Fate Pattern: Red Phoenix Star Stirring [Seeking Monthly Votes, Investment]

"Congratulations, Host, for causing the death of an Other Shore cultivator. Reward: two-star Fate Pattern, Peach Blossom Fate, Red Phoenix Star Stirring.

For every additional confidante, you may gain an extra boost in charm."

As the barbarian beast rider leader was annihilated inch by inch by the power of the Void in Jiang Ming's palm and reduced to dust, the system prompt sounded once more.

Another Fate Pattern.

That damn system was screwing him over again.

Fortunately, it was only a two-star Fate Pattern.

His first Fate Pattern had turned him into a Jinx Star, aside from allowing him to plunder a bit of fortune whenever he killed someone.

And this time, it had given him a Peach Blossom Fate and Red Phoenix Star Stirring Fate Pattern, boosting his charm. Did Jiang Ming look like a man lacking charm?

A man like him was brimming with talent, unmatched in comprehension and brilliance. Looking back on the experiences of his three lifetimes, aside from bad luck, he lacked nothing.

As thoughts raced through his mind, Jiang Ming heard a voice say, "Great Demon Ape King, could you let me go before you kill the enemies?"

The Lightning Bird, clutched in Jiang Ming's left hand, felt as though it would be reduced to ashes the next instant. It was so terrified it nearly shit itself.

Jiang Ming casually tossed the Lightning Bird away, setting it free. Then he looked toward the woman atop the unicorn horse, stepped forward, used Shrinking the Earth to an Inch, and immediately threw a punch—Long-Armed Demon Fist.

Within Jiang Ming's Sea of Bitterness, his violet-gold True Essence Sea boiled. A phantom of a demon ape that stood beneath the heavens, capable of plucking stars and seizing the moon, roared in fury. As he punched, the Void itself trembled faintly and rippled. His fist shot forth like a small mountain range stretching across the sky, draining all the surrounding spiritual energy. The black fist descended like an ancient demonic mountain, bringing an incomparable, terrifying pressure.

"Whoosh!"

The woman riding the unicorn horse formed a hand seal. In that instant, a Purple Copper tower no larger than a grain of rice flew from her mouth. The copper tower expanded in the wind, transforming into a seven-story giant tower. Purple light blazed as it suppressed heaven and earth, bearing down on Jiang Ming.

"Clang!"

Jiang Ming's fist, burning with black demonic flames, smashed heavily into the Purple Copper giant tower, producing an earth-shaking boom.

Jiang Ming rapidly retreated, astonished. This kind of power was absolutely not something an Other Shore cultivator should possess. Could this woman already be a Dao Palace Secret Realm cultivator?

"Refine—"

Making his decision without hesitation, Jiang Ming rapidly refined the Variant Frost Source in his Sea of Bitterness. It transformed into streams of essence that merged into his violet-gold True Essence Sea. At the same time, the essence within his Sea of Bitterness rapidly replenished the True Essence Sea. Dragon-and-Phoenix Cries, ape howls—a towering demonic Divine Form resembling a World-Overturning Demon Ape flickered into view.

"Boom!"

Jiang Ming's aura rose another level as he entered the twelfth layer of the Qi Refining Stage. Ordinary people could not use such a hasty, brutal method of breakthrough. If they lacked the strength to follow through, wouldn't they fail their breakthrough?

Fortunately, the Shrouding Method was currently at a low cultivation level, so Jiang Ming used it as a reserve sea of essence. A great quantity of Sea of Bitterness essence belonging to the Heavenly Tyrant Body entered the Sea of Heaven suspended above his Sea of Bitterness.

Jiang Ming naturally completed his breakthrough. Borrowing the violent aura produced by it, the black demonic energy around him swirled like a black tornado. Pitch-black flames surged like a raging tide, dark radiance flickering more dazzlingly than the blazing sun, as though capable of snaring souls. His black fist grew larger and larger, smashing down with incomparably tyrannical force. It struck the approaching Purple Copper tower again and again, unleashing thunderous "clang clang clang—" booms that shook the Void.

With every collision, heaven and earth around them seemed to tremble. Terrifying shockwaves swept in every direction, scattering everyone else and preventing them from approaching the center of the battle.

"Useless. Today, I will definitely capture you, ferocious ape. The purer your bloodline, the more immortal seedlings you can cultivate for my Qixia Sect in the future."

The woman's voice was pleasant and crisp, like silver bells chiming. She remained utterly calm in the face of Jiang Ming's attacks.

"Suppress!"

At the woman's soft cry, purple mist billowed. The Purple Copper tower enlarged again, growing with the wind as purple radiance flowed across it. Complex Dao Patterns intertwined, appearing immensely heavy as they sought to draw Jiang Ming into the tower.

"Transform!"

Jiang Ming shouted and pulled out his Life-Bound Sword from his ear. Under the enhancement of the Seventy-Two Transformations, however, it became a black iron staff.

The next moment, his body rapidly expanded. The Long-Armed Demon Ape's innate treasure technique, Law of Heaven and Earth, took effect. He swung the black iron staff and smashed it viciously down.

"Boom!"

Though the Purple Copper tower was a treasure nurtured by the Dao Palace Secret Realm, it still could not withstand Jiang Ming's attack. The jet-black iron staff burned with black demonic flames and possessed incomparable destructive power. With one strike, the Purple Copper tower let out a shattering boom and split into pieces.

The next instant, a powerful shockwave spread outward, sweeping through heaven and earth with unstoppable force. Black demonic energy surged like the waters of the underworld river.

The woman let out a muffled groan on the spot. The destruction of her treasure inflicted a backlash upon her divine sense, and blood stained the corner of her lips. She stared at Jiang Ming in shock. That iron staff was an excellent treasure.

But this was not over. In the next moment, her body shot backward. Purple radiance bloomed from within her, and she summoned a crimson spear. As the current chief disciple of the Qixia Sect, she might not be called a Saintess or Divine Maiden, but her status was still among the highest in this land.

Naturally, she possessed one or two trump cards. This was a treasure refined by a Four Extremes Secret Realm cultivator, comparable to a Lesser-Grade Dharma Treasure above a Spirit Artifact.

Jiang Ming stood where he was, demonic energy surging around him as he swung the black-gold staff in his hand. His powerful battle strength caused the surrounding Void to twist faintly.

"Qixia Sect, Chu Miaomiao. I never expected you to begin traveling so early. Since that's the case, you needn't leave."

At that moment, clouds and mist swirled all around. A woman in white descended like an immortal from beyond the heavens, pure and flawless. She abruptly intervened, extending a crystalline jade finger. With one finger, a lotus blossomed and released its fragrance, perfectly blending with the natural scenery of heaven and earth. It was as though she, her slender finger, and Chu Ruoshui had all become part of the spiritual beauty of this world, forming a breathtaking painting.

Seeing this, Jiang Ming wanted to strike with his staff, but he found it beneath him to take advantage of someone in danger. He could not do such a thing. If he relied on his own strength, however, he would not show the slightest mercy in crushing a beauty.

No, she couldn't stop her.

In that case, he would steal the kill.

Boom!

Jiang Ming punched one end of the black-gold staff. In truth, he controlled the sword with his heart. With a "pfft," it struck before Yan Ruyu's slender finger could descend, piercing through that little woman's head. The trace of Great Freedom God-Demon Sword Intent contained within directly annihilated her primordial spirit.

"Congratulations, Host, for causing the death of a Dao Palace Secret Realm cultivator with the Kidney Divine Treasure. You have obtained a three-and-a-half-star reward: A Match Made Across a Thousand Miles. The finest woman in the selected region has already been chosen."

Hearing the system prompt, Jiang Ming could not help looking at Yan Ruyu. He was certain that, in this area, a woman so formidable and perfect could only be Yan Ruyu. Did that mean she was the one bound to him?

But damn system, if it bound Yan Ruyu now, before she obtained the Demon Emperor's Armament, wouldn't something go wrong?

Would it simply get her killed?

Or would it make her so unlucky that she failed to obtain the Demon Emperor's Armament altogether?