Chapter 130: The Sword Profound Sect? Mere ants, that is all.

After the couple finished their display of affection, they exited the Reincarnation Realm. This recent ordeal had caused quite a reaction in Lingxuan. Qianmo decided it was best to let her adapt slowly; after all, even he hadn't believed it when he first received the system. This psychological adjustment was something Qianmo could well understand.

Once out of the Reincarnation Realm, the two arrived at a palace. This was the West Continent Imperial Palace. It resembled the imperial palace of the Gama Empire, yet it was far more opulent, with its contents and inhabitants being entirely different. The average cultivation level within the palace was around the Dou Zun realm, something the Gama Empire’s royalty could neither compare to nor hope to match. In the dog-eat-dog world of the Dou Qi Continent, the West Continent Imperial family was like a grandfather to the Gama Empire's royalty.

Today was a day of celebration. Whenever the Heaven and Earth Pavilion held an auction, visitors flocked here, leading to high consumption and a bounty of treasures, magical artifacts, and monster cores. Consequently, the West Continent imperial family would open the palace grounds for the public to roam and watch, charging an entry fee of one hundred gold coins per person, non-refundable regardless of whether one decided to stay or leave. Of course, one could substitute the gold coins with other items of value, and if the value exceeded the entry fee, it would grant the visitor privileges not afforded to commoners.

The Heaven and Earth Pavilion held an auction once a year, so the palace opened its doors annually. While the opening was for the entire day, the specific time for the auction was never fixed; it would be announced as either morning or afternoon, as the Pavilion never held auctions at night. As for the reason, that was simply the rule of the place—every region has its own customs.

The treasures inside the palace were worth many times more than those found outside. The imperial family was the sky, and the outside world was the earth. While a sixth or seventh-tier monster core was considered rare outside, within the palace, such cores were abundant, and eighth-tier ones were not out of the question. Thus, even those without much money would try to find a way in, if only to broaden their horizons.

At this moment, Qianmo and Lingxuan walked slowly toward the palace entrance. Seeing the architecture, Qianmo paused in surprise. These structures were so similar to the Forbidden City of China on Earth that if he hadn't known he had transmigrated, he would have thought he was standing outside that very palace.

Flying was strictly prohibited above the palace grounds out of respect for the Emperor of the West Continent Empire. Legend had it that the previous Emperor possessed the strength of a Nine-Star Dou Sheng. Though many claimed he had fallen, few believed it; for a Nine-Star Dou Sheng to disappear without a trace usually meant they had either gone into seclusion or abdicated to hide. However, to the people of the West Continent, the imperial family was their capital, and they were generally respected. Furthermore, although the previous generation was gone, the current Emperor was also a powerhouse, rumored to be an Eight-Star Dou Sheng. With the support of other imperial kin and veteran ministers, they formed a formidable power that commanded deep reverence from the people of the West Continent.

Therefore, many family descendants would dismount or land a hundred miles away from the palace to proceed on foot. Qianmo and Lingxuan were in no hurry, nor were they worried about space; the grounds were vast. Walking along the outer path, Qianmo noticed that those in the center appeared to be mostly family members, each acting like a big shot. The place was teeming with people.

Qianmo noticed a peculiar issue: it seemed that everywhere outside the main trajectory of the Dou Qi Continent, the cultivation levels were incredibly high. The ratio of powerful cultivators was quite significant. If the West Continent and the Central Plains were to go to war, Qianmo felt the West Continent would completely crush the Central Plains. Although the Central Plains had the eight ancient clans, the power distribution was uneven. When adding the four major pavilions and three major valleys—places that lacked even a single Dou Sheng—if any faction from here were to send a few Dou Shens, the Central Plains would stand no chance. They would be finished!

Qianmo planned to establish his own force here: the Yama Prison. It would be the first formal sect in the Dou Qi Continent and an external manifestation of the Reincarnation Palace. He intended to recruit talent on a large scale before launching an offensive against the Eastern and Northern Continents.

The Dou Qi Continent consisted of five continents, each separated by vast distances: the Central Plains, Eastern Continent, Northern Continent, West Continent, and Southern Continent. The entire Gama Empire region belonged to the Southern Continent, the most remote of them all. This was why the other continents had no interest in invading: it was hard to find and a hassle. The more remote the region, the weaker the combat strength. No wonder the Gama Empire was so pathetic; a single Misty Cloud Sect kept them under its thumb. In the West Continent, such a sect would have been wiped out long ago.

The Central Plains were dominated by the eight ancient clans, while the West Continent was ruled by the five great heavenly sects. Lingxuan’s Lingtian Sect was one of them.

...

At the palace gate stood a row of guards. Qianmo scanned them; every one of them was at least a Five-Star Dou Zun. As he scanned them, the guards suddenly felt as if they were being seen through, making them deeply uneasy.

"Did any of you feel like you were being spied on just now?" one guard asked.
"Yes, it was very uncomfortable."
"Be careful, I have a feeling something is going to happen today..."
"Understood."

The guards exchanged glances, suspecting that a powerful enemy might be present and that the day would not be calm. With so many people, it was inevitable that some troublemakers would be among them.

Qianmo narrowed his eyes, thinking that this was indeed not simple. To be able to detect his mental probe meant the West Continent Imperial family had some tricks up their sleeves. He turned, took Lingxuan’s hand, and said, "If you see anything you like, tell me, and I will buy it for you."
"Okay," Lingxuan nodded.

They reached the gate, and Qianmo pulled out a pouch of gold coins and handed it to the collector. "There are one thousand gold coins here. Keep the change," Qianmo said nonchalantly.
The collector was stunned. "Are there ten of you?"
"Just two."
The collector blinked, then nodded. "Fine, you may enter."

As they entered, some restless characters appeared in the crowd.
"Brother Xin, look, isn't that the Princess of the Lingtian Sect? Why is she with that pretty boy? I heard she has an arranged marriage," said a man dressed in purple, holding a fan, his eyes lecherously fixed on Lingxuan.
Beside him was a man with a sword strapped to his back. He followed the other man's gaze, nodded, and curled his lips. "It is her. But..." His eyes narrowed with a chill, carrying a hint of murderous intent. "That man with her is quite redundant."

This man was Jian Xin from the Jianxuan Sect, one of the five great sects of the West Continent. The one beside him was Jian Wuxin, also from the Jianxuan Sect. Both were around the level of Seven-Star Dou Zuns. They were proud disciples of the sect, known for being womanizers who masqueraded as refined gentlemen, though the extent of their evil deeds remained unknown.
"Brother Xin, shall we go and tease them a bit?" Jian Wuxin said, his lust stirred.
"Of course, how could we miss such an opportunity?" Jian Xin replied with a sinister smile, though he paused to add, "Don't be too reckless. After all, this is the Imperial Palace; it wouldn't be good to cause too much of a scene."
"Don't worry, Brother Xin, I understand," Jian Wuxin nodded.

...

Meanwhile, Qianmo and Lingxuan were already wandering inside, completely unaware that someone was planning to target them. And even if he had known, so what? They were but ants, to be wiped out with a wave of his hand. Qianmo’s main goal was to see if he could find any bargains, specifically looking for gemstones. He had only seen three good ones at the street stalls outside, and he hoped to find better ones here.

Along the way, they visited places Lingxuan liked, such as stalls selling ornaments and jewelry. She bought quite a few things, some as gifts for her sisters and some for herself. They strolled through the area, only taking a brief look at stalls that didn't interest them.

...

They soon arrived at the gemstone market. Qianmo took one look and his eyelids twitched. *How are there so many people? Are they all interested in gambling on stones? Why didn't anyone buy anything outside? Is it because those were just street stalls?* Qianmo shook his head helplessly. Picking up bargains at street stalls was where the real treasures were—they were cheap and plentiful. He looked at the price tag of a stone in front of him: five thousand gold coins. *Wow, really?* His face darkened. He activated his "Sharp Eye" and saw that it was just a worthless rock. Whoever bought this would be losing out.

Lingxuan looked at the stones, though she didn't understand them, she knew they could be profitable. "Husband, with so many people here... will all the good things be picked clean?"
"Not necessarily. Gambling on stones depends on both luck and knowledge. Many people tend to discard stones that look ugly, yet often those 'trash' stones contain the best treasures," Qianmo said in a lowered voice. "Let's go in and take a look; I'll show you how it's done."

After they walked away, Jian Xin and Jian Wuxin, who had been following in the crowd, approached. Jian Xin held a blue-and-white fan, while Jian Wuxin held a purple-and-blue one. "Jian Xin, they've entered the gemstone market," Jian Wuxin remarked.
"Let's go and have some fun," Jian Xin replied.

Qianmo and Lingxuan reached a stall that wasn't very busy. The owner, seeing customers, was delighted. "Ah, young master, come take a look at our stones! They were all brought in today, and there are many treasures among them."
"If that's the case, why is no one buying from you?" Qianmo asked directly.
The owner was momentarily speechless and said awkwardly, "Well... it depends on the people. If others aren't interested, there's nothing I can do. I can't force them."
"You're quite interesting," Qianmo chuckled.

He skillfully touched each stone. "The surface is damp, and if you don't touch it carefully, you won't notice the natural spiritual energy. This only happens with stones brought out at the first light of dawn. Not bad, boss, these are indeed fresh from this morning."
"Haha, one look and I knew you were an expert in the gemstone world!" the owner laughed.

Lingxuan listened, feeling somewhat dazed. She didn't understand, nor did she grasp the logic, but she realized that playing with stones required such deep insight... She looked at Qianmo, discovering that he seemed omnipotent; there was nothing he couldn't do.

"Yo, this stone looks quite pretty," a voice said, sounding quite unpleasant. It was Jian Xin and his companion. Lingxuan turned around; they looked familiar, but she couldn't place them, having been away from the sect for so long.
Jian Xin pretended to look at Lingxuan, feigning surprise. "Isn't this Miss Ling?"
Lingxuan frowned. "Who are you? Do we know each other?"
"Oh, pardon the lack of introduction. I am Jian Xin of the Jianxuan Sect."
"And I am Jian Wuxin of the Jianxuan Sect."

The owner was shocked to hear they were from one of the five great sects of the West Continent! He calmed down, realizing that since it was the annual opening of the palace, members of the major sects were bound to be here.
"You are from the Jianxuan Sect?" Lingxuan asked.
Qianmo looked at them, his eyes turning cold. *Troublemakers again?* His luck today seemed a bit off.

Jian Xin looked at Qianmo with contempt. "And who might this be?"
Since someone asked, Qianmo decided to officially introduce his "Yama Prison" identity. "Qianmo."
"Oh? Qianmo? There is no 'Qian' surname among the great sects of the West Continent. Is this some nameless little sect?" Jian Wuxin asked with disdain. "Pray tell us the name of your sect so we can keep it in mind."
"Hahaha!" the two laughed.

Lingxuan realized they were there to cause trouble. Qianmo’s eyes went cold, but he remained calm. "Yama Prison. Qianmo."
When he said the name, Lingxuan was the first to be stunned. *Isn't it the Reincarnation Palace? Why has it become the Yama Prison?*
"Yama Prison? What is that? Have you heard of it?"
"Never. Sigh, it's clearly a small sect that never leaves its den. Miss Ling, your taste is not very good." Jian Wuxin sneered. "I recall that your Lingtian Sect arranged a marriage for you when you were young. If your fiancé finds out, he is a dead man."

Lingxuan’s heart skipped a beat. She knew about the arranged marriage; the family in question was one of the five great sects: the Tianba Sect. Their young master, Tian Yuhan, was twenty-five years old and already a One-Star Dou Sheng! The Tianba Sect was on par with the Lingtian Sect. Lingxuan was not afraid of them causing trouble for Qianmo, but she was terrified that Qianmo might reject her. She had finally found him, only to be faced with this...

Qianmo understood the situation—Lingxuan was betrothed. However, he didn't care; she was his woman now. Provoked by their baseless taunts, he felt a flicker of anger, but they were just ants. He spoke softly, his voice imbued with a bone-chilling, annihilating murderous intent: "Jianxuan Sect? So what? You are nothing but ants."

Jian Xin and his companion were stunned by his arrogance, their faces darkening as they exuded killing intent.
"Hmph! A mere nobody dares to provoke the dignity of our ten-thousand-year-old Jianxuan Sect!"
Jian Wuxin’s expression turned icy. "I think you're tired of living."
The owner shook his head at Qianmo. *Yama Prison? Never heard of it. And they are up against the Jianxuan Sect, which has been around for ten thousand years. This man is so unwise!*

"However, private combat is forbidden in the palace. I dare you to step onto the Imperial Martial Arena!" Jian Xin said coldly. He was determined to kill Qianmo for insulting the sect’s dignity.
Qianmo looked at them as one would look at ants. Why would a powerhouse be interested in them? He shook his head slightly. "Boring. I am here to accompany my wife shopping; I have no interest in fighting you." He added slowly, "Besides, in my eyes, you are just guys who look impressive on the surface but would be finished in a second if we actually fought. It’s meaningless."

Qianmo took Lingxuan's hand and turned to walk toward the next stall.
"Damn you! You...!" Jian Wuxin roared, wanting to attack, but Jian Xin held him back.
"Private combat is forbidden here. Hold back! If he won't step onto the arena, we will just play with him slowly!" Jian Xin was furious but forced himself to remain calm.
"Fine," Jian Wuxin snorted.
Jian Xin stepped forward. "Since this is a gemstone market, do you dare to gamble with me?"

Qianmo stopped, a sinister, curving smile appearing on his lips. *That is exactly what I wanted you to say.*
"Oh? And why wouldn't I? How do you want to gamble?" Qianmo turned back.
"Right here, at this stall. We each choose a gemstone. Whoever opens one with higher value wins! If you lose, you must step onto the Martial Arena!" Jian Xin said, tapping his fan with contempt.
"Oh? If I lose, I go to the arena. And what if you lose?" Qianmo asked with a laugh.
"Lose? Haha, would I lose? If I lose, you don't have to go to the arena!" Jian Xin replied.
Qianmo sneered. "You idiot. The benefits are all on your side; why would I compete with you?"
"You!! You are too arrogant!" Jian Xin shouted. "If we weren't in the palace, you would already be dead!"
"Wrong," Qianmo shook his head. "You are already corpses; I just couldn't be bothered to finish you off."

The two laughed in rage. "Haha, Miss Ling, is this the man you chose? He talks big without even blushing."
Lingxuan said coldly, "You really are going to die."
The two stopped laughing, their faces grim. "Fine, what do you want then?"
"What do I want? That is a question for you; you are the ones causing trouble."
"How about this: if I lose, I go to the arena. If you lose, you kneel down and shout that you are ants. How about that?" Qianmo proposed.
"You! You bastard, how dare you insult us like that!" Jian Xin roared.
"Give me an answer—do you gamble or not? If there's nothing else, I'm leaving," Qianmo said, tired of the nonsense. "Is your Jianxuan Sect just a sect of loudmouths? All talk and no action?"

Qianmo’s words were like friction, sparking an intense fire.
"Fine! We gamble! When you lose, I will make you pay! Insulting us is equivalent to insulting the Jianxuan Sect!" Jian Xin gritted his teeth.
"Fine, enough talk. Who is picking?" Qianmo asked.
"I will," Jian Xin said, stepping forward to inspect the stones.

The area around the stall was sparsely populated, as others were busy at neighboring stalls. They had heard the argument but didn't pay much attention; such things happened every year.

...

Just then, a group arrived. The leader wore a black robe and was accompanied by a man. If Qianmo were there, he would have recognized him as the Dou Sheng expert he had toyed with in the town. The man beside him was none other than Lingtianba, the Sect Master of the Lingtian Sect.

Lingtianba knew about the auction, but he was only interested in the Heaven and Earth Pavilion. Having heard from the Dou Sheng that his daughter’s husband was visiting, he knew they would pass through the palace, so he had sent the Dou Sheng to investigate.

The Dou Sheng, named Lingsheng, whispered to the Sect Master: "Sect Master, I have investigated. The Princess and her husband are here at the gemstone market, and they have run into Jian Xin and Jian Wuxin of the Jianxuan Sect. The latter has challenged the husband to a wager."
"Her husband? I haven't acknowledged him yet," Lingtianba said with the aura of an authority. "I will go and see for myself if this kid is as terrifying as you say. Besides, we have a marriage alliance with the Tianba Sect; if things go poorly, it could damage our relationship. But fortunately, Tian Yuhan is a man of stature. Let the younger generation resolve this; if he loses to Tian Yuhan, the outcome will be decided."
"I heard Tian Yuhan is now a Five-Star Dou Sheng. When I saw him last time, he was indeed a monster," Lingsheng noted.
"That was over a year ago. With his talent, he should be a Six-Star Dou Sheng by now," Lingtianba said. "If this boy is as strong as you say, I don't worry. I will test him myself."

Lingsheng recalled the previous encounter and shuddered. That "husband" had nearly killed them. "Sect Master, be careful. In my opinion, that boy is more monstrous and dangerous than Tian Yuhan."
Lingtianba, a Nine-Star Dou Sheng, scoffed. "A mere brat, and he can turn the world upside down?! Let's go and see what Ling'er's husband is made of."
Lingsheng followed, shaking his head. *I hope he isn't that monstrous, or else the game is over.* He still remembered the feeling of death brushing past them—he, a peak Five-Star Dou Sheng, backed by several Four-Star Dou Shens, had been crushed by that man in a single move. It was the most terrifying moment of his life.

...

On the other side, Jian Xin had chosen a stone and curled his lips. "Your turn."
Qianmo was calm. He had already seen that Jian Xin's stone contained a gemstone, but only a tiny fragment. Qianmo scanned the pile and picked one up—this one contained a large, blood-red core.
"Boss, how much for this one?" Qianmo asked.
"Three thousand gold coins," the owner replied.
Qianmo tossed over three bags and said to Jian Xin, "Aren't you going to pay? Or are you broke?"
Jian Xin was infuriated. As a prodigy of the Jianxuan Sect, no one had ever accused him of being broke! *Just wait, once you lose, I'll beat you to death! Once we hit the Martial Arena, everyone will be watching. That will be the moment you humiliate yourself.*
"Boss, how much?" Jian Xin shouted angrily.
"Young master, that one is five thousand gold coins," the owner said, trembling.
Jian Xin felt his heart ache. Five thousand gold coins for a broken rock! *Damn it!* He suppressed his pain and tossed the money over. "Here is exactly five thousand."
"Let's go and open them," Qianmo smiled, putting his arm around Lingxuan and walking ahead.