Chapter 37

After the great battle, Xiangyang was filled with people celebrating, their lanterns and decorations dispersing the sorrow brought by countless deaths. As the sole leader of Xiangyang now, Guo Jing fulfilled his duty by generously compensating the families of the fallen. This was the only thing he could do for those brave warriors who had died on the battlefield, even though he knew that the money and grain were all obtained by Jiang Chen through bloodshed and slaughter.

The Southern Song Dynasty was corrupt and incompetent. Guo Jing and the people fought to the death to defend Xiangyang, only to be met with the emperor's suspicion. The emperor even sent an imperial envoy, not to reward the victorious soldiers and civilians or to comfort the families of the wounded, but to investigate the deaths of corrupt officials like Lu Wendeng.

Enraged, Jiang Chen killed the imperial envoy with his sword and then rushed to the current capital, Lin'an, where he killed all the corrupt officials and threatened the emperor severely. He then returned with the title of Duke of Xiangyang for Guo Jing and the properties of most of the officials in the capital.

Such actions, in the eyes of many, were extremely disrespectful and rash, but they were the only efforts Jiang Chen could make for this world and this era before he left.

Thirty days, though not short, were certainly not long. Therefore, despite having many things he wanted to do, Jiang Chen was helpless due to the time constraint.

Fortunately, he was not the type to dwell on sorrow and melancholy. Since he could not achieve much in national affairs, he decided to set aside these concerns, boost his spirits, and focus on his own plans.

Over the next few days, with Jiang Chen's subtle hints, Huang Yaoshi, Guo Jing, and Yang Guo each bestowed their best martial arts to him as a way to repay his kindness. These included Huang Yaoshi's Peach Blossom Island martial arts, medicine, and array formations, Guo Jing's Nine Yin Manual, Yang Guo's Toad Technique, and the Complete True Martial Arts of the Ancient Tomb. Unfortunately, Guo Jing, being rather stubborn, refused to teach him the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms.

Jiang Chen sighed inwardly but was helpless against Guo Jing's stubbornness. He then sought out the First Light Master, from whom he obtained the One Finger Zen and the先天功 (Xiantian Gong). He also received the Empty Bright Fist, Two Hands Combat, and a more complete set of Complete True Martial Arts from the Old Fool, including the Three Transformations Gathering Top Palm, Frost Treading Ice Breaking Palm, Golden Goose Skill, and the Three Transformations into Three Purities, all of which were advanced martial arts.

All these martial arts manuals were stored in his wristwatch space, to be studied and comprehended in the future. At present, his martial arts had reached a limit, and to break through, he needed to improve his cultivation, learn the strengths of various martial arts, and enhance his own realm.

On the thirtieth day, with the deadline approaching, Jiang Chen bid farewell to everyone and left Xiangyang alone, heading for the Sword Tomb. At the cave where the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai once lived, he reburied the Dugu Nine Swords manual he had obtained back into Dugu Qiubai's stone tomb.

"The predecessor left the sword manual to benefit future generations. I have already gained much from borrowing it, and now I return it. If a future worthy person can obtain it, it will not be in vain for the predecessor to have left this legacy." Jiang Chen piled up the stones, bowed three times respectfully to the stone tomb, and then stood up to check the time on the wall before leaving the cave.

It was dusk, with the sun setting and casting a sky full of red clouds. Jiang Chen looked up at the sky and suddenly saw the clouds swirling, forming a vast and magnificent scene. A purple beam of light descended, landing at his feet. This was the same purple path he had walked when he was a soul.

This seemed to be the dedicated path leading to the cycle of rebirth.

In a daze, an intangible force drove his body to step onto the purple path. Instantly, Jiang Chen felt his consciousness blur, and his vision changed. When he regained his senses and opened his eyes, he found himself in the already dilapidated world of the cycle of rebirth.

Everything seemed unchanged, except for two huge stone tablets that had appeared beside the cycle gate. Each tablet was about ten feet high, three feet wide, and one foot thick, carved from a single piece of white rock, with black characters engraved three inches deep.

"Cycler Jiang Chen, First Cycle:

Initial World: The Return of the Condor Heroes;

Initial Time: Sixteen years after Xiaolongnü jumped off the Heartbreak Cliff;

Initial Location: Fengling Ferry, An Du Old Inn;

Task Difficulty: Martial Arts Plot, Difficulty: Beginner;

Main Task Completed: Assist Guo Jing in defending Xiangyang, ensure Xiangyang is not captured by the Yuan-Mongol army before the plot ends, participate in the battle and kill at least one hundred Yuan-Mongol soldiers, obtain one wish-granting dragon pearl and the qualification for the next cycle.

Sub-task One Completed: Arrive in Xiangyang before the Beggar Gang meeting, obtain the qualification to activate the wristwatch space.

Sub-task Two Completed: Dominate the Beggar Gang meeting, awe the martial world, and double the expansion of the wristwatch space.

Sub-task Three Completed: Defeat the Yuan-Mongol's top expert, the Golden Wheel Dharma King, during the Xiangyang battle, obtain a complete copy of the Nine Yin Manual, which is a valuable handwritten manuscript by Huang Shang.

Task Completion: 100%;

Overall Evaluation: Excellent;

Congratulations, Cycler Jiang Chen, due to your outstanding performance in your first task, you will receive an additional wish-granting dragon pearl and a special encounter plot after three cycles."

Jiang Chen was stunned after reading the first stone tablet. It recorded his performance in the cycle world and made a corresponding evaluation.

As a rookie entering the cycle world for the first time, he had completed both the main and sub-tasks perfectly, earning an excellent evaluation. However, he was really curious about the wish-granting dragon pearls he had obtained. Could they really be the dragon pearls from the manga that could summon a dragon to grant wishes?

Jiang Chen was excited and immediately focused his mind on the wristwatch space. Indeed, besides all his gains from the previous cycle world, there were two egg-sized pearls inside.

The pearls were crystal clear, seemingly made of an unknown crystal, with stars floating inside. One had seven stars, and the other had only two, emitting colorful light.

"Are these the wish-granting dragon pearls?" Jiang Chen curiously took one of the seven-star dragon pearls into his hand. Instantly, the cycle wristwatch trembled, and a lot of related information appeared in his mind:

"Wish-Granting Dragon Pearl: A rare treasure from the Dragon Ball world. Collect all seven dragon pearls to summon a dragon in the cycle world and make three wishes that do not exceed the cycle's boundaries."

Damn, it really is the seven-star dragon pearl! Jiang Chen couldn't help but widen his eyes. He never expected that these were indeed the seven-star dragon pearls that could summon a dragon to grant wishes, but the boundaries of the wishes were still unknown. Fortunately, it would take a long time to collect all seven pearls, so he had plenty of time to ponder the deeper meanings.

Looking at the second stone tablet, he saw that it was blank except for a row of constantly changing numbers. The numbers were counting down, and Jiang Chen quickly understood that this represented the time he could stay in the cycle world.

23 hours, 32 minutes, 16 seconds. The numbers were decreasing second by second. When Jiang Chen touched the stone tablet, the related information immediately entered his mind, confirming his guess. The countdown represented the time he could stay in the cycle world. Once the countdown reached zero, he would have to cross the cycle gate and enter the cycle world, regardless of his willingness.

This could be seen as a mission, a training exercise, or even a manipulation by the cycle. However, regardless of the reason, obedience was the only choice until he transcended the cycle. Otherwise, there was only death.

What is death like? Is it scary? Is it painful? Is it a vague sense of liberation? Those who have never experienced death can never know the answer. But Jiang Chen knew, because even at the moment when he almost lost his consciousness, he could never forget the moment of his death.

It was terrifying, painful, and perhaps a vague sense of liberation. In any case, regardless of the reason, Jiang Chen never wanted to experience the second death in his life.

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