Transcoding Function

Transcoding Function

Chu Lu felt a little dazed. It was a strange sensation, like returning home after traveling for a long time—everything seemed both unfamiliar and familiar.

But he quickly adjusted, and then the bloodstink filling the room surged into his nostrils.

Chu Lu frowned.

Looking down, he found that his master's blood had not even dried yet.

—Wait, could it be...?

Chu Lu immediately rose and went outside, where he saw the Seven Profound Sect disciple he had frightened into trembling burying his master's corpse.

"Th-... Sect Leader, what is it?" The disciple had instinctively been about to call Chu Lu Third Senior Brother, but fortunately caught himself midway and changed his form of address.

"What month and day is it today?" Chu Lu asked.

"Huh?" The disciple was somewhat confused, unable to understand why Chu Lu had suddenly asked that, but he still answered honestly. "The eighth day of the seventh month."

As expected. It's still the same day. It seems that when I travel to another world, time in my main world stops. Good. That way, I won't be held up.

Chu Lu thought to himself, If I stayed on Luo Qingdie's side for two months and disappeared from this side for two months as well, a lot of things would become troublesome.

Afterward, Chu Lu pretended nothing had happened and told the disciple to bury the body as quickly as possible. Then he strode back to his own room.

He checked his surroundings, tightly shut the doors and windows, and only after confirming that no one could eavesdrop did he open the Chat Group. The moment he looked, he found a pile of messages.

Luo Qingdie: "Chu Lu, I can't see you from my side anymore. Did you go back? Reply to me."

Hua Honglian: "Chu Lu went back? Right, it's about time."

Xu Liniang: "Why haven't you replied? Don't tell me something happened?"

Zhu Shanlin: "Could there be a time difference?"

Liu Ruyue: "Dark clouds gather overhead!"

After that, they kept @-ing Chu Lu, looking extremely anxious.

The corner of Chu Lu's mouth rose slightly. He immediately replied, "All right, stop making noise. I got back safely. I was checking the situation around me just now, so I didn't log into the Chat Group. I discovered that when I'm in another world, time in my world seems to stop."

Luo Qingdie: "Chu Lu, you finally came back. It's good that you're all right."

Hua Honglian: "Congratulations on getting home."

Xu Liniang: "As long as you're safe."

Zhu Shanlin: "No need to worry now."

Liu Ruyue: "Yay."

Hua Honglian: "But time on your side actually stops? That's so amazing."

Xu Liniang: "Indeed. But... doesn't that mean you'll grow old faster than everyone else?"

Zhu Shanlin: "Wow, it's a trap!"

Liu Ruyue: "How tragic."

Chu Lu: "??"

—How had such a good thing become a trap in the eyes of this bunch of goofballs?

Still, he could not be bothered to pay them any mind. There were more important matters at hand. He @-ed Luo Qingdie and said, "Did you upload the cultivation methods?"

Luo Qingdie: "I did. I also uploaded a whole bunch of cultivation methods for every realm from Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul while I was at it."

Chu Lu: "Thanks."

Chu Lu immediately opened the group files page and found the cultivation methods Luo Qingdie had uploaded. Then he discovered that, besides the download option, there was now a transcoding button next to each method. However, aside from the Six Qi Palace Breaking Method and Foundation Establishment cultivation methods, the transcoding buttons for all the others were grayed out, with an exclamation mark beside them.

After clicking one, he learned that although the Transcoding Function had been activated, its level was insufficient. For the time being, it could only transcode cultivation methods at Foundation Establishment and below.

It was somewhat regrettable, but for him, Foundation Establishment and below was enough for now.

Chu Lu selected the Six Qi Palace Breaking Method for transcoding.

The next moment, an ancient-looking book appeared out of thin air before him.

Chu Lu sat at the edge of the bed, unable to conceal his excitement as he immediately opened the book.

After reading through it, Chu Lu confirmed that his earlier guess had been correct.

The Chat Group's Transcoding Function was not merely a simple translation. It modified the entire cultivation system.

After transcoding, the Six Qi Palace Breaking Method no longer taught how to break through the body's hidden treasures. Instead, it described a path of tempering one's qi and blood, then merging it with the spiritual qi of the outside world.

Moreover, its contents were profoundly mysterious—far stronger than the Seven Profound Sect's cultivation methods.

After reading it all, Chu Lu rubbed his forehead, feeling a trace of fatigue. He decided to rest for a while.

He casually opened the Chat Group and found everyone asking how effective it was. But when they saw that he had not replied for a long time, they began discussing other topics instead.

So Chu Lu explained the Transcoding Function to them.

Everyone exclaimed in amazement, marveling at the Chat Group's wonders.

After chatting idly for a while longer, Chu Lu felt that his energy had more or less recovered. He closed the Chat Group, picked up the cultivation manual, took a deep breath, and began cultivating.

The next morning, Chu Lu opened his eyes and stopped cultivating.

He clenched his fists, sensing the changes within his body, his face brimming with delight.

This "Six Qi Palace Breaking Method" was even more powerful than he had imagined.

After cultivating for just one night, it had completely cleared away the hidden injuries in his body. His long-stagnant realm had also broken through, reaching the peak of Qi Condensation, just one step away from Foundation Establishment.

He shared the good news in the Chat Group and received a flood of congratulations before getting up to go out for breakfast.

Before reaching Foundation Establishment, cultivators were no different from ordinary people when it came to food, clothing, shelter, and travel. If anything, they ate even more.

After all, cultivating spiritual power required the support of qi and blood.

For that reason, the Seven Profound Sect's meals were clearly divided into ranks.

The Sect Leader ate the best. He had his own private dining room, and every meal consisted of rare demon beast meat.

The next rank was the Sect Leader's trusted aides, who risked their lives outside every day. They had a small private room, and their table was filled with delicacies from mountains and seas. Of course, they did not get the demon beast meat that aided cultivation.

Below them were the lowest-ranked members, mostly new disciples or those with little strength, responsible for all sorts of dirty and exhausting work. Their meals could only be described as having enough meat and wine to fill their bellies—nothing more.

Chu Lu had once belonged to the second rank. Back then, he had always been curious about the rumored demon beast meat, but unfortunately, he had never had the chance to taste it.

Now, his wish had finally come true.

He entered the dining hall at mealtime. Quite a few disciples had already gathered there, and they all turned to look at Chu Lu, their expressions subtle.

Chu Lu did not care in the slightest and strode toward the Sect Leader's private dining room.

On the second floor, three people were sitting in that private room. As they watched Chu Lu's back, their eyes were filled with hostility.

The three were Ling Yifeng, Su Jinyao, and Chu Lingyue—the Seven Profound Sect's eldest senior brother, second senior sister, and fifth junior brother.

"What swagger. Does he really think he's the Sect Leader now?" Chu Lingyue said coldly.

"It's fine. He won't be able to strut around for much longer, right, Eldest Senior Brother?" Su Jinyao said, looking at Ling Yifeng.

Ling Yifeng nodded lightly. "Third Junior Brother is indeed formidable. Though he used some underhanded tricks, I truly did not expect him to be able to kill Master. But at the end of the day, he is only at the Late Qi Condensation Stage. As long as one is prepared, those unorthodox tricks are useless. What's more, he cultivates the incomplete technique Master gave him, which will leave a fatal weakness on his body."

Ling Yifeng continued, "I was closest to Master and managed all of you martial brothers and sisters on his behalf, so he told me about this fatal weakness. If Chu Lu fights me, he will surely die within three moves."

Hearing this, Su Jinyao revealed a sweet smile. "I knew Eldest Senior Brother was the strongest."

Chu Lingyue asked, "Then when will you make your move, Eldest Senior Brother? I've disliked the sight of him for a long time."

"No rush, no rush." Ling Yifeng shook his head. "Qingfeng Town is jointly occupied by five sects: the Wild Dog Gang, Iron Fist Sect, Dart Gang, Qingfeng Sword Sect, and our Seven Profound Sect. Though the five sects differ in strength, all their leaders are in the Foundation Establishment Realm, so they have maintained a rough balance. Third Junior Brother's plot to kill Master may have been satisfying, but it also upset that balance."

"Once the other sects learn that our Seven Profound Sect no longer has a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they will certainly join hands to pressure us and snatch food from our mouths. If I make my move now, I will be the one facing the other sects then. Better to wait and let him worry about it first. I'll act after I break through to Foundation Establishment."

"But how long will that take?" Chu Lingyue asked with some concern. "Eldest Senior Brother, although you're already at the peak of Qi Condensation, breaking through isn't something you can just do whenever you want, is it?"

Ling Yifeng smiled faintly. "I could have broken through to Foundation Establishment long ago. I merely kept suppressing my realm to avoid drawing Master's jealousy. My original plan was to find an opportunity to leave the Seven Profound Sect temporarily and seek out a good place outside to make my breakthrough. But thanks to Third Junior Brother's efforts, I can save myself that trouble."

Su Jinyao and Chu Lingyue immediately burst into laughter, their eyes full of mockery.

"Chu Lu thinks he's so impressive, but in Eldest Senior Brother's eyes, he's nothing more than a grasshopper that won't live past autumn!" Chu Lingyue said.

"In the end, he's just a brute. He thinks he can win by throwing his weight around and fighting fiercely, never realizing that this world requires brains!" Su Jinyao added.

"Then, Eldest Senior Brother, when will you break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm?" Chu Lingyue asked.

"At most, one week."

"Good! Then let him jump around for one more week." Chu Lingyue rubbed his hands excitedly. "A week from now, Eldest Senior Brother, you must defeat him in front of everyone and make sure he can never swagger again!"

Ling Yifeng raised his chin slightly. "Naturally."

"Why wait until a week from now?"

At that moment, Chu Lu's voice suddenly rang out.

Everyone turned toward the door at once and saw Chu Lu push it open. Expressionless, he said, "Why not strike while the iron is hot and choose today instead?"

All three of their expressions changed.

Su Jinyao was the first to react, pointing at him furiously. "You were eavesdropping!?"

"So what if I was?" Chu Lu said.

Just as Su Jinyao and Chu Lingyue were about to speak, Ling Yifeng stopped them.

He looked at Chu Lu and shook his head. "Third Junior Brother, this is rather unwise of you. Eavesdropping is one thing, but if you had pretended not to hear anything, you could at least have lived another week. Yet you actually stepped forward on your own. Why seek death?"

Chu Lu smiled. "Before Master died by my hand, he was as confident as you are."

Ling Yifeng's expression abruptly changed, and a trace of cold malice appeared in his eyes.

"In that case, there is nothing more to say. Die!"

As the words fell, Ling Yifeng launched a fierce attack.

His body flashed like lightning as he lunged at Chu Lu in an instant. With his fingers formed into a sword, he thrust straight at a point three inches below Chu Lu's ribs—the fatal weakness of his cultivation technique.

Chu Lu looked dazed, as if he had no time to react at all. He stood there like a wooden puppet as Ling Yifeng's strike landed heavily on his fatal weakness.

The corner of Ling Yifeng's mouth curled upward. This full-force strike was flawless. The force has already poured into his fatal weakness—he is dead beyond doubt!

At that thought, he looked up—only to discover in astonishment that Chu Lu was staring right at him as well. His complexion was rosy, showing no sign of grievous injury, and a triumphant smile curled at the corner of his lips.

The next moment, Chu Lu copied Ling Yifeng, extending two fingers like a sword and thrusting straight at Ling Yifeng's chest.

Bang!

Ling Yifeng was sent flying backward in an instant, smashing heavily into the wall.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood and stared at Chu Lu in utter horror. "N-No way! Why aren't you hurt? Could it be... could it be!?"

His pupils trembled as he cried out, "You eliminated your vital gate!?"

Chu Lu walked up to him, raised his foot, and crushed his neck beneath it. "Precisely."