Chapter 106: Preparation

Ten extraordinary beings gathered together, drinking and chatting, gradually becoming more familiar with each other.

Peng Shan set down his cup and smiled, “Xueying, I’m the eldest among us here, so let me say a few words. You’ve just arrived in the Xia Capital… and the most important thing now is the upcoming life-and-death battle of the extraordinary! Haha, you’re the youngest to enter the extraordinary in a thousand years. Your life-and-death battle is one that countless people are eager to witness. Perhaps even a few reclusive demigods might show up to watch!”

Demigods, with their long lifespans, rarely involved themselves in the affairs of ordinary extraordinary beings.

“That’s right. You’re highly anticipated—you’d better survive at least six rounds, or it’ll be somewhat embarrassing,” Zong Tu added. “Don’t think six rounds are easy! Chang Feng here only managed six rounds himself back then.”

“It’s difficult,” Chi Qiu Bai nodded. “Back then, Master He only managed three rounds! The later rounds become increasingly treacherous. The native extraordinary beings sent by the Ember Palace become more bizarre and unpredictable. One misstep, and you’ll be defeated! Moreover, the strength of these natives grows stronger as the rounds progress. I consider myself quite skilled in battle, yet I was stopped at the sixth round.”

Dong Bo Xue Ying nodded in agreement.

Chi Qiu Bai was indeed renowned for his combat prowess. He continuously broke through his limits through countless battles. Initially, he had displayed a relatively strong mastery of the mysteries of the Wind of Ten Thousand Things. Later, he even grasped the ‘True Intent of Spatial Severance,’ earning him true fame across the land.

“Little Brother Xueying, don’t feel pressured. Do your best—how many rounds you survive is how many rounds you survive,” Cheng Lingshu advised. “Although demigods will be watching the life-and-death battle and can intervene to rescue you at any moment, these extraordinary combats are extremely fast. You could lose your life in an instant!”

Dong Bo Xue Ying felt a bead of sweat form.

Calling him “Little Brother Xueying”?

Yet he had no intention of protesting. Among this group, the youngest was Cheng Lingshu, who was already over a hundred years old—older than his own grandparents!

“Give it your all, Xueying,” Peng Shan remarked. “He once awakened the ancient bloodline, granting him an extremely strong recovery ability. He won’t die easily. Moreover, this is a rare opportunity—a prime chance to earn extraordinary contribution points. You must seize it.”

Dong Bo Xue Ying smiled slightly.

Indeed, he was eager to fight fiercely in the life-and-death battle of the extraordinary! Firstly, the more dazzling his performance, the more attention he would receive from the demigods at the highest levels of humanity. Even if someone wished to place a bounty on Dong Bo Xueying, the Blood Blade Tavern would offer an even more astonishing reward. Secondly, it was a chance to hone himself. Where else could one find such low-risk, life-and-death combat against extraordinary beings? Thirdly, it was for the contribution points.

One contribution point was equivalent to one jin of Yuan Stone!

Winning the first round earned ten points, the second round twenty points, the third forty points… doubling each time!

The most legendary figure in history had survived the eleventh round, earning over twenty thousand points! That was over twenty thousand jin of Yuan Stone. Elder Lei Zhen’s personal stock of Yuan Stone was only around three thousand jin.

Of course, one couldn’t compare oneself to the greatest figure in the entire history of the Xia Clan. In the past ten thousand years, the most accomplished was ‘Dan Qingyan,’ who survived nine rounds and earned over five thousand points!

“This is the easiest way to earn contribution points,” Peng Shan sighed. “After the life-and-death battle, you’ll have to take on various life-risking tasks one by one. For just ten points, you’ll have to risk your life. So if you miss this opportunity, you won’t get such a good chance again.”

Dong Bo Xue Ying nodded slightly.

“Xueying, after the life-and-death battle of the extraordinary, when you’re undergoing life-risking trials in dangerous places within the Ember World, you must not only be cautious of the natives but also of other human extraordinary beings,” Peng Shan continued.

“Cautious of them?” Dong Bo Xue Ying frowned. “Do you mean they might attack me?”

“Extraordinary beings have various personalities,” Chi Qiu Bai said softly. “There are all kinds of people—those who are treacherous and selfish, and those who are mad and deranged! Although killing an extraordinary being will result in an investigation by the Ember Palace, and if the truth is uncovered, they will be punished or even executed. However, you must understand… the punishment only comes if the Ember Palace discovers the truth. If they don’t find out—what can you do?”

Cheng Lingshu quickly added, “Right, those who directly try to kill you might be rare, but those who try to sabotage you are quite common. If you’re betrayed, you can only blame yourself for misjudging people.”

“Many extraordinary beings are still bound by the laws of the Ember Palace, but there is one place that is not restricted—Blood Blade Tavern,” Chi Qiu Bai continued. “If someone places a bounty on your life, the Blood Blade Tavern will directly send assassins after you! Even if you call for help and we rush to your aid, if they’ve already killed you, they are free of guilt for completing their mission!”

“Will they just allow the Blood Blade Tavern to act so freely?” Dong Bo Xue Ying frowned. He always felt that the Blood Blade Tavern was too domineering.

Chi Qiu Bai shook his head helplessly. “Let me put it this way—both the Grand Temple of Earth and the Blood Blade Tavern have formidable presences behind them from the Divine Realm! Even some of our Xia Clan ancestors who ascended to the Divine Realm have left messages: we can oppose the Grand Temple of Earth, abandon it, and ally ourselves with another Divine Realm faction. But we absolutely cannot oppose the Blood Blade Tavern.”

“Ahhh,” Dong Bo Xue Ying was stunned.

So the Blood Blade Tavern had such a formidable background!

“The Blood Blade Tavern is merely a place for assassination missions, and they do have their own rules. They won’t cause chaos that angers heaven and earth,” Chi Qiu Bai explained. “The more monstrous you are, the higher the bounty placed on you will be. Thus, it’s rare for an extraordinary being to be targeted.”

Dong Bo Xue Ying nodded.

The Blood Blade Tavern was notoriously ruthless, charging exorbitant fees!

“By the way, Xueying, are you interested in becoming a teacher at my Chang Feng Academy?” Chi Qiu Bai suddenly asked. “Don’t worry, being a teacher as an extraordinary being is merely a nominal position—you only occasionally come to offer guidance. At most, you might take in a few promising students. Our Chang Feng Academy already has four extraordinary beings and is the strongest in Anyang Province.”

“Chang Feng,” Peng Shan interjected with dissatisfaction, “you’re quick to poach people—you got to him before I even had the chance!”

Dong Bo Xue Ying smiled.

Chi Qiu Bai had founded the Chang Feng Academy, while Peng Shan had similarly established the ‘Blade Howl Institute.’

“I’ll consider it later. I’ve just become an extraordinary being, so I should focus on cultivation for now. Perhaps I’ll become a teacher in the future,” Dong Bo Xue Ying replied. “By the way, my younger brother, Dong Bo Qing Shi, is about to join the Chang Feng Academy.”

“My younger brother? Excellent! The Chang Feng Academy welcomes all talented young people,” Chi Qiu Bai smiled. “I met your younger brother the last time I visited your place. He’s a promising mage. There are only three extraordinary mages in the entire Anyang Province, and two of them are already at our academy—Ziche and Old Man Hai!”

“Rest assured, I’ll closely observe your younger brother. If his talent is sufficient and he works hard enough, taking him as a disciple will be a simple matter,” the white-haired old man, Hai Ruzhen, said.

“Who says? Perhaps he would prefer to be my disciple,” Ziche Gufeng added.

Though they said that, if either of them wasn’t impressed by Dong Bo Qing Shi, they might only accept him as a nominal disciple, just to show respect to Dong Bo Xue Ying.

After all, they were all extraordinary beings from the Anyang Province and needed to maintain mutual respect. Moreover, given Dong Bo Xue Ying’s extraordinary talent, all factions believed he had a very high chance of reaching the Saint-level at the very least.

…

The ten extraordinary beings continued drinking and chatting until nightfall, when they finally dispersed.

Dong Bo Xue Ying also returned to his estate.

“Master,” the female housekeeper, Xu Qin, had already been waiting at the gate. “Master, someone from the Ember Palace has come and has been waiting for over an hour.”

“Ah,” Dong Bo Xue Ying was slightly surprised.

He immediately headed toward the main hall.

Indeed, a young man was sitting inside, waiting patiently. Upon seeing Dong Bo Xue Ying enter the hall, the young man immediately stood up and respectfully said, “Greetings, Master Dong Bo. I have been sent to inquire—when do you plan to begin your life-and-death battle as an extraordinary being?”

The life-and-death battle of the extraordinary must be conducted within one year of becoming extraordinary! If it exceeds one year, it will be considered an automatic forfeiture.

“Hmm,” Dong Bo Xue Ying pondered for a moment before replying, “In half a year. I will begin my life-and-death battle in half a year.”

“Very well, I will report this immediately,” the young man said. “I won’t disturb you further. I’ll take my leave.”

Dong Bo Xue Ying nodded.

The emissary from the Ember Palace immediately departed.

From the day he left the Black Wind Abyss, the countdown had begun. He must undergo the life-and-death battle within one year. A month had already passed. He had just broken through, and had not yet cultivated any Path of Rage or secret techniques. He needed to prepare a little. Half a year should be sufficient!

“It’s time to prepare seriously.”

“For the upcoming life-and-death battle of the extraordinary,” Dong Bo Xue Ying immediately decided to begin his cultivation that very night.