Chapter 56: Jiang Yu's Death, the Xuanhuang Pearl
"Ancestor, save me…"
Jiang Yu screamed in terror, dragging his severely injured body as he fled.
The great horror of death enveloped his heart. For someone who had already died once, this fear was beyond description.
At this moment, his hair was disheveled and his body drenched in blood, fleeing madly through the starry void like a hunted dog.
In the end, he was just an ordinary man.
His coldness and indifference had only ever been an act.
Now that death loomed before him, Jiang Yu could no longer maintain that façade.
"An eyesore."
Palace Master Jiang Yu shook her head.
Jiang Yu's earlier display of fearlessness had even deceived her.
Yet after a single great battle, his greedy, cowardly, and incompetent nature was fully exposed.
She felt secretly relieved that she had not accepted Jiang Yu as a disciple—and that no one knew she had ever intended to.
Otherwise, it would have been a great humiliation.
"Utterly foolish."
He Ni hugged the Xuanhuang Primordial Cauldron joyfully, not forgetting to cast a look of disdain at Jiang Yu.
To possess such an important supreme treasure and not know how to use it—what ignorance.
If it had been Gu Qing, he would have long absorbed the Xuanhuang Primordial Energy to temper his physique, transforming his Void Divine Body and Pure Yang Dao Bone into a Xuanhuang Body.
Further refinement would lead to the Xuanhuang Sacred Body—
A supreme physique even stronger than the Starry Cosmos Divine Body.
Furthermore, Jiang Yu had not even tapped into the power of the Void Divine Body or the Pure Yang Dao Bone, as if those two constitutions were mere decorations.
Had he drawn out even one or two talents of the Void Divine Body, he would not have been in such a miserable state.
To be fair, Jiang Yu's swordsmanship was indeed powerful.
But at a glance, it was obvious that it was not something he had cultivated himself.
It looked more like a divine ability branded into his body by a mighty being.
"Is this truly the Starry Cosmos Divine Body…"
The elders were shaken, doubting their understanding of the world. They had searched through countless ancient records but found no precedent of a Starry Cosmos Divine Body like Gu Qing's.
The boundless vitality of his blood alone surpassed even that of divine beasts.
The terrifying power of his Heaven-Opening Sword Intent had been shattered by a single punch—
A perfect demonstration of how brute force can break all laws.
"It is indeed the Starry Cosmos Divine Body—or rather, this is what the true Starry Cosmos Divine Body should be."
"Palace Master, what do you mean by that?"
"Do you know how vast the universe truly is?"
"I do not."
"The Starry Cosmos Divine Body contains the origin of cosmic stars within it, possessing infinite potential. All the previous holders of this physique failed to truly awaken its power."
"Is that so…"
"Of course. Look at his fist techniques—don't they embody the intent of the stars themselves?"
Everyone pondered, and indeed, it was so.
The Star Battle Divine Fist gathered the power of the celestial stars, transforming the body into ten thousand constellations.
Yet the previous Starry Cosmos Divine Bodies had only ever developed seven stars.
"Just wait and see. This is only his beginning. He will surely unearth even more terrifying innate divine powers."
Palace Master Jiang Yu's tone was certain as she gazed into the starry sky. In her eyes, countless stars rose and fell, as if she were deducing an invincible Dao.
"…"
Everyone exchanged glances. What kind of divine power could surpass the Star Battle Divine Fist?
Had these words not come from Palace Master Jiang Yu herself, they would never have believed them.
After all, to incarnate as ten thousand stars was already defying heaven itself.
Such a feat required not only cultivation but also an unimaginably powerful body and soul, capable of commanding countless divine incarnations.
Even with their exceptional talents and decades of study in the Seven-Star Fist and Seven-Star Sword—plus the aid of countless treasures to strengthen their souls—they could only create six divine incarnations at most.
Gu Qing's Star Battle Divine Fist seemed to conform to common logic yet violated it entirely.
No one could hope to achieve it through cultivation alone.
As they pondered this, one elder hesitated before changing the topic. "Palace Master, what of Jiang Yu's Heaven-Opening Sword Intent?"
"It was not cultivated by him."
Palace Master Jiang Yu shook her head.
Jiang Yu could never have cultivated such a sword intent. There was no trace of it in his Dao or his techniques.
For such a thing to exist, there was only one explanation—it had been branded into him by a powerful being.
"What a pity."
A mighty one's inheritance could not be seized by force.
"Senior Brother is terrifying indeed…"
Su Qingyue murmured, her bright eyes glowing with admiration.
"Indeed."
Chu Yao nodded.
Gu Qing's power was as overwhelming as she had expected—utterly unmatched.
"Hmph!"
The Star-Grasping Hand appeared once more, spanning hundreds of thousands of miles, descending in an instant upon Jiang Yu's head.
"No…"
Jiang Yu roared in despair, swinging his sword with all his might—but it could not shake the Star-Grasping Hand in the slightest.
An endless might pressed down. Jiang Yu's body was crushed beneath the weight of countless stars, his form distorted and twisted, blood gushing wildly.
The fear of death spread uncontrollably in his heart.
"Was it you who shattered Zhang Yang's treasure?"
In his dying moments, Jiang Yu suddenly recalled Zhang Yang's words: "The world is yet unsettled; you and I are but oxen and horses."
He had thought Zhang Yang mistaken then.
Now he realized he had been entirely right.
They had fought to the death for the title of Holy Son—yet even if one won, they were nothing more than beasts to be slaughtered by Gu Qing's hand.
"So, you've finally come to understand."
Gu Qing loosened his grip slightly, opened his system interface, and glanced at it. There was no notification of seizing fortune.
It seemed the Super Reflective Armor lived up to its name—an indestructible, damage-reflecting armor indeed.
"So it truly is…"
Jiang Yu felt his entire body turn to ice.
Gu Qing could destroy even royal artifacts—how laughable that he had believed he could subdue him with a single sword.
"Puchi!"
Gu Qing thrust his halberd straight through Jiang Yu's body, then lifted him high.
"No…"
Jiang Yu coughed blood, gripping the halberd desperately.
He cried out in horror, "Ancestor! Why won't you save me?"
He did not want to die—he truly didn't.
He possessed a supreme divine body and a sign-in system destined to make him an unrivaled existence.
Immortality awaited him.
Glory and supremacy awaited him.
How could he die now?
"Why won't I save you? Have you not thought to ask yourself why?"
Jiang Fangcheng suddenly appeared, his face pale, his trembling voice filled with fury.
First he betrayed the sect, and now after losing, he tried to flee?
What was he thinking?
Even if the Jiang Clan's Divine Fire Realm ancestor returned to life, he could not save Jiang Yu.
Unless—
Boom—!
A vast and majestic holy might descended. The boundless starry sky seemed to fall still, sacred energy permeating every corner, as a breathtaking figure appeared, shrouded in divine radiance.
She seemed like a goddess who had stepped out from the ancient ages, with the world revolving around her as countless laws surged about her form—ancient and mysterious.
Palace Master Jiang Yu merely opened her eyes and glanced at Jiang Fangcheng. His entire body trembled violently, aging at a rate visible to the naked eye before crumbling into dust and scattering into nothingness.
"So powerful…" Gu Qing's eyes gleamed with brilliance, a trace of desire flickering within.
Jiang Fangcheng had been at the peak of the Venerable Realm, yet a single glance from her had annihilated him completely.
"..." Palace Master Jiang Yu paused for a moment, slightly surprised to encounter a man who was awed not by her beauty, but by her strength.
It was as though her peerless charm meant nothing in Gu Qing's eyes.
She cast him one last look. Her figure gradually grew indistinct, then vanished entirely, leaving the starry sky as calm as if she had never appeared.
"It seems no one can save you now."
"Then you're as good as dead."
Gu Qing withdrew his gaze.
His voice, to Jiang Yu's ears, sounded like the whisper of a demon.
"No, I am the Young Patriarch of the Jiang Clan! You can't kill me! Do you wish to start an Immortal War?" Jiang Yu shouted hoarsely.
"Immortal War? Hahaha…"
Gu Qing laughed, genuinely amused.
It seemed Jiang Yu still hadn't understood his situation—he truly believed his background made him untouchable.
Gu Qing couldn't be bothered to waste words.
He slung his halberd over his shoulder, impaling Jiang Yu upon it, and walked back toward his cave abode.
After plundering all of Jiang Yu's treasures, he reduced the man's body to ashes.
Jiang Yu's possessions were indeed plentiful—top-grade pills for cultivation, precious herbs, royal-grade medicines, Heaven-rank treasures, and royal artifacts.
There was even a single stalk of sacred medicine.
Truly, Jiang Yu had been rich—richer than ninety-nine percent of those in the Supreme Realm.
Gu Qing placed all the sacred, royal, and precious medicines into the Golden Gourd, refining them together with beast flesh and blood into a potent elixir.
This time, he used only the highest-quality materials. With just one sip, his cultivation and physique began to surge rapidly.
A day later, Gu Qing ended his cultivation.
[Name] Gu Qing
[Realm] Second Layer of the Void Dao Realm
[Constitution] Supreme Dao Bone, Chaotic Star Body
[Talent] Innate Dao Seed, Brilliant Across the Ages
[Fate Type] Variable
[Fate Value] Unknown
[Fortune] 373,000
[Innate Divine Abilities] Chaos Treasure Seal, Yin-Yang Wheel, Star-Grasping Hand, Chaos Return Sword Art, Star-Shattering Finger, Star Battle Divine Fist
[Divine Abilities] Destruction of the Eight Desolations (Minor Achievement), Spatial Shift (Minor Achievement)
[Treasures] Reincarnation Divine Halberd, Golden Gourd, Spatial Divine Pattern, Solar Mirror, Cosmic Tower
[Different Flame] Heart of Icefire
[Innate Spiritual Root] Nine-Colored Soul Lotus
[Technique] Chaos Immortality Scripture
"My cultivation has reached the Second Layer of the Void Dao Realm, and the Chaos Sword Art has evolved into the Chaos Return Sword Art. Excellent."
"System, start a lottery draw."
[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the Innate Spiritual Treasure—Xuanhuang Pearl.]
Gu Qing immediately checked the properties of the Xuanhuang Pearl.
The Xuanhuang Pearl possessed peerless defensive power; when suspended above one's head, it placed the bearer in an invincible position.
It could also generate Xuanhuang Primordial Energy, which purified and transformed one's aptitude. Even a mortal incapable of cultivation could be remade into a Xuanhuang Sacred Body.
The Xuanhuang Sacred Body was a supreme physique, second only to the Chaos Body, and even stronger than the Starry Cosmos Divine Body.
With that in mind, Gu Qing absorbed the Xuanhuang Pearl into his body. The pearl emitted streams of Xuanhuang energy, washing over and fortifying his flesh.
"With the Xuanhuang Pearl, I can grow stronger just by living."
Truly, the protagonist was his adoptive father.
Gu Qing walked cheerfully out of his cave. "Ji Ning, help me gather some low-grade spiritual herbs. I'm going to refine pills."
"Refine pills?"
Ji Ning was startled for a moment but immediately obeyed, bringing a pile of herbs below the third grade.
Gu Qing then retrieved a Heaven-rank alchemy furnace from the treasury and began his alchemical practice in earnest.
Pill refinement was divided into five stages.
First, the herbs were purified into medicinal liquids, then fused according to their attributes.
Because each herb contained volatile medicinal power, the fusion process was extremely dangerous. A single misstep could cause a violent reaction—at best wasting the essence, at worst leading to an explosion.
After merging all the liquids into a unified essence, the next step was a special purification technique.
The purity of the essence directly determined the pill's quality.
After purification, the mixture was divided according to formula—typically into nine portions.
If a lesser alchemist lost some essence during refinement, they would simply divide what remained.
The final step was condensing the pills.
This was both the simplest and the hardest step.
Creating a low-grade pill was easy.
But crafting a supreme-grade pill required mastery of pill principles.
Gu Qing opened the restrictions around the Heaven and Earth Sword Formation, refining pills while consulting He Ni about alchemy theory and sharing his own insights.
He Ni remained silent throughout, watching as Gu Qing's hands moved fluidly and with expert precision, his techniques showing a profound understanding.
If she hadn't known it was his first time refining pills, she would have thought him a master alchemist.
"He Ni?"
"Oh… yes, you're right."
He Ni snapped back to herself, reluctantly assuming the role of alchemy instructor and guiding Gu Qing through the process.
Three days later, Gu Qing had become a Third-Grade Alchemy Master capable of refining supreme-grade pills.
Only those who could refine supreme-grade pills were qualified to be called masters.
A month later, he reached the Sixth Grade.
Three months later, the Ninth Grade.
In just over four months, Gu Qing had achieved what others could not in a lifetime.
"What's going on?"
"Isn't Gu Qing of Goddess Peak known for his obsession with the Dao? Since when did he become obsessed with alchemy?"
"I have no idea."
Lately, Gu Qing's alchemy craze had spread across the sect like wildfire.
No one understood why he was doing this.
With such talent, why turn to alchemy instead of pursuing the Grand Dao?
Surely it wasn't for lack of resources.
Impossible.
Goddess Peak had only three disciples, yet the mountains were covered in untouched spiritual herbs and rare medicines.
Some were even tens of thousands of years old.
Since Zhi Meng had no use for them, weren't they all shared among the three?
Still, though baffled at first, everyone soon wished Gu Qing would refine pills every day.
For a simple reason—every pill he made was a supreme-grade one, entirely free of side effects.
With such a grandmaster among them, who wouldn't want him to keep refining?
"What a brilliant and diligent youth. You possess alchemy talent unseen since ancient times—what a pity you became Zhi Meng's disciple."
Palace Master Jiang Yu lifted a Ninth-Grade Spiritual Pill, studying it with a hint of regret.
She herself was a Pill Master—one capable of refining divine pills etched with pill patterns.
She was also a master of forging, inscription, and array arts.
"Palace Master, I still have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
Gu Qing wanted to slip away.
He had no idea why Palace Master Jiang Yu had taken to visiting him so often these past few months, staying for entire days to "instruct" him in alchemy.
It made him rather uneasy.
After all, Palace Master Jiang Yu and Zhi Meng were bitter rivals—a fact everyone knew.
As Zhi Meng's direct disciple, Gu Qing had to keep a proper distance.
He wasn't the protagonist type; he couldn't rely on plot armor or divine luck.
If he tried to play both sides, he might end up offending both.
And besides, her words carried an unmistakable undertone—she was clearly hinting that he should change masters.
"Where are you going? To meet Qingyue for inspiration?"
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