Another Cliché Cultivation Story

Ji Xian smirked as his gaze fell on the two figures.

“Hey, hey, look who it is— if it isn’t my two favorite brothers,” he remarked with a tone of playful mockery, even waving at them as well.

Ji Xian had naturally already seen Yahui and Yazhu the moment he arrived at the Arcane Mountain. He just felt no need to address them. Besides, he was wondering how long it would take for them to recognize him. Surprisingly, it looks like if Ji Xian hadn’t separated the two groups and revealed his ability, the two brothers would’ve only had suspicions but not been able to identify him.

Scratching his chin, Ji Xian inwardly mused at the absurdity of this.

Is this like Superman putting on glasses and slouching to hide his identity? If I just flip my hair forward and hunch a little, would no one recognize me? Hmm….I’ll definitely need to try this again in the future if I have the chance. It’ll be an interesting experiment. There’s no way this would work on someone stronger than me though, they could just use their spiritual sense to see through me.

He passed along this sentiment to Xia Lihua, who quickly covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a laugh.

“I can’t say I blame them,” she teased. “Whenever your hair is slicked back, people can mistake you for an Immortal. But when it falls forward… you look fit to serve me tea. You give off a very natural servant disposition.”

“…”

Annoyed, Ji Xian’s mouth twitched, but ultimately he let her have the last word.

“Well, they seem quite enthusiastic to see me at least,” he muttered.

Xia Lihua questioningly raised an eyebrow. Turning her head, she saw Yahui and Yazhu frantically trying to convince the Graha to escape. Even from the far distance, she could see their horrified expressions.

“More like enthusiastically traumatized…” she murmured, their screams echoing faintly in her ears. Memories of their abuse by Ji Xian’s hands resurfaced in her mind, bringing along that unsettling sensation that crawled across her skin.

She may have a dislike for the Graha; however, when it came to Yahui and Yazhu, Xia Lihua slightly pitied them because she knew there was no way Ji Xian would allow them to leave with their lives again. The first time was only because he didn’t want to escalate the situation in Mortal Desolate, but with the way things are now, Ji Xian no longer needs to be cautious. All things considered, the current circumstances in Mortal Desolate are probably what he favored most. After all, Chaos breeds opportunities.

Thinking along this line, Xia Lihua couldn’t help but set her gaze on Ji Xian with some skepticism.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

He… didn’t convince me to go into seclusion with him on purpose, right? If we had participated in this from the start, this entire matter could’ve been dealt with easily. Whether it’s the Graha from the Lower or Upper World, none of them posed an actual threat since Ji Xian is nigh unstoppable down here… But why would he do this? Why wait so long?

Xia Lihua subconsciously moved her eyes down, fixing them on Ji Xian’s robe where an old book could be barely seen.

The Empress…?

“What is it?”

A voice shook her out of her concentration. Looking up, Xia Lihua saw Ji Xian had a look of concern as he looked at her.

After some hesitation, she shook her head and said, “Nothing. I’m fine.”

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Inwardly, she sighed.

Why do I tend to doubt him so much? That look he had after we left the Ardent Yin Sect’s library couldn’t be faked. He was genuinely thrilled to test out his True and Astral Essence theory. Our seclusion was just unfortunate timing. Ȓ

Xia Lihua hated having these conflicting feelings for Ji Xian. Because it would mean that with everything he does, there were possibly ulterior motives to it. It was too exhausting to continuously think about, yet she didn’t want to continue viewing him in such a negative light. After all, no matter what he did, he had never harmed her. In fact, she was often the one who benefitted the most. However, when she considered the benefits she had gained at the cost of other people’s lives, her feelings would become complicated.

“My thoughts have been all over the place lately…” Xia Lihua sighed deeply, her gaze lingering on Ji Xian. After a brief pause, she slowly asked, “Actually… back at the Ardent Yin Sect, you told Yueyin that you’ve given your talent away, and because of it, you died… did you mean that literally? Did you give it away to someone?”

“…Oh, you heard that did you?” Ji Xian casually chuckled while brushing back his hair.

“I don’t think this is the time to be discussing this though,” Ji Xian nodded his head in the direction of the Graha.

Xia Lihua ignored his implication and continued, “From your reaction, you really gave your talent to someone? Is that even impossible?”

Ji Xian mysteriously smiled, “Anything is possible… if you have the right blood.”

“What?” Xia Lihua frowned. “Then, who was it you gave your talent to?”

“Someone who is no longer in our world.”

Ji Xian ignored Xia Lihua, who was in the midst of wanting to ask more questions, and began walking toward the Graha while still carrying Dong Zongying.

Meanwhile, the other side was having a commotion of their own, but it wasn’t due to the cries of Yahui and Yazhu. The two of them had rushed from one person to the next, desperately trying their best to convince their members to run, however, the group wouldn’t budge. They were too busy gawking at Ji Xian and what he had done to bother listening to the brothers.

The agitation began as soon as Ji Xian separated the two groups. Those of the Arcane Mountain failed to understand it, leaving only the Great Ancestor who grasped the profundity of Ji Xian’s actions.

“That wasn’t a simple spatial shift,” he muttered. “That belonged to… but how did he do that when he’s clearly human?”

The Graha were much more familiar with this feeling and thus, understood the severity of the situation.

“Did you feel the uniqueness of that spatial shift?” A Graha turned and asked his comrade.

He nodded and replied, “Yes… it borrowed upon the Essence of the stars.”

“It’s the Celestial race’s Astral Shift.”

“is this person a Celestial?”

“Impossible, the Celestials are proud of their appearance. There’s no way they would change it to look human.”

“Then, how the hell did this person…”

Confusion spread among the Graha and Yatong was no exception. He was no fool, hearing the screams of his sons, he knew that it was this man before him who caused them to be in such a state. If that was the case, Yatong didn’t have the luxury to be careless. He knew exactly how strong Yahui and Yazhu were. They were the number one and number two genius of their race in the Lower World. They were his pride and should’ve eventually gone on to ascend to the Upper World, unfortunately, now that it seems like their mind, spirits, and body have been compromised, it would take a while before they would recover to their former selves.

Yatong was furious, yet his frustration was tinged with unease. He had tried to see through this enigmatic young man in black but failed, a realization that only added to his growing nervousness. And it wasn’t just him— even the woman in white standing behind the man exuded a presence that set off every internal alarm he had.

This man and woman should be at the Extreme level… even though I’m only at the precipice of the Extreme level, with all the abilities I have at my disposal, I have nothing to fear against those in that realm. But… these two, they’re unfathomable!

Where did they even come from? Since when did Mortal Desolate have such people among them?

Yatong couldn’t understand this situation, and when he realized the young man in black was approaching him, he immediately upped his guard. He knew there was no room for discussion so he decided to do something that surprised even those of his race.

His Soul Essence Vessel churned, quickly increasing in speed. Yatong was prepared to use the forbidden art, however, the second he reacted, he felt a spatial compression around his neck. It wasn’t only he who felt it, but all the Grahas as well.

Yatong helplessly squirmed, and as he did, he noticed the heavenly bodies surrounding Mortal Desolate dimming.

“What… is… this!?” He asked, with much difficulty while choking.

Looking ahead, he saw the young man in black with his arm outstretched, his fingers curled tightly as though clutching their necks.

“I can’t have you tainting your body with that corrosive Essence, now,” Ji Xian grinned. “It’s simply too precious.”

Yatong’s eyes widened. He felt the approaching presence of death.