63: Chapter 63 Tang Xuan plots to force Lu Fan to take action.

"Although there have always been soft persimmons at the bottom of the golden list, there are also diamonds."

"If you make the wrong choice, isn't that just seeking death?"

Li Chenghe rubbed his signature powerhouse hairstyle—a gleaming, bald head.

Yet his words revealed an infinitely wise train of thought.

As a Prodigy on the Heaven List, entering the Early Stage Nascent Soul Stage at the age of forty already made him a peerless Genius.

Unfortunately, this was not some Dharma Ending Age from a cultivation novel where Spiritual Qi was depleted, sacred Physiques became useless, and cultivation was so difficult that it couldn't be sustained with resources.

In this era, there were Prodigies above Prodigies, and peerless Prodigies emerging from among Prodigies.

The strength he displayed could only be considered slightly impressive, but far from being crowned the absolute best among his peers.

Currently, on the Heaven List, he was ranked 245th.

"This is a hunting campaign. Whether one can survive to the final round depends not only on strength and the power backing them, but also on Luck," Li Chenghe muttered.

These days, the last thing the world lacked was Cultivators who lived on the edge of a blade.

Especially those whom the world called Prodigies.

Demonic Cultivators, evil Cultivators, and even devil Cultivators emerged in endless waves.

Some wanted to rise in the Heaven List rankings, some wanted to break onto the Heaven List, and others were already sharpening their blades, plotting to slay their fellow Prodigies to plunder their Luck.

"Looking at it now, it is better to keep a low profile, develop quietly, and advance steadily."

The reason they were called Prodigies was that, fundamentally, defeating stronger opponents and slaying those of a higher Realm was no difficult task for them.

At the very least, he himself had done it before—using his Late Stage Golden Core strength to risk his life and forcefully kill an Early Stage Nascent Soul.

Looking at the big picture, a single glance through the Dao of cultivation revealed that aside from worldly wisdom and social relationships, all that remained was fighting and killing.

"For now, only by raising the Realm and Rank of my Shijue Ghost Concubine can I feel a bit more secure."

As an exceptionally talented ghost Cultivator, his combat power came not only from himself, but also from the Shijue Ghost Concubine he carried on his back in a dark, eerie coffin, never leaving his side.

This Shijue Ghost Concubine was none other than his Junior Sister.

The Sect he belonged to was called the Corpse Emperor Sect.

It was a first-rate Sect in the Brahma Domain of the Lingzhou Continent.

Within the Sect, they valued not only the eternal truth of the strong ruling over the weak,

but also faced a cruel, realistic issue.

Since the Corpse Emperor Sect built its foundation on the Dao of Corpses—controlling, raising, and deploying walking corpses for their own use to annihilate their enemies—

in order to foster a deep emotional connection between a Disciple and their controlled corpse slave, pairs of Outer Sect Disciples of the same age would Cultivate together from childhood.

When they reached the age of eighteen, the two would engage in a life-and-death duel.

The loser would be stripped of their life and turned into a corpse slave.

The winner would form a contract with the corpse slave, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple truly recognized by the Corpse Emperor Sect.

His Shijue Ghost Concubine was acquired in exactly this manner.

"Otherwise, relying solely on my Early Stage Nascent Soul Stage combat power without the enhancement of a special Physique, wanting to defeat my opponents would be nothing but a foolish delusion."

In the cultivation world, forget about being morally grey—there are always more bad people.

Killing others to seize their treasures and acting as bandit Cultivators were basically as natural and effortless as eating and drinking.

Moreover, they did so without any psychological burden whatsoever.

Today, whether they were already on the Heaven List or eagerly trying to make a breakthrough to enter it, all the Prodigies had begun their different cultivation journeys.

...

Baihuang Prefecture, Qian Family.

"Young Master, why not take advantage of her upcoming Soul Transformation Tribulation to thoroughly capture her?"

"I heard that Sect Master Min Qingrou was once a highly majestic Sect Master on the Lingzhou Continent."

"Just imagine what a wonderful thing it would be if such a mature, married woman could moan submissively beneath you."

"What clever plan do you have to teach me, Zhen'er?" A spark of light flashed in Young Master Qian Mingyuan's eyes.

He was also well-informed about Sect Master Min Qingrou's situation.

He knew she possessed the strength of the Late Stage Nascent Soul Stage, and that her attempt to break through to Soul Transformation would soon be underway.

"Soul Transformation, Incarnation, becoming a Mortal. Using Divine Thought to cross the Tribulation of the Immortal Soul."

"Why not strike from this angle, completely taming her to become your exclusive plaything?"

"The chains and small toys are already prepared. She will surely have an unforgettable and fulfilling life experience."

Caressing her pretty face with her jade-like fingers, the woman looked thoroughly pleased with herself.

"Good idea." Young Master Qian Mingyuan looked at the woman in his arms with a wicked gaze. His burning eyes seemed to want to strip her bare immediately to feel her fiery sincerity. "How should I reward you, then?"

"This servant dare not ask for too much, I only seek... giggles!"

The woman naturally understood his meaning. Her eyes filled with spring-like allure, her face blossomed with a smile, and her beautiful eyes gazed at Young Master Qian Mingyuan with boundless desire.

In an instant, the latter felt as if he was experiencing a surging, overwhelming wave of passion.

...

"That Rebellious Disciple who betrayed the Sect to Cultivate demonic arts actually made it onto the golden list?" Sect Master Tang Xuan said, his eyes nearly splitting with rage.

Although Gu Qingge was ranked at the very bottom of the Heaven List on the golden list, this was actually a point of greater public attention.

Based on past experience, the Cultivators at the bottom of the rankings were mostly weaker and therefore the easiest targets to plunder.

Compared to plotting against the top-ranked Prodigies, it was clearly much simpler to forcefully rob the weak.

As a result, the attention on Gu Qingge and the other bottom-ranked individuals was even higher than that on the top few!

First raising a tiger to cause trouble, and then letting the tiger return to the mountain.

Now, Gu Qingge, who had already stepped into the Middle Stage Golden Core Stage, possessed the means to slay those in the Nascent Soul Stage. Even someone as strong as Sect Master Tang Xuan would have to think twice before making a move against him.

What's more, there was an even more important point.

He was too young.

Others might not know, but as the Sect Master of the Qingxuan Sect, how could he not know Gu Qingge's background?

A Genius who rose from a remote, small region, and now a twenty-five-year-old Middle Stage Golden Core Stage Cultivator!

This speed of rise would be considered outstanding even in the various Holy Lands.

"No, this matter must be reported to Lu Fan as soon as possible."

Sect Master Tang Xuan felt that the current situation had already spiraled out of his control.

The speed at which Gu Qingge's strength was rising was truly staggering.

It was hard not to suspect that he had obtained some massive Opportunity, giving him the strength to challenge and contend with them.

"Perhaps, I can take this Opportunity to make use of him."

Sect Master Tang Xuan had also long since investigated Lu Fan's background.

A Genius from a small place who hacked through thorns and thistles along the way, and by a stroke of Luck, obtained a Sect entry token for the Holy Spirit Sect, becoming a Holy Spirit Sect Disciple.

Later, during the assessment ceremony, he passed the trial of the "Dragon Ascension Path," and his status skyrocketed.

Going straight from a common Outer Sect Disciple, he was directly taken in by Sect Master Mu Yunji as a closed-door Personal Disciple.

And now, he was even the Saint of the Holy Spirit Sect!

The power and resources he could mobilize were definitely far greater than what Sect Master Tang Xuan, who was currently constrained on multiple sides, could command.

Therefore, if the other party was still obsessed with Sect Master Min Qingrou of the Heavenly Demon Sect, he would definitely agree.

"The Three Thousand Illusory Demon Body! I don't believe he would give it up so easily."

Sect Master Tang Xuan had absolute confidence in his ability to manipulate human hearts and interests.

Since Lu Fan was willing to pay a high price to hire him to act, it meant that Sect Master Min Qingrou's value was priceless.

Or perhaps, her inherent value was not limited to just that.