Cultivating Immortality :I Obtained The Villain's Ascension Code
Chapter 45: Paradise Valley Is Not a Safe Place

Chapter 45: Paradise Valley Is Not a Safe Place

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Within the depths of a secluded cavern, Xiao Ning slowly opened his eyes.

A soft glint flickered between his brows, then vanished without a trace. His aura—though hidden—was now several layers deeper, more profound than when he had first begun the ritual.

Within his spirit palace, the Asura Avatar stood silently at the core, now fully stabilized.

Strictly speaking, this construct was no different from the Divine Avatar said to form only after one stepped into the Divine Transformation Realm.

Yet Xiao Ning was still a Nascent Soul cultivator.

He slowly rose to his feet, eyes glinting.

"To think... this is still not my limit."

The thought of forming another avatar upon breaking through to Divine Transformation filled him with both anticipation and uncertainty.

"Two avatars?"

He muttered aloud, lips curling faintly.

"Even in the Inner Realms, I’ve never heard of such a thing. Heh, we’ll see."

With a light wave of his sleeve, the wind stilled, and the traces of the formation vanished.

"It’s time to leave this place."

***

Bustling and radiant, Shadow Sea City lived up to its name as the southern trade nexus.

Nestled atop a spirit-veined hill at the very heart of Shadow Sea City, Paradise Valley was neither a valley nor a sect, but rather a famed pleasure hall—an immortal-grade pavilion constructed atop an array-saturated floating island, suspended just above the flow of the Shadow Sea Spirit River.

As dusk fell, Paradise Valley glowed like an immortal lantern. Hanging jade lanterns lit with beast-core fire lined the lacquered railings, casting soft halos of golden light.

The evening at Paradise Valley was lively, as always.

The air on the second floor shimmered faintly with a soft warming formation, keeping out the night chill. Beautiful maidens floated between tables in pastel robes, carrying trays of jade cups and warming flasks. Laughter, zither melodies, and the sound of clinking goblets mingled pleasantly in the air.

At a broad, polished sandalwood table near the center, three cultivators sat drinking and laughing among themselves.

The man on the left was short and slightly rotund, with a thin mustache and small, narrow eyes that sparkled with mischief. His robe was green, though its edge was stained with oil. This was Du San, an early Core Formation rogue cultivator who fancied himself a ladies’ man.

Beside him was a tall, dark-skinned man with wild eyebrows and a thick scar across his chin. He wore a heavy beast-hide coat despite the warmth of the room. His name was Xu Jie, and he had the strongest cultivation among them—mid Core Formation. His crude appearance matched his bold, sometimes reckless temper.

The last was a lean, hawk-nosed cultivator named Liu Qing. His face bore no expression, but he seemed to listen to every word with careful attention. A disciple of the Clear Wind Pavilion, he had a reputation for being cautious but reliable.

Du San grinned as he poured himself another cup of wine.

"Haha! Let’s settle this now. Among the top ten beauties in the Violet Sea World, who ranks first in your eyes?"

Xu Jie slammed his cup down, sending a splash over the table.

"Easy! Senior Sister Mu Xuan of the Luan Phoenix Sect! That figure, that face—tch! Like a celestial fairy descended to the mortal world. And she’s already a mid Core Formation cultivator at barely over a hundred years of age."

Liu Qing rolled his eyes inwardly. If your cultivation could be raised with lust alone, you’d be a Nascent Soul elder by now...

Still, he offered a rare reply. "Mu Xuan may be stunning, but her temper is cold. You’d die from a slap before you ever got close."

Du San snorted. "You cowards always pick the ones you can’t touch. Me? I pick Yun Rou from the Wind Spirit Tower. She’s gentle, kind, doesn’t belong to any of those old monster sects, and rumor has it she’s still unmarried."

Xu Jie scoffed. "Wind Spirit Tower? Their disciples faint if you glare at them too hard."

Du San grinned. "Just because you look like a bear doesn’t mean everyone wants to wrestle in caves."

All three laughed, loud and unrestrained, drawing a few glances from nearby tables.

Xu Jie snorted. "What’s the point of beauty without danger?"

Du San raised his cup and laughed. "Then you should go propose to Bai Mei from the Crimson Loutes Cult. They say she drinks blood instead of wine, and men vanish after spending the night with her."

"You mean Bai Mei?" Liu Qing stiffened slightly. "That woman’s yin body is strange. I heard even a late Core Formation cultivator aged fifty years after touching her."

Even Xu Jie shuddered. "Forget it. Even my sword would go limp."

They erupted into laughter again, Du San wiping tears from his eyes.

Just then, a quiet clink interrupted their banter.

A hand—pale and slender—reached out from behind them and calmly grasped a wine bottle resting on their table.

Before any of them could react, the stranger poured himself a cup and took a sip as though he’d been there all along.

The three men fell silent immediately.

Du San blinked rapidly, already scooting his body slightly back. He just drank our wine. Who does that? Wait... is he drunk? Or insane?

This newcomer wore a plain dark robe without any sect insignia. His face was sharp but calm, neither young nor old in appearance. His expression was neutral, but his eyes—dark as the abyss—seemed to see through all three of them in an instant.

Xu Jie’s brow twitched. When did he sit down? I didn’t even sense a ripple in the air.

He leaned forward slightly, a trace of hostility in his voice.

"Who are you?"

The man smiled faintly. Then, without any sign of aggression, he reached out and patted Xu Jie lightly on the shoulder.

"Relax," he said with a quiet laugh. "I’ve been in seclusion for a few months. Just looking to enjoy some wine."

That casual gesture might as well have been a thunderclap.

Xu Jie froze. In the very instant the stranger’s hand touched his shoulder, an invisible pressure surged into his body.

His golden core shuddered.

The spiritual power in his meridians recoiled like frightened snakes.

Cold sweat broke out across his back.

Xu Jie’s face turned pale.

This... this pressure! A Nascent Soul cultivator!

Du San’s eyes widened. Brother Xu’s face... I’ve never seen it that pale!

Liu Qing inhaled sharply. Just a tap, and Brother Xu’s core was suppressed? There’s no doubt... this man is a Nascent Soul realm expert!

Without exchanging a word, they began to rise, forced smiles plastered across their faces.

The man on the right, Liu Qing, cupped his hands awkwardly.

"Ah, it seems Brother Xu has a guest arriving. Senior, please excuse me—I suddenly remembered something urgent—"

Du San nodded along immediately. "Yes, yes. Brother Xu, it was a pleasant time, but I must take my leave too."

They turned to leave—

But before their feet could take a single step, a deep, steady voice echoed directly in their minds.

"Sit."

The command was soft, but the pressure behind it was overwhelming. Their legs nearly gave way, and their vision blurred.

For a moment, they felt as though their very souls were being weighed down by a mountain. Their instincts howled—this man could crush them with a thought.

Du San’s thoughts spun wildly. We’re dead! What did we say? Did we offend him?!

Liu Qing, beads of sweat forming at his temples, understood immediately. This is no ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator...

Understanding flashed between them. Neither dared act rashly.

Du San laughed awkwardly and raised his cup. "Senior is joking. Please—share a drink with us!"

Liu Qing nodded stiffly. "It’s our honor to host such a figure."

The stranger finally smiled and tossed them each a wine cup, his movements smooth and relaxed.

"I’ve been out of touch. Has anything interesting happened lately in the Violet Sea World?"

The three looked at one another. So that was it. This senior had simply emerged from long seclusion and wanted to hear news.

Xu Jie, still pale, cleared his throat. "Yes... there are two matters worth mentioning, and oddly, they seem connected."

The stranger raised an eyebrow, interest flashing in his eyes. "Oh? Do tell."

Du San spoke first. "Some months ago, the Shadowclaw Sect was attacked by an unknown force."

The man’s eyes widened slightly in feigned surprise. "Oh? Who would be so bold?"

Liu Qing shook his head. "The assailant’s identity remains unclear. But in the end, the attempt failed. Shadowclaw is still standing."

A ripple of thought passed behind the stranger’s gaze. But he smiled calmly.

"As expected. That sect wouldn’t fall so easily."

Xu Jie hesitated, then said carefully, "But there are rumors... some say it was the Old Ancestor of the Azure Dragon Sect."

Du San nodded quickly. "I’ve heard the same. They say Shadowclaw tried to assassinate a Nascent Soul cultivator from Azure Dragon... and the attack was retaliation."

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