Chapter 78: Sage’s Dual Pupils! Crushing Ghosts, Gods, and Overlords!

“This guy is indeed a troublesome opponent!”

At this moment, Di Shengyi was no longer relaxed and calm as before; his expression gradually turned solemn.

The emergence of the Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi signified that, aside from his perfected-level [Root Method], all his other skills had lost their effect.

Even if used, they would only become weaknesses for Jiang Yan to exploit and break through.

His overall combat style needed a complete overhaul.

“Looks like I’ll have to resort to the Law Seed.”

Di Shengyi silently chanted in his heart. After the Elemental Qi fused into the Foundation, it required some time to germinate and grow into a towering tree.

During this process, spiritual power had not yet been transformed into law power. Using it directly would consume a great amount of energy and could only be done once or twice at most.

Even so, its power far exceeded the Foundation Establishment Stage, capable of crushing opponents with absolute strength, leaving Jiang Yan no chance at all.

Xiang Siyu sat cross-legged, her long legs folded gracefully, gazing at Jiang Yan. The Long Halberd in her hand hummed incessantly, brimming with murderous intent.

She licked her lips, eyes filled with delight. “I am most pleased.”

Participating in the Jiangnan Grand Competition was indeed the wisest decision.

Zhao Yinman, who had been immersed in stroking the coffin, raised her head and looked at Jiang Yan wrapped in Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi. Her elegant brows slightly furrowed, and ripples appeared in her crimson eyes.

She reached out to touch her heart, and for some reason, she suddenly felt…

It hurt.

Ever since becoming a zombie, she had never experienced this sensation again.

But upon seeing the Dragon-Tiger Qi, a vague memory in her mind began to revive. Clearly just a bit away, yet forever out of reach, as though shrouded by an eternal mist.

“What exactly is it?”

Zhao Yinman endured the pain. The blood in her body began to surge. The ends of her crimson hair gradually turned silver. Just as she was about to forcefully recall the memory, a sudden cry of pain interrupted her from below:

“So hot! It’s burning Coffin Grandpa alive!”

Zhao Yinman snapped back to her senses. All anomalies vanished abruptly. She quickly got up, only to discover…

The coffin was on fire.

On the coffin lid, a cluster of crimson-golden flames burned fiercely.

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”

The Coffin Spirit hastily removed the lid and blew on it. Even suppressing it with a Coffin Guard Beast was of no use. The flame didn’t extinguish, as if it would burn forever.

“I’ll handle it!”

Zhao Yinman reached out, grasping the flame. It dispersed and turned into golden threads, flowing back into her body like blood.

“It’s over. Someone left a mark on me. I’m no longer clean.”

The Coffin Spirit looked at the coffin lid, face full of despair. Two crescent-shaped scorch marks had appeared on it.

The master hadn’t even lain down officially, yet it had already been marked by someone else. Moreover, this flame was poisonous, and the burn marks were difficult to remove.

What an utter humiliation!

“You…”

The Coffin Spirit was overwhelmed with sorrow and rage, about to question Zhao Yinman, but she apologized first:

“Sorry.”

Zhao Yinman lowered her head, her expression still indifferent, but one could sense her guilt.

The once furious Coffin Spirit was instantly doused with cold water, its anger diminished. It wasn’t an unreasonable coffin—it understood Zhao Yinman hadn’t done it on purpose.

Besides, she was the master’s colleague, usually helping out a lot. Some respect was due.

But to endure this—it was too much.

The Coffin Spirit muttered, “Don’t think an apology will fix this…”

Zhao Yinman said seriously, “I’ll compensate you.”

“You think I’m the kind of coffin spirit who’s greedy for money?”

The Coffin Spirit, enraged, asked:

“How much compensation?”

What’s done was done—anger was useless. All it could do now was seek some compensation.

After all, finances were always tight at home. As the master’s biggest, best, and most powerful child, the Coffin Spirit also wanted to ease its master’s burdens.

Even if… it meant selling its own body for money.

“I don’t know.”

The Coffin Spirit became furious. Was she mocking it?

Zhao Yinman continued, “I don’t know how much. But as long as it’s within my means, I’ll do my best to make up for it.”

Upon hearing this, the Coffin Spirit whispered, “Really, anything?”

“Mm.” The humanoid zombie nodded.

Lesson two of Modern Zombie 101: If you apologize, do it sincerely.

The Coffin Spirit originally wanted point compensation, but as the words came to its lips, a new idea formed. It leaned in and whispered in her ear.

Zhao Yinman’s eyes showed confusion. “Is this really okay?”

“Just trust me!” the Coffin Spirit swore solemnly. “Don’t tell the master yet—I want to give him a huge surprise.”

“Mm.” Zhao Yinman slightly nodded and pointed at the coffin lid. “Need help fixing it?”

“No need. Just help me carry out the plan!”

The Coffin Spirit snorted. Blood threads spread out and sketched over the burn marks, quickly drawing a red longevity peach.

As a coffin, having a longevity peach design was normal, right?

Meanwhile—

Jiang Yan dispelled the Silver Radiance King and didn’t spare a glance at Ge Xianyao, who had fallen to the ground. He turned and walked away.

Just as he was about to leave the arena, Ge Xianyao’s voice rang out: “Jiang Yan, next time, the winner will definitely be me!”

Jiang Yan didn’t stop and didn’t reply.

Just as he said from the very beginning—

He couldn’t remember the names of the losers beneath his hand!

At this moment, he reached a realization. As the master of the Dark God Embryo, his true opponents were never these peers, but the strongest of the older generation, and even…

The great divine beings and mighty celestial gods who overlook eternity!

‘To fight people, fight the land, fight the heavens, and contend with Them—that’s where the fun lies!’

Jiang Yan chuckled softly.

However, this guy was indeed a fine talent, possessing the Yang Five Phases—truly enviable.

If he was sensible, it would be fine, since they were colleagues after all.

But if he wasn’t, and even tried to stir up trouble…

Then he would be just right to receive a Cataclysmic Lotus, and someday take a tour of the Cataclysmic Sea of the Return Ruins!

Jiang Yan pondered this as he returned, only to see Zhao Yinman and the Coffin Spirit suddenly much closer, their interaction now intimate.

However, when questioned, the Coffin Spirit's gaze drifted as it answered that they simply got along well. Zhao Yinman stood nearby, nodding continuously.

Hmm, two beings who didn’t know how to lie.

The Coffin Spirit now had a longevity peach pattern on its body?

A… tattoo?

What exactly had happened while he was away?

Jiang Yan’s expression grew strange, feeling like a child he had raised was about to be lured away by some delinquent.

Crap, here comes trouble!

After Ge Xianyao’s defeat, all of Jiang Yan’s subsequent challengers surrendered and no longer stepped up to humiliate themselves.

He was happy to enjoy the peace and continued meditating while absorbing Cataclysmic Qi.

Time passed, and before long, the setting sun cast flowing light across the evening glow.

Even with one revival match opportunity, the number of contestants had dwindled to just four.

Though Ge Xianyao lost to Jiang Yan, his own strength still held, securing him fifth place.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yan’s points kept rising, achieving 33 consecutive wins and reaching a score of 99.

He was now tied for first with Di Shengyi, Zhao Yinman, and Xiang Siyu.

All four had remained undefeated from start to finish.

The final victor would be decided among them!

“Hopefully it won’t turn into internal conflict.”

Jiang Yan looked at the flashing light screen on the drone, not wanting to go up against the humanoid zombie.

After all, he knew just how terrifying the strength hidden beneath Zhao Yinman’s seemingly frail frame was—she had been using the Celestial Master’s Talismans path all along.

It could bear the power of Pure Yang bloodline, yet had never been displayed.

She was an incredibly formidable opponent, and also…

The best colleague—obedient to commands, working quietly without any nonsense!

They should take the top-three rewards together!

Ding!

As the drone’s sound rang out, Jiang Yan looked at the screen and breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Yinman VS Di Shengyi!

And his opponent was...

Xiang Siyu!

“Looks like the power of the Law Seed can be saved for now.”

At the edge of Arena No. 1, Di Shengyi chuckled lightly. His feelings were mixed—he couldn’t tell if he was relieved or regretful.

He looked at Zhao Yinman and cupped his hands. “Please enlighten me.”

“Mm.”

Zhao Yinman nodded and with a casual wave, talismans filled the sky, blotting out everything.

This time, to save on costs, she chose to use air as the medium and drew temporary talismans.

They could only last a few breaths, but were just perfect for Thunder Explosion Talismans.

After all, she still needed to save money to help the Coffin Spirit complete its great plan.

However, this scene made Zhang Guanxin widen his eyes in shock and exclaim with a trembling voice:

“Void-drawn talismans?!”

Could her talisman arts already be nearing Grandmaster level?

He would definitely ask his master later about this woman’s true background.

On the other side, in Arena No. 7,

Xiang Siyu appeared. She wasn’t short—standing at a solid 1.75 meters—but the three-meter Long Halberd on her back made her look like a child brandishing an adult’s weapon.

Her eyes were extremely unique, her pupils faintly overlapping and dazzling, resembling the legendary sage phenomenon of dual pupils, said to belong to Cangjie and Xiang Yu.

The vast Cataclysmic Qi filling Jiulong Mountain—half of it emanated from her, endlessly flowing.

Xiang Siyu looked at Jiang Yan with amusement, as if eyeing prey, and didn’t rush to attack. Instead, she asked:

“With such talent, your ancestors must have an extraordinary origin, right? Descendant of Shennong? Taigong Wang? Or Jiang Boyue of Tianshui?”

“Tianxia Alliance—aren’t we all descendants of Yan and Huang? Not many famous ancestors left.”

Jiang Yan replied speechlessly, “So all your achievements require your ancestors to prove? Without your bloodline, you’d be nothing?”

“Heh, we nobles carry noble bloodlines. Throughout history, the saying ‘Could a general or noble be born common?’ was a lie. Behind every move of the great game of the world, nobles held the reins.

Even someone as powerful as Zhang Jiao, whose followers spanned the land and had spies even in the imperial palace, shattered the four-hundred-year fate of the Great Han, but ultimately perished of illness on the battlefield, unable to carry the fate he stirred. In the end, he became nothing more than a pawn, devoured by the aristocrats’ warlords.

Huang Chao shattered the bones of nobles and officials, but his own family were great salt merchants, deeply connected with the elite. Only the Ming Taizu and that loathsome rascal, borrowing the winds of fate, brought about the Dragon and Snake transformation. Throughout the ages—only a few achieved that.”

Xiang Siyu’s eyes blazed like the sun as she spoke in a low, intense voice:

“I understand you. You’re not like me—born with the Overlord bloodline, backed by the Jiangnan family, enjoying a life of luxury and transcendent resources within easy reach.

No matter how hard commoners strive in a lifetime, they can’t match a single day of my effort. I easily achieve what they dream of.”

“I was born to stand above all, destined to trample the masses and become the overlord.”

“In return, I will protect the people, shielding them from the ravages of historical mutations.”

At this point,

Xiang Siyu’s mysterious eyes gazed at Jiang Yan. She extended her hand, boldly declaring, “The Shennong bloodline holds the vitality of humanity, which differs from your demonstrated ability. Taigong Wang mastered strategy and fate, unmatched in deduction and laid plans across eternity. That does sound somewhat similar, but I don’t care.

Whether or not you are a descendant of Jiang Shang, I still hope to reenact a tale like Taigong Wang and Duke of Zhou—assist me in achieving Great Divine Ability, and in return, I shall crown you, appointing you as the Lord of the Nation, enjoying glory for ten thousand generations!”

Below Great Divine Ability—one is called the Lord of the Nation.

One who governs civilization and stands above all.

In Xiang Siyu’s eyes, only those who carried noble bloodlines were worthy of recognition.

The rest were nothing more than cattle and sheep within the pasture of the nation.

And Jiang Yan was merely one of the better specimens among them—fit to be a vassal, raising the masses on her behalf!

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of those in the spectator stands varied.

Some remained calm—especially people like Ge Xianyao. They themselves came from noble families or transcendent-established clans and bore noble bloodlines.

Others looked uncomfortable. They were mostly geniuses who had risen from the common populace, whose paths to success were fraught with thorns. But just as Xiang Siyu said, even after a lifetime of effort, they weren't even qualified to see her back.

And then there were those who were neither happy nor sorrowful—like Shi Ju. His family was simply part of the ordinary working class, but he firmly believed that his path was the right one and would eventually surpass the descendants of noble houses.

On the Judges’ Platform, Zhou Li and others frowned.

Bo Rui sneered, “The bloodline of the Overlord of Jiangnan is certainly noble. But didn’t the Overlord lose to the Han Gaozu? He never even crossed Jiangnan before he died. Are you saying the Liu surname holds the noblest bloodline then?”

Zhou Li frowned and said, “After the historical mutations, some ancient families' bloodlines did indeed receive special legacies. The older they are, the stronger they are—although sometimes... they became food.

Overall, the benefits outweigh the risks.

Xiang Yu, the Overlord of Western Chu, lived during the Qin-Han era and achieved the [Outstanding Deeds] category of [Timeless Achievement].

He was believed to be the reincarnation of ghosts and gods, and was even venerated among the common people as King Xiang Bodhisattva, overlaid with various divine traits. Once mutated, he would be unimaginably terrifying.

His body had even been split into pieces, spawning several great clans. Even today, they remained powerful. Possessing even a trace of his bloodline granted world-shaking power.”

At this point, Zhou Li grew slightly puzzled.

Why did she feel unfamiliar with the Xiang Family of Jiangnan? Were they perhaps recently active and had kept a low profile before?

Had they previously hidden to avoid the other clans?

Was this emergence an attempt to grab a share of the chaos of this era?

Everyone turned their gaze toward Jiang Yan, knowing that he had been chosen by the Historical Long River a month ago to become a History Walker.

Naturally, it was impossible that he came from a noble house.

They had assumed he was of ordinary origin, but now it seemed… he might also possess some noble bloodline?

Many commoner-born geniuses sighed.

The noble scions, however, breathed a sigh of relief—being defeated by Jiang Yan didn’t feel as bad now. At least they could comfort themselves.

It was simply their ancestors losing to his ancestors.

In this age, even ancestry was a competition!

“Interesting.”

Jiang Yan chuckled and said, “There’s nothing wrong with remembering your ancestors’ glory. But always fussing over bloodlines and looking down on others—aren’t those... pets? Are you championship-grade?”

As soon as the words fell, laughter erupted from the spectator stands.

That line was savage!

Many commoner-born geniuses who had been weighed down by the bloodline superiority narrative instantly felt—

So what!

Indeed, to those ancient beings, descendants after countless generations were no different from pets.

Wait, no—there was a difference.

The better descendants could be served on a dinner plate.

My descendants, melt in your mouth!

A delicacy born of my own bloodline, safe and secure, eat with peace of mind!

“Noble descendants may have a high floor, but their ceiling is blocked by their ancestors!”

“We might not have the help of a clan, but our future is boundless.”

“Whether or not Jiang Yan has noble bloodline, just for that one line, I’m his number one fan!”

“……”

The crowd erupted into discussion, and the previously stifling atmosphere shattered completely.

Zhou Li now announced, “The match begins!”

“The ignorant fear nothing!”

Xiang Siyu narrowed her eyes and slowly drew the Heaven-Crushing Dragon Halberd. Killing intent blanketed the arena, suffocating in its intensity—so thick it could bleed.

The blood in her body surged like rivers. On her pale skin, dark red markings began to emerge. Her figure expanded gradually, becoming like a ghost or god. Two bulges appeared on her forehead, taking on a draconic form.

That once-beautiful exterior now turned savage and terrifying!

Xiang Siyu said coldly, “If that’s the case, then let me use my ancestor’s divine weapon—the historical projection of the Heaven-Crushing Dragon Halberd, the Ghost-God Halberd—to send you to…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Heart Monkey had already formed the [Soul-Shattering Bell Seal] on her heart, causing her seven souls to tremble.

“Crap!”

Before Xiang Siyu could react, the Soul-Stirring Bell followed up immediately, shaking her soul and rendering her mind blank.

Crack crack crack!

The massive hand of the Silver Radiance King suddenly gripped her tightly. Bones cracked audibly. The Lawbreaker power pierced through her body and then hoisted her into the air.

Slammed fiercely into the ground—

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Again and again!

Xiang Siyu coughed blood repeatedly, her once-beautiful appearance now utterly disheveled.

Rumble!

The arena trembled continuously. Waves surged in the lake like an apocalyptic scene!

Jiang Yan said calmly, “You think this is a TV drama? That I’d give you time to transform and monologue? With a brain like that, forget being an overlord—even being the Pig King would be a stretch.”

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