I Build a Shelter in the Eternal Night

But what he wanted wasn’t for these people to obey him simply because they were obeying Zhao Shengping.

The best solution was to appoint a Vice Pavilion Master from their ranks. This Vice Pavilion Master would represent him and manage the other Artifact Pavilion members.

A little division was necessary—a classic management tactic.

They couldn’t be too united.

If the Artifact Pavilion was a single, tight-knit group, what need was there for him? They might as well just follow Zhao Shengping and go independent.

...

Night fell.

It was the first day of Mortal City’s grand opening, but not a single Ghost Stone had been collected yet. After all, the travel back and forth was quite time-consuming.

Some Mortal Realm Members stayed behind in Mortal City.

The core Mortal Realm Members, however, all rushed back to the camp. Lame Monkey gave Zhao Shengping a tour, introducing the core members. "That one over there picking his face is Wang Mazi, the Pavilion Master of the Mortal Realm’s Commerce Pavilion. He’s in charge of the Mortal Realm’s external trade and procurement. Lately, he’s also been the main person in charge of Mortal City."

"The middle-aged man sitting cross-legged and cultivating in the Yunling Pavilion is Zhou Mo, the Pavilion Master of the Mortal Realm’s Battle Pavilion. He’s responsible for external operations and patrolling our territory. He’s also the one who rooted out those shills of yours—your grand-disciples—from the crowd."

"The Yun...ling Pavilion?"

Zhao Shengping stuttered, frozen in place as he pointed at the Yunling Pavilion, which was brimming with Spiritual Qi.

"Mhm."

Lame Monkey was already used to it. Everyone had the same expression the first time they saw the Yunling Pavilion. He didn’t know whether to say these people were too inexperienced or too worldly, since they could all somehow recognize the Yunling Pavilion.

’We had no idea it was a Yunling Pavilion at first; we only found out after the Young Master told us.’

"This is the Warehouse."

"It has five sections, one of which is a Jiezimai Room. We usually get most of our goods from here. The one organizing supplies at the entrance of the Jiezimai Room is Wang Kui, the Pavilion Master of the Celestial Granary Pavilion. If you need any Refining Materials or anything like that, you’ll have to get his approval."

"Pavilion Master Wang."

Lame Monkey stood at the warehouse entrance, looked at the busy Wang Kui, and said with a smile, "The Young Master sent me to take out all the Earth Gold and give it to Pavilion Master Zhao. He wants Pavilion Master Zhao to forge Special Weapons and Night Traveling Clothes for Shao Qiu and the others."

"Pavilion Master Zhao."

Hearing this, Wang Kui strode out of the warehouse. He looked at Zhao Shengping and said with a serious expression, "Welcome to the Mortal Realm. There’s one thing you should be glad about, and one thing you should regret."

"Be glad you joined early enough."

"And regret that you still joined a little too late."

Only then did he break into a smile. "Come, this way, please. I’ll get the Earth Gold for you. We’re all family from now on. I look forward to working with you."

"Of course, of course."

Zhao Shengping hurriedly cupped his fists, his face wreathed in smiles. ’So far, the core members of the Mortal Realm have all been quite friendly to me. But... this faction’s foundation is even deeper than I imagined. This is another Green Level warehouse building.’

’Can a faction like this really have emerged in Jiangbei?’

Soon—

Wang Kui stood at the entrance of the Jiezimai Room and skillfully manipulated a verdant green mist. He used it to envelop all the Earth Gold stored inside and place it onto ten flatbed carts waiting at the warehouse entrance.

"It’s all here. After you, Pavilion Master Zhao. I’ll have someone send it over to the Celestial Artifact Pavilion in a bit."

"..."

Zhao Shengping’s pupils constricted. He stood frozen, his face a mask of disbelief. After a long moment, as if refusing to believe his eyes, he looked up at the others before rushing forward. He picked up piece after piece of the Earth Gold, inspecting them repeatedly, and finally came to a terrifying conclusion.

’This Earth Gold... it’s all real!’

’So much Earth Gold?’

’This is more than enough to forge thirteen sets of Night Traveling Clothes and Special Weapons! If I’m the one forging, given my control over material waste, I could make thirty sets at most!’

’How could they have so much Earth Gold?’

’He seriously suspected that the combined reserves of all the factions in the Guanxi Plain might not even match what was here.’

"Please."

Wang Kui said cheerfully. His face was impassive, but inwardly he was gloating. ’A Level 9 Artifact Refiner... In the past, I wouldn’t have even been qualified to meet such a figure, but times have changed.’

’The era has changed.’

’This is the era of the Mortal Realm.’

’You old-timers should see what it means to have Earth Gold measured in batches.’

"Hooo..."

After a long moment, Zhao Shengping finally took a deep breath, suppressed his turbulent emotions, and moved his lips. "Alright. I’ll be troubling you then, Pavilion Master Wang."

’He suddenly realized that while the Mortal Realm was rumored to be strong, the reality was far stronger than the legends.’

’This wasn’t some faction that could only stay in Jiangbei.’

’This was a faction lying dormant in Jiangbei.’

’Just waiting for the right day.’

’To soar into the sky.’

’And stun the world with a single cry.’

...

"What about him?"

As he continued his tour of the camp with Lame Monkey, Zhao Shengping pointed to Qi Yue, who was standing in an open area outside a cave. His eyes were shut, as if he were resting. "That person doesn’t look ordinary."

"Him?"

Lame Monkey clicked his tongue and took out a Sound Transmission Talisman. "Pavilion Master Qiu, isn’t Qi Yue’s new robe ready yet? Why is he still wearing his old one?"

Xiaoyu’s voice quickly came from the Sound Transmission Talisman.

"Lame Pavilion Master, the Domain Lord hasn’t assigned a position to Qi Yue yet. I... I don’t know which style to make."

"Alright, I’ll go ask later."

Lame Monkey looked at Qi Yue’s back and remarked with a sigh, "He’s probably the strongest person in the Mortal Realm right now, but I don’t know who’s stronger between him and Shao Qiu. The two of them have never fought. He used to have a very famous title: the Jiangbei Old Demon."

"So it’s him." Zhao Shengping’s expression turned serious upon hearing this.

"You know him?"

"A few years ago, he came to Jiangdong and killed quite a few people. On September 9th, at the Jiangdong Marketplace, the Pavilion Master—a Level 4 Architect at the time—died by his sword. And on the same day the following year, he stormed the Jiangdong One Sword Sect, killing many disciples and an Elder."

"It’s said he’s only one step away from becoming a Martial King."

"The Old Demon is still as famous as ever."

Lame Monkey clicked his tongue. "He was one step away from Martial King a few years ago, and he’s still one step away now. That final step is just too hard to take."

"He has joined the Mortal Realm now, too. It seems like he’s cultivating and comprehending something right now, so I won’t take you over. You two can get acquainted on your own later..."

Before he could finish his sentence,

he suddenly felt a current of air block his throat, rendering him unable to speak.

Qi Yue, who was standing on the ground of the Celestial Pit in a cyan robe with his eyes closed, now had his robe fluttering despite the absence of wind.

CLANG!

The miniature Cyan Blade hovering beside him began to vibrate at a high frequency, emitting a low hum.

The next moment—

Spiritual Qi surged from Qi Yue’s body, forming dozens of blades made of Sword Qi in the air. Immediately after, this Sword Qi stabbed toward Qi Yue at extreme speed.

RIP.

The faint sound of flesh tearing could be heard. This was the Ten Thousand Swords Strike the Heart.

Every strand of Sword Qi pierced through his body.

And each time, it drew out a wisp of black mist.

Although no drops of blood fell, Qi Yue’s ferocious and contorted expression revealed the immense pain he was enduring.

The commotion alerted Chen Fan and the others inside the cave, and they all hurried out.

"This is the Ten Thousand Swords Heart Slaying Body Tempering!"

"He’s breaking through to Martial King!"

Zhao Shengping instantly assessed the situation and said in a panicked, horrified tone, "This is a special method for breaking through to Martial King! The risk factor is extremely high. Only by surviving the Ten Thousand Swords Heart Slaying Body Tempering can one advance to the Martial King realm."

"But—"

"Although the Sword Qi doesn’t cause external injuries, it inflicts immense mental anguish while clearing out the body’s impurities. An ordinary person could never withstand it. The result is becoming a raving lunatic."

’He never thought the Jiangbei Old Demon was really a Demon Cultivator!’

’This is a classic technique of Demon Cultivators.’

’To break through to Martial King, one must completely purge all impurities from the body. Ordinary people can only do this slowly, which is a long process. Demon Cultivators, however, are much more direct.’

’They use the Ten Thousand Swords Heart Slaying Body Tempering.’

’Using Sword Qi to carry away the impurities.’

’Is it fast?’

’Of course it’s fast!’

’It’s like the difference between someone shitting out their ass and someone cutting open their stomach to pull the shit out. In terms of speed, the latter is obviously faster.’

’But the latter also dies faster.’

’Only Demon Cultivators would dare attempt such a breakthrough method, gambling with their very lives. But given the Mortal Realm’s current potential and resources, there’s absolutely no need to be so reckless. What if he dies?’