Chapter Thirty-Two: The Nine Provinces

Unlike Su Daji and the others, who were uneasy and suspicious, the newcomers—except for the white-robed man standing proudly in midair—regarded Su Daji’s group with appreciative eyes, as if examining valuable goods.

Su Daji, a woman who had never given herself to any man despite drifting among many, felt her anxiety dissolve upon realizing the others bore no hostility. Aside from a woman whose eyes gleamed with delight, the rest were men, old and young. She stepped forward and bowed delicately, her frailty belying her resolve. “On behalf of my companions, I thank all you heroes for your timely assistance.”

Laughter rang out from the crowd opposite. A man clad in tight black attire turned to the woman beside him and said, “What a natural charm. It seems that within a hundred years, your Miao Yin clan will produce another peerless king among men.”

The woman smiled knowingly and nodded at Su Daji. “Indeed, a promising seedling. I wonder how long she’s been practicing. You see, a woman skilled in the art of allure reveals no age on the surface.”

A short man from the Kongkong Sect seized the moment to interject, “Every time we take the sect’s assessment, we climb the Talent Ladder once. We’ll soon know.”

Su Daji bristled at the cold dismissal but held her tongue. These people carried an aura of unfathomable depth; it was best to stay prudent unless forced otherwise.

The white-robed man who hovered above, displeased by the trivial talk among the sect representatives below, snorted coldly. Then, casting a discerning gaze over Su Daji’s group, he emitted a note of surprise.

In a flash of white light, the sword-riding man appeared beside Zhang Shufang.

He grasped Zhang Shufang’s hand, his eyes shining as he stared deeply into hers.

Startled, Zhang Shufang struggled briefly but to no avail.

After a moment, the man seemed to find the answer he sought within her gaze. His confusion deepened, then he released her hand and laughed maniacally. “A born Everlasting Realm!”

The crowd exchanged looks of astonishment and wonder, turning their eyes to Zhang Shufang. Her eyes revealed a yin-yang symbol and a small sword, as if both were about to burst from her pupils.

“Yin and Yang,” they murmured in sudden understanding, then cast envious glances at the white-robed youth.

Yin and Yang correspond to life and death. Since ancient times, the death realm within the Everlasting Realm has been the most profound and mysterious. Failure to break through meant certain death.

Thus, among the billions of practitioners across Jiuzhou, only a fraction—roughly one in ten thousand—could reach the life realm of Everlasting. If it weren’t for the small sword in Zhang Shufang’s eyes, a fierce competition might have already erupted.

Gradually, the origin within Zhang Shufang’s eyes faded, her expression turning puzzled.

The white-robed youth seemed impatient to delay no longer. Casting a disdainful glance at the corpses on the ground, he said, “The death warriors from other cities grow increasingly reckless. The candidates for our Jiumai Sword Sect are set. I’ll take her to the Talent Ladder first.”

Before anyone could object, and without asking Zhang Shufang’s consent, the white-robed youth took her hand. With a gesture, a flash of light, the sword under his control flew away with them.

“The Sixth Sword Brother is bound to gain great fortune this time—a quasi-Everlasting without a demonic staff. Becoming a King among Men is guaranteed,” the woman smiled, her true feelings unreadable. She flicked the ends of her flowing dark hair and said casually, “The trials for entry into Wudi City are nearly over. Three days are enough. Even the weak who survive must have some means. From now on, guard the Talent Ladder well. Don’t let the death warriors from other cities take advantage.”

Those accompanying the lady bowed respectfully. “We entrust everything to Lady Kuang’s judgment.”

“Very well…” Lady Kuang turned her attention to Su Daji and spoke softly, “No matter which small world you hail from, now that you’ve passed the trial, you are henceforth part of Wudi City. Except for those with distinct sect traits who need not be assessed, which sect you may join depends on your own fate.”

After speaking, Lady Kuang waved her hand, and countless petals swirled to form a gigantic floral boat out of thin air. She beckoned to Su Daji, then nodded to the others. The group ascended the flower boat.

As the boat rose and departed, wild beasts suddenly emerged and devoured the corpses, leaving not even a bone fragment behind. Only the blood-red earth remained slightly viscous, as if nothing had transpired.

The forest stretched for miles, its soil tainted blood-red rather than its original yellow, as rumor had it.

Fan Caobao kicked aside a man blocking his path. Then, bending low, he swung his staff in one smooth motion. The man was sent flying and landed dead before touching the ground—no breath, no head—utterly beyond revival.

Having dealt with his adversary, Fan Caobao looked at Chen Hongxu, a newcomer to him, feeling a slight tremor of unease. Swallowing nervously, he asked, “Brother Chen, how are you?”

Chen Hongxu slowly opened his eyes, flinging away the man he’d been choking midair. Coldly, he said, “So it’s Wudi City…”

“Brother Chen, you look terrifying,” Fan Caobao said bravely. “Wudi City? Isn’t that near the Yangtze Three Gorges? Wow, that space even has portals like Doraemon’s?”

Chen Hongxu shuddered, vaguely sensing something wrong—not sure if it was from instinct in reaction to the images in his mind or something else. He pushed the thought aside and smiled. “Caobao, do you think I’d ever harm you?”

Fan Caobao rolled his eyes, uninterested in responding.

Chen Hongxu smiled knowingly, putting his arm around Fan Caobao as they moved forward. “This place is no longer our world. Don’t glare like you’ve seen a ghost. Listen carefully.

“This world is called Jiuzhou, named so because it is divided into nine regions—one city per region, each ruled by an emperor or a king.

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