Chapter 330 – Reappearing Incense Path

“I never imagined Tianjiu Academy would still have such a trump card hidden…”

Fang Heng, the lead teacher of Lihuo Dao Academy, gazed at the foreign girl Xing Jiu not far away. His originally narrowed eyes were now wide open, his expression turning extremely serious.

Initially, he had been puzzled by Tianjiu Academy’s decision to send Xing Jiu out first. After all, among Tianjiu Academy’s members, Xing Jiu’s cultivation level was undoubtedly the lowest. No matter how one looked at it, it seemed like Tianjiu Academy was using her to test Lihuo Dao Academy’s depth—a mere pawn.

But now, it was clear she was no pawn. This was clearly their commander—a peerless warrior capable of taking on ten thousand foes alone.

And Xing Jiu’s performance certainly didn’t disappoint Tianjiu Academy’s expectations. Her stunning record of five consecutive victories, along with the mysterious techniques she still hadn’t revealed, left even Lihuo Dao Academy’s teachers unable to gauge her true strength.

Fang Heng even suspected that if they sent everyone except Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye, they might still not be a match for this girl. It could only be said that this foreign girl Xing Jiu was truly unexpected, catching them completely off guard.

However, despite his shock, Fang Heng didn’t dwell on it too much. After all, such tactics only work effectively the first time. Had they included Lu Chen in their roster this time, Tianjiu Academy would have had no chance of victory no matter how clever their schemes.

In the face of absolute power, all strategies… are useless.

Moreover, the outcome of this particular match wasn’t actually crucial for Lihuo Dao Academy. Whether they won or lost, they had already secured their spot in the final Dao Academy tournament. The only difference victory would make was whether they could obtain the southern division’s seeded position.

That was all.

And the benefit of being seeded was merely allowing them to bypass three rounds in the final tournament.

Therefore, even though Tianjiu Academy had outmaneuvered them, Fang Heng only became slightly more serious without feeling any sense of urgency.

“Student Mu, Student Gu, we’re counting on you.”

Mu Xiaoye and Gu Jingwen nodded. Together with a senior student from Lihuo Dao Academy and the two remaining substitute members, they entered the arena.

As expected, Tianjiu Academy fielded their strongest team. Not only did they have the mysteriously impressive foreign girl Xing Jiu from the first match, but the other four members were also powerful foreigners. Their formation clearly centered around Xing Jiu, protecting her in the middle, showing excellent teamwork.

On Lihuo Dao Academy’s side, Mu Xiaoye practiced both fire and physical cultivation, while Gu Jingwen was a spiritual energy cultivator. The senior student and the two substitutes were all Talisman Cultivators and Formation Cultivators.

Clearly, the remaining three were there to provide support, aiming to help Mu Xiaoye and Gu Jingwen unleash their full potential.

Team battles differed significantly from the previous arena matches. Compatibility and coordination among cultivators were crucial. A well-organized team could even multiply its members’ combat effectiveness.

Below the Golden Core Stage, aside from a few exceptionally gifted monsters, most cultivators not only had shallow cultivation and limited techniques but also lacked sufficient experience. Fighting alone would undoubtedly be very dangerous.The Immortal Alliance Academy has always instilled in its students the concept of learning to cooperate with those around them and compensating for their own weaknesses.

This is also the fundamental reason why the Academy Grand Competition consists of only arena matches and team competitions, with no individual events.

As a certain anonymous Dao Academy Principal once said:

‘Below the Golden Core Stage, forget about flashy spells and Divine Abilities—the key is to find a way to survive.’

‘Only by staying alive can there be a future.’

Inside the Vermillion Bird Arena.

Although the current match progression was within Tianjiu Academy’s calculations,

and they had unsurprisingly won the first arena match,

even so, they were not overly elated.

Because what lay before them now was another formidable challenge:

Mu Xiaoye, the future Sect Master of the Myriad Enterprises Immortal Sect, a renowned Phoenix Calamity Cultivator on the Immortal Alliance’s Divine Ability rankings.

Tianjiu Academy understood all too well the strength of a Phoenix Calamity Cultivator.

It could be said that Phoenix Calamity Cultivators were born for battle.

Crossing stages to fight was as natural to them as breathing.

Moreover, Mu Xiaoye was among the top-ranked of all Phoenix Calamity Cultivators throughout history.

Thus, Tianjiu Academy’s members had no confidence in whether Xing Jiu could defeat Mu Xiaoye.

They could only do their best and leave the rest to fate.

While Lihuo Dao Academy might not care about the so-called seed slot,

Tianjiu Academy could not afford such indifference.

Because securing this slot would allow Tianjiu Academy to leap from the bottom of the Immortal Alliance’s rankings

to at least the top twenty academies in the entire Alliance, firmly establishing their reputation.

Therefore, this battle was of utmost importance to them.

“Xiao Jiu, we’ll buy you enough time. You can fully trust us.”

Facing Mu Xiaoye, brimming with Battle Intent, and Gu Jingwen, serene in demeanor but sharp-eyed,

Yue Wanying, a third-year senior at Tianjiu Academy, stepped forward without hesitation.

Though the other three non-human students remained silent, their expressions conveyed the same message.

Faced with the absolute trust of her seniors, the shy Xing Jiu nodded silently.

She then took out three incense sticks and lit them publicly.

Faint smoke rose from the incense, forming a wispy cloud above Xing Jiu’s head.

Though Mu Xiaoye and the others did not know what Xing Jiu was doing,

they instinctively felt they could not allow her to continue.

Thus, Mu Xiaoye and her team, who had initially intended to exchange words with Tianjiu Academy, launched their attack directly.

Boom!

Fierce Phoenix Calamity Fire erupted from Mu Xiaoye.

Terrifying waves of flame transformed into a raging inferno, crashing down upon Tianjiu Academy’s team.

Such a display immediately put Tianjiu Academy on high alert.

Even the members of Lihuo Dao Academy were forced to retreat a distance,

as the flames did not distinguish between friend and foe.

Clearly, Xing Jiu’s earlier performance had ignited Mu Xiaoye’s Battle Intent,

making her overly excited—so much so that she forgot the instructions her teacher had given before the match.

However, Fang Heng, the teacher from Lihuo Dao Academy watching from outside the arena, did not comment.

His attention was captivated by Xing Jiu’s actions—

or more precisely, by the three incense sticks in her hands.

“The Incense Path? In this day and age, someone still cultivates this path, and a non-human at that?”

The so-called Incense Path is, in fact, a form of ‘external Dao’.However, this term ‘external path’ is merely a designation distinguishing it from orthodox cultivation.

It does not imply that the Incense Path itself has any inherent flaws.

In fact, during the ancient era when Immortals and deities were abundant,

the Incense Path was even considered a renowned great Dao.

This is because although Incense Path cultivators typically remain inconspicuous in daily life,

once they complete ‘Deity Invocation’,

their strength multiplies exponentially.

This enhancement depends on two factors: the cultivator’s own cultivation base,

and the power of the Immortal they worship.

But in the current post-deity era where Immortals remain hidden,

the Incense Path has fundamentally lost its viability for cultivation.

After all, when even Immortals themselves can barely manage their own affairs, how could they have spare power to lend you?

Moreover, even if there were Immortals capable of lending you power, how would you establish contact with them?

These two fatal flaws have caused the Incense Path to virtually disappear within the current Immortal Alliance.

Aside from a few individuals, almost no one practices this path anymore.

Yet now, this path has not only resurfaced

but emerged from the hands of an alien race.

This is even more astonishing than Xing Jiu’s earlier feat of fighting one against five.

Although Lu Chen nearby had never witnessed the Incense Path before,

he had seen similar methods.

Specifically, the ‘Gu Xian Mask’ of the Black Lotus Sect.

But unlike the Gu Xian Mask that borrows power from Gu Xian artifacts to gain partial Gu Xian abilities,

Xing Jiu currently appears to be ‘borrowing power’,

yet in Lu Chen’s perspective, she seems more like she’s ‘lifting a seal’.

The incense in her hands isn’t being offered to any Immortal,

but rather to that special Immortal Gu that shares her soul and body.

Under the influence of the incense, Lu Chen noticed the Immortal Gu manifesting behind Xing Jiu beginning to continuously fuse with the incense.

Then this special incense transformed into a unique power that started empowering Xing Jiu.

Xing Jiu’s originally white-only pupils underwent visible changes at this moment.

Two clusters of golden flames, as if eternally burning, appeared within her pupils.

Along with this, her cultivation level began rising wildly…

Xing Jiu’s transformation was also detected by Mu Xiaoye.

That aura, as if originating from primordial times, brought tremendous pressure to Mu Xiaoye.

It also gradually pulled her out of her previous excitement, making her become serious.

Mu Xiaoye suddenly exerted force, her body enveloped in massive Phoenix Calamity Fire as she charged directly toward Xing Jiu’s location.

Despite Mu Xiaoye’s fierce approach,

the alien students beside Xing Jiu immediately sprang into action.

They positioned themselves in four directions, each activating techniques.

In an instant, a powerful protective formation materialized out of thin air, completely shielding them.

Their practiced movements clearly indicated long training.

The formation deployed by four alien race members at the Peak of Foundation Establishment Stage had genuinely reached Golden Core Realm power.

Even a true Golden Core Stage cultivator might not be able to breach it quickly.

As long as they could hold out a bit longer, until Xing Jiu completed her ritual,

they believed that with Xing Jiu’s power, victory in this confrontation would be firmly in their grasp.

But soon, they realized how naive their thinking was,

and understood why Phoenix Calamity Cultivators hold such high status in Immortal Alliance history.

They watched as Mu Xiaoye arrived before the formation and threw a single punch.

Her striking right arm became covered in numerous golden patterns, resembling Immortal Markings.

BOOM!When Mu Xiaoye’s fist struck the barrier of the grand formation, the four members of Tianjiu Academy maintaining the formation immediately spat blood, their eyes filled with disbelief.

Dense cracks spread from the point where Mu Xiaoye had struck the formation.

One punch. Just one punch.

The four from Tianjiu Academy couldn’t believe it.

They had practiced for so long, and the formation combined the strength of all four of them.

Yet it seemed unable to withstand even a single punch from Mu Xiaoye.

However, after catching a glimpse of Xing Jiu, whose ritual was nearing completion, their eyes turned resolute.

Ignoring their internal injuries, they unleashed their spiritual power without reservation, pouring it into the grand formation in an attempt to restore it.

In response, Mu Xiaoye raised her fist and delivered another punch, her expression as impassive as before.

This time, the force of her punch far surpassed the previous one.

Bang!

The already precarious formation shattered completely under this blow.

Countless specks of spiritual power scattered across the sky, drifting and dancing like feathers.

With the formation destroyed, the Tianjiu Academy members, who were spiritually connected to it, were severely wounded on the spot, losing all ability to fight.

Gazing at Mu Xiaoye hovering mid-air, her body adorned with golden patterns and wreathed in flames, the Tianjiu Academy disciples’ eyes filled with despair.

There was still some time before Xing Jiu could complete the ritual, but they could no longer buy her more time.

If Mu Xiaoye attacked now, the outcome would be beyond doubt.

Surprisingly, despite being on the verge of victory, Mu Xiaoye showed no intention of striking.

She remained suspended in the air, calmly waiting for Xing Jiu to complete her divine summoning technique.

Proud by nature, Mu Xiaoye disdained underhanded tactics like ambushes.

Only the cowardly resorted to such despicable methods.

The strong should face their opponents head-on!

Since this was merely a competition between students, Teacher Fang Heng didn’t comment further.

Had this been a real life-or-death battle, and Mu Xiaoye still acted so arrogantly in pursuit of so-called fair combat, even as the young sect master of Myriad Enterprises Immortal Sect, he would have given her a stern dressing-down.

Winning is winning, losing is losing.

Fairness?

What use is fairness if you’re dead?

With Mu Xiaoye’s indulgence, Xing Jiu finally completed her divine summoning.

Now enveloped in a special “incense smoke,” Xing Jiu transformed as the smoke coalesced into ethereal white dragon tails and scales, turning her into a unique dragon maiden.

But the external changes were secondary.

The greatest transformation was in her cultivation.

Golden Core Stage—this was the level of cultivation Xing Jiu now displayed.

And it was no ordinary Golden Core.

At the very least, it was a Heavenly Path Golden Core.

Under the influence of this powerful Heavenly Path Golden Core, thunderclouds materialized over the arena, which had been filled with Phoenix Calamity flames.

Accompanied by torrential rain, the thunderclouds seized half of the original arena space, standing in stark opposition to Mu Xiaoye’s Phoenix Calamity flames.

Sensing the powerful dragon aura emanating from Xing Jiu and the extraordinary thunderclouds, Mu Xiaoye felt no fear. Instead, she grew even more excited.

Xing Jiu’s performance made the wait worthwhile.

This was an opponent worthy of her full strength.

Xing Jiu, however, wasn’t as exhilarated as Mu Xiaoye.

Her eyes flickering with golden flames, she looked up at Mu Xiaoye.

“Thunder, come.”As Xing Jiu’s words fell.

A terrifying thunderclap resounded throughout the venue.

Then everyone witnessed a scene they would remember for the rest of their lives.

Countless bolts of lightning churned within the thunderclouds, appearing directly above Xing Jiu’s head.

The spectacle could hardly be described as anything less than apocalyptic…

(End of Chapter)