Chapter 540: Special Episode: Cultivation Arc 2_2

Internally, she was furiously complaining.

So picky, obsessive-compulsive, even harder to please than when she had to win over Corbin Crowley back then.

"Your partners are quite interesting."

Venerable Master Serenity gently sipped some spiritual tea. "Bloodlines so rare they haven’t appeared for thousands of years are suddenly clustered around you, all bound by contract. What secrets do you hold?"

Her heart tightened, but she perfectly feigned confusion on her face. "I have no idea, maybe... it’s fate?"

Venerable Master Serenity stared at her for a moment, his gaze seemingly piercing straight through her soul.

Luna Sutton broke out in a cold sweat down her back.

Just as she thought he’d search her soul, he suddenly withdrew his gaze and said lightly, "Forget it. Tonight at midnight, at the northeast corner of the herb garden, there’s a stalk of Frost Condensing Grass that needs to be watered with Moonlight Power. Watch your partner do it—don’t let him mess up and ruin my spiritual medicine."

She jerked her head up, crashing right into those all-knowing, half-smiling eyes.

How did he know she and Corbin Crowley had arranged to meet at midnight?

The two had clearly been communicating through secret transmissions.

Can one’s cultivation be so strong it ignores secret transmissions?

In an instant, a chill ran straight from her feet to the top of her skull.

This Venerable was terrifying.

So terrifying she felt frozen through.

"Y-yes, as you command."

She hurriedly lowered her head, voice flustered.

Looks like tonight’s plan to slip away quietly is shot.

...

Caelus, edge of the Western Abyss of Myriad Demons.

Rhys Blackwood had barely regained consciousness when he felt a bone-chilling wave of demonic qi slam right into him.

Opening his eyes, he saw only the rolling black mists of an abyss thousands of feet deep, jagged strange stones beneath his feet.

He instinctively suppressed his aura, pushing the Aethel Serpent bloodline and the innate concealment granted by his dark spiritual root to the max, instantly blending himself into the shadows.

"Quick, there’s an ancient beast, Aethel Serpent at the Golden Core Stage, I saw it flee into the abyss. If we catch it, contract it, great. If we can’t, nab it and sell it for a fortune."

A man’s excited voice sounded not far off.

"Watch yourself, The Abyss of Myriad Demons is dangerous. Don’t end up dead in a ditch."

Another voice cautioned carefully.

Rhys heard the voices approaching from behind, a fierce light flickering in his black eyes.

Contract it? Sell it for profit?

They’re treating him like prey?

Dark mist quietly gathered and spread from his palm, murderous intent raging.

The two demon cultivators chasing him suddenly felt the world dim; it was pitch-black, not even able to see their own hands.

"What the hell? Why did it suddenly go dark?"

"Dunno, maybe it’s that Aethel Serpent’s doing?"

The two demon cultivators were flustered.

Before they could even figure out what was happening, or make any other move—

In the next second, they suddenly felt something icy and sharp slide across their throats, then toppled straight to the ground, eyes wide open, dead as could be. Didn’t even have time to scream.

Rhys’s palm gathered the dark mist back in, light returning to the surroundings as his cold figure stepped out from the gloom.

He glanced coldly at the two dead demon cultivators at his feet, snorted disdainfully.

Then with a flicker, he vanished into The Abyss of Myriad Demons.

The urgent matter was to find Luna, then work out how to regroup with the other six. Who knew where they’d ended up?

...

Calthoria, Stellara, Myriad Treasures Merchant Guild.

Kian Sterling brushed the dust off his immaculate moon white brocade robe, a refined smile warmed his androgynous face.

Heaven only knows how dangerous it was when he landed in this world—of all places, he fell right into the House of a Hundred Flowers. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

House of a Hundred Flowers is basically the Cultivation Realm’s brothel, and he walked straight in while The Peony Fairy, the oiran, was bathing.

That female cultivator was furious at first, but then seeing his face, her gaze turned seductive. "Gentleman, since you’re here, why be so shy?"

He was so frightened he spun around, using his ten fox tails to knock The Peony Fairy out cold, then jumped out the window and escaped.

Even got chased for three whole streets by the cultivators guarding House of a Hundred Flowers, accused of dining and dashing as a brothel customer.

Desperate, he smacked the pursuers silly with his tails.

Then took advantage of the chaos to slip into the Tower of Myriad Treasures, blending into the crowd heading for the auction.

"You’re quite a new face here, sir. Do you have an invitation?"

The Tower’s steward immediately spotted Kian Sterling and walked over, squinting as he observed him, but smiling warmly.

Kian Sterling flicked his finger, dropping a top-grade beast crystal into the steward’s sleeve. "I’m new here. Would you mind making things a bit easier?"

The steward stared dumbstruck at the top-grade demon stone in hand.

He secretly studied Kian Sterling, so good-looking, with those pretty fox eyes—could he be...

He didn’t think further.

Demon stones were rarer than spirit stones. Whether this young master was human or demon, the Tower of Myriad Treasures was in the business of deals—what else did they care?

Thinking so, the steward grinned widely, "This way, sir."

His attitude instantly became exceptionally respectful as he bowed and led the way.

Kian Sterling smiled calmly, strolling inside.

He glanced around, listening intently to the noise around him. He needed to figure out this world quickly, then find Luna and the others.

...

Meanwhile, a thousand miles away at The Myriad Sword Sect.

Zeke Veridian woke from the Sword Tomb, surrounded by broken swords.

Brushing off the dust from his body, his emerald eyes swept across the fierce sword qi all around, and with a flick of his finger, a Green Jade Longsword landed in his palm.

"Fellow Daoist, are you a newly inducted disciple?"

The elderly tomb guardian squinted at the self-recognizing Town’s Ancient Sword in Zeke’s hand.

Zeke Veridian glanced sidelong at the elder. "Just passing through."

"Passing through?"

The old man frowned, coldly, "If you’re just passing through, then leave the Town’s Treasure Sword behind."

Zeke Veridian looked down at him, hesitated for a few seconds, then tossed the Green Jade Longsword over.

But the Green Jade Longsword flew right back and landed steadily at Zeke’s feet.

Zeke: "..."

Elder: "..."

His pupils contracted, shock flooding his gaze at Zeke. "This Green Jade Sword actually recognizes you as master?"

Zeke glanced down at the steadily humming Green Jade Ancient Sword by his feet, bent to pick it up. "If that’s the case, then I’ll keep it."

With that, he turned to leave.

The elder suddenly erupted, "Arrogant brat, leave the Town’s Treasure Sword behind!"

Zeke didn’t even look back, flicked his wrist and sent a sword qi arc flying. The elder staggered several steps, face full of terror.

Clearly only at the Golden Core Stage, yet he could knock back the elder in one blow, wielding sword force—truly unbelievable.

"I’m not robbing anyone. It’s just that this sword is fated for me. It’s the one clinging to me—I can’t help it."

Zeke glanced back at the elder, half-smiling.

He didn’t care about the elder’s sour expression, and in the blink of an eye, soared away by sword.

...