A Deadly Plot from the Black and White Xuan Palaces

"Beating them into submission? Isn't that a bit uncalled for?" Qi Yuan muttered. His persona had always been Lawful Good. They had never offended him, so beating them up just to access their lands of opportunity seemed a little improper. The chubby elder chuckled and said nothing. Naturally, he assumed Qi Yuan had chickened out. After all, even if the Society Master of the Myriad Changes Society stepped in, he wouldn't be able to force the Black Xuan Palace and White Xuan Palace into submission. Both Palace Masters of the Black and White Xuan Palaces had mastered more than thirty Dao Lord true scriptures. Qi Yuan had only just joined the Myriad Changes Society; while powerful, his strength was still limited. "So, it's best not to dwell on those remaining seven lands of opportunity. The lands of opportunity held by the Myriad Changes Society are already enough to elevate your strength to a terrifying level," the chubby elder said. Among the thirty-six lands of opportunity, many offered overlapping and similar benefits. Touring similar ones yielded negligible improvements to one's strength; one was far better off mastering another Dao Lord true scripture. "Still, I want to visit all thirty-six," Qi Yuan said. As the saying went: *Now that I'm already here.* Since he had seen that message in a bottle, it would be far too much of a waste not to tour the rest. "What are the Palace Masters of the Black and White Xuan Palaces like? Are they kindhearted like me? Do I have a chance to talk them around?" Qi Yuan asked. The chubby elder merely smiled without answering. "How despicable. I assumed that the stronger someone was, the more cultured and high-class they'd be. Yet the Palace Masters of the Black and White Xuan Palaces don't even know how to be kind to others." Qi Yuan wanted to morally kidnap them. If reason was on the Black and White Xuan Palaces' side, then... following standard operating procedure on certain Blue Star comment sections, shouldn't he accuse them of personal moral failings to muddy the waters? "Sigh, I thought the Universal Void Realm could count as a first-tier city where everyone was civilized. Turns out they're just Universal Void local snobs," Qi Yuan lamented. The chubby elder couldn't be bothered to engage. "Old man, bring out the Dao Lord true scriptures you want adapted. I'll modify them for you so I can visit the accessible lands of opportunity first," Qi Yuan said. "Fine." The chubby elder didn't hesitate in the slightest. "The *Leipu True Scripture*, the *Lesser Thunder True Scripture*, and the *Mountain Shaking Scripture*. These three true scriptures were all created by the same Dao Lord, so it should be quite convenient for you to adapt them." The chubby elder looked intently at Qi Yuan, anticipation in his eyes. Being able to modify the *Scripture of All Things Growing* didn't necessarily mean he could adapt thunder-related scriptures. Perhaps that previous one was simply an area of expertise for Qi Yuan. "No problem," Qi Yuan said. He took the three Dao Lord true scriptures and studied them closely. To him, Dao Lord true scriptures could also be used to refine his *Qi Yuan Scripture*, so adapting them was immensely helpful to his own cultivation as well. "I await your good news, Fellow Daoist. There is no rush," the chubby elder said with a cheerful chuckle. Despite his words, he was actually anxious inside. After all, his cultivation had been bottlenecked for ages, unable to advance even an inch further. Cultivating these three Dao Lord true scriptures was of paramount importance to him. If this man could truly help him finish adapting them within a single cosmic epoch, he would genuinely be willing to take Qi Yuan as his sworn elder brother. Qi Yuan's figure vanished from sight. The chubby elder then spoke up: "Under no circumstances must word of this leak out. If the Black and White Xuan Palaces learn of Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan's existence, he may meet with misfortune." Realm Lord Chuibei and Realm Lord Chunran, standing nearby, nodded repeatedly. "Rest assured, Senior, we understand the gravity of the matter." "If this Qi Yuan can truly help me adapt these three Dao Lord true scriptures, he will indeed be qualified to vie for Society Master of the Myriad Changes Society," the chubby elder remarked with emotion. "Society Master of the Myriad Changes Society?" Hearing this, Realm Lord Chuibei's expression shifted slightly. That was the Society Master of the Myriad Changes Society! With the fourth tier of the Yang God realm unseen and the fifth tier unable to enter, the Society Master of the Myriad Changes Society was an undisputed supreme overlord in this Universal Void Realm. How long had Qi Yuan even been with the Myriad Changes Society? And now he was talking about becoming Society Master? "Still, it depends on his capabilities. The current Society Master is by no means ordinary. The record for the highest depth in the Cosmic Spirit Sea is still held by him," the chubby elder said. The three most powerful beings in the Universal Void Realm were the Society Master of the Myriad Changes Society and the two Palace Masters of the Black and White Xuan Palaces. Of course, that was excluding entities beyond regular living beings. Within the Universal Void Realm, there were also terrifying existences and perilous forbidden zones where even a Realm Lord might perish upon entering. "The Society Master is peerless under heaven; naturally, not just anyone can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him," Realm Lord Chunran said with a smile. Toward the Society Master, she held profound reverence. "It just so happens that I'm in a good mood, so I'll explain the *Xuanyuan True Scripture* to you both," the chubby elder said. The two Realm Lords immediately beamed with delight. The *Xuanyuan True Scripture* was also a Dao Lord true scripture. Both Realm Lord Chunran and Realm Lord Chuibei had studied it, but their mastery was shallow. The chubby elder had mastered it completely, making instructing them a simple task. "Given the aptitude of you two, about a day's time should be enough for you to take a step further," the chubby elder said. Delight filled the expressions of Realm Lord Chunran and Realm Lord Chuibei. "Thank you, Senior!" They thanked the chubby elder, and naturally felt grateful to Qi Yuan as well. Had it not been for Qi Yuan, they would never have had the chance to receive teachings from the chubby elder. In an instant, it was as if celestial music descended. The resonance of the Great Dao reached their ears, and Realm Lord Chuibei and Realm Lord Chunran listened enraptured, intoxicated by every word. A single sentence from the chubby elder made them feel immensely enlightened, their understanding of the *Xuanyuan True Scripture* growing ever deeper. Of course, they were still far from fully mastering it. Time slipped away minute by minute, feeling like a mere instant. When the celestial music faded and the resonance of the Great Dao ceased, Realm Lord Chuibei felt an empty void in his chest. Realm Lord Chunran felt the same. Both wished time could move slower. Alas, a day was just a day. A single day of explanation could not even be exchanged for a major merit. Mixed with joy and disappointment, they wished each second could have lasted ten thousand times longer. Right at that moment, a voice rang out: "You two are finally done. Sigh, I've been waiting here for quite a while. Still, I've always been very polite, so I didn't interrupt you." Qi Yuan stood not far away, holding a bright, vivid fruit and stuffing it into his mouth. Catching sight of him, Realm Lord Chuibei and Realm Lord Chunran were jolted awake. "Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan, didn't you leave? Don't tell me... is there something else?" Realm Lord Chuibei asked at once. The chubby elder also looked over with curiosity, assuming it was likely about the Spirit Awakening research topic. "Yeah, I left, and then I came back. I've been waiting here for two whole shichen," Qi Yuan said. "Huh?" Realm Lord Chuibei was somewhat baffled. Realm Lord Chunran pondered briefly and asked directly, "What brings you back, Fellow Daoist Qi Yuan?" She had already picked up on parts of Qi Yuan's eccentric temperament, so she spoke casually. "To return the three Dao Lord true scriptures to the old man." "What happened to the true scriptures? Fellow Daoist, could it be you couldn't do it?" The chubby elder felt a tinge of disappointment, though he didn't show it on his face. "Who says I couldn't!" Qi Yuan's face flushed with irritation. "I've already finished adapting all three Dao Lord true scriptures." "What?" A stunned expression froze on the chubby elder's face. Realm Lord Chuibei and Realm Lord Chunran were equally shocked, unable to believe their ears. Could it be that the chubby elder's sermon hadn't lasted just one day, but an entire epoch, and because they had been so immersed, it only felt like a single day? "Here are the three Dao Lord true scriptures. Check them over." Qi Yuan handed the texts to the chubby elder. The chubby elder scrambled to take them, his divine sense sweeping into the three scrolls. Realm Lord Chuibei and Realm Lord Chunran kept their eyes fixed on the chubby elder, watching his reaction. After roughly twenty breaths, the chubby elder drew in a deep breath. Looking at Qi Yuan, he said with utmost gravity, "Fellow Daoist... could you happen to be like the Holy Light Clan, capable of forcibly distorting a living being's cognition?" Only something like that could explain this. After all, adapting three Dao Lord true scriptures in half a day was just too... terrifying. Yet the universe was vast and full of wonders; perhaps one or two other races possessed abilities similar to the Holy Light Clan. "While I have met members of the Holy Light Clan, I am not one of them," Qi Yuan said. Having received confirmation, the chubby elder exhaled deeply and declared, "If you do not spurn me, I am willing to take you as my foster... father." His offer of sworn elder brother had finally escalated to foster father. "Pass. I'm still young; I don't want a son that old." "Hmph," the chubby elder scoffed. "I was only joking just now. In fact, I already have a foster father." He promptly withdrew his earlier statement. At their level of cultivation, eccentricity, shamelessness, and obsession were all completely normal. "Still, Sworn Brother, could you help me adapt a few more Dao Lord true scriptures? In return, even if you don't become Society Master, I'll do everything in my power to help you visit all the remaining lands of opportunity—excluding, of course, those seven belonging to the Black and White Xuan Palaces." "Sure." Qi Yuan nodded without a second thought. The chubby elder instantly beamed from ear to ear. "Foster father? You're practically my birth father!" ... Three months passed. Qi Yuan stood within the True Spirit Tower, his expression slightly dazed. "How very peculiar." This was the twenty-first land of opportunity he had visited. With the chubby elder's help, he had indeed toured many lands of opportunity. Within these grounds, his strength had grown at a rapid pace. "These lands of opportunity clearly boost one's strength so quickly, so why... are the Realm Lords in this Universal Void Realm all so weak?" Based on his own rate of improvement, if those Realm Lords had traversed all twenty-plus lands of opportunity, even without reaching an absurd level, they should easily possess half the strength he had when he first entered the Yin God realm. Those with sharp talent might even match his power when he first arrived in the Universal Void Realm. Yet so far, he hadn't encountered a single Realm Lord in the Universal Void Realm who could actually put up a decent fight. Of course, while the gap was vast, it was still just a gap in cultivation depth. For example, when Qi Yuan had first entered the Universal Void Realm, he was stronger than Realm Lord Chuibei and stronger than the chubby elder, but killing either of them had been utterly out of the question. Now, however, he could do it. "These lands of opportunity offer truly immense benefits. Each one is comparable to an extraordinary treasure of the fourth tier of the Yang God realm. Could it be that because I reached the final layer of the Cosmic Spirit Sea and obtained that message in a bottle, my gains are this enormous?" Present-day Qi Yuan had attained a terrifying level of strength. Facing Heitian again, he would no longer need to rely on True Spirit Annihilation to hold his ground and resist Heitian's corruption. Thus, in terms of combat power, he could currently be considered equivalent to a weak fourth-tier Yang God. "If I visit every single land of opportunity, what height will I reach?" Qi Yuan looked forward to it immensely. Particularly that supposed Dao Lord legacy. He felt it wouldn't be anything simple. "Unfortunately, gaining entry to the remaining lands of opportunity is very difficult. Especially those seven belonging to the Black and White Xuan Palaces. But I'm a good person; how could I resort to robbery and extortion? What about entrapment? No, forget it, I'm a good person!" Qi Yuan muttered to himself. ... Inside the Black Xuan Palace. A towering man looked at the star-like droplet of blood in his palm, a flicker of astonishment passing through his eyes. "The Myriad Changes Society has actually produced such an unrivaled prodigy? Adapting three Dao Lord true scriptures in half a day." A short, stout man narrowed his eyes. "Talent of this caliber is rather terrifying. He must be strangled in the cradle. Heaven forbid they actually manage to uncover an anomaly." Behind both the Black and White Xuan Palaces stood Dao Lords. The sole purpose behind establishing the two palaces was to prevent the Myriad Changes Society from seeking change. "Set up a deadly trap?" the Master of the Black Xuan Palace asked. "What if... it's false information?" the Master of the White Xuan Palace asked. Although they had moles embedded within the Myriad Changes Society, those spies could not be completely trusted. It was also possible that this prodigy was a fabrication intended to lay a trap for them instead. "Regardless of whether it's a trap or not, we must take action," the Master of the Black Xuan Palace said. The Master of the White Xuan Palace nodded, then remarked, "The Fenglingyun land of opportunity happens to be a fitting location for a deadly trap." The Master of the Black Xuan Palace's gaze turned profound. "Agreed." ... Stepping out of the True Spirit Tower, Qi Yuan's true spirit felt increasingly singular and condensed. The chubby elder was waiting on the spot, a smile gracing his face. "How does it feel? Did your strength improve considerably? Back in the day, when this old man toured the entire True Spirit Tower, my strength grew by five percent," the chubby elder said proudly. "My increase was quite small—less than five percent," Qi Yuan replied honestly. "When a Dao Lord opens a window for you, he naturally closes another. Don't be disheartened," the chubby elder consoled him, though a gleeful smile spread across his face, clearly reveling in his misfortune. "Are there any chances for the other lands of opportunity?" Qi Yuan asked. This was what he cared about most. "Recently, this old man paid a tremendous price and finally persuaded the Palace of All Saints. Fellow Daoist, would you like to go to the Fenglingyun land of opportunity?" the chubby elder asked seriously. Qi Yuan's brow twitched slightly, as if sensing something. "Fenglingyun? Since it's a land of opportunity, I naturally have to go." Qi Yuan agreed without the slightest hesitation. "If Sworn Brother goes to Fenglingyun, you must exercise caution and avoid entering its forbidden zone. Within the forbidden zone of Fenglingyun lies a Buddha corpse. Even a Heaven-Opening Realm Lord is no match for it; it is exceedingly perilous," the chubby elder warned. "A Buddha corpse?" Qi Yuan asked in surprise. "Is it a cultivator?" To be able to battle a Heaven-Opening Realm Lord, its strength was obviously extraordinary. It naturally sparked speculation. It was either a fourth-tier Yang God or a fifth-tier Yang God. However, extraordinary treasures formed from fourth-tier Yang Gods generally did not attack people on their own initiative. As for fifth-tier Yang Gods, they could not enter the Universal Void Realm at all. Thus, this Buddha corpse was rather peculiar. "Regarding that Buddha corpse, the Myriad Changes Society has conducted much research and even set up dedicated research topics, but with scarce results. So long as Sworn Brother avoids entering the Fenglingyun forbidden zone and doesn't run into the Buddha corpse, nothing untoward will happen. You may rest easy," the chubby elder said with confidence. Qi Yuan nodded, his gaze calm. Could that twitch of his brow earlier have been caused by that Buddha corpse? If so, he truly ought to go take a look and see what sort of opportunity lay there. Naturally, he also hoped it wouldn't just be about the Buddha corpse.