You Are Not a Grand Sovereign

Inside the Xingyuan Demonic Cavern, Chen Huan was beside himself with anxiety. The auras of several Sovereigns were closing in relentlessly, and among them was one that belonged to a Grand Sovereign. "We're done for! We can't escape!" Chen Huan looked at Qi Yuan. For some reason, he felt that Qi Yuan had zoned out for a brief moment. "The ones who can't escape are them. I... am a Sovereign now." In Qi Yuan's eyes, the shifting tides of eons receded in an instant, as if he had weathered boundless ages. With his comprehension concluded, he had returned to the present reality of the game. "Big Bro... you're a Sovereign?" Chen Huan was astonished, followed by overwhelming joy. He looked at Qi Yuan, feeling that Qi Yuan had grown even more inscrutable. Weren't you just a Terrestrial Myth a moment ago? How did you suddenly become a Sovereign? Did he comprehend origin? Did he awaken an origin divine ability? "Now, it's time to execute step three of my plan: slay the incoming enemies!" Qi Yuan prepared to carry out his meticulous plan. "You've only just broken through into the Sovereign realm—it won't work! They have a Grand Sovereign whose origin divine ability has already reached the Engraving stage!" At the mention of Engraving, a trace of fear surfaced in Chen Huan's eyes. "An engraved origin divine ability cannot be overcome even if you find its flaws!" Qi Yuan was also aware of what Chen Huan spoke of. During his flight with Ning Tao and through his mastery of the Way of the Human-Demon, he had gained a deeper understanding of Sovereigns. Upon newly entering the Sovereign realm, the origin divine ability one mastered was at the Exhaustion stage. At the Exhaustion stage, control over the origin divine ability was rather unstable, and... its consumption was massive, having a finite limit where it would be exhausted. At the mid-stage Sovereign realm, the origin divine ability reached the Subtle stage. With subtle control over the origin divine ability, one could wield it with great efficiency, wasting not a shred of its power. As for late-stage Sovereigns—Grand Sovereigns—they attained the legendary Engraving stage. They engraved the origin divine ability into their very bodies and souls. Without needing to lift a finger, the origin divine ability would form spontaneously. The gap between a Grand Sovereign and an early-stage Sovereign cultivator was simply immense. Through attrition alone, they could run an early-stage Sovereign's origin divine ability completely dry. "Engraving... is indeed formidable." Qi Yuan grinned. "However... I haven't killed anyone for tens of thousands of years. I've been itching for it for ages. The killing intent I've accumulated will scare him out of his wits!" Inside the Gate of Myriad Manifestations, Qi Yuan had sat in solitary meditation for who knew how many years. Time had been forgotten by him, and his sense of self had been forgotten as well. He truly had not killed anyone in many, many years. "Big Bro, did you forget that we just killed a Sovereign and a bunch of Terrestrial Myths moments ago?" Chen Huan increasingly felt that this elder brother of his was thoroughly unreliable. At times, he was clearly unfathomable, yet at other times, completely absurd. That absurd streak was quite similar to Chen Huan himself, but at a moment like this, Chen Huan hardly wanted Qi Yuan to be flippant. Their exchange seemed extensive, but took less than two breaths to finish. Terrifying auras descended completely at this very moment. Six Sovereigns stood suspended in the air all around Qi Yuan and Chen Huan, encircling the two of them. Daoist Purple's gaze was profound as he looked at the pair, eyes laced with astonishment. "How did the two of you manage to slay Sovereign Yu Bai?" As Daoist Purple spoke, his gaze rested entirely on Qi Yuan. As for Chen Huan, he ignored him completely. The others also looked at Chen Huan and Qi Yuan with surprised expressions. After all, Sovereign Yu Bai's strength was obvious to all; even if two Sovereigns ganged up on him, they wouldn't have been able to kill him so swiftly. Yet the two before them had pulled it off. Did they harbor some kind of secret? The six wore different expressions, each harboring their own private thoughts. Qi Yuan's gaze also landed on Daoist Purple, sharp as a blade. He said in a deep voice, "So you're the one who sent Wu Tong to plot against me? Who gave you the confidence and the nerve... to ambush me?" Before a fight, one's momentum could not falter! Even village dogs barked up a storm before clashing, didn't they? This Daoist Purple had inexplicably targeted him; there was definitely an underlying story behind it. When the others heard Qi Yuan's words, they looked toward Daoist Purple as well. Daoist Purple had plotted against the Guardian of the City of No Return? His arrival in the Land of a Thousand Cities this time... could there really be more to it? Daoist Purple offered no explanation, sweeping his broad sleeve. "Capture the Guardian of the City of No Return alive. The other one... kill him." Hearing this, Chen Huan panicked in exasperation. "I'm a disciple of the White Emperor! Can't you capture me alive like my big bro?" The remaining five Sovereigns moved swiftly against Chen Huan. Five terrifying origin divine abilities crashed directly down toward Chen Huan. If all five abilities struck him, Chen Huan would be stripped of a layer of skin even if he survived. "Big Bro, save me!" Chen Huan turned into a streak of light and fled, five divine abilities close on his heels. At that moment, Qi Yuan's voice reached Chen Huan's ears. The current Qi Yuan was much stronger, making it far easier to spot the flaws in those five origin divine abilities. Hearing his guidance, Chen Huan beamed with joy. "Big Bro, you really are my real dad!" As if possessed by divine aid, Chen Huan slipped right out from between the five divine abilities. Still, one of them grazed him, shearing off half his arm and making him grimace in agony. This sight shocked all six enemies present. They hadn't expected their origin divine abilities to be evaded by Chen Huan. Their gazes fell upon Qi Yuan—astonishment, wonder, fear, and delight intermingling. Qi Yuan's voice rang out at that very moment. "Now... it's my turn!" Although this world was a game, it was very realistic, not turn-based combat. Qi Yuan had held back until now specifically to see through their origin divine abilities. For a cultivator, an origin divine ability was their Great Dao, leading directly to their true heart. Striking from the true heart was also the easiest way to induce an inner demon. At Qi Yuan's voice, the five Sovereigns present inexplicably felt an intense dread well up in their hearts. Daoist Purple stood suspended in the void, narrowing his eyes, completely fearless. He harbored a premonition that once the Guardian of the City of No Return struck, he would slaughter all the Sovereigns present except for himself. And this... suited his intentions perfectly. The secrets and treasures of the City of No Return ought to belong solely to him. Qi Yuan took a step forward, his robe billowing without wind. At that moment, his robe turned blood-red. He stood there, his eyes deep and hollow, as if gazing out from the abyss. Virtual Realm Sovereign's Inner Demon Summons! At this instant, Qi Yuan immediately unleashed his origin divine ability. He looked toward a female Sovereign. Lust—Red Lotus Karmic Fire! Instantly, fiery-red flames erupted across the female Sovereign's body, burning away her clothes in an instant. "No!" The female Sovereign's left eye was filled with sheer terror, while her right eye was drowning in raw desire. An aura belonging to a demonic monstrosity was spreading across her form. Her body seemed on the verge of bursting. Qi Yuan's gaze fell upon a white-robed man. Pride—Eye of the Heavens. Qi Yuan murmured, "I hate posers the most. If anyone's going to act cool, it has to be me!" Along with his voice, a demonic monstrosity crawled out from the white-robed man at some unknown moment. The monstrosity was hideously ferocious, its gaze looking down on everything. Clinging to the white-robed man's back, it faintly wrapped its arms around his neck. Hands like pricking needles and withered bark brushed down his spine, like centipedes crawling up his neck. Goosebumps broke out, and terror gripped the white-robed man's heart. "What is this thing?!" An origin divine ability struck his own neck, causing blood to spurt from the corners of his mouth. As the origin divine abilities emerged, a bizarre and eerie aura permeated the air. The five Sovereigns present looked terrified, greedy, or lewd. Their minds had all come under assault. The scene instantly turned eerily surreal. Watching this from not far away, Chen Huan felt both shock and dread. He stole a glance at Qi Yuan. He dearly wanted to ask: What kind of creature are you? Yet he dared not ask, nor dared he speak. The scene before him was simply too terrifying. This Guardian of the City of No Return—his big bro—behaved just like a supervillain. A divine ability was cast, and demonic monstrosities were born. Where in the world could such an origin divine ability exist? Which cultivator in this world did not fear demonic monstrosities like scorpions? Yet his big bro... Chen Huan thought of something, and a look of sheer panic flashed across his face. Qi Yuan looked at the five Sovereigns, an unsettlingly bizarre smile on his face. "You've lived for so long and wasted so much food. It's about time you... went ahead and died." Along with Qi Yuan's words, the auras of those five Sovereigns vanished in an instant. Their inner demons ruptured from their bodies, and they perished on the spot. Because they had not died of natural old age, no demonic monstrosities fully formed. Five exceedingly powerful Sovereigns died in utter humiliation and frustration. A flash of delight crossed Daoist Purple's eyes. "Your origin divine ability is quite fascinating. Inner demons arise with a single thought. Your origin divine ability... can truly be called invincible among peers of the same tier." The origin divine ability of the Inner Demon Summons was condensed from Monstrosity Origin. Such an ability could effortlessly induce a person's inner demons. Cultivators of the Liufeng Realm naturally locked their inner demons inside their hearts. The Demon Imprisoning Art spared them the worry of inner demons suddenly bursting out, yet those inner demons remained ever-present. When they reached the end of their natural lifespan, the demonic monstrosity would rupture from within. This divine ability happened to counter the cultivators of the Liufeng Realm specifically. Which early-stage Sovereign cultivator could withstand even a single cast of Qi Yuan's divine ability? Naturally, were it in the Canglan Realm, this origin divine ability would not be so invincible. Even so, it would still induce inner demons and reduce a cultivator's combat strength. "It seems you have already grasped quite a few of the City of No Return's secrets." Daoist Purple's eyes brimmed with pleasant surprise. Through the Slate of Fate, he had learned that the demoness's burial ground lay in the City of No Return. There lay the source of all demonic monstrosities. And the divine ability Qi Yuan displayed matched what was recorded on the Slate of Fate precisely. If he could master the source of all demonic monstrosities and comprehend the essence of inner demons... Who under the heavens would be a match for him? He had dispatched Wu Tong to ambush Qi Yuan and scheme against the City of No Return. Later, he learned from the slate that the burial ground of the Buddha—the archdemon—was in Heavenly Heart Palace. In order to plot against Heavenly Heart Palace, he had falsely spread word that the Blood Demon was there, never expecting the lie to turn out true by fluke. Daoist Purple looked at Qi Yuan with a face full of greed. "If you are willing to pledge loyalty to me and reveal all the secrets of the City of No Return, this Sovereign is willing to take you as a disciple and grant you the chance to serve me." Hearing this, Qi Yuan gave Daoist Purple a strange look, his eyes full of bafflement. "You're not my wife, so why would you be my master?" From looking at his master's back, he had deduced the information that his master was his wife. This Daoist Purple, a smelly man, wanted to be his wife too? "A homosexual?" Qi Yuan looked at Daoist Purple with genuine horror. "A homosexual was beside me all along!" He subconsciously moved to protect himself. Qi Yuan's words dumbfounded Daoist Purple, and dumbfounded Chen Huan as well. What kind of logic circuit was this? He clearly offered discipleship—what did that have to do with a wife, and what did it have to do with being gay? Chen Huan muttered weakly, "Big Bro, why don't you just give in to him?" He had only just broken through to Sovereign; he hadn't returned home in glory yet, nor had he flaunted himself before his senior brothers and sisters. He didn't want to die just like this. Qi Yuan said coldly, "Even if he knelt down to be my dog, I'd still find him too filthy." Hearing this, Chen Huan's eyes went wide. Big Bro, do you really have to be this gutsy?! The smile in Daoist Purple's eyes faded slightly. "It seems you are unwilling to be my disciple. You have lost the opportunity to become a true king of this realm." Possessing the supreme treasure that was the Slate of Fate, his life was destined for glory. Given time, even the Venerable and the White Emperor would be no match for him—he had always harbored such a premonition. "I'm truly curious, why are you so conceited?" Qi Yuan looked at Daoist Purple. "On you, I seem to catch the scent of an old acquaintance. You're just as conceited as she was." That old acquaintance was the Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky. The impression Daoist Purple gave him was identical to the Mystic Maiden of the Purple Sky. "This Sovereign is confident because this Sovereign has reason to be. Your origin soul is strong, but it can only slay early-stage Sovereigns. I am a Grand Sovereign. My origin divine ability is engraved in my body and soul, flawless and naturally formed. How could your origin divine ability possibly harm me?" This was the confidence of a Grand Sovereign. With the origin divine ability engraved, there was no need to cast it—one was the origin divine ability itself. "The last conceited person already died under my sword. You... probably aren't far behind." A solemn look surfaced in Qi Yuan's eyes. A Grand Sovereign was formidable indeed! Having slain five Sovereigns, Qi Yuan's level had risen to Level 124. Yet Daoist Purple before him was astonishingly Level 189. Over sixty levels higher than him! He had fought opponents above his level before, but never one this much stronger. Then again, it was a game! Soloing a boss was where the real fun was. Holding the broken sword, he looked at Daoist Purple, his stature growing taller. Xiao Jia! Share the Same Robe! Donning the blood-red armor, Qi Yuan's level rose by another five levels. The gap between him and Daoist Purple narrowed slightly. Yet the disparity... was still vast. "Mildly interesting... but what is yours will soon be mine." Daoist Purple watched Qi Yuan with amusement, like a child watching ants move a nest. To him, Qi Yuan growing tens of zhang tall and his aura strengthening by a notch was no different from a small ant turning into a big ant. "Take my sword!" Surging sword qi diffused outward. This strike carried Qi Yuan's endless inner demons. Any early-stage Sovereign cultivator affected by this sword would surely meet an unnatural end. Yet he was facing a Grand Sovereign! Daoist Purple stood motionless, an origin divine ability triggering spontaneously. Qi Yuan's mighty strike was actually blocked by Daoist Purple. Daoist Purple said leisurely, "Come on, hit me with a few more strikes. Otherwise, once you die, this Sovereign won't get to see such swordsmanship again." Of course, he wanted to use Qi Yuan's sword to comprehend Monstrosity Origin and learn the secrets Qi Yuan had obtained in the City of No Return. Seeing this, Chen Huan remained silent. Qi Yuan's attack proving ineffective was exactly as he had expected. Qi Yuan's origin divine ability was a lethal weapon; if Qi Yuan were allowed to grow into the Grand Sovereign realm, he would be virtually invincible aside from the White Emperor and the Venerable. Yet now, he had only just entered the Sovereign realm. The gap between him and a Grand Sovereign was simply too vast. Qi Yuan, however, was in no rush. Instead, he said, "Daoist Purple, in truth... you are not a Grand Sovereign." Naturally, the sword in his hand continued to rain down strikes. Fighting while trash-talking. The past Qi Yuan hated this kind of thing the most. Unfortunately, now that he had awakened his origin divine ability, in order to defeat his opponent more effectively, he had to lower himself and launch a verbal offensive. Hearing this, Daoist Purple smiled. "You truly are amusing." This was the first time he had ever heard anyone claim he wasn't a Grand Sovereign. Did saying that accomplish anything? "A Grand Sovereign doesn't just engrave the origin divine ability into their physical body and soul; it must also be engraved into... their demonic monstrosity. The monstrosity is also part of you. Without engraving it, how can you count as a Grand Sovereign?" Qi Yuan spouted sheer nonsense. "Hmph, preposterous drivel." Daoist Purple's origin divine ability descended upon Qi Yuan, yet Qi Yuan dodged it with ease. A look of surprise flashed in Daoist Purple's eyes. "When you cultivated to the Grand Sovereign realm, did you hear a whisper softly calling... 'Demon Imprisoning'?" Qi Yuan asked again. Daoist Purple's gaze abruptly turned grim. "How do you know that?" Could it be... He recalled that the City of No Return was the burial place of the demoness. Could all this information have been obtained by the Guardian of the City of No Return from within? A mysterious smile appeared on Qi Yuan's face. The Demon Imprisoning Art had been derived from his comprehension of the Gate of Myriad Manifestations, and he had preached it on the spot. In that state, he couldn't add any backdoors to the cultivation art, nor could he be bothered to. Even so, it was an art he had created after all. The art Daoist Purple cultivated was also derived from the Demon Imprisoning Art; Qi Yuan knew better than anyone what phenomena would occur during cultivation. "Because the cultivation art you practice is flawed," Qi Yuan said, playing the master swindler and talking smoothly. "Upon entering the Sovereign realm, the power of human-demons in your dantian surged three times. During your last cultivation session, when you closed your eyes, a door suddenly appeared in your heart..." Daoist Purple's expression darkened by the second, only to turn into sheer ecstasy. "It seems the benefits you obtained in the City of No Return far exceed my imagination!" "Therefore, you aren't actually a Grand Sovereign. Your origin divine ability isn't fully engraved into your flesh and soul, leaving many flaws. Right now, you are at most a mid-stage Sovereign, not a true Grand Sovereign. Only the Venerable and the White Emperor are flawless Grand Sovereigns." Qi Yuan babbled complete and utter rubbish. "What you say is quite intriguing, and you've even partially convinced me... but is that of any use? Even if I am not a flawless, naturally formed Grand Sovereign, does that mean you can defeat me?" Daoist Purple had already begun to buy into Qi Yuan's words. "To become a true Grand Sovereign, you must forget... that you are a false Grand Sovereign. Otherwise, you will never step into the realm of a true Grand Sovereign in this lifetime!" Only now did Qi Yuan finally reveal his true dagger. For one ten-thousandth of an instant, Daoist Purple froze, forgetting the fact that he was a Grand Sovereign. Forget? And in that moment, a sharp glint flashed in Qi Yuan's eyes. The time had come! Great Oblivion Heart Scripture! Virtual Realm Sovereign's Inner Demon Summons! The Great Oblivion Heart Scripture, which had long been secretly activated, was pushed to its absolute limit at this instant. Standing in the void, Daoist Purple's gaze turned blank for a split second. "I am not a Grand Sovereign?" He forgot that he was a Grand Sovereign. His aura plummeted in that ten-thousandth of an instant. Flaws appeared in his flawless, naturally formed origin divine ability. The Virtual Realm Sovereign's Inner Demon Summons took effect at that very moment. Inner demons ran rampant in Daoist Purple's heart. In an instant, just like those five Sovereigns, demonic monstrosities began rupturing from his body. His eyes cleared in an instant, fear and fury flashing through them as he roared, "I am a Grand Sovereign!"