With their mission complete, Xiang Zhuang, Ji Bu, and the others left the Tang Dynasty world to continue their own tasks, leaving only An Jingsi to finish up the remaining tasks in this world.
Perhaps, years from now, the legendary story of An Jingsi single-handedly chasing down and killing an army of 100,000 or even 1 million will circulate.
Finally, the module integration is complete, and it's called... Enhanced Pesticide Module (Incomplete)!
Hao Jiu couldn't wait to open the function and saw that the module was still complete, except that it lost Summoner Spells and the ability to resurrect and become stronger!
In other words, the inexplicable dizzying lightning, the purification ability that could remove all negative statuses, the resurrection hot springs, and the ability to become stronger with each resurrection are all gone.
However, the summoning function is still available, including the top six heroes of the Sui and Tang Dynasties: Li Yuanba, Yuwen Chengdu, Pei Yuanqing, Xiong Kuohai, Wu Yunzhao, and Wu Tianxi. But Shi Jingsi, Li Cunxin, and others have disappeared.
However, there are still four slots in the summoning pool, which can accommodate four frequently used heroes, as well as five slots for temporary heroes. If a temporary hero cannot be promoted to a permanent position after being recruited, these temporary workers will disappear completely after the game ends.
Besides summoning supernatural powers, there was another function that made Hao Jiu laugh out loud: the resurrection function he had been hoping for!
This resurrection isn't about heroes reviving at a hot spring after death, but rather reviving on the spot. To be precise, it's achieved through the in-game item function of the pesticide module.
The money to buy in-game items can be obtained through killing. You will receive a certain amount of gold for each creature that is not part of your team that you kill. The stronger the creature you kill, the more gold you will receive. Gold can only be used to buy in-game items and has no other use.
The host and summoned heroes can purchase six pieces of equipment each game, one of which is a resurrection armor. This allows the hero to revive on the spot after death, up to twice per game, with a cooldown period in between. But this is enough for Hao Jiu.
The items that can revive are quite expensive, and this revival function is exactly what Hao Jiu wanted. It saves money, and besides, the Overlord won't die easily, so the revival ability is just in case.
The only thing I'm not entirely satisfied with is that the resurrection process with the resurrection armor is slow. The flash of golden light is like a reminder to the opponent that you're about to resurrect, making it easy to get hit again and die once more.
Of course, as long as you're not instantly killed, there's always a chance to escape. Having a chance to revive is better than nothing. What if the enemy can only fight once or is careless?
Besides the Resurrection Armor, other equipment in the game also has good attributes, such as the Thornmail which can reflect all physical damage, as well as equipment that enhances attack power and defense, and has penetration power and additional damage that ignore defense.
Most importantly, these in-game items are virtual equipment; you don't actually wear them. You simply get the attributes of the equipment.
However, since it's called an in-game item, it's not permanent. This feature is set up so that each game is a separate dimension, or if Hao Jiu is eliminated, the game naturally ends.
But this is absolutely impossible, because Hao Jiujie's system is incredibly stable.
Therefore, as long as the game world doesn't change, the in-game items will remain effective. Unfortunately, neither items nor coins can be carried over to the next game.
As a person, well, as a system, you can't be too greedy, right? Contentment brings happiness.
In short, Hao Jiu obtained a fantastic functional module in the late Tang Dynasty world, and the system star that should have risen in the future was nipped in the bud.
Putting everything else aside, if we further develop the pesticide's magical power, allowing the host and summoned heroes to use the hero skills within the pesticide, their combat power will skyrocket.
If we could catch a few more even more powerful heroes, that would be even better!
Unfortunately, that system no longer has that chance.
Hao Jiu now understands why this system became the mission objective: the awakening material for this supernatural power is gold coins, a massive amount of gold coins.
However, since gold coins cannot be accumulated across different planes, it is not surprising that this system would slaughter other planes in order to awaken supernatural powers.
In fact, Hao Jiu also has the urge to slaughter across planes. He doesn't need that many gold coins to buy equipment, but he also wants to try to awaken the supernatural power he stole.
Of course, "slaughter" doesn't mean killing all the creatures in the spirit world; killing just a little more should be enough.
After all, at least half of the hundred races in the Spirit Realm are mortal enemies of the human race, and cultivators are powerful and valuable. Killing a Core Formation level expert is enough to buy a piece of equipment.
That's right, those at the Core Formation stage are considered experts in the Spirit Realm. It's true that those who ascend from the lower realms are all at the Nascent Soul stage, but there are also many natives below the Nascent Soul stage in the Spirit Realm, and even some from mortal kingdoms.
Children born from the union of two cultivators may not necessarily possess spiritual roots. Over time, the number of weaklings in the spirit world increases, but the offspring of these weaklings may also possess spiritual roots.
In the spirit world, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage is much easier than in the lower realm. As long as one survives and doesn't die young, there's generally a chance.
However, after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, human cultivators in the Spirit Realm must serve in Tianyuan City, the gate of the human territory in the Spirit Realm.
The fact that the human race was able to gain a foothold in the Spirit Realm was thanks to the countless lives sacrificed by cultivators from Tianyuan City.
However, the day when humanity's suffering ends and happiness begins is not far off...
Chapter 487 Qing Yuanzi
The Spirit Realm, the Human Race, Tianyuan City.
"Fellow Daoist Potian, it's truly amazing how fate has brought us together to ascend to immortality and now we're neighbors. Hahaha..."
“Fellow Daoist Qing Yuanzi is absolutely right. Why don’t you come and sit at my place for a while? I happen to have a senior I’d like to introduce you to,” Shi Potian said with a smile.
"Oh? I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Potian to have elders in Tianyuan City. My apologies for my disrespect. I should go and pay my respects." Qing Yuanzi was dressed in green robes, with long flowing hair, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance.
That day, after Xiang Yu and Shi Potian ascended to the Spirit Realm together in another dimension, they encountered Qing Yuanzi, who had just ascended, at the reception array.
After Shi Potian asked, Hao Jiu was finally able to determine the name of this cultivation world: the prequel to Mortal Cultivation!
Hao Jiu had previously heard that the only Mahayana cultivator among the hundred races of the Spirit Realm and humans was named Mo Jianli, and he suspected that it was a story about a mortal cultivating to immortality. Now, another Qing Yuanzi has appeared, and he is even a Qing Yuanzi in the Nascent Soul stage.
This means that this plane was probably ten thousand years before Han Paopao appeared. At this time, the human race was also weak, but much better than before Mo Jianli advanced to the Mahayana stage. At least they did not have to depend on other races and were an independent race.
Speaking of Qing Yuanzi, he was also a senior in the Legend of Mortal Cultivation who gave Han Paopao a great deal of help and contributed a lot to the rise of the human race.
As the only Mahayana cultivator among the human race, Mo Jianli naturally could not act arbitrarily, so the task of promoting the prestige of the human race fell to a talented junior like Qing Yuanzi.
Qing Yuanzi traveled around the Spirit Realm and fought against many other races. Sword cultivators are already arrogant among their peers, and Qing Yuanzi was a powerful sword cultivator who was skilled in sword formations. He was not only invincible among human races of the same level, but he also often challenged other races of different levels and won. He made the name of the human race quite famous.
In the Spirit Realm, strength is revered. Since Qing Yuanzi is so powerful, outsiders will naturally feel that Mo Jianli, a Mahayana cultivator of the same human race, is also very strong, and thus give human cultivators more respect.
However, Qing Yuanzi will face increasing pressure. Not only will he have more and more enemies, but many dissatisfied people will also challenge him or even surround and kill him in retaliation.
Qing Yuanzi nearly perished under the siege of several powerful figures. His remnant soul failed to possess a Changyuan Clan cultivator, so he had to merge his soul with the cultivator's, becoming a new life form with the memories of both of them, and eventually cultivated to the Mahayana realm.
Now that he had encountered this legendary sword cultivator, Hao Jiu certainly wouldn't miss the opportunity. However, such individuals are usually very determined, and rashly attempting to bind him might not be successful.
If Qing Yuanzi mistakes the Shadow System for an extraterrestrial demon or a malevolent ghost attempting to possess him, that would be awkward. Therefore, some groundwork needs to be laid, such as having Shi Potian talk to him first, or finding a few opportunities to give him a warning.
All cultivators who ascend from the lower realms must serve in Tianyuan City for a period of time before they can leave, and Shi Potian and Qing Yuanzi are no exception.
Shi Potian was assigned to guard Tianyuan City, and because of his outstanding strength, he was promoted to squad leader, which gave him a cave dwelling territory with a radius of a hundred miles.
Qing Yuanzi's strength was naturally not weak either. He chose a cave dwelling that was slightly smaller in area but had a higher concentration of spiritual energy. It was next to Shi Potian's territory. However, cave dwellings are usually located in the center of a territory, so the two people's homes were nearly two hundred miles apart.
Of course, for cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage, a distance of two hundred miles is nothing; they can fly there in no time.
In addition, the divine sense of cultivators in the Nascent Soul Realm is also very powerful. A range of 500 miles is commonplace. Some cultivators have divine sense far exceeding that of others of the same level, so it is unknown how far they can probe.
Legend has it that the divine sense of a Mahayana cultivator can scan over 100,000 miles, easily covering the entire Earth.
However, the Spirit Realm is vast. Even if the human race occupies only a small corner, it is still tens of millions of times larger than the lower realm. Moreover, the cave dwellings prepared by Tianyuan City for the squad leaders are very humane, and there are protective arrays that can block ordinary divine sense detection.
If someone insists on using their divine sense to probe another person's cave, that's a blatant provocation. In this case, the protective array can also serve as a warning and defense.
Soon, Shi Potian and Qing Yuanzi arrived at his cave dwelling. There was a large array at the border of the territory, and there was a second array inside the cave dwelling, mainly to protect the privacy of cultivators.
After all, which person who can become a Nascent Soul expert doesn't have some secrets?
Honestly, unless there's a major event like an invasion by foreign enemies, being a soldier in Tianyuan City is pretty comfortable. At most, you might encounter small groups of enemies when you go out on patrol every month.
The furnishings in the cave were very simple, without any luxurious decorations. Once a cultivator reaches this level, they have already enjoyed all the entertainment options available in the modern world.
"Fellow Daoist Shi, when will that senior arrive?" Qing Yuanzi felt that Shi Potian's senior should be a great cultivator in the Void Refinement Realm, or even possibly in the late Void Refinement Realm.
Of course, if it's just a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, then they're still a senior, and they can always offer some advice to these newcomers from Tianyuan City. This meeting will definitely be worthwhile; they might even be given some treasures.
Shi Potian smiled slightly, slowly used a large formation to isolate the outside world, then stood up respectfully and solemnly said, "Uh, Little Stone, I humbly request the Overlord to show himself."
Qing Yuanzi's lips twitched violently. Just what generation was this senior? What was his cultivation level? Shi Potian actually called himself Little Stone, was that some kind of childhood nickname?
The interdimensional space opened, and Xiang Yu walked out, his gaze falling on Qing Yuanzi.
"Junior Qing Yuanzi greets Senior!" Qing Yuanzi's eyes widened. Foundation Establishment Realm? Absolutely impossible! With just that ability to tear through space, even ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators might not be able to do it.
It seems this senior is a ruthless character who enjoys playing dumb to deceive others. Just pretending to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Spirit Realm is too outrageous. How many people will he trick?
"No need for formalities, please sit down." Xiang Yu took in Qing Yuanzi's expression. Well, what could he do? He wasn't a cultivator of immortality, so he figured he should at least try harder.
"Yes," Qing Yuanzi replied, but still stood respectfully to the side.
After sitting down, Xiang Yu hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and took out an ancient-looking ring. "This is a protective magic weapon with a spirit. Consider it a gift for our first meeting."
"Thank you for the treasure, senior!" Qing Yuanzi was overjoyed and quickly accepted a ring, which was of high quality just by looking at it.
"Sigh~ We are all cultivators who ascended from the lower realms, so we should take care of each other." Xiang Yu said with a smile.
"Yes, yes, uh, may I ask, senior, what is the meaning of this binding?" Qing Yuanzi had just received it when he heard someone speaking to him in his mind. Could it be the spirit of the artifact?
"Oh? That means the artifact spirit has recognized you. It's incredibly beneficial. Hurry up and bind with it. If you anger the artifact spirit, this magical treasure will be ruined."
Xiang Yu said these words exactly as Hao Jiu had suggested, and he felt a little embarrassed, but he had no choice. It was too difficult to make the other party believe him without coaxing and deceiving him.
Qing Yuanzi narrowed his eyes. Fortune favors the bold. If he doubted Shi Potian and this senior, he shouldn't have come. Having such a powerful backer would bring him great benefits in the future.
I agree!
"Hahaha... Congratulations! From now on, we're colleagues!"
Shi Potian's words scared Qing Yuanzi half to death.
Oh no! We've fallen for their trap!
Chapter 488 Sword Formation
“Uh, Fellow Daoist Shi, aren’t we already colleagues? Haha.” Although Qing Yuanzi felt that the senior overlord in front of him was unfathomable, he had no intention of becoming someone’s subordinate.
Whether choosing sides or seeking refuge with a particular force, a leader's character and strength are equally important. If you only have strength but lack character, sooner or later even your own people will turn against you, and you may be devoured without leaving a trace.
Having good character but lacking strength is not enough. Being in a weaker faction means you'll suffer losses in both overt and covert struggles, making seeking protection pointless; at best, you can only band together for mutual support.
Before you understand the situation, it's best not to take sides; at least you'll have more freedom.
However, just as Qing Yuanzi agreed to the binding, Shi Potian said those words. Could it be that what was just bound was not some kind of artifact spirit, but some kind of powerful restriction?
Qing Yuanzi couldn't understand at all. He was a junior who had just reached the Nascent Soul stage, and it was the first time he had met this senior. What did he have that made him worthy of such treatment?
However, he found nothing wrong after investigating. This situation could mean that there was nothing wrong, or that the other party's restriction was too sophisticated for him to detect, let alone remove.
“That’s different. Before, we were just colleagues in the Tianyuan City Guard, but now we’re all under the Overlord’s command. You’ve made a very correct decision,” Shi Potian said with a smile.
"Oh? Could it be that there are many factions within Tianyuan City, and Senior Overlord is one of them? But I've never heard of Senior Overlord's reputation before," Qing Yuanzi asked in confusion.
If it were truly just a factional dispute, joining a faction wouldn't be a problem. However, the human race is inherently weak in the spirit realm, and a lack of unity would lead to a worrying future. Moreover, the human race only has one Mahayana cultivator, whose position is simply unshakeable.
"I don't know if the human race has factions, but I do know that the future ruler of this world, the master of all races in the spirit realm, will definitely be a tyrant," Shi Potian said proudly.