Chapter 247 - Heaven Break

“How would I know?” the man replied. “All I know is that the Chili Sub-Tribe must retrieve the War God’s Nine Transformations before this year’s tournament. The person who stole it is definitely still in the Nine Li Confederacy, there’s no way they escaped with all the monsters outside.”

“What does War God’s Nine Transformations have to do with the tournament?” someone else asked.

“Every year, our Nine Li Confederacy’s sub-tribes compete in a grand martial tournament. The winning tribe earns the right to train with War God’s Nine Transformations and safeguard it for one year. Then in the next year’s tournament, it gets reassigned based on the results again.”

“If that’s the case, can’t the ones who’ve already trained with it just write it down?” someone muttered. “No need to panic like this.”

“You don’t get it. It’s a divine inheritance, War God’s Nine Transformations is learned through a heritage stone, not by reading notes. Even if it’s written down, you won’t be able to learn it,” the man explained. “And the technique is incredibly picky about a person’s talent. In the entire history of the Nine Li Confederacy, no one has ever mastered all nine transformations.”

Hearing that, someone skeptically said, “Come on, are you exaggerating? Can it really be that hard?”

“Ask around if you don’t believe me,” the man insisted. “Our tribe’s first patriarch, arguably the most talented of all, only managed to learn eight transformations before he passed. The current record holder is the leader of Xuanli Sub-Tribe, he’s learned seven. Everyone else who’s trained in it hasn’t even reached that level.”

As the noisy conversation continued, Xu Zimo took a sip of his drink and chuckled, shaking his head.

He was genuinely intrigued by War God’s Nine Transformations. After all, divine techniques from the Legendary Era still fell under the category of god arts, a realm he hadn’t seen much of.

Still, he’d come to the Nine Li Confederacy mostly to observe and broaden his horizons. It wouldn’t be long before he had to return.

After finishing his meal, Xu Zimo left to find a place to stay.

The inns of Nine Li Confederacy were quite unique.

Newcomers were given three days of free lodging. After that, they’d have to contribute to the tribe through labor if they wanted to stay longer.

As he entered one such inn and walked up the stairs, he felt a tap on his shoulder.

Turning around, he saw a scruffy old man, unshaven and messy-haired, staring at him.

If not for the man’s relatively clean clothes, he’d have looked just like a beggar.

“Can I help you?” Xu Zimo asked curiously.

After all, he didn’t know anyone in Nine Li Confederacy yet.

“Young man, I see immense potential in you, extraordinary bone structure and rare talent. You're clearly a martial prodigy who appears once in a century,” the old man grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.

“The future of the world might rest in your hands. Lucky for you, I happen to have a divine technique. Since fate has brought us together, I’ll sell it to you for cheap.”

“What divine technique?” Xu Zimo asked with interest.

The old man pulled him into a corner and took out a blue-covered book.

On the cover, in bold letters, were the words: “War God’s Nine Transformations.”

Xu Zimo’s eyes widened. Could it really be this much of a coincidence?

“You’ve heard of it, I assume?” the old man said with a sly smile. “This is legendary stuff. It would normally sell for 10,000 spirit crystals, but I’ll let you have it for just 100.”

In the Imperial Era, spirit crystals were common currency, but in the early Legendary Era, they were extremely rare.

“Mind if I take a look first?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Of course,” the old man nodded and handed over the book.

Xu Zimo flipped through a few pages. The content inside looked like childish scribbles, utterly chaotic and meaningless.

The writing made no sense, just random markings and gibberish.

He looked at the old man, then back at the book.

And then he smiled. “Alright, I’ll buy it.”

“Ah, a man of great discernment!” The old man beamed.

Xu Zimo paid 100 spirit crystals, took the book upstairs, and closed the door behind him.

He frowned and reopened the book.

He was certain the contents were nonsense.

But the cover felt too thick, which piqued his curiosity.

Inside the front cover, he found a hidden compartment, well concealed, and only noticeable if you paid close attention.

Inside was a piece of parchment made from ox-hide.

It was filled with tightly packed writing.

At the top were four bold characters: Heaven-Break – First Transformation

Xu Zimo finished reading and realized: This was the first form of War God’s Nine Transformations.

The parchment only described the training method for this first move.

But at the end, there was a note: If you wish to learn the complete War God’s Nine Transformations, come to Phoenix Perch Mountains tomorrow.

At that moment, the old man’s grinning face resurfaced in Xu Zimo’s mind.

“He did this on purpose,” Xu Zimo chuckled softly, staring at the darkening sky.

“Interesting… very interesting.”

…

In the early morning of the Legendary Era, the sky was gloomy.

Thick clouds gathered overhead, but no rain fell.

A faint humidity lingered in the air, creating a heavy, oppressive mood.

Xu Zimo left the inn and headed straight for Phoenix Perch Mountains, located outside the tribe.

He had already asked around, Phoenix Perch Mountains was the largest mountain range near the Nine Li Confederacy.

It was known as a monster's paradise, rarely visited by people.

Rumor had it that many of this world’s most dangerous beasts resided there.

But as he left the tribe, Xu Zimo noticed something strange.

The usually bustling Nine Li Confederacy was eerily quiet. Most people were gone, walking in the same direction, outside the tribe.

He hadn’t thought much of it, until he realized they were headed the same way he was.

They were all going to Phoenix Perch Mountains.

…

Xu Zimo pondered this and eventually stopped a burly man beside him.

“Where are you headed, friend?” he asked.

“What’s it to you?” the man responded nervously, his eyes shifty.

“You’re going to Phoenix Perch Mountains too, aren’t you?” Xu Zimo pulled out the ox-hide parchment. “Did you receive one of these as well?”

The man’s expression changed. “H-how did you know? You… you have one too?”

“That confirms it,” Xu Zimo raised his head, eyes narrowing as he stared toward the distant mountains.

“Someone’s intentionally luring us to Phoenix Perch Mountains.”