107: Chapter 107 Harvesting Leeks Again

Jiang Bai's brow furrowed. He was about to lash out but forcibly suppressed the urge.

He recalled the lesson he learned at the Medicine King Palace.

Impulsiveness and arrogance had only brought him humiliation.

“Then what should we do?”

He asked in a low voice, his tone carrying a hint of caution he hadn't even noticed himself.

“First, go to another place: the God Sword Grave of the Yellow Springs.”

Master Dog's voice carried a hint of temptation. “That was once the God King's armory. Although most of the divine weapons have decayed over time, there will always be some good things left behind.”

“The Restriction there loosened just now, and a heavy treasure has emerged, drawing many people over.”

“We can go try our Luck. If you can obtain a handy weapon, your combat power will increase by at least thirty percent. When the time comes to brave the Soul-Cleansing Pool of the Yellow Springs, your chances will be much greater.”

Jiang Bai's eyes lit up, and he said no more.

Under Master Dog's guidance, he stealthily made his way toward the Sword Tomb.

...

The God Sword Grave of the Yellow Springs was located within a massive ring-shaped valley.

In the center of the valley was a black lake. The water was as calm as a mirror, yet it emitted a bone-chilling cold and a faint Sword Qi.

If an ordinary Cultivator approached, the escaping Sword Qi alone would be enough to slice them apart.

At this moment, this place of deathly silence, which was usually deserted, had become clamorous with voices.

Hundreds of Cultivators had crowded the shores of the black lake until it was impassable, everyone's gaze...

...fixed intently on the center of the lake.

There, a black Stone Platform was slowly rising from the surface of the water.

Floating atop the Stone Platform was a three-foot-long golden sword.

Light flowed and colors shimmered upon the sword's blade as runes flickered. A sharp, matchless Sword Intent soared into the sky, churning the clouds in the heavens.

Even from far away, everyone could feel that sharp Aura.

It was as if just looking at it would cause their eyes to sting with pain.

“Earth-Grade High Grade! This is definitely a High Grade Spiritual Artifact!”

“More than that! Looking at this Sword Intent, it's likely infinitely close to top grade! If I can obtain this sword, my strength will at least double!”

“jinghong sword... there are words on the Stone Platform. This sword is named Jinghong!”

Bursts of uncontrollable exclamations and heavy breathing rang out from the crowd.

The flames of greed burned in everyone's eyes.

Among them, there was no lack of powerful figures, including True Disciples from top-tier forces like the Eternal Ancient Sect.

There were also several young experts ranked within the top hundred of the heavenly prodigy ranking.

But at this moment, no one dared to act rashly.

Because a visible golden barrier enveloped the jinghong sword.

Countless profound runes flowed upon the barrier, emitting powerful energy fluctuations.

Just now, a few impatient Loose Cultivators had tried to force their way in, only to be instantly ground into a bloody mist the moment they touched the barrier.

Everyone was waiting—waiting for an Opportunity.

Atop a dilapidated Pavilion far from the crowd, a figure quietly appeared.

It was Jiang Bai, who had just arrived.

He looked at the jinghong sword in the center of the lake, a flicker of heat similarly flashing through his eyes.

His Nine Sorrows of the Yellow Springs primarily cultivated the Physical Body, making his offensive methods somewhat one-dimensional.

If he could obtain this divine sword, it would perfectly compensate for his shortcomings.

“Good sword.”

He couldn't help but praise it in his heart.

“Hmph, you have good eyes.”

Master Dog's voice rang out. “This barrier was casually set by the God King. After being eroded by ten thousand years of time, its energy is almost depleted. In half an hour at most, it will surely shatter on its own. When that time comes, a chaotic battle will be unavoidable.”

Jiang Bai took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He glanced at the experts below who were watching like tigers eyeing their prey. He knew clearly in his heart that trying to seize the sword from so many people was no different from pulling a tooth from a tiger's mouth.

He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly whispered in his heart, “Master Dog, before... I was too impulsive. I shouldn't have shouted at you.”

This apology was somewhat difficult for him to say.

But the painful lesson had made him realize that the only one he could rely on now was Master Dog.

He didn't know Master Dog's true identity, but being able to guide him in the Nine Sorrows of the Yellow Springs and save his life from that kind of monster meant his strength and insight were absolutely beyond imagination.

He had to gain this expert's sincere assistance.

“Oh?”

No joy or anger could be heard in Master Dog's voice.

“I... I was just unwilling to accept it.”

Jiang Bai's voice carried a hint of a tremble. “I swear, I will definitely follow your arrangements from now on and never act recklessly again. I ask Master Dog to... sincerely help me.”

Master Dog fell silent.

Its soul form fluctuated slightly within the ring. If Jiang Bai could see it, he would surely discover that what flashed within that mass of black mist was contempt and cold killing intent.

Sincerly help you?

Fool, if it weren't for the fact that this Great One needs your decent physical shell to carry my power, do you think you would have lived until now?

Once this Great One recovers a Physical Body, the first thing I'll do is swallow you, you trash who doesn't know the heights of the heavens!

But naturally, it would not say these words out loud.

“Fine.”

After a long while, Master Dog finally spoke in a feigned magnanimous tone, “To know one's mistakes and change is the greatest virtue. This Great One is not a petty person either. Since you and I are now one, I will naturally help you.”

“After all, you were young and aggressive before. Only by suffering a loss can you grow.”

Hearing this, the heavy stone hanging in Jiang Bai's heart finally dropped, and a hint of gratitude appeared on his face.

“Thank you, Master Dog!”

“Hmph, don't thank me too early.”

Master Dog snorted coldly and began to speak of business. “Once the barrier breaks, there will surely be great chaos. Those so-called Prodigies will definitely be the first to act, keeping each other in check.”

“As for those Loose Cultivators, they are nothing more than cannon fodder. Our Opportunity lies when they are fighting most fiercely.”

“When the time comes, this Great One will expend a sliver of my remaining Soul Power to completely hide your Aura. You will take advantage of the chaos to sneak into the center of the lake, seize the sword at the fastest speed, and then immediately flee far away.”

“Remember, there is only one chance. You must not linger for the fight!”

“Understood!”

Jiang Bai nodded heavily, hope reigniting in his eyes.

...

Just as Jiang Bai and Master Dog were formulating their plan.

In the shadows on the other side of the Pavilion, a figure in white stood silently, as if he had been there from the very beginning.

It was Chu Xiao.

He had arrived earlier than Jiang Bai and had a full view of everything below.

His gaze lingered on the top of Jiang Bai's head for a moment.

[Son of Heavens Destiny: Jiang Bai]

[Luck Rank: Gold (Diminishing)]

[Recent Opportunity: At the God Sword Grave of the Yellow Springs, with the help of his protector, seizes the Earth-Grade High Grade Spiritual Artifact ‘jinghong sword’ during the chaos, greatly increasing his strength.]

Seeing Jiang Bai's Luck value, which had already dropped by nearly half, the corner of Chu Xiao's mouth curled into a satisfied arc.

Being crushed by him once had indeed shown significant results.

Harvesting this leek was indeed more satisfying than harvesting ordinary Prodigies.

His gaze swept through the crowd once more.

However, he did not find the other two familiar targets.

It seemed this Ancient Tomb of the God King was not a single space but was divided into many regions and levels.

No matter. After dealing with Jiang Bai's Opportunity here, it wouldn't be too late to go meet them.

Just then.

“Crack—”

Everyone's spirits jolted as they all looked toward the center of the lake.

A tiny crack appeared on that golden barrier.

Immediately afterward, the cracks spread rapidly like a spiderweb!

Boom!

Accompanied by a loud explosion, the entire barrier shattered.

It turned into countless golden specks of light and dissipated.

The glittering golden jinghong sword now had no obstacles, floating quietly atop the Stone Platform and emitting a lethal temptation.

Dead silence.

After a brief silence, there was a volcanic eruption!

“Grab it!”

Someone shouted, instantly igniting everyone's greed.

“Whoosh!”

A young man from the Heavenly Flame Valley, ranked in the nineties on the heavenly prodigy ranking, was the fastest. He turned into a streak of fire and was the first to charge toward the Stone Platform in the center of the lake.

His face was full of wild joy, as if he could already see the image of the divine sword in his hand.

However, he had only flown halfway.

A domineering and matchless sharpness appeared out of thin air, arriving later but striking first, slamming heavily into his back.

“Bang!”

That Prodigy from the Heavenly Flame Valley didn't even have time to let out a scream.

His body exploded in mid-air, turning into a cloud of bloody mist.

This bloody scene caused the movements of the crowd, who were just about to act, to suddenly freeze.

Everyone looked in horror toward the direction the fist print had come from.

A burly young man with a cold face was slowly retracting his fist.

He wore the attire of the Eternal Ancient Sect, and a domineering Aura of self-importance radiated from his body.

“Eternal Ancient Sect, Xiao Zhen!”

Someone recognized him and cried out in alarm.

Xiao Zhen, a top expert ranked thirty-seventh on the heavenly prodigy ranking!

He looked around, his gaze cold and domineering, and said coldly, “This sword belongs to my Eternal Ancient Sect. Who has an objection?”

His voice wasn't loud, yet it spread through the entire valley, carrying an authority that brooked no question.

Many people were intimidated by his Aura and silently took half a step back.

Xiao Zhen nodded with satisfaction and blurred, about to step forward to take the sword.

But just then.

“Buzz—”

An extremely sharp Sword Qi sliced through the air, precisely cutting into the path he had to take and leaving a bottomless sword mark on the ground.

“Brother Ning, those words are incorrect.”

A calm voice with a hint of elegance rang out. “When a divine object emerges, it belongs to the virtuous. It doesn't belong to whoever has the biggest fist.”

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a young man in green robes with an ancient sword on his back, who had appeared on the other side of the shore at some point.

He was handsome and had an ethereal temperament; it was Li Xiaoyao.

Xiao Zhen's footsteps stopped. He turned his head and looked at Li Xiaoyao, a hint of Battle Intent flashing in his eyes. “Li Xiaoyao? You want to compete with me?”

“It's not competing, I just wish to seek guidance from Brother Xiao's brilliant moves.”

Li Xiaoyao smiled slightly, and a green-edged longsword had appeared in his hand at some unknown time.

The confrontation between two top Prodigies instantly ignited the atmosphere in the field to its peak.

“Xiao Zhen and Li Xiaoyao are facing off! Our chance has come!”

“Charge together! No matter how strong they are, there are only two of them. They can't possibly block all of us!”

“Muddy waters make for better fishing! Charge!”

After a brief silence, suppressed greed completely erupted.

The Disciples of the great Sects and the powerful Loose Cultivators no longer had any scruples. They all displayed their signature skills and charged from all directions toward the jinghong sword in the center of the lake like a swarm of locusts.

The light of Magic Treasures and the roar of Divine Abilities instantly submerged the area.

A tragic and chaotic battle completely erupted!

Atop the Pavilion, Jiang Bai's breathing became rapid as he saw this scene.

“Master Dog, now!”

“Don't be anxious! Wait a bit longer!”

The chaotic battle around the Lake Center Island had already reached a fever pitch.

"Boom!"

Xiao Zhen threw a punch, his domineering punch force directly blasting three Cultivators attempting to approach the Stone Platform into a bloody mist. His entire body surged with a towering Aura.

Like a god of war, he blocked all incoming enemies.

On the other side, Li Xiaoyao's swordplay was elegant and ethereal, with azure sword light weaving through the crowd!

Every strike accurately pierced toward the opponents' weaknesses.

Forcing several Prodigies of the same level into a frantic state, not daring to cross the line even half a step.

The deterrent power of top-tier experts was fully revealed at this moment.

But the temptation of the divine sword was too great; there were still Cultivators who didn't fear death, trying to rush toward the lake's center while they were preoccupied with each other.

However, these people were no exception!

All were torn to pieces by the violent energy aftershocks halfway there.

Blood dyed the black lake water red, and severed limbs and wreckage floated everywhere.

The entire scene was chaotic and tragic.

Jiang Bai stared intently at the battlefield, his palms already soaked with sweat.

"Master Dog, is it not the time yet?"

He asked anxiously in his heart.

"Wait a bit longer!"

Master Dog's voice carried a hint of gravity. "Wait until they fight even harder! Wait until everyone's attention is drawn away by Xiao Zhen and Li Xiaoyao! Remember, your Opportunity lasts only for an instant!"

Jiang Bai took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the restlessness in his heart.

He looked at the Cultivators below fighting for the divine sword, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

A bunch of fools.

True Opportunity is never seized by brute force.

Time passed second by second.

The battle in the field became increasingly intense, and the exchange between Xiao Zhen and Li Xiaoyao went from probing...

...to gradually becoming truly heated.

Punch winds and Sword Qi intertwined; every collision made the entire valley tremble.

Finally!

"Now's the time!"

Master Dog's voice suddenly exploded in Jiang Bai's mind.

Jiang Bai's body jolted, a sharp light erupting from his eyes!

Without the slightest hesitation, he followed Master Dog's instructions and instantly activated a profound Breath-Concealing Technique.

His figure became blurred on the spot, as if merging into the surrounding shadows.

All of his presence was completely retracted at this moment.

Like a non-existent ghost, he slid down silently from the top of the Pavilion, sticking to the edge of the valley, and crept toward the Lake Center Island's Stone Platform.

At this moment, everyone's attention was drawn to the earth-shattering duel between Xiao Zhen and Li Xiaoyao, as well as the chaotic battle of the other Cultivators.

No one noticed an almost invisible shadow avoiding all the chaotic battlefields at incredible speed, approaching the jinghong sword that radiated a fatal temptation.

Closer!

Even closer!

Jiang Bai's heart was racing to the extreme.

He could even feel the sharp Sword Qi radiating from the jinghong sword, making his skin sting slightly.

Finally, he stepped onto that black Stone Platform.

He reached out and grabbed the hilt of the jinghong sword!

Hum—!

As the long sword entered his hand, a powerful force instantly surged into his body.

The Nine Sorrows of the Yellow Springs Cultivation Technique within him actually sped up its circulation slightly under the stimulation of this Sword Qi.

"Haha! It's mine!"

A cry of wild joy erupted in Jiang Bai's heart!

This sudden surge of energy...

...also finally made the people in the chaotic battle realize something was wrong.

"What's going on?"

"The sword! The sword has been taken!"

Everyone's movements froze, and they all looked toward the Lake Center Island's Stone Platform.

On the Stone Platform, the jinghong sword had already disappeared.

In its place was a blurred figure fleeing at high speed.

"You're looking for death!"

Xiao Zhen was furious. He had been fighting here for so long, only for someone else to pluck the fruit?

He abandoned the fight with Li Xiaoyao and turned into a streak of light, madly chasing after the direction Jiang Bai was escaping.

Li Xiaoyao also frowned and similarly raised his sword to give chase.

"Don't let him get away!"

"Chase him!"

The remaining hundreds of Cultivators also reacted.

One by one, their eyes turned red as they chased after him like madmen.

In an instant, hundreds of streaks of light pierced the sky.

Carrying a towering killing intent, they closely followed that figure.

"Hmph, a bunch of trash!"

Jiang Bai looked back at the pursuers who were like a plague of locusts, a cold sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Master Dog's secret technique was indeed powerful; he could feel a layer of invisible Soul Power enveloping him.

Not only did it hide his presence, but it even increased his speed several times over.

He was confident that within half a quarter of an hour, he would be able to completely lose these people.

With the divine sword in hand, his self-confidence swelled to the extreme once again.

The fear and humiliation of being dominated by Chu Xiao in the Medicine King Palace...

...seemed to have been severed by the sharp edge of this divine sword.

"Chu Xiao! You just wait!"

Jiang Bai roared frantically in his heart, "Once I have braved the Soul-Cleansing Pool of the Yellow Springs and obtained the God King Legacy, I will surely return the humiliation you gave me today a hundredfold! I will trample you under my feet like a dog in front of everyone!"

In his mind, even the cold face of Yu Chouxue appeared.

"And you, Yu Chouxue! You think you are so noble? When I become the Dominator of this world, a woman like you will only be able to kneel at my feet, begging me to give you a second glance!"

The pleasure of obtaining the supreme treasure made him lose himself once again.

However, he soon noticed something was wrong.

The pursuers behind him, far from being shaken off, seemed to have locked onto him, hanging closely behind without the distance widening at all.

"What's going on? Master Dog, has your secret technique stopped working?"

Jiang Bai was getting anxious.

"Idiot!"

Master Dog's exasperated voice rang in his mind: "Do you think they are chasing you by your presence? Look at what's in your hand!"

Jiang Bai looked down and saw that the jinghong sword in his hand was radiating a brilliant golden light.

The Sword Qi pierced the sky; under the dark red heavens, it was even more dazzling than a bright lamp in the dark night.

This wasn't escaping at all; it was clearly showing everyone the way!

"Quick! Put it into your Storage Ring!"

Master Dog urged.

Jiang Bai's face changed as he finally realized. He hurriedly mobilized his Divine Thought, preparing to put the jinghong sword into his Storage Ring.

However, at the very instant his Divine Thought touched the blade...

An indifferent voice sounded in his ear without any warning.

"Thank you for helping me take the sword out."

This voice!

Jiang Bai's entire blood seemed to freeze instantly at this moment!

He snapped his head up and saw a figure in white clothes had appeared in front of him at some point.

Just quietly floating in mid-air, blocking his path.

That...

...face was calm and indifferent.

It was precisely the one he hated to the bone and feared with every fiber... Chu Xiao!

"You...!"

Jiang Bai's mind went blank, and a chill rushed from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

How could he be here?!

When did he appear?!

There was no time to think, nor was there room for him to think.

Chu Xiao moved.

He simply and plainly raised his hand and threw a punch toward Jiang Bai through the air.

No fluctuations of magic power, no glow of blood and Qi.

It was just such an unremarkable punch.

But in Jiang Bai's eyes, this punch seemed to lock down all the space around him, leaving him with no way to avoid it and nowhere to run!

That familiar, despair-inducing, terrifying power descended once again.

"No—!"

Jiang Bai let out a terrified roar. He instinctively held the jinghong sword across his chest, attempting to block.

"Bang!"

The punch force landed solidly on the blade of the jinghong sword.

Jiang Bai only felt an irresistible giant force strike him; the divine sword in his hand almost flew out.

And that punch force, after penetrating the blade, still continued with unabated momentum, heavily imprinting itself on his chest.

"Crack!"

The sound of his sternum shattering was clearly audible.

"Puff!"

Jiang Bai violently spat out a large mouthful of blood, and his whole body was sent flying backward as if hit by a high-speed train.

The jinghong sword also flew out of his hand under this giant force, drawing a golden arc in the sky.

Chu Xiao reached out and made a casual beckoning motion.

The jinghong sword seemed to be pulled by something and obediently flew into his hand.

He held the hilt and gave it a light flourish, the sword's edge emitting a clear, melodious hum.

"The sword is a good sword."

He glanced at Jiang Bai, who had fallen in the distance and was struggling to crawl up, and said in a flat tone: "Unfortunately, you are not worthy of possessing it."

"Ah—! Chu Xiao! I'll kill you!"

Having the divine sword snatched away, the sharp pain in his chest, and those soul-piercing words completely ignited all of Jiang Bai's sanity.

He let out a roar and, ignoring his injuries, rushed toward Chu Xiao once again.

However, what greeted him was still a palm.

"Slap!"

A slap even louder than the one in the Medicine King Palace.

Jiang Bai was sent flying once again, rolling a dozen times on the ground...

...before coming to a stop.

He struggled twice, and finally, his head tilted to the side, and he completely fainted.

Having done all this, Chu Xiao didn't even give him another look.

He turned around and looked at the hundreds of streaks of light rapidly approaching on the horizon, the corner of his mouth curving into a playful arc.

He put the jinghong sword into his storage space, and with a flicker of his body, he disappeared from the spot.

A moment later.

"Where is he?"

"He was clearly just here!"

Xiao Zhen, Li Xiaoyao, and hundreds of Cultivators finally arrived at the scene.

All they saw was the mess on the ground and Jiang Bai, who was lying unconscious like a dead dog.

As for the golden, shining jinghong sword, it had long since vanished.

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Jiang Bai.

"Where is the sword?!"

Xiao Zhen stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Bai from the ground, and shook him roughly, his voice as cold as a knife: "Speak! Where did you hide the jinghong sword!"

The unconscious Jiang Bai was forcibly woken up. He opened his eyes blankly, seeing hundreds of eyes filled with killing intent and greed.

"The sword... the sword was snatched by Chu Xiao..."

He said instinctively.