Junior sister, keep forbear for a while, I almost become invincible as soon!

System Prompt: Devouring Sky Beast growth increased to 8%, rewarding eight hundred years of cultivation, fifty stalks of Eighth Rank Spiritual Medicine, and sixty Ninth Rank Spirit Pills...

System Prompt: Devouring Sky Beast growth increased to 9%, rewarding nine hundred years of cultivation...

Chen Pingping looked up, gazing outside, a sense of perplexity involuntarily arising in his heart. Huh? What happened? Why has the Devouring Sky Beast’s growth increased by 2% in just over half a year? Incredible.

He stood up and walked over to Jiang Ni’er, who was playing. "Do you want to go out?"

Jiang Ni’er cocked her head, pondered for a moment, and replied, "Yes!"

During this past half-year, he had not been idle. Instead, he had diligently studied the Six Tao of Reincarnation, gaining an even deeper understanding of the Insightful Power. The Three Great Mysteries of Reincarnation were past, present, and future. Previously, he could only barely execute the mystery of the past, but now, he had also gained a certain understanding of the mystery of the "present."

Outside the City of Extinction, the sky was clear, the sun shone brightly under blue skies with white clouds, and a gentle breeze was blowing. The weather was wonderful, but Chen Pingping’s mood was not. He and Jiang Ni’er entered an ancient town where they overheard people discussing how one man and his chicken had plundered the foundations of more than fifty forces, an act that outraged both humans and gods. Now, that man and his chicken were being treated like rats scurrying across the street, hunted by everyone. More than fifty forces were even preparing to join together to launch a crusade against the Wuji Sect.

Chen Pingping’s expression was very dark. All he had wanted was to temper Li Qi, but that old hen had taken him along for a wild ride. No wonder the Devouring Sky Beast’s growth increased by 2%.

In the town, people were discussing the Wuji Sect. "Speaking of this Wuji Sect, it’s truly strange. The spatial barrier between Heaven Martial and the Nine Heavens remains undamaged, so how did they manage to get here?"

"Hmm... I think, rather than that question, we should discuss why the Wuji Sect can establish itself in the City of Extinction."

These tidings had already spread. The entire Southern Diaspora was in an uproar, and many forces and powerful experts were utterly shocked. In the end, most concluded that perhaps it was just good luck.

What is good luck? It might be because they practiced some special cultivation technique, or perhaps they had found some fragmented yet unique Divine Weapons capable of dispersing Strange Power, the Power of Curse, and the Power of Destruction.

"This Wuji Sect is so amusing, sending a young man at the Supreme Mystery Realm around with a piece of blank paper, asking people to write their names on it—HAHAHA!" one person exclaimed. Another diner nearby burst into loud laughter.

"Right?!"

"The forces in the Southern Diaspora are countless! There are already more than three hundred second-rate forces, and the weaker ones number over a thousand. Gaining their recognition is no easy task!"

Chen Pingping was startled. That many? He couldn’t help asking, "So, the talk about needing recognition from one-third of the forces is a lie?"

"No!" the man he addressed glanced over. "Anyone wishing to establish a sect in the Southern Diaspora must gain recognition from one-third of the forces. That is true. But there’s another way: if you can obtain the recognition of a single super-major force, you can also establish a sect."

Chen Pingping was silent. "..."

The man continued, "What I just mentioned applies to outsiders. Most forces in the Southern Diaspora evolved from small gangs and families, so they simply skipped this step."

Chen Pingping’s expression darkened even more. He realized how foolish he had been to believe He Yitian’s nonsense—that they needed one-third of the forces’ recognition to establish the sect, so their disciples could compete for cultivation resources. Otherwise, everyone would reject them, and the Wuji Sect would be unable to gain a foothold. Furthermore, there were so many forces in the Southern Diaspora; one-third would mean at least seven to eight hundred. Heh!

The man chuckled. "Actually, those issues are still manageable. The main problem is that the Southern Diaspora doesn’t allow foreign sects. This is the fatal point."

Chen Pingping frowned. "Why?"

"The reasons are complex. You just need to know it has to do with the Demon Race," the man said, then stood up and left.

Historical records of the Southern Diaspora told of such an incident: a group of outsiders entered this land, established a sect, and lay dormant for hundreds of years. When the Demon Race’s army invaded, these outsiders betrayed the Human Clan, attacking from within and gradually disintegrating their warrior formations. That era became known as the darkest in the history of the Southern Diaspora. Thereafter, all major powers established a strict rule: outsiders were forbidden to establish sects on the lands of the Southern Diaspora. If discovered, they would be attacked by all.

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At this moment, an old man at the next table spoke up. "More than fifty small powers have joined forces. If they can annihilate the Wuji Sect, that would be one thing. But if they can’t, perhaps some major power will intervene."

Chen Pingping’s face stiffened. He Yitian never mentioned these issues!

He picked up his wine cup, approached the old man, and asked with a grin, "May I ask, senior, what about the City of Extinction?"

"Hm?" The old man was puzzled. "What are you trying to say?"

Chen Pingping poured him more wine. "The City of Extinction contains many strange and terrible powers. Do you think these powers could stop some formidable experts?"

"Such as?"

"Such as those in the Saint Realm."

"Yes!" the old man replied with that single word after taking a sip of wine.

Hearing this, Chen Pingping’s tense nerves relaxed slightly.

However, the old man continued, "It can stop ordinary Saint Realm experts, but not most of them. If a super-major power were to make a move and bring an Emperor Weapon, the Wuji Sect’s chances of survival would be slim."

"No way! Surely not?" Chen Pingping wiped a bead of cold sweat from his brow. "They wouldn’t bring out Sacred Soldiers just for a minor sect, would they?"

"That depends on whether the Wuji Sect’s background is clean," the old man said with a smile.

"What do you mean?"

"If it indeed originates from Heaven Martial, it would naturally be cleaner than those from outside the Southern Diaspora. However," he looked at Chen Pingping meaningfully, "in the eyes of cultivators from the Nine Heavens, ’Heaven Martial’ is a contaminated term."

If their background was clean, major and super-major powers might not pay too much attention. They might just take a glance; if there were no significant issues, they would let the sect determine its own fate. But if the background was not clean, they would directly dispatch an Emperor Weapon to eradicate it. The Wuji Sect, however, came from Heaven Martial. Clean, in a way, yet also tainted. They were considered descendants of sinners, with defiled blood flowing in their veins. Some self-righteous experts, unwilling to share the land with the "tainted," might feel justified in taking action. Then there were those young geniuses out for training who, with nothing better to do, might come looking for challenges, among many other potential problems. Most importantly, their base was the City of Extinction.

The old man patted Chen Pingping on the shoulder and laughed. "Every major power in the Nine Heavens has fought its way out of a sea of blood. Beneath them lie mountains of bones and rivers of blood. If the Wuji Sect cannot withstand even these trials, how can it establish itself in the Nine Heavens? It might as well head back to Heaven Martial sooner rather than later."

"Uh!" Chen Pingping paused, then responded with a smile, "That seems right."

"Young man, remember this: those who endure will eventually succeed. If you become afraid, then all your previous efforts will be for naught." The old man shakily stood up, offered these final words, and then strode away.

Those who endure will eventually succeed. Yes!

In that instant, Chen Pingping calmed down once more. His master was the sole surviving bloodline of the Wen Dynasty. If he couldn’t even face these difficulties, how could he help his master vanquish their enemies in the future? How would he face those Big Shots?

Just then, a figure rushed into the tavern, panting, "That chicken! That chicken... it actually robbed more than twenty sects in one go! Good heavens!"

Chen Pingping: ???

Immortal Herbs: Ah! This! Happy New Year!