu Huaixu was, of course, deliberately playing it cute. It worked well, brightening the mood.

But Sect Leader Xiang Yan still made sure to add, “If the Daoist Ancestor Sword Scabbard absorbs Origin Fragments on its own, there could be a deeper reason.”

“If anything strange happens, you must tell us right away.” He instructed.

“Yes, disciple understands.”

Afterward, everyone chatted a bit about Deviation.

When Cheng Yuyan came up, Xiang Yan’s comment was, “That person is best at playing with hearts.”

Once the business was discussed, Xiang Yan stood up.

Next, even Jiang Zhi and the others got up seriously, tidying their robes.

Han Shuangjiang and Xu Ziqing weren’t sure what was up, but seeing their elders stand, hurriedly stood as well.

“Chu Huaixu, step forward.”

The young man in black robe did as told.

Xiang Yan took out a jade token inscribed with the words “East Continent.”

“Since Junior Martial Uncle said the other three sects have already made their position clear, as the representative, I hereby grant you the [East Continent Order].”

“Wearing it at your waist, you may face the Emperor Monarch of Mirror Country without bowing, and may meet with elders or higher from any of the Four Great Sects and Mirror Country Royal Family without bowing.”

“With this token, as long as it does not violate righteousness, you can request the Four Great Sects or Mirror Country Royal Family to help you with anything.”

“He who props up the East Continent in times of crisis is granted the East Continent Order!”

“Today, on behalf of all beings in East Continent, I grant this token to you.”

Chu Huaixu accepted it in both hands.

The jade token actually felt a bit heavy in the hand.

…

(ps: First update—happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone, double monthly votes please!)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep