Tycoon War God

”Master, shall we go to the Celestial Northern Dipper Pavilion first or the Sword Control Sect?”

Lin Mu’s easy execution of Zhuge Jing caused Shangguan Shiming’s heart to grow ever more apprehensive. The Red Lotus Sword Immortal and the Seven Swords Daoist both hailed from the Sword Control Sect, but Shangguan Shiming didn’t know their true strength. Meanwhile, Ao Guang of the Celestial Northern Dipper Pavilion had been suppressed in the secular world and was unable to display his full power.

Within the Celestial Northern Dipper Pavilion, however, everyone knew of Zhuge Jing. This man had reached the Tenth Layer of Qi Cultivation—a true genius—before achieving his Foundation Establishment! He had even mastered the Celestial Northern Dipper Pavilion’s most mysterious Dao Arts: Mirror Flower, Water Moon, which allowed him to enter the Mirror World and evade any attack. With such a divine skill, he was virtually invincible. For decades, Zhuge Jing’s reputation in the Ancient Land had soared, placing him nearly on par with the Proud Sons of Heaven.

Yet this Foundation Building Immortal, famous for years and nearly unbeatable within his realm, had been crushed to death by Lin Mu with a single hand! If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed it.

Lin Mu’s gaze turned icy as he spat out the name: ”The Celestial Northern Dipper Pavilion!”

Han Xiu, a secular disciple of the Celestial Northern Dipper Pavilion, colluded with the Foundation Building Immortal Ao Guang. The two of them schemed to turn Qin Luoli into a cultivation cauldron, which is what led to the Red Lotus Sword Immortal’s intervention in the first place! The Celestial Northern Dipper Pavilion... They’re the chief culprit, the source of all this disaster!

”As you command!” Shangguan Shiming bowed respectfully. I can only hope the Celestial Northern Dipper Pavilion is sensible, she thought. Otherwise, they’re doomed!

---

「Sword Control Sect.」

The Sword Control Sect was the second-largest of the Ancient Land Sects, occupying one of the most bountiful Holy Lands in the Ancient Land Minor World. Its grounds were rich with minerals and abundant Spiritual Energy. In its core region, the energy was so dense it almost condensed into a mist. With a history spanning ten thousand years, the Sword Control Sect had produced geniuses generation after generation.

The current Sect Leader was the Jade Sword Elder. He began tempering his body at age eight and started Qi Cultivation at nine. By eighteen, he had reached Qi Cultivation Level Nine. At twenty-seven, he used a Genius Cultivation Method to reach the Eleventh Level of Qi Cultivation and achieve Foundation Establishment. He broke through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage at fifty-eight and the Later Stage at one hundred thirty-two. Five years ago, he reached the Foundation Establishment Peak. Now, he was only a single step away from the supreme Core Formation Realm. It was said he would become the youngest cultivator to reach the Core Formation Realm in the thousand-year history of the Ancient Land Sects.

At that moment, the Jade Sword Elder was frowning as he played a game of chess with a young girl.

”No more, I’m not playing anymore...” With a flick of his sleeve, the Jade Sword Elder attempted to scatter the chess pieces.

The girl seemed to have anticipated this, pointing a finger and freezing the chessboard in place.

”Grandpa Sect Master, you’re such a sore loser! You throw a fit every time you’re about to lose. If you keep this up, I’m not playing with you anymore!” the girl pouted, looking somewhat displeased.

The Jade Sword Elder looked embarrassed. ”Ming’er,” he said sheepishly, ”you call me Grandpa Sect Master, so you could at least go easy on me. Don’t you know how embarrassing it is for me to lose to you by dozens of stones?”

”I offered you a ten-stone handicap, but you refused...” Ming’er said innocently.

”A ten-stone handicap? Is that even proper? My chess skill is the second best in the Ancient Land... *cough*, third best... alright, eighth! At my age, getting a ten-stone handicap from you? If word got out, I’d be too ashamed to show my face!” The high and mighty Jade Sword Elder, in the eyes of outsiders, bickered with the girl like a child.

Ming’er said helplessly, ”Grandpa Sect Master, how about we play Gomoku from now on? You only win or lose by a single stone in that game...”

The Jade Sword Elder’s eyes lit up. ”Why didn’t I think of that! Hahaha, what a brilliant idea! From now on, I can also say that in the art of chess, I only ever lost to Huang Ming’er by a single stone!”

Huang Ming’er threw up her hands in exasperation.

”Ming’er, enough of this. How has your cultivation been lately?” As the conversation turned to serious matters, the playful, childlike expression gradually faded from the Jade Sword Elder’s face.

Huang Ming’er stuck out her little tongue and cajoled, ”Grandpa Sect Master, could you give me a few more months? I’ve just reached the eleventh of the Twelve-Fold Towers, and it’ll be a long time before I can reach Foundation Establishment...”

The Jade Sword Elder sighed and said no more. He too knew that haste makes waste. But Huang Ming’er was only the third person in the Sword Control Sect’s ten-thousand-year history who had a chance to break through to the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Floor and reach the state of an exiled immortal of the extreme realm. How could he not be anxious?

”Ming’er, it’s not that I’m rushing you, it’s just...” The Jade Sword Elder wanted to offer a few words of encouragement to keep the girl from getting complacent.

Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically, and he shot to his feet.

”The Ancient Land Gate has been forced open? Damn it! What’s happened? Could the secular world have finally lost its patience and used those legendary nuclear weapons?” The Jade Sword Elder didn’t dare to be careless. He took out a Communication Talisman and hastily sent a message.

”Nuclear weapons? Grandpa Sect Master, are you talking about those devilish technology weapons developed in the secular world, the kind that can destroy an entire city?” Huang Ming’er looked genuinely interested.

”Ming’er, don’t ask too many questions. The less you know about such things, the better. Getting distracted by trivial matters will affect your...”

Before the Jade Sword Elder could finish his sentence, his expression shifted once more.

”Issue my decree! All Elders of the Sword Control Sect at the Foundation Establishment realm or higher must assemble in the main hall immediately. Violators will be severely punished!” After issuing the decree, the Jade Sword Elder’s gaze turned icy cold. ”Heh. I’ve been in seclusion for twenty years, ignoring worldly affairs. It seems some people have forgotten to take me seriously!”

”Grandpa Sect Master, what’s happening?” This was the first time Huang Ming’er had ever seen such an expression on his face.

The Jade Sword Elder glanced at Huang Ming’er, pondered for a moment, then nodded. ”It’s for the best. Cultivating in seclusion all the time isn’t necessarily a good thing. I’ll take you out to see the world and broaden your horizons.”

With that, he rose and left his place of seclusion. Twenty years ago, after discovering Huang Ming’er and her potential as a nascent exiled immortal, he had announced his retreat. In truth, he had been secretly nurturing her. Now, it was time for Huang Ming’er, the future exiled immortal, to make her debut.

Huang Ming’er’s eyes immediately lit up, and she nearly jumped for joy. Ever since she could remember, her life had been one of endless cultivation. Aside from training, her only pastimes were having tea or playing chess with the Jade Sword Elder. At most, she got to idly chat with the Proud Sons of Heaven and Sect Masters from other Ancient Land sects via a Communication Talisman. She had long yearned to go out and see the world for herself.

She quickly cast a cleansing art to make herself spotless, then followed behind the Jade Sword Elder, her heart fluttering with excitement and nerves.

”Sect Master!”

”Sect Master!”

Along the way, disciples continuously greeted the Jade Sword Elder, while many others stared curiously at the celestial-looking girl following him. The sect disciples let their imaginations run wild. Could it be that the Sect Master wasn’t preparing for Core Formation in his seclusion, but fathered a daughter instead?

「The Main Hall of the Sword Control Sect.」

Dozens of people sat in dense rows. A gathering of all the Foundation Building Immortals was a momentous event that hadn’t occurred in over five hundred years. Some speculated that perhaps the Jade Sword Elder had successfully achieved Core Formation. At this thought, the Immortals of the Sword Control Sect felt a surge of excitement. If the Jade Sword Elder achieves Core Formation, the Sword Control Sect will have nine Golden Core Great Ancestors! Perhaps we can even become the number one sect in the Ancient Land!

”Sect Master!”

”Sect Master!”

When the Jade Sword Elder entered the main hall, all the Foundation Building Immortals stood and paid their respects, though their expressions quickly turned strange. They discovered that the Jade Sword Elder had not made a breakthrough. He was still at the Foundation Establishment Peak!

If that’s the case, why summon everyone at Foundation Establishment and above?

Then, some of them noticed Huang Ming’er following behind him.

”She’s at the peak of the Eleventh Level of Qi Cultivation! Just one step away from ascending the Twelve-Fold Towers and reaching the realm of an exiled immortal of the extreme realm!”