Chapter 276: A Furious Li Qinghe (First Update)

"Another good item."

Yan Jing looked at the Exceptionally Brilliant Finger Bone with delight, then quickly tucked it away.

"Anything pulled from a platinum chest or above can practically change your fate."

Whether it was the Potion of Heracles, Survivor 6000, or the mysterious finger bone, all of them had strict usage conditions. Once met, however, they became heaven-defying items that could push one's strength forward in leaps and bounds.

"Come to think of it, I'm almost at the Fourth Tier."

Yan Jing checked his current status window:

[Player Name: Yan Jing]

[Player Title: Chaos Missionary]

[Player Level: Third Tier, Experience (76.25%/100%)]

[Ritual:

Day Selection Ritual: Fear Sapling (Purple-Black)

Calming Rite: Lord of Execution's Silk Thread (Black)

Incense Burning Rite: Wings of Praying for Death - Chongming (Orange)]

Wang Changnian had told him before that the transition from the Fourth Tier to the Fifth Tier was another major hurdle. Among the most powerful seeds of their generation, someone had already reached the Fifth Tier.

Granted, that was only because they had entered the Inner World System years ahead of him.

But it still meant he couldn't afford to slack off.

"It's a pity I can't activate Chaos Mode for this Dungeon."

His main goal in this Dungeon was to eliminate that Seventh Rank human powerhouse. Choosing Chaos Mode was clearly not the rational play.

"I'll just have to aim for an S+ rating."

Yan Jing muttered softly.

The bonus experience for an S+ rating was 40%, whereas an S only gave 20%. The difference was quite substantial.

Right as he pondered this, his phone rang.

"Xiao Yanzi, where are you?"

Shen Youran's anxious voice came through the receiver.

"Our Shielding Item was destroyed. The team ran an analysis and suspects a Fifth Tier powerhouse from the Mechanization Pathway made a move. This person is very likely following the Inner World Pathway. Where are you? I'll come find you."

Already expecting this, Yan Jing replied softly, "It's fine, Teacher Shen. I did that."

"..."

"..."

After a few seconds of silence, a clearly accustomed Shen Youran said, "...Oh. Right. I figured. Get back to work then, Xiao Yanzi. Let me know if you need anything, and send me the effects of this new item whenever you have the time."

Her tone had regained its calm. Compared to the shocks Yan Jing had given her in the past, this was a minor issue.

"I actually do need your help with something, Teacher Shen."

Yan Jing said, "Have you finished compiling that Seventh Rank list I asked for last time?"

"It's done. Give me a second, I'll send it over right now,"

Shen Youran replied.

Yan Jing couldn't help but marvel again at how reliable Shen Youran was. From the day they met, there hadn't been a single piece of intel he needed that she couldn't provide.

Soon, he opened the list she sent over. After carefully cross-referencing the details, he found his target.

The Old Man had seen the human before and described his general appearance to him.

Looking at the photo of the man in the cyan Daoist robe, Yan Jing was certain this was the person currently in Minhu.

"Ye Jinyuan."

"Seventh Rank."

"Ritual system."

"One of the three Deputy Domain Lords of the Yueyin Domain, Head of the Yueyin Defense Department."

"Due to certain experiences in his youth, he harbors an immense hatred for Inner World residents. He vehemently opposes the proposal made by certain factions within the Yueyin Federation to cooperate with the Inner World, making him a staunch pro-war advocate."

"Primarily responsible for the defense affairs of the Yueyin Domain, handling Inner World-related matters, including Inner World incursions and human uprisings stemming from the Inner World Pathway."

"His ritual system centers around a mysterious Inner World Pathway item. Based on the abilities he has displayed, which include talismans and Daoist swords, he fights much like the immortals described in storybooks."

Yan Jing read through the description of Ye Jinyuan. Although the file stated the man was nearly fifty, he looked barely in his early thirties in the photo.

"Teacher Shen, is Deputy Domain Lord Ye Jinyuan currently in the Surface World? Can you check that?"

Yan Jing asked.

"Ye Jinyuan? That might be a bit tricky to track down. I'll ask around, but it will take some time,"

Shen Youran said.

"Alright, sorry for the trouble."

Yan Jing added, "This new defensive item is called Survivor 6000. I'll send the relevant data over to you in a bit, Teacher Shen."

"Mm-hmm."

Shen Youran nodded. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she said, "It seems the higher-ups in Yueyin have rolled out some special policies regarding you seeds this year. Make sure you get some rest, Xiao Yanzi. Don't work yourself to the bone."

"Will do."

Yan Jing nodded.

The call ended.

Tucking the list away, Yan Jing immediately entered the Inner World.

He was mostly done dealing with the Dungeon.

It was about time to go see the Old Man.

...

Ninth Lake Prefecture.

Li Qinghe's expression shifted rapidly as he read the newly received message.

He had been anxiously waiting for his subordinates to bring back news of the divine bird.

Yet not only had the divine bird failed to arrive, he had just received word that the Martial Saint he had believed in all this time might be a fake?!

His anger instantly skyrocketed.

With a dark expression, he pulled out his Jade Token. Weird energy surged, and a holographic projection appeared before him.

Dressed in a white robe, appearing to be in his fifties with black hair, a white beard, and a resolute face—it was Xu Chengyi.

He was currently sitting in a chair, sipping tea.

"What do you need?"

'You, you, you. He won't even address me as His Majesty. An ungrateful hound...'

Suppressing the near-insane fury in his heart, Li Qinghe kept his face dark and said, "Where are you?"

"Luohe. What's the matter?"

Xu Chengyi frowned.

In the past, whenever Li Qinghe sought him out, he had always called him Master Xu. Opening with a formal 'you' now made him extremely displeased.

"Are you unaware of what is happening outside?"

Li Qinghe's face remained gloomy.

"I don't know."

Xu Chengyi grew increasingly annoyed and said in a deep voice, "If you have something to say, say it. If not, I am currently in my final closed-door cultivation before the martial assembly. It's only because it's you; if anyone else had disturbed me, I would have already—"

"Someone is taking the Heavenly Gate Challenge in the Third Lake Prefecture!!!"

Li Qinghe violently slammed his hand onto his chair and roared.

His outburst cut Xu Chengyi off.

"Wh-what?"

Xu Chengyi failed to process the words for a moment.

"I said someone is taking the Heavenly Gate Challenge in the Third Lake Prefecture!!"

Veins bulged on Li Qinghe's forehead. "They've already cleared the martial hall pass and are currently taking the Martial Gate Pass! They've reached the twenties!!!"

"Impossible!"

Finally snapping back to reality, Xu Chengyi nearly leapt out of his seat. "Absolutely impossible!"

Clearing over twenty gates of the Martial Gate Pass meant reaching the Martial Arts Peak in over twenty different martial disciplines. That was simply impossible!

Martial arts were in decline nowadays. The living experts at the Martial Arts Peak could be counted on two hands. Which of those idle old coots would have the free time to challenge the heavenly gate?

"Nothing is impossible, Xu Chengyi!"

Li Qinghe sneered. "And that person even has some connection to you."

Hearing this, Xu Chengyi's mind turned into a tangled mess. He didn't even have the time to care that Li Qinghe had addressed him by his full name, muttering to himself, "Connected to me? Vice President Bai? Or Vice President Zhu? That can't be. Both of them are pushing eighty. Even if they went up, they absolutely wouldn't have the stamina to win over twenty matches... Impossible. It's absolutely impossible."

Sweat poured madly down Xu Chengyi's forehead. Not because someone was challenging the heavenly gate, but because Li Qinghe was the one telling him this.

He understood Li Qinghe. He knew exactly what the man was implying with these words:

The Martial Saint wasn't him, Xu Chengyi!

The Martial Saint title he had always paraded around was fake!

"Who the hell is it?!"

With bloodshot eyes, he stared at Li Qinghe.

Li Qinghe began to laugh.

"According to the news I just received, the man is named Liu Fu."

"Who?!!"

Unable to hold back, Xu Chengyi slammed his palm onto the table beside him, instantly shattering it into pieces.

"Liu Fu!"

Li Qinghe barked.

"That's right, your senior martial brother! The Liu Fu by Luo Sheng's side!"

At the mention of Luo Sheng, the smile on Li Qinghe's face vanished completely. Panting heavily, he glared at the dumbfounded Xu Chengyi.

"Xu Chengyi, let me tell you this. I gave you some face before because I thought you were the Martial Saint!"

"If you aren't the Martial Saint, then you aren't worth dog shit!"

"How do you think you got your current position? What use is martial arts talent? Without me, you would have had to climb for at least ten years to reach this seat!"

"Without me building your momentum, without me clearing your obstacles, do you really think you, Xu Chengyi, could have made it to where you are today?! Dream on! You idiot!"

"I'm warning you, Xu Chengyi. You only have two choices now. One, return to the Third Lake Prefecture and prove to me that you are the true Martial Saint. Two, die out there! If you dare take a single step back into the prefecture, see if I don't kill you myself!"

With that, Li Qinghe abruptly cut the communication.

Staring at the vanished hologram, Xu Chengyi stood frozen for a full two or three minutes. Finally, as if waking from a dream, he strode quickly toward the door.

Unexpectedly, his right leg suddenly gave out, and he stumbled.

After steadying himself, he looked left and right. Taking in the empty room, he took a deep breath, shoved the door open, and roared, "Men!!!"

"Xu Qi! Meng Jian!"

He bellowed the names of his two primary disciples.

Soon, two figures sprinted over and dropped to one knee.

"Master."

"Huu... huu..."

Xu Chengyi steadied his breathing as much as possible and raised his head. "Did something happen in the Third Lake Prefecture?"

"This..."

The two primary disciples exchanged a glance, their eyes hesitant.

"I asked, did something happen?!!"

Xu Chengyi smashed his fist into the doorframe. The entire frame instantly splintered into flying fragments, pelting the faces of the two kneeling men.

"Y-yes, someone is taking the Heavenly Gate Challenge in the Third Lake Prefecture."

The senior disciple, Xu Qi, gathered his courage to answer.

"Why wasn't this reported?!!"

Xu Chengyi roared.

"I-it was you who said that nothing should disturb your closed-door cultivation, that this martial assembly was exceedingly important—"

Smack!!!

A vicious slap came down, cutting off Xu Qi's words.

Xu Chengyi's face was extremely dark.

"What is that person's name?"

"They... they say he is called Liu Fu..."

Even after being struck, Xu Qi didn't dare let the expression change on his red and swollen face.

"Does your martial grandfather know about this?"

Xu Chengyi demanded.

"He knows someone is taking the Heavenly Gate Challenge, but... he doesn't know the name yet."

Xu Qi replied.

"Buy a ticket right now."

Xu Chengyi's face darkened to the absolute limit. "We are returning to the Third Lake Prefecture."