In addition to the sect leader of the Gun Dragon Sect, who had always been lurking in the shadows and could confront the masked black-clothed figure, none of the Martial Emperors from the major forces managed to catch up.
In the end, after several days of pursuit, the Martial Emperors found no trace of the masked black-clothed figure.
Several miles of the Prosperity Wall were destroyed, and the Prosperity Emperor was nearly furious. The entire Prosperity City was in an uproar. In the days that followed, countless troops searched everywhere, some even deploying void ships, scouring areas up to hundreds of thousands of miles away for an extended period.
On the walls of Prosperity City, Martial Emperors took turns standing guard day and night.
Prosperity City had raised its alert to the highest level.
Various voices filled the entire Prosperity City. Some believed the person who destroyed the wall was an enemy of the Sheng family, wantonly sabotaging their foundation.
Others thought it was a transformed spirit beast that, after destroying Prosperity City, intended to stir a beast tide and wage war against the human race, leading to heated discussions.
Of course, as the time for the final ranking conference approached, many people shifted their attention to it.
Many wondered if, given such a major incident in Prosperity City, the final ranking conference would be postponed.
Ultimately, three days before the conference, Sheng Qianyu announced that the final ranking conference would proceed as scheduled.
This surprised everyone.
The final ranking conference was not altered due to the events in Prosperity City.
This was enough to show the importance that the Sheng family and major forces placed on the final ranking conference.
At this moment, in a luxurious inn, a young man sat cross-legged.
This person was none other than Jian Wuqu.
“Lin Xiao, after you defeated me, I entered the Life-and-Death Gate of the Ling Sword Sect for a month of gruelling training, breaking through from the Eighth Martial Venerable to the First Martial Lord realm,” Jian Wuqu muttered to himself, his eyes glinting with cold light. “In the two months that followed, I trained relentlessly, breaking through the First Martial Lord realm. I can now be considered a solid Second Martial Lord, the top among Second Martial Lords, capable of standing against even Sheng Li.”
“This time, refining the Sky-Breaking Dragon Pill will allow my cultivation to surge by two or even three levels. Though this is a forced elevation, it is enough to kill you.” Looking down at the pill in his hand, Jian Wuqu’s eyes were filled with killing intent. “Refining this pill will damage my meridians and shake my dantian. My cultivation will regress after a few days, and I will likely be bedridden for a month or more, spending a long time recovering, unable to break through. But to kill you, I have no regrets.”
With that, Jian Wuqu swallowed the pill and began refining it.
The Sky-Breaking Dragon Pill, as its name suggests, is a pill that allows one to “break the heavens and soar like a dragon,” rapidly boosting a person’s cultivation.
However, such a domineering pill that forcibly increases cultivation has significant side effects.
The dantian and meridians will be damaged, and for a month or more, one may be unable to fight.
In severe cases, even movement becomes difficult, plunging one into great pain.
Moreover, for a long time, cultivation cannot progress further.
Of course, the cultivation gained through the Sky-Breaking Dragon Pill will regress after a few days, not truly allowing a permanent breakthrough.
However, compared to forcibly raising cultivation, this method is clearly better.
Otherwise, an unstable foundation from rapid breakthroughs would make it hard to compete with peers at the same level and hinder further progress.
Thus, even if it meant injury and enduring pain, Jian Wuqu was willing to swallow the pill.
As long as he could kill Lin Xiao and eliminate his inner demons, his cultivation could still advance after recovery.
Of course, this decision was made after Lin Xiao claimed first place in the preliminary ranking conference.
Otherwise, he would not have chosen this path.
Tomorrow, Lin Xiao must die.
Time passed slowly. A day later, a powerful aura radiated from Jian Wuqu, spreading in all directions.
Evidently, Jian Wuqu’s cultivation had risen by one level, reaching the Third Martial Lord realm.
Yet, Jian Wuqu did not open his eyes and continued refining the pill’s power.
Another day passed, and Jian Wuqu’s cultivation rose again, reaching the Fourth Martial Lord realm.
On the third day, by evening, Jian Wuqu’s cultivation had reached the peak of the Fourth Martial Lord, just a sliver away from the Fifth Martial Lord realm.
“Peak of the Fourth Martial Lord,” Jian Wuqu suddenly opened his eyes, a thick killing intent surging within him. “Lin Xiao, tomorrow is your death day.”
…
At the same time, in the Sheng family residence.
The Prosperity Emperor stepped into Sheng Li’s room.
Sheng Li quickly turned and saluted, “Great-Great-Grandfather.”
“How is it going,” the Prosperity Emperor asked calmly.
“Great-Great-Grandson is incompetent, unable to break through another level, only reaching the peak of the Third Martial Lord,” Sheng Li said, his face full of guilt.
Sheng Qianyu was not disappointed; instead, he nodded with satisfaction. “The Satin Essence Herb is not meant for breaking through cultivation. For you to reach the peak of the Third Martial Lord, your strength must have improved significantly.”
“Tomorrow, you must strive to enter the top fifteen of the final ranking conference and secure a spot to enter the Prosperity Observatory.”
“Great-Great-Grandson understands,” Sheng Li nodded solemnly, confidently saying, “The top fifteen of the final ranking conference will definitely include me.”
“Since you are confident, I am at ease. If there’s nothing else, rest early,” Sheng Qianyu said, preparing to leave the room.
The destruction of the Prosperity Wall had kept him extremely busy, torn between guilt and anger. If not for the matter of securing a spot in the Prosperity Observatory for this generation, he would not have come to check.
“Great-Great-Grandfather,” Sheng Li called out as Sheng Qianyu was about to leave.
“What is it,” Sheng Li paused.
“Great-Great-Grandfather, there’s something I don’t understand,” Sheng Li said. “Why give Lin Xiao the Prosperity Token?”
Sheng Qianyu’s expression remained unchanged. Instead of answering, he asked, “What power did Lin Xiao use to defeat you?”
“Evil power,” Sheng Li replied.
“Exactly,” Sheng Qianyu explained. “Lin Xiao’s talent is extraordinary, and his future achievements will surely be remarkable. However, he has ultimately stepped into the path of an evil cultivator. His greatest strength is his evil power.”
“Evil cultivators are, after all, the greatest threat to our Sheng family.”
Sheng Qianyu’s tone was resolute. “Therefore, I will use the Prosperity Token to strangle him in the cradle.”
Sheng Li was slightly stunned. He had long had suspicions, and it turned out he was right.
However, having fought Lin Xiao, he had a different view of him.
“Lin Xiao’s talent will surely lead to great achievements in the future. Moreover, I see him as upright and unyielding. Perhaps he could stand on our side,” Sheng Li said, somewhat disapprovingly.
“But what if he doesn’t stand with righteous cultivators,” Sheng Qianyu shook his head. “We cannot take that risk.”
Sheng Li ultimately nodded, saying no more. Since the Prosperity Token had already been given, nothing could be changed.
Whether Lin Xiao could survive depended on his own fate.
“Any other questions,” Sheng Qianyu asked again.
“None,” Sheng Li shook his head.
“Don’t dwell on Lin Xiao’s matter. Focus your thoughts on the Prosperity Observatory. It can change a person’s destiny,” Sheng Qianyu reminded him once more.
He no longer paid attention to Lin Xiao’s matter. His greater concern was securing a spot in the Prosperity Observatory.
After all, a spot in the Prosperity Observatory was too important.
“Yes,” Sheng Li nodded.
Sheng Qianyu then stepped out of Sheng Li’s room.
As he reached the gate of the courtyard, he couldn’t help but look back, sighing inwardly, “Qianyu, whether you can enter the Prosperity Observatory depends entirely on you.”
“Perhaps the entire Sheng family believes that when I negotiated the conference rules with the major forces, the Sheng family should have an unconditional spot in the Prosperity Observatory each time.”
“As the overseers, we do have that right.”
“But if that were the case, without competition, our Sheng family would only decline further,” Sheng Qianyu sighed deeply in his heart and turned to leave.
