Old Master, Times Have Changed - Chapter 731 (Patreon)

Chapter 731: A Microcosm

Not long after, the group arrived at the selection match venue.

Chi Jiuyu walked at the very front.

She had already changed into a black set of fitted combat clothes. At the collar was an embroidered emblem of a small golden sword, and in her hand she carried a cyan-gold longsword with an antique, unadorned look.

Her expression was perfectly calm. A pure sword intent faintly coiled around her body, yet it still made the cultivators who had rushed here on purpose feel as if a shadow had been laid over their hearts.

Up on the high stands, Lin Changsheng, Chang Xiao, and Yue Zhongfeng stood together, observing each sword cultivator who entered the selection match grounds.

As the previous Immortal Sect Grand Tournament’s top contenders in the Soul Transformation group, the three of them could no longer participate this time because they were all over the age limit.

“That Chi Jiuyu…”

Yue Zhongfeng’s gaze followed Chi Jiuyu’s party closely, her slender willow brows lifting slightly.

The current Chi Jiuyu actually made her feel a chill in her bones just from sword intent alone.

How long had it even been?

As she watched, Chi Jiuyu seemed to sense something as well and lifted her head, glancing in her direction.

The instant their gazes met—

Weng!

Yue Zhongfeng felt as if a sword-light, pure to the absolute extreme and so dazzling it couldn’t be described with words, flared before her eyes!

Even her brow center throbbed with sharp, needle-prick pain.

Hm?!

In the next blink, all the strange phenomena vanished. When she looked down again, Chi Jiuyu had already withdrawn her gaze and was chatting with the people beside her as if nothing had happened.

“…After staying silent for a long while, Yue Zhongfeng’s expression grew even heavier. “Very strong!”

Just from what she had shown a moment ago, Yue Zhongfeng had no confidence she could beat her.

“I saw it too.”

Chang Xiao’s expression was just as serious.

In the previous Immortal Sect Grand Tournament, although Chi Jiuyu had been allowed to participate in the Soul Transformation bracket by exception, her true strength back then was only mid-to-lower tier among the contestants.

“At the very least, she’s on the same level as us now.”

And “now” didn’t mean a few years ago. It meant the current them.

Where the hell did this monster come from?!

Even with the existence of the “Ascension Plan,” her rate of improvement was still way too fast, wasn’t it?!

They hadn’t been slacking off these five years either!

“Old Lin, what do you think?”

Chang Xiao looked at Lin Changsheng, who was replying to messages on the side.

Lin Changsheng didn’t even lift his head. “Perfectly normal.”

“Huh?”

What do you mean, “perfectly normal”?

“She’s Little Martial Uncle Ancestor. She reached Soul Transformation at only twenty-two.” As he said that, Lin Changsheng finally finished replying and raised his head. “Just accept it.”

Chang Xiao: “…”

Since when did you talk like that?!

Yue Zhongfeng seemed to think of something and stared at him hard.

“Don’t tell me you fought Chi Jiuyu and lost?”

Back in the last Immortal Sect Grand Tournament, Lin Changsheng would rather be badly injured than admit defeat. Yet now he was telling them to accept reality?

There was only one possibility—

He’d been beaten into submission.

“…No way!” Lin Changsheng paused. “I’m already mid-stage Soul Transformation!”

That’s right!

He had already passed the phase where an immortal sect prodigy most needed to accumulate foundations, successfully advancing to mid-stage Soul Transformation three years ago.

But…

Half a year ago, he really had sparred with Chi Jiuyu once.

Both of them were Sword Sect prodigies. He was mid-stage Soul Transformation, facing an early-stage Soul Transformation opponent. No matter how you looked at it, it should have been a crushing win.

Yet the result was completely different from what he’d imagined…

That battle had been exceptionally difficult—especially that sword strike with surging crimson light that almost let her fight above her realm and reverse-kill him!

He did still win in the end.

But there had been a realm gap. Saying it out loud was embarrassing, so he never mentioned it to outsiders.

Just then—

“Changsheng!”

A soft voice laced with a hint of allure came from afar.

A stunningly beautiful figure descended from above.

She wore a purple, hip-hugging long dress dotted with tiny crystal decorations, outlining a breathtaking figure.

Her long purple hair curled slightly. In her gemlike purple eyes, it was as if ripples of water gathered and swirled. Purple eyeshadow traced the corners of her eyes.

Her red lips looked glossy and moist, and at the corner of her mouth was a small mole—her charm overflowing.

Qing.

Back when Lin Changsheng had carried out his mission as part of the second batch of Ascension Envoy, this was the “spirit” he had brought back from the mission world.

She naturally hooked her arm around Lin Changsheng’s and took out a jade bottle, handing it to him.

“The pills you wanted are finished.”

Perhaps because her essence was a “spirit” formed from the concretization of world rules, her talent in alchemy was extremely high.

Now, not only did she no longer need Lin Changsheng’s help, she could even shoulder part of his cultivation resources in return.

“Old Chang and Old Yue are here too!” Qing greeted them familiarly.

“Mm.”

Yue Zhongfeng’s response was extremely flat.

She didn’t dislike Qing—after all, the last time she had tried to purchase pills, it had been Qing who helped refine them.

“Morning.” Chang Xiao greeted her too.

His mood was complicated.

It wasn’t that he envied Lin Changsheng having a beauty by his side.

After all, so-called “beauty” was, in his view, an unstable factor for steady cultivation.

But if this “beauty” was obedient, and could also refine pills to earn money…

…

…

Higher up on the stands, within the sea of clouds.

Several figures gathered together, watching everyone at the selection match venue, occasionally commenting.

“Impressive! Truly impressive.” Daoist Xiaoyu, wearing a cyan dao robe, sighed. “Especially the best few in the arena—they’re far more formidable than we were back then.”

These people were the Void Return first-rankers of the various immortal sects.

They had anticipated a large crowd for the Sword Sect selection match, so they had deliberately come to take a look.

“Indeed.” Lin Xingyue nodded. “Especially Chi Jiuyu. Her improvement is enormous. If nothing unexpected happens, she should take first place in the Soul Transformation bracket of this year’s Immortal Sect Grand Tournament.”

Even with the existence of the “Ascension Plan,” her progress was still a bit too exaggerated.

“Brother Kongming is panicking hard right now,” a handsome man in a cyan, wide-sleeved robe suddenly said.

It was Gao Wuwang.

“Someone’s sect master dream is probably about to shatter,” Chen Xuanqing added blandly.

Zhou Kongming’s face darkened.

When did I ever say I wanted to be sect master?!

These people never say anything decent!

“The Immortal Sect’s sect master selection doesn’t emphasize combat power. By comparison, ‘overall vision’ is more important.”

Heng, who had been remodeled into a ball, floated beside Zhou Kongming and defended his master with a completely serious face.

“On that point, I think my master is better than Chi Jiuyu.”

After all, his master was a sword cultivator who cultivated sword arrays!

“…”

Zhou Kongming was even more speechless.

What do you mean it doesn’t emphasize combat power?

I’m Return to the Void, Little Martial Uncle Ancestor is at most early-stage Soul Transformation. If we’re talking combat power, I surpass her by far, okay?!

“So you mean that by the time the Sword Sect’s sect master election happens, Chi Jiuyu’s realm will surpass Brother Kongming’s?” Gao Wuwang asked with a smiling, unhurried tone.

“…Of course not!” Heng hurriedly argued. “I just think you’ve misunderstood what the sect master role prioritizes, so I was reminding you.”

After speaking, he even glanced at Zhou Kongming.

Zhou Kongming didn’t say a word, continuing to watch the situation at the selection match venue.

He had a task today—cooperating with the disciples to maintain order on-site—so he couldn’t be bothered to bicker with these guys.

…

…

In a corner of the audience seats.

“These tickets are way too expensive. Watching the livestream on Netmoon would’ve been better.”

A rather unremarkable young man sat down in a more rearward seat.

He wore a loose white short-sleeve shirt and gray long pants. His looks were ordinary—exactly the kind you could toss into a crowd and never draw any attention.

Gu Wangjun.

In five years, under Leng Rou’s guidance, he not only formed a Perfect Dao Foundation and cultivated a Nine-Turn Immortal Golden Core, he also entered the Supreme Dao Sect through “special recruitment,” joining the Talisman-Sword Lineage.

“You’re so stingy. How can a livestream on Netmoon compare to the real thing?” Leng Rou, who had originally been floating midair, sat down in the seat beside him.

That’s right.

She was still in a remnant soul state.

But she had recovered somewhat—her soul body was far more solid than five years ago.

And even if she was a remnant soul, watching the Immortal Sect Grand Tournament selection match still cost money.

“And your luck is so ridiculous. Maybe you’ll run into the Sword Ancestor again,” Leng Rou said dreamily.

Last time, she had gotten a piece of blood jade from the Sword Ancestor—something that could be called a supreme treasure.

Nourished by that blood jade, she recovered insanely fast!

If she hadn’t gained new insights during the process and deliberately slowed down, she would’ve restored even her physical form long ago!

“When I successfully reach Integration, won’t you have a thigh to cling to?” she said.

Cling to a thigh…

Gu Wangjun glanced at her, his gaze unconsciously dropping to her legs.

“Do I look good?” Leng Rou asked directly, making Gu Wangjun flush red. Embarrassed, he hurriedly looked away.

“Tsk tsk! Recently Netmoon推出了一种…” Leng Rou teased. “You know what I mean. You learned the True Record of the Nine Elixirs, so you’re not really short on money. Buying one to deal with your needs isn’t a bad idea.”

“…Enough!” Gu Wangjun snapped.

“Fine. Then watch the match properly.” Leng Rou suddenly turned serious, her tone light but steady. “Look carefully at the gap between you and the top immortal sect prodigies. It’ll help your cultivation later.”

“…”

They’d known each other for six years, but he still couldn’t figure out this shameless old driver.

With no choice, Gu Wangjun turned his attention to the arena.

In the center of the venue sat an enormous platform.

Above it, one secret realm entrance after another rotated slowly like whirlpools, shrouded in gray mist—clearly still unopened.

There was no helping it. The Sword Sect had far too many disciples, and a huge batch was qualified to participate in the selection match.

A normal venue simply wasn’t enough, and cramming a crowd into one field for duels also made for poor viewing. So they simply opened a secret realm specifically for the selection match.

This secret realm had been opened long ago. After the Sword Sect reinforced it again and again, its internal spatial structure was extremely stable—even ordinary Integration cultivators couldn’t break it.

But compared to all that, what drew his attention more were the sword cultivators gathered along the edge of the platform to participate in the selection.

Especially the Golden Core bracket.

As far as he could see, every single person’s aura was heavy and solid. Sword intent coiled around them, their sharpness intimidating.

There were barely any weaker than him!

Some of them, clearly at the same realm as him, still gave him the prickling sensation of thorns at his back—an icy fear, like his brow center could be pierced through at any moment.

“So this is the true strength of immortal sect prodigies?”

Thinking that he had also signed up for the Supreme Dao Sect’s Immortal Sect Grand Tournament selection match coming up soon, Gu Wangjun started to lose confidence.

Leng Rou glanced at him. “What, getting worried now?”

“…A little.”

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t.

After all, he knew his own situation. A selection match at this level…

Could he really pass?

“Participation is what matters,” Leng Rou said.

If she insisted he could pass the Immortal Sect Grand Tournament selection match, that would be pure nonsense.

But…

“Given the current situation in your sect, you might actually be able to muddle your way into a slot.”

Muddle into a slot…

Gu Wangjun felt uncomfortable, but he also knew Leng Rou was only speaking the truth.

…

…

In front of the Sword Ancestor Hall.

Xu Xing’s gaze rested on the selection match venue in the distance. At his left and right stood two people.

The amused Huo, and…

Yuan, who looked uncomfortable from head to toe!

Yuan had never imagined he’d run into Huo here.

Originally, he had only come to report his work to his fellow townsman, ask about the next arrangements, and bring Chen Yuanlin along to see the selection match.

But the moment he arrived, he found Huo was here too.

To be honest, the instant he saw him, he’d wanted to turn around and leave.

“Not bad.” Huo seemed to have spotted something interesting. “I thought Xiaofan’s progress was already fast, but I didn’t expect that the junior who was valued by Dao-brother in the same period back then hasn’t fallen behind either.”

He was referring to Zhang Yunlu.

“I originally thought Xiaofan had already surpassed her. Now it seems they’re about the same.”

“She paid a lot. Her achievements today aren’t strange,” Xu Xing said.

Among cultivators of the same generation, none were more desperate than her.

If Jiuyu was driven into danger by an accident, then she was the type who actively created accidents and pushed herself into danger!

In Zhang Yunlu’s own words, she had already fallen behind by a lot. If she still didn’t strive with everything she had, then she’d be unworthy of everything she had received.

Xu Xing didn’t know what she was thinking now.

But in Xu Xing’s view, the effort she had poured in these past years had already fully repaid what she received back then.

“I heard your disciples had a match recently?” Huo asked.

“That did happen,” Huo said, looking down the mountain. “What a pity. Compared to Yuan’s disciple, Xiaofan is still quite a bit behind.”

Facing Chen Yuanlin, Xiao Fan couldn’t even last a single exchange.

“Let’s not talk about that.” Huo didn’t linger on the topic and instead asked, “How’s that ritual-system Soul Transformation you captured a few years ago?”

“She’s still locked up in the Gloom Prison. Very well-behaved.”

That “supreme existence” from the far side of the Chaos Sea didn’t seem to have any intention of rescuing her, and Xu herself was quite honest.

Five years…

For a true god comparable to Soul Transformation, it really was negligible.

These past years, she had been studying inside the Gloom Prison, working on the fused-system genealogical true method, the Nine Extremes Thunder-Seizing Secret Rite True Canon.

“According to the procedures the sect master and the Soul Transformation cultivators worked out, how she’s dealt with depends on Yuan’s wishes as the victim—but Yuan forgave her.”

“Oh?” Huo looked at Yuan with interest.

Could it be that after experiencing the “script” of the Taiyi realm-domain, he was still clinging to some meaningless “kindness” in his heart?

“She’s not a threat right now, and keeping her lets us, to a certain degree, use her state to guard against that ‘supreme existence’ from the far side of the Chaos Sea,” Yuan explained.

“Killing her would have no meaning beyond venting anger.”

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