Chapter 138: Chapter 73: Return to Kunlun with Full Rewards
The journey to the Demon Locking Tower thus came to an end.

Next came Ling Yunpo and An Zhisu’s escape from the Demon Locking Tower, being hunted by a Jiaolong, then returning to the Emei Golden Summit Sky Extreme Plaza.

In the end, the Long Eyebrow Immortal launched the Two-Yi Micro Dust Formation, killing all the escaped Jiaolongs, and recaptured the Ying Long back into the Demon Locking Tower.

All of this was of no concern to Qiu Changtian, because right from the time the alarm was raised regarding the Demon Locking Tower’s appearance, Shushan had immediately sent him away in order to avoid any accidents that might harm the relationship between the two factions.

He had arrived via magical artifact, and could only return by sword control, after all, with Shushan on the verge of chaos, it was impossible for the Real Person Jinghua to escort him all the way back to Kunlun.

The return journey was unusually smooth, the number of cultivators in this world was so small compared to the vast expanse of the Divine Land Continent, that the probability of encountering a cultivator while flying on a sword was probably lower than winning the lottery.

After crossing the Tibetan Plateau and reaching the Kunlun Heavenly Pillar, Qiu Changtian entered the Jade Void Palace and “completely and in detail” reported his trip to Shushan to the Ziwei Master.

To summarize that would be:

I arrived at Shushan and visited the Jade Capital Sect Leader, with no lapse in etiquette.

After entering the Demon Locking Tower, I went straight to the lower levels to the Blood Pool, and broke through the Marrow Cleansing Rank in one breath, then visited the Cloud Sea Realm and gained thirty years’ worth of cultivation from the Refining Mansion.

After coming out, I found that a great conspiracy was taking place within the Demon Locking Tower trial team.

So, I carefully investigated in the secret realm, and just happened to come across the perpetrators committing a crime, so I took action, killed them, and prevented the conspiracy from expanding and endangering Shushan.

The Jade Capital Sect Leader acknowledged and thanked me for my contribution, it’s just that because they had to urgently save the Demon Locking Tower, that’s why I was sent out of Shushan first.

The Ziwei Master, seated upon the Seven-Colored Lotus Platform, silently listened to the narrative of the Direct Disciple, without showing any emotion for a long time.

… I only sent you to the Demon Locking Tower to take advantage of the Blood Pool used by the Marrow Cleansing Rank Sword Immortals.

How did you not only complete your Marrow Cleansing, but also take advantage of the Cloud Sea Realm of the Refining Mansion Rank?

Not only that, you just happened to come across a Demonic Beast conspiracy? And you resolved it as well?

Even the Ziwei Master, with vast knowledge and experience, had truly never seen such strange occurrences.

To use an analogy, this disciple went out for the first time to practice and was merely supposed to kill a Demonic Beast ravaging a mine, but instead, he just happened to encounter a high-rank Demon Path Cultivator fleeing to the area…

After reciting the “Classic of Purity and Stillness” in her mind, the Ziwei Master managed to calm her spirit.

Regardless, this Direct Disciple had ultimately returned safely and even gained tremendous benefits.

Isn’t that all right then?

“I am aware, you may leave.” The Ziwei Master said calmly, waving her horsetail whisk.

Qiu Changtian bowed and left with trepidation.

With someone else, he was confident he could blunder through; but this master of Kunlun was truly not easy to deceive, so Qiu Changtian tried to avoid lying, opting instead for a “selective” recounting of the truth, lest he reveal any clues.

Fortunately, it seemed the master did not intend to probe further…

Upon returning to the Golden Ridge Cave Abode, Qiu Changtian began to organize his gains.

First of all, the most significant gain was the dramatic increase in his cultivation realm.

Leveraging his Innate Sword Bone from Ling Yunpo, he purged the impurities from his marrow, thus directly completing the Marrow Cleansing.

Then with the help of the Mercurial Elixir Liquid and the Cloud Sea Realm, he effectively gained ninety years’ worth of cultivation in an instant.

If I do nothing else and simply continue my closed-door cultivation for another hundred and ten years, I will certainly be able to form a superior Third Grade Golden Core.

Of course, as one who aims to ascend to the throne of the heavens, Qiu Changtian’s vision is naturally not limited to the mere Third Grade.

With another two hundred years of cultivation, wouldn’t it be wonderful to form an even more formidable Second Grade Golden Core?

I’ll have to ask my master if the Kunlun Taiqing Sect has any secret realms prepared for Cultivators at the Refining Mansion rank…

I’m sure there must be; after all, the Taiqing Sect places great importance on the cultivation realm. Otherwise, why would there be more Golden Core Cultivators in Kunlun than in Shushan + Penglai combined?

With the major changes happening at Shushan, the master surely must consult with the elders first to devise countermeasures, so it’s probably better to look for him a few days later.

Next, there are various spoils of war, including the fox demon illusion technique taught by the Marquis of Mount Tu, a drop of essence blood from Ying Long, and the bloodline talents of Ying Long that Ah Jing has inscribed.

All these were obtained by strictly following the strategy guide, and though I’m not sure what use they hold, I doubt they are useless.

Just like in literary novels, if “a hunting rifle is hanging on the wall, later in the story it must go off,” Ah Jing’s habit of being secretive surely wouldn’t include unnecessary steps in the strategy guide.

Anyway, they will come in handy sooner or later!

Thinking of this, Qiu Changtian couldn’t help but once again inventory all the strengths he currently held.

What Qiu Changtian has available includes the Tenth Rank Yu Long Sword, three derivative Daoist Magic from the “Nine Heavens Clear Entrance True Mantra” (the Universal Pure Tone Minor Illumination Technique, Shangyang Sword Qi, Supreme Jasper Spiritual Talisman, serving roles of healing, attack, and control respectively), and four types of Thunder Methods: Jade Pivot, North Pole, Immortal Capital, and Tai Yi.

Ling Yunpo has available the Tenth Rank Qing Ping Sword, Tenth Rank Thunder Punishment Sword, along with various swordsmanship skills that are mastered, knowing, and familiar from different schools.

On Luo Yan’s side, what’s available includes the Ninth Rank Peach Blossom Sword, Heaven-flipping Seal, Yu Huang Bell, and various elixirs, talisman scripts, formation devices, etc., accumulated over this period.

All in all, it is clear that Qiu Changtian is following the Daoist Magic route, Ling Yunpo is on the swordsmanship route, and Luo Yan is on the Magical Treasure route.

The three routes each have their advantages and disadvantages, there’s no need to forcefully rank them.

Additionally, there is the Immortal Law level Postnatal Five Elements Great Extermination Divine Light, serving as a trump card in reserve.

Also, there’s the Hundred Poison Golden Silkworm Gu (awaiting maturation), the “Exorcising Superior Spirit Separating Clear from Turbid Scripture” (awaiting exploration of use), and an Ancient Times odd awl obtained from the secret realm of the Queen Mother of the West (awaiting appraisal), and so on…

I have too many cards in my hand! In the future, I can play whatever card I want!

After doing the inventory, Qiu Changtian felt confident.

It feels like I don’t need to send out Ah Jing; I can continue to lay low as planned and slowly plot for the Heaven-Mending Stone fragments!

“Why are you always thinking of cutting corners?” the Kunlun Mirror said languidly, “There are still nine hundred and ninety-nine years left until the celestial leak.”

“With all kinds of peerless talents in your possession, the assistance of the Qing Ping sword, and strategies I have designed for you to avoid fatal calamities and reap benefits… If you still can’t achieve Feather Transformation and ascend to immortality within a thousand years, you would have to be quite a waste.”

“Shut up, Ah Jing!” Qiu Changtian scolded, “Forewarned is forearmed, don’t you understand?”

“He who has great ambitions must consider every aspect. What’s the point in doing something when you know it’s impossible?”

“Yao Yao, don’t bother with him,” the Green Duckweed Sword chuckled, “From the beginning, he never really planned to sell you. He’s just been repeatedly bringing it up to tease you.”

“Of course, I know,” the Kunlun Mirror huffed, “This fellow is always so frivolous and mocking, truly detestable!”

“I wasn’t teasing you…” Qiu Changtian was just about to defend himself when he heard the voice of Xu Yinglian coming from outside the cave abode.

“Senior Brother, may I have a moment of your time?”