Chapter 129: Jiao Zhenqing (3)

The Nascent Soul cultivators felt pure joy at having narrowly escaped death.

“Th-thank goodness.”

“That was truly dangerous, it was.”

“My hands still quiver.”

“A reclusive master must have come to our aid.”

“Whoever you are, won’t you please show yourself? I swear on my sect’s name to repay this debt.”

“Please, reveal your honorable name!”

“Now, now! Don’t pester. There’s surely a reason for their discretion.”

“V-very well.”

“Whew… That aside, it was truly terrifying. I suppose a True Immortal really is in another league.”

“We gravely underestimated him.”

The True Immortal, teetering on the edge of lunacy, was disaster personified.

At first glance, he looked worse for wear, misleading the cultivators to believe fortune smiled upon them.

“Even in that pitiful state, he obliterated 80% of our forces in an instant…”

Truth be told, it was hard to say the remaining 20% survived due to their own skills. They were simply lucky, surviving only because their turn had not come yet.

“Phew… I have truly felt the terror of a True Immortal.”

“Heavenly Resonance? The spiritual pressure was so intense I could barely move.”

“It was horrifying.”

As the immediate danger passed, thoughts turned to the future. 80% of the Northern Continent’s Nascent Soul cultivators had vanished. Which meant…

“Hem-hem.”

“Perhaps it’s time I return to my sect…”

“I must relay the news. The people will grieve.”

“Many will be waiting.”

“The sects that lost their Nascent Soul cultivators will face hard times.”

“They’ll rejoice if we lend our strength as the survivors.”

“Hoho.”

“They’ll surely welcome us with open arms.”

This signaled an upheaval in the Continent’s cultivation world. The cultivators feigned concern, not hiding their greed, revealing their intent to exploit the weakened sects. The mantra was clear: finders keepers.

Yet, despite this shared understanding, everyone remained until the end because…

“Hmm. It seems they won’t reveal themselves after all.”

“Ahem. Then… the spoils…”

“Hoho. A master who can defeat even a True Immortal wouldn’t be interested in such trinkets.”

As time stretched on without the main hero of the battle appearing, an unsettling atmosphere began to envelop the scene.

“Hmm. What should we do…?”

“Haha, indeed. It’s not like we can just leave the body here.”

“We should keep it as a reminder of the True Immortal’s terror.”

Everyone put on a polite front, but their thoughts were elsewhere—focused on the ink-black stake.

As long as I have that…

A treasure that can temporarily manifest the Upper Realm?

Ascension might not be just a dream.

The True Immortal’s treasure…!

Temptation loomed over forcibly taking control of the now-empty sects, yet it paled in comparison to the allure of the True Immortal’s treasure. After all, they had felt its power firsthand.

“Haha. It seems our benefactor is quite shy, judging by their reluctance to appear.”

“Come now! Shy, you say! Surely, they simply intend to yield it to us.”

“Hoho. Such an attack couldn’t have come without a price. They must have paid dearly.”

“Hmm. In that case…”

The cultivators eyed each other warily.

“Haha.”

“Hoho.”

“Ahem!”

Their greed, no longer suppressed by the True Immortal’s terror, began to rear its head. Of all things, a treasure related to Ascension was at stake. It was impossible to resist the temptation.

“Well yes… without our combined efforts, this result might not have been possible.”

“Would the attack have succeeded without us creating an opening?”

“Perhaps even the True Immortal had reached his limit. He’d been fighting non-stop since breaking the Great Seal.”

“Hohoho.”

But then…

“Huh? What bull are you all shitting?”

“!!”

“?!”

A frivolous voice shattered the peculiar tension in an instant. All the Nascent Soul cultivators turned their heads in unison.

Step- Step-

“Do you hear these fools talking?”

“Wheeze- Wheeze- It’s disgusting to breathe the same air as them…”

“Mm, is this it?”

“Your Majesty. Shall I, Milo, clean up those foolish people?”

“Haha. Itching for a fight, are we?”

“N-no, that’s not it…”

Four men and women approached nonchalantly, heading straight for the stake that had served as the medium for Heavenly Resonance.

“!!”

“…”

“…”

The Nascent Soul cultivators were momentarily taken aback. They had not been simply watching because they were fools; they knew that amidst the subtle tension, any rash move could spark a bloodbath over claiming the treasure. Thus, they had been seeking a compromise.

Yet these newcomers approached the stake as if that tension meant nothing.

“Hmm? How odd. Is it expensive?”

Hearing Karlstein’s frivolous tone, Maxien sternly rebuked him.

“It’s not as if the Galactic Empire is short on funds, is it? Whatever the case, such a tone is inappropriate for the Emperor of the Galactic Empire.”

Maxien had reverted to her strict demeanor, just as she had back in the Galactic Empire. Camilla chimed in as well.

“…Karlstein is a miser…”

“A miser… I’m doing all this to feed you lot—“

But one among them seemed completely at ease.

“Your Majesty, I daresay the Chancellor will like this. Oh. It’s quite solid.”

Milo slapped the stake with his muscular hand. His strength was such that even a seemingly light strike produced the sound of air being torn apart.

The Nascent Soul cultivators flinched involuntarily at Milo’s rough handling.

“Gracious… Is that any way to treat treasure…?”

“So reckless!”

“Mm.”

“Tsk.”

Karlstein tilted his head, responding with a puzzled look.

“Huh? What’s it to you guys? It’s mine anyway.”

“…”

“…”

The Nascent Soul cultivators fell speechless. If their suspicions were true, Karlstein was not wrong. Still… considering their cultivation realm, when had they ever heard such imprudent words? They could not even remember.

However, at the same time, the Nascent Soul cultivators could not help but realize that given the circumstances, the young man before them must have defeated the True Immortal. And he was probably…

The General Overseer of Plum Shadow Pavilion?

Indeed. Unbelievably, all signs pointed to him. But what was even more unbelievable was…

Core Formation…?

But how could the likes of a Core Formation cultivator achieve such a feat?

That confidence is definitely not bravado or exaggeration.

What could it be?

How…?

At mere Core Formation Stage?

The Spiritual Power emanating from the young man was unmistakably that of Core Formation.

Just then, a massive metal object slowly revealed itself from the sky behind the young man.

Vooom-

“…”

“…!”

“!!”

The Nascent Soul cultivators exchanged glances.

It must have been thanks to that object.

He did shoot something into the sky before coming here.

It appears to be extraordinary.

Well, Plum Shadow Pavilion has always produced bizarre things…

I surmise it is a rideable treasure, like a Flying Dharma Tool.

…And now he’s dismounted from the artifact.

Then…?

A deep emotion filled the eyes of the Nascent Soul cultivators.

Perhaps the True Immortal was at his very limits, and he merely landed the final blow out of luck…

Then the spoils of war…

The Nascent Soul cultivators gazed at the four with gleaming eyes. Meanwhile, Karlstein examined the stake from various angles.

“It seems to repel Spiritual Power. I wonder if it reacts differently to Ether?”

“Allow me to see it. I’ll give it a try.”

“Sure, Maxien. I’ll leave it to you.”

“Hmm. It’s peculiar, hard to explain in words.”

“…I want to try it too.”

“Here you go, Camilla.”

“Your Majesty, by the way…”

“Huh? What’s up?”

In contrast to Karlstein’s serenity, Milo’s expression gradually hardened.

“It seems these people haven’t come to their senses yet.”

“Mm?”

Only then did Karlstein look around and notice the strange atmosphere that had settled.

“Oh?”

But contrary to expectation, a crooked smile crept across his lips.

“Those looks sure do take me back.”

Their eyes gleamed with greed, like predators sizing up prey.

One of the Nascent Soul cultivators spoke up.

“Hmm. Shouldn’t the spoils of war be shared fairly among everyone?”

The others chimed in, one after another.

“True Immortal’s treasures belong to the entire cultivation world. They cannot be claimed by any one individual.”

“If we’re talking about merit, we who participated in the previous great bloodshed can’t be overlooked.”

“Hmm…. It seems too great a treasure for a Core Formation.”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm. I’m also curious about the artifact the General Overseer used. It wouldn’t hurt to share information for the future of the cultivation world.”

“Indeed. We never know when another True Immortal might emerge.”

Like hyenas poised to tear into prey, the cultivators were eager not only for the spoils but also for the massive battleship floating in the sky.

Milo burst into hearty laughter.

“Haha! They even look stupid.”

“…Yeah. More than Milo.”

“Wait, why me?!”

“Well, greed is a human instinct.”

“That’s just how desire works.”

“I’m not stupid! Hey! Answer me please!”

“More importantly… this is…”

“Mm.”

“…”

At that moment, the expressions of Karlstein, Maxien, and Camilla began to harden.

“Quite the persistent one, isn’t he?”

“I suppose it would be disappointing to end things like this.”

Karlstein surveyed the Nascent Soul cultivators, grinning.

“Alright then. Shall we make a concession?”

“Hehe. Good idea, Your Majesty.”

“…Let’s go back.”

“Alrighty then. Hey, you there!”

Karlstein pointed at the most stubborn-looking old man among them.

“The gall for a mere Core Formation to be so rude…”

The old man clicked his tongue.

“Yeah, you!”

“What? Are you talking to me?”

“Yeah. Handle the True Immortal or whatever yourself.”

“Say what?”

Karlstein turned around, taking the ink-black stake.

“Your Majesty. Your manner of speech seems too childish.”

“…Petty Karlstein.”

“Hm. I won’t help you this time, Your Majesty!”

“Why am I being picked on again…?”

Just as Karlstein hurried to leave…

Rumble- Boom-

A powerful vibration shook the entire ground, impossible to ignore.

Rumble-

A ghostly wail echoed from deep within the earth, and the entire ground began to turn red.

“I think we’d best hurry.”

“Mm….”

“…Impressive.”

“Your Majesty. You mustn’t forget we are currently using Avatars!”

“Hahaha. Who would’ve thought silly Milo would say something right for once!”

“Y-Your Majesty…!”

“Reminds me of old times. Hahaha.”

Karlstein’s laughter struck the Nascent Soul cultivators like a blow to the back of the head.