Chapter 201: Wu Kingdom’s Literary and Martial Officials Arrive to Pay Respects
【Host has slain the Holy Son of the Black Lotus Sect — Wuming, Blood Qi +50, Sword Qi +50, Sword Intent +50.】
【Host has slain a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator — Cui Renwang, Blood Qi +150, Sword Qi +150, Sword Intent +150. Host may choose one evolution between “Blood Qi Berserk” and “Dao Pattern Eye”.】
【Host chose to force a breakthrough at the brink of life and death, commendable courage, rewarded with the Dry Yuan Mirror.】
【Dry Yuan Mirror: Any cultivator illuminated by this mirror will reveal one immediate weakness. Can be used once per day on any cultivator. If you dare show your health bar, even gods will fall!】
【Host gained insight into the Sword Dao amidst life and death, rewarded with the White Azure Whetstone.】
【White Azure Whetstone: Made from Black Iron from the Chaos Period, it can refine all Immortal Swords in the world, reusable until fully worn out.】
The system voice faded as Xu Ming had a thought.
In Xu Ming’s hand appeared a mirror and a stone.
This mirror looked no different from an ordinary silver mirror, with a Taiji Yin-Yang symbol carved on the frame.
As for the whetstone, Xu Ming estimated it was about thirty centimeters long, fifteen wide, and fifteen high.
To be honest, Xu Ming felt the system was a bit deceptive—how many times could this whetstone sharpen? Isn’t it too small? But then he remembered that this whetstone could even sharpen Immortal Swords, so he stopped complaining.
After putting away these invaluable treasures, Xu Ming hesitated.
Dao Pattern Eye or Blood Qi Berserk?
Which skill should he choose?
Both were deadly weapons against enemies, both were important.
After careful consideration,
Xu Ming finally chose to evolve the Dao Pattern Eye.
The main reason was that during the recent battle, when Ji Wuming threw out a scroll, and the woman who walked out of the scroll unleashed a single sword strike, he couldn’t replicate it, which left Xu Ming feeling terrible, like missing out on a billion.
Even though evolving the Dao Pattern Eye wouldn’t guarantee he could replicate the same level of a sword strike next time,
At least he wouldn’t miss out on as many skills.
As soon as Xu Ming made up his mind, he felt excruciating pain in his eyes.
Xu Ming gritted his teeth to keep from screaming.
After ten breaths, Xu Ming opened his eyes, finding the flow of Spiritual Energy in the air clearer than ever.
As for other differences, without actual combat, they remained unknown for now.
Xu Ming closed his eyes and introspected his body.
He hadn’t damaged his foundation.
After that fierce battle, he was far from being severely injured.
However, Xu Ming noticed that both his Martial Artist Heroic Soul Realm and his Practitioner Sea Observing Realm seemed somewhat unstable.
Compared to ordinary cultivators and martial artists, this instability was actually quite solid, so the doctor didn’t notice.
But Xu Ming knew his body better than anyone; compared to his previously solid realms, his Sea Observing Realm and Heroic Soul Realm weren’t even worth mentioning! Stabilization.
These two words suddenly popped into Xu Ming’s mind.
He must stabilize his realm now.
But given his current situation, it was like building a skyscraper without finishing the foundation; no matter how much he tried to fix it, there would always be flaws.
Unless he destroyed it first and rebuilt it.
Destroying his Heroic Soul Realm and Sea Observing Realm, then re-entering them.
But the problem was, this method of destruction and rebuilding was extremely dangerous.
One misstep, and he might lose his foundation entirely, never reaching the Heroic Soul Realm or Sea Observing Realm again.
“One step at a time,” Xu Ming sighed inwardly.
First, see how much he could stabilize his realm, look for ways to remedy it, and deal with problems if they arise.
As for whether Xu Ming regretted his decision, there was absolutely no regret.
If he hadn’t forced the breakthrough back then, he would have died, with no chance to fix his realm.
The next morning,
Xu Ming just got up to absorb the surrounding Spiritual Energy when Yue arrived to pick him up.
“Mr. Xu, we should go,” Yue said to Xu Ming.
“Hmm.”
Xu Ming nodded and left with Shen Shengsheng.
Xu Ming and Shen Shengsheng sat on a boat-like vessel, flying towards the Heavenly Profound Gate.
“Sir, don’t be too nervous. If you encounter unreasonable people, I’ll help you. Just ignore them,” Yue comforted Xu Ming.
Xu Ming just smiled and nodded, saying nothing.
If he encountered unreasonable people, ignoring them probably wouldn’t be enough.
There would likely be more fights.
After a while, Xu Ming saw misty clouds ahead. On those spiritual mountains, white cranes flew around, dragons breathed out energy, blue kites played, and elegant buildings were built along the mountainside.
From afar, it looked like a fairyland.
Xu Ming knew they had arrived at the Heavenly Profound Gate.
During the Purple Mist Grand Ceremony, no flying Dharma Instruments were allowed, so all cultivators had to walk. Thus, Xu Ming’s group had to disembark and start walking from the foot of the mountain.
At the entrance of the Heavenly Profound Gate, two male disciples were guarding the gate.
“Where are you headed, fellow Daoists?” the guard asked.
Yue took out her identity badge and calmly said, “I am Yue Lou, an Inner Sect Disciple of Jade Spring Peak. These two are guests of Uncle Qin, invited to attend the Purple Mist Grand Ceremony.”
The two guards exchanged glances and bowed to Xu Ming, “Forgive us, sir, but may we know your honorable name and do you have an invitation?”
Xu Ming shook his head, “Just Xu, a single ‘Ming’ character, from the Wu Kingdom’s Wudu, no invitation.”
“Xu Ming…”
The two guards recognized the name instantly.
Xu Ming?
He is THAT Xu Ming?!
For ordinary guests, with an Inner Sect Disciple escort, reporting their identity would suffice, an invitation wasn’t necessary.
But this was problematic because his name was Xu Ming…
“What? You won’t let us in? What does this mean? Making guests wait at the gate—this is the Heavenly Profound Gate’s way of treating guests?” Yue frowned.
“Senior Sister Yue, please forgive us. It’s the Purple Mist Grand Ceremony, everything must be strict, no exceptions. Please wait a moment while we consult our superiors,” one disciple said.
They were Outer Sect Disciples and naturally dared not offend Inner Sect Disciples.
But the problem was, they had orders, and they couldn’t afford to disobey them either.
“You!” Yue was about to get angry but was restrained by Xu Ming.
Why get mad at these Outer Sect Disciples?
Xu Ming stepped forward, bowed politely, and handed over a jade token, “Then please trouble yourselves to inform someone. Say that the Literary and Martial Officials of the Wu Kingdom have come to pay respects.”
