Chapter 00259: Losing the Lady and Breaking the Troops (Thanks to SSR Abyss Blaze’s Guild Leader)
# Losing the Lady and Breaking the Troops (Thanks to SSR Abyss Blaze’s Guild Leader)
Chapter 259
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 259: Losing the Lady and Breaking the Troops (Thanks to SSR Abyss Blaze’s Guild Leader)
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chong only sneered coldly and handed over the long sword.
He wasn’t afraid that his little hands would get dirty again; rather, he was waiting for him to try to steal this sword right before his eyes—if I stay silent, you’ll get to taste how severe the Heavenly Tribunal can be!
Unfortunately, this time, Ji Jue’s hands and feet were clean to an extreme.
He handled it cautiously, like walking on thin ice.
With a clear clang, a faint resonance stirred the void, and faint lights shimmered in the shadows.
Out of the emptiness, a brilliant radiant light leapt forth, agile as a flying bird.
The long sword was blunt, rugged and heavy; along its spine, threads of dark ink swirled and wrapped around the blade like mist—ethereal and unreal.
Countless illusory scenes flickered and vanished, impossible to discern clearly.
But in a glimpse, one could see heaven shattering and earth cracking.
The hilt measured five inches, the blade three feet long, weighing nine liang and twelve qian (about three catties).
Its length and weight were exceptional, worthy of high praise.
The moment it was grasped, the record from the 《Theory of Sword Correspondence》 that Professor Ye once tossed to him suddenly appeared in his mind.
His fingers swept the spine of the sword and immediately felt the imposing grandeur sealed within.
The upper three and lower six, the complete cycle of the universe with its heavens above and underworld below, contained the essence of the twelve supreme virtues—without a single flaw.
Within, a clear and concise sequence of spiritual essences fused perfectly without defect.
At the core was the Heavenly Origin Dao, governing the Ether, Mirrors, and Ruins.
Every blessing invoked was a rare and precious grace in the world: the Heavenly Origin’s 【Charted Incantation】; the Ether’s 【Ultimate Knowledge of Past and Future】; the Mirror’s 【Phantom Illusions】; the Ruins’s【Transformations of the Mundane】.
More importantly, after linking through the complete cycle, under Zhou Chong’s keen tuning, it formed a rare blessing chain that even Ji Jue had never before heard of.
Ji Jue’s eyelids twitched as he raised his head and looked at Zhou Chong. “Such a masterpiece, congratulations, Master Zhou. Another golden ribbon added to your name.”
Zhou Chong merely stroked his beard with a proud sneer, offering no reply.
Did you really need me to say it?
Wasn’t it for this very moment you wanted a glimpse?
Over all these years, countless people had exhausted their minds and families without making such breakthrough discoveries from old records.
Now, every new blessing chain born was headline news for the Association.
The fame it brought could launch any craftsman to overnight stardom, draped in glory.
Aside from how it advanced one’s standing within the Association and the clout it granted in factions, just the patent fees for forty years could let Zhou Chong retire comfortably, counting money until his hands cramped.
Who hasn’t worked silently all these years for that one day to suddenly shock everyone?
Thinking of the expression on Ye Xian’s face when he learned this news from his student, Zhou Chong couldn’t help but want to laugh out loud to the heavens.
All the frustration from being targeted so harshly seven years ago at the report meeting instantly dissipated.
Thirty years on the east of the river, thirty years on the west.
Never underestimate the old when they fall on hard times!
Just as he was about to speak, he heard the amazed murmurs beside him.
“I see, I see.”
Turning his head, his eyes almost bugged out.
In Ji Jue’s hands, that proud and fierce blessing long sword that would never submit to others was wielded like an extension of his arm, spiritual essence flowing along it, the sword’s ringing echoing constantly.
Just a casual swing left an ink mark lingering in the void, sharp and relentless.
Not only that, even the sleeping blessings he summoned to circulate and adjust; a wisp of dreamlike mist diffused from the void severed by the blade.
In the blink of an eye, everything in the room seemed to plunge into a fiery forge once again.
The raging heat spread, scorching the soul.
But just as quickly, all vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed!
“I understand now,” Ji Jue sighed softly.
Although limited by his own power and unable to unleash its true might, within mere moments, he had already penetrated the composition and principles of the blessing chain through the spiritual essence’s transformation.
“Impressive, truly impressive!”
“The Charted Incantation strengthens Heavenly Origin’s control; Ultimate Knowledge of Past and Future enhances perception for detailed insight; Phantom Illusions replaces reality; Transformations of the Mundane energizes matter to adapt to changes... Most importantly, the numerous records etched into the sword’s forging serve as a natural blueprint! With Tong Shan’s activation, one can recreate natural disasters on a psychic foundation, approaching the devastation of history without limit, while using Charted Incantation and Phantom Illusions to protect oneself from harm. The four intertwine perfectly—an absolute match!”
You damn bastard...
Zhou Chong’s hand tightened involuntarily, breaking a beard whisker without noticing; his eyelids twitched wildly: Those were my words! My cool-sounding lines!
Where in the world did you find the manual?
I haven’t written it yet!
Seeing his brand-new creation fall into Ji Jue’s hands and be instantly activated with no resistance, acting as submissive as a pet, and then having his carefully crafted blessing chain’s principles completely deciphered in moments...
He was already breaking down, sweating bullets.
Damn it, that bastard...
Could he be like Ye Xian, scheming at home to write papers to screw me over?
If my headline hasn’t even come out, yet Ji Jue steals all the related papers...
I haven’t even eaten the meat, and the soup’s already been drunk!
The more Ji Jue praised and analyzed, the more nervous and uneasy Zhou Chong became.
When Ji Jue finished enthusiastically, still not satisfied and holding the sword, he said, “I think this blessing chain spans four systems, taking the essence of Heavenly Origin and Ether — now all that’s missing is a good name. How about…”
“…Heaven and Earth Are Heartless!”
Losing the chance to show off was one thing, but now it looked like even naming rights would be snatched right from his mouth by that damn Ji Jue.
Zhou Chong couldn’t hold back and snatched the sword away decisively, cutting him off:
“The name of the blessing chain is ‘Heaven and Earth Are Heartless’!”
Indeed a good name.
Heaven and Earth treat all things as straw dogs.
To translate roughly—it means all living beings are equal in suffering disaster.
Ji Jue nodded, “Then I guess the sword’s name is…”
“The sword’s name is ‘Flying Brush’!”
Zhou Chong glared, never had he answered so quickly and decisively.
He could no longer pretend to be an aloof expert.
One more second, and Ji Jue’s dirty little hands might have grabbed his patent application!
Now his gaze toward Ji Jue was full of caution—like a popular movie star watching desperate nobodies crawling all over the red carpet for hours.
How the hell are you so good at freeloading!
Might as well move the red carpet to your place!
Snatching the sword from Ji Jue’s hands, he carefully wiped off the dust and fingerprints—a clear message: I’ve seen enough, stop touching it!
Stop freeloading!
Seeing Zhou Chong so alert, Ji Jue sighed helplessly: Prejudices run too deep.
Even praise makes you unhappy!
He thought for a moment, imitating Professor Ye’s demeanor, absently adjusting some nonexistent glasses and about to say something.
Zhou Chong instantly stiffened, his guard rising sharply.
Not knowing how deep Professor Ye’s hammerings had left scars...
Ji Jue sympathized silently, but without hesitation he stretched out his hand:
“Congratulations, Master Zhou, on reaching new heights. But I don’t know if I may have some good fortune from you?”
He rubbed his fingers together, raising an eyebrow to hint.
A patent application signed by Zhou Chong was instantly shoved into Ji Jue’s hands, as if fearing he’d keep pestering.
The last signature was secured.
He’d touched, he’d freeloaded, and now lingering any longer would be impolite.
Easy to get beaten otherwise.
Ji Jue took a confident step back, cupped his hands and bade farewell: “I’ve gained much today. Thanks for your guidance, Master Zhou. If I have time, I will definitely come again.”
Don’t you damn well come back!
Bad luck!
Zhou Chong’s face turned as ugly as a dead horse, but at last he glanced at him and pointed towards the door.
A silent sign: be quick and get the hell out.
He only added, “I no longer owe her.”
Back in Quancheng, even though his own grandson had been beaten by that dog Ji Jue, during Duan Mu’s rebellion Zhou Chong had still been saved by Ye Xian.
Storms and trials, ups and downs throughout the years—more losses and glories than he could count.
He wouldn’t let a moment’s grievance affect his career, nor would he bow to anyone forever just because of a one-time kindness, refusing to be looked down upon by Ye Xian.
However…
This time he was probably completely screwed!
Losing the lady and breaking the troops.
He had just stood up and kicked twice, and the bike had already taken off with the luggage...
What kind of thing is that?
He originally thought just giving some random tips would be enough, a little guidance to clear the old grudges.
A fine chance—if Ji Jue couldn’t learn it, it wasn’t his fault.
Yet unexpectedly, this arose.
In a split second.
A single split second of failure to guard.
When Zhou Chong was fully focused trying to maintain the cosmic cycle at the point of collapse, Ji Jue seized the opportunity.
Just one glance.
But even that one glance, during the finishing moves, Ji Jue’s logic and style had completely shifted—not merely passive, but actively cooperating with Zhou Chong to observe more structure and change.
One true transmission can be learned from seeing; a thousand books are worthless if not.
No doubt, in that brief glimpse, Ji Jue had touched the essence and spirit of “The Convergence of All Sources.”
More like he understood analogies…
“…Chengchuan Gathered Form?”
He stroked the scars on the forge and read through Ji Jue’s moves, guessing and analyzing, and in a sudden moment, his finger twitched uncontrollably into a fist.
Was this truly the ancient technique from the boundless archipelago thousands of islands far out at sea, passed down from the Nan Yun sect?
And the level wasn't shallow at all—already masterful!
But hadn’t the Nan Yun sect fractured and fallen into obscurity more than forty years ago? Where did Ji Jue learn this?
It couldn’t be that Jian Yuan locked him in the workshop to be taught by that old man himself, could it?
His mind spinning, he almost laughed at his own wild guess.
Only his face grew even darker.
A silent sigh.
Even if one glimpse can’t grasp the full picture, understanding is understanding; mastery is mastery.
Sometimes the only difference is a spark of insight.
And even if Ye Xian no longer bothers to examine his own inheritance, if Ji Jue could grow and improve, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to establish a sect of his own someday.
“After all these years of suffering, I thought today I might advance further.”
From the quiet, he chuckled bitterly.
“Yet instead, I’ve become someone else’s stepping stone.”
Outside the door, watching Ji Jue leave, Zhou Cheng—with a cast on his leg—hobbled in anxiously, suppressing his displeasure, and asked confusedly: “You just gave him the thing just like that?”
Zhou Chong looked back at his grandson’s innocent, college-student-like face, so transparently foolish, and couldn’t help sighing: Do you think giving him just a signature is all there is?
“Otherwise?”
Zhou Chong retorted, “Years ago when I hit rock bottom, Master Tong helped me up, allowing me to build the workshop and the stature I have now... If Tong Gong needed help, I would naturally devote all my energy, never slack off. But if not for him today, I’d owe even more.”
“You always say I don’t want to teach you the convergence of all sources, but I ask you: if you stood in his place today, could you have even a third of his responsibility and decisiveness?”
Zhou Cheng was stunned, silent.
Several times wanting to speak, but words failed him.
“I just think… the craftsman exam isn’t like others, the stakes are so high, you use your reputation to guarantee him—what if he plays badly and fails?”
“You should pray that he passes.”
Zhou Chong waved his hand impatiently, “If he can’t handle this level of exam now, you have no hope for life.”
Zhou Cheng was shocked immediately, anger surging in his veins, about to say, “It’s just an exam, I also…”
“You can’t.”
Zhou Chong shook his head decisively, cutting him off.
“This year is different.”
The Taichi Ring’s craftsman exam, held once every three years, at its peak had sixty-one passers, almost a third of candidates.
Twenty-seven years ago, that exam was called a ‘grace cohort’ by craftsmen, so many crossed the threshold—it’s still talked about today.
The lowest pass rate: zero.
Twenty-one years ago, all two hundred-plus candidates failed!
Complete annihilation.
The industry was stunned, craftsmen shocked, even the Taichi Ring endured huge pressure, yet in the end, they chose to announce the results.
The exam was hosted by Gustav Schmidt, one of the current eight directors of the Taichi Ring and leader of the Stoneborn sect.
Under his leadership, the Stoneborn sect, once a swing faction with few numbers, transformed boldly in just over forty years to become a director-level sect, even rivaling the populous Colonial Transmutation sect.
Its motto was “Better to have less than to be sloppy” and “Quality over quantity.”
In his view, the Association degenerated because it tolerated mediocrity’s spread and incompetents’ nonsense.
Since taking regulatory duty, the rules became stricter inside the Association—wailing and complaints from many.
Rumor has it he even plans to propose a craftsman assessment system: even with a license, you can’t rest easy; failing review or exams means being demoted or stripped of license.
If it weren’t for his radicalism stirring even the scavengers to intervene with a stabilizing hand, the whole Association might have been thrown into chaos.
This year he applied again to host and supervise the exam, aiming to crack down hard and curb the rising slackness and unruliness among apprentices, to tidy the Association.
Ordinary mediocrities dodged it already—who would voluntarily charge into death?
Not afraid a single critique like “hopeless case” shuts them out for life?
Courting death.
Gustav reportedly hates so-called geniuses and arrogant rule-breakers the most.
The rule that apprentices must study at least three years before applying was his idea.
Zhou Chong wanted to see: Ye Xian had sent his prized student right under his nose; could he fare well? Would Gustav’s harshness dare be used on Ye Xian?
Just as he was ready to watch the show, how did his idiot grandson dive onto the chopping block himself?
No memory at all!
“Just limp for now.”
He glanced back one last time at the defeated-looking grandson and waved coldly: “It’s rare to suffer setbacks; see how long you remember this pain.”
As the saying goes, knowing shame leads to courage.
If you can’t shed pointless pride and arrogance, you’re just a failure for life, sharing scraps and kept in the workshop.
Zhou Chong swept his sleeves and left.
Only Zhou Cheng remained stunned, standing in place.
After a while, he hurriedly gripped his crutch and chased after him.
Outside the workshop, the sky was bright with stars, endless and cloudless.
Under the same night, some drove cars, enjoying the evening breeze, happily singing, looking forward to the future.
Some tossed and turned, eyes bloodshot, deciding firmly.
Others struggled in the glow of the workshop, tangled between ancient books and the forge’s torment.
Or confidently pushing open the door, awaiting the coming trial.
Federation, Empire, Central Land, Thousand Islands... under the same vast night sky, stars move and flash their light.
When someone looks up, those lights illuminate still or confused eyes.
From start to finish, the stars say nothing.
They simply move forward.
Ah, it’s near month’s end... please vote ORZ
(End of chapter)