Chapter 129: Who am I, and where am I?

"Senior Brother, the competition isn't really the main point, is it?" Yun Jingzi asked, feeling somewhat helpless. She felt as though her Senior Brother’s focus had drifted entirely off-track.

"Hmph! You’re just trying to mention that peerless expert even the Master couldn't defeat, aren't you?" Master Liuguang replied. "If he were truly that formidable, would he even bother with a tournament against us? He’s just looking for a graceful way for both sides to back down. Anyway, enough about that—let’s discuss the rules of the competition."

Yun Jingzi thought to herself that he certainly saw things clearly. Indeed, that Sea Demon ancestor had no real need to hold a tournament against human cultivators; he could simply have attacked directly if he had the power. However, his decision wasn't entirely without logic. After all, the Tianxuan World was dominated by humans, and it was a fact that the demon race’s overall strength was inferior to that of the humans. They couldn't afford to fight to the death.

"One hundred participants from each side—humans under five hundred years of age, sea demons under three thousand. The cultivation base must not exceed the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, no spirit weapons above the Profound Grade may be used, and no one is to be killed. It would be best if the humans sent their elites from the Heavenly Pride List," Yun Jingzi detailed the rules.

Master Liuguang narrowed his eyes, remaining silent.

"Little Yue'er, does the Heavenly Pride List ever record demon cultivators?" he suddenly asked Jiang Yue.

Jiang Yue thought for a moment and replied, "My connection to the Heavenly Pride List has weakened, but the criteria remain unchanged: an age limit of under one hundred. Over the past fifty years, only five or six from the previous generation remain on the list. The newcomers are all younger cultivators, and none of them are from the demon race—only a few rising talents from the Abyss of Ten Thousand Demons. But they are demon-cultivators, not of the true demon race. So far, no one from the demon race has made the list. After all, it takes a century for the demon race to assume human form, and their cultivation speed is slower than humans. Even if some could transform early, their limited time spent cultivating means their strength would be restricted, making it very difficult to qualify."

"I see..." Master Liuguang mused for a moment before saying, "Yue'er, go to Yaoxue Peak. Try to communicate with the Heavenly Pride List and see if the entry rules have changed."

"Now?" Jiang Yue asked.

"Yes, go now," Master Liuguang instructed. "Ask Junior Uncle Shen to accompany you and see if there are any unusual entries on the list."

Jiang Yue nodded and went to the Spirit Beast Hall to find Shen Chengtuo.

"Senior Brother, why send Junior Brother Shen with Yue'er?" Yun Jingzi asked with curiosity.

Master Liuguang glanced at the three disciples kneeling nearby, their heads hanging in dejection, and wondered what they were thinking. Feeling his gaze, the three lowered their heads even further.

After a long silence, Master Liuguang sent a voice transmission to Yun Jingzi: "The Heavenly Pride List may have changed. Shen Chengtuo understands the characteristics of the demon race well; perhaps he can spot some clues."

"Does Senior Brother mean... the demon race is about to get involved in the chaos?"

"Very likely. As beings of the Tianxuan World, the demon race cannot simply stay out of it." Master Liuguang cautioned, "Junior Sister, take those three fellows to the East Sea Sect. Also, take Luo Heng, Zhou Qian, and Zhang Zai. Lingxiao will stay at the sect, and you should not participate in the competition—bullying juniors is not a good look."

Yun Jingzi nodded. She only wanted to get to the bottom of the seal on her soul and had little interest in other matters. Without the two-race competition, this would just be another gambling match at most.

"Also..." Master Liuguang hesitated.

"If Senior Brother has something to say, please speak plainly," Yun Jingzi said.

Master Liuguang’s eyes held a complex look. "It is best not to ask the Master about the issue with your soul. Delving deeper will not be good for you. When the time is ripe, the problem will resolve itself."

"Then I..." Yun Jingzi hesitated, then stopped questioning. Xujing and Wang Li had both told her similar things. Now that Master Liuguang had brought it up, she knew it was impossible to ignore, but she also knew that since all three refused to discuss it, there were clearly concerns she couldn't overcome. She suppressed her curiosity and shifted the topic to the imminent arrival of Jiang Yu.

Hearing that the Saintess of the Five Elements Pavilion was coming to find her husband, Master Liuguang let out a cold laugh. "That old woman Tianmu still hasn't given up! She’s even resorting to a honey trap—what a huge investment. She thinks that by choosing Jiang Yu as the Saintess, she can lure Wang Li away? She doesn't realize Wang Li isn't the type to be lost in such romantic trifles."

"Senior Brother is right. I’ve spent quite some time with Wang Li, and he is an old monster who completely lacks romantic sensibility," Yun Jingzi said. "As far as I know, Wang Li is only thinking about recovering his peak strength. I doubt he has any interest in a partner until he is fully restored. The Five Elements Pavilion is wasting its efforts. By the way, Senior Brother, is Wang Li in the sect? I have some questions regarding my cultivation techniques I wanted to ask him."

"He left a long time ago. I don't know where he is," Master Liuguang replied. "He only said he would return, but not when."

"Experts like him think differently than you and I, but don't be disappointed—he will definitely return."

Yun Jingzi sighed in disappointment, "Who can guarantee that? If he’s gone, let him go. A great senior like him is not someone we can keep."

"Enough. When Yue'er and the others return, take Yue'er with you. Let her see those young elites so she isn't idle all day."

"Understood. But since the Saintess of the Five Elements Pavilion is here, we shouldn't be negligent."

"Haha, the Saintess of the Five Elements Pavilion? No, no, she will soon become one of our Pure Yang Temple's own!" Master Liuguang laughed unscrupulously.

Not long after, Zhou Qian welcomed Jiang Yu. Decades had passed, and Jiang Yu had matured, no longer the slightly green girl who dabbled in "black-handed" tactics. The passage of time and the increase in her cultivation had elevated her temperament to a new level; she was truly worthy of being called a beauty who could topple cities.

"Senior Sister Jiang Yu, it has been decades! Your grace is even more impressive than before!" Zhou Qian led Jiang Yu into the mountain gate, while the reception disciples guided the other members of the Five Elements Pavilion behind them.

After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Yu asked directly, "Is Wang Li in the sect?"

"No, Deacon Wang left a long time ago. His current whereabouts are unknown." Zhou Qian did not hide it. She had come to find her husband, and there was no point in concealing Wang Li’s whereabouts; if he didn't say it, others in the sect would.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yu’s expression dimmed.

"I wish to pay my respects to Immortal Liuguang."

"Very well, I will take you to him."

While Jiang Yu was performing her "thousand-mile journey to find a husband" at the Pure Yang Temple, in an unknown abyss, a man covered in wounds struggled to open his eyes.

"Where is this place?" Wang Li looked around at the strange surroundings, completely bewildered. "Who am I? Where am I?"

"You are Wang Li, and you... you damn it, you finally woke up!"

"Damn it, why are you suffering from amnesia? This isn't an idol drama!"

Wang Li remained confused: "Who are you? Where are you?"