Chapter 496 - 465: My Dao Is Not Lonely, the Golden Core Decisive Kill

Song Ciwan had always believed the words "Ancient Gods" were the ultimate taboo in this world.

Back then, just to say the words "Ancient Gods," she had endured countless lightning strikes. The only reason she’d been able to fully utter the four words "Ancient Divine Insect Race" in front of the Beichen Sword Immortal was by using the Netherworld Fog Barrier, a Marvel that could shroud Celestial Secrets.

The Netherworld Fog Barrier was destroyed after that single use. But that wasn’t all. At the same time, Song Ciwan had burned a full thousand years of her Lifespan!

A price like that could only be borne by someone with a long life like Song Ciwan. Anyone else, even a Celestial Immortal or a True Immortal, would have been unable to endure it.

Because of these omnipresent celestial restrictions, for a long time afterward, Song Ciwan subconsciously viewed her fight against the Ancient Divine Insect Race as a tragic, solitary journey.

She thought she was alone.

’Although I might not have any intention of being some lone hero and savior, if I keep walking this path of solitary resistance... what if one day I become unrivaled, and at that very moment, the Ancient Divine Insect Race, having gathered their strength for ages, suddenly sweeps through the world? At that time...’

’It’s possible I might actually have to be the world’s savior.’

’Not fight? How could I?’

’Impossible!’

’A war between races, a war between eras—there is no escape.’

’There’s no such thing as eternal, carefree detachment in this world, no way to just mind your own business.’

’All freedom comes with a price.’

’When faced with the inevitable, to still try and run isn’t carefree—it’s cowardly!’

All Song Ciwan could do was try her best to become stronger—stronger still—before that day arrived.

She never expected such a twist; the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List had given her a wonderful surprise!

The white-robed young woman walked along the main street, a copy of the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List in hand, watching the people come and go.

This was a small city in Yu Ling County of Liangzhou, a place teeming with Martial Artists. It was common to see people swaggering down the road carrying Demon Corpses. Every so often, a Martial Arts Arena would come into view. The fierce people of Liangzhou, with or without a grudge, loved to leap into the ring for a fight—a truly distinct regional trait.

As Song Ciwan gazed at this vibrant scene of the Mortal World, her fingers couldn’t help but trace over the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List again.

She paid special attention to the four words: "Ancient God’s Word Spirit."

She had to go through hell and high water just to say "Ancient Divine Insect Race," yet the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List could brazenly display the words "Ancient God’s Word Spirit." While not identical to "Ancient Divine Insect Race," it was dangerously close.

Song Ciwan couldn’t help but feel that she was not alone on her path. ’I was wrong before,’ she thought. ’I’m not fighting this battle by myself!’

The origins of the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List might be mysterious, but now, it seemed highly likely that the list itself was an ally.

After coming out of seclusion, the storm stirred up by the Chaos Bell Fragment had alarmed Song Ciwan. In contrast, the words "Ancient God’s Word Spirit" on the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List brought her a sense of relief.

It was a rare piece of good news.

As Song Ciwan continued down the street and passed a Martial Arts Arena, she overheard another piece of good news.

Someone in the crowd was saying, "Have any of you heard of Qionghua Pavilion in Yong State?"

"Qionghua Pavilion? One of the One Hundred and Eight Upper Sects? Hmph. I hear it’s mostly female disciples. They’re busy Cultivating Immortality and don’t even recruit in our Liangzhou. What’s there to talk about?"

"That’s where you’re wrong... Qionghua Pavilion just dropped some huge news in Yong State!"

The listener, playing along eagerly, gasped, "What huge news?"

"First, Qionghua Pavilion’s True Disciple, Chi Hua Fairy, has fallen off the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List."

The listener booed. "Pfft, and here I thought it was some big news. Chi Hua Fairy falling off the list is old news. The day the Killing Demon Lord Lu Bell claimed fourth place on the Celestial Pride List, she fell off along with that Ye Sheng. The Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List just filled their spots with two new Celestial Prides."

Someone else nodded in agreement. "Exactly. But whether we’re talking about those who fell off or those who replaced them, none of it’s very interesting. Who could possibly be more dazzling than the Killing Demon Lord Lu Bell?"

...

Passing by, Song Ciwan stopped in her tracks, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

’No one mentions my ’Black Heart Demon Saber’ nickname anymore, but now Lu Bell has a new moniker: Killing Demon Lord!’

’How intimidating. How terrifying. A title like that is enough to scare a crying child into silence.’

’But Chi Hua Fairy falling off the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List on the same day as Ye Sheng... I didn’t know about that.’

’Ye Sheng fell off the list because I dug out his Golden Core, destroyed his Dantian, and wiped out his Cultivation. It was only natural.’

’But why did Chi Hua Fairy fall off? And on the exact same day as Ye Sheng, of all times?’

’Is she... okay?’

Song Ciwan was still somewhat concerned about this old acquaintance.

’I hope she’s doing well.’

The Martial Arts practitioners by the arena continued their idle chatter. The topic went off on a tangent for a while before the man who first brought up Qionghua Pavilion pulled it back.

"Everyone, Chi Hua Fairy falling off the list may be old news, but Qionghua Pavilion issuing a Golden Core Death Order—that’s new news!"

’What?’

Song Ciwan was stunned. The other chatting Martial Arts practitioners were even more shocked, as if they’d just heard of a cataclysm.

A sudden silence fell over the bustling, noisy area. After a moment, someone exclaimed, "Qionghua Pavilion... have they gone mad?"

Indeed. Qionghua Pavilion was one of the One Hundred and Eight Upper Sects, with power so immense that countless low-level Cultivators could only look up to it in awe.

But Great Zhou ultimately belonged to the Court, not the Sects.

And since the Spirit Realm Secret Realms had opened, a countless number of Cultivators had entered them. These included not only sect disciples and scions of powerful families but also... Court officials!

For Qionghua Pavilion to dare issue a Golden Core Death Order was to risk universal condemnation.

Don’t think that just because Lu Bell dug out Ye Sheng’s Golden Core, a death order is no big deal. Lu Bell, after all, was a lone wolf who came and went like a ghost. He dug out Ye Sheng’s Golden Core, and so what? As long as no one could find him, what could they do?

But Qionghua Pavilion was one of the One Hundred and Eight Upper Sects, a massive organization with vast resources and countless disciples. For such a colossal power to do something so absolute was not just hard for ordinary people to understand; the very thought of it was terrifying, making one’s skin crawl.

The man who had blurted out, "Have they gone mad?" suddenly touched his neck after he spoke. Whatever thought crossed his mind, it left a foul expression on his face.

The others were still debating. "Qionghua Pavilion definitely hasn’t gone mad. How could an Upper Sect go mad?"

"If even Qionghua Pavilion is issuing a Golden Core Death Order, then from now on, even if a Spirit Realm Secret Realm appeared right in front of me, I would never go in."

"What secrets do the Spirit Realm Secret Realms hold? Why are so many powerful figures targeting Golden Cores?"

"Who cares what the secret is? The point is, we’re definitely not going in!"

"Exactly! We’ll just stick to our Martial Arts Training, live out this life as it is. Isn’t there a certain joy in that?"

The Martial Arts practitioners below the arena all laughed. Even the little people at the bottom had their own wisdom for survival.

But no one noticed that the man who had exclaimed, "Qionghua Pavilion... have they gone mad?" was now quietly slipping away from the crowd.

He slunk away, heading toward a secluded alley.

After a moment’s thought, Song Ciwan casually formed a hand seal and silently followed him.

At first glance, the man appeared to be a Martial Artist, but he was actually a Foundation Establishment Stage Immortal Seeker!

His Immortal Seeker aura was well-hidden, but Song Ciwan had achieved Foundation Establishment herself. By deliberately sensing for it, she could see him for what he was; he had nowhere to hide from her perception.