Chapter 377 - 368: A Harmonization Realm Expert’s Astonishment, Granting Strong Support, Straight to a 30-Win Streak

The resident director of the Celestial Star Arena was a Harmonization Realm expert from the Three-Life Race. He resembled a member of the Human Race and exuded a naturally commanding presence.

At his realm, cultivation was more or less useless. Advancing further required world-altering luck and specific catalysts.

This allowed him to dedicate all his attention to the Celestial Star Arena. In reality, the Arena’s operations were so well-established that he could act as a hands-off manager, free to travel as he pleased. Major incidents were rare.

But now, things were different. While he was vacationing on another great oasis, someone suddenly contacted him. They said an incredible genius had emerged in the Spirit Body Realm, one who had even instantly killed a prodigy at the first level of the Dharma Realm who had a long winning streak. Now, countless people online were accusing the Celestial Star Arena of covering up for this person’s cheating.

When he first heard the news, he suspected one of the higher-ups had taken a bribe and was making a mess of things in his absence.

’After all, how could someone at the first level of the Spirit Body Realm possibly instant-kill an expert at the first level of the Dharma Realm?’

The situation defied all logic. Thus, the first thing he did upon his return was to investigate the entire upper management of the Celestial Star Arena. After a swift and thorough crackdown, he did indeed find a few individuals who were protecting certain contestants and interfering with the normal matchmaking system.

What was absurd, however, was that most of these cases had nothing to do with Jiang Qiu. The few that did involve him were because people had bribed mid-level management specifically to get matched against him for a "snipe," and they had all been instantly killed.

Faced with this situation, the Harmonization Realm director of the Celestial Star Arena was baffled. He couldn’t help but find it all incredible. ’Just what is going on with this Jiang Qiu?’

So, he informed his subordinates and announced publicly that he would thoroughly investigate the matter. He had already watched some videos of Jiang Qiu’s matches and discovered that they were, indeed, all instant kills.

And yet, seemingly due to the limitations of the recording technology, it was impossible to see clearly how he did it!

’Looks like I’ll have to go see for myself.’

With that thought, he casually tore open a space-time tunnel and stepped inside. He vanished before the eyes of the other executives and, in the blink of an eye, arrived at Jiang Qiu’s residence.

When he appeared, space tore open and the energy in the room churned violently, as if an ancient god had descended. The faintest wisp of pressure he leaked was enough to inspire dread. Even Jiang Qiu couldn’t help but frown. "May I ask who you are?"

Jiang Qiu had no memory of the Harmonization Realm expert before him. He didn’t seem to be an acquaintance, yet his expression made it clear he was here for him. Jiang Qiu dared not be disrespectful.

This Harmonization Realm expert’s aura was on par with that of the Red Demon Venerable who had died in the Dragon Spirit Secret Realm. He was clearly a supreme expert in his own right.

One had to remember that the Red Demon Venerable was one of the nine Venerables of the Nine Venerable Great Realm—one of the most powerful Great Realms in existence—and one of its nine strongest individuals.

The man before him was comparable, meaning he was at least a tier stronger than Netherworld of the Yin Yang Great Realm. He could not be underestimated.

’Even if I revealed my full cultivation, the gap between us would still be immense. I can’t afford to offend him.’

"Hm. You are Jiang Qiu of the Human Race?" The Harmonization Realm expert lowered his gaze to study him, his brow twitching almost imperceptibly. ’He’s really only at the first level of the Spirit Body Realm?’

Reaching this conclusion, his heart skipped a beat. Subconsciously, he felt it was impossible, yet he couldn’t explain why he could only perceive Jiang Qiu’s realm as being at the first level of the Spirit Body Realm.

Based on his performance in the match recordings, he could effortlessly instant-kill a first-level Dharma Realm genius. That meant his actual strength should be, at a minimum, that of a prodigy infinitely close to the Fusion Realm.

’Of course, even for an expert at the Peeping Dao Realm, it would be impossible for their instant-kill technique to be completely invisible, because it obviously wasn’t a soul-based attack.’

’A flash of black light, and the enemy was dead. A piercing wound.’

’With that kind of power, a conservative estimate would place him above the Dao Entry Realm. It’s not even out of the question that he’s at the Fusion Realm...’

’But looking at him now, he doesn’t have the aura of such an expert. On the contrary, he seems utterly plain and simple, both inside and out.’

"I am Jiang Qiu," Jiang Qiu said, still frowning. He asked again, "Senior, who are you?"

"Oh, my name is Celestial Star. I achieved Unity in the Desolate Realm. You can call me the Desolate Star Emperor," Celestial Star replied casually, placing a hand on Jiang Qiu’s shoulder. "Let me see the state of your soul."

A soul probe slammed into his mind like an iron hammer. A terrifying pressure flooded in, making Jiang Qiu’s own soul tremble. He instantly sensed the trajectory of the other’s soul and immediately cleared his mind of all thoughts.

He could feel Celestial Star’s consciousness entering his body perfectly. He could even use the Dragon Spirit Secret Realm to capture it. But given his opponent’s status, if something were to go wrong, he’d be a dead man. So, he didn’t take the initiative to absorb the intruding soul.

After the soul probed inside his body for a moment, it retreated like a gentle breeze. Celestial Star’s entire expression grew strange. "How odd..."

He discovered that Jiang Qiu’s soul was incomplete. This was likely a unique trait of the Yin Yang Great Realm’s Cultivation Technique, but it was also slightly different. He vaguely sensed that this incompleteness could be mended.

What was more, for an instant when his soul was inside Jiang Qiu’s body, he’d felt himself being watched by an unimaginable existence. An aura of death had flashed past and vanished.