Chapter 121: Who Says I Have Bad Luck?

Chapter 121: Who Says I’m Unlucky?

Zheng Jian returned to the tavern only to find Xue Keran still waiting for him. Seeing his return, the worry in her eyes instantly vanished. "Boss, you’re finally back."

Zheng Jian chuckled. "If I didn't come back, what would you have me do? Ascend to the heavens?"

Xue Keran: "..."

Resentment points from Xue Keran +100.

Zheng Jian habitually harvested the points and smiled. "Alright, go get some rest. By the way, I’ll be going into seclusion for the next few days. Keep an eye on the tavern, and if anything major happens, remember to call me."

Xue Keran nodded in agreement, looking obedient.

...

Back in his room, Zheng Jian sat cross-legged on the bed, his innate Qi circulating slowly. In truth, once one reaches the innate realm, specific meditation is no longer strictly necessary. However, in preparation for the duel with Xie Xiaofeng in seven days, Zheng Jian decided to properly readjust his state.

"It’s time to truly cultivate the Undying Seal."

Zheng Jian murmured to himself, settled his mind, cast aside all distractions, and sank into a state of ethereal emptiness.

The Undying Seal is the fundamental martial art of the Evil King Shi Zhixuan, a fusion of techniques from the various factions of the Demonic Sect. Since these techniques are diametrically opposed, even Zheng Jian had to focus with absolute intensity to avoid falling into a state of schizophrenia.

"Not on this shore, not on the other, not in the middle"—this is the fundamental theoretical basis of the Undying Seal.

In reality, this theory shares common ground with the concepts of Taiji and Yin-Yang. The mutual transformation of life and death energy can, to a certain extent, be viewed as the conversion of Taiji.

As the mental formula of the Undying Seal flowed through his mind, Zheng Jian gradually sank into a state of self-forgetfulness.

He did not know how much time had passed—perhaps an instant, perhaps an eternity. In his internal vision, a point that defied description gradually appeared within his Dantian, which had previously been filled with pure white innate Qi. This point had no size, no orientation, no front or back, top or bottom. It seemed to exist everywhere, yet nowhere at all.

Zheng Jian’s consciousness soared to an infinite height, as if he were perched in the void, overlooking his entire Dantian. Under the impetus of the Undying Seal, the pure white innate Qi began to circulate along profound and mysterious paths. The indescribable singularity sat high above the white Qi, like a deity presiding over its subjects, aloof and supreme.

A sudden realization dawned on him: the singularity was the key to the conversion between the energy of life and death. Through it, Qi could be switched at will, and external Qi would be instantly converted. This was the miraculous nature of the Undying Seal.

"It’s a pity I lack the accompanying Illusory Demon Footwork. However, as I suspected, I can use the 'Divine Movement of a Hundred Changes' as a substitute..."

Zheng Jian opened his eyes and sighed. There was no helping it; being able to draw the Undying Seal was already a stroke of immense luck.

He checked the time and was shocked to find that six days had already passed!

The results of this six-day seclusion were clear. Perhaps due to an increase in his "comprehension" attribute, his efficiency in cultivating the Undying Seal was exceptionally high. To describe it, he could at least say he had now mastered the basics.

His eyes were clear, black and white distinct, and deep as an abyss. He felt the change, closed his eyes, and when he reopened them, they returned to normal.

With nothing else to do, Zheng Jian opened the Resentment System. He had over twenty thousand points, and it made him restless not to spend them. Following his previous thought, he decided to try his luck and clicked "Refresh."

He didn't look closely at first, ready to refresh again, but just as he was about to click, a flash of light caught his peripheral vision. Zheng Jian shouted out, "Stop!"

The items in the exchange store left him in disbelief.

"Mental Art of Heaven-Changing and Earth-Striking, from the world of 'Fractured Void', price: 80,000 resentment points."

"Holy cow, holy cow, holy cow!" Zheng Jian exclaimed three times, reflecting his surging emotions.

"I actually drew this technique on the first try! Is the +1 Luck buff really this overpowered? It’s absolutely insane!"

Zheng Jian was stunned. Of course he knew of the Mental Art of Heaven-Changing and Earth-Striking; it was the signature technique of the Mongolian Imperial Preceptor, Ba Siba, in the world of *Fractured Void*.

This was no ordinary martial art. Judging by its cost of 80,000 points—far exceeding the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill—it was a spiritual masterpiece. It could penetrate an opponent's mental sea, view fragments of their memory, and even pull them into a cycle of past lives.

In the early stages of *Yuan Emperor Xiao Meng*, this technique was used constantly.

Furthermore, Zheng Jian currently lacked a technique for "Refining the Spirit," which was the inevitable path from the innate realm to the grandmaster level.

"No, I cannot refresh anymore. Even if the 'Yellow Heaven Technique' appeared, I wouldn't refresh. I must save up enough points to exchange for the Mental Art of Heaven-Changing and Earth-Striking," Zheng Jian thought, feeling ecstatic.

With the Undying Seal in hand, his Qi recovery was already sufficient. The *Lone Sword Nine Styles* was still useful for the current stage, and his footwork, while slightly falling behind, could still be managed with the *Divine Movement of a Hundred Changes*. Looking at his arsenal, the *Mental Art of Heaven-Changing and Earth-Striking* would be the key to his journey toward becoming a grandmaster.

"Thank goodness I caught a glimpse of it; otherwise, who knows when it would appear again..." Zheng Jian felt a lingering fear. Having been unlucky for so long, he was accustomed to refreshing multiple times. Had he been a "European" (lucky person) for once and accidentally skipped it, he would have regretted it forever.

A happy event refreshes the spirit. Although he had only just seen it and was still far from being able to afford it, at least there was hope.

Tomorrow was the day of the duel with Xie Xiaofeng. Zheng Jian didn't plan on going out, choosing instead to practice his swordsmanship in the courtyard to adjust his state.

Xie Xiaofeng—even if he wasn't yet called the "Sword God," his strength was undeniably top-tier. Even Yan Shisan’s fourteenth sword couldn't defeat him; it was only when Yan Shisan created the world-destroying fifteenth sword that Xie Xiaofeng was bested.

Zheng Jian took this battle very seriously. If he couldn't defeat Xie Xiaofeng, he stood no chance against Yan Shisan’s fifteenth sword. As for Xie Xiaofeng’s evolution into the "Sword God" a decade later, that was too far off; Zheng Jian couldn't wait that long.

...

On a barren hill outside the town, Xie Xiaofeng stood in white robes, clutching the divine sword passed down by his ancestors. The scabbard was black and worn, yet well-preserved. The apricot-yellow tassel had faded, but the elegantly shaped hilt still gleamed.

This was not a weapon forged by a famous master, nor was it an ancient relic—it was simply a peerless, famous sword.

A graceful figure approached him quietly. Xie Xiaofeng did not turn back as she embraced him from behind, her burning breath lingering by his ear...