Methods too cruel?

Young Master Ruhua looked at Jian Chou with suddenly different eyes, and even Jiang Wenchao, who had been somewhat familiar with Jian Chou before, showed slight surprise.

Instead, Little Jin and Left Liu didn’t think anything of it, only curious about the “methods” Jian Chou mentioned.

Little Jin blinked: “What methods exactly?”

“Cut vertically through the entire body to drain blood, or burn it to death.”

Actually, cutting horizontally to a certain core position would probably kill it too.

But Jian Chou had never done this personally, only heard village farmers mention it, and they were facing not an earthworm but a “black dragon.”

If asked about earthworm matters now, Jian Chou could only mention methods she was fairly confident about.

After speaking, she smiled and looked at Little Jin and Left Liu.

Upon hearing the word “burn,” Little Jin shivered, and Left Liu’s mouth twitched: “So cruel?”

“Yeah, that’s so pitiful…”

Little Jin had grown up in a simple environment, untainted by the killing aura of outside cultivators. Before coming to the Left Three Thousand gathering, he could chat with a small bird for half a day. So knowing the black dragon was originally a pitiful earthworm, he couldn’t bear to be harsh.

Young Master Ruhua let out a scornful laugh, his face carrying a cold smile that, though appearing seductive, sent chills down people’s spines.

With a slightly mocking gaze, he swept over the two and landed on Jian Chou.

“Void Sea dragon hunting—how can you pass the trial without hunting? All beings in the world follow survival of the fittest, the strong prey on the weak. With such kindness, why don’t you go to the Northern Domain’s Chan Buddhist sect? That way you wouldn’t even need to eat meat, let alone kill.”

“…”

Both Left Liu and Little Jin were speechless.

This wasn’t very polite to say. Jian Chou also frowned slightly upon hearing it.

Everyone thought the next moment would see tensions rise over Young Master Ruhua’s words, but unexpectedly, after just a moment, Jian Chou’s furrowed brow relaxed, her expression peaceful and even carrying a hint of smile, sincerely saying: “What Young Master Ruhua said is very true. I shouldn’t have had such kindness—I was too attached to appearances.”

…She admitted her mistake quite quickly.

Actually, Young Master Ruhua also felt he had gone too far. When Jian Chou frowned, he was already wondering if their group of five would split up immediately. He never expected Jian Chou to change her tune the next moment, being so “receptive to advice.”

For a moment, he was stunned, then looked at Jian Chou with eyes full of indescribable joy and ambiguity: “Fellow Daoist Jian Chou is a wonderful person.”

“…”

Left Liu and Little Jin simultaneously got goosebumps on their arms again.

Jiang Wenchao’s gaze toward Young Master Ruhua also became strange.

Instead, Jian Chou, who seemed to already understand Young Master Ruhua’s various eccentric behaviors, remained composed upon hearing this, replying: “I wouldn’t dare claim to be wonderful, but I have thought of quite a few crude tricks.”

“Oh?”

Though Jian Chou called them crude tricks, the others didn’t dare think of them that way.

Regarding dragon hunting and sinew extraction, Young Master Ruhua and the others couldn’t be careless. The moment Jian Chou spoke, they immediately pressed: “It seems Fellow Daoist Jian Chou has some ideas.”

Ideas—she certainly had them.

She looked at Young Master Ruhua’s sea disc, drew a circle around the still-advancing black dragon with her finger: “The dragon is in the sea, extremely fast. For a quick decisive battle, why don’t we trap the black dragon in a limited area, then catch it like a turtle in a jar.”

Upon hearing this, Young Master Ruhua immediately froze.

“What’s wrong?”

Jian Chou thought her plan had some flaw. Just as she was about to continue, seeing his expression was off, she stopped and asked.

Young Master Ruhua slightly raised his slender eyebrows, looking at her with some inquiry: “Nothing, I just feel Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s thinking is different from ordinary people.”

Different from ordinary people?

What did that mean?

Jian Chou didn’t quite understand for a moment. Turning her head, she found Jiang Wenchao also looking at her with strange eyes, and was about to ask something.

But the next moment, she suddenly understood: she knew.

Cultivators of the Nineteen Continents, regardless of their cultivation level, were all far superior to mortals and preferred solo combat.

In the face of absolute power, sayings like “many ants can kill an elephant” simply didn’t exist.

Military tactics like formation and strategy from the mortal world weren’t popular in the Nineteen Continents.

Jian Chou’s current proposal of “surround then attack” seemed to everyone like overly cautious planning with a taste of overall strategic thinking, completely different from the combat modes they were familiar with.

So even though Jian Chou hadn’t fully revealed her plan, everyone had already vaguely guessed her meaning, hence their strange stares.

Understanding this, the confusion in her heart was resolved.

Jian Chou smiled: “I’ve made fellow daoists laugh. I come from an isolated island in the mortal realm where military strategy and formations were commonplace. I’m afraid it’s hard to change these habits quickly.”

“No problem, Jiang actually finds it quite suitable.” Jiang Wenchao smiled, exchanging glances with Young Master Ruhua, both seeing a strange admiration in each other’s eyes. “Though different from ordinary cultivators’ thinking, it should be very interesting. Please continue, Fellow Daoist Jian Chou.”

Young Master Ruhua nodded, agreeing with Jiang Wenchao’s assessment.

Little Jin crunched on his watermelon, his eyes showing anticipation, and Left Liu’s eyes were even brighter.

Now Jian Chou was somewhat speechless.

At the foot of Kunwu Mountain, everyone had also grown curious.

Because uncultivated mortals were relatively weak, most mortals won through numbers, developing many methods for leveraging “quantity.” This naturally had its unique aspects, but cultivators emphasized the word “individual,” often knowing mortal methods but rarely using them, lacking awareness of their application.

Suddenly seeing someone play with new approaches, everyone paid attention.

“Since everyone agrees, I’ll continue.”

In the past, Jian Chou had only seen Xie Buchen deducing on a chessboard. When she entered the room, she would occasionally glance out of curiosity, and he would casually explain a few things. His demeanor was composed and confident, as if all worldly affairs were within his grasp.

But now, with things falling to her, there was naturally some unfamiliarity.

Fortunately, she now bore the title of Yashan’s Grand Senior Uncle. In terms of seniority, reputation, and even current combat power, she was not inferior to anyone present. Despite her unfamiliarity, she spoke with confidence, and no one detected anything unusual.

“To trap the black dragon, the area cannot be too large—formations would be best. Do any fellow daoists know formations?”

Little Jin shook his head in confusion.

Left Liu wiped cold sweat frantically: “Well… I’m self-taught, don’t know any.”

Jiang Wenchao said: “My studies aren’t diverse, only roughly familiar with the basics.”

Having said this, he looked at Young Master Ruhua.

Young Master Ruhua immediately smiled seductively, lazily looking at Jian Chou, his eyes full of rippling charm, almost as if trying to seduce someone.

“In these Nineteen Continents, whatever ordinary people know, I know. Formations—I know a bit, but it should be enough for today’s matter.”

“…”

Was this modesty or arrogance?

Hearing Young Master Ruhua’s words, his learning was not only diverse but his attainments were probably above ordinary people.

Worthy of being ranked second by Zhilin Sou.

Jian Chou was silent for a moment, hiding her thoughts, and nodded: “If so, the first step is easy. Please work with me shortly to set up a formation covering ten li in radius to surround the black dragon. Next, I need to know what unique Dao seals you all obtained from the Void Sea.”

Void Sea Dao seals?

Everyone exchanged glances, showing no suspicion, and spoke one by one.

Starting with Jian Chou and ending with Left Liu, the five had obtained different seals.

Jian Chou’s useless island-controlling ability needn’t be mentioned. From Tang Buye she had obtained Deep Sea Binding with restraining abilities, plus the incredibly powerful Water Void Escape.

Comparing people was depressing—even Jian Chou felt unlucky considering it.

Among the other four: Young Master Ruhua held the sea disc, allowing him to observe the entire Void Sea; Jiang Wenchao could communicate with fish, speaking with all sea creatures; Little Jin could turn all seawater he passed through into solid ice that ordinary people couldn’t break, called “Stumbling Sea Stone”; finally, Left Liu possessed invisibility in the Void Sea.

The others’ seals seemed unremarkable, but Jian Chou focused on questioning Left Liu.

Unexpectedly, Left Liu himself didn’t understand his seal well.

The saying goes “know yourself and your enemy to win every battle.” Jian Chou found Left Liu’s seal interesting, so before departing, she had Left Liu do two things:

First, use the invisibility seal on someone else;

Second, while one person was already invisible, use the seal on a second person.

They easily verified two things: Left Liu’s invisibility seal could be used on others, not just himself, but could only be used on one person at a time. To make a second person invisible, the first person’s invisibility would automatically break.

With this conclusion, Jian Chou’s thinking became much easier.

Her eyes flashed with divine light. Looking at the sea disc again: “The black dragon has changed direction, heading toward us. Why don’t we set up the formation here? Young Master Ruhua?”

“At Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s disposal.”

Hearing Jian Chou call his name, Young Master Ruhua smiled so kindly and seductively that even the flower buds on his robes bloomed considerably.

Hearing this, Jian Chou’s mouth twitched: it was just cooperation—how had it become “disposal”?

She wanted to correct Young Master Ruhua’s word choice, but remembering the various statements in Black Wind Cave that were even more terrifying than current remarks, she swallowed back the words about to leave her tongue.

With a completely nonchalant and calm expression, Jian Chou remained unmoved by Young Master Ruhua’s seduction, only saying: “Then let’s begin directly. Please trouble Little Jin to use the Stumbling Sea Stone technique to create formation bases, while Young Master Ruhua and I complete the formation.”

“Alright.”

Little Jin straightforwardly agreed, quickly finished his last bite of watermelon, and ran barefoot to the area Jian Chou had marked on the sea surface.

“Bang bang bang!”

Countless sounds of splashing waves erupted on the sea surface.

Deliberately controlling his strength, each time Little Jin landed, only a small ice spike emerged, looking completely inconspicuous.

Jian Chou and Young Master Ruhua followed, using these ice spikes as foundations to place spirit stones needed for the formation. Soon they had formed a semicircle on the sea surface, deliberately leaving a small gap.

Since the black dragon hadn’t arrived yet, the formation’s final step would wait until the black dragon entered before closing, ensuring it wouldn’t notice anything abnormal and would obediently enter the trap.

“Pop.”

A spirit stone was flicked out with a finger, accurately embedding in the ice spike.

Jian Chou looked back—the black dragon was still some distance away.

Young Master Ruhua was at the other end of the gap, while Jiang Wenchao, Left Liu, and Little Jin stood opposite Jian Chou.

“Now that the formation is complete, what should we do next, Fellow Daoist Jian Chou?”

Jiang Wenchao was first to ask.

Jian Chou smiled, her face showing heroic spirit.

“Based on the black dragon’s direction and speed, it will automatically enter the trap in about half a quarter-hour. Then please Left Liu act to make Young Master Ruhua invisible, while Young Master Ruhua closes the entire formation—the black dragon will be our turtle in a jar. And Fellow Daoist Jiang can communicate with the ‘fish’ of the Void Sea. Jian Chou presumes to ask Fellow Daoist Jiang to try talking with the black dragon—courtesy before force.”

Courtesy… courtesy before force?

Jiang Wenchao was suddenly speechless: weren’t they being too polite to this earthworm?

At the foot of Kunwu Mountain, many of Jian Chou’s “defeated opponents” now felt the urge to drag her from the Void Sea and beat her up!

What happened to “fight at the slightest disagreement”? Now you’re talking about “courtesy before force” to an earthworm?!

What do you take us for?!

Even some sect masters and elders felt speechless hearing this.

Only Real Person Hengxu’s eyes lit up after hearing Jian Chou’s brief arrangement.

“Courtesy before force” didn’t mean disagreeing with “survival of the fittest.” On the contrary, Jian Chou had just been persuaded by Young Master Ruhua, showing she clearly understood this rule—there was no real soft-heartedness toward the earthworm.

She probably just hoped for a better solution to the dragon sinew extraction.

But this wasn’t Real Person Hengxu’s focus.

What he heard was Jian Chou’s meticulous thinking, comprehensive consideration—a kind of “strategic vision.”

The Left Three Thousand gathering allowed only one person to ascend the One Person Platform for supreme opportunity, so all participants should be opponents fighting to the death. But whether in the first or second trial, everything was different from what they’d encountered before.

Simply because among the participants was Jian Chou.

As Yashan’s Grand Senior Sister and Grand Senior Uncle, though she’d entered the sect recently, she naturally carried Yashan’s distinguished aura. Unlike Lu Xiangleng’s aloofness, she gave people a spring breeze feeling with gentle goodwill, inspiring closeness and trust. Though her cultivation wasn’t high, her combat power was formidable with repeated amazing feats. When action was needed, she was decisive and ruthless, matching any opponent—truly first-class…

Such a cultivator unknowingly possessed strange cohesive power, turning most “opponents” into comrades fighting alongside her.

Having one Qian Que in the first trial’s Fish Eye Tomb wasn’t significant, but by the second trial’s Void Sea battle, everything was revealed.

Whether Young Master Ruhua, Jiang Wenchao, or Lu Xiangleng, all had gained some fame among the Middle Domain’s new generation cultivators. They naturally weren’t simple-minded people like Left Liu or Little Jin, yet they all trusted Jian Chou and gathered because of her.

Moreover…

They handed everything to Jian Chou for planning, actually acknowledging her “leader” position.

Everything seemed to tell everyone: Yashan’s Grand Senior Sister naturally inspired trust, should be at the center of everyone’s confidence, becoming a team’s leader.

But Real Person Hengxu understood clearly—none of this was natural, all accumulated from countless past experiences.

Coming from an isolated mortal island and starting cultivation so late, everything from the mortal world was deeply rooted in her. Even after entering the cultivation path, these things were etched in her bones.

Because of these things, she possessed thinking different from most Nineteen Continents cultivators.

For instance, in this small episode of five people teaming up to hunt dragons, she displayed strategic vision, meticulous and thorough consideration…

“Though this woman entered the cultivation path late, lateness has its advantages. Her future prospects are probably limitless.”

Thinking this, Real Person Hengxu suddenly sighed, then thought of his thirteen disciples, shaking his head: “Among my thirteen disciples, in careful thinking and comprehensive consideration, probably most cannot match her. Only Buchen has strategic depth and might be able to defeat her.”

“Of course, what kind of person is my Jian Chou?”

Hearing Real Person Hengxu’s praise, Fudao Shanren wasn’t embarrassed at all, instead beaming with pride.

“Anyone I’d take as a disciple—how could they be mediocre? Besides, Jian Chou has cultivated for a short time with unlimited potential. As for your world-saving genius, I’ve never seen him… hehe, heaven knows!”

Never seen…

“Soon.”

Real Person Hengxu’s expression was calm, his eyes that understood heavenly mysteries flashing with slight amusement.

But simultaneously, there was obscure worry.

The formation at Qingfeng Hermitage’s hidden realm gate probably couldn’t hold Xie Buchen much longer—it was just a matter of when he returned to Kunwu.

Originally, this Left Three Thousand gathering should have been when this new generation’s foremost Kunwu disciple shone brilliantly, but unfortunately…

Initially, people still remembered him, wondering how exciting it would be if he came.

But now, everyone’s attention was on the Void Sea, on that composed and tranquil female cultivator. As for the legendary “Xie Buchen,” who still remembered?

On the cliff of Kunwu Mountain, in front of the small wooden house, Gu Qingmei held several books, looking up only to see the tightly closed door with its copper lock.

She knew this was also one of Senior Brother Xie’s habits.

Now pale-faced, heavily injured from her battle with Jian Chou, she was fortunate that Kunwu sect elders intervened to prevent worse consequences. No matter how weak she was, if she wanted to enter now, this small copper lock couldn’t stop her.

She just didn’t want to.

Between her beautiful brows was complete infatuation.

Gu Qingmei stood dejectedly before the door, slowly sitting on the steps, then looking up at the sky above.

The Void Sea covered the entire sky over Kunwu territory, its light blue radiance even projecting onto the ground. Not only from Kunwu Mountain, but even from Nine-Head River bay, one could clearly see the overhead situation.

Jian Chou…

She never seemed to be alone, always having people willing to fight alongside her.

Just like now, with Tongling Pavilion’s genius Jiang Wenchao who had been dormant for thirty years, the mysteriously powerful Little Jin, the roguish Left Liu, not to mention the previously unapproachable Lu Xiangleng.

Even the notoriously eccentric Young Master Ruhua of Wuyi Sect harbored goodwill toward her…

Speaking of which, perhaps because they both came from isolated mortal islands, Gu Qingmei felt this Yashan Grand Senior Sister carried something similar to Xie Buchen.

Though not as capable as Xie Buchen, her methods in the Void Sea reminded her of Xie Buchen’s expression when holding military texts and occasionally discussing certain matters.

She was curious about these things, but Xie Buchen rarely wanted to discuss them, leaving only fragments for her to guess.

Perhaps geniuses shared certain commonalities?

And herself…

Kunwu’s so-called precocious genius—having distance from Senior Brother Xie was understandable, since he was the thirteenth true disciple Chief Hengxu had deliberately traveled to the mortal island to recruit. If he weren’t brilliantly talented, that would be wrong.

But what about Jian Chou?

Where exactly was this female cultivator better than herself?

Gu Qingmei still couldn’t understand.

Being eliminated in the first trial was something she never expected, and Qian Que’s furious words from that day echoed in her ears again.

“Bullying with power the moment you entered the Killing Red small realm! How impressive Kunwu is!”

“People say Kunwu and Yashan fought side by side six hundred years ago, yet you stabbed someone in the back…”

“When did the Killing Red small realm become yours? Kunwu’s, your family’s, or your Senior Brother Xie’s? You got a mere red disc and dare show off—I dare say that bone jade originally belonged to Senior Sister Jian Chou! Yours? Unable to compete with others, you assume they’re working against you! Bah!”

…

She had clearly discovered that Killing Red small realm first, and the Dijiang Guyu was something she wanted to give Senior Brother Xie.

How did she become the one in the wrong in others’ mouths?

Getting nothing while earning a bad reputation.

“Did I do wrong…”

Gu Qingmei thought carefully along Qian Que’s words, sometimes doubting, sometimes wavering, ultimately confused and shedding tears.

“Why are you here!”

A voice of surprise mixed with anger suddenly came.

Hearing this voice no longer carry its usual calm and affection, Gu Qingmei’s heart jumped. She quickly rose from the steps, looking up to see Gu Pingsheng.

Gu Pingsheng was Kunwu’s executive elder, his black hair mixed with white strands. Though skilled in appearance preservation, he didn’t maintain his youthful looks, being someone with children.

Always stern, seeing Gu Qingmei here, his face immediately darkened.

“Not resting properly in your room to heal—what are you doing out here?!”

“I…”

Gu Qingmei felt stifled staying indoors. Though injured, she had read books borrowed from Xie Buchen for a while but felt restless, so she came to watch over Xie Buchen’s house. She never expected to encounter Gu Pingsheng here.

“I… I just felt uncomfortable staying inside and wanted to see Senior Brother Xie’s place…”

Hearing this, Gu Pingsheng’s face darkened further.

“Shut up!”

“Father?”

Gu Qingmei looked at him in surprise, not understanding.

“Always thinking about running to your Senior Brother Xie instead of focusing on cultivation! Look at your Senior Brother Xie’s cultivation level, then look at yours! Not thinking of progress, obsessing over crooked paths—you’ve forgotten everything I taught you!”

“Crooked paths?” Gu Qingmei couldn’t believe her ears. “You’re calling me crooked? Father, are you also siding with Yashan, siding with her? If she hadn’t interfered in this gathering, how could I have lost? Father—”

“Slap!”

All sound stopped abruptly.

Gu Pingsheng, in his fury, finally couldn’t bear it and slapped her hard!

“Even now, you still don’t know your mistake?!”

Gu Qingmei’s entire face turned to the side.

Gu Pingsheng’s slap was too forceful, leaving five finger marks on her face, her cheek swelling.

She couldn’t hold the books steady, dropping them everywhere.

The wind blew, rustling through the pages with their black ink characters.

Looking at those ink characters, tears immediately rolled from Gu Qingmei’s eyes. She bit her teeth, clenched her fists, slowly turned to face Gu Pingsheng, but couldn’t speak.

He had actually struck her…

Because of an insignificant Yashan Jian Chou?

Because she had always admired Senior Brother Xie and he thought she wasn’t focused on progress?

Because she had embarrassed Kunwu, embarrassed him, shamed them?

Because she had done wrong?

Wrong…

Whose fault was it really?

Gu Qingmei’s mind was chaotic, her body trembling. Holding back tears but keeping her eyes wide open, she stared at Gu Pingsheng standing before her, suddenly screaming hysterically: “Wrong? Who’s wrong? Father, I’m not wrong, I’m not wrong!!!”

…

Gu Pingsheng stood there, looking at this daughter he had cherished in his palm, suddenly feeling waves of cold throughout his body.

Above the Void Sea.

Jian Chou and the other four had arranged the formation, finally deciding to have Young Master Ruhua complete the formation’s final part. After finishing her tasks, Jian Chou naturally moved toward Jiang Wenchao, Left Liu, and Little Jin.

The formation immediately changed.

Young Master Ruhua stood at the circular formation’s gap, already covered by Left Liu’s invisibility seal—now invisible.

Jian Chou and the others stood opposite the gap, concealing their auras as much as possible, waiting for the black dragon’s arrival.

Soon, the sound of sea waves came.

“Splash…”

A body dozens of zhang long swept through the deep sea, raising countless white foam waves. A black shadow rolled in the waves, scales glinting with sinister light. But looking carefully, one would notice this huge black dragon swam while trembling, its posture carrying indescribable fear and…

Wretchedness.

As if constantly guarding against something.

“It’s coming.”

Jian Chou whispered, holding her breath, waiting quietly.

Jiang Wenchao remained relatively calm, Little Jin had already grabbed Jiang Wenchao’s sleeve, too nervous to breathe, and Left Liu had shrunk behind Jian Chou with a frightened expression.

“Boom!”

A huge splash crashed over.

The enormous black dragon shook its head, looking around. Seeing nothing unusual, it swam forward.

Perfect!

Right through the gap they had left, right along the black dragon’s predicted path—not off by a bit.

Swoosh swoosh swoosh!

The invisible Young Master Ruhua acted.

Several beams of light flew from the void into the seawater in various directions. Almost as they disappeared, with a “buzz” sound, centered on the black dragon, a faint crimson light rose from all sides like light gauze, covering ten li in radius!

“Roar!”

The moment this “gauze” appeared, the black dragon immediately noticed, almost in terror curling its body into a circle, randomly shaking its head as if asking: What happened, what happened?!

“I knew it…”

So stupid.

Standing outside the gauze, watching the panicked black dragon inside with an expression of “I’m about to cry,” Jian Chou only felt like banging her head against the ground: at this moment, she completely understood Xia Houshe.

If she could use swift methods to kill this stupid dragon and restore the dragon race’s dignity, she would be willing!

Little Jin and Left Liu had both frozen, completely feeling this was deceptive.

And Jiang Wenchao…

His expression was quite unusual.

Throughout the sea bottom, countless voices converged into his consciousness at this moment, including one voice that was particularly terrified and unique, carrying thick sobbing, coming from…

The black dragon in the center.

The extremely troubled Jian Chou pressed her temple, just about to remind Jiang Wenchao about “courtesy before force,” but turning her head, she only saw Jiang Wenchao’s indescribable expression as he looked at the black dragon.

“Fellow Daoist Jiang? What’s wrong…”

Jiang Wenchao was silent for a long time, then turned to look at Jian Chou, his voice somewhat strange: “I heard what it said.”

“You heard?”

Previously Jiang Wenchao could speak with fish. Jian Chou wasn’t sure if he could communicate with the “black dragon,” but unexpectedly, as soon as the black dragon was trapped and scared half to death, he heard it?

Jian Chou was immediately delighted, quickly asking: “What did it say?”

“…”

Still a brief silence.

Jiang Wenchao seemed to organize his feelings before speaking in a nearly rigid, calm tone: “It wants to go back underground to eat soil.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Silence filled the current Void Sea.

“Roar—”

Wuwuwu!

What is this place?!

Why are there monsters everywhere in this water?!

The coiled dragon looked up, left, right, shivering, opening its mouth in earth-shaking dragon roars: What is this cursed place! I don’t want to be in the water, I want to go back underground to eat soil, eat soil!!!