Calamity of Tomorrow

Xiao Hun was one of the seven righteous sons of Ming Yue the Immortal, who, from a young prodigy to cultivating to the 7th realm, had become a high-level power among human cultivators. He had gone through countless trials and cultivation practices.

From an ordinary child to a student of the Dao School, then to the Daoist institute of Central City, and finally a cultivator on Wanxian Island, he had come to a conclusion from these experiences.

That was, as long as you always consider those weaker than yourself as your opponents, you can keep on winning. Never make enemies with those stronger than yourself, for then you would not lose.

As long as you always follow someone stronger, you will always stand on the winning side.

Just like after entering the Dao School, he was the friend of the top student of the special training class.

After entering the Daoist institute of Central City, he became friends with the sons of immortals.

Once he ingratiated himself into their circle, he schemed with all his might to become a disciple of Ming Yue the Immortal.

To be an enemy of the weak and a friend of the strong, this was Xiao Hun's life credo.

At this moment, grasping the Nine Realms Flying Sword in his hand, he knew as someone in the seventh realm, he was definitely stronger than an unowned Nine Realms Flying Sword. And obtaining this sword, whether he kept it for himself or presented it, would be an enormous accomplishment; even if this mission hadn't been completed, it would not matter.

Holding the flying sword, Xiao Hun flickered through the air, each flicker transporting him hundreds of meters away in an instant. In almost a single breath, he had already reached the ground thousands of meters away.

Zhou Bai felt every flicker, his body as if entering the depths of the sea; the surrounding air, the space itself seemed to change completely, as if all matter and even space had turned ethereal, ready to pass through at any moment.

"Could it be the ability of Instantaneous Movement?" Zhou Bai marveled inwardly, "Is this a powerful Daoist art, or the ability of some divine diagram?"

As Xiao Hun landed back on the ground, companions immediately approached him, and one female student, surprised, asked, "Is this the Nine Realms Flying Sword?"

Xiao Hun nodded, "Indeed, this fellow is incredibly fast. If my master hadn't taught me the Void Escape Technique, I probably wouldn't have been able to catch it."

The others also crowded around with curiosity and delight, eager to see what the flying sword of the ninth realm looked like.

Zhou Bai didn't rush to contend with the other party or escape, for in the instant he had been brought down, he had already thought of at least seven methods to flee. Now, he was pondering the origins of the people before him.

Thus, observing the crowd drawing near, he spoke with his Primordial Spirit to vibrate the air, "Who are you? Why are you here? Are you also people from the Plague Department?"

"An Artifact Spirit? And seemingly quite intelligent," Xiao Hun remarked upon hearing this. "You must be the Artifact Spirit of this flying sword, right? Have you encountered the forces of the Plague Department?"

Zhou Bai replied, "Yes, I have. I even escorted them to a secret base. They said they were looking for something. Are you also headed there?"

Upon hearing this, the others exclaimed, "Senior Brother, the forces of the Plague Department have already found that laboratory. We should hurry as well, or someone else will beat us to it."

Xiao Hun shook his head, "Don't worry. Even if they've found it, it won't be so easy to enter. The laboratories from 50 years ago all have very strong Arrays protecting them. By now, either the Arrays are still functioning or have become distorted. Either way, they are not easy to penetrate."

Zhou Bai asked with an innocent tone, "So you are not part of the Plague Department's forces? Then where are you from? Why would you want to compete with the Plague Department for items?"

Xiao Hun, looking at the flying sword in his hand, thought to himself, "Although this Artifact Spirit seems intelligent, it is, after all, just an Artifact Spirit, with rather straightforward thoughts, saying whatever comes to mind... Perhaps I can use this to deceive it?"

Thus, Xiao Hun said, "What if I tell you, would you be willing to let me refine you?" Internally, he added, 'If I tried to force the refining process, it would require some effort. If I can deceive this Artifact Spirit into willingly submitting, that would be ideal.'

Continuing with an innocent voice, Zhou Bai answered, "That depends on whether you can meet my requirements." Privately, he thought, 'This fellow wants to subdue me? Hmph, just watch me extract all his information.'

Xiao Hun: "Demands? What demands?"

Zhou Bai thought to himself, 'I need to imitate a fool's voice to talk to him, let me think...' A fluffy head that he was all too familiar with suddenly appeared in his mind.

So he said in a tone laced with a hint of pride and innocence, "Since my birth, the Sword Holder of my Slaughter Sword has always been peerless among the heavens and earth, and even if slightly lacking in cultivation, the talent has to be the pinnacle of the world, no less.

I've heard that in the human world nowadays, there's a genius named Zhou Bai making a powerful rise, with such exceptional and rare talent for cultivation that it's almost unheard of, not to mention his handsome appearance and noble character.

He truly is the best in terms of demeanor, aptitude, and morality, with no match to be found in the five hundred years before him, and probably none to appear in the five hundred years after him.

I've awoken this time just to find this Zhou Bai, to pass on the master's Daoist lineage. How does your talent compare to Zhou Bai's?"

"Daoist lineage? It seems this Flying Sword is more valuable than I thought. Haha, what a pity it's so naive, sounds so foolish too, spilling everything. Let's see how I swindle you." Xiao Hun mused internally, and then openly remarked, "Zhou Bai? Just a mere clown jumping on the stage.

The true elites of humanity are never within the Four Great Taoist Schools. Because all the real elites are poached by the Heavenly Court once they show their talent in the Dao School. This Zhou Bai is only making waves now because the geniuses of the Heavenly Court haven't made their move yet. You don't believe me? Just ask them."

The few cultivators around, also from Central City, shared Xiao Hun's opinion and nodded in agreement when they heard his words.

Zhou Bai innocently said, "But I heard that an Immortal from the Heavenly Court wanted to take this Zhou Bai back with him, but Zhou Bai, with his proud nature, refused to be subordinate to others."

Xiao Hun: "That's not pride, that's stupidity. Not to hide it from you, it was the Immortal Ming Yue who wanted to take that Zhou Bai as a disciple. And I am Ming Yue Immortal's fifth Direct Disciple. Just like the talent favored by my master, my gift is not weaker than that Zhou Bai's. I am now at the 7th Realm, and Zhou Bai is only at the 3rd Realm."

Xiao Hun: "By the time he wants to catch up to my cultivation level, who knows how long it'll take. And by the time he reaches the 7th Realm, I might already be at the 9th Realm."

Zhou Bai naively added, "But disciples of the same master don't necessarily share the same talent. Plus, look at you, being sent to the Heavenly Demon's territory on such a dangerous mission; your master certainly doesn't value you that much."

Xiao Hun: "That's not the case. The reason why my master sent me on this mission is not that they don't value me, but because the mission is of great importance. It's precisely because of my talent that my master entrusted me with such a perilous task."

"Really? Is that so?" Zhou Bai asked, "Just how important is this mission?"

Xiao Hun froze for a moment, his brow furrowed, a slight hesitation flickering in his eyes.

But considering the weapon before him was an unowned Flying Sword, already suppressed by his grasp, he lowered his guard and said, "If I prove to you the importance of this mission, would you allow me to refine it and help me complete the task? Don't worry, if you ever feel I'm not the right person for you, you are free to leave to look for that Zhou Bai at any time. I definitely won't stop you."

Zhou Bai controlled his tone, "Okay, okay!"

Zhou Bai chuckled internally, 'This fool took the bait.'

Xiao Hun secretly gloated in his heart, 'An Artifact Spirit is still just an Artifact Spirit, once I've really refined you, how could I possibly let you go?'

----

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