Chapter 1793: Palm Apricot

Wuwu—

As the malevolent spirits howled, mist swirled in the distance, and soon several figures emerged.

Before they arrived, their voices reached.

It was a woman’s voice, imbued with a captivating charm, sounding like a hook, intensely alluring. Her voice was now filled with excitement:

“We’re here, we’re here! Brothers, look, it’s this stele… Zhongyuan Jie!”

“Once Zhongyuan Jie is reached, Ba Zun’an won’t be far. This time, I’ll definitely let my brothers witness the legendary Eighth Sword Immortal’s grandeur!”

A woman, appearing to be in her early twenties, wearing a light, sheer skirt, with an extremely alluring figure, held a golden apricot bead in her hand and approached the stele.

She paused, then tapped her forehead, slightly annoyed, and corrected herself:

“Oh, yes, ‘Hongniang Is Really Great’ is right, Hongniang indeed made a mistake. It should now be called the ‘Zhongyuan Jie Ruins’.”

“After all, Zhongyuan Jie is now part of the Gui Fo Jie.”

The woman chattered on and on, never stopping throughout.

Yet, in reality, apart from the elder and the middle-aged man following behind her, who resembled guards—two great Taixu—there was nobody else around.

Hongniang was already accustomed to this “talking to herself”:

“Brothers from the Central Domain, move aside.”

“Now, let’s broaden the horizons of our brothers from the East, West, South, and North Domains.”

She held the golden apricot bead in her hand as if it were an eye, bent down, and meticulously “examined” the Zhongyuan Jie stele from top to bottom.

Then she turned around, used the bead to “scan” the desolate and gloomy surroundings, muttering to herself:

“Look, brothers, this ghost place!”

“Gui Fo Jie is really no place for people to stay. Who knows, before I even meet Ba Zun’an, some nasty ghost might snatch Hongniang away… Huh?”

She paused, her apricot bead swiveled, and her tone shifted:

“Look, brothers, Hongniang seems to have seen a malevolent ghost again?”

“This one should only be at the Grandmaster level, still very far from us, but Fu Lao should be making a move. He won’t let danger get close to Hongniang…”

Just as the bead in her hand was pointed at the Taixu elder, one of the two guards behind her, and Hongniang’s voice had just fallen, the elder had already pulled out a yellow talisman paper.

He tossed the talisman paper up, poked it with a finger to ignite it, and the paper burned to ashes with a crackling sound, accompanied by a shout:

“Thunder Execution!”

Crack—

Purple lightning descended from the sky, striking the distant malevolent ghost. The ghostly entity instantly turned to ash.

“Awesome, awesome, awesome!”

“Fu Lao is too strong! This is a Taixu powerhouse!”

“Look, brothers, normally, even Hongniang wouldn’t have the chance to casually observe a Taixu making a move, but now… *hn hn*”

Hongniang chuckled, freeing a hand to slightly tug at the front of her clothes, which still refused to close.

Then she pressed the golden apricot bead, held it high, and, looking down, aimed the object in her hand at herself, smiling radiantly at the bead:

“Brothers, Zhangxing is a good thing!”

“Shou Ye is truly an unparalleled genius! What kind of things are in his brain? How could he create something like Zhangxing?”

“I’m totally impressed, prostrating myself!”

Zhangxing was the object Hongniang held in her hand, commonly known as “apricot bead” or “hand apricot.”

Six months ago, Shou Ye, inspired by the Chuandao Mirror, specially launched this experimental product in the Xing Jie. It primarily had two functions:

First, without distance or obstacle restrictions, two individuals holding Zhangxing, as long as they each paid a “friendship fee” of one spirit crystal per Zhangxing and became “friends,” could achieve “voice transmission” anytime, anywhere, and even “picture transmission,” which meant video communication.

Second, Spirit Masters who purchased Zhangxing, after verifying their identity with their blood’s “life pattern” and signing various contracts not to violate moral, human, or other restrictive rules, could become “Chuandao Masters” similar to Fengzhong Zui previously. Those holding Zhangxing could selectively watch the Chuandao Master’s real-time Chuandao footage through Zhangxing.

Here’s the main point!

When Fengzhong Zui conducted his Chuandao at that time, he could only transmit, and the five domains could only watch.

Even if he made a mistake in his explanation, he wouldn’t know, and the spectators in the five domains couldn’t correct him, meaning there was no “interactivity.”

Zhangxing was different!

Zhangxing owners could use virtual identity names in real-time.

When a Chuandao Master started a Chuandao session, they could also choose to view comments while transmitting and respond to them.

“Brothers…”

Hongniang carried the Zhangxing, sometimes raising it to film her surroundings, sometimes pressing it to film herself.

She seemed to be chattering, but in reality, she was interacting in real-time with Zhangxing owners from all five domains—the Xingzi.

Speaking of “Xingzi,” there’s an interesting story.

At that time, Shou Ye widely invited talented individuals from all over the world in Xing Jie and Sheng Shen Continent to name the “Zhangxing owners.”

The most highly rated suggestion was, “Since Shou Ye comes from Sheng Nu, and now he has created the apricot bead, let’s combine a character from each and call us ‘Xing Nu’.”

Thus, Xingzi came into being.

Although Zhangxing was just an experimental product, its popularity after launch was said to have even surprised its creator, Shou Ye.

Even with a price as high as ten thousand spirit crystals, it became a sensation in Xing Jie.

Not everyone owned one, but eight or nine out of ten would go to great lengths, even selling everything they had or literally “selling a kidney,” to acquire one.

This was the first generation, the White Apricot.

The second generation of Zhangxing was also a White Apricot, but it introduced a “Child-Mother Contract” function, requiring an additional one hundred thousand spirit crystals.

Thereafter, whenever one encountered danger while out or was near death, they could manually or mentally activate the “Child-Mother Contract” button to summon elders from their clan, who would arrive via遁术 (Dunshu - escape technique) or instantaneous teleportation to rescue them.

—Just one hundred thousand spirit crystals, far more cost-effective than relying on bloodline tracing after death to seek revenge on enemies and then hold a funeral!

Shou Ye was not greedy.

Shou Ye was a good person.

The one Hongniang held was the latest generation, the third generation, named “Golden Apricot.”

In reality, the Golden Apricot was no longer limited to the name “Zhangxing.” Its volume became smaller, and it was more often called the “Golden Apricot Pendant.”

The Golden Apricot also introduced a “Life-Saving Talisman” function, without additional charge, as there was only one model of the Golden Apricot, costing one hundred million spirit crystals to purchase.

One hundred million?

Where was the value?

The value lay in the Life-Saving Talisman’s ability to withstand an attack from a Half-Saint!

And before the Golden Apricot shattered, it would also engrave an image of the assailant and automatically send it to all “friends” who had paid the friend fee and were not yet on the blacklist!

One could say that the second point was the true life-saving talisman.

Currently, in Xing Jie and Sheng Shen Continent, almost no one dared to act against those wearing a Golden Apricot pendant.

Firstly, such a person was often talented and wealthy, and their background must be significant.

Secondly, the Golden Apricot would record the scene, exposing the killer.

It wasn’t that no one tried to decipher the secrets of Zhangxing, attempting to replicate it for profit.

Clearly, this was interfering with Shou Ye’s cash cow, and no one had succeeded to date.

Moreover, everyone who attempted this would directly trigger “Zhiwu Zhu,” the highest action force in Xing Jie, and be found along invisible lines, either dying tragically and abnormally or vanishing without a trace.

Without exception!

When the first generation of Zhangxing became popular in Xing Jie, it was hard to find a single one in Sheng Shen Continent.

In fact, even if one was found, without Shou Ye having completed the basic infrastructure beforehand, Zhangxing wouldn’t have the same effect as it did in Xing Jie.

With the second generation of Zhangxing, Shou Ye erected five towering totem poles across the five domains, like ancient battle god altars.

From then on, Xing Jie and Sheng Shen Continent began their first trade relations, and the gates for entry and exit opened.

Beads came out of the realms.

Spirit Voids came in.

Xing Jie evolved daily, and 108 realms were established, with entry jade talismans becoming priceless.

The most direct manifestation was that Yujing City became the old capital, relocating elsewhere.

Within a month of Zhangxing flowing into Sheng Shen Continent, Xing Jie miraculously raised another world center—designating the area where the Crystal Palace was located as a city, named “Shuijing City”!

Hongniang had obtained a residence permit for Shuijing City.

At the same time, she also acquired a higher-level two-realm pass, one with no date restrictions, allowing free passage.

Now, she was half Sheng Shen Continent native, half Xing Jie native.

Not only did she have a profound background, talent, and immense wealth, but Hongniang also possessed a keen eye, always able to seize opportunities that ordinary people overlooked.

While “Chuandao Masters” were prevalent, with the five domains either singing and dancing, acting senselessly goofy, or resorting to various unorthodox methods…

The strongest Chuandao Master of the current era, Fengzhong Zui!

He would casually call a few ancient sword cultivators, sit there, transmit their teachings, and chat while eating melon seeds.

After one session, if others could break a thousand viewers, he could break a million real-time viewers.

This was simply incredible!

It should be noted that currently, Zhangxing owners in the five domains were still a minority, and in Xing Jie, supply couldn't meet demand.

This meant that once the number of users stabilized, Fengzhong Zui would likely have tens of millions, even hundreds of millions, of viewers for a single Chuandao session.

Hongniang was envious.

She wasn’t after spirit crystals.

She was after attention.

Her ambition was wild, and she knew that Fengzhong Zui had reaped the benefits of previously transmitting teachings across the five domains. Even those like Feng Tiantian and Feng Xiaoshuang, who had only transmitted teachings for Shou Ye once, had started faster than her.

Hongniang was steady; she didn’t move, waiting for an opportunity…

Soon, the opportunity arrived!

Sheng Nu Wuxiu transformed into Gui Fo.

Zhan Shen Jie transformed into Gui Fo Jie.

The Eighth Sword Immortal, to protect this world, went to Zhongyuan Jie and actively spread his sword intent, using his intent to sever countless malevolent ghosts in Gui Fo Jie.

Even so, there were still omissions.

Gui Fo Jie, which covered half of the Central Domain, was no longer suitable for human habitation. People from the Central Domain had no choice but to abandon their homeland and flee from the terror.

Hongniang, seizing the moment!

She was even earlier than Fengzhong Zui, hiring the two strongest Taixu of the current era, Fu Lao and Jin Shu, as guards with heavy funds, becoming the first outdoor Chuandao Master.

She transmitted the Dao of Gui Fo Jie.

They watched Taixu fight malevolent ghosts.

This had so much hype!

In her first Chuandao session, Hongniang gained hundreds of thousands of Xingzi followers. Just as she thought she was about to soar…

The strongest Chuandao Master at the time, Fengzhong Zui, entered the scene.

He simply took out melon seeds, opened his mouth, and said: “Back in the day, when Shou Ye and I were in Guizhe Shengshan, it was pure chaos, a real slaughter…”

Hongniang’s spectator count plummeted from a peak of 700,000 to 70,000, 7,000, 700… and was still falling!

Despite this, she persisted.

She knew how massive the volume of Zhangxing would be in the future. If she didn’t rise now, it would be difficult later when a hundred flowers bloomed.

And besides being talented, wealthy, having Taixu guards, and being audacious, what else could she offer that was stronger than the name “Fengzhong Zui”?

Hongniang pondered deeply, but found no answer.

As she slumped her head in despair, only to bury herself in darkness, she suddenly saw a light, and it dawned on her:

“I, too, possess a Innate Chuandao Saint Body!”

“So shaky, it’s too shaky!”

“Hongniang, can you fix the camera before walking? It’s so jerky, watching this battle is making me feel exhausted.”

“Seven hundred thousand Xingzi! Hongniang, you’re back to your peak! A little more effort and you can catch up to Emperor Zhongzui, he only has seven million Xingzi left!”

“Turn around, who wants to see you, you smelly woman! I want to see Fu Lao, hehe, *sihasiha*”

“Brother in front, the screen is fixed! Wasn’t the King-tier Malevolent Ghost also blown up by Jin Shu with one shot? And, isn’t it ‘mentally exhausted’?”

“Hongniang, can you adjust the screen a bit smaller? It’s a bit too bright now, I feel dizzy looking at it, I might fall into a ditch while walking.”

“Jin Shu is truly formidable! A man of few words, but fierce. Is his spear really ‘Chi Qiang’? Why does it resemble the weapon of ‘Chi Qiang Gui,’ the three-incense golden-medal killer?”

“Heh, always talking about golden-medal killers. The world is vast, and there are all sorts of Xingzi. Do you know everything?”

“This Saint Pei Zai, when he was promoted to a three-colored hunter order, he owed me one last head, which I didn’t get. He took a palm of Xiaoyao San to the chest from me; the scar might still be there.”

“Wow, a Half-Saint has appeared! Hongniang, you’ve made it! A Half-Saint is watching your Chuandao!”

“Dao, what Dao?”

In the Jin Xing screen, comments slowly floated by.

To Hongniang’s eyes, they were messages floating in front of her, above her head, which she could largely ignore.

Hongniang ignored most of these messages, only occasionally responding to maintain interaction.

But as that “Hello, Auntie, You’re So Red” said, the world is vast, and there are all sorts of Xingzi!

“Someone can actually tell Jin Shu’s true identity from a weapon. Is he really Half-Saint Pei Zai?”

Just as she was momentarily stunned, a sharp shriek suddenly erupted beside her. Hongniang’s pupils dilated, and she subconsciously quickened her steps.

“Ghost!”

“Watch out, there’s a ghost!”

The messages floating before her eyes had a delay.

But Jin Shu’s spear did not. Fu Lao was responsible for distant threats, and he was specifically in charge of these sneak attackers.

“Break!”

A burst of flame ignited, and a spear shadow swept out.

With a bang, under the heavy blow of Chi Qiang.

The malevolent ghost’s claw had not yet touched Hongniang’s cheek when its head was forced into its body, literally exploding from the impact.

With a surge of spirit energy protection, Jin Shu’s burly figure blocked in front. He lowered his head and asked with concern:

“Miss, are you alright?”

Hongniang’s chest rose and fell rapidly; only now did she seem to catch her breath. She first reassured the spectators:

“Brothers, don’t worry, Hongniang is fine.”

Then she looked at Jin Shu: “Thank you, Jin Shu, you saved Hongniang’s life again. Hongniang truly can’t repay you.”

Jin Shu smiled, twirling the Chi Qiang and placing it heavily on the ground. Knowing the camera was on him, he waved his hand nonchalantly:

“Hey! It’s nothing…”

Before his words finished, a sword light suddenly shot out from the side, slicing into Jin Shu’s left neck and emerging from the right.

Before the eyes of the seven hundred thousand people on the Jinzhu screen, Jin Shu’s head flew up on the spot, blood gushing upwards like a spring.

It wasn’t over!

Just a decapitation!

Jin Shu cultivated the Dao of the soul; otherwise, he wouldn’t be a guard in Gui Fo Jie. His body could still move.

But just as he was about to move, with a hiss, he turned completely black and then lost all movement, dying completely.

“Scream!”

A pale human face appeared.

Just perfectly, it rested on Jin Shu’s severed black neck.

The face used its chin to plug the gushing blood, then, tilting its head, it took a deep breath, facing Hongniang and the seven hundred thousand people on Jinzhu, and revealed a mesmerized smile:

“Your soul smells so good too…”

I haven’t checked the reward messages in a while and just realized another Alliance Leader exploded yesterday.

Thank you to the Alliance Leader “San Yue Taohua Sheng Kai Shi” for a 100,000 reward!Thank you to “Bei Yu Tian Cai Jiang Nai Yi” for a 10,000 reward, and thank you to Xu Xiaoshou for Shou Ye’s 10,000 reward.Thank you to “Ba Yue Yu Feng Jia Yin” for a 10,000 reward in August, and “Bu Xiu De Yu Shen Mu” for Dao Qiongcang’s 10,000 reward in July, and “Bu Guan Bu Gu Bu Li” for a 10,000 reward.