Chapter 454 429: Lu Bell and the Celestial Pride List

A figure tumbled out of the swirling snow by the banks of the Jing River.

As soon as they hit the ground, they flopped onto the earth like a dead fish.

At the same time, the Heaven and Earth Scale received a wisp of energy: [Human Desires. Fear, resentment, and cunning from a Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator. Three jin and nine taels. Exchangeable.]

Song Ciwan's steps faltered slightly. From about thirty feet away, she sized up the person on the ground.

After a moment of observation, two words escaped her lips: "It's you?"

Who was it?

It turned out that the person on the ground was none other than the Steward Luo she had encountered earlier at the Seven Treasures Tower.

Although Steward Luo wore a grotesque bronze mask that seemed to have the ability to conceal his aura, a flicker in Song Ciwan's left Eye of Cyan Nether was all it took for her to keenly perceive his unique presence.

This so-called unique presence didn't mean the person himself was special, but rather that every individual… possessed their own distinct aura.

To be more precise, every person possessed their own unique energy field.

Just as no two leaves in the world are identical, neither are any two people completely the same.

In this Mythical Realm, there were thousands of Transformation Techniques, and Cultivators had long known not to rely solely on appearances to identify someone.

Aura, spiritual charm, energy field, personal markings, and so on—these were the true indicators of a person's identity.

Song Ciwan's Fetal Transformation and Shape-shifting, however, was a Celestial Spirit Daoist Skill. Its greatest strength was that casting it not only changed one's physical form but also altered unique characteristics like aura, spiritual charm, energy field, and personal markings all at once!

Coupled with the endless simulations of the Sutra of Sitting and Forgetting, each of Song Ciwan's personas could become a fully realized, living individual.

Once she cultivated Fetal Transformation and Shape-shifting to the Perfection Realm of utter Mastery, who in the world could possibly see through her true identity?

She wouldn't dare claim this ability was one-of-a-kind, but it was certainly extremely rare. This Steward Luo before her, on the other hand, was far too arrogant, thinking he could hide his true identity with nothing more than a Magical Treasure-level Bronze Mask.

He had no idea he was facing the master of all masters when it came to disguise!

Recognizing Steward Luo, Song Ciwan immediately understood why he was here. It was obvious: she had flaunted her wealth in the Seven Treasures Tower and attracted a greedy wolf.

Song Ciwan was, in fact, already mentally prepared for this.

The Cultivation Realm was no utopia; attracting predators by carrying gold through the market was hardly a surprise.

What was surprising was that only Steward Luo had come. That was what truly caught Song Ciwan off guard.

She had even been prepared to face a whole crowd of enemies. Her plan had been to annihilate them all and see if Lu Bell could make it onto the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List after the battle.

But unexpectedly, her opponents hadn't shown up. Song Ciwan let out a soft chuckle and said to Steward Luo on the ground, "It seems this was your own personal operation. Your colleagues, on the other hand, seem to know how to follow the rules. It appears the Seven Treasures Tower is a legitimate business after all."

Sprawled on the ground, Steward Luo remained motionless, only managing to force out a few words. "What... are you saying? I... don't... understand."

Song Ciwan said, "Steward Luo, there's no need to pretend. I saw through you at a glance. What's the point of this disguise?"

Steward Luo was so choked with anger he couldn't breathe. The Heaven and Earth Scale received another wisp of energy from him: [Human Desires. Vexation, resentment, and deceit from a Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator. One jin and two taels. Exchangeable.]

Song Ciwan silently glanced at the new wisp of energy the Heaven and Earth Scale had collected. 'Looks like I can get a good haul of human desires from Steward Luo,' she thought.

It was rare to find a Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator as impatient as him.

Most Cultivators who reached the Divinity Transformation Realm had great difficulty letting their emotions show. Unless it was a matter of life and death, they could usually suppress any emotional fluctuations.

Of course, Steward Luo was currently in a life-or-death situation, so his lack of composure wasn't entirely his fault.

It was just that his Cultivation was neither too high nor too low, his emotions were just agitated enough, and he had walked right into the line of fire.

Song Ciwan felt it would be a disservice not to harvest him, considering the "deep friendship" he'd shown by delivering himself right to her doorstep!

Steward Luo said nothing, so Song Ciwan continued in an unhurried tone, "I'm a bit curious. What made you think you could come and ambush me all by yourself? Our Cultivation Realms are comparable—you're at the Divinity Transformation Stage, and I'm at the Innate Third Transformation. Why would you dare come alone? Weren't you afraid I'd turn the tables on you? From what I can tell, you're no beginner..."

Steward Luo: ...

Steward Luo's chest heaved violently, like a dying fish.

He could no longer control his emotions and rasped, "I've killed young prodigies from the Celestial Pride List before, even ones ranked in the eighties! If it weren't for my age, why couldn't my name be on that list?"

[Human Desires. Fury, jealousy, and resentment from a Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator. Two jin and six taels. Exchangeable.]

'So, what Steward Luo said was true!'

Song Ciwan couldn't help but ask in surprise, "You've killed someone from the Celestial Pride List?"

Steward Luo said hatefully, "To hunt geese all day only to be pecked in the eye by one! My luck ran out, and I misjudged your strength. Young man, my skills were inferior. I'm willing to accept my loss. Now, you're strong and I'm weak. Kill me or cut me up, do as you please! But there's no need for verbal humiliation!

"I, Luo, was a hero in my own right! If you disrespect your elders like this, be careful that one day your luck doesn't turn, bringing harm to others and yourself!"

His speech made Song Ciwan laugh.

A strange and marvelous feeling stirred within her as she finally understood Steward Luo's logic.

'It wasn't that Steward Luo was too weak, but that I'm too strong!'

Why had Steward Luo dared to tail Lu Bell and ambush him alone? Because he had killed a Celestial Pride from the Celestial Pride List before!

Although Steward Luo wasn't a Celestial Pride himself, it was only because he was too old.

He must have made a habit of robbing and killing, and his frequent success had bred arrogance. He saw that Lu Bell was young, and even though he had the strength of the Innate Third Transformation, this young man hadn't even made it onto the Celestial Pride List—

—what was there that he, Luo, wouldn't dare to kill!

Song Ciwan sneered. "You're just a bully who preys on the weak and fears the strong. I imagine you were only able to kill a Celestial Pride on the list because, one, their rank was low, and two... most of this strength of yours was gained through robbery, wasn't it?

"A petty thief, using the convenience of your position to rob and kill to enrich yourself. Someone like you dares to shamelessly call himself a hero? You're an insult to the very word!"

At this, she added, "So what if I'm bullying you today? I am strong, and you are weak. It is you I am bullying!"

As she spoke, Song Ciwan walked slowly, gradually closing the distance to Steward Luo's side.

On the ground, Steward Luo's eyes widened hatefully under his Bronze Mask. His chest heaved, and the Heaven and Earth Scale once again received a wisp of human desires:

[Human Desires. Tension, fury, and anticipation from a Divinity Transformation Stage Cultivator. Three jin and nine taels. Exchangeable.]