Chapter 175: The Historical Puppet of the Temporal Immortal

It seemed like someone up north had excavated an ancient relic—perhaps one of your good friends.

“…”

This game log entry was abrupt and unclear; it came from Zhangliu’s ability to hear whispers on the wind.

This probably meant that Lin Feng had found the birthplace of the Ascension Ritual.

This ability was actually quite useless. Each time it activated, the information it provided was trivial. Getting useful information randomly was just too difficult, and it all depended on luck.

What Chen Xiyi obtained the most were trivial household matters—for instance, someone picking up a coin or someone getting angry because the market was closed that day.

Reading these tidbits made Chen Xiyi’s blood pressure rise. They were completely useless to him. He could only sigh and say, “Truly worthy of being called ‘ear on the wind’.”

“I wonder what Lin Feng will find. Hopefully, it will be useful.”

Chen Xiyi did not hold high hopes. The Ascension Ritual itself had been tainted by the concept of the sword, so how could its birthplace remain untouched? It was likely that very little of the original information remained.

“Senior, I have a matter I wish to consult you about.” A voice came from outside the door.

Chen Xiyi recognized the voice. It was the current saintess of the Five Immortals Sect—Nalan Yao, also Feng Qing’s fiancée.

Feng Qing had left Miaojiang three days prior, heading to the Valley of the Healing Immortals. After all, he had to fulfill his promise to Chen Xiyi.

As for taking the benefits and running away?

Anyone with a sound mind would not consider that. If he dared to do so, he might end up being hunted down by hordes of Gu Martial Artists with Calamity Poison Bodies. Someone could easily produce one Calamitous Poison Pellet, and just as easily make hundreds more.

“What is your… business.” Chen Xiyi turned to look at Nalan Yao. The moment he saw her prefix, his tone faltered.

[Nalan Yao of the Immortals, Health Points: 100%, Status: Historical Puppet]

[Ability 1: Ninth Sequence]

[Ability 2: Longevity Martial Artist]

[Ability 3: Skill Approaching the Dao (Sword)]

[Ability 4: Root Immortality]

[Experiences]

[April: Through connection with the Ascension Origin Site, came to the disordered history with ten other Sequences to assist the First Sequence in re-becoming an Immortal]

[April: Managed affairs of the Five Immortals Sect]

[April: Bid farewell to fiancé Feng Qing]

[April: …]

The Nalan Yao before him was not the Nalan Yao from yesterday. She was the Ninth Sequence Immortal who had come from the future.

‘Hiss… Thinking about it, under normal circumstances, Nalan Yao would have ended up with Lin Feng, not Feng Qing. And then, thinking further, Mei Yu stole her disciple’s husband, leaving only Feng Qing as the unlucky one. Darn, this is such a mess.’

Chen Xiyi could not help but complain internally. This was just absurd.

More importantly, only eleven of the twelve Temporal Immortals had come. The missing one was likely Wandering Light, who had not arrived.

Clearly, due to changes in history, Wandering Light had also encountered some trouble. Otherwise, why would only eleven Sequences come?

This surprised Chen Xiyi. He had thought that Wandering Light Devotees would come, but instead, the Temporal Immortals themselves had arrived.

Previously, Chen Xiyi thought “Sequence” was just a title. He did not expect it to be an ability, probably gained from the Ascension Ritual.

The Longevity Martial Artist ability was likely a certain realm for Martial Artists. The “Skill Approaching the Dao” in swordsmanship also seemed to indicate that the concept of the sword had permeated the remaining eleven Temporal Immortals.

As for the final “Root Immortality,” this puzzled Chen Xiyi. But from the words “Immortality,” one could guess its nature—perhaps another ability similar to the Phoenix Bloodline.

“I just want to ask you, Senior, who exactly are you?” Nalan Yao lifted her head, a faint, eerie light flashing in her eyes.

Seeing this, Chen Xiyi could not help but gasp sharply. “Your eyes just flashed light! How did you do that? So terrifying, absolutely terrifying!”

“???” Nalan Yao’s expression stiffened. Are you crazy?

But she quickly recovered. “Senior, there’s no need to evade the question. I believe you should not exist in this history.”

As she spoke, a sword light flashed.

[Nalan Yao of the Immortals attacked you, dealing 0% damage to your Health Points.]

[Enchantment: Thorns reflected Nalan Yao of the Immortals’ attack, dealing 100% damage to Nalan Yao of the Immortals’ Health Points.]

[You killed Nalan Yao of the Immortals.]

[Alloy Full Body Armor durability decreased by 70 points.]

[Alloy Helmet durability decreased by 70 points.]

In an instant, Nalan Yao exploded into a cloud of bloody mist before Chen Xiyi’s eyes.

He was utterly stunned. Her speed was indeed incredibly fast, much faster than a Grandmaster Martial Artist. In terms of physical prowess, she was leagues above Chen Xiyi.

Of course, she could not compare to the Sacred Knight Chris Phoenix, created through Qi Refiners’ modifications. Judging by the equipment durability loss, that single sword strike only reduced durability by 70 points, and yet she completely exploded.

Back then, even when Chris’s Health Points dropped significantly, he showed no signs of faltering and could still attack fiercely.

Although Nalan Yao’s physical body was inferior, her abilities were even more mystical. After the exploded flesh and blood scattered like spots, a brand new Nalan Yao appeared.

She died, but not completely. She resurrected.

The newly resurrected Nalan Yao wore a grave expression. She had no idea how she died; she only felt a terrifying force erupt inside her body. Before she could react, she was gone, and then she woke up now.

“An unknown Immortal? No wonder you could sense something wrong with history. But I cannot let you stay today. Take this!”

Nalan Yao’s long sword once again swept towards Chen Xiyi, but he paid it no mind.

Several shadowy figures materialized, immediately engaging Nalan Yao in combat.

It had to be said, Nalan Yao’s strength was considerable. At the very least, none of these shadowy figures could withstand a single strike from her.

But Chen Xiyi’s shadowy figures were endless. For every one slain, ten more took its place, simply overwhelming her with numbers.

“Interesting situation. You’ve taken over this Nalan Yao’s body—no, not taken over, but replaced. The Nalan Yao of this time has already vanished, leaving only you, the future Ninth Sequence Immortal.”

“So Wandering Light dares not come to this point in history because once he arrives, he would replace Lin Feng.”

Chen Xiyi watched Nalan Yao, seemingly trying to glean something from her body language, but she showed no reaction.

“Let me guess. The reason you cannot die is because Wandering Light is not dead. So no matter what injuries or deaths you suffer, you do not truly die, because Wandering Light is the root of your existence.”

“Though you are Immortals, you are merely Wandering Light’s appendages. Once Wandering Light has a problem, none of you can escape.”

Chen Xiyi voiced his speculation aloud. Her body showed no external reaction, but her Status Bar briefly flashed with “Contempt” and “Surprise.”

The fleeting appearance of these two statuses made Chen Xiyi realize he had probably guessed some things right.

But exactly which things, he did not know. He needed to capture her first.

“Impressive strength. Unfortunately, it’s still not enough.”

Chen Xiyi watched as Nalan Yao, relying on her exquisite swordsmanship and formidable power, cut her way through the shadows until she stood right before him.

“Die, non-sequential Immortal.”

Nalan Yao thrust her sword forward. Chen Xiyi reached out, effortlessly pinching the blade between his fingers.

During her earlier battle with the shadowy figures, a vast amount of her combat data had been fed into his combat model. With this data, even if Chen Xiyi himself couldn’t react in time, the System could make mechanical judgments to predict and counter in advance.

Chen Xiyi wore the glove fairy, Mighty Elephant. The defense and power of his hands erupted, allowing him to easily pinch the long sword. Then, he threw a punch straight at Nalan Yao’s head.

Unfortunately, Nalan Yao’s reaction speed was far beyond Chen Xiyi’s. Even though the Mighty Elephant had the ability to be somewhat precise amidst its brute force, it ultimately specialized in power, not agility. So, the punch missed.

But the violent force, combined with the explosive power of the Innate Gang Qi, still created a powerful shockwave.

Chen Xiyi’s own strength, layered with the Mighty Elephant’s “Great Strength” ability, formed a huge swirling vortex of air within the Miaojiang Five Immortals Cave.

His overall physical attributes might not compare to Nalan Yao’s, but if it came to the sheer strength of his hands alone, probably no one in this world would dare claim to be stronger.

Limited to just his hands, though; other parts were not the same.

Streaks of Sword Qi burst forth, slicing through the air vortex, transforming into a blade of sword light that shot towards him.

“I underestimated you. I didn’t expect you to exhibit the strength of a Longevity Martial Artist even without having ascended to a Sequence. But that’s all it is. You’re merely a remnant of history, foolishly trying to overturn the heavens. Just obediently solidify into history.”

The sword light, wrapped in Sword Intent, lunged at Chen Xiyi like a cyan-green venomous snake opening its jaws.

Chen Xiyi couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. Did she really think he was an easy target?

She should know that he had been staying in the Miaojiang Five Immortals Cave for over a year. He had altered the entire layout, forming a Formation Array.

“Innate Gang Qi · Suppress.”

Crack.

The Sword Intent was instantly overwhelmed by numerous hands. Nalan Yao’s expression changed; her martial intuition told her the entire surrounding environment had shifted—it had become a death trap.

“I didn’t expect you to have constructed a Chronological World here. Unfortunately, it’s not yet complete. The next time we meet, I will surely make you bleed on the spot.” After delivering her threat, Nalan Yao immediately turned to flee.

Chen Xiyi thought to himself, Did you think you could come and go as you please?

Innate Gang Qi transformed into nine invisible dragons. In an instant, they suppressed Nalan Yao, dragging her up and turning into nine chains that bound her securely.

He promptly placed her into the formation’s core eye, channeling the power of the entire mountain’s ranges and ley lines to form a cage.

“You come as you please, leave as you wish, and even want my life? Hah, did you really think I was made of clay? Even a clay figure has a bit of temper.” Chen Xiyi sneered as he looked at Nalan Yao.

She was an excellent test subject.

“How dare you treat me like this! Release me at once, or else—”

“Or else what? Kill me? Hah, wasn’t that your goal from the start?” Chen Xiyi casually muffled Nalan Yao, then directly sealed her away.

To be honest, coming to a Qi Refiner’s lair to kill a Qi Refiner—this was the stupidest way to die that Chen Xiyi had ever seen.

He had only used the “Suppress” technique of the Innate Gang Qi. There were other techniques in the same series, like “Restrain” and “Seal,” and these were just for control. There were also techniques for killing, strangling, illusion, and various other purposes.

He had let her fight initially only to collect her combat data. Otherwise, he could have captured her alive in their first encounter.

His physical attributes were indeed inferior to Nalan Yao’s, but Qi Refiners didn’t rely on their physical bodies; they relied on their Primordial Spirit.

If Chen Xiyi were to fight her relying solely on his own physical skills, then what was the point of being a Qi Refiner? The reason he enhanced his physical body was to cover his weaknesses, but that didn’t mean he would use his patched-up shortcomings to confront others head-on. Only a fool would do that. What he needed to do was leverage his strengths to the utmost when facing enemies.