I Have a Compass for Opportunity

"My lord, I have brought shame upon you. Give me another chance, and I will surely kill him with my own hands." Liou Le Yao, terrified of the Crane Artifact Spirit, urgently sought to prove herself.

"Heh heh~" The crane let out an eerie laugh, suddenly extending its claw, gently grazing Liou Le Yao’s bluish face, leaving a grim blood scar.

Liou Le Yao’s body trembled from the pain, yet she dared not move a muscle.

Liou Le Yao’s reaction bored the Crane Artifact Spirit, who disdainfully flicked the blood from its claw, mocking, "Do you think, with my presence here, you would still be allowed to continue fighting?"

Then, Liou Yuan noticed the crane slightly tilt its head, those blood-red eyes seemingly gazing at him, making him hurriedly lower his head in fear.

The conduct of this Crane Artifact Spirit was bizarre, and just that glance made Liou Yuan’s heart uneasy.

"No wonder these Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators fear it so much. This isn’t just an artifact spirit, it’s a demon."

Thinking of Sect Leader Xuanyi’s legend, Liou Yuan found it only natural.

Years ago, Xuanyi nearly reached the Linlang Domain with this Asura Blade, almost annihilating the invading demon cultivators from there.

For ten years, he blocked the entrance between Linlang Domain and Jiuli State, the corpses falling from the void piled high like mountains.

Who knows how much demon cultivator blood this Crane Artifact Spirit has consumed; it’s only natural for it to resemble a demon.

Luckily, the crane only glanced this way, and it was not Liou Yuan who was the target but Liou Zhen.

With just a glance, it withdrew its gaze, mocking Liou Le Yao, "Liou Tao was outmatched and killed by the Ice Vein junior Liou Yuan. If he’s dead, he’s dead—the Liou Family must accept it."

"You, Liou Le Yao, couldn’t defeat Liou Zhen; you must accept that too."

The crane paused, its crimson eyes shifting to the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Liou Family, Liou Xie and Liou Hongjun.

The two lowered their heads even further.

"Your Liou Family’s uproar at the Spirit Ascension Platform has even shocked your sect leader."

"My presence here, you should understand what that signifies."

The Crane Artifact Spirit declared, directly ordering Chen Zeyang, "Escort the three of the Liou Family to the Disciplinary Hall, let me think about how to deal with them."

"Obeying your command, my lord." Chen Zeyang dared not defy in the slightest, responding respectfully and then personally stepped forward to bind Liou Le Yao.

Liou Le Yao would dare to fight in front of Chen Zeyang but had no courage to act out in front of the Crane Artifact Spirit, surrendering meekly.

Just as the Disciplinary Hall trio was about to escort the three Foundation Establishments of the Liou Family away.

A clear voice drifted from within the portal of the Inner Sect, distinctly entering the ears of everyone on the Spirit Ascension Platform:

"The affairs of the Ice and Fog Veins must have a resolution. Since you wish to fight, you shall fight."

"A year from now, a life-and-death battle in the Inner Sect’s Chaotic Scene."

"The Liou Family’s Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation each shall send one to the Chaotic Scene for a life-and-death battle with Liou Zhen’s brothers, until death."

This voice Liou Yuan had only heard when Outer Sect training began, the carefree young face of Sect Leader Xuanyi instantly surfaced in his mind.

"The sect leader himself has come!" Liou Yuan, hearing the voice, looked towards the illusionary portal of the Inner Sect, but saw only the rippling energy waves within, not the figure of Sect Leader Xuanyi.

Liou Zhen, seeing what his brother was searching for, quietly explained through transmitted voice:

"He didn’t come over; he’s still within the Wenda Tower in the Inner Sect."

"Sect Leader’s Divine Skill is at Great Success. Sitting within the Inner Sect, he can see miles away. As long as he desires, nothing on the Five Extremes Mountain can escape his eyes."

"Divine Skill!" It was Liou Yuan’s first encounter with the Golden Core level, his first time hearing the term Divine Skill.

Liou Zhen did not explain further, perhaps not fully understanding either.

But the words Sect Leader Xuanyi disseminated to the Spirit Ascension Platform were heard clearly by everyone.

Chen Zeyang and his companions, pausing in their escort of Liou Le Yao and others, looked in bewilderment at the Crane Artifact Spirit.

The crane glared back at Chen Zeyang, cursing, "What are you dawdling for, even if there is a battle in the Chaotic Scene, it is still a year away; take them back."

Chen Zeyang dared not retort and obediently resumed escorting the three Liou Family members towards the Inner Sect’s portal.

In this process, Liou Yuan saw Liou Le Yao glance back at him and Liou Zhen, a cruel smile flickering in those cold eyes.

She seemed to rejoice in Sect Leader Xuanyi’s words.

The Liou Family had been suppressed by Sect Leader Xuanyi for so many years, and finally, in a year, they could strike openly.

"It seems she thinks she’s certain to win." Liou Yuan sneered, turning to look at his elder brother Liou Zhen.

The scene of Liou Zhen heavily wounding Liou Le Yao with a single sword stroke was still vivid in his mind, and from every perspective, his elder brother had the greater chance of winning.

Liou Zhen frowned at the implications within Xuanyi’s words.

For Xuanyi had said that the Liou Family’s Foundation Establishment, Qi Cultivation each sends one.

Isn’t it just about him, Liou Zhen, and Liou Yuan at the Qi Cultivation Realm?

It means not only do I have to enter the Chaotic Scene, but my younger brother has to go too.

"Little Yuan, you must reach the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer soon." Liou Zhen looked into Liou Yuan’s eyes, his face stern.

"The Chaotic Scene of the Five Extremes Mountain has always been where two enter and one comes out, its grimness is extraordinary."

"The Liou Family will definitely send a cultivator at the peak of Qi Cultivation, you must be cautious."

"Rest assured, big brother." Liou Yuan responded swiftly, his demeanor calm and composed.

To be honest, if it were before entering the Erosion Land, with Sect Leader Xuanyi overseeing the Chaotic Scene, Liou Yuan might have been trembling.

But now, he’s quite calm.

"With my current talent, reaching the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer is just around the corner."

"Plus, with the Evil Eyes and Blood Imperial Spell as two major cards, and having taken the Vascular Formation and Meridian Opening Elixir in the Erosion Land, and acquiring the Jade Pivot Finger as such a killing move."

"As long as the opponent is still in the Qi Cultivation Realm, there’s nothing to fear."

Of course, the premise is that the opponent isn’t a freak like Tuoba Xin.

Truth be told, facing Tuoba Xin now, Liou Yuan is still uncertain in his heart.

But people like him, Liou Yuan thinks, there isn’t a second one in the Five Extremes Mountain, thus his confidence is even stronger.

As the team from the Disciplinary Hall, led by Chen Zeyang, escorted Liou Le Yao and others away from the Inner Sect.

The Artifact Spirit of the Crane didn’t linger much, before leaving, it glanced at Liou Zhen, with a meaningful look in those eyes bright as blood crystals.

It felt that Liou Zhen had sensed its presence long ago.

"With Foundation Establishment strength, being able to sense my presence, this Liou Zhen truly has some flair of Xuanyi when he was young."

Then the Artifact Spirit of the Crane disappeared into thin air on the Spirit Ascension Platform, leaving a message.

"Zhao Zhuoran, the Outer Sect trial isn’t over yet, I’ve taken Liou Le Yao, you are to handle the subsequent related matters."

"I respectfully follow the orders of the Lord!" Zhao Zhuoran, having watched a great show, respectfully bowed toward where the Artifact Spirit of the Crane disappeared.

The Outer Sect trial proceeded as usual.

Mr. Qiu and Liou Zhen, naturally, had no reason to remain.

Liou Zhen had just fought fiercely against three from the Liou Family, receiving some injuries and needed to return to the Inner Sect to recover, before leaving, he cupped his hands to Mr. Qiu and said lightly: "The favor of your help today, Liou Zhen remembers it."

"Should Mr. Qiu request something tomorrow, Liou Zhen will surely respond and never decline."

"Haha, Liou Zhen my good nephew, you’re being too formal. I’m also doing this for my good-for-nothing grandson." Mr. Qiu laughed heartily, his voice thick and powerful despite his age, causing Liou Yuan’s eardrums to ache.

Then Liou Yuan felt Mr. Qiu looking toward him, his eyes full of unabashed appreciation:

"Liou Zhen showed outstanding talent since his time in the Outer Sect, and after today’s battle, his renown will surely grow."

"Your brother Liou Yuan is also no ordinary person. It just so happens he gets along with my good-for-nothing grandson, if you don’t mind, the Qiu and Liou Families should interact more."

The Liou Family he spoke of naturally represented the Ice Vein, led by Liou Zhen and Liou Yuan, not the Fog Vein.

It was evident from Mr. Qiu’s behavior that the Qiu Family was different from the Zhao Family.

Zhao Zhuoran didn’t want to deal with any trouble.

But Mr. Qiu not only came today but also intervened, even at the cost of offending the Liou Family.

Now he even wants Qiu Ming and Liou Yuan to continue their good relations.

The Qiu Family only has Mr. Qiu as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, whereas the Liou Family, including the Family Patriarch, has four in total.

Imagine the courage Mr. Qiu must have.

"There are passionate people even among these cultivation families, and this Qiu Ming clearly takes after his great-grandfather." Liou Yuan observed all of this, and quickly followed Liou Zhen in saluting Mr. Qiu, saying: "Junior Liou Yuan greets Mr. Qiu."

"I share life and death with Qiu Ming. Whatever concerns Qiu Ming concerns me, Liou Yuan, and I’ll fully commit to it."

Having said this, Liou Yuan glanced down to the Spirit Ascension Platform.

Qiu Ming also looked over, shouting with a voice no less loud than his great-grandfather’s: "You’ve got a good heart, from now on if I get into fights, you must come help!"

Liou Yuan shook his head helplessly, unwilling to entertain Qiu Ming.

Mr. Qiu also glared fiercely at his great-grandson, then vanished into the void.

Liou Zhen also left, but before he did, he quietly instructed Liou Yuan: "Make sure you do well in this Outer Sect trial, once it’s over, I’ll come find you."

Then Liou Zhen brought Liou Yuan back to the Spirit Ascension Platform, took a step, and returned to the Inner Sect.