Chapter 109.2: The Plan To Annihilate Bright Palace

In the real world, at the Divine Radiance Sect, Qi Yuan opened his eyes.

One day outside was ten years in the game. He'd slaughtered entire armies there, but in reality, only two days had passed.

"Mid-stage Foundation Establishment already?" He grinned smugly. "I knew it, leveling in-game really is faster. Doing this in real life would've taken years. At this level, I could probably one-hit-kill a mid-stage Nascent Soul."

However, he remembered the Bright Palace's Hundred Nations Blood War and sighed. "Damn that Bright Palace! With Yin Spirit's weapon fragment, they can replicate a Yin Spirit’s divine strike. And me? I'm still miles away from that realm."

Despite being strong enough to kill late-stage Nascent Souls, he stood no chance against a Violet Palace expert, let alone a Yin Spirit.

"Senior Brother, you're awake?" Jiang Lingsu's clear, ethereal voice drifted over.

"

Mhm

. What's wrong, Junior Sister?" Qi Yuan cleansed himself with a spell[1] and stepped out of his cabin.

At the same time, Jiang Lingsu emerged from her room. A faint trace of melancholy softened her beautiful visage. She was dressed in a pale green gown embroidered with orchids, and perhaps because she had hurried over, her graceful figure swayed slightly with each step. Even though the gown was purposefully a size bigger, it still couldn't hide her delicate, shapely form.

When Qi Yuan saw his junior sister, an indecent image flashed through his mind, one conjured by the lingering influence of demonic energy from the game.

His gaze dropped briefly to her legs, hidden beneath a skirt so long that not even her fair ankles were visible. Now that he thought about it, he'd never even seen his junior sister's legs before. Whatever had appeared in his mind just now was obviously nothing but illusion.

"Senior Brother?" she asked, noticing his odd expression.

"It's nothing. You came running, did something happen?"

"It could be called something big... or not." She exhaled softly, her tone growing sharper with anger. "Two days ago, emissaries from the Bright Palace disrupted Prince Dong Xian's coronation. One of their Nascent Soul cultivators demanded that Great Shang hand over you and Kang Fulu within seven days. Otherwise, Great Shang will be branded as part of the demonic faction in the coming Hundred Nations Blood War. We would be open to slaughter by every allied realm!"

"They didn't hand me over, did they?" Qi Yuan asked immediately.

She gave him a teasing look. "What do you think? Great Shang stands under the Divine Radiance Sect's protection. Of course not."

He sighed with relief, then frowned. "But that means the Bright Palace has added my name into their little blacklist..."

It was the only logical conclusion since they had demanded for him to be handed over.

"Exactly." Jiang Lingsu licked her lips. "Afraid, Senior Brother? I suggest you go plead with Master. With her strength, she might make the Bright Palace back off."

Even now, Jiang Lingsu still wanted to know.

Is Ruan Yixi the one I've been searching for? Or is it someone else entirely?

Qi Yuan glanced toward the Seven-Color Peak, which was half-hidden in clouds and mist.

"I'd love to see her, but I can't go up the mountain," he said quietly, then his voice hardened. "Still, curse that Bright Palace! I was generous enough not to put them in my own little grudge notebook, yet they went and put me on theirs first. Fine. I'll write them down. Every day, I'll look at their name and remember this insult!"

He actually pulled a small notebook from his bag and scrawled Bright Palace onto the first page.

"Writing it down won't help. What, going to curse them to death[2]?" Jiang Lingsu just sighed. "Also... rumor has it that while our sect stands firm, other sects under Great Shang aren't so loyal. The Demonic Desire Sect's cultivators were seen secretly meeting with that Bright Palace envoy. You should be careful."

"What?! Even if they might betray us?" Qi Yuan was stunned.

The news wasn’t so comforting, especially when he knew that their sect master was a Demonic Desire spy. It made him realize that staying on the mountain wasn't exactly safe. What if someone decided to sell him out?

He would never place his own safety in the hands of another's mercy. Then, suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Junior Sister, what if I kill that Bright Palace envoy first? Then Great Shang won't have to hand me over!"

"That envoy's a Nascent Soul expert, a cultivator with divine techniques! Even if you have the Heavenly Dao class, you're just a Foundation Establishment cultivator!" Jiang Lingsu scolded.

"Never mind that. Just answer me, doesn't my logic make sense?

She hesitated. Against her better judgment, it did make a strange kind of sense. Still, who in their right mind would do something like that? Even the line of thought was insane.

It's like... like...

Jiang Lingsu couldn't even keep up with that train of thought. She simply had no words.

"But that would mean completely offending the Bright Palace," she said finally.

"Good. As long as it makes sense," Qi Yuan murmured, retreating into his cabin with a grave expression.

His expression was grave, as though saddled with a deep, bitter grudge. The Bright Palace. Just the name alone pressed down on him like a mountain. He was strategizing, formulating the perfect plan.

After about fifteen minutes, a grand scheme finally took shape. Qi Yuan felt quite proud of himself.

He opened the chat group for the Divine Flower Society and uploaded his plan.

Qiyuann Sovereign: Everyone, in response to the threat from the Bright Palace, I've devised an ambitious plan. You're all bigshots, take a look and tell me if there's anything I can refine. Or, you know, maybe sponsor me a little.

It didn't take long before someone replied.

Rogue Immortal: Qiyuann Sovereign truly lives up to the title, already thinking of wiping out the Bright Palace,

eh

? Let's see what kind of plan this is.

The first to speak, as always, was the chronically online Rogue Immortal. He opened the file Qi Yuan had uploaded.

A few bold characters filled the screen,

One Hundred Days to Annihilate the Bright Palace.

Simple. Direct. Almost offensively so. Rogue Immortal blinked, baffled, but still clicked in. He completely lost it when he read the contents.

Day 1: Ambush and slay the Bright Palace envoy (early-stage Nascent Soul).

Difficulty: ★

Days 2-4: Perfect mid-stage Foundation Establishment techniques.

Difficulty: ★★

Days 5-7: Cultivate from mid-stage to late-stage Foundation Establishment realm.

Difficulty: ★

Days 8-20: Form an Immortal Core.

Difficulty: ★★★

...

Rogue Immortal choked.

Rogue Immortal:

Ahem...

Qiyuann Sovereign, this is... quite the unique plan.

That was the only polite word he could find.

Good heavens, what is this, a cultivation buffet? Advancing realms like drinking water? Even if heaven itself were your father, this is pushing it! And forming an Immortal Core in twelve days? Absurd!

Qi Yuan, however, typed his reply rather proudly.

Qiyuann Sovereign: This plan has been in the works for a long time. I even fine-tuned the details and added completion difficulties. You could say it's flawless.

Rogue Immortal Sovereign was speechless.

Flawless? As if, this is just delusional!

Just then, another member popped up, Iceberg Empress.

Iceberg Empress:

Oh?

Let me take a look at Qiyuann Sovereign's plan

Rogue Immortal smirked inwardly. Perfect

.

He didn't want to criticize Qi Yuan directly, but once the Iceberg Empress saw this nonsense, she'd definitely tear it apart.

Ten seconds later, her message appeared.

Iceberg Empress:

Wow

, this Hundred-Day Plan is simple, clear, and magnificently bold! I especially admire how detailed it is, listing what to do and how difficult each step is. So thoughtful!

Qi Yuan beamed.

Qiyuann Sovereign: That's my favorite part too!

His proudest detail had been recognized, how satisfying!

Rogue Immortal was speechless.

Qi Yuan continued, full of enthusiasm.

Qiyuann Sovereign: Does anyone have resources to support my plan? Once I annihilate the Bright Palace, I'll make sure to repay you all! Especially cultivation manuals, I need to perfect my techniques to the late stage Foundation Establishment, maybe even Golden Core!

Rogue Immortal weakly typed his reply.

Rogue Immortal: I... can donate one spirit stone.

The Iceberg Empress chimed in immediately.

Iceberg Empress: I've got plenty of techniques. Just slaughtered a few brats and got five Profound-tier manuals, one of which is top-grade. I'll send them to you.

Qi Yuan was nearly moved to tears.

There really are good people in this world!

1. E/N: Gamers don't shower, they just smell good ☜

2. Oo peak Death Note energy. ☜