Thanks to My Enemy, I Become Immortal Emperor - Chapter 60

The city lord of Jing Shui City gazed in disbelief at the fallen Imperial Guards.

“How could their deaths mimic those caused by my pressure?” he wondered, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his thoughts.

Adding to his astonishment was the realization that the little thief seemed to have ignored his Nascent Soul pressure entirely. A Foundation Establishment cultivator dismissing a Nascent Soul’s pressure was unheard of, bordering on the fantastical.

“Could he be in possession of some extraordinary treasure?” the city lord pondered, growing increasingly convinced of this possibility. Simultaneously, his eyes gleamed with greed.

“No wonder he dared to stir trouble in Stillwater City!” he muttered. “But regardless of who he is, causing chaos on my territory means certain death!” With renewed determination, the city lord commanded, “Guards, conduct a thorough investigation and uncover the identity of this troublemaker!”

“Yes, sir!” The secret guards swiftly acknowledged the order and set off to commence their investigation.

Liu Shunyi remained hidden for two more days before stealthily re-entering Qinglian Sect. Upon his return, he switched to a new puppet body and subtly adjusted his displayed realm to the peak of Qi Refining Ninth Layer. Given the abundance of Medicine Pills and resources from Hidden Sword Peak, coupled with the extended period of secluded cultivation, it would have been suspicious if his cultivation base showed no advancement. However, he couldn’t progress too rapidly either, as his innate aptitude set certain limitations. At the very least, his true identity’s persona must remain concealed.

To others, Liu Shunyi appeared as a kindly old man with some alchemy talent. On this uneventful day, he lounged in his small courtyard, basking in the sun, finally feeling less urgency. The Grand Dao Golden Book had accumulated enough names, and what surprised him most was the addition of one particular entry: “Lin Wu Dao (Top Grade Orange).”

“Holy shit, Top Grade Orange!” he exclaimed to himself. Apart from that, “Chen Dahai, Cao Linyuan, Lu Cheng” were all marked as Top Grade Pink. Yet strangely, the Grand Dao Golden Book also included another line: “Jing Shui City Disorganized Mob (Orange, Mid-Grade!).”

“Well, these folks don’t even deserve individual names!” he mused. As he studied it closely, he noticed something intriguing: it seemed that only individuals with unique qualities could have their names inscribed in the Grand Dao Golden Book; otherwise, they were categorized as part of the disorganized mob.

Nevertheless, there was no need to delve deeper. For now, he had nothing immediate to worry about. Having been busy for so long, it was time to take a well-deserved rest.

Three days swiftly passed. Originally, it was meant to be Zhao Gou’s victory celebration feast, but the Qinglian Sect postponed it. A somber atmosphere pervaded throughout, with even Hidden Sword Peak preparing diligently, their faces filled with seriousness. Liu Shunyi casually approached a disciple and asked, “What is happening?”

Initially, the disciple seemed annoyed, but upon recognizing Liu Shunyi, his demeanor instantly shifted to one of respect. Everyone on Hidden Sword Peak knew well that despite Senior Brother Liu’s modest cultivation base, he was a Third Rank Alchemist—akin to their provider for sustenance and necessities.

Naturally, this information had not spread widely due to Ji Suying’s strict orders. Anyone revealing details about Liu Shunyi risked certain death, without exception. Nevertheless, most within Hidden Sword Peak were aware of this secret. Upon seeing Liu Shunyi inquire, the disciple hastily bowed in greeting.

“It’s like this, Senior Brother Liu,” the disciple began. “The other sects were already planning to attack the Heavenly God Cult, but it has always been challenging due to two key figures: Nalang Buzhu and Grandma Fengya. Their abilities are incredibly peculiar.”

“With those two present, attacking the Heavenly God Cult would be highly risky. Although we might win, it would undoubtedly result in severe casualties. However, just a few days ago, they seemed to have engaged in an internal conflict and both perished. Now is the perfect opportunity to strike against the Heavenly God Cult.”

Liu Shunyi’s expression turned grave. “This signals the onset of a major sect war!”

The disciple nodded affirmatively. Liu Shunyi promptly rewarded the disciple with a bottle of Qi Recovery Pills. Gratefully acknowledging the gift, the disciple expressed his thanks.

Taking a moment to ponder, Liu Shunyi then retreated to his room and began sharpening his sword. “This is fortuitous. I can use this chance to reveal my true identity’s cultivation technique and signature moves, creating a stark contrast with my other persona! It will ensure no connections are drawn between them!”

Just then, another disciple approached to report. “Senior Brother Liu, Senior Sister said as Hidden Sword Peak’s Alchemist, you are not required to participate in this battle!”

Taken aback for a moment, Liu Shunyi nodded. “Understood, thank you for informing me!” The disciple bowed again before departing. As Liu Shunyi watched the bustling disciples, he fell silent, contemplating the situation.

On that fateful day, all preparations for the sect were complete. A howling sound echoed through the air, and soon after, Liu Shunyi witnessed nearly ten flying boats slowly ascending into the sky. Each vessel was led by an elder, including Elder Zhao Gou, who stood before his ship with a pale complexion. Upon closer inspection, Liu Shunyi noticed Zhao Gou’s body trembling slightly.

Feeling awkward, Liu Shunyi rubbed his nose and silently said to himself, “I’m truly sorry, Zhao Gou!” After some thought, Liu Shunyi took out a jade token and composed a message, requesting Ji Suying to look after Zhao Gou if possible. Ji Suying did not reply directly but subtly nodded her understanding from aboard the flying boat. Liu Shunyi didn’t say more, simply watching as they departed.

Time swiftly passed, another half-month gone. During this period, Liu Shunyi focused on the Grand Dao Golden Book, turning to Shi Changxin’s name page. He dedicated himself to relentless cultivation. With the aid of countless Heaven and Earth Treasures, his cultivation base rapidly advanced.

Currently, his dantian overflowed with immense spiritual power, which he continuously compressed. By condensing the spiritual energy, solidifying it, and then fusing it together, he aimed to form a Golden Core. At present, Liu Shunyi had already condensed half of his spiritual energy. It wasn’t due to slow progress but rather because within Ji Suying’s cultivation insights, there was a concept of refining spiritual energy.

The purer the refined spiritual energy, the more powerful the resulting Golden Core would be. As for how thoroughly one should refine the spiritual energy, the cultivation guide simply stated: “Refine until the spiritual energy gleams like the stars.” Thus, Liu Shunyi persistently continued refining his spiritual energy.

However, the cultivation guide’s advice proved accurate. Following its method for refinement, although only half of his spiritual energy had been condensed, the sheer magnitude of that condensed power felt incredibly potent. Exactly how strong it was, Liu Shunyi couldn’t say, but it undoubtedly held great power and potential danger. Even during the refining process alone, his body suffered countless injuries. Without the Grand Dao Golden Book, Liu Shunyi would never have dared to attempt such a technique, not even under threat of death.