Chapter 106: The Backbone

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The celestial ship, towering thousands of feet long, resembled a colossal floating city. Seeing the entire magnificent vessel, Xu Chen couldn't help but marvel at the prosperity of the human race’s immortals. Over thirty thousand practitioners of the Qi-Blood Realm, led by various sects and forces, had boarded the celestial ship.

The Daxi Sect, one of the five major sects of Leizhou, had a designated area on the ship reserved for its disciples.

“The celestial ship spans multiple regions; it will take half a month to reach the destination. During this time, you may choose to train or relax,” a stern elder said. “This time, you represent the Daxi Sect and the human race in battle.”

“My only request is this: before the various clans of the Sacred Spirit Heavenly Court, stand tall with pride. That spine is not yours alone—it belongs to all humanity!”

“Even if you die in battle, never bow your head in submission or beg for mercy.”

The elder, who had ascended the Immortal Path, gazed seriously at the gathered disciples. Any sign of cowardice or evasion would lead to immediate disqualification. Such shameful behavior could not be allowed to disgrace them.

Upon hearing this, the many Daxi disciples immediately straightened their backs, standing like javelins under the heavens, eyes locking firmly with the elder. To falter now would mean a lifetime of scorn.

“Good! That’s the spirit I want to see!” the elder declared with satisfaction.

After all the Qi-Blood cultivators boarded, the massive celestial ship lifted into the sky, light as a feather.

At an unknown height, the environment around the ship resembled the cosmos Xu Chen had witnessed in his previous life.

“Everyone return to your cabins. This area harbors chaotic giant beasts. Direct eye contact will cause spiritual contamination,” a voice warned in their ears.

“Junior Brother Xu, it’s not suitable to cultivate on the ship either,” one of the elders advised.

“I checked just now; the cabins have food, rest, and entertainment facilities,” Sect Elder Shou said, pulling out a schematic of the ship’s interior and pointing to a specific area.

“Then let’s go there.”

The three-person team entered the ship’s cabins and found the interior like a small world of its own.

They located the spots Elder Shou mentioned and began their half-month journey there.

Elder Shou was in charge of scouting out the best food and entertainment, Li Chengfu handled the spiritual currency, and Xu Chen took care of eating, drinking, and having fun.

Their teamwork was seamless.

In the illusion game hall, the three played a war game as mortals.

They formed a small team and slaughtered across a battlefield of hundreds of thousands.

When tired of that, they switched to treasure hunting and battling sea monsters on an endless ocean.

Later, they played a confrontation game, each commanding an army of tens of thousands, directing fierce battles amid a dense fog of war.

They enjoyed themselves immensely.

While dining in a private room at a restaurant, a tall figure pushed the door open.

“You need someone to carry your luggage? I’ll do it,” the man said.

“My cultivation is the Divine Roaming Broad Boundaries Qi-Blood Foundation technique. I run fast.”

The man stood nearly eight feet tall, his muscles perfectly toned, his Qi-Blood power nearly equivalent to five dragons.

“Uh…” Li Chengfu waved his hand, and a nearly ten-foot-tall illusory multicolored dragon-horse appeared.

“Hiss?”

The dragon-horse, grazing in the space, looked around confused.

“Six-dragon Qi-Blood power, bloodline grants illusionary camouflage, and speed is beyond doubt.”

While playing here, they had encountered others trying to forcibly join their team, but this was the first time someone wanted to be a luggage carrier—not easy to refuse.

“Well then, you’re the horse handler,” the man grinned.

The nearly ten-foot-high illusory dragon-horse lowered its head to the man with a look of disdain.

“The dragon-horse already recognizes me as master. I think it’s easier to command than you.”

The man glanced at the dragon-horse, then at Xu Chen.

“Give me a chance. My combat power is strong.”

“Is that so? If you can get close to me in a fight without me intervening, I’ll let you join,” Xu Chen said leisurely, sipping spiritual tea.

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“That’s a bit underestimating me.”

The man was about to step forward but suddenly felt the weight of a mountain on him; his foot couldn’t lift.

“I won’t…”

He unleashed his Qi-Blood power, and a faint dragon shadow appeared behind him.

Yet even so, his foot only lifted two inches.

“Sorry to disturb you,” the man said with difficulty, bowing slightly as the pressure vanished. He didn’t finish his phrase “trust” and left.

He departed, leaving the three to continue their meal. They were used to such interruptions.

Thus, the three happily spent half a month inside the ship’s small-world-like cabins.

The immense spiritual ship slowly docked at a seaside plaza, where all the Qi-Blood Realm disciples disembarked.

Upon stepping off, Xu Chen saw the seemingly endless plaza crowded with dozens of enormous celestial ships, each etched with the emblem of different continents.

“All Qi-Blood Realm practitioners participating in the Ancient Wilderness Battlefield, proceed to the Inquiry Valley. They will arrange lodging for you there,” the elder’s voice echoed in their ears.

Above a valley surrounded by mountains floated three golden characters, each a hundred feet tall, as if to ensure everyone could see them.

“Let’s go.”

The Qi-Blood cultivators from the celestial ship marched en masse toward Inquiry Valley.

Along the way, Xu Chen spotted Qi-Blood cultivators from other continents.

“Are all the strongest of humanity’s Qi-Blood Realm here?” Xu Chen marveled.

Though confident in his own strength, seeing the other teams, many members radiated a pressure that unsettled him.

Upon entering Inquiry Valley, Xu Chen and the others followed the voice’s guidance to their assigned rooms.

At Elder Shou’s request, their rooms were arranged in a row.

Inside Xu Chen’s room, a thumb-sized holographic little girl was introducing the Ancient Wilderness Holy Battlefield.

“The Ancient Wilderness Holy Battlefield was the battleground for Saint-level warriors of humanity’s past era.”

“The entire battlefield is a chaotic world composed of intersecting independent Dao paths, rendering the space highly unstable.”

“Any beings possessing spiritual or lawful power entering will be warped by the chaotic Dao paths.”

“Thus, only Qi-Blood Realm practitioners within a certain strength range can enter.”

“The environment inside is extremely harsh, even more perilous than the simulated Primeval Battlefield.”

“Within, you must not only endure the severe environment but also fend off hostile alien clans from the Sacred Spirit Heavenly Court.”

The hologram introduced this for two full hours, revealing many details Xu Chen had never known.

“Looks like our preparations were generally on target,” Xu Chen nodded after reviewing the information.

At that moment, a knock came at the door.

Opening it, Li Chengfu and Elder Shou entered.

“We still have half a month. I reviewed the latest intel from the artifact spirit, and no further preparations are needed,” Elder Shou said.

“This place connects to the Mortal Realm,” Li Chengfu added eagerly. “There’s a newly simulated Ancient Wilderness Battlefield. Want to go sharpen our skills there?”

“Just what I was thinking,” Xu Chen agreed.

The two returned to their rooms, where each had a small illusion array linking to the Mortal Realm.

Xu Chen entered and was transported to a plaza.

In the plaza’s center stood a giant portal inscribed with “Simulated Ancient Wilderness Battlefield.”

The three gathered and, along with many other Qi-Blood cultivators training there, stepped through the portal.

Above Illusion Valley, a floating island drifted high in the sky.

Jiang Beici stood at its edge, looking regretful.

“If I hadn’t been so hasty before, maybe I’d have caught this opportunity.”

Gazing at the boundless ocean connecting to the horizon, Jiang Beici suddenly thought of his good brother.

“Senior Moon God, is there anyone named Xu Chen here participating in the Ancient Wilderness Battlefield?” Jiang Beici asked abruptly.

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His good brother had an exceptional fighting talent and might also be taking part.

A woman dressed in a white gown, exuding an elegant aura, appeared.

“There are ninety-six named Xu Chen, three of whom come from your hometown Leizhou.”

A light screen appeared before Jiang Beici.

“Wow, he really came!” Jiang Beici’s surprise mixed with delight.

“In the Primeval Battlefield, his strength was rated at six to seven dragons’ Qi-Blood power, with extremely high combat potential.”

Seeing his brother’s profile, Jiang Beici smiled.

“Senior Moon God, what is my good brother doing now?” Jiang Beici asked, pointing at Xu Chen’s data on the screen.

“He is training in the simulated Ancient Wilderness Battlefield,” the Moon God replied.

“May I observe him?”

“Insufficient permissions.”

“Then remind me when he leaves the simulation.”

“Agreed.”

Inside the Mortal Realm’s simulated Ancient Wilderness Battlefield, the three adapted quickly.

Li Chengfu guided exploration, Elder Shou scouted, and Xu Chen took charge of combat.

Their coordination was impeccable.

Just as they relaxed briefly, Xu Chen’s body hair stood on end.

“Retreat!”

He suddenly drew the Ink Shadow Blade from his back and slashed diagonally upward toward Elder Shou.

The blade’s light seemed to pierce space itself, crashing into the void and exploding into a surge of true energy.

As Xu Chen shouted “Retreat,” Li Chengfu and Elder Shou were instantly pushed far away.

“Heh heh, didn’t expect you three little bugs to be so alert.”

A one-zhang-tall humanoid alien with shimmering black scales and a third eye on its forehead appeared before them.

Its heavy black claws gleamed ominously.

The slash from Xu Chen’s blade was blocked by those huge claws.

“At least eight dragons’ worth of power. You’d better fall back and protect yourselves.”

While speaking, Xu Chen swiftly pulled down the Celestial Azure Bow from his back and fired three arrows in quick succession toward the other two.

The wind-piercing arrows tore through the void and struck the heads of three hidden aliens preparing to ambush Li Chengfu and Elder Shou.

The three aliens fell before them.

Turning back, Xu Chen was already locked in battle with the remaining alien.

“A bit of skill, managing to pass through my web force, but that’s all.”

A ghostly dragon gate appeared behind Xu Chen, from which a giant whale seemed to leap as if jumping through the portal.

Xu Chen’s Qi-Blood power suddenly surged to the level of seven dragons and eight tigers.

“I wanted to spar with you a few more times to see your true strength.”

“Didn’t expect you to disappoint me so soon.”

With a flick of his Ink Shadow Blade, a web-like force spread instantly, enveloping the alien.

It pressed down like a thousand mountains weighing upon the foe.

This chapter ends here.

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