“This is a ring I bought from the Creation Pavilion last year…”
“These are medicinal herbs I gathered…”
“This is…”
Under Yin Huaichen’s warm, encouraging smile, the disciples from the various sects found themselves with little choice.
One after another, they reluctantly handed over their “ransom.”
Yin Huaichen’s smile grew brighter and brighter.
Completely ignoring the disdainful stares surrounding him, he happily accepted everyone’s “kindness and sincerity.”
The delighted grin on his face made him look exactly like a corrupt official gleefully accepting bribes.
“This is all the money I have.”
A man stepped forward, removed a small pouch of silver from his waist, and placed it before Yin Huaichen.
Yin Huaichen glanced up, giving him a careful once-over.
Then he calmly stood up and stepped closer.
Without warning, he reached into the man’s inner pocket.
The next second…
He pulled out another hidden pouch of silver.
He tossed it lightly in his hand before smiling cheerfully.
“You hid it somewhere so secret…”
“You must’ve forgotten about it.”
“I understand.”
“I completely understand.”
“…”
The man’s face instantly turned green as his hidden savings disappeared.
Forcing out a bitter smile, he gritted his teeth.
“Oh dear…”
“Look at my terrible memory.”
Damn it.
His eyes are way too sharp…
Wasn’t the Cangming Sword Sect supposed to uphold righteousness?
How had they produced someone like this?
He looked so obedient and honest…
Yet he was craftier than a rat.
“Just remember next time.”
Yin Huaichen accepted the silver with a smile.
“Next.”
The next person stepping forward was a broad-faced middle-aged man.
After fumbling around inside his pockets for a while, he finally seemed to steel himself.
Carefully shielding it from everyone else’s view, he secretly handed a porcelain bottle to Yin Huaichen.
Yin Huaichen accepted it and checked the item information.
Spring Terrace Miasma: Created primarily from the highly poisonous herb Ascending Spring Grass.
Upon dispersal, it releases a sweet fragrance resembling locust blossoms.
Anyone who inhales it will become overwhelmingly drowsy, as though overcome by the languid weariness of springtime… while simultaneously experiencing greatly heightened lust.
Yin Huaichen:
“…”
The middle-aged man deliberately looked away.
“I… picked it up along the road.”
“Our Noble Spirit Sect has always believed in returning lost property.”
“I was simply waiting until I could find its rightful owner.”
Yin Huaichen stared at the porcelain bottle before rolling his eyes.
Looking at those thick brows and honest-looking eyes…
Yet carrying something like this around…
How could he possibly be an upright man?
Still…
Setting aside the rather embarrassing side effect of greatly increasing lust…
The thing was actually fairly useful.
It could easily serve as a knockout poison for ambushing someone.
“Mhm.”
“I understand.”
“I understand.”
Yin Huaichen casually accepted the bottle before waving dismissively.
“Junior Brother…”
“Isn’t… this a little inappropriate?”
Li Mingrui watched Yin Huaichen happily sorting through his growing pile of “bribes,” his face full of concern.
He couldn’t help reminding him,
“Our Cangming Sword Sect is, after all, one of the righteous sects.”
“If word of this gets out…”
“Senior Brother.”
“You’re worrying too much.”
Yin Huaichen patted him reassuringly on the shoulder.
“I braved countless dangers, risked my life, infiltrated this prison, and rescued everyone.”
“Moved by gratitude…”
“They voluntarily presented me with gifts to express their thanks.”
“Isn’t that perfectly normal?”
As he spoke, his gaze slowly swept across everyone present.
“Wouldn’t you all agree?”
The prisoners were utterly stunned by his shamelessness.
[Your astonishing lack of shame has left everyone speechless. Thousand Mechanism City Reputation -20.]
“Y-Yes…”
“That’s right…”
“The young hero is absolutely correct.”
“We all gave them willingly.”
“Entirely willingly…”
“Um… Young Hero, may we leave now?”
The prisoners nodded repeatedly, eager to escape this wretched place as quickly as possible.
After everything Yin Huaichen had done, although he had ended up losing a net total of ten points of Thousand Mechanism City reputation, the harvest had been more than worthwhile. He had no intention of making things difficult for them any longer.
“You may go.”
Then he paused as though suddenly remembering something.
“One more thing.”
“Security outside Knifewind Stronghold is extremely tight right now. Hu Tianlu is personally leading patrols throughout the area.”
“You’d all better be careful.”
The strength of this group wasn’t particularly impressive. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have ended up captured by Knifewind Stronghold in the first place.
This was simply his final act of goodwill.
If they got themselves caught again after leaving…
He certainly wasn’t offering after-sales service.
Everyone readily agreed before quickly filing out of the prison.
“Junior Brother.”
Once everyone had left, Li Mingrui looked toward him.
“So… what do we do now?”
“Ah.”
“I almost forgot the important part.”
Only after organizing the items he had collected did Yin Huaichen remember why he had come here in the first place.
He reached into his backpack and took out the confidential letter Gu Xingxiu had entrusted to him.
“Martial Uncle Gu asked me to deliver this to you.”
Although he had managed to fleece quite a number of valuables from the disciples of the various sects, there wasn’t actually much of practical use.
Aside from some low-level herbs, ores, accessories, and a modest amount of silver…
The total value probably amounted to only around three hundred taels.
The only item that could truly be considered useful…
Was the bottle of Spring Terrace Miasma that could double as a knockout drug.
“A letter?”
Li Mingrui accepted it with a puzzled expression and carefully unfolded it.
Yin Huaichen had never exactly been an obedient young man.
When Gu Xingxiu had originally handed him the confidential letter, he had naturally tried sneaking a look inside.
Unfortunately…
As a special quest item, it couldn’t be opened by anyone except its intended recipient.
Watching Li Mingrui finish reading it with his own eyes, Yin Huaichen immediately asked,
“What does it say?”
Li Mingrui seemed somewhat hesitant about whether he should reveal its contents.
After a brief silence, he finally spoke.
“It’s about Knifewind Stronghold.”
“Knifewind Stronghold?”
“Mm.”
Li Mingrui nodded.
“Recently, baleful energy has been spreading outside Thousand Mechanism City, affecting countless demonic beasts.”
“Because of this, the major sects of Thousand Mechanism City formed a joint investigation team.”
“This confidential letter concerns that investigation.”
Yin Huaichen’s interest was immediately piqued.
“What did they find?”
“The investigation determined that the source of the spreading baleful energy…”
“…is Knifewind Stronghold.”
Li Mingrui continued,
“The predecessor of Knifewind Stronghold was originally the Bronze Armor Hall.”
“Helian Zheng went berserk after cultivating by borrowing baleful energy, which eventually led to the sect being besieged…”
Yin Huaichen had already heard Mu Yu explain this part.
He interrupted before Li Mingrui could continue his lengthy explanation.
“What were the investigation’s conclusions?”
“And Senior Brother, you were originally over at the Sand Sea.”
“How did you end up getting captured?”
“The Sand Sea?”
Li Mingrui paused before continuing.
“According to the investigation, Knifewind Stronghold appears to have received assistance from the Purification Sect.”
“Several months ago, Helian Zheng began secretly conducting ritual arts while in secluded cultivation.”
“Those rituals require flesh and blood as catalysts.”
“That’s why Knifewind Stronghold has become increasingly active these past few months, secretly kidnapping disciples from the major sects.”
“If you hadn’t arrived, Junior Brother…”
“…I’m afraid I would have been sent into the ritual itself as nourishment.”
Yin Huaichen nodded.
Everything described in the letter matched his own deductions remarkably well.
“So Helian Zheng hid here all these years to avoid Thousand Mechanism City’s pursuit.”
“Why suddenly make such a huge move now?”
“And this ritual…”
“…what exactly is it for?”
“The letter doesn’t say.”
Li Mingrui shook his head.
“However, during the days I’ve spent imprisoned here, I gathered some information from conversations with the other captured disciples.”
“Based on that…”
“I’ve made a bold guess.”
“Helian Zheng’s reason for conducting this ritual…”
“…is the relics of Xuanji Zi.”
“Xuanji Zi?”
Yin Huaichen’s eyes widened the instant he heard the name.
“You mean that Xuanji Zi?”
“‘Holding barren bones to refine jade dust, illuminating ten thousand years beneath the eternal night lamp’, that Xuanji Zi?”
Li Mingrui looked at him in surprise.
“I never expected someone your age to know the legend of Xuanji Zi.”
Know him?
Yin Huaichen knew him far too well.
The history of the Four Continents stretched back countless ages.
Like the rising and setting of the sun and moon, every generation had produced extraordinary individuals, leaving behind innumerable legends throughout the martial world.
During the era in which Yin Huaichen had lived…
The most renowned figures were the Thirteen Ninth-Rank Grandmasters.
Each was an existence comparable to an immortal walking the mortal world.
The Three Heavenly Dao Sages.
The Four Masters of Warfare.
The Twin Fiends of the Netherworld.
The Three Hidden Wanderers.
And the Lone Prison Sovereign.
Yin Huaichen’s own master, Yin Yuan…
Had been one of the Three Hidden Wanderers of Penglai Continent.
His title,
Master of the Formless Palm.
As for Xuanji Zi…
He was one of the Three Heavenly Dao Sages of Canglan Continent.
His title,
Cloud Palace Ferryman of Compassion.
The reason Yin Huaichen knew Xuanji Zi so well…
Was because Xuanji Zi and Yin Yuan had been close friends for many years.
Although they belonged to different continents, Xuanji Zi would frequently visit the Impermanence Palace.
In Yin Huaichen’s memories…
Although Xuanji Zi was already over sixty years old…
His appearance remained that of an elegant, refined young scholar.
He possessed a gentle temperament and an easygoing personality.
Every single time he visited the Impermanence Palace…
He would bring delicious pastries from outside for Yin Huaichen.
Yin Yuan always considered those sweets to be nothing more than unhealthy junk food and ordinarily refused to let Yin Huaichen touch them.
Yet whenever Xuanji Zi came to visit…
He would simply pretend not to notice.
As a result, while living at the Impermanence Palace, Yin Huaichen had always eagerly looked forward to Xuanji Zi’s visits.
Because that meant…
He would get to eat tasty desserts.
The people of the Impermanence Palace had never cared much for formal etiquette.
Yin Huaichen always addressed him directly as “Xuanji Zi.”
Far from taking offense, Xuanji Zi merely smiled warmly every time.
Only Yin Yuan would sit nearby with a stern face, scolding him for being disrespectful.
Yin Huaichen possessed astonishing talent.
But he had started cultivating rather late and was still quite young.
Even before being transported into this world…
He had reached only the Third Rank.
For someone his age, attaining the Third Rank anywhere across the Four Continents was already enough to be considered a peerless genius.
As Ninth-Rank Grandmasters, the conversations between Yin Yuan and Xuanji Zi always revolved around matters affecting the entire world.
Yin Huaichen neither understood nor cared about such discussions.
While the two elders drank tea and talked…
He would simply head off to practice his martial arts.
At the same time, he often fantasized about the day he would inherit the Impermanence Palace…
Then roam freely across the martial world…
Fighting powerful opponents wherever he pleased.
“Junior Brother?”
Seeing Yin Huaichen suddenly lose himself in thought, Li Mingrui waved a hand before his face.
“What is it?”
“Oh.”
“Nothing.”
Yin Huaichen snapped back to reality.
“Please continue, Senior Brother.”
“Before Xuanji Zi passed away…”
“He lived in seclusion within Thousand Mechanism City for a period of time.”
Li Mingrui continued,
“Most people therefore believe that his final resting place also lies somewhere within Thousand Mechanism City.”
“For many years, wave after wave of people have come here searching for his relics.”
“Unfortunately…”
“No one ever found anything.”
“Eventually, people simply gave up.”
“So that’s how it is.”
Yin Huaichen suddenly understood.
If Knifewind Stronghold truly sought Xuanji Zi’s relics…
Then all of their recent activity made perfect sense.
As one of the greatest Ninth-Rank Grandmasters in history…
Countless people coveted what he had left behind.
Setting aside his various divine treasures…
His Supreme Profound Sacred Qi alone was enough to drive the entire martial world into madness.
…Supreme Profound Sacred Qi?
The thought stirred something inside Yin Huaichen.
Supreme Profound Sacred Qi was one of the Seven Supreme Cultivation Arts.
Its level stood on equal footing with the Impermanence Palace’s Formless Everchanging Heart Art.
Now that he knew Xuanji Zi’s resting place was somewhere within Thousand Mechanism City…
There was no way he could simply stand aside and allow Knifewind Stronghold to seize those relics.
From a public standpoint…
Whenever chaos engulfed the martial world, it was the duty of the Impermanence Palace to enter the world.
Its sacred mission had always been to preserve the greatest martial arts under heaven, preventing them from disappearing amidst turbulent times.
In many ways…
It functioned as a living museum.
That was precisely why the Impermanence Palace had earned its reputation as the Holy Land of Martial Arts.
As its future successor…
Yin Huaichen naturally intended to uphold that responsibility.
As for personal reasons…
Well…
He happened to be in desperate need of a cultivation technique.
Although the Formless Everchanging Heart Art was also a peerless cultivation art…
It had come with him through reincarnation.
The game system did not officially recognize it.
While he could still circulate its energy…
It provided absolutely no attribute bonuses whatsoever.
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Yin Huaichen pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Senior Brother.”
“Hm?”
“This Knifewind Stronghold has committed countless atrocities.”
“They’re spreading baleful energy everywhere.”
“They’re utterly despicable.”
Yin Huaichen’s eyes shone with unwavering righteousness.
His entire body practically radiated an aura of uncompromising justice.
“We absolutely must stop them.”
Li Mingrui nodded approvingly.
“Junior Brother, it’s wonderful that you possess such awareness.”
“As representatives of the righteous path, our Cangming Sword Sect should indeed embrace such ideals. Only then can we, “
Yin Huaichen immediately felt a headache coming on.
Quickly interrupting him, he said,
“Knifewind Stronghold is currently in complete chaos.”
“This is the perfect opportunity to infiltrate further and gather additional intelligence.”
“We?”
Li Mingrui frowned.
“That’s inappropriate.”
“Our highest priority should be reporting everything here back to Thousand Mechanism City.”
“Then we’ll gather every righteous sect and…”
No, absolutely not.
If all the righteous sects from Thousand Mechanism City showed up…
What would be left for him?
Yin Huaichen understood the situation perfectly.
The moment news of Xuanji Zi’s relics spread…
Every faction would scramble to seize them.
Those righteous sects might usually appear detached from worldly desires…
But faced with a supreme cultivation art like Supreme Profound Sacred Qi…
No one could remain unmoved.
Thousand Mechanism City might not be particularly large…
But it still housed genuine experts.
If Fifth-Rank and Sixth-Rank masters arrived…
They would feast on the meat while Yin Huaichen wouldn’t even get a sip of the soup.
“You don’t understand, Senior Brother.”
Yin Huaichen reached out and grabbed Li Mingrui’s hand, speaking with complete sincerity.
“Everything about Xuanji Zi’s relics is still only your speculation.”
“We don’t have any concrete evidence.”
“Even if the Cangming Sword Sect believes us…”
“Do you really think the other sects of Thousand Mechanism City will?”
“They might even accuse us of spreading baseless rumors and disrupting morale.”
Li Mingrui paused.
He sank into deep thought.
“Helian Zheng is guarding Knifewind Stronghold.”
“There may even be hidden experts secretly supporting him from the shadows.”
“If only our Cangming Sword Sect confronts them…”
“I’m afraid we won’t stand much chance.”
“If our sect suffers heavy losses…”
“And someone else takes advantage of our weakened state…”
“Wouldn’t that be disastrous?”
Yin Huaichen continued persuading him.
“The major sects of Thousand Mechanism City aren’t exactly united either.”
“They frequently have conflicts among themselves.”
“If we want them to truly cooperate…”
“We first need stronger evidence from inside Knifewind Stronghold.”
“Once we have that…”
“Everyone can join forces.”
“Only then can we guarantee success…”
“…and eradicate the problem completely.”
Appealing to both reason and emotion…
Yin Huaichen finally managed to convince him.
“Junior Brother, you’re right.”
Li Mingrui nodded earnestly.
“You’ve considered things much more carefully than I did.”
“I failed to think things through.”
“It’s all for the sake of the sect.”
Yin Huaichen smiled as he patted Li Mingrui’s shoulder.
“Besides…”
“We Trailblazers are the Favored of Heaven.”
“Even if we die, we can simply come back to life.”
“That makes us perfect for dangerous reconnaissance missions.”
“So there’s nothing to worry about.”
To justify the existence of players within Eternal Universe, the Trailblazers had been established in the game’s lore as a unique race known as the Favored of Heaven, blessed with the ability to return from death.
Only then did Li Mingrui finally relax.
“So the rumors were true.”
“Every Trailblazer truly possesses the courage to risk life and death for adventure.”
After a brief pause, another thought suddenly occurred to him.
“Junior Brother…”
“You can come back to life after dying.”
“…What about me?”
Yin Huaichen choked for a moment.
Then, wearing an exceptionally sincere expression, he replied,
“Senior Brother is blessed by fortune.”
“I’m sure nothing will happen to you.”
Li Mingrui:
“…”
“So… that’s just a heartfelt blessing?”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
This translator has been caught working for free again. Scandalous.
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Remember to keep a positive moodChapter 2 · Have fun playing the gameChapter 3 · Skill completion rateChapter 4 · Strange and malevolent creatures roam outside the cityChapter 5 · 90% complete!Chapter 6 · Serving the sect is my dutyChapter 7 · First meetingChapter 8 · Fang LecangChapter 9 · A prestigious and righteous sect!Chapter 10 · Kill Chi BantuChapter 11 · Spoils of warChapter 12 · We’ve made a fortune!Chapter 13 · Thunder and fire extinguish goldChapter 14 · You found it?Chapter 15 · The so called degree of freedomChapter 16 · The secrets of life and deathChapter 17 · A minor leader of the first rank.Chapter 18 · What kind of luck do you have?Chapter 19 · Let’s Do itChapter 20 · The BOSS escapedChapter 21 · “A wound to the heart is also a wound.”Chapter 22 · Good people are always blessed.Chapter 23 · The Old Man of the Valley of BonesChapter 24 · It’s me, young master!Chapter 25 · Take it slow and steadyChapter 26 · The older they get, the stingier they becomeChapter 27 · You know this person tooChapter 28 · I saw Wei Wanzhou againChapter 29 · You’d better keep having this kind of luckChapter 30 · “Password lock” crackedChapter 31 · We’ve come to punish you!Chapter 32 · A boorish country bumpkin who knows no manners.Chapter 33 · You have crossed the lineChapter 34 · Now that we’re here, do you think we can leave?Chapter 35 · A trivial skillChapter 36 · Actually, I was just kiddingChapter 37 · Upgrade mission complete, rating: SSS!Chapter 38 · AwardChapter 39 · I have always been law-abiding and law-abidingChapter 40 · Are you coming back for dinner tonight?Chapter 41 · Purple Lightning Square Seal.Chapter 42 · A money-grubberChapter 43 · BetChapter 44 · Four Continents Chamber of CommerceChapter 45 · This was my third meeting with Wei WanzhouChapter 46 · Oh, you want to hit on me.Chapter 47 · The angry drizzle has stoppedChapter 48 · Thunder SpearChapter 49 · “Are you a devil?”Chapter 50 · The Impermanent Lord!?Chapter 51 · Loot everywhere..Chapter 52 · His identity remains a mystery.Chapter 53 · Why not show yourself?Chapter 54 · He confronted Li Mingrui.Chapter 55 · Auction