Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Pass Six Trials, Receive Rewards at the Pavilion
Shi Liuli put down her chopsticks and gave the table a firm smack, huffing:
“At least I have this intention, willing to offer my meager strength for my husband’s gastronomic desires.”
“Naturally, I cannot compare to certain concubines who spend all day composing poems and playing zither, humming tunes, and fancying themselves as refined and cultured, oblivious to their utter uselessness at home, which is truly laughable.”
Xu Yinglian’s eye twitched as she sneered:
“Who says I am utterly useless? At least I have a son, continuing our family’s lineage and the ancestral incense.”
“Unlike some women who, after sharing the marital bed for three years, can’t even bear a child.”
“Who are you saying can’t bear a child!” Shi Liuli screamed, about to flip the table.
But the tabletop wouldn’t budge; it was An Zhisu across from her, holding down the table with one hand, preventing her from flipping it. She spoke in a soft voice:
“Ladies, the master of the house is still here. Let’s not disrupt the harmony in front of the family head, it would be embarrassing for the master.”
Immediately, Shi Liuli’s tears fell like rain as she clung to Qiu Changtian’s right arm, wailing:
“Husband, look at how jealous she is, always bullying me, where is the decency expected of the main wife…”
At that moment, Xu Yinglian also had tears in the corners of her eyes, she nibbled her lower lip and whimpered:
“I, from Xu Family, have been married for seven years and believe I have upheld my marital duties, treating my in-laws with respect, and teaching the children diligently while managing household affairs.”
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“Who would have thought that someone, having been in the marriage for three years, would have the audacity to try to oppress me, causing unrest in the inner courtyard…”
Each crying their grievances, one on the left and one on the right, An Zhisu chiming in from the side with veiled barbs in her tone. The three women’s incessant chatter combined into a cacophony that buzzed in his ears, causing him to grow dizzy. He could not help but smash the tabletop with force and bellowed:
“Shut up all of you!!!”
The three women immediately fell silent, yet their faces were streaked with tears, each looking at him with eyes brimming with more tears.
“What… what kind of hellish trial is this!” Qiu Changtian stood up from the table, his heart in turmoil.
What kind of bizarre illusion is this?! A harem catfight? Is this a test of my ability to deal with domestic disputes? You’ve got to be kidding me!
What does this have to do with cultivation? I must be seeing ghosts!
Don’t panic, do not panic, these women are fake, calm down, it’s all an illusion…
Forcing himself to revolve his Daoist Heart Clarity, Qiu Changtian quickly regained his composure.
Ah, I’ve got it.
This illusion must be intentionally crafted this way, creating a complicated harem situation that if you become obsessed with solving it, you’ll fall right into the trap.
The correct action should be to decisively cut through the mess, the so-called ‘sharp sword cutting through love’s ties’, surely that would allow me to pass the trial…
Upon this realization, he suddenly commanded his Jade Smoke Sword, aiming to slash directly at the three madams.
Only to be met with Xu Yinglian conjuring the Feather Jia Sword, Shi Liuli wielding the Heaven-overturning Seal, and An Zhisu drawing the Frostfall Sword to deflect his attacks with a clattering din, blocking them all.
“Husband, what is this? Could it really be that for that woman’s sake, you would kill me?”
“My lord, how could you be so cruel? Willing to silence me despite years of affection, dreaming only of roaming the skies with that woman?”
“Master, did you see through my plans? I had no choice, as you’ve been seeking pleasures too frequently in recent years, I had to resort to such vulgar tactics to win back your attention…”
The madams’ faces reflected choked-up sobs, but their hands unleashed various Divine Skills as they clashed fiercely with Qiu Changtian.
In an instant, the mansion was reduced to rubble.
In the sky, Xu Yinglian had transformed into a phoenix, raining down heavenly fire; on the ground, Shi Liuli deployed myriad treasures, dazzling with flowing lights; from a distance, An Zhisu’s sword thrust across the sky, her Sword Qi vast and mighty.
Caught in such a pincer attack, Qiu Changtian could not hold them off, and he fought while retreating.
The three pursued relentlessly, battling him until the heavens grew dim and the earth darkened, the sun and moon void of light. It was only when his True Qi was exhausted and his divine essence dwindled that he realized he was standing in a square.
Luo Yan was standing by the side, looking at him with profound meaning:
“You’ve passed the Mortal World trial of the two realms. Do you have any thoughts on it?”
“Go to hell.”
“Why would you curse yourself?”
“Then why would you want to harm yourself?”
“Because I am you from the future; I have already personally experienced that chaos,” said Luo Yan, his tone leisurely. “I couldn’t let go of this opportunity to let you understand it too; my conscience wouldn’t allow me otherwise.”
Qiu Changtian:
I have a swear word on my mind, not sure whether to say it or not.
After thinking it over, I’ll hold back. I don’t want to curse myself while impersonating Luo Yan in the future.
“Alright,” said Luo Yan at last, “The Pavilion is just ahead. You can push the door open and receive your reward.”
“What about you?” asked Qiu Changtian suspiciously.
“Me?” Luo Yan smiled slightly with an air of profound mystery. “I must stay here, to deal with the impending calamity that’s about to come.”
“Calamity?” Qiu Changtian was confused, only to hear Luo Yan urge him with a wave of his hand.
“Hurry up. After you’ve received the reward and been teleported away, find a place to ‘load the save’ of Luo Yan.”
“As for what this calamity actually is, you’ll know once you become Luo Yan.”
“Alright then,” sighed Qiu Changtian and walked towards the Pavilion ahead.
“Wait,” Luo Yan suddenly called out to him.
“What is it?” Qiu Changtian turned his head and asked.
“Remember this when choosing a reward,” Luo Yan said seriously, “Two birds in the bush are not worth one in the hand.”
“I understand,” Qiu Changtian pondered for a moment, then nodded.
The Pavilion was a majestic palace, its exterior somewhat resembling the Forbidden City Palace of his previous life.
Qiu Changtian climbed up the nine-rank white jade steps, stood in front of the mammoth nanmu doors, took a deep breath, and then pushed them open.
Once inside, he saw a vast and empty palace hall.
There was only an incense table, one meditation cushion, and a scroll painting on the wall depicting a beautiful immortal woman, and nothing else.
It seemed the secret must lie within that meditation cushion.
Qiu Changtian walked up to it, knelt down on the cushion, bowed deeply to the scroll, and instantly a voice resonated within the hall, sounding like a young woman, her articulation ethereal, filling the space with fragrance:
“Clarify Cult branch, Kunlun disciple, Qiu Changtian. Passed six trials, first to clear this round, outstanding performance.”
After a short pause, the voice continued:
“It is observed that what you practice is the Immortal Sect’s Nine Heavens Pure and Minor Entry Daoist Incantation, a wondrous method. Given time, you will surely become a Golden Immortal, so this time you shall not be given the Qi Refining Technique.”
“Flying Sword, Magical Treasure, Daoist Magic, choose one of the three.”
Three objects then descended from the air. Whenever he set his gaze on any one of them, the celestial voice would explain it to him:
“The Flying Sword is the Dual Polarity Dust Sword, a Daoist Magic Sword. Harmoniously blending Yin and Yang, carrying the Universe within, whoever wields this sword can pass through the Dual Polarity Dust Formation undisturbed by any Qimen Dunjia. It contains Triple Prohibition Law, which will reveal itself upon touching.”
“The Magical Treasure is the ‘Changes and Exchanges Map’, a Daoist Magical Treasure. Inscribed upon it are the Great Expansion numbers of heaven and earth, the River Map Four Symbols Eight Trigrams, Dragon Diagram Turtle Scripture discussion; it can activate corresponding formations: the Great Expansion Array, the River Map Four Symbols Eight Trigrams Array, the Dragon Diagram Turtle Scripture Array.”
“Daoist Magic includes the middle volume of the Five Thunder True Law, containing the Immortal Capital Thunder, Polar Thunder, Tai Yi Thunder – three types of Thunder Methods with supreme power.”
Qiu Changtian fell silent for a brief moment.
Curse it, I want them all, what to do?
First off, the Dual Polarity Dust Sword, this thing is often mentioned in ancient texts, at the same level as the renowned ancient Tai Yi Dividing Light Sword, also known as the “Eleventh Rank Immortal Sword.”
If talking about value, among the three treasures, the Dual Polarity Dust Sword ranks first.
However, for Qiu Changtian, the biggest issue with this Immortal Sword is… its rank is too high, beyond his capability to refine without external assistance.
Thereupon he called upon the Kunlun Mirror in his heart, laughing as he asked:
“Ah Jing, Ah Jing! Don’t you think this sword would perfectly match Qing Ping? Could you help me refine it, to pair it with Qing Ping?”
“Do not choose the Dual Polarity Dust Sword,” the Kunlun Mirror advised leisurely, “Though it bears the same name and rank, it’s actually a Tenth Rank replica, possessing only a fraction of the original Dual Polarity Dust Sword’s capabilities.”
Qiu Changtian uttered an ‘oh’, suddenly enlightened.
No wonder it was called the Dual Polarity Dust Sword, yet couldn’t “manipulate” the Dual Polarity Dust Great Formation, only aiding the Sword Master to “pass through”—it was just a replica!
Said replicas, also known as ‘subsidiary products’, refer to a high level of Artifact Refining skill, wherein a crafter can use a fragment of an Eleventh Rank genuine Magical Treasure’s essence to cast a Tenth Rank Magical Artifact that possesses a portion of the original’s power.
In the current Cultivation Realm, the art of replicating Immortal Swords has gone lost; it can only be done by recasting broken swords.
The art of replicating Magical Treasures is also mastered by very few. If Luo Yan’s knowledge wasn’t wrong, only his Third Senior Sister Liang Ruohua, with the help of Elder Shi Ding, could replicate “Eleventh Rank” Magical Treasures of the Spiritual Treasure level—and those had to be the simple and crude variety, like the purely physical attacking Heaven-overturning Seal, Divine Smiting Whip, and the like.
If it were a true Dual Polarity Dust Sword, he might indeed have found it difficult to part with; but since it’s merely a replica, its value plummets substantially.
Thus Qiu Changtian turned his gaze onto the next Magical Treasure, the ‘Changes and Exchanges Map’.
