Chapter 129: Bestowal (5th Update)

"That is enough on this topic," the Phantom Spirit King interrupted Jiang Chen. "As my personally initiated disciple, it is only natural for me to bestow upon you some treasures."

With a wave of the Phantom Spirit King's hand, a list manifested in the air. "These are the secret techniques I have created. Among them, 11,683 have been cataloged by the Five Great Giants into their treasure vaults. Most of these techniques are of little value, save for three, which are the unique arts that have allowed me to traverse the universe."

As he spoke, he waved his hand again, and the dense list of names vanished, leaving only three behind:

*The Eighteen Layers of Lustful Illusions*
*Spirit Erosion Secret Art*
*God-Bewildering Soul-Control Technique*

"The *Eighteen Layers of Lustful Illusions* is an illusion technique. Regardless of one's strength, as long as their willpower is insufficient, they will be unable to break free. The *Spirit Erosion Secret Art* is a soul-attack masterpiece; at the same level, one cannot possibly resist it without powerful soul-defense treasures or techniques. As for the *God-Bewildering Soul-Control Technique*, it is a soul-enslavement art. Once mastered to the peak, it can control thousands of soul slaves."

"Of these three, the *God-Bewildering Soul-Control Technique* is a peak-level secret, while the other two are 'Ultimate Secret Techniques'."

The Phantom Spirit King spoke with ease. "I shall bestow all 11,680 of the other secret techniques upon you. However, for the three most powerful ones, I will only grant you the first volume of each. Once you have mastered the first, I will provide the second, continuing in this progression until you have mastered all three volumes of each."

Jiang Chen diverted a sliver of his consciousness into the treasure vault to check.

The *Eighteen Layers of Lustful Illusions* and the *Spirit Erosion Secret Art* each required over a million points to redeem. The *God-Bewildering Soul-Control Technique* was cheaper, costing 500,000 points. Even with the 30% discount from his status in the Primal Secret Realm, redeeming all three sets would cost over two million points. Combined with the other ten thousand-plus techniques, the total value exceeded a million points.

Totaling over three million points worth of techniques, the Phantom Spirit King had gifted them all to him directly. Although he would only receive the subsequent volumes upon mastering the previous ones, as long as Jiang Chen studied diligently, obtaining them all was merely a matter of time. This was an incredibly generous gift.

Even though these were techniques created by the Phantom Spirit King himself—meaning he didn't have to pay the Five Great Giants to bestow them—the benefits to Jiang Chen were tangible and immense. With these techniques and his insights into the *Darkness Chaos Tablet*, Jiang Chen would not need to worry about his cultivation regarding soul and illusion paths for a long time to come.

Just as Jiang Chen was about to express his gratitude, the Phantom Spirit King's voice rang out again. "Furthermore, since you are contemplating the *Darkness Chaos Tablet*, I shall redeem the first five volumes of *Darkness Immortality* for you. These are the most suitable techniques to assist in comprehending the *Darkness Chaos Tablet*, created by the very founder of that tablet. Do not underestimate them; even just the first five volumes, if fully understood, would make one no weakling among the Immortals."

*Darkness Immortality?*

Jiang Chen immediately searched the treasure vault and quickly found the result.

*Darkness Immortality*, ten volumes in total.
Volume 1: 10,000 points.
Volume 2: 100,000 points.
Volume 3: 1,000,000 points.
...
Volume 10: 10 trillion points.

Jiang Chen: ...

This price was truly astonishing. Even just the first five volumes, accounting for the Primal Secret Realm discount, would cost 70 million points. That was 70 million Mixed Yuan units! It was equivalent to the value of over thirty World Lord-level Zerg Mother Nests.

Jiang Chen quickly said, "Teacher, this is too valuable!"

He did not like to owe others, even those closest to him. When accepting 'benefits' from Luo Feng, it was because Jiang Chen was confident he could repay them twofold in the future. He felt the same about the techniques and treasures he had received from the Phantom Spirit King so far. But the value of the *Darkness Immortality* set, even just the first five volumes, far exceeded what he felt he could accept.

"One hundred million points is nothing to me. At my level, what truly matters are certain extremely rare treasures. As for money, if you take a trip to the extraterritorial battlefields, you can get as much as you want. Do not dwell on it."

The Phantom Spirit King said it nonchalantly, but Jiang Chen’s heart could not remain calm. A trip to the extraterritorial battlefields? It sounded simple. How perilous were those battlefields? Even a soul master at the invincible King level, accompanied by a group of King-level soul slaves, could not guarantee a safe return, let alone secure massive spoils.

Jiang Chen had specifically checked some data. While his current access level meant he couldn't see everything, he could infer that the Phantom Spirit King had left the battlefields long ago because the risks of that environment had begun to outweigh the potential gains.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Chen decided not to refuse the Phantom Spirit King's kindness. He nodded and said, "Thank you, Teacher. I will cultivate diligently and not disappoint your expectations."

"As for weapons, armor, and other treasures, I will bring them to you when I visit Chaos City in a while," the Phantom Spirit King looked at Jiang Chen with a smile. "Once you have spent thirty years in Chaos City, go and challenge the 'Glorious Battlefield'. Your current strength is still lacking. But I believe that with your talent, in twenty years, clearing the 'Glorious Battlefield' will be of no difficulty to you."

"With your aptitude, you shouldn't remain in the 'Death Secret Realm'. You belong in the 'Glorious Secret Realm'. That is where your talent can truly be unleashed!" the Phantom Spirit King said in a deep voice.

The Universe Mercenary Alliance's 'Glorious Battlefield' was similar to the Virtual Universe Company's 'Primal Heavenly Mountain'. Clearing it allowed one to bypass all other requirements and join the Glorious Secret Realm directly. It was the fastest way for a genius from the 'Death Secret Realm' to enter the 'Glorious Secret Realm'. Of course, the difficulty was equivalent to the Primal Heavenly Mountain. For a Universe-level challenger, the 'Glorious Battlefield' was comparable to the twelfth floor of the Heavenly Bridge. While the difficulty was lower for a genius like Jiang Chen who excelled in multiple systems because combat methods weren't restricted, it was still far beyond the level of the ninth floor.

However, Jiang Chen was confident that he could clear the 'Glorious Battlefield' within the remaining twenty years in Chaos City—perhaps even using purely his illusionist path without relying on other abilities.

"Yes, Teacher. I will certainly clear the 'Glorious Battlefield' and join the Glorious Secret Realm," Jiang Chen stated firmly.

***

Within the City Lord's Mansion, a bald man with bare feet, clad in fiery red battle robes, was pestering the Lord of Chaos City.

The Lord of Chaos City looked at his disciple with a helpless expression and asked, "Gui Yi, what exactly do you want?!"

"Teacher, why won't you let me take that 'Uchiha Shisui' as my disciple?!" Venerable Gui Yi looked aggrieved. "It has been so many years. I finally found a kid I liked, and I couldn't even send the email! I only found out after asking that you were the one who ordered it to be blocked!"

Jiang Chen's two other identities—besides the one representing his true self, which was more low-profile—had no intention of keeping a low profile. He challenged the Heavenly Bridge as much as he could, and in the virtual universe, he fought with all his might against other geniuses. These identities were meant to be targets to attract the attention of alien spies, keeping his true self safe, so he naturally wouldn't be low-key.

After displaying such monstrous talent, many had wanted to take these two identities as disciples. However, only a few King-level Immortals or ordinary Universe Venerables could successfully send messages. The higher-level beings who were interested found their messages intercepted by the virtual universe system. The one who had ordered the system to do this was none other than the highest authority of the Virtual Universe Company and one of the leaders of the human race: the Lord of Chaos City.

"Why have you set your sights on that 'Uchiha Shisui'?" the Lord of Chaos City asked his disciple. "That child follows the path of an 'Illusionist Warrior', while you are a pure warrior. You aren't skilled in soul or illusion paths; how would you teach him?"

"That kid's blade technique has astonishing talent and is progressing rapidly! When he first arrived in Chaos City, he couldn't even pass the first floor of the Heavenly Bridge. In just ten years, he reached the eighth! As time passes, his talent is becoming even more terrifying! With such aptitude, distracting himself with illusions is a complete waste! If I take him as a disciple, I would make him focus on the path of a warrior, specifically the 'Path of the Metal-Space Beast God'!"

Venerable Gui Yi spoke decisively. "I am confident that within one hundred million epochs, I can cultivate him into a Universe Overlord for our race!"

Venerable Gui Yi himself was a Universe Overlord—a very old and powerful one at that. He was only held back from being a 'Top-Tier Universe Overlord' by his divine body. His claim was not an empty boast; among his own disciples and grand-disciples, there were indeed Universe Overlords.

"Sigh..." The Lord of Chaos City looked at his disciple, thinking to himself that 'Uchiha Shisui's' talent for soul and illusion was no less than his talent for martial arts—perhaps even greater. It was just that this identity hadn't displayed much of that strength yet. His other identity, following the path of an 'Illusionist', had performed even more heaven-defying feats. But he kept these words to himself.

The Lord of Chaos City could see that Jiang Chen held great secrets. His disciple was reliable, but his status was not yet high enough to know these things. However, seeing his disciple's dejected look, he couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration.

"I don't recall you being skilled in blade techniques!" the Lord of Chaos City tried to find an excuse to refuse.

But Venerable Gui Yi seemed determined. "I may not be skilled in blade techniques, but I am skilled in combat and skilled in teaching disciples!"

The Lord of Chaos City agreed with the latter half. Among the human race, aside from a few Universe Masters, Venerable Gui Yi had the most Venerable-level powerhouses among his disciples. But the Lord of Chaos City already had a plan for Jiang Chen; he couldn't let Gui Yi disrupt it.

The Lord of Chaos City shook his head again and hinted, "He already has a teacher—one of our race's great beings. He is currently in a trial period; you need not think about it any further."

"?! " Venerable Gui Yi's eyes widened. He stared blankly at his teacher, a sense of shattered dreams in his eyes that even made the Lord of Chaos City feel a twinge of guilt.