A Twisted Sense of Humor

A black cloud was drifting westward.

The black cloud itself gave no clue whether it was formed by an artifact or a spell. In the center of the black cloud, slightly denser black mist coalesced into the shape of a black treasure tree with seven branches. Each branch was covered in lush black leaves, resembling a natural throne.

Among the two mysterious black-robed cultivators, the female cultivator sat on a black leaf throne in the center, while the white-haired male cultivator sat on a throne in front of her, facing her.

"Qing Xu, do you think the female cultivator from Profound Heaven Sect named Lü Shenliang truly suffered soul damage, or was she faking it?"

The female cultivator casually plucked black leaves from her side. Each leaf she plucked would vanish in her hand like flowing water, and then a new black leaf would sprout somewhere on the throne beneath her, a very peculiar phenomenon.

"Her soul damage is real." This white-haired male cultivator hadn't spoken a word at the Blackwater Market. Now, when he answered the female cultivator's question, he did so without any unnecessary words.

His voice was clear and crisp, much like the pleasant sound of porcelain shards clinking together. As he spoke, his expression was humble, as if his relationship with this female cultivator was not what Wang Li and Lü Shenliang had imagined—that of a Sect elder taking an important disciple out for training.

"Then do you think that Purity Returning Spirit Pill can help her repair her soul?" the black-robed female cultivator asked indifferently after a moment's thought.

The white-haired cultivator, whom she called Qing Xu, shook his head and said, "It likely won't be of much use."

"Even a fifth-grade spirit pill like this has no effect? Her soul damage shouldn't just be a result of failing her Foundation Establishment tribulation, should it?" The black-robed female cultivator chuckled, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"You've guessed correctly." Hearing her words, Qing Xu understood what she truly meant. "But since you've guessed it, you must not interfere."

"This is truly boring."

The black-robed female cultivator gave a mocking laugh. "The Three Sages stand in parity, delineating continent borders, and each Sect acts according to Dao Precepts. It seems to prevent self-harm, but can wolves and puppies truly defend the territory of cultivators? Moreover, with the absence of overt conflict, does that mean there's less underhanded scheming?"

Qing Xu remained silent as he listened to her mockery.

This was something she could ponder, but it was not for him to contemplate or comment on.

He didn't respond, and the black-robed female cultivator didn't feel any more bored because of it.

Just as Wang Li was accustomed to how he interacted with Lü Shenliang, she was also accustomed to this style of conversation with Qing Xu.

"How do they refer to these fifth-grade spirit pills on the Lesser Jade Continent?"

She stretched out her legs, adopting a more comfortable posture. "What do they call it? Cosmos Grade?"

"Yes."

Qing Xu nodded. "Cultivators on the Lesser Jade Continent, the Red Mountain Continent, the Fire Sparrow Continent, the Evil Water Continent, and the surrounding waters, habitually use characters like Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow, Universe, and Desolation to classify the grades of treasures."

The black-robed female cultivator suddenly found it amusing. The mocking expression on her face deepened, but the coldness within it had completely vanished.

"Why don't they change the names of the seven major realms—Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Nirvana, and Mahayana?"

She laughed. "Might as well call them Heaven Grade, Earth Grade, and make Golden Core stage the Profound Grade."

Qing Xu didn't find it amusing. He merely said, "Different continents have different customs. These four eastern border continents were a chaotic land a thousand years ago and later came under the control of the Sage Cult. At that time, the Sage Cult formulated the simple and easy-to-cultivate Duren Sutra. These eight characters—Heaven, Earth, Black, Yellow, Universe, Desolation—are from the opening preface of the Duren Sutra. The Duren Sutra is widely spread throughout these four eastern border continents without restriction on cultivation. It is not unreasonable for cultivators on these four continents to use these eight characters to name ranks. Furthermore, apart from our Thirteen Central Continents, other border continents also have different names."

"I know... but it's still funny, and the more seriously you explain it, the funnier I find it," the black-robed female cultivator couldn't help but laugh out loud. "And this naming method is too wordy and too unconventional. How can a naming method of seven grades corresponding to seven major realms be so clear and intuitive? It seems that cultivators on the Lesser Jade Continent rarely venture beyond these four continents. If they were to go to the Central Divine Continent and talk about Cosmos Grade artifacts, wouldn't it completely confuse people?"

Qing Xu knew she was deliberately teasing him, but out of habit, he still answered seriously, "It is precisely because these four continents do not interact closely like the central continents that this custom has been preserved. However, ordinary cultivators adapt to local customs. If cultivators from these four continents go to other continents, they will also change their way of speaking according to the local terminology."

"Adapt to local customs? This place can truly be considered the countryside." The black-robed female cultivator found it difficult to think deeply, and the more she thought, the more she couldn't stop laughing.

In her opinion, the mainstream naming convention became mainstream for a reason.

Cultivators were divided into seven major realms, and each of the seven major realms was further divided into nine minor stages.

Artifacts were also divided into seven grades. The first grade corresponded to the Qi Refining stage, and within the first grade, there were nine ranks. For any cultivator, this was naturally clear and understandable.

For example, a first-grade, ninth-rank artifact was a suitable artifact for a cultivator at the ninth stage of Qi Refining. A second-grade, first-rank artifact was suitable for a cultivator at the first stage of Foundation Establishment.

With such a naming method, cultivators who couldn't understand it were truly foolish.

But what about the Lesser Jade Continent's naming convention?

The first-grade artifact was called Heaven Grade, while the second-grade artifact was called Earth Grade.

Who was greater, Heaven or Earth?

Next came Profound Grade and Yellow Grade. This was not difficult to remember, but it was too unconventional.

She held back her laughter and deliberately counted on her fingers, "According to this Lesser Jade Continent's naming convention, should that Purity Returning Spirit Pill be called a Cosmos Grade Rank 1 spirit pill, or a Cosmos Grade Heaven Grade spirit pill?"

After saying this, she still couldn't hold back her laughter and burst out laughing. She deliberately continued, "It's clearly seven grades corresponding to seven major realms. What the heck are these eight characters?"

Qing Xu finally couldn't help but turn back and look at her.

He knew this was her peculiar hobby, and he was used to it, so he still responded earnestly, "The eight characters also correspond to the seven major realms. The seventh-grade artifact is called a Primordial Artifact on the Lesser Jade Continent, and the name does not include any characters. As for that Purity Returning Spirit Pill, according to the Lesser Jade Continent's naming convention, it is indeed called a Cosmos Grade Rank 1 spirit pill, not a Cosmos Grade Heaven Grade spirit pill."

"Ahahaha!" The black-robed girl's peculiar hobby was finally satisfied. She laughed so hard that her body trembled, and her hands couldn't help but pat the black leaf throne beneath her. "This is hilarious! What a tongue-twister! Qing Xu, open your mouth and let me see. Let me see if your tongue is tied in knots!"

Qing Xu chose to remain silent this time.

He did not share this peculiar hobby.

He did not express his opinion, but his opinion was certainly different from the black-robed girl's.

In his view, everything that exists is reasonable.

Just as he found it reasonable for the Lesser Jade Continent to call the seventh-grade artifact, referred to as such on the Central Divine Continent, a Primordial Artifact.

Primordial implied ancient times, the birth of heaven and earth.

The seventh-grade artifact was itself a terrifying treasure born from chaos. Even many of the most powerful beings in the history of Cultivation became powerful because they obtained such treasures. They could not create such powerful artifacts out of thin air by fabricating laws; at most, they could carve and improve them.

Moreover, purely in terms of wording, he felt that the words "Primordial" had much more gravitas than simply "seventh grade."

The black-robed girl laughed for a good ten breaths before finally stopping.

"They're finally here."

She suppressed her laughter and suddenly said this.

Qing Xu nodded.

"Leave two alive," she said seriously. "I have a bad feeling about this. Old Ancestor Tong Hui is undergoing tribulation in that place, and there are too many people coming."

Below the black cloud was a vast expanse of white water.

Other than the single black cloud, no unusual lights appeared in the sky. However, the moment she finished speaking, more than ten strange reflections appeared on the water's surface.

At first glance, these more than ten strange reflections looked like more than ten pale white light clusters, but upon closer inspection, they revealed more than ten pale white crying faces.

Some people are born with a twisted sense of humor.

For some, their twisted sense of humor becomes a symbol.

On the Lesser Jade Continent, these pale white crying faces represented a group of rogue cultivators who disregarded the Three Sages' Dao Precepts and killed cultivators from various Sects to obtain cultivation resources.

The vast majority of cultivators on the Lesser Jade Continent would be terrified upon seeing such a symbol.

"What are you crying about? Smile for me," the black-robed female cultivator sneered, looking at these pale white crying faces.

Dozens of black leaves flew from her hand.

The black leaves vanished instantly, not reappearing on the treasure tree beneath her.

Swish!

Dozens of massive black crystal swords crisscrossed the air, their violent power instantly forcing out more than ten hidden flying artifacts in the sky, and then ruthlessly piercing them!