Who are you?

Bang!

Two bloody sword lights collided, the scattered sword energy cleaving the smooth jade floor.

Chik! Chik! Chik!

At the same time, overwhelming sword energy appeared out of thin air in the void.

Like a torrential downpour, it rained down on Jiang Chuan and Lu Chenling.

A purple longsword materialized in Lu Chenling's hand.

The sword was three fingers wide, its blade narrow and long, as if meticulously carved from jade, crystal clear.

Lu Chenling also swung his sword.

Myriad sword energies roared out from the blade, blocking the overwhelming sword energy from the void.

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!

Myriad streams of sword energy clashed, the scattered energy sweeping in all directions like a fierce wind.

Caught in the crossfire, Jiang Chuan helplessly activated his dark space, swallowing the ceaselessly flying sword energy.

"Truly a case of gods fighting and mortals suffering! Faced with this, an ordinary cultivator in the Third Realm would be dead or gravely injured."

As Jiang Chuan mused, a figure clad in black, wearing a black mask, shot before him like lightning. The figure formed a fist seal and threw a punch.

A phantom image of the Treasured Mountain Seal, as if propping up the sky, emerged from the fist.

It descended as if the Treasured Mountain Seal was smashing through the void, traversing realms to suppress Jiang Chuan, its magnificent and imposing aura causing the very void to tremble.

"Treasured Mountain Seal?! Who are you?!"

Jiang Chuan's pupils contracted sharply. As he questioned loudly, he threw out a punch.

Treasured Mountain Seal!

Boom!

Their fists met. Jiang Chuan felt a colossal force surge through him, numbing his tiger's mouth and forcing him to retreat several steps.

The black-clothed figure also retreated several steps.

"Ghost Rain Sword!"

Jiang Chuan roared, communicating with the Ghost Rain Sword located within the Treasured Mountain Seal.

The next moment, Jiang Chuan felt a cold, sinister power surge into his body.

Jiang Chuan took a step forward, his right arm seemingly transforming into a divine sword. His fist resembled the pitch-black edge of the Ghost Rain Sword, exuding killing intent as it shot towards the black-clothed figure.

Facing Jiang Chuan's punch, the black-clothed figure again employed the Treasured Mountain Seal, but Jiang Chuan was a step faster.

Pow!

Jiang Chuan's fist pierced the black-clothed figure's body, but the expected scene of blood splattering did not occur.

"What is going on? Could it be…"

Just then, combining his previous exchanges, Jiang Chuan deduced a possibility.

Treasured Mountain Seal!

The moment Jiang Chuan was lost in thought, the black-clothed figure's punch arrived.

Bang!

The black-clothed figure's fist landed on Jiang Chuan's chest, splattering bright red blood mixed with bone fragments.

Pain!

So painful!

The excruciating pain contorted Jiang Chuan's face.

"Damn it!"

Enduring the intense pain, Jiang Chuan slapped towards the black-clothed figure's mask.

Shatter!

The black-clothed figure's mask shattered, revealing a handsome and extraordinary face.

This face was identical to Jiang Chuan's!

"Subduing the 'Restless Mind and Wild Horse,' so that's it. No wonder you wield the Treasured Mountain Seal and the Demon Slaying Saber. You are me."

Having solved the mystery, Jiang Chuan heavily collapsed onto the smooth jade floor of the palace.

"Jiang Chuan! Hold on! I have a Life-Creating Pill here, don't die! You absolutely cannot die!"

At death's door, Jiang Chuan heard Lu Chenling's urgent voice and the increasingly sharp sword hum.

Immediately afterwards, a clear voice sounded in Jiang Chuan's mind.

[You have died after being pierced through the chest by an Inner Demon during a battle with the Inner Demon manifested by the Demonic Heart Illusion Array.]

[This romance simulation has failed.]

The neat attic and the green mountains in the distance reappeared before Jiang Chuan's eyes.

"Damn it! Failed again!"

He had already gained Gong Suxin's approval, emerged from the Cave Heaven World, and officially become Dao Companions with Lu Chenling. The rewards should have been his!

But, unfortunately, within the Cave Heaven World, he had been ambushed by an Inner Demon that traded its life for his.

The more Jiang Chuan thought about it, the angrier he became. He kicked the wooden stool in front of him, sending it smashing through the window and out into the yard.

"Ouch! Which bastard attacked me?!"

Jing Hui's grumbling voice immediately followed.

"Jiang Chuan, it must be you, you scoundrel! I'm going to beat you to death, you scoundrel!"

Jiang Chuan: "..."

Such a coincidence?

Jiang Chuan hadn't expected that a casual kick would hit Jing Hui.

Listening to Jing Hui's curses, Jiang Chuan's anger gradually subsided.

"Failure is the mother of success! Keep trying, I'll definitely be able to get the simulation rewards. Besides, this time's gains weren't small either."

In this simulation, besides gaining the Supreme Yang Limitless Body and the Jade Liquid Elixir Canon, Jiang Chuan also obtained cultivation experience for the Treasured Mountain Seal, as well as secrets from the Taixu Immortal Palace, the Seven Kill Demonic Sect, and the Cave Heaven World.

"I just don't know what the Taixu Immortal Palace and the Seven Kill Demonic Sect are really plotting?"

Jiang Chuan shook his head.

Even if the Taixu Immortal Palace and the Seven Kill Demonic Sect were indeed plotting world-shattering events, with his current strength, getting involved rashly would only lead to his utter annihilation.

"When gods fight, mortals suffer! Buddhism and the Maha Hall will go to war in the future, the Taixu Immortal Palace and the Seven Kill Demonic Sect are plotting in secret, and the entire Qingyuan Realm will be fraught with danger!"

"If I want to survive, I need strength!"

Jiang Chuan clenched his fists, and the desire for power once again surged in his heart.

He immediately walked down from the attic, preparing to head to the External Affairs Hall.

Seeing Jiang Chuan emerge, Jing Hui lunged forward, grabbed Jiang Chuan's collar, and glared at him.

"Jiang Chuan! You still dare to come out?"

"Uh, Senior Brother Jing Hui, it was just a wooden stool, and you weren't hurt. There's no need to be so angry."

Considering it was his fault, Jiang Chuan tried to resolve the issue.

"Is this about the stool?"

Jing Hui's eyes widened in anger. "If someone had seen this and it spread, Jing Hui would be known as the monk who was hit by a stool. How could I Show Off then?!"

So you're afraid of affecting your Show Off.

Jiang Chuan's eye twitched slightly. "No one saw it anyway, Senior Brother Jing Hui. Let's just let this matter go. At most, I'll compensate you twenty or thirty Spirit Stones."

Jing Hui released Jiang Chuan's collar, a smile appearing on his lips.

"Junior Brother, why don't you hit me a few more times?"

Jiang Chuan: "..."

So, as long as it doesn't affect your Show Off.

Your reputation is less important than Spirit Stones?

After giving Jing Hui a deep look, Jiang Chuan walked out of the courtyard.

"Junior Brother, where are you going?"

"To the External Affairs Hall, I'm planning to pick up a task."

"Pick up a task? I haven't taken any tasks from the temple yet. I'll go with you to take a look."

Jiang Chuan controlled the Flame Sun Needle, carrying Jing Hui, and ascended into the sky.

After crossing several mountain peaks, Jiang Chuan brought Jing Hui down to the foot of a thousand-zhang tall peak.

A nine-story pagoda stood tall.

Hurried monks were entering and exiting the pagoda.

"Huh? Jiang Chuan, Jing Hui, why are you two at the External Affairs Hall?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Jiang Chuan and Jing Hui's expressions shifted slightly.

Then, they saw Elder Jing Zhen, wearing a bright yellow monk robe and with an aged face, appear and walk towards them with a smile.

"I really want to punch this old guy!"

Jiang Chuan recalled the scenes of being exploited by Elder Jing Zhen. The more he looked at Elder Jing Zhen's smile, the more hateful he felt.

After Jing Hui briefly explained their purpose, he asked, "Elder Jing Zhen, are you also here to pick up a task?"

Elder Jing Zhen shook his head. "I'm not here to pick up a task."

"Then why is the Elder at the External Affairs Hall?" Jing Hui asked doubtfully.