69novels Page 667
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Chapter 596 Zhao Ji: Do you want to obtain the rank of a celestial being? (7k views, please vote)
"Opportunity?"
Qiu Tu keenly caught those two words. He blinked, looked at Zhao Ji, and then asked tentatively with a grin, "Sister Zhao Ji, what kind of opportunity is it?"
During this time, Zhao Ji had gained a certain understanding of Qiu Tu's personality.
This man may seem a bit carefree, but he is actually very ambitious and has a strong gambling instinct.
This can be seen from the fact that he could have focused on developing his career in peace, but he repeatedly chose to walk a tightrope, taking big risks with small investments.
But... I have to say, this man really does seem to have some amazing qualities. He always seems to be able to create miracles and turn crises into opportunities.
Just like the "6th Shelter Incident" this time.
At the very beginning of the incident, Qiu Tu was merely a minor speaker. He didn't even have the qualifications to directly receive Princess Xi.
After all, at that time, he wasn't even a high-ranking member of the shelters. In the eyes of the various forces and leaders of the three shelters, he was just an ant that couldn't be smaller.
As a result... Qiu Tu, through La Riluo, through himself, and through the Tang family, walked a tightrope, gambling recklessly, and managed to swallow an elephant whole:
He first swallowed up the Heaven and Earth states, thus gaining the right to enter the game;
He then seized on Pang Haichen's weakness, entered the game himself, won the support of the first and second leaders of the shelter, swallowed Pang Haichen alone, and thus rose to the position of head of the shelter, becoming a powerful figure in the region.
Afterwards, with the capital he had, he pretended to cooperate with Princess Xi, but in reality he was secretly colluding with the Kou family, hedging his bets on both sides.
After gaining the support of both Princess Xi and the Kou family, they directly used their previously accumulated advantages to forcibly swallow up the 6th and 7th shelters.
In just two or three months, Qiu Tu, the little snake, had swelled up into a giant python and even grew horns, preparing to transform into a dragon.
If someone had told Zhao Ji a few months ago that Qiu Tu might achieve what he has today and might become the King of the Northwest, she certainly wouldn't have believed it at all.
After all, there shouldn't be anyone as awesome as her in this world.
Now, she has not only witnessed it firsthand, but she has also been guided by Qiu Tu and played an important role in it, either actively or passively.
It was because of this series of events that she gained a more direct understanding of Qiu Tu's personality.
This is a "gambler," and a crazy gambler at that.
He might gamble if he has even a 1% chance of winning.
Unlike ordinary gamblers, his "gambling" is not about placing direct bets, but about analyzing the interests of all parties using the entire situation as a chessboard.
Then, try every means to push things forward, accumulate advantages to victory, and gradually increase his "one percent" chance of winning to thirty percent, fifty percent, or even ninety percent.
Such methods and scheming were indeed something Zhao Ji had never seen before.
Thinking about this, Zhao Ji couldn't help but recall that opportunity, or rather, that test... (Chapters 524 and 594)
She was determined to seize that opportunity, because it was related to all her plans for this lifetime.
However, it must be said that... due to a misjudgment of a certain matter back then, she lost a lot of time. She has not yet accomplished the plans she initially envisioned.
This makes the outcome of this opportunity much more uncertain.
'Perhaps, involving that guy isn't such a bad thing?'
'Who knows what unexpected effects might occur?'
Thinking of this, a thoughtful look crept into Zhao Ji's usually cold eyes...
After thinking silently for two seconds, she roughly made up her mind.
'However, in that case... we'll have to find a way to get him to the "core area" ahead of schedule.'
With this in mind, Zhao Ji gradually made up her mind.
She looked up at Qiu Tu and said coldly, "There is an opportunity. But it's not something someone of your strength can interfere with."
Sure enough, Qiu Tu's eyes lit up as soon as he heard about the opportunity, and clearly a great one at that.
To outsiders, Qiu Tu is the head and number two of the shelters; behind the scenes, Qiu Tu is a powerful figure with decision-making authority over both shelters! But... in front of Zhao Ji, he is just a sycophant trying to curry favor.
So, upon hearing Zhao Ji say that, Qiu Tu immediately shamelessly approached her, sat down next to her, and flattered her, "Sister Zhao Ji, compared to you, I'm definitely not as good."
"But how many of you are there in this world?!"
"No! There is no one in this world who can compare to you. Therefore, in front of others, I am also considered a master."
Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Zhao Ji snorted coldly and said with a faint sarcasm, "Every heavenly soldier and general was an unparalleled master in their respective world before they ascended to the Immortal Realm and met the Great Sage Equaling Heaven."
Qiu Tu: ....
Qiu Tu felt that Zhao Ji's insults were a bit vulgar.
But that wasn't all. After making a sarcastic remark, Zhao Ji glanced at Qiu Tu indifferently, then closed her eyes and said expressionlessly,
"So don't think that Tier 6 is very strong."
"Level 6 is merely the threshold to enter that trial."
"But in that test, anyone you randomly pick could be a chasm that's hard to cross at the sixth level."
Zhao Ji's words have always been a bit harsh, but today they were exceptionally harsh. If someone with a bad temper or a bad attitude had encountered her, they probably would have already lost their temper after Zhao Ji's repeated attacks.
But Qiu Tu was able to endure hardship and bide his time for so long in his previous life, so what was this little stunt? As long as Zhao Ji didn't spit in his face, he didn't care at all.
So... he even replied with a smile, "It's okay, it's okay. If I can't do it, there's still Sister Zhaoji, aren't there?"
"Given our relationship, if I really went, you wouldn't bear to leave me alone."
Zhao Ji glanced at Qiu Tu coldly, her face expressionless—just like Qiu Tu always did when he climbed up the pole.
But as she turned her face away, the corner of her mouth subtly curled upwards by 1 millimeter...
'They've taken the bait....'
However, her expression immediately changed the next second. Then, as if defeated by Qiu Tu's "shamelessness," she coldly uttered four words:
"The rank of a celestial being."
"A divine rank?" Upon hearing Zhao Ji's words, Qiu Tu paused for a moment, then asked, "What is that?"
Zhao Ji said calmly, "After you advanced to the 6th rank, you should have discovered the true nature of the Cataclysm, right?"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu hesitated and asked, "To take over the world in place of the 'World Will'?"
Zhao Ji hummed in agreement and nodded slightly. "Yes."
"In a sense, we cataclysms are the ones who exercise power on behalf of this world; we are all officials of this world."
"I won't talk about the first to fifth tiers of Cataclysms. They are all low-level 'officials' or in the probationary stage."
"Only those who reach the sixth rank or above are considered to have truly received authorization from the 'World Will' and become officials."
"According to the research in the 'Core Region,' sixth-tier cataclysmic beings can be considered 'fourth-class deities,' controlling and managing their own nine regions, which means they can roughly influence an entire province."
"Within the scope of this state, He is the ruler of an independent kingdom, capable of commanding the wind and rain, and all-powerful."
"As for the seventh rank, they can be considered 'third-tier deities,' controlling approximately 81 regions across the Nine Provinces. In other words, that's roughly equivalent to a country, or a sanctuary."
"They can do anything in their own kingdom; thunder and rain are all divine grace."
"Eighth-tier is equivalent to a 'second-class deity.' At this level, it's no longer just about controlling a country."
"They will control a vast region, such as the Northwest or Southwest, with their divine power radiating across 4-6 countries and affecting hundreds of millions of lives."
"Actually, up to this point, these catastrophic creatures are still within the territory of the Earth Gods. They can only affect the territories they control."
"But once you reach the ninth rank, which is a 'first-class deity,' everything changes completely."
"The influence of first-class deities will no longer be limited to territory, but will reach the heavens and have the authority to truly govern a certain area on behalf of the world."
"Therefore, to advance to the ninth rank, one must obtain the 'Celestial God Rank'."
"And the trial I just mentioned can grant you the 'Celestial Rank,' which is also the greatest opportunity in the 'Core Area.'"
Upon hearing Zhao Ji's words, Qiu Tu was deeply shaken.
7th order, 8th order, 9th order...
He hadn't quite understood why Zhao Ji said that in that trial, anyone he randomly picked could be an insurmountable obstacle for him.
Now he understands...
To advance to the ninth rank, one must obtain a "Celestial God Status." But who can possibly advance to the ninth rank?
Aren't they all terrifying powerhouses at the 8th rank or even the peak of the 8th rank, or reincarnations of gods like Zhao Ji?!
As for someone like myself, who has just entered the 6th rank and hasn't even touched the threshold of the 7th rank, I would most likely just be cannon fodder if I went there.
Based on the strength demonstrated by the Nine-Headed Lion in its last duel with Zhao Ji, it's estimated that a near-7th rank cultivator could defeat Qiu Tu in just one move.
Not to mention Rank 8, or even Rank 8 at its peak.
However... thinking of this, Qiu Tu did not dispel his curiosity about this opportunity.
He gave Zhao Ji a deep look, who was meditating with her eyes closed again. He pondered the unspoken meaning behind her words...
Based on his understanding of Zhao Ji, he knew that although this woman was arrogant, proud, and liked to show off, she never did anything without being sure of success.
Although she is a reincarnation of a celestial being and can kill a near-7th rank opponent in one move, Qiu Tu believes that her current true strength is 100% below the peak of the 8th rank.
It's highly likely that it's only at the peak of level 7, or close to level 8.
Such strength would make him a powerful figure in the "peripheral areas," and he would be considered a master in the "core areas." But in that particular opportunity, he wasn't considered strong.
So... this test is not actually a simple fight or struggle?
Thinking this, Qiu Tu's mind stirred slightly. He rolled his eyes, then looked at Zhao Ji with a grin and tentatively asked,
"Sister Zhaoji, is this opportunity won through force? How many spots are there in total?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji did not directly answer Qiu Tu. Instead, she opened her eyes, glanced at Qiu Tu with her cold gaze, and said in a show of retreat, "What? After all I've said, are you still interested?"
There was really nothing to hide, so Qiu Tu nodded. "I'm somewhat interested. But... not much."
"I just wanted to know more."
Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Zhao Ji did not answer Qiu Tu's question.
She stretched out her slender hand and gently touched the back of Qiu Tu's right hand.
The next second, Qiu Tu couldn't help but hiss, feeling as if he had been branded with a hot iron, and reflexively shrank back.
Zhao Ji didn't mind. After selecting Qiu Tu, she slowly said, "The form of the test is not always the same; it's different each time."
"As for how many 'celestial ranks' one will attain, that's uncertain. It depends on fate."
"If you're interested, you can participate in the 'core area' in a month and a half."
"Once you reach the 'core area,' you can sense my location and find me through this 'divine mark.'"
"When the time comes, if things are right, I can take you to see the world."
"But... I can't guarantee how much we'll gain."
Upon hearing Zhao Ji's words, Qiu Tu blinked.
A month and a half...? That's a bit of a tight timeframe.
It's important to understand that now that shelters 6 and 7 are being established, it's precisely the time when stability is needed.
If he were to participate in this test, many of his plans would have to be arranged in advance. There's a high chance of encountering more complications.
Moreover... for some reason, even though Zhao Ji acted perfectly normally, Qiu Tu just felt that something was off about the whole thing.
His mind raced, trying to figure out what was so strange about this.
Just then, as if she had read his thoughts, Zhao Ji suddenly spoke, interrupting his train of thought.
"By the way, how's your learning of the sword technique 'Heaven Opening' that I taught you a while ago coming along?"
Perhaps Zhao Ji's topic was too abrupt, Qiu Tu paused for a second before coming to his senses and replying, "Still studying."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji glanced at Qiu Tu with her amber eyes, then took out another jade pendant, pressed it to her forehead, paused for two seconds, and handed it to Qiu Tu.
Qiu Tu took the jade pendant with a puzzled look in his eyes, then looked at Zhao Ji with some confusion.