Chapter 438 – A Shift in the Earth Ranking’s First Place, Fairy Ziling Enters Supreme Unity!
by spirapiraChapter 438 – A Shift in the Earth Ranking’s First Place, Fairy Ziling Enters Supreme Unity!
After interacting with White Emperor across several simulations, Su Xing had grown accustomed to his teaching style.
White Emperor was carefree and unrestrained by nature, valuing nothing more than freedom from constraint.
Legend had it that when White Emperor first rose to fame, he was revered as a god by sword cultivators everywhere. Hundreds of millions of sword cultivators had collectively petitioned White Emperor to establish a “Sword Sect” and lead all sword cultivators across the Three Thousand Worlds!
One could only imagine how terrifying the influence of such a sect would be.
It would likely vault instantly to become the number one sect in the Three Thousand Worlds, perhaps even surpassing the Celestial Secrets Pavilion!
But White Emperor ultimately refused.
His reason was… he was too lazy to manage it.
Later, White Emperor’s followers independently established the “White Emperor Tower,” nominally willing to accept all independent cultivators across the Three Thousand Worlds.
But in reality, the vast majority of independent cultivators within White Emperor Tower… were sword cultivators!
Su Xing had once asked White Emperor whether the White Emperor Tower was something he himself had founded.
White Emperor flatly denied it, stating he merely held the nominal title of “Tower Master” and had virtually never involved himself in the Tower’s affairs.
But what Su Xing didn’t doubt for a moment was that if White Emperor gave the order to rally White Emperor Tower’s cultivators, at least eighty percent of the Tower’s members would answer the call.
There was no other reason—White Emperor’s personal charisma was simply that immense.
In the great battle eight hundred years later, the human race’s ability to gain a certain advantage was due not only to the Celestial Secrets Pavilion’s participation, but also to the full support of White Emperor Tower.
Beyond that, even White Emperor’s approach to teaching Su Xing the Sword Dao followed the principle of “the master opens the door, but the student must walk the path alone.”
Clearly, this teaching method worked very well.
…
Under White Emperor’s guidance, Su Xing’s comprehension of the Sword Dao advanced rapidly.
He occasionally sparred with White Emperor in swordsmanship, and though it was always Su Xing who got beaten, under these conditions, his rate of growth could only be described as unprecedented.
In the blink of an eye, ninety years passed.
Su Xing had used up all the comprehension-type treasures at his disposal—the Dao-Enlightenment Tea, the Dao-Hearing Pill, and even the Inevitable Epiphany talent.
And his Sword Dao…
Had advanced directly from fifth realm entry-level to fifth realm Minor Mastery!
At this moment, it was the nine hundredth year of the simulation!
Su Xing bid farewell to White Emperor, came to the entrance of the Celestial Secrets Pavilion, and murmured:
“Before I knew it, ninety years have passed… and the simulation has reached its nine hundredth year!”
“In previous simulations, I’d always have to find ways to flee for safety by now… but this time, there’s no need to rush.”
Now, although Su Xing’s strength had not yet reached the level where he could contend with a Supreme Unity Golden Immortal, with his sixth realm spatial Dao, preserving his life against a newly ascended Supreme Unity Golden Immortal was no difficult feat.
Because of this, though Su Xing had occasionally sensed danger in recent years, he had weathered each instance safely!
What’s more, for most of the past century, Su Xing had been at White Emperor’s side.
With a Great Firmament Golden Immortal nearby, Su Xing naturally encountered no real danger.
“But White Emperor can’t possibly shelter me for an entire simulation… guiding me for several decades was already an enormous favor, given my growth potential…”
Su Xing murmured:
“Still, even so, the hundred years of immersive simulation can now take place after the eight-hundredth year… which means I can spend an extra century in the Three Thousand Worlds. That’s not bad at all.”
Su Xing mulled things over. He still had one remaining use of the Mirror of The Void.
It was time to improve himself once more.
“The reforging of the Blackice sword can’t be delayed any further…”
“If I advance to the sixth realm of Sword Dao but the Blackice sword’s grade is insufficient, it will severely hamper my strength…”
“So it’s time to improve my Artifact Dao!”
Su Xing thought to himself.
His current attainment in the Artifact Dao had already reached the Paragon level.
He was capable of forging supreme post-celestial treasures, but… it still wasn’t enough!
Su Xing wanted to fully elevate the Blackice sword into an innate treasure!
This would inevitably require one of his previous talents—Blood Sacrifice Forging!
But before that, Su Xing planned to first improve his Artifact Dao.
And so, Su Xing stepped into the Mirror of The Void…
…
After the immersive simulation ended, Su Xing returned to reality.
Having organized the memories in his mind, Su Xing nodded with satisfaction:
“Not bad. My Artifact Dao has finally broken through the previous bottleneck…”
“With my current comprehension of the Artifact Dao alone, I can already forge superior-grade supreme post-celestial treasures…”
“And with Blood Sacrifice Forging, I might even be able to directly forge a top-grade supreme post-celestial treasure!”
Su Xing was quite pleased with this. Although he still couldn’t forge innate treasures, compared to before, this was already a tremendous improvement.
“In the next simulation, I need to focus on advancing my Artifact Dao!”
“With the Luotian Mirror’s augmentation, improving my Artifact Dao shouldn’t be difficult…”
“As for the remaining time in this simulation, it’s time to head to the Nine Heavens Domain!”
Over nine hundred years into the simulation, Su Xing had already begun to sense a trace of threat. Heading to the Nine Heavens Domain was the safest course of action.
His gaze turned to the simulation panel.
【Year 930: You prepare to travel to the Seventh Heaven.】
【But before departing for the Seventh Heaven, you receive a shocking piece of news…】
【The Azure Origin Domain has been largely overrun by foreign races. Qingyunzi’s whereabouts are unknown—he is suspected to have perished, his Dao extinguished.】
【That same year, Fairy Ziling breaks through to Supreme Unity Golden Immortal, ascending to the 83rd position on the Prodigy List’s Heaven Ranking!】
【Upon learning this news, you are deeply astonished, but there is no time to dwell on it—you can only continue advancing your cultivation.】
【You enter secluded cultivation in the Seventh Heaven. In the blink of an eye, one hundred and seventy years pass…】
【Year 1,100: You are discovered by the Shadow Deity.】
【You engage in a fierce battle, ultimately slaying it at the cost of severe injuries.】
【During this battle, you also make the acquaintance of Tang Yiyi, who had been secretly tracking the Shadow Deity for decades, seeking an opportunity to kill it—only to find that you struck first.】
【After spending some time with Tang Yiyi, you bid farewell, return to your place of seclusion, and continue improving your cultivation.】
【In the blink of an eye, another two hundred years pass…】
【Year 1,300: Sensing a premonition in your heart, you successfully exit seclusion.】
【By now, you have advanced to Golden Immortal, Fifth Layer mid-stage!】
【The Primordial Energy Tree within your body has reached two zhang (6.66 m) and nine chi (3 m), just one step away from sixth layer Major Mastery.】
【Your Spirit Domain has expanded to a range of 27,000 li (13,500 km)…】
【You are confident that with your current strength, you are likely no weaker than Tang Yiyi, though still inferior to Fairy Ziling.】
【This year, foreign races from the Eighth Heaven descend to hunt the prodigious cultivators of the Seventh Heaven.】
【You disguise yourself as a lesser demon deity, narrowly escaping disaster…】
Back in the Real World, Su Xing felt a question rising in his mind as he read this.
“Fairy Ziling actually broke through to Supreme Unity Golden Immortal!?”
“And Qingyunzi… perished, his Dao extinguished!?”
Su Xing was somewhat stunned. Why had things changed so drastically?
After pondering deeply for a long while, Su Xing speculated:
“Could Fairy Ziling’s breakthrough… be related to the spirit cultivation insights I gave her?”
The only thing Su Xing could think of that might have directly altered Fairy Ziling’s path in this simulation was that single act.
Su Xing had reached the absolute pinnacle of the art of spirit cultivation.
Even casually written insights on spirit cultivation would be a priceless treasure.
A single volume of spirit cultivation insights helping Fairy Ziling break into the Supreme Unity Golden Immortal realm was not without basis.
For a cultivator like Fairy Ziling who had reached Peak Golden Immortal, one’s accumulated foundation was typically more than sufficient. To take that final step, what one truly awaited was an “opportunity”!
This kind of opportunity was mysterious to speak of.
Some Peak Golden Immortal cultivators had a fondness for fishing, and perhaps by chance they’d hook a “fortune fish,” which might trigger a flash of blessed inspiration, allowing them to smoothly break through to Supreme Unity.
Other cultivators might merely visit a pleasure house to play and immerse themselves in worldly life, and in the resulting clarity of mind, also achieve the breakthrough to Supreme Unity.
Thus, such opportunities could only be encountered, never sought!
“So Fairy Ziling’s breakthrough opportunity lay in the art of spirit cultivation?”
Su Xing mused thoughtfully.
Fairy Ziling was passionate about the art of spirit cultivation and had spent tens of thousands of years attempting to grow Spirit-Gathering Flowers and other spiritual plants.
Perhaps this was Fairy Ziling’s Dao and her destined opportunity!
“As for proving whether this is the case… it shouldn’t be difficult!”
“The insights I wrote this simulation were just something I jotted down casually. If next time I present her with carefully composed insights, perhaps I could help Fairy Ziling achieve her breakthrough even sooner!”
At this thought, Su Xing felt a surge of joy.
Fairy Ziling’s breakthrough to Supreme Unity Golden Immortal had no small impact on Su Xing.
First, Fairy Ziling was a top-tier prodigy among Golden Immortals, possessing the potential to reach Great Firmament.
After ascending to Supreme Unity, she would represent a major new addition to the Azure Origin Domain’s fighting strength!
Second—and most crucially!
After Fairy Ziling’s ascension to Supreme Unity, she would vacate the first-place position on the Prodigy List’s Earth Ranking!
Su Xing would no longer need to defeat Fairy Ziling to claim the top spot on the Earth Ranking!
All Su Xing needed was to find a way to defeat a Supreme Unity Golden Immortal-level opponent, or fight one to a standstill.
Then he could smoothly ascend to first place on the Earth Ranking!
And after reaching first place on the Earth Ranking…
Su Xing would be able to meet the Legendary woman of the Three Thousand Worlds — the half-saint Celestial Secrets Pavilion Master!
He could even have the Celestial Secrets Pavilion Master answer one of his questions!
When that time came… Su Xing’s room to maneuver would be enormous!
It was equivalent to being able to ask a question with every simulation!
“Hss… I never expected that first place on the Earth Ranking could be achieved so smoothly, and in this manner?”
“I originally thought it would take at least several more simulations… but now that I look at it, I already have the strength to claim first on the Earth Ranking?”
Su Xing blinked. This happiness had come rather suddenly.
“So now, my only competitor… is Tang Yiyi?”
“And to claim first on the Earth Ranking… I either defeat Tang Yiyi, or prove that my strength surpasses hers!”
Theoretically speaking, Su Xing only needed to defeat Tang Yiyi in the Seventh Heaven to claim the top seat on the Earth Ranking.
But he and Tang Yiyi were not enemies, and besides, defeating Tang Yiyi in the Seventh Heaven might not become known to the outside world.
Therefore, the more reliable approach was for Su Xing to fight a Supreme Unity Golden Immortal to a draw before Fairy Ziling advanced to Supreme Unity.
At that point, Su Xing would ascend to second place on the Earth Ranking.
Once Fairy Ziling completed her advancement, Su Xing would naturally become first on the Earth Ranking.
Then, Su Xing would possess the qualification to meet the Celestial Secrets Pavilion Master.
However, Su Xing was somewhat puzzled…
“The Celestial Secrets Pavilion Master is clearly in the Eighth Heaven…”
“Even if I become first on the Earth Ranking, how would I be able to meet her?”
“Never mind, let me claim first on the Earth Ranking first and worry about the rest later…”
“Besides, that’s a matter for the next simulation…”
“For this simulation, the priority should be improving the Shadow Deity’s strength!”
Currently, the Shadow Deity’s realm had already reached the late stage of a second-tier deity, and a breakthrough to first-tier deity was not far off.
His gaze turned to the simulation panel.
【Year 1,300. The lesser demon deity you transformed into was accepted by the foreign races and treated as an honored guest.】
【Several years later, through a passage unique to the foreign races, you left the Eighth Heaven and returned to the Heavenly Secrets Domain.】
【After returning to the Heavenly Secrets Domain, you continued cultivating apostles and accumulating the power of faith as before.】
【Thus, five hundred years passed…】
【Year 1,800. The number of both believers and apostles reached a short-term peak and could no longer be increased.】
【So you applied to travel to the Azure Origin Domain…】
【You arrived in the Azure Origin Domain and began accumulating the power of faith…】
【Thus, a thousand years quietly passed…】
【Year 2,800. One day, you sensed something and divined that a calamity was approaching…】
【So you expended all of the power of faith you had accumulated over a thousand years to boost your strength.】
【Under the infusion of a massive amount of faith power, your realm continuously rose…】
【Your divine power continued to grow…】
【Ultimately, you were only a single step away from the Peak of a second-tier deity!】
【Several more months passed…】
【You never expected that this calamity would once again be the demonized Qingyunzi!】
【Qingyunzi had not truly perished — he had merely fallen completely into demonization. His appearance had changed drastically, and he had lost all reason…】
【You died at Qingyunzi’s hands…】
【Ding, this simulation has ended!】
In the Real World, Su Xing murmured upon seeing this:
“As expected! As a half-saint… even having lost his mind, how could Qingyunzi die so easily!”
“So it turns out that after falling into demonization, others could no longer recognize him…”
Su Xing let out a sigh.
No one could have imagined that the once-outstanding pillar of the righteous path, Qingyunzi, would become a scourge upon the Three Thousand Worlds after his demonization.
Qingyunzi’s demonization was something Su Xing did not yet have the ability to prevent.
For now, Su Xing was more concerned with his own progress in strength.
“The lesser demon disguise is not far from reaching first-tier deity either… It seems it will reach the Supreme Unity Golden Immortal level faster than my main body!”
“Let me check this simulation’s rewards first!”
Su Xing’s gaze turned to the reward list.
【Star Body】: Gold talent. Price: 10 origin energy.
【Spirit Realm — 27,000 Li (13,500 km)】: Spirit Domain evolution, reaching the Spirit Realm level. Within the Spirit Realm’s range, the power of supernatural arts and the spatial Dao is greatly enhanced. The Spirit Realm gradually evolves toward a real world. Price: 500,000 origin energy.
【Golden Immortal, Fifth Layer cultivation】: Mid-stage Golden Immortal, Fifth Layer cultivation. Price: 10,000,000 origin energy.
【Great Shaman Body Forging Art cultivation results】: Great Shaman Body Forging Art, Sixth Layer Minor Mastery. The Primordial Energy Tree within the body reaches two zhang (6.66 m) and nine chi (3 m). Primordial energy flows endlessly. Price: 7,000,000 origin energy.
Looking at the four rewards before him, Su Xing coveted every single one.
With ample origin energy on hand, Su Xing’s choice was naturally… take them all!
【Ding, congratulations on bringing out Star Body. Cost: 11 origin energy… Remaining origin energy: 52,031,178 points…】
【Congratulations on bringing out Great Shaman Body Forging Art cultivation results. Cost: 7,000,000 origin energy… Remaining origin energy: 45,031,178 points…】
【Congratulations on bringing out Golden Immortal, Fifth Layer cultivation. Cost: 10,000,000… Remaining origin energy: 35,031,178 points…】
【Congratulations on bringing out Spirit Realm — 27,000 Li (13,500 km). Cost: 550,000 origin energy… Remaining origin energy: 34,481,178 points…】
As the simulation Chime notifications concluded, Su Xing’s strength surged once again!
The Star Body enhanced Su Xing’s talent in both the Dao of Destiny and Karma and the Great Shaman Body Forging Art.
Breaking through directly from the late stage of Golden Immortal, Fourth Layer to Golden Immortal, Fifth Layer caused Su Xing’s internal magical power to grow by nearly twenty percent.
The Spirit Realm’s range expanded further…
Most critically!
Su Xing’s Great Shaman Body Forging Art was already extremely close to Major Mastery of the sixth realm!
Just one final chi remained before Su Xing could break into Major Mastery!
When that happened, Su Xing’s physical strength would continue to rise!
Su Xing sat cross-legged, and only after a moment did he feel the surge in cultivation gradually stabilize.
Having adapted to his explosively increased cultivation, Su Xing said with satisfaction:
“The Great Shaman Body Forging Art is finally not far from Major Mastery of the sixth realm!”
“Once I break through to Major Mastery, I can find a way to challenge a Supreme Unity Golden Immortal!”
“First on the Earth Ranking… it’s almost within reach!”
After a pause, Su Xing added with a pained expression:
“But this origin energy is being spent way too fast…”
“Sigh, every time I improve my strength, it costs ten to twenty million origin energy!”
Su Xing smacked his lips. Heartache aside, his strength still needed to keep growing!
At present, Su Xing still had four simulation attempts remaining!
And over thirty million origin energy!
“Then let me press forward in one breath… and compete for that first place on the Earth Ranking!”
“Begin simulation!”
【Simulation #160 initiated. Current remaining origin energy: 34,481,178 points… Remaining simulation attempts: 3.】
【Simulation begins!】
【Drawing a talent costs 1 origin energy. Draw?】
“No…”
Su Xing intoned silently.
For this simulation, Su Xing planned to attempt forging the Blackice sword.
Since he was going to forge a sword, he naturally needed to bring out the Blood Sacrifice Forging talent from before!
Spending a few origin energy, Su Xing successfully drew the talent.
【Blood Sacrifice Forging】: Gold talent. Your blood possesses a special ability. When you use your own vital blood to sacrifice-refine weapons and immortal treasures, you can enhance the quality of the immortal treasures to a certain degree.
“I wonder… with the Blood Sacrifice Forging talent, will the effect be even stronger now that my Bloodline has improved?”
Su Xing mused thoughtfully.
The divine body Bloodline he currently possessed was far stronger than when he had first obtained this talent.
If Su Xing’s conjecture was correct and Bloodline quality also influenced the sacrifice-refining results…
Then Su Xing might truly be able to forge an innate treasure!
Thinking of this, Su Xing sensed the Blackice sword within his body and murmured:
“Soon… your name will resound across the entire cultivation world!”
His gaze turned to the simulation panel!
【Please select Plus One…】
“I choose Late Bloomer…”
【In the spirit field grotto-heaven, you realized you were in a simulation!】
【You left the Wish Realm and traveled smoothly all the way to the Star Realm.】
【As you neared the Star Realm, you suddenly sensed something — the auras of several foreign race members.】
【You concealed your presence and approached inconspicuously. You quickly discovered over a dozen foreign race deities skilled in concealment had entered the Star Realm, apparently searching for the whereabouts of a certain being.】
【There were even several Advent Cult officers who had also infiltrated the Star Realm…】
【You did not alert them, knowing they were searching for the lesser demon deity you had transformed into…】
【You proceeded with your plan to attend the Star Assembly, unmoved by their surveillance…】