Wells and Rivers Keep to Their Own Waters

"Right."

Chen Qiu recalled the three traits he had randomly drawn earlier and asked hesitantly, "How are trait grades distinguished?"

"This..."

Fat Dragon nodded solemnly. "From lowest to highest, traits are divided into White Trait, Green Trait, Yellow Trait, Blue Trait, Purple Trait, then above those, Red Trait, Gold Trait, Pink Trait, and Rainbow Trait."

"Nine grades in total."

"They contain the intent of the Heavenly Dao."

"All cultivators can only obtain one random trait when they make a major breakthrough in cultivation. The grade of that random trait is closely tied to their cultivation realm."

"The higher one's cultivation, the higher the grade of traits one can randomly obtain."

"For example, while those in the Qi Refining Realm theoretically have a chance to draw a Rainbow Trait, the odds are pitifully low. Perhaps only one lucky person would appear in ten thousand years."

"But if you've reached the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, the chances of randomly drawing a Rainbow Trait during a major realm breakthrough become much greater."

"These nine grades encompass all standard trait grades."

Fat Dragon paused, raising his head to look at the black radiance overhead that was slowly dispersing. He continued, "Beyond that, there are some special-grade traits, such as Gray Traits. Gray Traits are not among those nine grades and cannot be ranked."

"Gray Traits are often traits with extraordinarily powerful effects, but equally severe drawbacks."

"If you happen to draw a Gray Trait, then... whether it's a blessing or a curse is truly hard to say."

"Leave it to fate."

Chen Qiu nodded without speaking. To be honest, those two Gray Traits from before had both possessed rather decent effects. For certain people—for instance, ordinary mortals with no dream of cultivating immortality—being gifted five hundred years of lifespan was quite good.

It was just a little torturous, watching one's friends and family leave one by one.

The second one, "Yama's Personal Edict," could count as extending the lifespan of cultivators on the verge of death by a year. Moreover, during that year, they could act without restraint. Or if it were a sect's Supreme Elder, they could burn themselves out for the sect and make contributions to their heart's content.

Of course, in most cases, that trait was Yama's death warrant.

Just then—

Behind the two of them, a translucent curtain of light that enveloped the entire Minor World slowly pressed toward them.

"Let's go, Brother Chen Qiu. The circle's closing in."

Fat Dragon climbed up from the ground and casually stowed the longsword in his hand into his storage pouch. Then he muttered, "Once I have money later, the first thing I'll do is switch to a saber-type magical artifact. Using this longsword feels damn awkward."

Wearing bloodstained clothes, the two slowly walked out of the forest and onto the central plain.

At this point, nearly ten people were scattered across the plain. Every one of them was likewise covered in blood, and at a glance, quite a few bore serious injuries. The way they looked at Chen Qiu and Fat Dragon carried wariness and vigilance.

"Fellow Daoists."

Just then, a middle-aged man with a scar on his cheek stepped forward. Looking at Chen Qiu and Fat Dragon, he said in a deep voice, "According to the rules of the martial world, in a 'kill'-type Heavenly Dao Secret Realm, when the final beam of light vanishes, it means the fighting must cease!"

"Whatever treasures are in whose hands are that person's fortune."

"They may no longer be seized."

It was no wonder these people were full of wariness. When normal people entered a 'kill'-type Heavenly Dao Secret Realm, weren't they all here for the treasures? Who would go to the black zone?

Everyone knew that the strongest vicious beast in the entire secret realm was in the black zone, and there was not a single treasure there besides.

And only one kind of person would go to such a place—

Battle maniacs!

Whether wandering martial artists, sect disciples, government lackeys, or riffraff from the lowest rungs, the people they feared most were battle maniacs. Such people often followed no rules and cared nothing for profit.

Their life goal was battle. Fighting until death was their creed.

Commonly known as head-choppers.

And in these people's eyes, Chen Qiu and Fat Dragon were battle maniacs—and battle maniacs of considerable strength at that. Otherwise, how could they have slain the strongest vicious beast in this secret realm without seeming to suffer any major injuries?

"..."

Chen Qiu said nothing. He merely glanced around, and sure enough, the beams of light that had shot into the sky at the beginning had all disappeared. This meant every treasure already had an owner, all of them held by this group. Only nine people were standing here now.

Yet a hundred people had entered this Minor World.

In other words, in just this short time, eighty-nine people had already died fighting over treasures.

He remained silent. Though he had never met those eighty-nine people, they were still so many lives, extinguished just like that in this Minor World. He could not help feeling a little wistful. If not for Fat Dragon, perhaps he too would have died here?

Fat Dragon waved his hand while feigning composure, just about to muddle through this and leave the secret realm safely.

Just then—

Rip!

Among the nine people standing on the plain, three suddenly drew their blades and sprang into action, targeting the nearest people beside them. They gave no one time to react. In merely two or three breaths, only four people remained standing.

Three men in different outfits, each wielding a sharp weapon, surrounded an utterly ordinary-looking young man in the middle. With vicious, cold-blooded gazes, they all stared fixedly at Chen Qiu and Fat Dragon.

"Heh heh."

Before Chen Qiu and Fat Dragon had a chance to speak, the ordinary-looking young man in the center produced a fan from who knew where and casually waved it. With a half-smile, he looked at Chen Qiu and the others. "What, never seen such a low-key young master before?"

"Do you know what I hate most? Those young masters dressed in flashy clothes, with underlings in matching uniforms by their side, terrified their targets won't stand out enough."

"Look—"

"Someone like me has my subordinates wear different clothes, pretending to be Rogue Cultivators mixed into the crowd. When they strike at the crucial moment, who can react in time?"

"These days, cultivating immortality can't rely on brute force alone. You need a brain too."

"I, Huang Shikai, want every treasure in this secret realm. As for you two..."

"How do you want to die?"

As he spoke, Huang Shikai's gaze toward them held a trace of wariness. Everything had originally been proceeding smoothly. Since he had entered this Minor World, its treasures were naturally all meant to be his. Yet two battle maniacs of unknown strength had suddenly appeared, leaving him slightly unsure of himself.

Otherwise, he would not have wasted so many words.

Though the strongest among them was only at the Sixth Level of the Qi Refining Realm, there were still differences even among those at the Sixth Level of the Qi Refining Realm.

"Young Master Huang."

Without the slightest hesitation, Fat Dragon's knees buckled and he dropped to the ground. With a serious expression, he cupped his fists and said, "I have long heard of your reputation. I heard you were handsome, elegant, young, and accomplished. Seeing you today, the rumors were indeed true."

"We want none of the treasures in this Minor World. Can we keep to our own waters and part ways here?"

"Heh, what do you think?"

Huang Shikai, who had still felt somewhat uncertain, immediately found confidence upon seeing Fat Dragon's display. With a cold sneer, he took a step back and waved his hand. "Kill them all."

Leave no survivors, and word would not get out.

Otherwise, if what had happened just now spread, it would still damage his reputation somewhat.

With cowardice like that, they did not look like they had any powerful backing. They were clearly Rogue Cultivators. If they died, they died for nothing.

Chen Qiu, standing to the side, said nothing. He simply lowered his head and wiped the blood from his woodcutter's blade with the hem of his clothes. Then he patted Fat Dragon's shoulder and said softly, "Get up. They can't beat us."

"These waters still need to collide. I rather want the treasures in this Minor World."

The next instant—

Dense resentment abruptly began pouring continuously from Chen Qiu's body. Immediately afterward, more than twenty wolf demons at the First Level of the Qi Refining Realm and one Wolf King at the Sixth Level of the Qi Refining Realm appeared out of thin air beside him.

The bodies of these Wraiths were translucent, appearing somewhat illusory and indistinct. Yet the combined might of the resentment and demonic aura around them was exceedingly terrifying.

Roar!

Several howls suddenly rang out across the plain, one after another!