Chapter 5: The Abnormal Treasure Ritual (Part 2)

Suddenly, a shout was heard in the distance.
Guo Shier looked up, and Li Ran asked, “Who is it?” Qi Wu Zhen ignored them completely, while Wang Keer continued eating head-down as if she hadn’t heard anything.
Halechi rushed over, shouting, “Hey, wait for me! I’m hungry too!” He snatched a large rib, gnawed on it, and said, “No one even called me to eat! Luckily, I’m smart enough to smell the meat… Mmm… delicious! Wow, it’s really good. Who cooked it?”
They devoured everything in no time. All five of them were high-level altar professionals and avid eaters. Guo Shier guessed that even if twice as much food were prepared, it would still be eaten up. These people could go days or nights without eating or drinking, but once they started eating, they became insatiable gluttons—easily consuming dozens of pounds of food, and even a hundred pounds wasn’t unusual for them.
After finishing, Guo Shier said, “Brother Li Ran, if the two of you work together to leave this world, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
Li Ran replied, “It shouldn’t be a problem. If there’s one more person, the chances increase even more.”
Qi Wu Zhen didn’t argue. She already recognized Li Ran’s strength, but she wouldn’t show him kindness. She said, “Shier, come here.”
Guo Shier asked warily, “Sister Zhen, what is it?”
Qi Wu Zhen smiled and said, “Come here!”
Guo Shier cautiously stepped forward. Qi Wu Zhen grabbed his collar and said, “Come with me!” In an instant, the two disappeared from that spot. Halechi looked displeased and muttered, “So mysterious…”
Li Ran knew Guo Shier was safe. He asked, “Who are you? What’s your name?”
Halechi was startled and quickly bowed, “I’m an eighth-level altar professional, Halechi. It’s an honor to meet you, senior.”
Wang Keer also stepped forward and bowed, “Hello, senior. I’m a sixth-level altar professional, Wang Keer.”
Li Ran nodded and said, “I’m Li Ran.”
…
Qi Wu Zhen teleported Guo Shier a hundred miles away. She pulled him to sit down and said, “I need the fluctuations of your soul.” After fighting with Li Ran, her soul was somewhat chaotic. It was still okay. If her soul had become truly chaotic, Li Ran would be in big trouble, as she wouldn’t hesitate when acting when her soul was in disarray.
Guo Shier said, “No problem.” He immediately began reciting incantations. Qi Wu Zhen closed her eyes and sensed it. After a moment, she leaned into Guo Shier’s arms, knowing that the closer she got, the more intense the sensation would be.

Guo Shier had gotten used to this; whenever he chanted scriptures, Qi Wu Zhen would always curl up in his arms. From initial reluctance to eventual habit, he couldn’t help but laugh inwardly—only at times like these did Qi Wu Zhen behave like a woman. Otherwise, she was like a humanoid combat machine, both insane and extremely powerful.

After some time, Guo Shier stopped chanting. Qi Wu Zhen said satisfactorily, “Not bad fluctuations.” She knew that without Guo Shier, she would have been finished long ago. It was thanks to his spiritual fluctuations that she had escaped disaster. She patted Guo Shier’s head and asked, “Did you bring that guy here?” She truly treated Guo Shier as a subordinate.

Guo Shier retracted his head slightly and said, “He’s my elder brother, Li Ran.” After a pause, he added, “Sis Zhen, he’s very strong. And he also plans to leave this world. If the two of you team up, your chances of leaving should be much higher.”

Qi Wu Zhen herself didn’t know why, but seeing Li Ran made her act so impulsively. The main responsibility for their fight lay with her, and what angered her the most was Li Ran’s attitude—complete disregard for her. So she wanted to teach this guy a lesson, only to find his strength so formidable that she had hit a wall.

The two started fighting as soon as they met, so Qi Wu Zhen didn’t know what he intended. She asked, “Does he also know about sacrificing stars?”

Guo Shier nodded. “The Greater World! That’s what he mentioned! I don’t understand the difference between sacrificing stars and the Greater World, but I think he knows a lot.”

Qi Wu Zhen fell silent for a moment. After a long while, she sighed and said, “There really are such people who know about the outside world. I learned from an ancient tradition that only by advancing to beyond the ninth-tier altar could one gain a vague understanding. I’ve reached the peak of this world; there’s no possibility of further progress… I’m not willing to give up.”

Guo Shier nodded. “Whether it’s the Greater World or sacrificing stars, we need to leave here. Sis Zhen, let’s team up with Brother Li Ran. As far as I know, no matter how strong one person is, it’s hard to reach the outside world.”

Qi Wu Zhen understood this as well. She said, “I know. I originally planned to refine a sacrificial treasure to break through the barriers of this world. Hmm, maybe I should talk to your brother.” At this moment, she appeared very calm.

Guo Shier said, “Okay, let’s go back.” The two immediately teleported back.

When the two of them appeared, they saw Li Ran, Halechi, and Wang Keer sitting together. It was unclear what Li Ran said, but it made Halechi and Wang Keer laugh heartily.
Guo Shier smiled and asked, “What’s so funny?”
As soon as Li Ran spotted Qi Wu Zhen, he put away his smile and said calmly, “Nothing. We were just chatting.”
Qi Wu Zhen huffed in annoyance. She hadn’t intended to provoke Li Ran and turned away without saying another word. Her attitude surprised Li Ran, who quickly realized that Guo Shier must have done something to influence her. He then gave Guo Shier a subtle glance. Guo Shier smiled slightly and blinked.
Wang Keer glanced at Qi Wu Zhen, then at Li Ran, and finally at Guo Shier, muttering, “What are the three of you up to…”
Guo Shier walked over to Li Ran and sat down beside him, saying, “Brother Li Ran, I’ve talked to Sister Zhen. Hehe, she agreed to join us.”
Qi Wu Zhen rolled her eyes. She had wanted to argue but decided it was unnecessary. Strangely enough, she didn’t deny it either.
Li Ran was pleased. From the start, he hadn’t wanted to fight Qi Wu Zhen, but circumstances forced him to take action, and fortunately, things hadn’t gotten out of control yet. He didn’t want to lose such a powerful ally, so he nodded and said, “Great…”
Qi Wu Zhen almost lost her temper. What did “great” mean? Li Ran stood up and walked over to her, saying, “Let me introduce myself again. I’m Li Ran.” His tone was sincere.
Guo Shier finally relaxed. He knew Qi Wu Zhen’s temperament—typical of someone who only yields to kindness, not force. Of course, she showed no mercy to enemies; she was a true strongwoman. Calling her a crazy woman wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Seeing Li Ran lower his stance, Qi Wu Zhen became less unreasonable. She said, “Qi Wu Zhen.” Her tone was still stiff, but the signal of reconciliation was clear. Then, she couldn’t help but add, “Your strength is impressive, but… still slightly weaker than mine, huh…”
Guo Shier almost laughed. Qi Wu Zhen was too competitive.
Li Ran rubbed his nose, deciding not to argue further or discuss who was stronger. The two had fought all day and night without either being able to gain the upper hand. He said, “I plan to gather a few experts and venture into the outside world together.” He wouldn’t reveal his true goal—that was to leave this world so his separated soul could return.
Qi Wu Zhen said, “With your strength, you could go alone. Why do you need others?”

Li Ran shook his head and said, “I can’t make it alone… With you by my side, I have a 50% chance. If we can find another professional above the ninth-tier altar, my chances rise to 60-70%. There shouldn’t be too many problems. Unfortunately, I’ve searched for a long time without success. You’re the first professional above the ninth-tier altar I’ve ever met.”

Qi Wu Zhen sneered and said, “Do you think there are many professionals above the ninth-tier altar? I’m already surprised to have met another professional at the same level in my lifetime.”

Li Ran gave a bitter smile and said, “This world is vast. Who knows if there are others? Just because we haven’t seen them doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”

Qi Wu Zhen replied, “But who has the time to look for them? It’s better to find other forms of help.”

Li Ran’s eyes lit up as he asked, “What kind of help?”

Qi Wu Zhen said proudly, “I possess a transmission for refining a special sacrificial treasure. If we can successfully refine this treasure, it’s equivalent to having another professional above the ninth-tier altar.”

Li Ran was overjoyed and said, “That’s great! Record the transmission in a jade talisman and show it to me.”

Qi Wu Zhen rolled her eyes and said, “It can’t be recorded in a jade talisman. It needs to be passed directly. Do you dare to accept it?”

Li Ran laughed nervously. How could he just agree? After all, passing on the transmission meant releasing one’s soul. What if that crazy woman went berserk? He couldn’t risk his life to her.

Guo Shier said, “Pass it to me first, and then I’ll pass it on to Brother Li Ran.” As someone familiar to both parties, he could serve as a bridge for communication.

Li Ran nodded and said, “Okay.”

Qi Wu Zhen dismissed him with disdain, “Coward! Hehe, Shier, your brother… has no courage at all.”

Li Ran was speechless. After a while, he muttered, “It’s not a matter of courage. Only an idiot would agree. Provocation doesn’t work on me.”

Guo Shier stepped forward and said to Qi Wu Zhen, “Sister Zhen, please pass it to me.”

Qi Wu Zhen smiled slightly. The mocking remark earlier seemed to have amused her. She touched Guo Shier’s forehead with her finger, and a large amount of transmission flowed into his soul. Guo Shier immediately felt his soul tremble—the amount of transmission was definitely substantial. A few dozen seconds later, Qi Wu Zhen withdrew her finger and said, “Fortunately, you’re already a professional at the eighth-tier altar. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to withstand it.”

Guo Shier remained silent, quickly organizing the newly acquired inheritance within his soul. After a while, he said, “A knife? Uh, such a complicated ritual…” The more he looked at it, the more horrified he became. The method of refining this sacrificial artifact filled him with fear. “So many professionals needed for the ritual… How many people would have to be killed?”
Qi Wu Zhen replied, “That’s just one method; there are others.”
Guo Shier continued to examine it and indeed found another method. He said, “Two hundred thousand souls! Two hundred thousand souls are required for the ritual!” Only then did he feel relieved. If he had to kill two hundred thousand professionals for the ritual, he would never agree—it was too cruel.
“Uh, seven secret realms sealed inside it…”
Guo Shier was already terrified. This sacrificial artifact was simply too monstrous. Li Ran eagerly said, “Give the inheritance to me!”
Halechi and Wang Keer also cried out, “I want it too!”
Qi Wu Zhen said, “You two kids, forget it. Even if you got this inheritance, you wouldn’t be able to use it. Only professionals who have surpassed the ninth-level altar can perform the ritual. What are you here for?”