As with every previous day, Jiang Wang smoothly completed his meridian-bursting cultivation, then circulated his newly formed Dao energy to align its position within the Tongtian Palace, bringing himself one step closer to foundation establishment.
After finishing his cultivation, Jiang Wang didn't rest. Instead, he sat at his desk by the oil lamp and began transcribing the Supreme Scripture of Profound Purity.
Since it was just the two siblings living together, they resided in the main house, using the south room as their study.
His senior brothers had warned him early on about Xiao Tiemian's strict and unsympathetic temperament, so Jiang Wang approached the transcription with great care and precision. The importance of lessons imparting Daoist techniques went without saying—missing even one was a major loss. Therefore, he did his best to write quickly and well.
Until...
"Brother, what are you doing?"
At some point, Jiang An'an had wandered into the study, her large black eyes filled with curiosity.
"...Practicing calligraphy," Jiang Wang replied.
"Why are you suddenly practicing calligraphy?"
With a serious tone, Jiang Wang said, "As the saying goes, a man's handwriting reflects his character. From one's calligraphy, truth or deceit can be discerned. Haven't the teachers told you this? Practicing calligraphy is important. You should practice more too, An'an."
"How long do you have to practice for…"
"...Quite a while," Jiang Wang said. "You go to bed for now."
"Oh…"
"Why, is something wrong?"
"No, nothing…"
Turning to leave the study, Jiang An'an let out a sigh like a little adult.
That grumpy old man gave me so much to copy. Now even the study is taken—where am I supposed to do it?
It wasn't that the study couldn't accommodate both of them, but she simply didn't want her brother to know she'd been punished with writing lines.
After some thought, Jiang An'an dragged a small stool into the bedroom, laid out her paper and brush, and crouched in front of the stool to start copying.
"Heaven and Earth were born mysterious and yellow; the universe vast and boundless. The sun and moon wax and wane; stars aligned in constellations…"
She glanced toward the study. The lamp was still lit. Good. Keep copying...
…
The moon hung high in the sky. Jiang Wang rubbed his wrist, blew his ink dry, extinguished the oil lamp, and returned to his bedroom. Even with his stamina and speed, he was still far from completing the hundred copies, but he had something more important to attend to tonight.
Because tonight was the fifteenth day of the ninth month—the challenge day for Blessed Lands in the Realm of Grand Illusion.
When he returned to the bedroom, An'an was already asleep. Jiang Wang tucked her in gently, then lay on his own bed.
The silver moon mark on his palm began to glow and heat up. Jiang Wang closed his eyes—his consciousness entered the Realm of Grand Illusion.
The sundial's inscription had changed:[The Master of the Azure Jade Altar has confirmed the challenge. The duel will begin in one quarter-hour.]
The Azure Jade Altar's master had finally decided to make a move!
Seeing this line of text, Jiang Wang felt both a pressing urgency and a strange relief—like a long-hanging boot had finally dropped.
On the fifteenth of the previous month, the Azure Jade Altar's master had forfeited as well, seemingly still haunted by the shadow of Zuo Guanglie. But this also suggested that after repeated forfeits, they now viewed this round's challenge as a must-win.
Jiang Wang didn't waste any time. He cleared his mind and silently awaited the moment.
When the sundial finally shifted, the jade platform beneath Jiang Wang rose and carried him away from the Blessed Land of Dongzhen Ruins into the dazzling starry river.
The platform was simple in design, devoid of decoration, but emanated a natural ancient aura. Its surface bore countless scars—blade marks, sword cuts, burns, scorch marks—imbued with a stern, lethal energy.
Jiang Wang understood—this was his Sword Debate Platform. Since obtaining the Illusory Key and entering the Grand Illusion Realm, he had never once used it. First, because he knew his strength would lead only to one-sided beatdowns here, and second… because activating the Sword Debate Platform cost ten contribution points.
Since no reward could be earned through duels, Jiang Wang was always reluctant to spend points this way. Especially after experiencing the might of the Purple Qi from the East Sword Art, he had come to treasure contribution points dearly.
Soon, a similar jade platform approached from the depths of the starry river. On it stood a figure in black, robes fluttering. The two platforms rapidly accelerated and collided.
Two small platforms merged into one larger platform. Jiang Wang and his opponent now stood on opposite sides. Though the merged platform looked the same, it was much larger—about a hundred meters in diameter. Jiang Wang understood—this was the true battlefield.
Due to the Realm of Grand Illusion's rules, Jiang Wang couldn't clearly see his opponent's appearance. But he heard his voice.
"Since my crushing defeat at your hands last time, I've prepared for this battle for half a year!" the Azure Jade Altar's master declared. "At last, I have mastered a lost technique—the remnant form of the Nine Gentlemanly Swords of Antiquity. I ask you to face it!"
The Nine Gentlemanly Swords of Antiquity? Just hearing the name sounded formidable… A disciple of the Confucian sect, perhaps?
Jiang Wang considered this while secretly mobilizing his true energy in preparation. The energy spent in the Grand Illusion Realm wasn't real, so he could go all out. The Purple Qi from the East Sword Art was a transcendent sword scripture—only with full power could its potential be truly unleashed.
Thus, what he was about to display was his strongest, never-before-seen state.
"Heaven moves with vigor; a gentleman should constantly strive for self-improvement!"
Then he heard the Azure Jade Altar's master recite this solemn line.
And then he saw a sword.
A sword that looked utterly ordinary, without a trace of mystique—it simply moved forward. If there was a mountain in its way, it pierced the mountain. If there was a river, it cleaved the river. If the sky stood before it, it stabbed through the sky!
Unyielding. Unstoppable.
It shattered stone, cut trees, slew demons, vanquished evil… This sword pierced everything in its path—no matter what it was!
Jiang Wang still held his sword. The Dao energy within his Tongtian Palace surged, his Purple Qi from the East Sword Art nearly instinctive. But that sword had already pierced his heart.
He was slain.
The Azure Jade Altar's master stood on the now-empty platform, stunned. He had confidence in the Nine Gentlemanly Swords, lost through the ages, but he also remembered just how powerful his opponent was.
Yet this duel was utter domination.
He had won.
The Master of the Azure Jade Altar—no, now the Master of Dongzhen Ruins—stood atop the platform, overwhelmed with emotion as the new ruler of the 23rd Blessed Land.
Meanwhile, Jiang Wang, now demoted to the Azure Jade Altar, had accepted his defeat.
According to the rules of the top thirty-six Blessed Lands, each rank increase yielded 100 more contribution points per month. This month, he would only receive 1,750 points—100 less than before.
The Blessed Lands in the Realm of Grand Illusion were nominal and didn't correspond to real-world locations. So moving from Dongzhen Ruins to the Azure Jade Altar didn't alter the dreamlike, spiritual environment. Even the sundial remained the same. The only change was the yield of contribution points.
Jiang Wang silently summoned the Dao Platform.
He had yet to spend the 1,850 points from August. Adding September's 1,750, he now had 3,600 points. Jiang Wang poured them all into upgrading his Purple Qi from the East Sword Art.
The Nine Gentlemanly Swords had struck him to the core—he hadn't stood a chance. Not even a sliver of hope. So he needed a stronger sword art, even if it cost him everything.
The jade scroll on the bamboo desk flickered, then suddenly stopped. A line of black ink appeared:
[Current sword art has reached the Dao Platform's level-one limit. Further progress impossible. Remaining points: 3,590.]
Jiang Wang's eyelid twitched. The damn Dao Platform had still deducted ten points without delivering results!
Apparently, the Dao Platform's ability to upgrade techniques wasn't limitless—it depended on its own level and the foundation of the technique. The Purple Qi from the East Sword Art, built on mundane martial arts, had reached its ceiling. Without upgrading the platform itself, no further improvement could be made.
With no stronger techniques at hand and no desire to seek another beating on the Sword Debate Platform, Jiang Wang took a deep breath and exited the Realm of Grand Illusion.
But regardless, he had lost 110 points this month for nothing.
At this thought, Jiang Wang sighed deeply.
"Brother, what are you doing?" Jiang An'an's voice sounded from the room, filled with concern. It was unclear whether she had just woken up or never fallen asleep in the first place.
Annoyed, Jiang Wang replied, "I'm staying up late. I'll call you when I'm done cooking."
In the darkness, Jiang An'an's eyes lit up. "Is it tasty?"