novelapdf Can I have Chapter 170 now?
Can I have Chapter 170 now?
"That's absolutely unacceptable!"
Before Jiang Mu could express his opinion, Shui Miaozheng, who was standing to the side, suddenly changed her expression and immediately voiced her opposition.
She instinctively shielded Jiang Mu behind her, glaring at Yuan Qianfan:
"Lord Yuan, you're setting him up!"
Don't you know what the current situation is in Yancheng?
With tens of thousands of demonic troops eyeing it covetously from the outside and traitors causing chaos from within, this is a perilous city that could collapse at any moment.
Who can guarantee that the imperial reinforcements will arrive in time? If reinforcements cannot be summoned, the entire city's inhabitants will surely perish.
"At that time, are you going to make Xiao Jiang perish along with this city, or ruin his promising future to bear that uncertain backlash? I absolutely disagree!"
Yuan Qianfan was not angered by Shui Miaozheng's retort. He simply stared at Jiang Mu with deep eyes and continued, "Everything has two sides. There is great danger, but also great opportunity."
Young friend Jiang, if you can truly bear this karmic burden and protect the people of this city from slaughter, then all the incense offerings and prayers of this entire city will rightfully belong to you.
In other words, from the moment you succeed, you... will become the nominal garrison commander of Yan City!
"The garrison commander?"
Jiang Mu touched his chin, his expression turning somewhat strange.
"Lord Yuan, aren't you exaggerating a bit? You said before that the position of garrison commander requires the approval of Heaven, and it's not something you can decide to appoint just by saying so."
Yuan Qianfan readily nodded in acknowledgment:
"That's right, I really can't directly bestow titles upon you."
However, as the former garrison commander, upon my death and the dissipation of my spiritual essence, I have the right to designate a successor from the Heavenly Way.
As long as you accept my Dharma image, you will have formed this virtuous connection.
In the future, when you have the ability to climb to the tenth realm and need to influence the nation's destiny and pray for the Heavenly Dao's approval... when the Heavenly Dao is considering candidates for the position of garrison commander of Yan Town, it will undoubtedly consider you first.
Jiang Mu suddenly realized.
understood.
This is the same tactic used by retired officials.
Before retiring, the former leader recommended a successor he favored to the organization.
Whether it can be finalized ultimately depends on the decision from higher authorities.
However, with the legacy and endorsement of the former leader, as long as the successor doesn't make any mistakes, he can at least be ranked first on the candidate list and given priority consideration.
"Isn't this pie in the sky a bit too far-fetched?"
Jiang Mu curled her lips and shook her head in disdain, saying, "I'm only at the fourth realm. Who knows when I'll reach the tenth realm?"
Moreover, there are so many variables involved; who knows if I'll even live to see that day?
Lord Yuan, let's get practical.
Are there any more tangible benefits that I can use right now?
Seeing Jiang Mu's shrewd and opportunistic attitude of not acting until he saw the benefit, Yuan Qianfan laughed heartily.
When it comes to doing business, the thing you shouldn't be afraid of is the other party haggling.
If he's willing to ask for a price, it means the other party is already very likely ready to "buy".
Yuan Qianfan's smile faded, and he said seriously:
"That's natural."
First, as long as you have a special ritual implement that can contain and utilize the power of incense and prayers.
After you gain my approval, you can freely use all the unclaimed incense offerings accumulated in Yan City.
Furthermore, with the support of these incense offerings and vows, you will not only be able to manifest my Dharma form multiple times in the future, but you will also not need to worry about the backlash from using supernatural powers.
Not only that...
After my death, it is likely that no new garrison commander will be parachuted into Yan City for a long time.
Regardless of whether you become the garrison commander in the future, as long as you save them today, you will continue to receive offerings and prayers from the people of this region to some extent.
even……"
A strange light flickered in Yuan Qianfan's eyes.
"Subtly and gradually, the people of this city will feel grateful to you from the bottom of their hearts because of the cause and effect connection, and will worship you. After all, you saved their lives."
Deep in their hearts, they will admire you even more and be more loyal to you, the one who saved them.
Rather than that distant, unreachable imperial court.
What the hell!
Jiang Mu felt a jolt in her heart upon hearing this.
Brother, are you drunk?
Is it something you can just say carelessly?
The implication is that if he were to rebel someday, Yan City could naturally become his strongest base of operations, with popular support and a fervent following.
Jiang Mu was speechless.
You, a high-ranking official of the imperial court, are openly instigating a promising young man like me to seize power and plot treason.
You're deliberately testing me, aren't you?
Jiang Mu's expression immediately turned serious.
He dusted himself off, his expression incredibly solemn, and bowed towards the capital, his voice booming:
"Lord Yuan, please be careful with your words!"
I, Jiang Mu, am the head of the Demon Slayer Division, and have been favored by the Emperor for generations.
We who eat the king's food should naturally be loyal to the king and bear the king's worries! My loyal heart is as clear as the sun and moon and as verifiable as heaven and earth.
Jiang pretended not to hear such treasonous words.
If anyone dares to harbor such rebellious thoughts in the future, my long sword will be the first to object!
Seeing Jiang Mu's righteous and awe-inspiring appearance, Yuan Qianfan was speechless.
Shui Miaozheng couldn't help but rub her forehead.
After Jiang Mu finished expressing his loyalty, he immediately changed his tune and eagerly asked:
"By the way, Lord Yuan, if I successfully fuse with your Dharma form in the future, will I be able to unleash the earth-shattering power of an eleventh-realm expert when I use it?"
Yuan Qianfan shook his head, shattering his illusion:
"How is this possible? Do you really think the gap between cultivation levels is just for show?"
Apart from this time when the demon army attacks the city, I will use the last bit of my remaining soul power to personally help you control your Dharma form and disguise it in order to scare away those tenth-order great demons.
"If you were to unleash your Dharma Form on your own in the future, limited by your own cultivation level and the strength of your soul, the power that this Dharma Form could unleash... would probably be one major realm higher than your actual cultivation level."
"That's a whole new level..."
Jiang Mu smacked her lips, her face filled with disappointment.
After all that, it turns out to be just a trial card with a weakened version of the skill. I thought I could become a max-level player overnight.
Hearing this, Shui Miaozheng felt a storm raging in her heart.
The path of cultivation becomes increasingly difficult as one progresses, akin to ascending to heaven.
Sometimes, even a small difference in cultivation level can be an insurmountable chasm, let alone a leap across an entire major cultivation level in combat power. "However, there is still a very tricky prerequisite issue here."
Yuan Qianfan's expression turned serious.
"If you want to bear and transfer my eleventh realm Dharma form, your fourth realm physical body and foundation are far from enough."
You must possess a star position of the Heavenly Gang level as your core hub in order to barely withstand the infusion of Dharma power without being overwhelmed and burst.
Moreover, it must be a legitimate star position recognized by the Heavenly Dao!
Upon hearing this, Jiang Mu was speechless and said:
"Lord Yuan, are you kidding me? After all this talk, this incredible opportunity has absolutely nothing to do with me."
Where am I supposed to find a proper Heavenly Star position for you?
Yuan Qianfan smiled slightly and said:
"Young friend Jiang, don't be anxious. Your current cultivation level is already at the late stage of the fourth realm, and you are only one step away from the Great Perfection realm. I can give you one last boost and use a secret technique to help you take that step."
Once you reach the Great Perfection of the Fourth Realm, successfully break through the shackles, and advance to the Fifth Realm, you will need to attain the Heavenly Star Rank to continue your cultivation. Coincidentally, I happen to still possess a Heavenly Star Rank pseudo-star official seal.
Shui Miaozheng frowned upon hearing this and interrupted, saying:
"Lord Yuan, didn't you just emphasize that only those with 'orthodox star positions' can receive the Dharma Image? How could a fake star official seal possibly work?"
Yuan Qianfan nodded and replied:
"Water Master is right, the fake star is indeed no good."
Therefore, my next plan is to have Hall Master Jiang first fuse with this Heavenly Gang Pseudo-Star Seal, using it as a springboard.
Then, in this pseudo-star position, he would launch a life-or-death challenge against a cultivator who possessed the true lineage of that star position.
"As long as Hall Master Jiang can defeat him honorably in a duel and successfully challenge him, he can rightfully plunder his opponent's Dao Fruit and obtain the orthodox Heavenly Star Position!"
"That's absolutely impossible!!"
Shui Miaozheng rejected this crazy plan without even thinking about it.
"Lord Yuan, you're sending him to his death."
Orthodox star positions have a natural bloodline suppression over pseudo-star positions of the same origin, originating from the laws of heaven.
In the face of orthodox methods, pseudo-star cultivators cannot even unleash a fraction of their strength, and their supernatural abilities are completely sealed.
How is it possible to succeed in this challenge?
Jiang Mu, who had remained silent until now, stroked his chin:
"Hard to say."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Qianfan laughed loudly, pointed at Jiang Mu, and said to Shui Miaozheng:
"Water Master, it seems you still don't understand your Master Jiang enough."
Do you know how he broke through to the fourth realm?
He, in his capacity as a pseudo-star official of the third realm, openly and honestly killed He Shuangying, the young master of the Divine Sword Sect, and forcibly seized the legitimate [Earthly Hidden Star] position from him!
He had already performed this kind of defying fate and conquering the heavens once before.
"What?!"
Shui Miaozheng's beautiful phoenix eyes widened in shock as she looked at Jiang Mu beside her.
No, this little guy... is he really that fierce?
Orthodox suppression is nothing but decoration in front of him?
But after a brief moment of shock, Shui Miaozheng changed her mind.
If someone else were to do such a thing, it would be absolutely unbelievable.
But when applied to Jiang Mu, a prodigy who has repeatedly created miracles... it doesn't seem so hard to accept.
They even took it for granted.
"It was just good luck."
Jiang Mu waved his hand modestly.
Yuan Qianfan continued:
"My original plan was to secretly arrange for Hall Master Jiang to compete for the Heavenly Star position held by General Chang Dawei. I had already secretly set up the whole scheme."
But unexpectedly, an even more suitable orthodox Celestial Star cultivator emerged within Yan City.
A sudden inspiration struck Shui Miaozheng, and she realized:
"No wonder you stopped me earlier, it turns out it's because she carries the orthodox [Heavenly Lone Star] on her back."
Once I kill her, that star position will immediately become ownerless and return to the sea of stars. At that time, it will be as difficult as ascending to heaven for Xiao Jiang to obtain this star in the vast sea of stars.
Having figured this out, Shui Miaozheng felt a surge of regret.
If she had known it was meant for Xiao Jiang, she shouldn't have been so ruthless.
Now look what's happened, Jiang Sheng'er is seriously injured.
If Jiang Mu were to challenge her again at this point and kill her, even if he won, the Heavenly Dao would judge him as taking advantage of her vulnerability. It's highly likely that his star position transfer would not be recognized.
Yuan Qianfan noticed her distress and comforted her:
"The Water Master need not worry too much."
Although Jiang Sheng'er has mental deficiencies, she has an extremely special talent, and the inner guards have countless secret medicines. With the help of these miraculous medicines, she can regenerate broken bones and recover completely in a very short time.
However, the most difficult hurdle facing Jiang Xiaoyou now... is still breaking through.
Yuan Qianfan looked intently at Jiang Mu, his tone heavy:
"Although I can help you step into the Great Perfection of the Fourth Realm, I can even give you the Heavenly Gang Pseudo-Star Seal for free."
However, the leap from the fourth to the fifth realm cannot be interfered with by any external force; it must be achieved solely through one's own understanding and breakthrough. He turned to look at Shui Miaozheng.
"Water Master, you also came up from that level step by step. You should understand just how difficult it is for a cultivator to break through a bottleneck."
Shui Miaozheng deeply sympathized, a hint of emotion appearing in her eyes:
"Yes, every breakthrough to a higher realm is like walking on thin ice, a near-death experience, it is indeed very difficult."
The difficulty of cultivating the Tao is greater than ascending to heaven.
Hearing the two sigh, Jiang Mu also looked up and let out a long sigh:
"Yes, it's really too difficult."
"Back when I broke through, I suffered terribly, and only succeeded by sheer luck. It was truly an incredibly difficult journey." Jiang Mu looked at Yuan Qianfan with hopeful eyes.
"So, does the Garrison Commander have any miraculous elixirs or medicines that can help me break through?"
At this point, it's better to take advantage of the situation than not take advantage of the situation.
Moreover, since the other party has taken the initiative to propose this, they must have a plan.
Yuan Qianfan waved his arm lightly in the air, and his wide sleeves stirred up a gentle breeze.
"Whoosh!"
Three pills, gleaming with a soft blue light, appeared out of thin air in front of Jiang Mu.
The pills spun around and around.
A refreshing and pleasant fragrance filled the air.
Just one whiff of it makes one feel refreshed and relaxed throughout the body.
"There's not much I can do to help you, but I'll give you some additional resources."
Yuan Qianfan pointed to the three pills,
"Take these three pills back with you. When you are breaking through a bottleneck, take one pill every other day."
Their medicinal properties are mild, greatly increasing your chances of breaking through obstacles, and have no side effects.
Of course, in the path of cultivation, external forces are ultimately only auxiliary. How much of an increase one's chances can be achieved depends on one's own destiny and foundation.
The rest is up to you to fight for.
I can't guarantee that you'll successfully break through to the fifth realm after taking them, but considering your previous breakthroughs have all been smooth, your foundation must be excellent. With these three pills protecting you, it shouldn't be a problem.
In short... it's all up to you.
Shui Miaozheng stepped forward, picked up the three pills, and brought them close to her nose to smell them carefully. A look of surprise appeared in her phoenix eyes:
"Could this be the legendary 'Azure Nether Creation Pill'?"
Yuan Qianfan glanced at her with some surprise, then nodded approvingly, "Chief Water has a good eye; this is indeed the pill."
Shui Miaozheng gasped, and couldn't help but sigh:
"It is said that this 'Azure Creation Pill' was a top-grade pill that was personally refined by Mr. Ouyang, the Pill King of the reclusive sect 'Medicine King Valley', who devoted a lot of effort to it."
This elixir can disregard a cultivator's physique and cultivation method, and for cultivators below the tenth realm, it has a miraculous effect that is almost like cleansing the marrow and forcibly increasing the chance of breakthrough.
It is said that the Pill King only managed to refine one batch of pills back then, producing only a few dozen pills.
"These days, there are probably only a handful left in the entire world; I never imagined I'd find one here."
Jiang Mu, who had initially looked down on these unremarkable pills, had his eyes light up like a two-thousand-watt light bulb after hearing Shui Miaozheng's explanation.
"Such a rare and exquisite medicinal herb?"
Without saying a word, he grabbed the three "Azure Creation Pills" in his hand and quickly stuffed them into his pocket.
After carefully putting away the pills, Jiang Mu looked at Yuan Qianfan with anticipation and asked:
"Lord Yuan, besides these pills, do you have any other good stuff? Please bring more, the more the better."
Yuan Qianfan glared at him, annoyed, and said with a laugh:
"You greedy brat, these three pills are priceless. If they were outside, they would cause major sects to fight tooth and nail for them. I've already given you my best treasures, and you still want more?"
That's it, just these three pills!
Jiang Mu smacked her lips, and seeing that she couldn't seem to get anything out of him, she said with a reluctant expression:
"Alright then, help me reach the Great Perfection level now, I agree."
"Little Jiang!"
Seeing that he agreed so readily, Shui Miaozheng couldn't help but anxiously speak up to remind him.
Her beautiful eyes were filled with worry and vigilance.
She was still somewhat worried that there might be some unknown traps hidden inside.
The path of spiritual practice is like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge; how difficult and cruel it is!
The higher one climbs, the more scenery one sees, and the more profound and unpredictable one's thoughts often become.
Those powerful figures who stand on high, in order to satisfy their own interests and advance further, which one of them didn't climb to their position by stepping on the corpses of countless people? What they like most and are best at is digging pits for others.
Treat others as stepping stones on your own path.
Cultivating immortality often doesn't lead to becoming an immortal; rather, it leads to the path of Asura, a path that obliterates humanity.
Shui Miaozheng dared not claim to be some kind of pure white lotus, untainted by the mud.
If her father hadn't paved the way for her and sheltered her from the storms of life back then, she might have become cold and ruthless long ago.
Therefore, she instinctively felt worried in the face of Yuan Qianfan's enormous gift, which seemed like a windfall.
Jiang Mu had also considered what kind of huge pitfall might be hidden in this.
But he was a pragmatist.
Considering the benefits currently on the table, this risk is absolutely worth taking.
Anyway, he has a cheat code, so he's bolder than ever.
Just do it!
Jiang Mu smiled slightly at Shui Miaozheng, giving her a reassuring look.
Then he said to Yuan Qianfan, "Lord Yuan, I'm ready. Let's begin."
Yuan Qianfan nodded gently: "Okay."
next second.
The illusory figure of Yuan Qianfan, who was originally sitting cross-legged on the futon, suddenly appeared in front of Jiang Mu.
Then he raised his right hand, his five fingers like hooks, and stabbed straight into Jiang Mu's left chest.
"Little Jiang!"
Shui Miaozheng's pretty face changed drastically.
The woman's eighth-realm star power erupted, unleashing a palm strike that stirred up towering waves as she almost instinctively aimed at Yuan Qianfan's back. However, before her palm could even touch Yuan Qianfan, it was stopped in mid-air by an immense and unparalleled pressure.
"Aunt Shui! I'm alright!"
Just as Shui Miaozheng was about to activate her magic weapon, Jiang Mu's loud shout stopped her in her tracks.
Shui Miaozheng stood frozen in place, her chest heaving violently.
Yuan Qianfan's hand, like a phantom shadow, pierced Jiang Mu's chest completely, even protruding from his back. But strangely, not a single drop of blood flowed from Jiang Mu's chest.
Even the clothes weren't damaged.
At the same time, streams of powerful, purplish-gold spiritual energy were continuously surging out from Yuan Qianfan's illusory arm.
These spiritual energies tightly enveloped Jiang Mu, forming a huge purple-gold cocoon of light.
Then, following the acupoints throughout Jiang Mu's body, the energy converged into his dantian like rivers flowing into the sea.
Jiang Mu kept her eyes tightly closed.
He could clearly sense that his cultivation level was rising rapidly.
Small accumulations can lead to a qualitative change in an instant.
Normally, cultivators need to absorb the spiritual energy that is free in the world first, then refine and purify it within their bodies through cultivation techniques, and finally transform it into their own star power.
This process is long and tedious.
However, at this moment, the star power that Yuan Qianfan gave him did not require Jiang Mu to bother refining.
As soon as it entered the dantian,
It then merged perfectly with the original star power within his body.
The time it takes for an incense stick to burn feels like an eternity as Shui Miaozheng waits anxiously.
at last.
"boom!"
With a deep, thunderous roar emanating from within Jiang Mu's body, the purple-gold cocoon enveloping him shattered, dissipating into countless specks of light. Jiang Mu opened his eyes.
A powerful aura, belonging to the peak of the fourth realm and perfectly flawless, swept out from his body.
The Four Realms, Great Perfection!
Become!
Jiang Mu clenched her fists, overjoyed.
According to his original plan and schedule, even with the Shadow Demon AFK leveling up for him 24/7, it would still take him at least two months of arduous training to survive from the late stage of the fourth realm to the Great Perfection.
Unexpectedly, it happened earlier than planned today.
All I can say is that chance is a truly wondrous thing.
As the transfer of power ended, Yuan Qianfan slowly withdrew the hand that had pierced Jiang Mu's chest.
At this moment, his already somewhat ethereal body became even more transparent, and his listlessness was clearly visible.
Yuan Qianfan took a breath and slowly opened his palm.
A luminous rhombus-shaped crystal was quietly floating in his palm.
Inside the crystal, it seemed as if a miniature galaxy was sealed away.
This is a pseudo-star official seal of the Heavenly Gang level!
"This is the pseudo-star position of the [Heavenly Killing Star]."
Yuan Qianfan looked at Jiang Mu and said, "You should go back and cultivate in seclusion to prepare for your breakthrough. Once you have successfully broken through to the fifth realm, come here to find me, and I will give you this star position."
Looking at the star official seal that gleamed with an alluring luster, Jiang Mu asked, "Lord Yuan, can't you just give it to me now?"
As he spoke, his thoughts raced, and he summoned the magic gauge.
He poured all the remaining demonic energy into his dantian.
Jiang Mu felt somewhat relieved.
Fortunately, when we were modifying that bronze mirror, we left some demonic energy in the magic slot as a backup.
Otherwise, I'd have to go out and kill monsters to inflate my energy.
Accompanied by the violent impact of pure demonic energy, that energy that disregards all cultivation rules and bottlenecks is like a sharp hammer, smashing into the invisible barrier between the fourth and fifth realms.
Jiang Mu suddenly felt a loud "buzz" in his mind, as if the world had just been created.
Under the brutal onslaught of demonic energy, the barriers of the five realms melted away without a trace, like snowflakes under the scorching sun.
And Yuan Qianfan was still saying:
"Master Jiang, breaking through to the Star Realm is no small matter; you must be fully prepared."
I must be certain that you have reached a state of mental perfection and successfully broken through before I can hand over this Star Official Seal to you.
If you fail to break through due to impatience and suffer a backlash, then all my efforts will have been in vain, and I will have no choice but to find another more suitable candidate to carry the Dharma image.
Time is of the essence; I'll only give you six days.
If you cannot within these six days…
Yuan Qianfan's words came to an abrupt halt.
Because he suddenly sensed a change in Jiang Mu's aura.
Yes, it was in that short span of less than two breaths.
The boy in front of him, who had just been forcibly elevated to the Great Perfection of the Fourth Realm by him, broke through without any warning.
He jumped straight to the fifth realm!
Jiang Mu held out her hand: "Can I have it now?"