Chapter Nineteen: Revenge Does Not Wait Until Dawn

Sheng sparred verbally with Wang Li for a while, then steered the conversation toward cultivation.

“Wang Li, you have an extraordinary starting point, already surpassing most cultivators in the Celestial Profound World. With your heaven-defying data analysis ability and the blessing of the Innate Chaos Physique, as long as you don't go recklessly seeking trouble, your future accomplishments will surely be great. Have you thought about which path you want to take?”

Wang Li replied instinctively, “Uphold righteousness and eradicate all evil from the world.”

“And then?” Sheng asked.

Wang Li was taken aback. “What do you mean, and then?”

“After you've wiped out all the evil in the world, what do you want to do?”

Wang Li imagined the scene of eliminating all evil and felt a surge of passion, but then quickly fell into confusion.

“Wiping out all evil isn’t so easy. Righteousness and evil have battled for hundreds of thousands of years without a resolution. Why would I be able to eradicate evil?”

“Can’t you think on a bigger scale? The Celestial Profound World is just a remote corner. It can’t contain you! Remember, I said this!” Sheng declared. “With me around, nothing is insurmountable. Broaden your horizons—let your imagination soar!”

“Heh…” Wang Li retorted, “What does it mean to think big? If I could truly destroy all evil, I’d already be standing at the very summit of existence. If I’ve reached the peak, what more could I want?”

“Useless, I shouldn’t have bothered to ask.”

Sheng reorganized his words and continued, “Have you ever thought about what lies at the end of the path of cultivation?”

Wang Li shook his head. “The path of cultivation has no end. I know there are worlds beyond the Celestial Profound World, and that True Immortal is not the final destination for a cultivator. The ancient texts mention True Immortals shattering the void to pursue even greater goals in other worlds, but I imagine there’s no end out there either.

“Take you, for example, Sheng. I don’t know what the realm of a Primordial Saint is truly like, but the fact that someone could reduce you to your current state proves there are beings even stronger than Saints.

“And if there are those stronger than Saints, then surely there are also existences even more powerful than someone who could defeat a Saint and leave only a remnant soul behind, aren’t there?”

Sheng fell silent.

Right on target with the most sensitive topic.

The conversation came to an abrupt halt, all thanks to this kid!

Sheng suddenly felt that discussing such lofty matters with the current Wang Li was like casting pearls before swine.

He simply dropped the subject and began urging Wang Li to focus on sparring with “Jiang Yue.”

Within the simulated battle scenario, fights lasted only a moment—a mere flicker of thought. Under Sheng’s supervision, Wang Li fought and lost repeatedly, facing defeat at Jiang Yue’s hands over a hundred times. In the end... he gave up struggling and instead started simulating himself practicing the “Fury Vajra” technique.

If his own abilities didn’t improve, no amount of beatings would do any good!

While Wang Li was busy refining his mastery of the technique, in the tranquil chamber behind the Sect Master’s hall, Jiang Yue stealthily opened a hidden door.

“You vile Wang Li, how dare you make a princess look like a fool in front of so many people? This isn’t over!”

“So you rely on your superior grade Earth-tier spirit armor for protection, is that it?”

“Well, this princess also has a superior grade Earth-tier spirit sword! Just wait, if I don’t make you yield, I’ll change my surname!”

Muttering to herself, Jiang Yue entered the secret passage and followed it into a hidden chamber.

Inside, treasures shimmered with magical light. More than a dozen spirit artifacts, clearly rare and extraordinary, were sealed within a protective formation.

These were all Liu Guang Real Person’s private stash—his weapons and equipment from his younger days, some even spoils of war. After reaching the Earth Immortal realm, these artifacts were no longer useful to him, so he stored them here, intending to eventually pass them on to his disciples.

But counting Jiang Yue, Liu Guang had only four disciples, and the abundance of treasures far exceeded their needs. It seemed this little girl was about to benefit greatly.

…At least, that’s what Jiang Yue had thought ever since she learned of these treasures.

“Sorry, seniors, but I won’t stand on ceremony!” she thought cheerfully. “Taking what’s rightfully mine a little early shouldn’t make Grandpa angry.”

“Yes, Grandpa definitely won’t be angry!”

“Haha, my treasures, here I come!”

After giving herself a pep talk, Jiang Yue took out a black token from her storage bracelet.

A glow emanated from the token, enveloping her as she stepped into the recovery formation.

She’d already selected her targets—she swiftly claimed a blue longsword and a red short-handled hammer, storing them in her bracelet.

Withdrawing cautiously from the formation, Jiang Yue felt a wave of relief when no alarms sounded. A fierce grin lit up her pretty face.

“This princess never lets a grudge last overnight. Wang Li, just wait to beg for mercy on your knees… hahahaha!”

Wang Li was still unaware that the girl who had bumbled through a “chicken fight” with him earlier was now storming toward his courtyard, intent on revenge. He remained wholly absorbed in simulating battle scenarios, familiarizing himself with his offensive techniques.

But after more than twenty simulated demonstrations of his “Fury Vajra” at the minor mastery level, he discovered a significant problem.

The simulated “Wang Li” wasn’t using the original “Fury Vajra” technique, but was automatically displaying the upgraded “Fury Vajra Palm”—an offensive divine ability evolved from “Fury Vajra” in the advanced “Purple Qi Rising” manual.

Though “Fury Vajra Palm” differed from “Fury Vajra” by only one word, the power unleashed in the simulations proved that the two techniques were worlds apart. The “Fury Vajra Palm” was clearly much stronger.

Comparing it to the simulated “Jiang Yue” using the Yellow-tier superior sword technique “Lingxi Sword Art,” Wang Li was certain that “Fury Vajra Palm” was not a Yellow-tier superior attack method. At the very least, it should already be considered a Profound-tier divine ability.

Moreover, the energy required to perform the “Fury Vajra Palm” was far greater than what “Jiang Yue” expended to use the “Lingxi Sword Art.”

With his peak first-stage Foundation Establishment energy reserves, Wang Li could only manage two uses of the “Fury Vajra Palm.” Meanwhile, the just-advanced “Jiang Yue” could unleash her sword technique with ease, over and over again. The difference could not be explained by cultivation realm alone.

Wang Li knew that his own energy reserves were at least several times greater than other cultivators at the same level. Yet even with such massive reserves, he couldn’t maintain the “Fury Vajra Palm” for long if it were truly just a Yellow-tier superior technique.

That in itself was highly suspicious…

Sheng offered no explanation, not even bothering to speak to Wang Li.

These were trifles—not worth wasting time explaining!

Besides, Wang Li had already reaped abundant benefits. What more could he want?

Sheng truly hadn’t met anyone so incapable of appreciating their good fortune!

Wang Li didn’t know what Sheng was thinking, but if he did, he would probably grow more anxious—suspecting Sheng of scheming something.

With no explanation forthcoming, Wang Li felt even less certain.

So he could only repeatedly run simulations, hoping to discover something in the process.

But all this was ultimately in vain. The only real gain was his steadily increasing mastery of the techniques.