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[Ding!]
[Great Jin’s national strength has significantly increased, calculating rewards…]
[Reward: Sky-Reaching Path progress 10%!]
[Ding!]
[Triggered ten-thousand-fold critical hit, obtained Supreme Emperor Grade: Sword Embryo.]
The system prompt sounded in Meng Qingzhou’s ear, leaving him momentarily stunned.
He wasn’t surprised by the progress on the Sky-Reaching Path, but a Supreme Emperor Grade item? That was at the Great Emperor level! And it was the most powerful among the Great Emperor grades!
This stingy system, after being so miserly for a lifetime, finally decided to give out a big reward.
Meng Qingzhou waved at a few monarchs who had come to pledge allegiance and said, “For specific matters, go find Su Qingqiu. She will handle the related procedures. I have some insights to ponder, so I’ll be going into seclusion now. Farewell.”
The monarchs looked at each other, full of questions. They still didn’t understand how they came to pledge allegiance and ended up becoming part of the Great Jin’s territory.
…
Meng Qingzhou returned to a rather large cave mansion, which Dongfang Liuli had spent a fortune to build specifically for him. Even the floor tiles and walls were made of top-grade spirit stones, and the space was filled with the Immortal Grade Xuanhuang Qi, making it incredibly luxurious.
“The immediate task is to reshape the Supreme Emperor Grade Sword Embryo and merge it with the Cicada Song sword.”
He was unwilling to part with the Cicada Song sword, as it had been his companion all along. Rather than abandoning it, he decided to reshape it to suit his needs.
Without delay, Meng Qingzhou used his abundant blood and Qi as a furnace to melt the Cicada Song sword, softening its material.
He then melted the Supreme Emperor Grade Sword Embryo in the same manner. The reason it was called a sword embryo was that it hadn’t been fully forged yet; it required the host to infuse it with their essence and soul imprint to shape it into a form that suited them perfectly.
Fortunately, Meng Qingzhou’s Primordial Creation Bloodline was strong enough, and his blood and Qi were like true fire. Through this method of melting, the connection between the sword and him became even tighter.
He then fused the melted Cicada Song sword with the sword embryo, using his fists as hammers to shape it.
Meng Qingzhou hammered it repeatedly, following the memory of the Cicada Song sword’s form.
“Principles of Time and Space, imprint!”
A River of Time and Space extended from his inner universe, repeatedly washing over the Cicada Song sword.
An entire day passed.
The scene in the cave mansion, which resembled the creation of the world, gradually quieted down.
Meng Qingzhou held the newly forged Cicada Song sword, unable to put it down. As a sword cultivator, the sword was like a third hand to him. It was like a sharpshooter without a gun, or giving an ancient, rusty sniper rifle to a modern soldier. Even with 1000% combat power, he could only exert 100% at most.
The Cicada Song sword vibrated and hummed in his hand, transmitting emotions of joy.
The sword spirit had begun to develop intelligence!
However, because it was newly forged, the sword spirit’s wisdom was akin to that of a two- or three-year-old child. With more time, the sword spirit would surely grow.
By then, the Cicada Song sword wouldn’t need Meng Qingzhou’s deliberate control to evolve the Sword Sense of Time and Space on its own, even unleashing considerable combat power.
“Terrifying.”
Meng Qingzhou sighed. If he had this sword half a month ago, along with the Immortal King’s Shroud that countered Zen, he might have been able to fight the Buddha!
Even if he couldn’t win, he could have at least escaped unscathed.
“After a day and night, it’s finally done.”
“The progress on the Sky-Reaching Path has also soared to 130%. The Blind Strength System’s boost, along with the fusion of the Heavenly Fortune Body and Primordial Creation Bloodline, has greatly benefited my understanding of the Sky-Reaching principles.”
The system rewarded 10%, but ever since breaking the 90% threshold, Meng Qingzhou’s comprehension of the Time and Space principles in his inner universe had improved by leaps and bounds.
“Now, even without breaking through to the Sky-Reaching Realm, I might still be able to contend with those in it.”
Meng Qingzhou, satisfied and with a fruitful harvest, happily emerged from seclusion.
As soon as he stepped out, he sensed something amiss. Although he couldn’t see, he keenly detected an eerie calm in the air, like the calm before a storm.
Through his Sword Sense domain, he discovered four life signs outside the cave mansion. Three were very familiar: Su Qingqiu, Wu Die, and Dongfang Liuli. But who was the fourth?
Suddenly.
A voice, both unfamiliar and familiar, rang out: “Long time no see.”
Meng Qingzhou’s body trembled.
Sister Qiong!
Had she really accepted the invitation to join the Great Jin Dynasty?
In Meng Qingzhou’s grand plan, the Ancient Divine City was a crucial piece. This city, which had existed since the dawn of time, could definitely contend with Sky-Reaching cultivators. Its lower limit was Sky-Reaching, and its upper limit was unknown.
Having such a colossal entity join the Great Jin would not just strengthen the nation several times over; it would be like inviting a guardian king. The system’s reward for the Sky-Reaching Path progress would be terrifying.
But soon.
Meng Qingzhou snapped out of it, finally realizing why the air was so tense.
Dongfang Liuli didn’t know about the system or the Sky-Reaching Path. Inviting a former rival out of the blue, what was he thinking?
Impressive, his wings had grown strong. One wife wasn’t enough; he wanted two?
“Liuli, let me explain,” Meng Qingzhou said rapidly, not giving her a chance to interrupt.
“I want to unite all forces that can enhance the Great Jin’s foundation. When the Sky State overlord arrives…”
Dongfang Liuli interrupted, “I know, no need to explain. I’m just here to listen, don’t mind me.”
Meng Qingzhou breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Sister Qiong and said, “So you heard my message and want to join the Great Jin?”
Sister Qiong had grown taller, no longer the young girl she once was. Her golden hair flowed, and her golden vertical pupils shone with the divine light of ancient times. She was stunning, like a goddess.
Sister Qiong quietly watched Meng Qingzhou for a long time before speaking, “Message?”
Meng Qingzhou was puzzled and scratched his head. “I asked Lian Yue to relay my invitation for you to join the Great Jin and resist the coming great era together. Didn’t she tell you?”
Sister Qiong shook her head slightly, her gaze intense. “Maybe she missed it. I haven’t been in the Ancient Divine City these past few months. After leaving the Great Jin Dynasty, the city awakened.”
“It said… the great era is coming.”
“The future will bring darkness, and all worlds will face reckoning. Even the city itself isn’t confident it can survive the coming dark and bloody era intact. So, it gave me one of the three strands of primordial Qi from the dawn of time to help me transform my bloodline and comprehend the Sky-Reaching principles in advance.”
“These past few months, I’ve traveled across mountains and rivers, and now…”
At this point, Sister Qiong’s lips curved into a smile. “I’ve broken through to the Sky-Reaching Realm.”
Meng Qingzhou was astonished.
What?!
Half a year ago, she was just a girl who had barely broken through to the Morning Glow Realm after thousands of years. In just half a year, she had soared to the Sky-Reaching Realm??
But on second thought, it made sense. The Ancient Divine City was an extraordinary existence, formed from primordial Qi at the dawn of time. Giving a strand to Sister Qiong, who knows how many Sky-Reaching principles, or even Sky-Reaching principles, it contained.
Moreover, from what Sister Qiong said, that strand of Qi had transformed her bloodline. She was no longer the slow-cultivating wild beast she once was.
“So, did you come here just to show off?” Meng Qingzhou couldn’t help but ask.
Sister Qiong crossed her arms and pouted.
To be honest, she did have that intention.
But after the Qi transformation, her thoughts became clearer. She realized her past actions were inappropriate. Three thousand years of obsession had turned into a peaceful, flowing stream. The obsession remained, but it was no longer crazy.
“Let’s get to the point.”
Sister Qiong suddenly became serious, her gaze heavy.
“Outside the Wilderness, in the southern seas, a god has awakened. And I know Him, the God of Calamity—Huotu.”
“A high-ranking deity from the era of gods.”
“He is heading towards the Wilderness, and along the way, the sea creatures have almost been wiped out, devoured by Him. Even the scattered principles and powers in the world have been absorbed to restore His divinity. I suspect He plans to land in the Wilderness and spread calamity to regain His peak power!”
…
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