223 – Wang Ping is Quite the Trickster! Teaming up with the Phoenix Girls!

【In that cultivator’s hand was indeed a fragment of the map, the final piece of the Dark Time Emperor’s Scripture. It can be said that as long as you can obtain this fragment, the map will be complete, and it might even trigger some special mechanism, greatly benefiting you in acquiring the Emperor’s Scripture in the future.】

“It’s actually a map fragment! This is truly an unexpected surprise!”

Wang Ping looked at the simulated text and showed a shocked expression.

As for the third map fragment, he had not expected to find it at all.

Yet now, it suddenly appeared before him, effortlessly coming into his possession, which was quite a surprise.

“Next will be easy. The Dark Time Emperor’s Scripture can finally be obtained, and I won’t need to trouble Emperor Tianyu to seek help from the Immortal Palace’s fortune teller anymore. Of course, no one knows where Emperor Tianyu is now anyway.”

Wang Ping’s eyes flickered as he muttered to himself, deep in thought, continuing to stare at the screen.

【Immediately, you contacted this cultivator, intending to trade with him. Seeing that you wanted to trade, this genius was quite surprised. Then, his eyes sparkled as he guessed that you might have other map fragments.】

【After all, without other fragments, you wouldn’t be interested in this one, nor would you know what it was. He had been searching for other fragments for years, but without success. This time, he attended the Dao Comprehension Tea Party hoping to get lucky and didn’t expect to encounter someone in possession of the fragment.】

【For this reason, this genius ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List smiled and said he didn’t plan on trading for anything else. However, he was willing to have a gambling battle with you. You put forth your other fragments to wager, and the winner would obtain all the fragments.】

【Upon hearing this, the geniuses present were quite surprised and looked at you and this genius with some interest. Clearly, these fragments were not simple and contained some secret; otherwise, you both wouldn’t be so persistent.】

【However, some thought that this genius ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List was quite shameless. He had already reached the list, with his cultivation at the Great Saint Perfection level, far surpassing Wang Ping’s. Even though Wang Ping’s talent was second only to Gu Xuan among the younger generation and comparable to the Great Thunder Immortal Physique, it was impossible to fight across such a significant difference in cultivation.】

【Not to mention fighting a genius from the Great Saint List, even facing an ordinary Great Saint Perfection expert would only result in instant defeat. The strength disparity between realms becomes greater as one progresses, making it harder to fight beyond one’s level. Therefore, the power gap brought by differences in the Great Saint Realm is insurmountable.】

【You listened to the genius ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List, frowning, not expecting him to be so shameless. Naturally, you were confident in battling him. A battle between a seventh-level Great Saint and a Great Saint Perfection was merely a difference of three minor realms. With your current setup, you could easily defeat the last one on the Great Saint List. However, doing so would reveal your capabilities, making hiding impossible.】

【Yet, you had to obtain this fragment. Thus, you made up your mind.】

【Just as you were frowning and thinking, this genius ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List used provocation, suggesting that you might be afraid. If you were, he would consider suppressing his cultivation by two or three minor levels for a fair fight; otherwise, people might think he was bullying you.】

【Listening to this genius, Shi Yuyan’s expression was peculiar. She knew Wang Ping’s cultivation had reached the sixth level of the Great Saint Realm, and if it came to a fight, even if he suppressed his level, it was uncertain who would win. If he didn’t suppress, he would certainly be beaten. Thus, Shi Yuyan looked at him with pity.】

【As for you, reading his provocation, you smiled, took out a fragment, and said if he wanted to fight, then so be it. As for suppressing his level, that was up to him.】

【Seeing you agree, the genius ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List laughed heartily, praising you for your straightforwardness. Then, he asked Qin Yue to open a Small Universe for your battle.】

【Qin Yue gave you a meaningful look before opening the Small Universe to provide a spacious battleground. The other geniuses were also interested, wanting to see how strong you had become and what gave you the confidence to fight the genius ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List.】

【As for Lei Wanqian with the Great Thunder Immortal Physique, he frowned. He originally wanted a chance to fight you at the same level to see who was stronger. Now, it seemed there would be no chance.】

【Soon, the battle began. The genius ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List knew not to underestimate you. Thus, at the start, he unleashed his Great Saint Perfection cultivation without hesitation, aiming for a swift victory, completely disregarding his earlier words about suppressing his level, making the geniuses present disdain him.】

【However, the next scene shocked everyone present, including Qin Yue. Faced with the genius’s strongest strike, you directly exploded with the peak cultivation of the seventh level of the Great Saint Realm, effortlessly countering it.】

【This left the genius ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List stunned, incredulous that your cultivation had reached the peak of the seventh level of the Great Saint Realm. While he was in shock, you seized the opportunity to launch a fierce attack. Utilizing the Spacetime Divine Ability skillfully, you beat the genius severely, forcing him to fight with all his might, not daring to relax.】

【The geniuses outside watched silently as you chased the genius ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List, beating him mercilessly. No one had expected you could elevate your cultivation from the second level of the Great Saint Realm to the peak of the seventh level of the Great Saint Realm in just over thirty years, capable of challenging the Great Saint List.】

Lei Wanqian, with his Great Thunder Immortal Physique, winced, silently abandoning the idea of fighting you. Even though your physiques were of similar levels, the fact that you were so much stronger was hard for him to accept…

Shi Yuyan was also speechless. She didn’t expect that the cultivation level you displayed in front of her earlier wasn’t even your highest. You had hidden some of it, making you more mysterious. She wondered if you had more secrets. She also grew curious about you…

As for Qin Yue, she sighed inwardly, thinking that perhaps you were her biggest rival in the competition for immortal fate…

While everyone was still coming to terms with their emotions, the prodigy ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List, who you had suppressed, chose to use a devastating Secret Technique that would harm himself while trying to kill you…

In response, you sneered, unafraid. You held nothing back and activated your golden talent: Multiple Symphony. This time, you were quite fortunate, triggering the triple symphony directly. Although at your level, the effect of Multiple Symphony had somewhat diminished—double symphony still gave a hundred percent attack strength, but the triple symphony only reached eighty percent, reducing sequentially—nonetheless, such a terrifying attack was not something the prodigy ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List could withstand…

The final collision saw you blocking all his escape routes, forcing him to take your overpowering strike head-on. He was utterly defeated and seriously injured by you. If you hadn’t held back at the last moment, he would have perished…

Seeing you easily defeat the prodigy ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List made the other prodigies present even more serious, realizing your threat level. The defeated prodigy, his face ashen, directly threw the fragment of the map to you…

You caught it and smiled slightly. This person had kept his promise, saving you some trouble…

The transactions on-site continued. Some people noticed your Heavenly Frost Ice and wanted to trade with you. You set a high price and successfully traded for a world-shaking elixir that could help a cultivator refine a Supreme Physique. With this, you no longer had to rely solely on disciples to improve your cultivation but could enhance your Supreme Physique yourself…

After various heated transactions, Qin Yue finally revealed the purpose of her Dao Enlightenment Tea Gathering. She had discovered a peculiar secret realm. This realm was so strange that it could only be opened by gathering the fortune of a large number of prodigies. No matter what methods were used, it could not be opened otherwise…

This surprised the prodigies present, sparking discussions. Some were curious, asking if not even the Emperor of the Qin family could forcibly break it open…

Qin Yue smiled bitterly, explaining that if it were possible to forcibly break it without destroying the secret realm itself, she wouldn’t have held the tea gathering and invited numerous prodigies to enter together; she would have chosen to keep it to herself…

This made the eyes of many prodigies gleam as they calculated various things. You, too, became thoughtful…

Your thoughts differed from others. You pondered that this Dao Enlightenment Tea Gathering had never appeared in your memory, nor had you heard about this secret realm. Clearly, this was some kind of butterfly effect…

You wondered how this butterfly effect had come about. Was it because you had defeated Gu Xuan in advance? It seemed the most significant change in this simulation was that…

As you were lost in thought, Qin Yue once again extended an invitation, asking those interested in entering the secret realm to state their intentions…

In response, many prodigies present expressed their willingness to go. You also snapped back to attention and chose to go as well…

After all, a secret realm that even the Emperor couldn’t forcefully break open without self-destruction definitely contained numerous opportunities that couldn’t be missed…

Seeing the prodigies present agreeing one by one, Qin Yue was not surprised and was quite satisfied with the result…

Qin Yue then stated that tomorrow, she would take everyone to the location of the secret realm. You could rest in the city for the night…

With that, everyone began to leave, and the gathering dispersed. You were also about to leave when Qin Yue called you, hoping to talk with you alone…

You were quite surprised about this but did not refuse. You chose to talk with Qin Yue in a private pavilion. Soon, Qin Yue revealed her purpose. She hoped to form an alliance with you to compete for immortal fate in the future…

Hearing this, you were quite surprised and curious, asking why it was you…

Qin Yue smiled slightly and said that in the Golden Age, countless prodigies and anomalies had gathered in this era. No one could thrive alone. Solo fighting would definitely be disadvantageous. Finding reliable allies and defeating the remaining competitors first before internally competing or distributing immortal fate would undoubtedly make becoming immortal easier…

You were not surprised by Qin Yue’s answer; you only asked again why it was you and not Gu Xuan, Lei Wanqian, or Shi Yuyan, whose talents were equally astonishing…

Qin Yue gazed at you and slowly explained that the Eternal Life Gu family was too mysterious and unpredictable, and Gu Xuan’s talent was too high, and his character too enigmatic, making cooperating with him like courting disaster. As for Lei Wanqian and Shi Yuyan, although their talents were equally impressive, their ways of dealing with people and affairs were not as refined as yours. Your cautious manner was the type she appreciated. Of course, if possible, she would naturally try her best to win everyone over, but your priority was higher…

Listening to Qin Yue’s words, you quite admire her straightforwardness. Therefore, you did not refuse her proposal for an alliance. After all, although you do not think you will survive to the true battle for immortality in this simulation, forming an alliance with Qin Yue is not a bad thing.

Especially since you are about to head to the secret realm Qin Yue discovered. Forming an alliance with the discoverer would undoubtedly be safer, and the harvest might be greater. One could say that right now, forming an alliance has no downsides, so there is no reason to refuse.

Seeing you agree, Qin Yue is very happy and quite surprised. After all, prodigies are generally very proud and not easy to deal with, yet you agreed so easily, which she did not expect.

Moreover, this also involves the Eternal Life Qin family and the Taiyi Emperor Palace. After all, she is the first imperial daughter of the Eternal Life Qin family, and you are the first imperial son of the Taiyi Emperor Palace, both future leaders of the two great forces. Forming an alliance would greatly impact the Central Immortal Continent.

Seeing Qin Yue’s surprise, you smile slightly and meaningfully express that if the Eternal Life Qin family faces trouble in the future, you will strive to have the Taiyi Emperor Palace offer assistance. If the Taiyi Emperor Palace faces trouble, you hope Qin Yue will strive for the Eternal Life Qin family to come to their aid.

“Is Simulation Wang Ping setting a trap for Qin Yue?”

Wang Ping looked at the content simulated in the text, his expression somewhat subtle.

In this simulation, Emperor Tianyu had not shown up at all, giving Wang Ping an ominous premonition.

After all, this was also a butterfly effect, and when in the First Minor Universe, flags were already planted.

According to past experience, the possibility of something happening was very high.

Although Wang Ping couldn’t guess the reason that could cause trouble for Emperor Tianyu, making some preparations couldn’t be wrong.

Of course, Wang Ping also understood that verbal promises of this kind were unlikely to be effective.

One could only say it is better to have it than not.

As various thoughts flashed through Wang Ping’s mind, the simulation continued.

Qin Yue didn’t think much of your words, didn’t doubt, and just seriously nodded in agreement, giving a promise. Thus, you reached an agreement, had a drink, and temporarily formed a verbal alliance.

Soon, night fell, and many prodigies contacted their respective forces. For this reason, many powerful individuals began rushing over, ready to act at any time. However, they didn’t hide their movements, entering the city openly to prevent any misunderstandings with the Qin family.

Regarding this, the Qin family also understood and didn’t say much. After all, it was inevitable for such things to happen.

In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived. Led by Qin Yue, you all headed to the location of the secret realm.

What you didn’t expect was that the secret realm’s location was in the White Mist Forbidden Zone. The White Mist Forbidden Zone was the place where Huang Yin, Huang Qing, and a group of reclusive quasi-emperors resided. Even a regular quasi-emperor entering this area could easily fall.

However, although you were somewhat surprised, you didn’t think much of it. After all, you didn’t have much understanding of the White Mist Forbidden Zone. When you initially entered Chrysanthemum Village, it was only because of the golden talent: Teleportation. It might be normal for the secret realm to be located here.

The only thing that made you a bit curious was whether the Eternal Life Qin family’s emperor had discovered Chrysanthemum Village and those reclusive quasi-emperors there. If so, it would be interesting.

However, based on the Eternal Life Qin family’s reaction, it seemed they hadn’t discovered it. Otherwise, there would definitely be some ruckus, which couldn’t be kept from the major forces.

Next, the quasi-emperors of the major forces cleared the way, delving into the White Mist Forbidden Zone. Although there were significant dangers here, considered risky even for regular quasi-emperors, the quasi-emperors of the major forces were anything but simple, with profound cultivation, far beyond those who just stepped into the quasi-emperor level. Hence, they moved unimpeded.

Not only that, but they didn’t even encounter any of the White Mist Forbidden Zone’s unique fog beasts attacking their group. Evidently, the fog beasts, known for being hard to kill, were also bullies who feared the strong, knowing these powerful beings were not to be messed with, so they shrank back.

Just as you were delving deeper into the White Mist Forbidden Zone, the old monsters in Chrysanthemum Village also noticed the team advancing into the forbidden zone, feeling quite annoyed…

After all, they were hidden here because they did not want to be discovered. As a result, not long ago, the Qin family emperor entered the forbidden zone, and this time so many quasi-emperors arrived. If they were not outmatched, they would want to go out and obliterate these people to prevent them from finding this place.

If this group truly discovers Chrysanthemum Village, the trouble will be significant. After all, these people killed many individuals from emperor-level forces back in the day, becoming both renowned and targets of these forces.

If someone discovers them, they will face the emperor’s thunderous revenge.

Of course, even if these people found this place and drew the emperor here, they were not too worried, just annoyed they had to move again. Moving is troublesome, and finding such a good place again would be difficult.

Ultimately, your group diverged from Chrysanthemum Village, allowing the hidden quasi-emperors of the village to breathe a sigh of relief.

Shortly after, Qin Yue led you to the location of the secret realm deep within the White Mist Forbidden Zone. Upon arrival, you noticed temporal anomalies and silently began investigating.

While you were studying, Qin Yue lightly chuckled and expressed her hope that all the prodigies would use the special secret technique she had previously taught to draw out their fortune manifestations and activate the secret realm’s entrance.

Seeing this, all the prodigies’ eyes gleamed as they performed the secret technique, invoking their fortunes and creating various fortune manifestations. You also used the secret technique, drawing out your fortune manifestation.

However, what surprised the prodigies and quasi-emperors was that your fortune manifestation was very weak, far inferior to other prodigies, and incomparable to the likes of Lei Wanqian, Shi Yuyan, or Qin Yue. This made everyone’s gazes quite subtle.

To everyone, this was very odd. After all, your talent is astonishing, you are the first emperor’s son of Taiyi Emperor Palace, and your fortune is linked to it. It shouldn’t be this minimal.

Contrary to everyone’s disbelief, you remained calm. One knows their own situation best; your fortune has always been poor. Otherwise, you wouldn’t keep missing opportunities, relying on simulations to pile up rewards to become stronger.

Seeing your calmness, everyone’s expressions changed again, especially Shi Yuyan, who thought of your habit of hiding things. She speculated you were deliberately concealing and hadn’t used your full strength.

For a moment, she marveled at your cautious nature, considering it too crafty and experienced. She thought it necessary to learn from you, hiding part of her strength in everything, maybe even more.

After Qin Yue glanced at you, she didn’t say much and urged all prodigies to fully utilize their fortune manifestations to stimulate the secret realm entrance.

In response, everyone cooperated seriously. Soon, the secret realm exhibited strong space-time fluctuations. Then, a space-time vortex appeared before everyone, revealing their delight knowing they had successfully opened the secret realm.

Next, Qin Yue looked at everyone, smiled slightly, and stated that although the secret realm is open, what lies within is unknown. After entering, life and death are up to fate. If anyone perishes, they should not blame her or the Qin family.

At Qin Yue’s words, everyone chuckled, indicating they naturally wouldn’t blame her.

Seeing this, Qin Yue nodded in satisfaction, intending for some prisoners held by the Qin family to test the secret realm entrance.

Soon, Qin Yue’s followers led the prisoners into the secret realm and confirmed some details. After entering the secret realm, any being beyond the Great Saint realm would be suppressed. If someone forcibly used power beyond the Great Saint level, they would be directly crushed by the realm’s rules, turning into blood mist and facing absolute death.

Besides that, it seemed impossible to use power beyond the Saint Realm in the secret realm. Whether Supremes and quasi-emperors could enter remained a doubt.

This revelation made the surrounding prodigies’ faces change, especially those whose cultivation reached Great Saint Perfection or even half-step Supreme on the Great Saint List. They frowned deeply because their advantage lay in longer cultivation time and significant cultivation advantages.

Now, if their cultivation and strength had to be sealed to enter, they had no advantage over the prodigies on the Saint King List and might even be at a disadvantage. After all, at the same level, they weren’t as formidable as freaks like Lei Wanqian.

Compared to the discomfort of others, the prodigies on the Saint King List or those who recently entered the Great Saint level, like Lei Wanqian’s level, were pleasantly surprised, thinking this secret realm exploration might yield great rewards.

As for you, your feelings were quite complex, thinking the secret realm seemed beneficial for Saint King Realm prodigies. You even suspected if this was prepared for some chosen one of fortune.

However, since the secret realm was located within the White Mist Forbidden Zone, it seemed no one could have tailed along.

At the moment you were lost in thought, two unexpected visitors arrived. They were none other than Huang Qing and Huang Yin. Their appearance surprised you greatly, making you wonder if this secret realm was specially prepared for these two young girls.

As you were astonished, the other prodigies were also quite surprised, puzzled as to where Huang Qing and Huang Yin had come from. Although their cultivation was only at the fifth level of the Saint King Realm, they gave off a very unique vibe.

As for those quasi-emperor powerhouses, they were extremely shocked, seeing through the true forms of Huang Yin and Huang Qing as pure-blooded phoenixes. Such talents, even in the current golden era, were second only to your Spacetime Dao Body, Gu Xuan’s Immortal Bones, and Lei Wanqian’s Great Thunder Immortal Physique. Their bloodline talent even surpassed Shi Yuyan.

These quasi-emperors were curious about where Huang Qing and Huang Yin had emerged from. Could it be that the Phoenix Clan, which had migrated to the Endless Fire Domain of the Four-Harmony Universe, had also made their debut in this golden era and set foot on the Central Immortal Continent again?

Faced with the amazement of the crowd, Huang Yin and Huang Qing greeted everyone playfully, their lively eyes scanning the group, eager to challenge someone.

Seeing this, you couldn’t help but smile. These two little girls, despite being much younger and far less cultivated than when you took them away from Chrysanthemum Village in a previous simulation, were still so lively and combative.

Next, under the strange gazes of the crowd, Huang Qing and Huang Yin declared that you were quite impressive, and they wanted to challenge you.

In response, your gaze turned subtle. You didn’t expect these two girls to target you immediately… Is this a continuation of old ties?

Feeling sentimental, you chuckled softly and said that if they wanted to challenge you, they should wait for another ten thousand years. After saying that, you revealed the aura of the peak of the seventh level of the Great Saint Realm.

Seeing that your cultivation had reached the peak of the seventh level of the Great Saint Realm, Huang Yin and Huang Qing were instantly deflated, blaming each other for their poor judgment in choosing such a strong opponent.

Watching the two of them mock each other, the gazes of the other prodigies became even more subtle, growing increasingly curious and fond of them. As the old monsters behind them revealed the true identities of Huang Yin and Huang Qing, the expressions of the prodigies changed even more. They hadn’t expected the two to be pure-blooded phoenixes.

If they could win over pure-blooded phoenixes or even become their dao companions, it would undoubtedly benefit them greatly in the future. Pure-blooded phoenixes were extremely rare, and mating with one would bring immense benefits.

Now, with two pure-blooded phoenixes right in front of them, and with such simple personalities, it naturally made many people’s hearts flutter.

Sensing the odd atmosphere, Qin Yue also began to smooth things over, stating that the secret realm had already opened, and delaying further could lead to unforeseen changes. So, she suggested that if Huang Yin and Huang Qing wanted to challenge someone, they could do so inside.

At the same time, Qin Yue smiled and tried to draw Huang Qing and Huang Yin into her team.

Seeing Qin Yue trying to recruit Huang Qing and Huang Yin, the other prodigies also smiled and began to vie for them. Only you remained unmoved.

You were very familiar with Huang Qing and Huang Yin. Although these two girls had simple personalities, the Phoenix Clan’s talent allowed them to easily sense who harbored malice. Moreover, with the guidance of those old monsters, they weren’t easily deceived.

Seeing everyone trying to recruit them, Huang Qing and Huang Yin’s eyes gleamed as they finally looked at you and chose you, expressing their hope to form a team with you and asking for your agreement.

In response, you were quite surprised. Although you thought they wouldn’t be easily deceived or team up with just anyone, you didn’t expect them to choose to team up with you.

Surprised, you communicated telepathically with them, curious about why they chose to team up with you. They replied that most of these people had impure motives and harbored ill intentions, but you gave them a very good feeling, one of pure goodwill.

Hearing this, you couldn’t help but laugh softly, realizing you had underestimated them. They not only sensed ill intentions but also goodwill.

Subsequently, you agreed to their request and planned to form a team with them. Seeing this, the expressions of the others changed. You were already formidable, and now you had teamed up with two pure-blooded phoenixes, which could further develop your relationship, posing an even greater threat to them in the future.

Especially the prodigy ranked ninety-eighth on the Great Saint List, who snorted coldly, feeling very displeased. He had been defeated by you, lost a treasured map, and had to use a precious sacred elixir to heal his injuries. Seeing you now even whisking away two pure-blooded phoenixes was simply enviable and infuriating.

Qin Yue, seeing the two pure-blooded phoenixes choose you, felt envious but also breathed a sigh of relief. You were considered her ally, and you gaining the friendship of the pure-blooded phoenixes was better than them being won over by others.

Thereafter, without saying much, everyone chose to enter the secret realm one by one.