Cultivating Immortality :I Obtained The Villain's Ascension Code-Chapter 68: Only Two Percent?

Xiao Ning stared at the dimly glowing asura nascent soul with unreadable expression.

After a moment, he let out a soft breath, "Codex. What are the updated odds?"

A brief silence passed before the familiar cold, mechanical voice echoed in his sea of consciousness.

[Calculating...]

[Previously, the probability of host being possessed and devoured by the embedded Asura Paragon fragment was 99.7%.]

[Following deployment of Quantum Asura Seed Protocol, current probability is 97.7%.]

[Conclusion: Marginal improvement detected. Host remains in critical danger.]

Xiao Ning’s eyes twitched slightly.

"Only two percent?"

[Correction: A 2% decrease represents a 6.67x relative improvement in host survival probability.]

"Don’t talk to me like a merchant trying to sell rotten fruits."

[Acknowledged.]

"Tch... I never expected him to fall for it that easily. That was only the first trap in the net."

He looked up into the vast sea of his consciousness, where the dark silhouette of the Asura Avatar remained unmoving still standing motionless in the his spirit palace like a silent specter.

"He’s a Paragon, after all. A monster who defied life and death. How could something like that be caught with just a single hook?"

His lips curled slightly, though there was no mirth in his expression.

"No. That seed wasn’t meant to win the fight. It was just bait—something to stir the water. Once he makes a move..."

[Warning: Host’s current behavior reflects elevated aggression and risk tolerance.]

[FULL PURGE PROTOCOL IS STRONGLY SUGGESTED]

"Huh. You can go silent again." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

With a flicker of thought, Xiao Ning activated the Paradox Meridians. A dull pulse ran through his spiritual sea, and the codex’s presence receded into the background like a stone sinking into still water.

He exhaled faintly and lowered his gaze, reaching for the jade communication talisman resting beside his soul platform.

A faint green light flickered to life as he poured in a wisp of his divine sense. A stream of messages flowed across his mind.

"...Two weeks already, huh."

***

"Senior Uncle Qian, how much longer are we going to wait?"

At the main gate of the Shadowclaw Sect, several figures stood in waiting.

The one who spoke was a striking woman with long crimson hair, a graceful figure, and a faint hint of impatience in her tone. Her eyes shone like garnets beneath arched brows, and her crimson robes clung to her form with deliberate elegance.

Qian Xu glanced at her without changing expression. "Niece Qing, that is not for us to decide. We await the Sect Master’s arrival."

"Hmph. Uncle Li always makes people wait," Meng Qing muttered, puffing her cheeks and folding her arms.

Shi Ling, standing nearby, let out a soft laugh. "I wouldn’t recommend saying that in front of him—even if you are Senior Sister Mie’s disciple."

Meng Qing smirked and tossed her hair. "Don’t worry, Senior Shi. I’m not that reckless."

This woman was none other than Meng Qing, renowned as the strongest Core Formation cultivator within the Shadowclaw Sect. Not only was she the personal disciple of Elder Mie, but she had also been selected to represent the sect in the Core Formation Division of the upcoming Evil Gathering.

Beside her stood two young men, both with distinguished temperaments.

One of them wore snow-white robes that fluttered lightly in the wind. His appearance was refined and elegant, his features as flawless as carved jade. His bearing was calm, and his aura well-restrained, though a faint ripple of spiritual pressure surrounded him like a distant mist.

This was Wu Fang, the sect’s most outstanding Foundation Establishment cultivator—and the son of Wu Li.

As the child of a Nascent Soul realm expert, Wu Fang had enjoyed an exceptional upbringing. From rare spirit herbs to secret techniques, nearly everything in the sect had been laid out for him like stepping stones. Yet, despite this, he had cultivated diligently and never relied solely on his status.

Standing to his left was a black-robed youth. His skin was pale, his hair black as ink, and his eyes an unusual shade of deep green that shimmered faintly with spiritual light.

This was Qian Mo, the sect’s Spirit Awakening Realm representative for the Evil Gathering. He was not just any disciple—he was the direct grandson of Elder Qian Xu.

Though still young, Qian Mo’s cultivation had already surpassed the ordinary standard for his realm. He possessed a rare dual spiritual root and was said to have inherited his grandfather’s talent.

The three disciples—Meng Qing, Wu Fang, and Qian Mo—stood together with calm bearing, each fully aware of the burden placed upon them.

They were not merely attending a grand event.

They were representing the Shadowclaw Sect in front of all the major unorthodox forces in the cultivation world.

Failure was not an option.

Qian Xu stood silently, his hands tucked behind his back, eyes scanning the horizon.

quietly operating beneath the surface.

The minutes passed slowly.

Then, without warning, the air above the platform shifted.

A ripple of pressure passed through the mountain pass

The sky above them trembled lightly, and a thin black streak pierced through the clouds before descending to the ground.

A tall figure clad in dark robes appeared midair

His hands were behind his back, and his expression was calm.

"Greetings, Sect Master Xiao," Qian Xu said respectfully, bowing his head.

The three disciples immediately stepped forward and saluted with cupped fists. "Greetings, Sect Master!"

Xiao Ning landed gently at the head of the platform, his eyes swept over the three young disciples, pausing briefly on each in turn. His gaze was neither warm nor cold, yet it made even the usually brash Meng Qing stand a little straighter.

He gave a faint nod. "Not bad. You’ve all improved."

Qian Mo lowered his head with a respectful expression. Wu Fang’s gaze remained calm and steady, while Meng Qing’s lips curled in a half-smile.

"Sect Master, you said we would depart at sunrise. The sun’s already climbed a third of the way up the peak. Even Uncle Qian was starting to frown, Don’t tell me the dignified master of the Shadowclaw Sect overslept?"

Shi Ling’s smile froze and Qian Xu’s brows twitched faintly, but he said nothing.

Xiao Ning arched a brow but did not seem annoyed. "Still as willful as ever. It seems your master has been indulging you too much."

Meng Qing laughed lightly, folding her arms beneath her chest. "My master says that if I don’t speak up, I’ll end up like one of those stiff old cultivators who live for a thousand years without laughing once."

A faint flicker passed through Xiao Ning’s eyes, gone as quickly as it came. "She has ... an interesting way of raising disciples."

He turned slightly, addressing Qian Xu. "Elder Qian, you will accompany them to the Evil Dragon City. Make sure they arrive safely and without incident."

Qian Xu cupped his fists. "Understood, Sect Master."

Meng Qing blinked. "You’re not coming with us?"