SWNOVELXO Chapter 23:
Chapter 23:
In the Red Dust Cave of the Joyous Harmony Sect, Zhou Tong sat cross-legged, cultivating as a brilliant light radiated from his forehead.
The cave had been transformed into a medicinal field, where Zhou Tong had planted all the spirit herb seeds he had seized. At the center of the field, the Seven-Star Blood Lotus was planted, standing tall like the king of all herbs.
Merely staying in this cave residence allowed one’s cultivation to grow naturally.
“The peak of the Soul Division Realm is truly insignificant,” Zhou Tong murmured to himself. He had to grow stronger quickly, breaking through one realm after another!
“BOOM!”
Suddenly, a muffled thunderclap echoed through the void. Zhou Tong abruptly opened his eyes, leaped into the air, and shattered a bolt of lightning with a swift kick.
“This body is far too weak,” Zhou Tong said gravely. His spiritual power was comparable to that of the Imperial Realm, yet his physical body couldn’t match it, making him a complete anomaly constantly monitored by the heavens.
If things continued this way, not only would his cultivation be restricted, but his life could also be in danger.
The immediate priority was to temper his physical body, strengthening it enough to bear the weight of his immense spiritual power.
However, tempering the body was no simple task. It was both challenging and perilous. One small mistake could lead to irreparable damage, leaving permanent Dao injuries.
But Zhou Tong scoffed at such risks. The simplest and most effective method was to trigger a heavenly thunder tribulation, allowing the bolts of lightning to strike his body and achieve the desired strengthening.
As for the risks…
“To hell with risks. If I die, so be it. Surviving means I’ll have profited!”
To summon a thunder tribulation, he needed to use Heavenly Dao Engraved Stones to set up a formation.
“Hmm… Heavenly Dao Engraved Stones seem to be quite rare. I wonder if the Joyous Harmony Sect has any. I’ll ask Master!”
Zhou Tong was about to set out when a young demoness burst in.
“Bad news, you troublemaker! The emissary of the Enforcers is here, threatening to revoke the Joyous Harmony Sect’s status as a sect. Master is currently confronting them!”
Hearing this, Zhou Tong was stunned.
The Enforcers were an incredibly powerful organization responsible for maintaining order, eliminating demonic threats, and managing all cultivators.
To sustain their operations, the Enforcers regularly issued various missions. Completing these missions earned merit points, which could be exchanged for rare treasures.
As a sect, the Joyous Harmony Sect was required to pay a fixed amount of merit points each cycle to the Enforcers. Failure to pay for an extended period would result in the revocation of their sect status.
The Joyous Harmony Sect had been in decline for years, so the Enforcers had never visited—until now. This matter was undoubtedly serious.
“Take me there!” Zhou Tong said solemnly, already suspecting that this was the work of the Azure Purity Sect.
When he arrived outside the Joyous Harmony Sect, the scene before him left both him and the young demoness speechless.
“I am Lady Murong Ya’s loyal servant!”
The emissary from the Enforcers had indeed arrived, but the situation was far from what Zhou Tong had imagined. The emissary knelt at Murong Ya’s feet, his eyes filled with adoration and obsession.
The infamous title of “Demon Empress” wasn’t for nothing. She could reach for the moon in the heavens, catch turtles in the five oceans, and mesmerize people to the point of losing their souls.
But losing one’s soul was merely the limit of what most people could endure; it wasn’t the limit of Murong Ya’s allure.
“Master, stop messing around.”
With a slight effort, Zhou Tong saved the Enforcer’s life.
“These people are insufferable! I won’t pay. Let’s see what they can do about it!”
Murong Ya suddenly acted like a sulking child, her attitude dismissive.
She held no fondness for the Enforcers, having had an unpleasant encounter with them decades ago.
“Don’t joke around. This isn’t a laughing matter,” Zhou Tong said sternly. The old monsters within the Enforcers were no weaker than Murong Ya at her peak. Directly opposing them would only lead to suffering.
After helping the Enforcer emissary to his feet, the man couldn’t take his eyes off Murong Ya, his soul seemingly captivated.
“Senior, please inform your elders that we will report to accept a mission tomorrow to repay the merit points owed.”
“Understood, understood… I’ll make sure to relay the message. I’ll be eagerly awaiting your arrival tomorrow!”
The emissary left, bouncing away joyfully, stealing glances back at Murong Ya with every step.
“Get lost already!”
Murong Ya snapped irritably.
Oddly enough, the man only smiled more brightly at her rebuke, looking utterly content as he flew into the clouds.
Zhou Tong was dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected such a troublesome individual to turn into a devoted admirer in front of his master.
“Did you use the Qiluo Dreamscape technique on him?” Zhou Tong asked. Qiluo Dreamscape, the third chapter of the Joyous Harmony Heavenly Technique, was a supreme art of enchantment.
When used by ordinary practitioners, it could greatly enhance their charm. But if performed by a peerless beauty, its impact was nothing short of terrifying.
“His attitude was so arrogant—I had to teach him a lesson!”
Zhou Tong couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly. The nickname “Demon Empress” truly fit his master perfectly.
“Master, teach me that move too. It’s way more effective than sword techniques!”
Long Lingyun suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Despite being a woman herself—and a beauty at that—she had almost fallen for her master’s charm earlier. The technique was practically invincible, capable of disarming opponents without a fight.
Just then, a pale, delicate hand reached out and tugged at her ear.
“Dream on! I’ve already passed the Joyous Harmony Heavenly Technique on to you. If you want to master this move, learn how to read first. Now, come with me!”
The young demoness unceremoniously dragged Long Lingyun away.
“Ouch, that hurts! Weren’t you soaking your feet with flower petals just now? How did you suddenly appear behind me?”
“Shut up!”
The demoness blushed. Ever since she had once stepped on Zhou Tong with her feet, she had developed a habit of soaking them in flower petals.
“Little one, are you really going to the Enforcer City tomorrow?” Murong Ya asked, frowning.
Watching the two leave, Zhou Tong’s expression turned serious.
“Master, do you know where I can find Heavenly Dao Engraved Stones?”
Hearing this, Murong Ya paused briefly before smiling. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but if you’re looking for Heavenly Dao Engraved Stones, you’ll indeed need to visit the Enforcer City.”
“They have them?”
Zhou Tong’s eyes lit up.
“Yes, but you’ll need merit points to exchange for them.”
“In that case, we’ll set out tomorrow!”
Zhou Tong, decisive as ever, finalized his plan.
“Wait a moment, little one!”
Suddenly, Murong Ya pressed a hand on his shoulder and leaned in, her lips landing on his in a deep kiss.
“Master, you…”
Zhou Tong’s eyes widened. Before he could react, he felt a surge of immense power flow into him through the kiss.
The Soul Division Realm broke, and the Soul Transformation Realm emerged!
The breakthrough came effortlessly.
“This is just a thank-you gift. Don’t get any ideas—I don’t have any feelings for you!”
Murong Ya ran off, her earlobes visibly red from embarrassment.
…
The next day, Zhou Tong, Long Lingyun, and the young demoness set out for the Enforcer City.
For the survival of their sect, they had no choice but to become temporary laborers.
Murong Ya, meanwhile, stayed behind at the Joyous Harmony Sect to guard against opportunists.
Before long, the trio arrived at the Enforcer Hall, where they could accept missions to earn merit points.
Upon entering, they immediately encountered someone familiar.
Tang Qi and Chen Linger walked side by side toward them. Tang Qi’s face was filled with undisguised mockery.
“Senior Brother, betraying the sect doesn’t feel so good, does it? Don’t worry—this is just the beginning. I can guarantee that today, you won’t earn a single merit point!”
“You don’t get to decide that!”
As Tang Qi’s words fell, Zhou Tong ignored him, looking directly at the Enforcer emissary who had visited the Joyous Harmony Sect the day before.
“I am Luo Yi, the emissary assigned to receive you. You may address me as such,” Luo Yi said bluntly. “The Joyous Harmony Sect owes a total of 500,000 merit points. If you can’t repay at least half within three days, your sect will cease to exist.”
Hearing this, everyone around was stunned.
Five hundred thousand merit points were equivalent to five million spirit stones, an astronomical sum that could rival the entire foundation of a small sect.
For a sect as impoverished as the Joyous Harmony Sect, such an amount was utterly unattainable. Their downfall seemed inevitable.
“Let’s not waste time. We’ll start right away!” Zhou Tong said without hesitation, ready to accept a mission.
“Wait. The regular missions are gone. I’ve prepared something special for you,” Luo Yi said with a sly smile. With a wave of his hand, a stone tablet appeared, inscribed with the details of several missions.
Everyone crowded around to read it, their expressions turning sympathetic.
The missions on the tablet indeed offered substantial merit points, but even the simplest task required refining sixth-grade pills—a difficulty far beyond the capability of someone their age.
“I told you, you won’t earn even a single merit point today!”
Tang Qi sneered coldly, his face brimming with mockery.