Volume 1 Volume 7 Chapter 106

Volume 7 Chapter 106: Response and Preparation

A truly skilled player never rushes to finish a game. They possess great patience, preferring to take twice as long to ensure the game is foolproof, rather than hurriedly ending it at the cost of lowering the success rate, even if it is just a one percent reduction.

Xu Qingfan was a patient player. Why, after preparing for decades and planning to spend centuries working with other players on this game, would he rush to finish it?

Zhang Xusheng was naturally a skilled chess player. He prepared for many hundreds of years, planning to take even longer to slowly play with other players—using the word "play" seems more fitting here—ensuring everything went perfectly. As time went on, he was the one most likely to win.

However, fate played a trick. Many unconscious coincidences came together, affecting everyone’s plans.

Because of this, the game ended much sooner than expected.

The outcome of the game, whether victory or defeat, seemed very close at hand.

Ever since he became a master, Xu Qingfan gradually developed a confidence, believing that with his growing strength and wisdom, he could change everything, and he began to rely less on the so-called mysterious fate.

Therefore, fate is a strange thing; it could change someone like Xu Qingfan, who was a believer in destiny, into this kind of person.

However, this time, the peculiarities of Zhang Xusheng made Xu Qingfan feel increasingly uneasy. He sensed a huge shadow slowly enveloping him—and even the world—like a mountain of pressure, filling Xu Qingfan with a sense of suffocating fear and urgency.

Xu Qingfan had experienced many storms over the years, but this kind of situation had only happened once before when he was still a Lingji Stage cultivator, representing Jiuhua in the cultivation world Newcomer Comparison. At that time, on Huandao Island, the elite from various sects fell victim to Zhang Xusheng’s schemes, with more than ninety percent perishing.

The feeling this time, that sense of oppression and anxiety, was more than ten times stronger than the last.

Speaking of which, if so many young elites had not died in that Newcomer Competition, the Human Alliance would now have at least hundreds of peak Real Golden Core Stage warriors, right? Their potential would have doubled, and they would not be as helpless as they are now, after all, those were the new generation elites of the cultivation world, many of whom had talent and character higher than Xu Qingfan.

Or, at that time, did Zhang Xusheng already foresee everything happening today and prepare for it? Like a skilled commander, controlling many forces like the Shura Zhong family and others directly or indirectly, constantly weakening them?

Thinking of this, Xu Qingfan’s worries about Zhang Xusheng deepened, and recalling how Zhang Xusheng would rather be sealed in the "Azure Crystal Treasure House" for six hundred years than return to the "Shenzhou Continent" during that time, and how Xu Qingfan accidentally disrupted that, made Xu Qingfan even more alarmed.

But without any clues, Xu Qingfan finally remembered the divination Divine Artifact Master Jiuhuan made for him back then—the black tortoise shell that could only be used three times but was not affected by the heavenly secrets or others’ interference, greatly increasing its accuracy.

Looking back, the first two times he used this black tortoise shell, it saved his life once and changed Jiuhua’s fate once; could it possibly save the fate of humanity this time?

The black tortoise shell, which could only be used three times, does it mean that Master Jiuhuan had already foreseen all of this? And was this black tortoise shell prepared specifically for this moment? Just like he kept the relic, as if he predicted that one day he would suffer from the imbalance of life and death energy.

Suddenly, Xu Qingfan remembered the last time he met Master Jiuhuan, his deep yet tranquil eyes.

Xu Qingfan suddenly felt that the person playing this game with Zhang Xusheng was not himself, but Jiuhuan, who still influenced the situation even after death.

The more experiences he had, the more he learned, and the higher his cultivation level became, the more Xu Qingfan felt small, and the world seemed increasingly unpredictable.

…

Xu Qingfan casually fixed the barrier outside his room and quietly sat on his bed. His complex thoughts had calmed down, leaving only a serene stillness, like a calm old well.

The black turtle shell appeared in front of Xu Qingfan, though he didn’t know when.

As Xu Qingfan took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, he gently closed his eyes, and suddenly, fierce flames surged over the black turtle shell.

Over time, under the scorching flames, the turtle shell gradually revealed many tiny cracks that connected to form a mysterious pattern.

Meanwhile, during Xu Qingfan’s divination, a scene suddenly appeared in his mind, though he did not know what it showed. In just an instant, it caused Xu Qingfan’s face to turn pale.

A long while passed…

Xu Qingfan slowly opened his eyes. The shock had faded, leaving only deep contemplation in his gaze.

After a moment, it seemed Xu Qingfan suddenly remembered something and looked down at the scorched black turtle shell.

On the turtle’s shell, the cracks left by the burning flames formed two ancient characters.

"Reincarnation!"

A smile suddenly appeared on Xu Qingfan’s face.

"If you try to grow flowers with your heart, they won’t bloom, but if you plant willows without thought, they will grow into shade… Is this fate? I put in so much effort, making various plans, but still ended up being taken advantage of by Zhang Xusheng. However, unexpectedly obtaining the ‘World Crafting Cauldron’ opened a space path between the ‘Azure Crystal Treasure House’ and the ‘Shenzhou Continent’, ruining Zhang Xusheng’s grand scheme… Now, all the players in the world have become pawns of destiny in this series of changes. Their own fates depend on their own struggles, but… I don’t know how many beings in the entire Shenzhou Continent can still survive amid these changes."

As he sighed deeply, a spark suddenly flashed in Xu Qingfan’s eyes.

"Friends Taoist Liu, Senior Brother Bai, Friend Taoist Wang Zegang, and Chou, please come to my room. I would like to discuss something with you."

Xu Qingfan’s voice was not loud, but everyone within the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands could hear him clearly, as if the speaker was right beside them.

…

At this moment, Chou was quietly training his Tianyou Camp on his Yuheng Island.

This time, the action was mostly successful for Tianyou Camp, and they killed many more members of the Shura Clan, but Tianyou Camp also suffered heavy losses, with only eleven people remaining. Among the six great experts, only Huangquan Baigui and Qisha were left.

At this moment, Chou was overseeing the training of Tianyou Camp. Though they added a few people upon their return, they were still far from their prime. To support his revenge plan, the strength of Tianyou Camp was very weak, making Chou furrow his brow these days.

The cultivators of Tianyou Camp emphasized close-combat fighting, covered in blood, attacking without defense. Although their power was strong, killing three thousand enemies also harmed eight hundred of their own.

At this moment, even during training, they fought each other without mercy.

At this moment, the ones fighting in front of Chou were Qisha and another Tianyou Camp cultivator.

With the deaths of the other four great experts, only Huangquan Baigui was stronger than Qisha in Tianyou Camp, so it was very easy for her to defeat her opponent using sound attacks and sound confusion.

After Qisha returned to Chou’s side, Chou slightly nodded to show his approval.

Qisha’s strength was improving quickly, especially after the bloody battle with the Shura clan, her progress was astonishing.

Seeing Chou’s movement, a flash of bright light suddenly appeared in Qisha’s icy cold eyes, but it disappeared in an instant.

Then, Qisha seemed to remember something and showed a hint of hesitation on her face.

"Speak your mind."

Chou’s cold, eerie voice suddenly echoed.

"Young master, why do you want to kill Shier Daluo? Also… before, when the Island Master fell apart, you were the strongest among the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands. Why did you try so hard? You should know that the Island Master always kept you at a distance."

Qisha asked with hesitation.

Chou suddenly let out a cold laugh and asked, "Did Huangquan Baigui tell you to ask these questions?"

Qisha paused slightly, indicating her agreement.

"That Huangquan fellow loves to hide in the dark and scheme. The reason I killed Shier Daluo was that he said the same thing as you. And the reason Shier Daluo said the same thing to me was also instigated by Huangquan Baigui. Ha… Shier Daluo lived a cautious life and spoke little, yet he said the wrong thing at the most critical moment…"

Hearing Chou’s words, Qisha’s face turned pale.

"Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you for saying this now. The reason I killed Shier Daluo was because it was a special moment. You underestimate my master too much. Do you remember how Liu Ziqing kept his distance from me a while ago, playing with a bead in his hand?"

"I remember."

"That was my Soul Bead. When I accepted my master’s transformation, he not only placed a very strong seal on that bead but also added poison and took some of my soul. If Liu Ziqing shatters that Soul Bead, I will lose my mind for a long time, and the seal and poison from the Eye of the Death God will activate. My master thought of everything when he abandoned his body. However, even without that Soul Bead, I wouldn’t have done anything back then; after all, he is my master, and if we want to take revenge on the Shura Clan, we must rely on him."

Hearing Chou’s words, Qisha was first taken aback, then a look of relief appeared in her eyes as she softly murmured, "As long as it’s not because of that Ting’er…"

"What did you say?!"

Chou suddenly turned around, staring closely at Qisha, as two flashes of red light flickered in the darkness beneath the hood.

However, at that moment, Xu Qingfan’s voice reached them.

Chou stared deeply at Qisha, then suddenly turned and flew toward Yuheng Island.

"If I hear those words one more time, you will meet Shier Daluo."

…

"As long as you are by Shier Daluo’s side…"

As the figure of Chou disappeared, Qisha’s soft voice finally spoke up.

…

When Chou arrived in Xu Qingfan’s room, Liu Ziqing, Bai Qingfu, and Wang Zegang were already there.

As always, they respectfully bowed to Xu Qingfan and then stepped aside at his gesture.

Then, Chou heard Xu Qingfan say to Liu Ziqing and Bai Qingfu, "Taoist Friend Liu, Senior Brother Bai, from now on, the duties assigned to you two will be clearly defined. Senior Brother Bai, you will be fully responsible for all matters within the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands, including training, recruitment, refinement, and management. As for Taoist Friend Liu, you will be in charge of external affairs. I am placing the entire Tianzuo Camp in your hands and will strive to expand its size in the future. ‘Disaster Cloud’ is also entirely yours. Your task will be to infiltrate the Human Alliance and do everything you can to disrupt the relationships between ordinary cultivators and Zhang Xusheng and his subordinates. Additionally, spread the fame of the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands far and wide, attracting the strength of the Human Alliance to us, whether they are low-level or high-level cultivators, or even ordinary people, I want them all!"

"Island Master, are you saying…"

An excitement sparkled in Liu Ziqing’s eyes, but he hesitated as he spoke.

"Now that the game has become chaotic, we will not worry about anything else. We will move as we should. I believe that as the war between the Shura Clan and the Human Alliance continues, and the casualties increase on both sides, the final situation will return to what it was before: the Human Alliance trapped in Yongzhou State, while the Shura Clan abuses people in the other seventeen states. At that time, we will make our fourth move, putting all the blame for the heavy casualties of this Shura Clan attack on Zhang Xusheng, and we will take the credit for weakening the Shura Clan by eliminating the Zhong family, shining a light on the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands, building our reputation within the Human Alliance, rapidly expanding our power, further isolating Zhang Xusheng, and at the right moment merging with the Human Alliance to take over!"

At this point, Xu Qingfan paused slightly and continued, "There is one more thing, Taoist Friend Liu, you must pay attention to. The reason our first three moves went so smoothly is that the major forces in the Shenzhou Continent either do not know we exist or do not take us seriously. In the future, as the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands becomes more visible, we must be more careful. Also, this time I pretended to die in front of the masters of the Human Alliance partly for this reason: to make the existence of the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands known while reducing the perceived threat to some people. However, as the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands takes various actions, smart people will surely have doubts. Regarding my life and death, it’s best to be vague, creating confusion in their minds. We can’t admit it, or else Zhang Xusheng and Zizhen will become too cautious of us. We also can’t deny it, or else when we take over the Human Alliance in the future, many people will feel distrust towards us."

Liu Ziqing nodded to show he understood.

"Master of the Islands, what about me?"

Wang Zegang asked nearby.

"There is one dull and troublesome task that only you, Taoist Friend, can help with. Because of certain matters, when we Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands connect with the Human Alliance’s power, we will also try to bring regular ordinary people over. As the number of these ordinary people increases, the area of the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands might not be enough. So, I have decided to build three to five new islands three thousand miles east of the Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands, called the Polaris Islands, each island needing about five thousand mu. You, Taoist Friend, will be in charge of building these Polaris Islands."

A look of surprise flashed across Wang Zegang’s face as he asked, "They need to be that big? Do we really need to bring over so many ordinary people?"

Xu Qingfan nodded, a hint of worry clouding his expression, and said softly, "The situation is tricky and dangerous. I have no guarantee of success. To be safe, we must leave a little spark for humanity…"

…

After Liu Ziqing, Bai Qingfu, and Wang Zegang left, only Xu Qingfan and Chou remained in the room.

Xu Qingfan stared at Chou without stopping, while Chou kept his head down, not looking at Xu Qingfan.

Xu Qingfan suddenly smiled slightly and said, "This big change, even though your Tianyou Camp suffered greatly, your skills are getting stronger and stronger."

After a moment of silence, Chou replied, "In this action, I devoured six people from the Shura Clan, two of whom were as strong as I am. If I hadn’t used so much energy to heal my body, I should have already reached the level of Soul Splitting Stage."

Xu Qingfan nodded and looked closely at Chou. After this fight with the Shura Clan, Chou seemed darker than ever; it appeared that the blood and bodies of the Shura Clan had only made Chou’s hatred even stronger.

"This time, I could rebuild my body and come back to life thanks to you."

"You are my master; I just did my best."

"All these years I kept you on Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands, not letting you fight the Shura. Do you hate me?"

"No, the bigger picture is important."

Xu Qingfan smiled again and slowly said, "You have been holding back for many years, so here’s the deal: starting today, you and your people can leave Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands. Just as the Shura Clan goes around attacking humans, you can take your people to fight the Shura. I will keep bringing some cultivators and ordinary people to Rainbow Spirit Seven Islands during this time. You can return from time to time, and if you find anyone suitable, you can invite them to join Tianyou Camp."

In the darkness under Chou’s challenge, two flames of blood suddenly burst forth, full of bloodlust and excitement.

"Do you have any requests?"

"Yes, two things. First, try to weaken the Shura Clan’s power, especially targeting the strong ones. Do not let them escape. If you can, also eliminate the human cultivators who practice the Zhang Xushengcultivation method. Second, do not touch other forces."

"Okay."

These simple sentences represented a storm of bloodshed across the Shenzhou Continent.

…

After Chou left, Xu Qingfan wasted no time and immediately announced his retreat.

During this retreat, he needed to solve three matters.

The first thing is the power of "Beast Madness" inside him. Before, Xu Qingfan had sealed the "Beast Madness" in his left foot, but just a tiny bit of Original Life Essence Blood from his left foot was completely controlled by the power of "Beast Madness." Later, it merged with Original Life Essence Blood from other parts of his body. When reshaping his body, Xu Qingfan reorganized this power of "Beast Madness," which was almost fused with his soul and blood. From then on, he could barely control the energy of "Beast Madness."

What Xu Qingfan needs to do is combine the two different states of "Beast Madness" and "Demonization."

In the "Beast Madness" state, Xu Qingfan’s power will greatly increase, and his body will have a self-healing ability and vitality far beyond ordinary creatures, along with terrifying instincts and a sixth sense.

In fact, if it weren’t for the strong vitality and recovery power of "Beast Madness," Xu Qingfan’s reshaping process wouldn’t have gone so smoothly, and his sense of crisis wouldn’t have been so clear.

However, the flaws of the "Beast Madness" power are also very apparent. Once he unleashes the power of "Beast Madness," Xu Qingfan becomes extremely violent, losing his sanity, with only the desire to kill in his heart.

In the "Demonization" state, Xu Qingfan’s reactions and calculating ability will be greatly enhanced, and he will become exceedingly rational and calm. To achieve his goals, everything in the world will be calculated in Xu Qingfan’s mind while in the "Demonization" state, and he will act without hesitation!

The downside of "Demonization" is that once Xu Qingfan enters this state, he will only focus on achieving his goals, willing to sacrifice anything without any emotions.

If these two states are combined, then when Xu Qingfan enters this state, not only will his strength increase, but he will also have a self-healing ability and vitality far beyond ordinary creatures, keen instincts and a sixth sense like a beast, along with a very calm mind and super strong reflexes and calculating ability.

At the same time, the coldness of the "Demonization" state will suppress the bloodthirsty rage of the "Beast Madness" state.

The only flaw is that in this state, Xu Qingfan’s indifference will reach its peak, leaving no trace of the emotions and feelings that humans should have.

Under control, this flaw can still be tolerated.

As for the advantage—according to Xu Qingfan’s estimation, in this state, he even has a chance to defeat beings who are at a higher level than him.

Xu Qingfan calls this state "Demonic Transformation"!

So fierce yet so emotionless, isn’t that just like the "demon" from legends?

The second thing is cultivation. Xu Qingfan’s cultivation has now reached a bottleneck. He has maxed out the "Formula of Life and Death," and due to his level and understanding, the "Substitute for Heaven" can only reach its current strength. However, this time in the "Azure Crystal Treasure House," Xu Qingfan undoubtedly obtained something just as precious as the "Substitute for Heaven," the "Cosmic Secret Record." Compared to each other, Xu Qingfan’s understanding of the "Substitute for Heaven" will greatly increase.

Of course, if he could combine the two major cultivation methods into one, Xu Qingfan would naturally obtain a top-tier cultivation method ranked among the top three in the world, and his strength would soar. But with Xu Qingfan’s current level and experience, it is limited to mere imagination.

The third thing, of course, is artifact crafting.

They are called "Sword of Life and Death," "Heaven and Earth Chess," and "Five Spirit Bell."

Among them, the creation of the "Sword of Life and Death" is the most complicated. First, you need to combine the "Qixia Sword" with "Azure Crystal Dust" to forge a magical weapon. Then, use the "Spirit Purging Sutra" to infuse it into your body. After that, using the "Qixia Sword’s" ability to coordinate different Spirit Qi, you will merge the "World Defying Sword" and the "Holy Spirit Sword" into your body, concentrating all their power into the "Qixia Sword." When the three swords unite, they become the "Sword of Life and Death." Then, you separate it from your body and continue to add "Azure Crystal Dust" to upgrade it.

This is a technique of forging weapons that uses the body as a furnace, and it can be said to be Xu Qingfan’s original creation, discovering another way to use the "Spirit Purging Sutra."

While forging the weapon, Xu Qingfan is also enhancing his cultivation. As he merges with the "World Defying Sword" and the "Holy Spirit Sword," the life and death energies within him will greatly increase, allowing him to comprehend the Heavenly Way contained in both. If all goes well, Xu Qingfan can break through to the middle stage of the Soul Splitting Stage.

The creation of the "Heaven and Earth Chess" is a bit simpler but still troublesome. First, you need to turn the powerful "Heaven and Earth Azure Stone," which holds great time and space power, into a chessboard. Then, use "Azure Crystal Dust" to infuse your understanding of "Substitute for Heaven" and "Cosmic Secret Record" into it. Next, refine a hundred "Imperishable Jade" pieces into chess pieces, infusing each one with your Heavenly Way understanding, and carve similar formations on them. It is very complicated.

The "Five Spirit Bell" is undoubtedly the simplest. The "Five Spirit Bell" was originally a treasure created by the five Grandmasters during Jiuhua’s peak. It possessed great power, but one of the masters suddenly suffered Qi deviation, resulting in a failed forging, which turned it into an ordinary magical tool.

Now, what Xu Qingfan must do is to reforge the "Five Spirit Bell," restore its original power, and its ability to transform the five elements of heaven and earth. He will also merge the "Ten Thousand Year Gold Essence" obtained from the "Azure Crystal Treasure House" into it to enhance its defensive ability, and that is all.

"There are so many things to do; I hope there is still time." Xu Qingfan sighed silently as he set up a barrier outside Yuheng Island. "In this irreversible situation, I’ve already done everything I could, and what remains is to strengthen my own power. If it’s impossible to turn back… I will do my best to protect a few people around me."

Saying this, Xu Qingfan returned to his bed, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

By the time Xu Qingfan leaves Yuheng Island again, the world will have changed greatly.

…

At the same time, on Tianshu Island, in Dongfang Qingling’s room.

Since Ting’er regained her senses, Dongfang Qingling had no reason to stay on Xu Qingfan’s Yuheng Island anymore. So she returned to her own room.

This should be her own room, but looking around, Dongfang Qingling only felt it was strange.

Maybe she had become familiar with everything on Yuheng Island, taking care of Ting’er day and night, and could turn around to see Xu Qingfan’s house, always sensing his presence.

At this moment, Dongfang Qingling sat quietly by the window, lost in her thoughts.

Suddenly, feeling a flutter in her heart, Dongfang Qingling turned and saw Ting’er had appeared in front of her room without her noticing.

As they gazed at each other, the air between them unexpectedly became filled with an awkward tension.

"Uncle said that his meditation this time is very important," Ting’er said, looking at Dongfang Qingling, her eyes shining with a complicated expression, "He asked me to stay with you during this time."

That night, no one knew what the two of them talked about.