Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Greek God of Construction and Earth

October 20th.

In the early morning, the sky was shrouded in gray mist.

Tia sped through Shanghai City using an advanced Yubu technique, making distant landscapes seem to surge forward in an instant.

She stopped soundlessly before the snow-white archway of Azure Cloud Gate. At her side, a graceful silhouette appeared quietly.

“Good morning, Second Sister,” Liufang Ling greeted her warmly, lacking entirely the intimidating aura she projected in the edited videos circulating online.

Tia returned the greeting, then glanced at the trailing Zhuying, her expression tinged with surprise. “Little Sister, why are you suddenly wearing makeup?”

Zhuying had tied her vivid red hair into a high ponytail, deliberately leaving a lock draping over her shoulder, and atop her pale forehead sat a pair of charming, fleshy horns.

A faint peach-pink eyeshadow adorned her upper eyelids, lending her exquisite features a hint of cold elegance. Her hands and the toes peeking from thick-soled sandals were painted with burgundy nail polish.

“A god must be flawless,” Zhuying replied calmly.

Tia was no longer surprised by this ambition to become a “god.” Each of the three who remained at Azure Cloud Gate had their own dreams.

The eldest sister yearned to rule the world, aspiring to ascend to the heavens and command all. The youngest sought to become the world’s nemesis, requiring power equal to the gods. Thus, she longed to be a “god” walking among mortals.

Tia thought that linking divinity with destruction was rather fitting for a religion. But until Baiyu Jing was dealt with, everything else was mere illusion.

She stepped forward, and unlike usual, invisible ripples trembled ahead—a barrier unseen, blocking outsiders from entry.

The badge at her waist glowed faintly, dispelling the repulsive force, allowing her to ascend the steps without hindrance.

The seemingly short cherry blossom grove suddenly stretched, both sides ablaze with blooms, as if an endless ocean of pink flowers.

Shadows of paulownia, osmanthus, and plum trees were utterly eclipsed, leaving only cherry blossoms swaying gently in the morning breeze.

The steps rose straight upward, seemingly piercing the gray heavens, an awe-inspiring sight.

Tia glanced around and sighed, “If those skilled in construction learned that what would take them a year or two to complete—a super project—was finished overnight, they’d curse the perpetrator to die a miserable death.”

“This also proves how terrifying the leader’s grasp of scripture is. Even such a complex blend of advanced spells, he writes without a second’s hesitation,” Liufang Ling remarked with awe.

The more one understood Baiyu Jing’s strength, the more unfathomable he seemed.

The master’s depth is bottomless.

Tia nodded in agreement, then said, “I’ve arranged for online trolls to gradually publicize your exploits, provoke some rival sects, and hopefully someone will gauge the master’s upper limits.”

“Mm,” Liufang Ling replied. She didn’t hold much hope for this plan, just as none of their schemes against Baiyu Jing ever inspired confidence.

Still, it was worth a try.

Tia nodded, “Let’s go up.”

Spiritual pressure surged into the steps beneath their feet, scripture flowed, and space seemed to fold in an instant.

The three flashed away from the embrace of cherry blossoms, arriving before a sea of plum flowers intertwining red, pink, and white.

The fragrance of plum blossoms filled the air.

Two imposing towers, each a hundred meters tall, stood on either side, their surfaces carved with auspicious clouds and mythical beasts. Bronze wind chimes hanging from the eaves chimed melodiously in the breeze.

A road paved with blue stone led straight to the main building—a grand palatial structure. Its flying eaves and glazed tiles glittered brilliantly in the morning light.

Behind the main hall to the northwest, a colossal stone cliff drew all eyes.

On its face were engraved three visages: the first leader, Azure Cloud Hermit; the second, Azure Sun; and the strongest, third leader Baiyu Jing.

Such grandeur left no one doubting Azure Cloud Gate’s stature.

Yet, at present, the gate had only three rebellious female disciples.

This magnificence only highlighted the emptiness and desolation of Azure Cloud Gate.

The trio entered the changing room beside the main hall, donned their uniforms, and proceeded together to the rear dining hall.

…

After Liufang Ling prepared a hearty breakfast, Baiyu Jing appeared quietly, a hint of amusement in his brows. “I told you, after one night, Azure Cloud Gate would be transformed. Isn’t it magnificent?”

“It is,” Tia replied, her voice echoing in the empty dining hall.

This hall, built to accommodate ten thousand, hosted only four at breakfast.

Row upon row of vacant tables and chairs, along with the deserted square outside, gave Azure Cloud Gate the air of a vast, single-player AAA game.

Baiyu Jing paid no mind to the emptiness. He sat, picked up a chicken drumstick, and said, “In a moment, Zhuying and I will train in martial arts. You need to enhance your Yubu and martial abilities.”

“Tia, Liufang Ling, head to the meditation chamber and contemplate the sword spirit. There are scriptures to assist you—guaranteed better results than before.”

“Understood,” all three replied in unison.

Baiyu Jing was particularly talkative today, continuing, “After training, you’ll each take on assignments.

Azure Cloud Gate now bears a debt of 280 million. Though 80 million is an interest-free loan thanks to the privileges of being a heroic sect, the remaining 200 million has an annual rate of 2.8%.

You must work hard and aim to repay it within a month!”

Tia wanted to complain—unless they took on massive contracts like Erwei’s, relying on the standard fees for C- and D-level sects, they wouldn’t pay off 280 million even by next year.

But such discouraging words she kept to herself, bowing her head to eat.

…

The eastern training hall had only one floor, rectangular in shape.

There were four doors—east, south, west, and north—each opening to a different training ground.

Baiyu Jing pushed open the martial arts door. Inside were not open spaces, but separate rooms.

He opened the nearest door. From the outside, the room should have been cramped, but within, it was exceptionally spacious.

Each room had been expanded with spatial scripture.

Thus, every moment Baiyu Jing spent inside the gate, he poured spiritual pressure into the sect to sustain the vast demand for spatial spells.

Yet such immense output caused him no fatigue.

The Azure Cloud Technique operated ceaselessly; his recovery rate far outpaced any consumption.

Outside, he needn’t worry either.

The black gold ring on his right forefinger was inscribed with scripture, enabling him to remotely supply spiritual pressure to Azure Cloud Gate.

If any accident occurred, the reserve spiritual pressure within the gate could sustain it for an hour.

He turned and beckoned to Zhuying, who had followed him in. “Come at me.”

Zhuying’s obsidian pupils swirled, blood-red mandala patterns blooming in her eyes. The Rakshasa Eye, aside from the three major ocular techniques, excelled at perception.

Once activated, she could discern an opponent’s next move from the subtlest cues.

Yet Tia and Liufang Ling were true monsters, always able to feint convincingly enough to confound the Rakshasa Eye.

Baiyu Jing was even more direct—he’d announce his target, and no matter how you dodged, he’d strike it.

Still, evading his fists was a kind of training in itself.