Chapter 5: Base-Level Insight, Stat Boost!
Based on the information that had just flashed through his mind, Jiang Zhe was now certain:
This divine crystal came from the Desolate Wilderness World.
It was a remnant from a being at or above the World Realm—essentially, part of a transcendent body.
He had just combed through the entire 400-square-meter clearing with a grid-style search, but found nothing else aside from the divine crystal.
Jiang Zhe rubbed his brow, frowning.
"So… how exactly am I supposed to use this thing?"
In the cultivation system of the Desolate Wilderness World, a Divine Crystal left behind by a Dao Lord or stronger could be used to create a new chaotic world. And compared to a typical Chaos World formed from a World Core, this one would give rise to even more gifted and extraordinary lifeforms.
"When a whale falls, all things are born."
The fall of a great being births countless miracles—such was the way of nature.
Another potential use was as a substitute for a World Core, especially for cultivating the Thousand Body Sacred Canon, a peerless technique in the Desolate Wilderness Cosmos.
That was Jiang Zhe's first thought when he laid eyes on the crystal.
Unfortunately… it was just wishful thinking.
"I'll study it in more detail later…"
But there was one thing he could already confirm:
His Inner World could likely shield the divine crystal from the Primordial Universe's detection.
Jiang Zhe looked up at the enormous tree canopy covering the 400-square-meter area, suspecting it was playing a role in shielding him.
"In essence, this Divine Crystal is something akin to the Primordial Universe itself.
If it appeared within the Primordial Universe, the universe would go ballistic."
"I don't even want to imagine how the Primordial Universe might react…
I need to be ready to hide this crystal in my Inner World for life."
Jiang Zhe shook his head, clearly troubled about how to handle the Divine Crystal long-term.
He glanced at the golden folding page and crystal stone laid out on the stone table nearby—both of which were hot potatoes.
His golden cheat ability really was a trouble magnet.
Still holding the Divine Crystal, he gently stroked its surface, trying to study it further and discover more potential uses.
---
What Jiang Zhe didn't know was that…
Because of him, the entire martial world had been stirred into an uproar.
In the "Wealthy Housewives Mahjong Group," no secret could stay hidden for long.
Last night, his mom and two aunts had proudly bragged about their son/nephew's accomplishments. By the very next day, the entire upper class of Lanling Base City was buzzing with the news:
At just sixteen years old, Jiang Zhe had become a quasi-martial artist—something unheard of in history!
The rumor spread like wildfire.
By midday on the 27th, the global elite—political and military leaders alike—were all aware of this remarkable feat.
---
Elsewhere...
Jiang family records, and detailed data about Jiang Zhe, had landed on the desks of Earth's two strongest beings: Hong and Thor.
Soon after, two official invitations were dispatched to Lanling Base City in Hanxia Nation.
In the office of Earth's Fourth Parliamentary Speaker—also the Number One Spiritual Master, Easte—a heavy silence hung in the air.
He stared long at the files before him.
Then, in a low murmur, he said:
"This morning, he was just a mid-level trainee…
By nightfall, he had advanced to a quasi-martial artist."
"That growth curve… feels familiar."
"A Spiritual Master?"
His instincts as a Spiritual Master whispered that a true rival—one that could threaten his position—had emerged.
And fate had twisted the knife: this challenger was from his own faction.
"… But maybe that's not a bad thing."
He smiled slightly.
"If I can guide him… maybe I'll gain a new apprentice at the parliamentary level.
The people of Hanxia do revere their teachers, after all."
---
Meanwhile, in Europa, inside the HR Alliance headquarters…
In the office of the Parliament Chairperson, the legendary silver-haired woman Isadona, a white woman in her fifties, was reading the same report from Hanxia Nation.
Two War God-level bodyguards and a secretary stood silently at attention nearby, awaiting her orders.
"Jiang family… The current patriarch is called Jiang Lie, right?"
"His strength was rated War God level ages ago, and then… nothing. He hasn't appeared in battle for years."
"You've got a good memory," her War God guard said respectfully.
"We suspect he's already advanced to Parliamentary level, but chose to remain hidden. The Hanxia people are masters of low-key power."
"His three sons are all War Gods too, correct?"
"Yes. Especially the eldest—Jiang Chengbo.
He's basically a younger version of Jiang Lie.
Specializes in a Tyrant Spear, fights aggressively, and loves to shatter skulls with a single thrust."
The guard shuddered slightly, clearly recalling unpleasant memories.
"What a family—truly favored by God."
Isadona sighed with genuine admiration.
She turned to her poised secretary beside her.
"Una, how are the Jiang family's business interests doing?"
"Not well. The Wang family has been suppressing them heavily. Among the Twelve Great Families of Hanxia, the Jiang family ranks near the bottom in terms of commercial performance."
After a pause, Isadona said decisively:
"Allocate more business resources to the Jiang family.
In this era, warriors reign supreme.
If we can't satisfy their needs, it'll cause major instability."
Una hesitated.
"But… what about the Wang family?"
"Let the Wang family go fight the Jiang family."
"Their conflict only strengthens our HR Alliance."
"Yes, Chairwoman. I'll arrange it right away."
"…One more thing," Isadona added.
"Be careful with the effort to win over Parliamentarian Faal. Don't screw it up."
---
Back in Hanxia Nation, in a subterranean facility in the Kyoto Base City…
Third level underground.
In a classically decorated office, a lean man dressed in loose martial robes sat at his desk, tapping it with one hand while flipping through the report from Lanling Base City with the other.
"Old Jiang Lie isn't home, is he?"
"No, sir," the secretary replied.
"He left the city with his three sons yesterday morning.
They went to the Tai River in search of a Tai River Carpdra to hunt."
"I knew he wouldn't make a public fuss.
That old fox has always been the best at keeping a low profile."
"I'll need to talk to him.
I want to be this grandson's teacher.
A talent like that must not fall into the hands of those two major martial halls—or worse, the HR Alliance."
"…Sir, with all due respect, the Jiang family is part of the HR Alliance," the secretary said softly.
The man waved dismissively.
"They don't bully the weak, exploit the poor, or sabotage others in business...
What kind of HR Alliance member is that?"
The secretary stayed silent, mentally adding:
Sounds like someone's throwing shade at their neighbors here in Kyoto.
---
Tai River Shore.
Jiang Lie and his three sons waded ashore from the murky water, taking a break before continuing their search for the Tai River Carpdra.
The four of them turned on their communicator watches…
Only to see dozens of missed calls blinking across their screens.
They stared at each other in silence.
"Did someone rob our house or what?
Why's everyone so eager to find us?"
---
Virtual World: War God Palace.
Every logged-in member was discussing one name today:
Jiang Zhe.
The name had gone global for the first time.
Yes—global.
Most people had the same reaction:
"That kid's lucky."
The story from Lanling Base City was that he was just a mid-level trainee in the morning, then suddenly became a quasi-martial artist by night.
Anyone with insight could see what that meant.
Spiritual Master Awakening!
Some were amazed.
Some were jealous.
Some were resentful.
The world was filled with all kinds.
If Jiang Zhe had been a commoner, he'd have already been "relocated," forced to choose a faction, and subjected to endless training.
Just like Luo Feng, who had hidden his own Spiritual Master awakening for the sake of freedom.
But Jiang Zhe was different.
His family had four War Gods on the surface, plus ties to the HR Alliance.
Who in their right mind would dare break into the Jiang family's home to steal him away?
---
Inside His Inner World.
Jiang Zhe held the Divine Crystal tightly, a joyful smile on his face.
He had finally figured out part of its function.
In the Desolate Wilderness World, a Divine Crystal from a Dao Lord or higher could birth a Chaos World whose living beings were highly unique—with an elevated probability of producing powerful cultivators.
Even more so with a Supreme Divine Crystal, which could imbue each lifeform it created with a trace of Supreme Essence—the best possible seeds for cultivation.
To his surprise, even an unformed Divine Crystal—that hadn't yet evolved into a Chaos World—had similar effects.
After holding it for so long, Jiang Zhe felt a cool, refreshing energy flow from the crystal into his brain.
His mind became sharper, his thoughts clearer, his senses heightened—
like a mirror once clouded with dust, now wiped clean.
Euphoric. Unburdened. Free.
The world felt… different.
And as he stilled his heart and mind, he could faintly sense an unusual ripple—
A fluctuation from the Origin of the Vast Universe itself!
But it was heavily shrouded—like layer upon layer of thick veils muffling it—making it difficult to fully perceive.
(Apologies—the pacing of this chapter was a bit off. I'll quicken the tempo in the next one!)
(End of the Chapter)
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