“Later on,” Shaori chuckled, “After that, it’s just as you’ve heard… The Houtu Holy Master opened the Tianmen, fended off the Outer Demons, and sheltered Shenzhou. And so, peace reigned over the land, and all beings bowed in submission.”
“……”
I know the outcome, but I want to hear the process!
How could this guy skip the process entirely?! It’s as if everyone in the world is supposed to know, and just because I don’t, I must be the ignorant one…
“If you’ve been cooped up in Beiju Luzhou and haven’t heard much about the outside world, you should take a look at this book.” Shaori pulled out a small booklet and tossed it to me.
I glanced down.
—[I Became a Fox Girl and Was Captured by the True Dragon Saintess]… Pfft, what kind of ridiculous light novel name is this? My toes are curling so hard I could dig out the entire Nine Provinces!
“This is a collection of unofficial tales that Senior Brother found at a street stall. It does its best to restore the events of that year, though of course there’s plenty of dramatic embellishment.”
Shaori sighed regretfully.
“It’s a shame it hasn’t been updated in two years. The author’s probably been beaten to death by now…”
I accepted the book.
Anyway, for the long and arduous task of descending the mountain, at least I finally have something to pass the time.
.
The Aolai Kingdom is located in the southern part of Dongzhou, and is a nation famed far and wide for its pleasures.
Here, the land nestles against mountains and the sea, the scenery is beautiful, and the climate is like spring all year round—an ideal place for retired old cadres to vacation.
With this geographical advantage, Aolai Kingdom vigorously developed its tourism industry, and established a number of legal casinos, boasting a flair not unlike the gambling city of Las Vegas.
Cluru and I trailed after Senior Brother, our heads squeezed together, reading as we walked.
Every now and then, we’d lift our heads and look at the scenery around us.
Is this the Southern Island? I remember this place—when I first transmigrated, I descended right on the Southern Island.
The Southern Island is far more prosperous now than it was back then.
You have to know, back then this was the territory of a tribe of cannibals.
I nearly got eaten!
“This is Aolai Kingdom. Be careful—Pixiu have been sighted in Aolai.” Senior Brother Shaori rapped the blackboard, signaling us to be alert.
“Pixiu?” I asked in surprise.
Weren’t those things already extinct?
Pixiu are ancient ferocious beasts, they eat but never excrete.
Because of this “eat but never excrete” trait, a Pixiu’s stomach sac was regarded as the best material for making space bags.
In the cultivation world, a “Pixiu Storage Bag” was once a symbol of status.
So, even before I transmigrated, Pixiu had already been hunted to extinction.
“Still, you have to be careful. Recently, quite a few cultivators have had their storage bags stolen by Pixiu. You’d both best keep a close watch on your things.” Senior Brother Shaori reminded us again.
I nodded, and Cluru and I both tightened our storage anklets.
“Senior Brother, is our task down the mountain to find the Pixiu?” I couldn’t help but ask.
Peak Master Guan Yang only told Cluru and me to descend the mountain for training, but didn’t say what sort of training.
Xiao Ming and Shaori shook their heads.
They carefully surveyed the surroundings, set up a soundproof barrier, and only then spoke:
“According to reports from our Investigators, some Ancient Immortal Remnants still haven’t given up their obsession with human supremacy. They’ve secretly infiltrated the casinos, hoping to cheat and make a quick fortune as startup capital to establish an underworld organization…”
“……”
This is the first time I’ve heard of a dark organization trying to make money this way.
Aren’t they afraid they’ll lose their pants in the process?
“A casino called ‘Divine Elders’ Retirement Home’ sent us a commission, asking us to go undercover as gamblers and secretly ferret out the cheaters.”
“A casino? Cultivators of our standing, and the task is to assist a casino in evil deeds?” I was somewhat displeased.
“Relax, this isn’t the sort of casino that cheats ordinary people. Rather than seeing this as a casino, you might as well think of it as a trial ground.”
Xiao Ming smiled. “Here, cultivators hone their skills and sharpen their minds. It’s a form of competition, a part of their cultivation… You’ll see once you enter.”
Really?
Let’s hope so.
.
A spacious facade, a tall wooden building.
Neon lights flickered up and down the wooden structure, with the large characters [Divine Elders’ Retirement Home] written overhead.
Cultivators flew past the eaves of the building.
It gave off a rather cyber-cultivation vibe.
“Welcome! What would you like to play?” A waiter greeted us with a smile.
“Just looking around,” Xiao Ming declined the waiter’s guidance, “I’m just letting my little junior sister broaden her horizons.”
“Bringing a minor junior sister to the casino for experience,” the waiter gave a thumbs up, “you truly are a model Senior Brother, an example for us all.”
Xiao Ming and Shaori just grinned indifferently, clearly on familiar terms with the waiter.
“Security in the casino is very tight. Junior Sisters, feel free to look around as you please.”
The moment we entered the casino, Xiao Ming and Shaori went off on their own.
They left Cluru and me behind without another word, rushing urgently up to the second floor.
“And they claim they’re here for a mission…” I pursed my lips. “Looks to me like those two just have a gambling itch.”
“Puhaha—”
Cluru didn’t reply, instead letting out a burst of laughter.
When I turned to look, I found her hugging that unofficial history novel, completely engrossed.
“What’s so interesting about that…” I grumbled unhappily.
“This author must have a few screws loose.” Cluru held the book up to my face. “Come on, let’s read it together~ I’m dying laughing.”
I wasn’t interested, and pushed the book aside.
Holding onto one of Cluru’s tentacles, I strolled about, my divine sense beginning to patrol the casino.
“Most people here are at the Foundation Establishment Stage… Hm, just like before. It’s always these Foundation Establishment cultivators who indulge in food, drink, and pleasure.”
I shook my head.
Foundation Establishment is a hurdle.
Most people in this world spend their whole lives stuck at Foundation Establishment.
Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators are busy breaking through, since if you don’t establish a foundation, everyone looks down on you.
Jindan Stage cultivators are busy forming their Nascent Souls, since by the time you reach Jindan, most of your lifespan is nearly gone.
Only the Foundation Establishment Stage.
Some have just broken out of the Qi Cultivation Stage, riding high and feeling invincible, so they’re in no rush to cultivate, wanting to enjoy themselves for a while, forget the fatigue of Qi Cultivation, and then form their Golden Core.
But once they relax, they pick up lazy habits and can never push forward diligently again.
Others have already seen the end of their road—they know their talent, background, and resources give them no chance at forming a Golden Core, so they simply give up on themselves.
So, most cultivators in this world are at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
“Huh… Late Jindan Stage?!”
As my divine sense swept through, I quickly found an unusual aura.
Amidst these ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, there was a master of profound cultivation hiding—a Jindan ancestor!
That ancestor had deliberately suppressed their cultivation, pretending to be at the same level as those around them.
But in reality, they were manipulating the outcome of the games from behind the scenes with their cultivation.
“And it’s not an ordinary Jindan—his cultivation system… Is he a descendant of practitioners from our era?”
There was a Jindan within this person’s body!
I’ve studied the Modern Cultivation System, and they don’t follow the Golden Core–Nascent Soul path.
That means this person’s cultivation method definitely isn’t modern!
It’s Ancient Techniques!
“So these are the so-called Ancient Immortal Remnants?”
Sensing the familiar cultivation system within him, I couldn’t help feeling a bit excited.
Like meeting an old friend in a foreign land.
“It’s the Pure Fire Sect’s method. I wonder how the old ancestor of the Pure Fire Sect and those other old guys are doing these days…”
“Perfect, I’ll catch this guy and ask.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.