Old Master, Times Have Changed - Chapter 727 (Patreon)

Chapter 727: Changes

After asking a few more necessary details, Xi Li left with Li Ke.

Only after the two of them vanished from sight did Xu Xing withdraw his gaze and turn to look toward the Realm of Earthly Immortals.

Because its inherent energy level was higher, and the flow of time had already been adjusted back, only a little over five years had passed inside the Realm of Earthly Immortals.

Five years.

Xi Yun was still in seclusion.

And the Qianyang Dao Palace she founded had, during this time, become the most powerful force in the Realm of Earthly Immortals.

After all, even though Xi Yun had not yet succeeded, that terrifying pressure—surpassing the Void Return realm and drawing all kinds of phenomena to coil around the Qianyang Dao Palace—was no illusion.

Second was the Cold Moon Sword Palace founded by Xi Li.

Although she had already ascended to the Tai Xuan Realm, the Cold Moon Sword Palace still had multiple Void Return cultivators, and Xi Li had made many arrangements.

Along with the various ascension phenomena that exceeded the world’s imagination, they had smoothly weathered that turbulent period of transition between old and new.

Now, with steady growth, the Cold Moon Sword Palace was likewise one of the great powers, second only to the Qianyang Dao Palace.

“Not bad.”

The Realm of Earthly Immortals was doing even better than expected.

Perhaps because the war with the Beast God Race had ended not long ago, or perhaps because of the existence of “ascension,” the major factions of the Realm of Earthly Immortals still had friction from time to time—but everyone remained fairly restrained, and nothing escalated into violent conflict.

Exchange regarding “cultivation” had never stopped, and no one hoarded their knowledge like a private broom.

Livelihood and infrastructure still couldn’t compare to the Tai Xuan Realm, but among the countless worlds across the two great realms, it ranked very high.

Thinking that, Xu Xing’s gaze moved farther.

His sight swept across the innumerable worlds within the Second · Xunyuan Realm-Domain and then…

The Third · New Genesis Realm-Domain!

Yes!

With the combined efforts of Ning Wanzhu, Mingyu, and Fu Meng, that unfamiliar realm-domain had finally been integrated into the Tai Xuan Ascension Web, becoming the third realm-domain under the Ascension Web system.

However…

“I thought they’d pick the third one.”

After the Ascension Web connection node for the third realm-domain was completed, Xu Xing offered them several naming options, just as he had with the second realm-domain.

The third option was “Miyuan.”

Unfortunately, with Yuan’s firm opposition, the three of them still reached agreement and chose the first option—what was now “New Genesis.”

“New Genesis” carried the meaning of an era’s beginning.

The third realm-domain had been brought into the Ascension Web system right as the Ascension Plan advanced into a new stage, so the name fit well enough.

“What a pity.”

Searching and seeking—how fun that would have sounded, wasn’t it?

After looking over the many worlds within the three great realm-domains, Xu Xing finally withdrew his gaze.

And right then, strands of the Ascension Web extended out of the void, forming a light curtain before him.

Information flickered across the screen.

Overlord: “This group’s getting colder and colder / sigh”

Pill Patriarch: “Actually, our posting frequency is about the same as before / adjusts glasses”

Pill Patriarch: “It’s just that a few people who used to be super active don’t talk here anymore, so it feels that way to you”

Five years had passed.

The fact that Bie Xuening, Meizu, Daoist Yuanjun, and Ning Ruo had made a small private group was no longer a secret.

Overlord: “So aren’t we becoming like Huo now?”

Lord Hong: “Not to that extent…”

Artifact Lord: “+1”

Even Artifact Lord didn’t think so.

Though he was basically invisible in the group, and the other dao friends always overlooked him, he still believed he was at least better than Huo.

Pill Patriarch: “That said, the main attraction in this year’s Immortal Sect Grand Tournament should be between Lord Hong’s children and Sword Sovereign’s personally taught eldest disciple, right?”

Normally, Immortal Sect prodigies didn’t start showing true dominance in the Soul Transformation bracket of the Grand Tournament until they were forty or fifty.

But some people simply couldn’t be judged by common sense.

For example, back then, dao-brother’s dazzling third disciple—Yuan, the most brilliant figure in a thousand years.

Pill Patriarch: “Who do you all think will win?”

Meizu: “Of course it’s Jiu Yu.”

Hm?

Didn’t she rarely talk in this group anymore?

Meizu: “Forgive this concubine for speaking bluntly: those two little ones are good, but they’re still a step behind Jiu Yu / serious”

Daoist Yuanjun: “Then what about your Hehuan Sect’s?”

Why were people popping out one after another?

Meizu: “Can’t compare, can’t compare. Jiu Yu’s progress these past years has been way too big.”

If last time’s Immortal Sect Grand Tournament was still competitive, then this one was on a completely different level.

Five years—Jiu Yu hadn’t relaxed for even a moment.

Daoist Yuanjun: “…”

Sword Sovereign: “Good eye / small yellow duck sipping tea leisurely”

That rebellious disciple of mine still hadn’t changed her nature—she tried to get herself killed every now and then—but her cultivation progress was truly unquestionable.

Sword Sovereign: “They’re a bit behind Jiu Yu, but they can spar with Yunlu.”

That’s right. Over these five years, Zhang Yunlu had struggled on the edge of life and death hundreds of times, and only recently advanced to Soul Transformation.

Twenty-six years old.

Not comparable to Chi Jiuyu, but her starting point had been ordinary. Reaching this level at this age was the result of fighting with everything she had.

To be honest, though, the two of them being able to improve so much was largely thanks to the Tai Xuan Ascension Web.

Daoist Yuanjun: “Getting cocky?”

She’d only just advanced to Soul Transformation—whether she could even pass the selection was still a question.

Meizu: “Aiya, don’t be so blunt. She’ll get mad again / small yellow duck eating melon”

Meizu: “You know how explosive she is.”

Pure instigation.

But today, Bie Xuening didn’t bite.

Sword Sovereign: “Yunlu has already mastered Killing Sword: First Form.”

Killing Sword?!

Meizu: “Don’t tell me it’s that set of sword arts from your ‘whoever trains it gets unlucky’ sword codex?”

Sword Sovereign: “***!”

Meizu: “No swearing / points a finger”

Sword Sovereign: “Get lost. Which eye saw me swear?”

Daoist Yuanjun: “If she truly mastered Killing Sword: First Form, passing the selection shouldn’t be a problem.”

Killing Sword.

It was a sword-dao divine ability within the Sword Codex of Annihilation, nine forms in total.

It was the Sword Sect’s greatest art of slaughter—praised as the number one killing sword technique across all heavens and worlds!

Even Chi Jiuyu was still studying it.

After all, if you weren’t careful, it was easy to cripple yourself with it.

It was only because Zhang Yunlu had “died” so many times—and had come so close to death so many times—that she could learn this sword at all.

Of course, after learning it, she herself stayed in bed for half a year.

During that time, even drinking water could make her choke, rolling over would cramp her up, and even casually circulating her breath could damage her meridians…

Chi Jiuyu called it the “Bad-Luck Sword.” Later, Yue Ling told Bie Xuening, and Chi Jiuyu got cleaned up for it.

“Five years…” Xu Xing sighed softly.

To a True Immortal who endured eternally, five years passed in the blink of an eye.

But to most people, five years was not short at all. It could change far, far too much.

…

…

In front of Chi Jiuyu’s cave abode.

On the winding little path, two figures walked side by side.

Chi Jiuyu’s steps were light. She wore a baseball cap, with two little wing decorations on both sides that kept flapping.

“Gotta say, little Yunlu, your Bad-Luck Sword: First Form is pretty nasty, huh.”

Just earlier, the two of them had gone to spar.

The result didn’t need saying.

Even when Zhang Yunlu used “Killing Sword: First Form,” she was still defeated easily by Chi Jiuyu.

Both were at early-stage Soul Transformation, yet the gap between them seemed not to have shrunk at all.

“If Shifu hears that, senior sister, you’ll get beaten again,” Zhang Yunlu reminded her.

“…”

Chi Jiuyu shrank her neck, and the flapping wings on her cap even stopped for a moment.

After confirming no one was around…

“I’m not afraid!”

I already got beaten—if I don’t say it, wouldn’t that be a total loss?!

“…”

Zhang Yunlu could already guess what her senior sister was thinking, so she simply didn’t continue that topic.

“Senior sister, how do you think my level is now?”

“Umm… you want the truth or a lie?”

“A lie.”

“Huh?” Chi Jiuyu froze.

“The truth definitely won’t sound good, so I’ll hear the lie first.”

(-__-'')

That was… actually pretty logical.

“The lie is… you’re doing okay.”

“So even ‘okay’ is a lie…”

Zhang Yunlu frowned slightly.

“As for the truth…”

Chi Jiuyu was about to continue, but got cut off.

“Senior sister, the truth won’t sound good, so you don’t have to say it.”

(°ー°〃)

That was…

also pretty logical, huh.

A bit dejected, Chi Jiuyu arrived at the cave abode with Zhang Yunlu.

The Xuan Candle Fruit Tree on the wooden rack was gone—it had been borrowed half a year ago by Zhao Ruohan, who planned to use its spiritual essence to harmonize her own mana.

Also as preparation for this Immortal Sect Grand Tournament.

Even though she had never won once in all these years of sparring, Zhao Ruohan never gave up and still kept chasing after them.

They opened the door and walked inside.

The layout of the room was still the same as five years ago, only the furniture had been replaced again.

A display cabinet was mounted on the wall. On the highest shelf sat a third-class Rededge Medal, while the other shelves held souvenirs she’d collected over the past few years while carrying out Ascension Plan missions across different worlds.

Every single souvenir was proof that Ancestor Jiu Yu had walked through another world!

With a hop, Chi Jiuyu flopped down face-up onto a plump beanbag chair. The chair visibly deformed, sinking inward.

“Mmm~!”

After stretching lazily like that, she rolled over, curled into the chair, and looked back at Zhang Yunlu.

“In the blink of an eye, little Yunlu, you’re already Soul Transformation. When we first met, you were still in Qi Condensation.”

To catch up with the first echelon, little Yunlu had truly been fighting with her life these past years.

Fortunately, all that effort paid off.

“I can’t let down everything I’ve been given.”

“Yeah, yeah, you think you got this far because of ‘luck,’ right?” Chi Jiuyu waved her hand.

How hard little Yunlu had worked to reach today—she had seen it all.

“But when it comes to luck, could you really be luckier than me?” She straightened a little.

“I was picked up by Shifu when I was little!”

“So relax. The fact you made it this far already means you’ve surpassed a whole lot of people.”

Hehe!

I’m such a considerate senior sister!

Chi Jiuyu felt a little smug to herself.

“I know, senior sister, but that’s not a reason for me to slack off.”

From an ordinary Qi Condensation high schooler to Sword Sovereign’s personally taught disciple, mastering peerless sword arts—

Now, as a Soul Transformation sword cultivator, she had her own persistence.

“And senior sister, you’re obviously even more hardworking than me.”

In talent, she was undoubtedly the number one of the era.

In effort, few could compare.

Senior sister was already this terrifying and still worked this hard—what reason did she have to slack off?

“Aiya, I’m not telling you to slack off.” Chi Jiuyu said seriously. “I mean, don’t dump all the results on ‘luck.’ Your own effort matters too.”

In the Tai Xuan Realm, there were countless lucky people who had stumbled into opportunities—how many could reach little Yunlu’s level?

Only a handful!

If little Yunlu truly relied only on luck, Shifu wouldn’t have accepted her as a disciple in the first place.

Beep beep!

At that moment, the alarm clock by the window chirped once.

Chi Jiuyu glanced at it, then instantly sprang up.

“Holy— it’s already this late?!”

She whirled around and dashed into a side room, and along the way she also released her natal spirit sword, Yu Yi.

“You sit for a bit. I still have a few talismans to finish and submit for an order.”

Over five years, her mastery in talisman arts had grown deeper and deeper, and she’d built a certain reputation among talisman masters.

…

…

Meanwhile.

At the Sword Sect’s outer sect.

Within one of the Four Seasons Gardens, the “Spring Radiance Garden.”

“You… are you also joining the Immortal Sect Grand Tournament this year?”

Zhao Ruoming’s expression was complicated as he looked at the tall woman standing by the flowers not far away.

Casual white athletic wear, long hair tied into a high ponytail—clean, sharp, and striking.

Five years later, Ye Zhiwei had completely shed her former youthful greenness.

Under the arrangements of the Sword Enforcement Hall and Li Ke, she had gone through many dangerous missions these years, and there was now an unusual temperament to her—something forged by blood and fire.

“I am.” She smiled softly.

Her eyes were still bright.

Compared to the past, there was a touch more calm acceptance in her.

“It’s a pity I’m not Soul Transformation yet. Otherwise, I could be in the same bracket as Ruoming-ge.”

Three years ago, she became Li Ke’s disciple.

Now she was late-stage Nascent Soul, ranked seventy-first on the Sword Rankings.

“…There will be a chance.” Zhao Ruoming said.

Five years.

This was their first meeting in five years.

Before coming, Zhao Ruoming felt he had a thousand things to say, but once they truly met, there were suddenly very few words he could bring himself to speak.

“Back then…”

“Back then was my fault.” Ye Zhiwei cut in directly. “I shouldn’t have treated you like that.”

“It was actually fine.”

That was Zhao Ruoming’s honest feeling.

“My motives weren’t pure. Whether by emotion or by reason, I should apologize.”

That was Ye Zhiwei’s honest feeling.

“Then now…”

“Ruoming-ge is a good person.”

Their voices spoke almost at the same time.

Ye Zhiwei froze.

Zhao Ruoming also paused, then suddenly laughed.

“Is that you giving me a ‘good guy card’?”

“No, I just spoke too fast. I wasn’t finished…”

“I’m joking.” Zhao Ruoming waved his hand, signaling her not to mind it. “Honestly, you don’t need to obsess over what happened back then. For me, it was a very beautiful memory.”

After thinking, he added:

“Except for the last part.”

“I’m sorry…”

“I said you don’t need to apologize.” Zhao Ruoming sounded a bit helpless. “Today, coming to the Sword Sect, I’m just here to see you—and to have a match with Chi Jiuyu. Don’t burden yourself.”

The future was long. Neither he nor Zhiwei needed to make a decision right away.

“I understand…”

As if thinking of something, Ye Zhiwei added:

“Ruoming-ge.”

“Mm?”

“You can’t beat Sister Jiu Yu.”

“…”

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