Chapter Forty-five: Unparalleled Beauty
Within the World Pearl, there exists a realm devoid of sun, moon, or stars. Rather than calling it a world, it might be more apt to describe it as an infinitely vast eggshell. The interior walls of this pearl are covered with sprawling lands—mountains, rivers, all that one might expect—lush with verdant forests, brightly lit, saturated with spiritual energy, akin to the paradisiacal realms spoken of in legends, yet far grander in scale.
The 197 disciples from the four sects, upon being transmitted inside, found themselves scattered at random throughout this miniature world. Most landed on grasslands or amidst trees, but a few unlucky souls materialized directly before the native inhabitants and were instantly torn apart and devoured as fresh meat.
In a forest within this small world, Kong Xiaori stood with his sister, surveying their surroundings. They had avoided any beastly assault and landed safely, with no other cultivators nearby. Despite its name, this “small world” was vast beyond measure to Qi Refining cultivators like themselves.
After ensuring there were no threatening presences in the vicinity, Kong Xiaori brought out the jade bottle Zhou Xuanhong had entrusted to him, which contained a black “pill.” The moment he uncorked the bottle, the pill, upon contact with spiritual energy, dissolved into countless tiny black specks. They surged out of the bottle in a swarm and vanished in all directions in the blink of an eye, disappearing from sight, undetectable to the naked eye.
A startled sound escaped Kong Xiaori’s lips. He couldn’t fathom what had just happened, surprised that the “pill” was actually composed of innumerable insects.
Before Kong Xiaori and Kong Xiaoyue, two pitch-black bloodthirsty bugs hovered, lingering rather than fleeing. Through spiritual sense, they communicated: “Xiaori, Xiaoyue, keep these two bloodthirsty insects with you for ease of contact. I’ve seized control of a brood. Soon, my swarm will blanket thousands of miles, feeding you information on spiritual treasures, beasts, and other cultivators. Of course, if you’re confident in your abilities, I won’t intrude on your sweet journey together—I’d hate to be a third wheel.”
Kong Xiaoyue asked in confusion, “What’s a third wheel?”
“It’s nothing. Decide as you like. With your combined prowess, you could probably sweep aside all foes, but surprises happen.”
The siblings conferred quietly and decided to accept Zhou Xuanhong’s cooperation, though for the first ten days, they would explore on their own.
“Very well, it’s settled then. The bloodthirsty insects need time to set up their information web anyway. I’ll share all the findings with you. By the way, there’s an enemy you need to deal with. He’s probably breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage right now. Do you have the confidence to kill him?”
Kong Xiaori instantly understood. “You mean Wang Li, don’t you? I’ve never liked him, but we should at least know why you want him dead.”
“If my guess is correct, Wang Li will soon launch an assault on the main lineage of Formative Sect’s leader. Given your relationship with me, both officially and personally, he’ll want to kill you in this small world—maybe by using the Yin Corpse Sect or the Five Spirit Pill Valley’s cultivators to do it.”
Kong Xiaori pressed, “Have you discovered anything else?”
“Hehe, considering how valuable this small world is, wouldn’t the Five Spirit Pill Valley covet it? With the current state of the Formative Sect, they might well be plotting something behind the scenes.”
Kong Xiaori, quick-witted as he was, grasped the gravity of their position. If they wanted an easy month, they’d have to heed Zhou Xuanhong’s advice.
“That’s enough for now. There are still battles outside on the martial platform. None of them pose a threat yet. Go ahead and enjoy yourselves.”
With that, Zhou Xuanhong’s consciousness withdrew from the bloodthirsty insect, which, resuming its original will under the mother insect’s command, hid itself in Kong Xiaori’s hair.
Relieved, the siblings began to discuss matters freely.
Kong Xiaoyue voiced her concern, “If Senior Brother Zhou spoke the truth, our situation is dire. Here, anyone can break through to Foundation Establishment. If a pack of Foundation Establishment cultivators hunts us, we could be in real danger.”
Kong Xiaori laughed heartily, “What’s to fear? Without risk, it would be dull. Together, nothing can stand against us. And if we can’t win, Big Brother gave us trump cards to escape with.”
In a place dense with spiritual energy, Wang Li hid within a formation, preparing to break through to Foundation Establishment. He had been only a step away for some time, so the breakthrough came naturally, without the need for a Foundation Pill.
In his dantian, besides spiritual power, was an unusual object—a seemingly ordinary twig. Yet, upon close inspection of its grain, one felt an overwhelming sense of vastness.
“Ha! If not for this segment of the World Tree’s branch, I’d only have built an ordinary foundation. Even if it’s borrowed power, it’s an Earth Spiritual Foundation. Even Nascent Soul stage won’t be out of reach!”
Stretching his limbs, he stepped onto his flying sword and soared upwards, delighting in the ease with which his body absorbed spiritual energy.
“So this is the power of Foundation Establishment! Zhou Xuanhong, just wait—I’ll trample you underfoot one day and pluck your head off with my own hands!”
After venting, he retrieved a core disciple token of the Yin Corpse Sect from his storage pouch and changed into their garb.
“Master, don’t blame your disciple for betraying the sect. That branch is too precious, and since you won’t give me treasures, I have no choice!”
He then produced his Formative Sect core disciple token, activating both to emit signals in the surrounding area. This was a feature of sect tokens: inscribed with formations, they could send and receive simple messages—calls for help, gathering, retreat—depending on the token’s level, with a broader range for higher ranks.
The Yin Corpse Sect token’s message was a summon; the Formative Sect’s, a call for help.
Thus, Wang Li wandered about at his leisure, gathering spirit herbs and slaying a few beasts. Soon, a senior disciple of the Formative Sect, having received the distress call, arrived.
“How did you get a core disciple’s token? Did you already kill its owner?” the newcomer demanded.
Wang Li, his face masked to hide his cultivation and features, sneered, “You’ll soon die by my hand too!”
“Hmph, we’re both Qi Refining. I may not be strong, but you’ll never catch me!”
But Wang Li, wielding his spiritual sense, controlled two flying swords to intercept the senior, demonstrating the fundamental gap between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment—spiritual sense.
“You… you broke through to Foundation Establishment so quickly? Damn you!”
As the battle raged, a shadow flashed from the woods, finishing off the embattled elder. It was a Yin Corpse Sect disciple at the peak of Qi Refining, who saluted Wang Li, “Senior brother, why haven’t I seen you before?”
“You don’t need to know. Just follow me. Your elders should have briefed you—there’s nothing more to say.”
“Yes, yes! What now?”
Wang Li’s gaze turned murderous. “Gather all disciples. Exterminate every Formative Sect and sword cultivator.”
In a secluded cave, Xu Biao returned the now-empty pill bottle to his storage pouch. The hundreds of bloodthirsty insects were gone, save for one that hid in his hair.
“I thought it was some forbidden explosive pill, but it’s just a swarm of bugs.”
He hid the cave entrance with a formation disk, set up more to isolate his aura, and prepared to descend underground to fulfill Zhou Xuanhong’s orders.
“I don’t know what the young master’s planning, but it has to be something major. I’ll just do my part.”
He pulled out an earth-burrowing talisman and activated it, tunneling downward. Each was expensive, but trivial for a core disciple like Zhou Xuanhong to acquire by the dozen.
“How deep does this go?”
Outside the World Pearl, on the Foundation Establishment stage, the female disciple of the Yin Corpse Sect removed her hood, revealing a breathtaking face.
Opposite Hanyuan stood a young woman, her eyes limpid, regarding the sword cultivator with calm detachment. Her figure was flawless—youthful yet marked by the polish of time. Any more and she’d be too full; any less, too slight. Her cherry lips spoke fragrant words, her dainty nose caught every scent, her ears delicate as a celestial tune, her phoenix eyes rippling with unspoken emotion.
This beauty, blending youth and timelessness, was enough to make even Jindan elders of a thousand years old catch their breath. Even Hanyuan, the sword cultivator known for his icy heart, was momentarily stunned—let alone those with lesser resolve.
Among the crowd, Zhou Xuanhong, his mind returned from the bloodthirsty insects’ hive, also saw her and couldn’t help but compare her to Xiaona.
“Well, she is beautiful, but my wife still wins six to four.”
Such was Zhou Xuanhong’s verdict, swayed by a husband’s partiality.
Xuanqizi muttered, “Bai Youxuan? Could she be that Bai ancestor of the Yin Corpse Sect who perished millennia ago?”
Daxi squinted at the Old Ghost of the Corpse Mountain and said with a smile, “Aren’t you afraid something might happen to her when the trial’s over?”
The Old Ghost cackled wildly, “Afraid? Of what? You don’t know, she’s now a core disciple of the Supreme Yin Corpse Sect—perhaps not their top disciple, but her status is beyond our reach.”
At this, Xuanqizi and Wei Cangyuan’s faces changed. Only Daxi remained calm—Mount Song Sword Pavilion had its own powerful lineage and need not fear the Yin Corpse Sect.
Wei Cangyuan, ever the cunning fox, quickly offered flattering words. “To have the Supreme Yin Corpse Sect’s favor—your sect has produced a true talent!”
Even Liu Xiang, who usually ignored the Old Ghost, now spoke kindly, causing the old man to laugh with a bone-chilling glee.
Only Xuanqizi felt a deep unease. With the addition of the Ghost Sect remnants to the Yin Corpse Sect, their power now rivaled that of the Formative Sect. Their new alliance with the Supreme Yin Corpse Sect would make things even more difficult for the Formative Sect in the future.
No—Xuanqizi suddenly suspected that the opening of the World Pearl itself was a ploy. With someone backing the Old Ghost, he’d act with even less restraint. Perhaps the Formative Sect’s disciples inside were already in grave danger.