Chapter 49: Shortcut

Feng Hanxiao and Qin Yuzhou stood there, exchanging glances but ultimately saying nothing.

Thus, the crimes of the Hammer Rock Sect were determined in this manner. The elders denounced Hammer Rock, while Xuantian Sect exerted relentless pressure.

Min Chengjun’s fierce retaliation plunged Hammer Rock Sect into days of unbearable hardship.

The sect leader, in a panic, ordered his disciples to search for any trace of Elder Chuiyun and his companions. He had never imagined that these two would act on their own and ambush Xuantian Sect’s airship.

To attempt an assassination on disciples from Xuantian Sect who were entering Spirit Valley—this was courting death itself.

“Report!”

Just as he was struggling to understand why those two had conspired to launch the ambush, disciples arrived with news. “Sect Master, Senior Brother Sui and two junior brothers’ bodies have been found. Elder Chuiyun’s whereabouts remain unknown.”

“Any discoveries?” Sui Jinghai looked sternly at the reporting disciple, inwardly hoping for some clue, yet also dreading confirmation of the worst.

The disciple hesitated as he glanced up at Sect Master Sui, then replied, “Senior Brother Sui died from Elder Chuiyun’s Heaven-Shaking Hammer. The injuries on the two disciples resemble Min Chengjun’s swordplay. The surrounding traces indicate there was indeed a fierce battle.”

Hearing this, Sui Jinghai clung to hope, praying that the evidence of battle was merely between Chuiyun and Sui Yanfang, so it could be explained as internal strife.

But the disciple gave him no respite. “From the traces, it looks very much like Min Chengjun fought Elder Chuiyun.”

At a certain level of cultivation, signature techniques became recognizable. Min Chengjun, as the next leader of Xuantian Sect and a masterful swordsman, was not someone easily mistaken.

Furious, Sui Jinghai slammed the table, shattering the fine wood to splinters.

He slumped in his seat, exclaiming, “Damn Chuiyun, he’ll be the ruin of our entire sect. If he wished to die, why couldn’t he do it quietly—why provoke Xuantian Sect? Does he think Min Chengjun is someone he can afford to offend?”

No matter how enraged he was, the reality could not be changed.

“Prepare—arrange for the most talented disciples in the sect to be safeguarded. If the worst should come to pass, we must preserve them.” Only by protecting these younger disciples did Hammer Rock Sect have any hope for the future.

“And find out where Chuiyun has gone.” Of the four, only Chuiyun’s life token still glowed. They could only hope his reappearance might turn their fortunes.

“Yes, Sect Master.” The disciple bowed respectfully and went to make arrangements. Sui Jinghai, meanwhile, sat in silence, as if the weight of years had suddenly bowed his back, his entire being steeped in dejection.

Xuantian Sect, Main Peak

“Master, that’s how it happened,” Min Chengjun reported, his demeanor suddenly grave. “I suspect Chuiyun’s attempt to capture Ah Jiu and Senior Brother may be connected to all this.”

Qi Shuoyuan was silent for a long moment. “There is such a possibility.”

He then turned to Ji Jiuxuan, who was quietly seated beside him. “Ah Jiu, for your safety, will you remain within the sect for the time being?”

Given the current uncertainty, the sect was the safest place for her.

“Of course,” Ji Jiuxuan replied obediently, nibbling on a pastry. The recent events had made her keenly aware of her own weakness—she needed to grow stronger.

Moreover, this incident had clearly targeted her. Peace was likely a thing of the past.

“System, is there any way for me to quickly become stronger? For example, for someone at the Qi Refining stage to defeat a Nascent Soul cultivator.”

Such an outrageous notion, yet the system gave it serious thought. “It’s not impossible, but there is a price.”

Ji Jiuxuan, having read many cultivation novels in her past life, was prone to wild ideas. She dared ask, never expecting the system would dare to answer.

Her eyes brightened. “Really?”

But recalling the mention of a ‘price,’ she asked seriously, “What is the price?”

To cross so many realms, the price was surely steep.

“There are two methods. First, you can strengthen your body and focus on the path of physical cultivation—but the hardships will be immense.”

At these words, Ji Jiuxuan immediately thought of Senior Sister Meng Jiao. “Like Senior Sister Meng Jiao?”

“No, your form won’t change as hers did, but the pain will be hundreds of times worse,” the system warned, then added, “This method is only effective in close combat, making it hard for the opponent’s blows to be fatal. But cultivating it is extremely difficult and rarely successful.”

“What about the other method?” Achieving the strength to cross realms through body refinement would require extraordinary accomplishment.

She wanted to understand both options before choosing.

“The second method involves high-level techniques found in the lottery pool. If you draw one, crossing realms in battle becomes possible.”

“Lottery?” The word alone filled Ji Jiuxuan with foreboding.

“Yes, the pool contains many such techniques. Some have no restrictions at all if you’re lucky; others depend on what limitations you draw.”

Ji Jiuxuan couldn’t help recalling her notoriously poor luck. She began to worry about the outcome.

“How do I enter the lottery? And how do I obtain the body refining technique?”

Though anxious, she was unwilling to give up.

Right now, she needed to increase her strength. Back in the Ancient Fallen Forest, if not for help from Suiyi, she and Senior Sister would have died. And this last ambush, without her uncle’s protection, she would have been snatched away without a chance to resist.

“Obtaining the body refining technique is simple. As long as your body reaches the standard, the technique will appear on its own. As for the lottery, that depends on your luck.”

She understood the method for acquiring the body refining technique, but the lottery remained a mystery.

“So, once I reach a certain cultivation level, the system will automatically provide techniques?”

“Yes, as long as you meet the standard, they will appear. What exactly that standard is, I cannot currently display,” the system replied calmly.

“So I might have to wait endlessly for the body refining technique?” Ji Jiuxuan felt a wave of disappointment after her earlier excitement. “And the lottery? How does luck come into play?”

“Not at all. You can obtain the body refining technique now. As for the lottery, you’ll have to wait until you enter sleep mode to check the requirements.”

Relieved, Ji Jiuxuan decided to put sleep aside for now—she had more urgent matters to attend to.

Turning to her grandfather, Qi Shuoyuan, she asked, “Grandfather, where is Senior Sister Meng? How is her recovery?”

She couldn’t help but recall everything that had happened in the Ancient Fallen Forest. Senior Sister’s defensive robe had withstood the attack of the Celestial Python, yet to protect her, Senior Sister had given her the robe, suffering grievous injuries herself.

Ji Jiuxuan had worried ever since. Her messages had gone unanswered, and she was told Senior Sister was in closed cultivation.

“Don’t worry, she’s well now. You may visit her at her quarters,” Qi Shuoyuan replied, his tone gentle and warm, a change from his earlier gravity.

Once Ji Jiuxuan had left, Qi Shuoyuan turned to Min Chengjun. “I’ve just received news: Sui Yanfang and the others are dead. Only Chuiyun escaped. Focus our resources on finding that old scoundrel.”

“Yes,” Min Chengjun replied—the very thing he intended. That old man had escaped even after suffering Min Chengjun’s wounds and killing Sui Yanfang.