Chapter 101: Deputy Observer Master

Inside the Yuan Shui Daoist Monastery,

Dongbo Xueying and Gong Liangyuan walked side by side toward a grand pavilion. Outside the pavilion, a bald, gaunt old man sat fishing by a curved lake. He exuded an aura of extreme age.

“This is Vice Patriarch Chao Qing,” Gong Liangyuan subtly changed his expression and immediately sent a voice transmission. “I was planning to visit the Vice Patriarch after you had chosen your weapon and secret techniques. I didn’t expect to meet him here. He is already over two thousand eight hundred and sixty years old—his lifespan is nearing its limit.”

“Him?” Dongbo Xueying felt a surge of respect.

Ninth on the Half-God List: Chao Qing, Vice Patriarch of Yuan Shui Daoist Monastery, master of ‘Thunder God’s Truth,’ wielding a single staff to traverse the world.

One must understand that the maximum lifespan of a Half-God is three thousand years. The limit represents the extreme! Normally, few can actually reach that threshold. Just like mortals whose maximum lifespan is one hundred years, yet living to eighty or ninety is already considered exceptional. Even Star-Level cultivators, with a maximum of two hundred years, usually live no more than one hundred and eighty.

Transcendents are stronger and able to approach the limit.

Elder Lei Zhen consumed Oceanic Realm Stone Spirit Liquids like food and drink, continuously nourishing both body and soul, enabling him to survive up to one thousand five hundred years! Without the Oceanic Realm Stone Spirit Liquids, he would have lived a century less. Most Half-Gods reaching two thousand nine hundred years is already considered outstanding; however, if gravely injured in battle, their deaths may come even earlier.

Therefore…

Vice Patriarch Chao Qing was already at the brink of death at any moment.

“Vice Patriarch,” Gong Liangyuan respectfully addressed him, “this is Dongbo Xueying.”

“Greetings, Vice Patriarch,” Dongbo Xueying also bowed respectfully.

The bald, gaunt old man finally turned his head.

His eyes appeared murky, his face wrinkled, his body frail with age. Yet no one in the world dared to underestimate him. Such elders had not fought in a long time, and no one knew his true current strength. His rank of ‘Ninth on the Half-God List’ was based solely on his last recorded battle.

“Good,” the old man smiled and nodded. “An old man like me getting to witness the rise of another extraordinary genius within Yuan Shui Daoist Monastery before my time comes is truly a joy. I remember when I was still a Title-Level warrior, full of youthful vigor, when I joined Yuan Shui Daoist Monastery. It was Zhang Chen Senior who led me in. Yet now, Zhang Chen has been dead for over two thousand years.”

“Life and death…

“I have seen too many lives pass,” the old man chuckled. “Few have lived longer than me.”

Dongbo Xueying and Gong Liangyuan listened respectfully.

To Dongbo Xueying, who was merely twenty-eight years old, this ancient Half-God nearing three thousand years of age was living history itself!

“Dongbo Xueying,” the old man suddenly spoke.

“At your service,” Dongbo Xueying respectfully replied.

“As a newly ascended Transcendent, you must go to the Xihuo World,” the old man said. “Skyfaring-Level Transcendents will truly experience the cruelty of Transcendent combat there. Many Transcendents perish in that realm! For prodigies like yourself, you must be especially cautious while still young. Never let your youth lead to an early death in the Xihuo World.”

“I understand,” Dongbo Xueying replied gratefully.

He already knew this himself.

For Skyfaring-Level Transcendents are forbidden from entering other Transcendent worlds for adventures. In the Mortal World, dangers are nearly nonexistent, but the Xihuo World is where most risks lie. For the sake of trials and deadly experiences, many Skyfaring-Level Transcendents perish.

It’s not that Transcendents seek death.

Rather, the effects of life-and-death trials are indeed effective. Like when Dongbo Xueying fought the Shadow Leopard, he immediately broke through to the realm of Perfect Unity in Strength. On the path of Transcendents, cultivation becomes even harder. Without life-and-death trials, one cannot advance far.

A decade of such trials equals a century of secluded cultivation.

“Upon entering the Xihuo World, you will encounter the ‘Transcendent Life-and-Death Battle,’ specially prepared for new Transcendents. This is exclusive only to new Transcendents,” the old man smiled. “Many Xia Clan warriors will be watching these battles, so they are relatively safe. Since the founding of the Xihuo World, the ‘Transcendent Life-and-Death Battle’ has existed for countless years. The most legendary figure in history was a Half-God named ‘Inferno Knight’ Jie Li, who, upon his ascension, completed eleven such battles!”

“In the past ten thousand years, the most outstanding was a woman named ‘Shan Qingyan,’ who completed nine Life-and-Death Battles! Unfortunately, after ascending to Saint-Level, she ventured into a Transcendent world and perished.”

“I myself completed six Life-and-Death Battles,” the old man looked at Dongbo Xueying. “Dongbo Xueying, bring glory to Yuan Shui Daoist Monastery! Aim for nine or ten battles!”

Dongbo Xueying muttered inwardly.

The Vice Patriarch had high expectations indeed—nine or ten battles?

From Elder Lei Zhen’s memoirs, Dongbo Xueying was already well aware of the ‘Transcendent Life-and-Death Battles.’

Only available to new Transcendents!

To allow new Transcendents to experience Transcendent combat fully, opponents are arranged within a fixed area for battle. Most opponents are natives of the Transcendent world. Many powerful observers, including Half-Gods, will be present. Thus, if danger arises during the battle, the Half-Gods will intervene immediately.

Therefore, it is relatively safe, a rare opportunity to familiarize oneself with the natives of the Transcendent world.

However…

Transcendent combat is swift. Sometimes, even Half-Gods cannot rescue in time. On average, one unfortunate Transcendent dies in the ‘Transcendent Life-and-Death Battle’ every two to three centuries.

Like Elder Lei Zhen, who only completed five Life-and-Death Battles.

“How many did Elder Changfeng complete?” Dongbo Xueying asked curiously.

“Chi Qiubai? He completed six as well,” the old man chuckled. “Chi Qiubai wasn’t particularly outstanding at the Skyfaring-Level. Although he became a Transcendent at a young age, he only mastered the ordinary mystery of the Wind of All Things back then! Later, he rose to mastery of the formidable ‘Spatial Severance Truth.'”

“The Transcendent Life-and-Death Battle reveals potential.

“Those who complete many battles usually achieve great heights, as long as they survive,” the old man said. “However, those with fewer battles generally do not achieve much, though there are exceptions. Like He Shan, the current number one Transcendent in the world, who completed only three battles back then. Haha, don’t follow He Shan’s example—He Shan is a mage who prefers deep study.”

“Moreover, the Transcendent Life-and-Death Battle is your only relatively safe opportunity to familiarize yourself with the natives of the Transcendent world. Seize it well,” the old man added. “Miss this chance, and it’s gone forever!”

Dongbo Xueying nodded: “I understand.”

“Go on, go choose your weapons. No need to accompany this old man,” the old man said. “Oh, I suspect you’ve awakened an Ancient Bloodline. When selecting secret techniques, go to the furthest bookshelf on the third floor of the Secret Technique Pavilion and look through it carefully.”

Dongbo Xueying’s eyes lit up.

The Secret Technique Pavilion, third floor? The furthest bookshelf?

“Thank you, Vice Patriarch,” Dongbo Xueying bowed respectfully.

The old man, however, continued to sit with his eyes half-closed, fishing as before.

Dongbo Xueying and Gong Liangyuan bowed respectfully before departing.

“Brother Dongbo, the Vice Patriarch truly sees great potential in you,” Gong Liangyuan whispered with a grin. “We were actually discussing you earlier and even placed bets on how many Life-and-Death Battles you’d complete. We all believed you’d at least reach six.”

“I’m not even sure myself,” Dongbo Xueying replied casually, though his mind was preoccupied with the mention of the third floor of the Secret Technique Pavilion. What exactly had the Vice Patriarch meant?