Chapter 2004: Chapter 2004: Gong Qingqiu’s Resolve and Tempering

True Dragon Realm.

Emperor Dragon Sovereign twisted his neck.

"The quota for Quasi-Heavenly Venerable has finally come out. It should technically be once a year. I’ll give it a try this time. If I succeed, that’s great. Even if I fail, the cooling period is just a year... Well, when the Quasi-Heavenly Venerable quota appears next year, wouldn’t it be just right to participate again?"

Saying this, Emperor Dragon Sovereign had a peculiar expression.

It seems that a year of cooling off is pretty much meaningless.

The cooling period for proving the Dao of the Heavenly Venerable is even more like a gimmick. After all, the quota for True Heavenly Venerable is issued roughly once every three years, essentially making it ignorable.

A moment later, Emperor Dragon Sovereign soared into the sky.

In an ancient immortal mansion.

Tiangang Immortal Emperor had fused with a particular law, elevating his combat prowess to eight times that of an ordinary Invincible Supreme.

"Quasi-Heavenly Venerable, I’m coming!"

Before he finished speaking, he had also left.

...

Above the Heavenly Origin Sea.

The Crimson Queen, Emperor Dragon Sovereign, and Tiangang Immortal Emperor stood in a triangular stalemate, eyeing each other.

"Why are you all here?"

The three squinted their eyes slightly and asked simultaneously.

There was still more than half a month till mid-November, although the Dao-proving qualification imprints had already been issued, they could only be claimed in mid-November. Coming now would be in vain.

"The world is huge, I come when I please. You can’t control me, right?" The Crimson Queen snorted.

"That’s true." Emperor Dragon Sovereign nodded.

"Haha, I reckon you’re just scared you’ll be too late and won’t get the Dao-proving qualification imprint, right?" Tiangang Immortal Emperor hit the nail on the head, laughing with a chuckle.

"Heh!"

Emperor Dragon Sovereign and Crimson Queen remained silent.

"Everyone, why so early?" A calm yet domineering voice spread, causing Emperor Dragon Sovereign and others to change their expressions and quickly look towards the source.

In the distant void.

There hovered a powerful demonic figure clad in battle armor, exuding an aura of unparalleled dominance.

"Ancestor of Demons!"

"What... what are you doing here?"

Everyone twitched at the corners of their mouths.

To them, with Ancestor of Demons’ terrifying current prowess, claiming one of the Heavenly Venerable quotas should be no problem. So why join in the excitement?

"Don’t worry, I’m just here to watch."

Ancestor of Demons waved his hand.

He indeed did not fancy the Quasi-Heavenly Venerable quota; he simply came to observe Emperor Dragon Sovereign and others, wanting to know who among them could achieve Quasi-Heavenly Venerable.

"Oh, you scared me."

Emperor Dragon Sovereign patted his chest, fearing Ancestor of Demons had also come to prove the Dao of Quasi-Heavenly Venerable! If so, others basically had no chance.

In the darkness.

Xiao Fangu was hiding there.

Even though he had arrived at the Heavenly Origin Sea of Shenzhou Continent, he didn’t dare to show himself, fearing he’d be recognized by Ye Feng and the disciples of the Misty Holy Sect.

"Damn it! Is the competition this intense?"

Xiao Fangu glared at Emperor Dragon Sovereign and others in the void, gnashing his teeth in hatred.

Even though he heard that Ancestor of Demons wasn’t participating in the Quasi-Heavenly Venerable Dao-proving, Emperor Dragon Sovereign, Tiangang Immortal Emperor, and Crimson Queen were all troublesome figures, hard to deal with.

"Everyone, continue."

Ancestor of Demons descended, leaving the five imprints in the sky above the Heavenly Origin Sea to Emperor Dragon Sovereign and others.

"Whew!" Emperor Dragon Sovereign sighed in relief.

Without Ancestor of Demons as a formidable figure, he felt he could still defeat Tiangang Immortal Emperor and Crimson Queen to claim the Dao-proving quota.

"Now there are only three of us, two more are needed, who will be the cannon fodder?"

The Crimson Queen smiled, glancing around.

"With the three of us here, others are probably scared off. Unless they’re disciples of the Misty Holy Sect, who would dare compete for the Quasi-Heavenly Venerable position?"

Tiangang Immortal Emperor spread his hands.

Upon hearing this, Tiangang Immortal Emperor’s eyelids twitched.

"Don’t say, those top-ranked disciples of the Misty Holy Sect are indeed terrifying, especially Mo Ying, Huo Yunjie, Qiao Jiaxi, Long Tianxing, their combat power is simply dreadful, stronger than ours."

Tiangang Immortal Emperor looked serious.

"Rest assured, I asked Sect Master Ye, their disciples won’t participate in the Dao-proving fight in the first year. So, this time the competitive pressure will be much less. But in the future, it’s not certain. Once the disciples of the Misty Holy Sect enter the fray, we may not be able to prove Dao as Quasi-Heavenly Venerable."

Emperor Dragon Sovereign said in a deep voice.

The Crimson Queen next to him had a gloomy look, also aware that the disciples of the Misty Holy Sect were too terrifying.

If it really came to a fight, she may not stand a chance.

"Ah, this time the competition for the Quasi-Heavenly Venerable Dao-proving is too intense! Emperor Dragon Sovereign, Crimson Queen, Tiangang Immortal Emperor are all here, each with combat power several times that of an ordinary Invincible Supreme, how to win?"

An Ancient Immortal Emperor sighed helplessly.

"I also have king-level nine-star combat power, meeting the minimum requirement for Quasi-Heavenly Venerable Dao-proving, but... once I compete with Emperor Dragon Sovereign and others, I’m sure to lose."

Another Ancient Immortal Emperor looked forlorn.

This era is really too intense!

Misty Holy Sect.

Ye Feng sat on a rocking chair, yawning as he looked in the direction of the Heavenly Origin Sea.

"Sect Master, I want to participate in the Dao-proving fight."

A beautiful figure approached.

It was Gong Qingqiu.

She had also cultivated the "Nine Heavens Profound Art", undergoing multiple transformations, increasing her foundation tenfold, and reaching combat power several times that of an ordinary Invincible Supreme.

For this reason, she felt she must participate in the Quasi-Heavenly Venerable Dao-proving fight.

If successful, she would leap to become a Quasi-Heavenly Venerable.

This would alleviate pressure on the Sect Master.

"But, you will lose." Ye Feng sighed.

"Emperor Dragon Sovereign and others are indeed strong. I am not blindly arrogant. This participation is merely to hone myself... of course, succeeding would also be good."

Gong Qingqiu remained modest.

Of course, she was also not confident enough.

"Alright then, you can participate in the Dao-proving fight, but you are likely just cannon fodder, unable to win. Even if you can perform "Infinite Combat Power", combat power doesn’t always equate to victory. Because you usually manage the sect, your combat skills are not adept."

Ye Feng patted Gong Qingqiu’s shoulder.

Gong Qingqiu had contributed much to the sect, thus not being skilled in battle is her weakness. On the other hand, Emperor Dragon Sovereign and the others were all battle-hardened and formidable.

"However!"

Ye Feng’s lips curled slightly, "Elder Gong, I have a Ten Thousand Times Time Acceleration Formation. Next, I will personally help you hone your combat skills."

"Really?" Gong Qingqiu beamed with joy.

She had guessed that Sect Master Ye Feng would help her improve her combat skills, allowing them a rare period of wonderful alone time.

"Of course it’s true."

Ye Feng waved his hand, taking Gong Qingqiu into the Void Heavenly World, entering a secret realm.

Then, Ye Feng cast a time array.

"Let the battle begin!"

Ye Feng compressed his combat power to the level of an ordinary Invincible Supreme, only a fraction of Gong Qingqiu’s.

"Sect Master, with this level of combat power, how can you possibly beat me?" Gong Qingqiu blinked.

"You think I can’t win?" Ye Feng smiled.

"Sect Master, in a battle of the same rank, shouldn’t victory be determined by combat power? Your power now seems but a fraction of mine, if I press down with one palm, you surely cannot withstand it and will naturally lose." Gong Qingqiu said.

"Haha, Elder Gong, your combat skills are not sophisticated enough, and your battle mindset isn’t quite right. I’ll show you next, that combat power isn’t the sole factor in determining the outcome of a battle."

With that, Ye Feng attacked.

Whoosh!

Silently, he appeared behind Gong Qingqiu, forming a sword with his fingers and gently pointing it out.

"Haha, I’m not bad at all!"

Gong Qingqiu had already anticipated that Ye Feng would use some kind of divine skill to approach her, swiftly dodged, and condensed a disc of light to block Ye Feng’s attack.

"Sect Leader, take this!"

Gong Qingqiu shouted tenderly, her hands swiftly forming a seal, summoning countless mists that condensed into innumerable flying swords, which slashed towards Ye Feng like a storm.

"You do have some strength."

Ye Feng murmured, his hands behind his back, easily dodging the countless sharp swords, then blowing breath from his mouth to deal with those flying swords he couldn’t evade.

"Haha, Sect Leader, you’ve lost for sure!"

Gong Qingqiu suddenly giggled, her right hand forming a sword seal, slashing upwards into the sky, from which a sword qi split into nine, slicing towards Ye Feng from nine different directions, almost sealing all his escape routes.

This was a fatal move!

"Not bad, your combat skills are indeed impressive, but still lack some refinement." Ye Feng’s lips curled up as he spread his hands, deploying the Taiji Disc and devouring the nine sword qis, making them disappear.

"Eh, what’s happening?"

Gong Qingqiu was startled, then suddenly felt something prickling her back. She turned quickly, only to find another Taiji Disc from which the nine vanished sword qis slashed out, too fast for her to dodge.

Pfft!

Gong Qingqiu was killed by her own sword qi, and before her consciousness left the Void Heavenly World, she distinctly saw Ye Feng flashing a mischievous grin at her.

"How infuriating!"

Gong Qingqiu only had time to shout these words before her virtual life form completely collapsed.

A moment later.

The birth point on the Primordial Ancient Star of the Void Heavenly World.

Gong Qingqiu appeared here, seeing Ye Feng standing not far away with a playful smile.

"Sect Leader, you’re so bad!"

Gong Qingqiu pouted.

Ye Feng grinned: "I’ve always said, combat power isn’t the sole determinant of a battle’s outcome. Sometimes, you have to use your brain more."

He pointed at his head.

Gong Qingqiu huffed coquettishly: "Sect Leader, are you implying I don’t have a brain?"

Ye Feng spread his hands: "I didn’t say that!"

Hearing this, Gong Qingqiu laughed.

She finally got to be alone with Ye Feng and could act spoiled from time to time, which made her really happy.

"Come on, let’s continue practicing."

Ye Feng beckoned and led Gong Qingqiu into an uninhabited secret realm to continue their battle.

...

On the Cosmic Sea.

On a lonely island.

Silver Eyebrow Venerable and Venerable Hong Mei stood suspended in the air, looking at the sea ahead, where numerous massive Cosmic Sea Monsters floated, their power terrifying.

There were giant shrimp, giant crabs, and swordfish.

Of course, octopuses, squids, jellyfish, tuna, and other sea creatures were all present too, with even the weakest being at the fifty-layered Immortal Emperor level, possessing extremely high defense.

Moreover.

Every Cosmic Sea Fish had been modified, understanding teamwork and able to deploy dreadful Killing Arrays.

"Very good, the army is assembled." Silver Eyebrow Venerable laughed heartily, looking at Venerable Hong Mei, "Senior Brother, this army will surely deal a heavy blow to the Twin Universe. By the time the battle reaches the later stages, releasing the Destroyer’s Treasure Box will surely secure this universe."

"Indeed." Venerable Hong Mei nodded.

The Destroyer’s Treasure Box was a terrifying Quasi-Heavenly Venerable Divine Weapon capable of devouring Cosmic Consciousness.

Of course, using it outright would be impossible.

However, once an army enters the universe and heavily damages it, allowing the Destroyer’s Treasure Box to absorb the power of the fallen army, it could unleash dreadful power, forcibly devouring or assimilating the Cosmic Consciousness.

In that way, the great task can succeed.

"Senior Brother, when do we attack?"

"No rush, the Destroyer’s Treasure Box is still in the Abyss devouring the Origin of the Cosmic Sea, it needs some time. Once we’re ready on this side, you can initiate the attack. Only when the death toll reaches a certain level can the Destroyer’s Treasure Box be perfectly activated and unleash its supreme power."

Having said that, Venerable Hong Mei departed.

Deep under the ocean.

There was an abyssal trench where the thick essence of the Cosmic Sea Origin was abundant.

This was the true Abyss!

Glu-glu!

At this moment, a treasure box floated within the abyss, greedily devouring the surrounding Cosmic Sea Origin, strange patterns emerging on its surface. Looking closely, one could see many creatures in the patterns, all entangled painfully by thorn-covered vines.

"Heh-heh-heh... it’s perfect."

Venerable Hong Mei dove down here, looking at the Destroyer’s Treasure Box that was about to complete its Origin devour and activation, eyes full of excitement.

This item wasn’t crafted by him.

The so-called Destroyer’s Treasure Box was created by a Heavenly Venerable from the Abyss Clan stationed at the Origin of All Things, capable of sweeping across the Myriad Realms.

If Venerable Hong Mei weren’t so powerful, he couldn’t have obtained this formidable Quasi-Heavenly Venerable Divine Weapon.

...

Inside the Twin Universe, in the Void Heavenly World.

Ye Feng’s eyelid twitched.

"There’s such a foreboding feeling, it seems the universe’s crisis has grown more severe."

Swish!

Lost in thought, Ye Feng was struck by a sword qi from Gong Qingqiu, perishing then and there.

"Haha, I won!"

Gong Qingqiu was overjoyed, unaware that Ye Feng was only utilizing a tenth of his combat power and was distracted, which allowed her to defeat him this once.

The next moment, Ye Feng reassembled his form.

"Not bad, you’ve improved. Next, I’ll teach you better combat techniques."

Ye Feng continued instructing.

Gong Qingqiu trained earnestly, thoroughly enjoying this time alone with Ye Feng.

...

Mid-November, above the Heavenly Origin Sea.

"This year’s Quasi-Heavenly Venerable Level Dao Seeker ceremony has officially begun, please gather to receive your Dao Seeker qualification marks."

A voice came from the Great Dao Golden List.

"Haha, it’s finally starting!" Emperor Dragon Sovereign was ecstatic, the first to reach a mark, touching it and soon gaining approval.

"I am the Dao Seeker this time!" The Crimson Queen also received a mark, alongside Tiangang Immortal Emperor.

Soon, only two marks remained at the scene.

"The fourth mark is mine!"

A gentle and melodious voice arose, attracting many to turn and look, only to find that the newcomer was the Chief Elder of the Misty Holy Sect, Gong Qingqiu.

She touched a mark, merging it.

After this, only the final mark was left.

"Gong Qingqiu is here too?"

"Weren’t they saying that the Misty Holy Sect wouldn’t participate in the Dao Seeker contest in their first year?"

"It doesn’t matter, Gong Qingqiu isn’t strong, she’ll only be cannon fodder. In my opinion, the ones who can truly become Dao Seekers are definitely Emperor Dragon Sovereign and the Crimson Queen."

"That’s true."

Many didn’t have high hopes for Gong Qingqiu, thinking she was more suited for managing the sect and cities, leaving the combat to Mo Ying, Huo Yunjie, and others.

"There’s still the last mark."

Everyone refocused, eyeing the final mark floating in the void, curious to see who would merge with it and officially start the Dao Seeker war.

"The last mark is mine."

Finally, a voice rose up.

[PS: This Chapter has over 4100 words, good night!]

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