CHAPTER 45: THE STAND-IN BECOMES THE REAL ONE

In the Southern Qian Empire, at the grand chancellor’s residence...

Red jasmine wood burned in the brazier, crackling noisily. It gave off ominous, blood-red flames, the best medium for a curse-killing ritual.

Wen Zhongyong’s eyes gleamed sharply. He held the Nation Determining Ruler and a horsetail whisk in each hand. “Ten thousand miles, follow the trace, spirit fears the curse! Curse!”

As his voice fell, the blood-red flames soared half a man’s height. The glow lit Wen Zhongyong and Sima Ting’s faces, casting them in a sinister light.

Standing to the side, Sima Ting’s beard shook with anticipation. “Well, how did it go?”

Holding the Nation Determining Ruler, Wen Zhongyong said calmly, “The curse has been cast. In just a short while, there will be blood.”

He was already an Emperor realm powerhouse. Combined with the Nation Determining Ruler bestowed by the Heaven-Fate Holy Master, his curse-killing ritual could strike down even a Peak Emperor realm cultivator!

Sima Ting finally exhaled in relief. “Thank you, sir!”

He draped a deep purple crane cloak over Wen Zhongyong’s shoulders.

Bang!

A deafening explosion rocked the chamber.

Blood and chunks of flesh burst apart, spattering everywhere. Sima Ting was drenched head to toe, the crane cloak in his hands dyed red. When he lifted it, a heap of bloody meat tumbled out.

“H-how... how could this be...” Sima Ting stood frozen, scraps of flesh clinging to his beard.

Wen Zhongyong had completely exploded! The curse-killing ritual had obviously backfired. Who... who could their opponent be?! Someone who could shatter even the Nation Determining Ruler?!

***

Far away, within the Heaven-Fate Holy Sect...

In the underground palace, the Heaven-Fate Holy Master had already half-climbed into a massive coffin. This coffin was a masterpiece, forged with centuries of the sect’s resources, peerless in both offense and defense.

Just earlier, outside Heaven-Fate Holy Mountain, he had seen a crow overhead. A wave of dread struck him, so without arranging anything further, he immediately rushed back to hide in the coffin.

Just as he reached it, a vast, unstoppable force descended upon him. It was an ancient, eternal might that had traced him across the ages.

Eyes wide with disbelief and unwillingness, he roared, “Why!”

Three thousand years of painstaking schemes. Three thousand years living more cautiously than a turtle. All of it, for nothing. He had thought himself ready to soar, only to get snuffed instead. It was as if a mighty being above the heavens had sneezed casually, and the ripple killed him.

An incense stick’s time later, his corpse exploded, scattering into fragments. The Heaven-Fate Holy Master died an absurd, sudden death.

Fifteen minutes later, a spider crawled into the underground palace. Half an hour later, two figures entered. One of them seemed exactly like the dead Holy Master. He was the Holy Master’s stand-in, now the sect’s public face.

Seeing the shattered remains before the coffin, his expression lit with excitement. “The old turtle is finally dead!”

Beside him, a man in golden robes said calmly, “My clan’s ancestor personally cast the Life-Exchange Ritual. How could that turtle possibly survive?”

In truth, the man in gold was a little surprised. His clan's ancestor was a Peak Emperor who had reached the end of his natural lifespan. Before death, he burned his final strength to perform the ritual, dragging the Holy Master down with him.

He had expected it’d only leave the Holy Master gravely wounded, not outright kill him. All the better, as he could claim the credit.

“That old turtle was always a hollow shell. Now that he’s dead, the Heaven-Fate Holy Sect belongs to you.” He glanced at the double. “Shall we continue our cooperation?”

The stand-in was ecstatic. “Of course! Of course!”

What could be sweeter than a substitute becoming the real thing?

***

Within the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone...

Qi Yuan sneezed. “Damn, I’ve caught a chill.”

He felt a sudden draft right after. Little Bride followed him closely, keeping a single step behind. As if comprehending his words, a wooden plaque inscribed with "Stick Closely" slipped from her sleeve.

Qi Yuan glanced at her. “No thanks. You’re too silky-smooth. I’d probably feel colder.”

Leaving the underground palace, he decided to take Little Bride and go on a killing spree. With her at his side, even if he ran into the Tattered-Cloth Emperor, he wouldn’t be at a complete disadvantage. Now was the perfect time to conquer the Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone.

With Little Bride, his level could jump up by 5 at once. Level 90 versus level 88 was no small difference, it was an entire tier.

“Come on, let’s go. With us teaming up, grinding monsters is never tiring!”

His confidence surging, Qi Yuan strode off with Little Bride with a sword in hand.

Under the hanging full moon, the mountain was pitch-black.

Qi Yuan appeared again at the lair of the garment monsters. “Die!”

With a roar, he charged in like a wolf among sheep, cutting everything down. Overalls? Step-mom dresses? They were all taken out.

XP +200!

His experience soared.

***

XP +300!

This time, Qi Yuan fought much more boldly. Half an hour later, he had reached level 89.

Just then, a chilling gaze fell upon him.

Qi Yuan’s spirit blazed. “Tattered-Cloth Emperor, you’ve come!”

Sharing One Robe. At once, he activated his Sharing One Robe skill, and a crimson battle-armor enveloped him. Even his giant sword gleamed red. His frame surged to ten meters tall. He could grow larger, but ten meters was just right for now.

“Let’s see if your health bar actually drops!”

Even at level 94, facing the Tattered-Cloth Emperor was pressurizing.

Qi Yuan unleashed his strongest technique.

”Heaven-Cleaving Sword!”

Leaping skyward, clad in crimson armor, the earth quaked beneath him. With the full moon at his back, a scarlet sword-qi came crashing down.

Crack!

The monster raised a pale-black claw, catching the blade mid-swing.

Qi Yuan’s eyes went wide. “What? It barely chipped his health?!”

Realizing how tough the enemy was, Qi Yuan immediately chose to retreat.

“Yeah, no thanks. I’m out.” Switching the bridal-armor into defense mode, he turned tail and ran. “Guess level 95 is a whole new threshold after all.”

Without it, escape would’ve been exhausting and he could even be cut off by the Tattered-Cloth Emperor. But now, he could flee openly, there was no need for panic. Once he escaped, Qi Yuan’s mood was surprisingly good.

Back then, Tattered-Cloth Emperor was an insurmountable wall for him. Now? He just needed four or five days more to grind monsters. With the boost from his bridal-armor, he’d reach level 90 easily.

Then, it was time to learn whether the monster’s claws were tougher than Qi Yuan’s blade!