Reverend Ecstasy

That Xinzi's fusion with the Heavenly Dao and mastery of the Dao Breath multiplied his growth pace didn't surprise Qiu Meng. He'd seen that much in the various timelines, and so came mentally prepared to be no match for his enemy.

But "pace" here was the primary issue. The rate at which the Dao Breath enhanced the might of Xinzi's body, Dao Foundation and soul was way faster than it was in any other timeline -- at least three times faster. The Dao Breath Alone couldn't explain this.

'He must have found a way to fuse his Five Elements Transmutative Technique with the Heavenly Dao and his Swallowing Skill -- adding them all to his Dao Breath. So, this is no longer just Shenzhuo's Dao Breath, but a bridge between the Dao Breath and the Primordial Breath that Hengye Zhen will later shake the world with.' By relying on his knowledge of the future, Qiu Meng saw through the root of Xinzi's breakneck growth pace.

This wasn't supposed to happen before another decade, and realizing that Xinzi had started to beat the clock, Qiu Meng floundered. The faster Xinzi grew, the sooner his actions, successes and failures would lead to the birth of Bazun: the entity whose name alone filled Qiu Meng with despair.

At Qiu Meng's right, Zuixian fared no better -- and for the first time in his existence felt petrified before another man. Pulling in a deep breath, Qiu Meng stood up, raising Zuixian by the shoulder before bowing at Xinzi.

In other circumstances, the almost servile humility that Qiu Meng displayed before Xinzi would have puzzled Zuixian, but too confused and overwhelmed by the situation, the Wine Eccentric couldn't take note of his sworn brother's atypical behavior.

"We will not waste your time. True, Zuixian and I are not just here to buy your wares. They're undoubtedly the best of the Eastern Continent, and we'd be thrilled to have some, but beyond, we want an insurance policy...for the Nameless Sword Mountain's people." Qiu Meng started, shifting both Xinzi and Zuixian's focus towards him.

"Oh? Now that sounds a lot more interesting. Do continue, Qiu M--Chen, I mean Chen," Xinzi messed with Qiu Meng's nerves, but already prepared for the jokes that Xinzi would likely play on him, Qiu Meng didn't lose his composure.

"Till now, the 29th Horde took a soft approach, relying on espionage, sabotage and assassins to destabilize the Dongli state. They've never sent any expert above Beast King level or tried large-scale offensives.

The 29th Horde restrained itself, because under the cover of sabotage and assassination, their leader...wanted them to look for someone. After three months of meticulous search, they firmly believe that that person isn't in Dongli anymore. You and I both know that they're wrong, that person just hid well. But they don't know, and with no more reason to restrain themselves, will soon launch a large-scale offensive on the Dongli state's cultivation world," Here, Qiu Meng paused and lowered his head further.

His words shocked Zuixian, who never expected the 29th Horde's secretive moves to hide such motives.

"Others will not believe me, but you will, because unlike the rest, you know that my information comes from reliable sources. The 29th Horde might be the weakest, but it's still more than ten Dongli states can resist. A deviously cunning empress leads the mysterious beasts. She knows that Xihai is under the Divine Tailor's protection, so she'll go around it and have her troops topple the Nameless Sword Mountain first, before pouring on the Dongli royal family and local warlords. Afterward, she'll seek you out to recognize your ownership of Xihai and sign a non-aggression pact. You...have nothing to lose from accepting her terms. But the Nameless Sword Mountain...will not survive her invasion.

Shui Haoyue...will not survive." Qiu Meng stressed these last words, trembling as if failing to contain the emotions rising up his body.

"Today, you might not care, but if you don't do anything about it, in 100 years, you will not have enough tears to shed on her grave. So Xinzi, I beg you to use your power...to protect the Nameless Sword Mountain. In exchange...I will give you the Myriad Essence Stone." Here, Qiu Meng fell on his knees, and with no reservation, kowtowed at Xinzi. The performance moved Zuixian's heart, but ever a master comedian, Xinzi didn't buy it.

'Qiu Meng, Qiu Meng, how did you protect your soul from my Glorious Eye of Heaven? Yes...while I can track your every move and listen to your emotions somewhat, I do not have access to the futures you've witnessed through the River of Time. Why?' The real Xinzi would have taken a moment to appreciate Qiu Meng's performance. But with the Heavenly Dao keeping his emotions in check, Xinzi couldn't care less.

'...' Silent as a stone pebble, Qiu Meng kept his back bent and his forehead pressed on the ground, refusing to answer.

'Mhm...let me guess, you used the Mantra of Sacrifice. But what did you sacrifice? All sacrifices have to come from you, and I don't see anything missing. Unless...you mortgaged your soul.'

'...' Again, Qiu Meng stayed silent. But relentless, Xinzi pressed on.

'Really? That's what you did? Just so I couldn't see the future through you, you mortgaged your soul to the Golden Lotus? And for what? You do realize that I can still see through all the people around you, right? Moreover, it works because my Glorious Eye of Heaven is incomplete. When it truly awakens, the Golden Lotus will not be able to stop it from reading what you hide.

How many years do you have left?'

'...1,036 years or my time of death -- whichever comes first.' Qiu Meng broke silence, and intrigued by this oddly precise number, Xinzi narrowed his eyes at him.

'1,036? That's barely half of a human Divine Transformation expert's lifespan. Why? What happens in 1,036 years that made you so convinced that if you couldn't defeat me by then, you might as well become a wandering soul in the Golden Lotus' Bitter Sea?'

'...'

'Still the silent treatment? Are you not afraid that I will get bored and kill you for shits and giggles?'

'...No. You can't kill me now -- not before finding a way to steal my Ancient Spirit Origin.'

'True.'

A dreary silence settled in, and for a moment, the sworn brothers held their breaths -- uncertainty gnawing at their sanity as they wondered what Xinzi's next move would look like.

"Gentlemen, you've successfully passed the Survival Mode...for now. Let's meet again in the Nameless Sword Mountain. Till then..." With an enigmatic smile, Xinzi flung his sleeve, sending a pair of scented sachets toward Qiu Meng and Zuixian.

"Enjoy. Don't worry, these aren't rigged," Xinzi said and waved his hand, conjuring colorful winds that sent the brothers out of the Silkshifter God's Abode.

Meanwhile, in the Dark Moon Cult, someone else faced a survival mode, her chances much slimmer than Qiu Meng and Zuixian.