Chapter 504 - 497: You Are Qualified to Be My Opponent

Although Du Youqian now had a general idea of how powerful Jing Ruoxu and Master Wu Yi were, he remained completely unfazed.

No matter how powerful a Cultivator was, how could they possibly withstand the erosion of time?

In the face of time, All Living Beings Are Equal.

’Let’s just see whose lifespan is longer—yours or mine.’

Besides, though Du Youqian had yet to start cultivating the "Withering and Flourishing Art" Secret Technique, his Top Grade Cosmic Spirit Root meant that reducing the lifespan of a Cultivator in the same Great Realm only cost him at a 1:2 ratio.

To shave 200 years off a person’s life, he would only have to pay the price of 100 years of his own.

So, even if Jing Ruoxu and Master Wu Yi’s Cultivation was higher, their Divine Sense stronger, and their Magical Combat skills more superb, Du Youqian wasn’t the least bit afraid.

He would just keep shaving them down.

Just then, Du Youqian sensed Little Wukong’s aura approach Jie Yu and that Master Wu Yi.

Soon, Little Wukong’s aura departed again, returning to Zhuge Qing’s side.

Meanwhile, Du Youqian’s Jade Slip, and the Short-range Communication Treasure attached to it, had been stealthily put away by Jie Yu.

He held the other end of the Treasure and used his Divine Sense to listen in on the conversation between Master Wu Yi and Jie Yu.

"Hm?" Du Youqian’s brow furrowed.

’What’s wrong with Jie Yu?’

’Listening to Master Wu Yi, it sounds like Jie Yu’s soul has been injured somehow?’

’She needs a Tier Five Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object that can stabilize the soul to save her life. Otherwise, she’s at risk of her soul completely dissipating.’

’Could it be that when she teleported out of Momenan, there was a problem with the teleportation because she exceeded the limitations of the Foundation Establishment Realm?’

’This is tricky.’

’Every Tier Five Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object capable of stabilizing a soul is priceless, on par with a Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object. The key issue is that they’re so rare you couldn’t buy one even if you had the money.’

’From what Master Wu Yi is saying, he wants Jie Yu to cooperate fully with him in contending for the Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object. In return, Master Wu Yi’s lineage will gift her a Tier Five Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object to stabilize her soul as a reward.’

’Now this is a headache.’

Du Youqian was also dead set on acquiring that Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object.

He wondered if he could capture Master Wu Yi and exchange the Master’s life for that Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object.

But Du Youqian quickly came to his senses.

’This isn’t Momenan anymore.’

’And I’m not a real True Inheritor of the Holy Blood Sect.’

’If I dared to capture Master Wu Yi, I would face a relentless, life-or-death pursuit from the Taihe Sect in the future.’

Du Youqian wasn’t afraid of offending people.

But he really didn’t want to offend one of the First-class Sects.

He knew all too well how terrifying the hidden depths of these sects were.

They couldn’t possibly be summarized by the Nascent Soul Masters and Divinity Transformation True Monarchs one saw on the surface.

’So, I absolutely cannot kill or capture Master Wu Yi. Not even if I switch my ’alt’ and transform into Qingxu Tongxuan Guanmiao True Monarch.’

’I’m only Tier Four right now. I can probably fool a Tier Five Divinity Transformation True Monarch and interfere with a Tier Six Divination Art.’

’But if I encountered a Void Step True Monarch, or a Tier Seven Divination Art, they could pierce through my carefully constructed defenses like they were paper and see my deepest secrets.’

For the moment, Du Youqian had no foolproof plan. His only option was to try to work something out through Zhuge Qing, but whether Zhuge Qing would be willing to make an enemy of a Major Sect True Inheritance like Master Wu Yi was another question entirely.

’In any case, I’ll just have to play it by ear until the final moment.’

Ye Rui Master was unaware of the rapid shifts in Du Youqian’s thoughts during this short time.

She was still discussing the plan.

"Inside this cave-dwelling of Fairy Hengguan, aside from the herb garden, there shouldn’t be any powerful Restrictions or mechanisms anywhere else. We can charge straight for her living quarters. I heard there might be a few Tier Five Puppets in the cave, but after so many years, they’ve surely become immobile. The exterior of the cave is protected by a Tier Six Array, but again, after tens of thousands of years, even if the Tier Six Array hasn’t failed completely, it will have long since degraded in grade, its operations sluggish. It’s not worth worrying about."

Du Youqian said, "Then we only need to consider how to deal with the other Cultivators. The Transformed Great Demons should head to the herb garden and won’t compete with us for the Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object."

At this point, he feigned indignation and said, "Tell me, Sister, that Master Wu Yi has the Taihe Sect backing him. Why does he still need to come and fight with us for the chance at Divinity Transformation? Has the Taihe Sect fallen on such hard times that they can’t even guarantee the provisions for their own True Inheritors?"

Ye Rui Master let out a laugh. "You Holy Blood Sect types really take every chance you get to mock the Taihe Sect. It’s been like this for tens of thousands of years. If you’re going to question why Master Wu Yi is here competing for the Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object, well, you’re a True Inheritor of the Holy Blood Sect yourself. I don’t see you being the bigger person and giving up the competition."

Du Youqian felt a bit awkward. For a moment, he’d forgotten his own persona...

’In Ye Rui Master’s eyes, I’m supposed to be a genius disciple of the Holy Blood Sect.’

’Even though I’ve revealed my ability to change my appearance and even my aura.’

’But Ye Rui Master is still convinced I’m a True Inheritor of the Holy Blood Sect.’

’That’s because, in her eyes, only a True Inheritor from the Holy Blood Sect or the Taihe Sect could possess such Mighty Powers at such a young age.’

An idea suddenly struck Du Youqian. "Sister, what if I disguise myself as a True Disciple of the Zhongxuan Sect and pretend to be at odds with you? Then, at the critical moment, we could coordinate from both inside and out to eliminate the other competitors. Wouldn’t that be easier?"

Ye Rui Master’s lovely eyes lit up. "You can even imitate a disciple of the Zhongxuan Sect?"

In the Human World, the Zhongxuan Sect was also a powerful sect within the Profound Sects Orthodox Camp, second only in standing to the Taihe and Holy Blood Sects.

Du Youqian gave a sly smile. "Of course. Who knows, maybe this ’Holy Blood Sect True Inheritor’ persona is just an imitation too. Maybe I’m actually a True Inheritor from the Taihe Sect."

Ye Rui Master laughed. "With a personality like yours, if you were a True Inheritor of the Taihe Sect, you would’ve been slapped to death by one of their Emperors long ago."

She didn’t dare say a name, lest an Emperor from the Taihe Sect sense it.

Du Youqian merely smiled without a word. In an instant, his aura changed, perfectly mimicking the aura and flow of the Zhongxuan Sect’s Cultivation Technique, the Shangqing Purple Qi Divine Pill Creation Technique.

It was an even better imitation than his Holy Blood Sect disciple persona.

This was because he had genuinely cultivated the Shangqing Purple Qi Divine Pill Creation Technique all the way to the Golden Core Realm and was intimately familiar with it.

In contrast, his grasp of the aura and flow of the Crimson Scripture of Profound Mystery and Spiritual Mechanism was based on imitation and guesswork.

Ye Rui Master observed him carefully for a moment, then nodded in admiration. "That could absolutely pass for the real thing. Alright, little brother, from now on, you’re with the Zhongxuan Sect."

"Sister, you are a Demoness from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect! As your brother, I must draw a clear line between us. The Great Dao is wide enough for us to walk our separate paths! Sister, take care of yourself. Farewell!" Du Youqian declared with an air of righteous indignation, then turned from Ye Rui Master and swaggered towards Jing Ruoxu. As he walked, his appearance changed, transforming into the likeness of Ximen Chuixue.

Ye Rui Master sent a message via Divine Sense: "The cave-dwelling is about to open. It should be within the next hour. Be careful not to miss it."

"Don’t worry."

~~~~~~~~

As for Du Youqian, he walked up to Jing Ruoxu and stopped at a distance of four zhang and one cun.

He keenly sensed that if he moved forward even one more cun, he would be met with a merciless strike.

Of course, Du Youqian wasn’t afraid of Jing Ruoxu, but he hadn’t come over to pick a fight and naturally didn’t want to provoke a conflict.

With a casual smile, he offered a relaxed salute. "Loose Cultivator Ximen Chuixue. It is a pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist Ruoxu."

Jing Ruoxu was a slender, middle-aged man with a handsome goatee. His eyes shone with a divine light, yet they did not seem sharp.

He was like a Divine Sword hidden in its scabbard; people could not sense any threat from him.

Only those of similar Cultivation and ability could sense the peerless Sword Intent within the Sword Scabbard.

This man had actually cultivated the Celestial Dao Sword and the Heartless Sword simultaneously, plus a third Sword Intent that Du Youqian was not familiar with, and had reached an extremely high level of attainment in all of them.

That Sword Intent seemed a cut above Du Youqian’s own.

Truly worthy of a True Inheritor from the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion.

Judging by his bone age, he should be less than five hundred years old. Someone with insufficient aptitude could practice the sword for five thousand years, starting from inside the womb, and still not reach his level.

Of course, though his Sword Intent was a bit stronger, if Du Youqian were to fight him in a life-and-death battle using only Swordsmanship, with no other tricks, Jing Ruoxu would still be the one to die.

This was because the Blood Slaughter Sword Intent was simply too perfect for killing.

It could defeat him at his own greatest strength.

Jing Ruoxu slowly raised his head, almost like a robot. The speed of his movement seemed to have been precisely calibrated, maintaining the same velocity and angle throughout.

Then his gaze fell upon Du Youqian, and for a moment, a flicker of motion disturbed the placid wells of his eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Ximen, observing your aura, you seem to be a brilliant disciple of the Zhongxuan Sect. But when did the Zhongxuan Sect ever produce an outstanding talent like you, with such superb Swordsmanship? One’s appearance can be disguised, but this Sword Intent of yours... I am certain the Zhongxuan Sect could never have a Swordsman like you."

Du Youqian said with a smile, "I am but a humble Loose Cultivator, not a disciple of the Zhongxuan Sect."

But the more he said this, the more convinced Jing Ruoxu became that he was a secret weapon hidden by the Zhongxuan Sect, usually kept from public view.

But now, with the Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object up for grabs, they couldn’t resist bringing him out.

"What business does Fellow Daoist Ximen have with me?"

Du Youqian gave a slight smile. "There are quite a few formidable figures competing for the Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object this time. There’s a True Inheritor from the Taihe Sect, a True Inheritor from the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentments Sect, and perhaps some other experts with hidden identities and auras. Though Fellow Daoist Jing is powerful, even one sword is no match for four hands."

Jing Ruoxu’s eyes gleamed. "Fellow Daoist Ximen, are you proposing we join forces?"

Du Youqian nodded. "I wonder, am I qualified to join forces with you, Fellow Daoist?"

Jing Ruoxu studied him for a long moment before speaking. "You are qualified to be my opponent. As for joining forces, there’s no need. I came to this cave-dwelling only to hone my Swordsmanship. I have no designs on the Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object."

Du Youqian laughed heartily. "Isn’t that perfect! Our objectives don’t conflict, which is all the more reason to work together."