Chu Xingchen glanced sideways at Qinghe, who had transformed back into a dragon and was charging toward Cangzhou.
This time, he hadn’t stayed behind out of arrogance, thinking his Karma Nascent Soul and peak Great Perfection Nascent Soul realm could handle an unknown Divine Transformation cultivator.
Though Qinghe had reached the Nascent Soul stage, his perception was clearly lacking.
This Divine Transformation cultivator was definitely not the real deal.
Back in the Central Continent, when Chu Xingchen had stood up for his disciple, he had encountered a genuine Divine Transformation expert.
Even though that old-timer was practically one foot in the grave, he still carried the unique aura of a true Divine Transformation cultivator—one that made Chu Xingchen slightly wary. Even with his Karma Nascent Soul fully unleashed, he had to tread carefully.
Thanks to that experience, and the fact that this thing had rushed over recklessly with its aura and spiritual power fully exposed, Chu Xingchen could immediately tell—it lacked that distinctive Divine Transformation essence.
As long as it wasn’t a true Divine Transformation cultivator, Chu Xingchen wasn’t afraid.
He concealed his aura and moved to ambush the source of that presence.
At any rate, he could use his system to probe the details later and adapt accordingly.
If things really went south, he’d just give Qinghe a heads-up.
Cangzhou wasn’t too far, and Qinghe had protective treasures on him anyway.
Chu Xingchen calmed his mind and waited.
Soon, he saw the source of the aura—a massive turtle, its form wreathed in a faintly crimson demonic energy.
[Target: Xu Yuan]
[Cultivation: Incomplete Divine Transformation (Early Stage)]
[Purple Trait: Exceptional Talent]
[Purple Trait: Longevity]
[Blue Trait: Thick-Skinned]
[Blue Trait: Loyalty]
[Blue Trait: Focused]
[Black Trait: Stubbornness]
[Black Trait: Damaged Foundation]
[Black Trait: Impulsiveness]
[Does not meet disciple recruitment conditions]
BOOM!
Qinghe only sensed a violent surge of spiritual energy erupt behind him.
A deafening explosion followed, shaking the wilderness.
Not daring to look back, Qinghe extended his divine sense instead.
Within his perception, a familiar Karma Nascent Soul avatar stood tall, wielding a flowing water spirit sword. The avatar swung the blade down fiercely at the giant turtle.
Two immense forces of spiritual energy clashed, their shockwaves flattening the surrounding wilderness and forests, while the epicenter of the battle became a massive crater.
Just from the residual energy, Qinghe could tell how intense the fight was.
And another thing—that Karma Nascent Soul confirmed it!
So it really was that scheming brat who’d ambushed him that day!
Strangely, Qinghe wasn’t even that angry anymore. If the kid had actually admitted it, that would’ve been more suspicious.
Besides, the brat had probably felt a little guilty—he’d occasionally bought Qinghe treats and even stepped in when Xie Lingyu got angry and wanted to beat him up.
Call it even.
What really annoyed Qinghe was Li Xingtian.
They’d spent days together, done plenty of things side by side.
Qinghe had even tried subtly probing him for answers, but Li Xingtian had kept a straight face and brushed off every question with ease.
Who would’ve thought that kid, with his honest-looking face, was actually a seasoned actor?
Then again, maybe it was his master’s fault! That scheming brat must’ve corrupted the once-honest Li Xingtian!
Li Xingtian had probably been a naive youngster before.
Back in his divine sense, the scheming brat wasn’t losing ground.
Though Qinghe hated to admit it, he knew Chu Xingchen was one of the craftiest humans around.
As a dragon, he couldn’t outthink him.
Right now, following his lead was the safest bet.
Qinghe withdrew his divine sense and continued racing toward Cangzhou.
Meanwhile, Xie Lingyu and Li Xingtian stood atop the great river of Cangzhou.
Their gazes were fixed on the majestic, lifelike Xuanwu colossus as it strode step by step into the river.
Chaos had erupted in Cangzhou.
Not only were there troublemakers and rogue cultivators causing havoc in the city, but many aquatic demon soldiers had also begun making their move.
When Xie Lingyu wanted to stabilize the city first, Li Xingtian stopped him—the situation inside was too tangled. Aside from the Demon Suppression Bureau, it was impossible to tell who was causing trouble and who was helping.
But the river demons were undeniably hostile.
Li Xingtian suggested they focus on stopping the demon soldiers from advancing, easing the pressure on the Demon Suppression Bureau.
Moreover, the sudden chaos in Cangzhou likely meant the moment his master had warned about had arrived.
This was the perfect chance to fight their way to the river and assess the situation.
Convinced by Li Xingtian’s reasoning, Xie Lingyu agreed.
Just as they reached the riverbank, they sensed the Xuanwu colossus, formed from primordial yellow energy.
Despite its size, the colossus moved swiftly.
In moments, it crossed the sky and stepped into the river.
Li Xingtian’s eyes narrowed.
"This Xuanwu isn’t complete. This must be the ritual. It came from the north—Chizhou’s direction. Master would’ve known, but the thief hasn’t arrived here yet. He must’ve run into Master."
He pulled out two compasses from his spatial ring and handed one to Xie Lingyu.
"This controls the array nodes. Master simplified it—just channel your divine sense into it. There aren’t many nodes here, but hopefully, it’ll buy him some time."
Xie Lingyu took the compass.
The Xuanwu stepped into the river, raised a foot, and stomped down with a roar!
BOOM!
The river split under the force, its waters flooding the banks as thick primordial yellow energy surged into the water veins.
Moments later, the Xuanwu seemed to find something and shifted position.
Its tail rose and slammed into the water.
This time, the river didn’t split—instead, the tail plunged deep, stirring violently as if searching.
Xie Lingyu’s eyes flashed. "It’s looking for the Tengshe. It’s trying to become a true Xuanwu…"
Just as Li Xingtian was about to nod in agreement—
The Xuanwu’s tail suddenly lifted, pulling up a wisp of pale golden fortune.
But the moment it emerged, chains of primordial yellow energy lashed out, trying to restrain it.
The Xuanwu Kingdom’s national fortune was already weak—the chains couldn’t hold.
With a furious roar, the Xuanwu wrenched the golden fortune free.
Yet, contrary to Xie Lingyu and Li Xingtian’s expectations, it didn’t transform into a Tengshe.
Instead…
It became a pale golden stele, devoid of inscriptions, which the Xuanwu promptly hoisted onto its back.
Li Xingtian’s pupils shrank.
This wasn’t a Xuanwu at all—it was Baxia!
The sixth son of the True Dragon!
The Xuanwu Kingdom… what lay hidden here wasn’t a Xuanwu.
It was Baxia!
Li Xingtian now deeply suspected that Emperor Taizu of Zhao had named the kingdom "Xuanwu" to mislead everyone.
Damn those unofficial histories—always spreading lies!
No sooner had Baxia shouldered the golden fortune than—
On the horizon, Qinghe finally arrived, its figure charging straight toward Baxia.
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
