Chapter 739 - 533: Clarifying One’s True Heart

Chapter 739: Chapter 533: Clarifying One’s True Heart

Amidst a sea of bustling joy, Lu Qian led his senior sister forward, while behind him, Master Cangfeng and Ye Xiao exchanged a glance, gave a resigned smile, and followed along.

The disciples were naturally overjoyed, jubilant, but upon seeing Lu Qian approaching, they all stepped back, parting the crowd to create a passage, with their eyes full of respect tinged with a hint of awe.

To attain the Golden Core is to become a "Great Cultivator" in the eyes of the vast number of foundational cultivators, qualifying one to rule over a region and control the fate of thousands of cultivators.

Such is a status that Qi Cultivators can only look up to; who dares to touch the whiskers of a Golden Core Master?

In their impression, all Golden Core Masters are aloof, untouchable, and must not be offended in the slightest. Coupled with the fact that Lu Qian had just returned miraculously from a catastrophic Thunder Tribulation, and under everyone’s witness, led heroes to slay a Nascent Soul Spirit Monarch!

With Qiming Spirit Monarch’s life, he forged the prestige of his own Golden Core. Naturally, the disciples dared not act rashly, lowering their heads respectfully upon making even brief eye contact with Lu Qian.

An invisible barrier had arisen, causing Lu Qian to frown slightly.

He suddenly thought, many Golden Core Masters were once sect leaders, but after attaining the Golden Core, they chose to pass on the position, becoming Supreme Elders, refraining from engaging in sect affairs unless necessary.

Perhaps, much of this is to free themselves from the busy affairs to focus on their own cultivation and to glimpse higher realms sooner. However, there’s also a subtle change in their relationships with disciples and ordinary cultivators, affecting their mindset.

Since his Golden Core had just formed and his aura was unstable, at this moment of inner turmoil, that state of clarity and flawlessness broke, and a vast, majestic Golden Core Spiritual Pressure surged forth, startling the surrounding disciples who hurriedly bowed down in worship.

Looking at the sea of disciples bowing before him, Lu Qian found himself feeling both helpless and a little sad. He opened his mouth, at a loss for what to say or where to begin.

Master Cangfeng softly said behind him: "In the cultivation for longevity, so it is. The higher one’s cultivation, the lonelier it becomes. Perhaps one day when you reach the peak, thrilled to look back, you will find nothing but emptiness, with no one to share it with."

Lu Qian stood dazed, while Jiang Qingfeng’s heart trembled, gripping his right hand tightly.

His heart warmed, Lu Qian gently responded with a grasp, about to speak when suddenly, a pure and alluring figure among the disciples leaped up, hanging onto his left arm.

"Sect Leader Senior Brother, you’ve attained the Golden Core! I knew you could do it!"

Jiang Baitao beamed brightly, her eyebrows dancing with joy as she unabashedly clung to Lu Qian’s left arm.

She was quite fortunate; although injured in the battle, she wasn’t seriously hurt, merely experiencing spiritual power stagnation and some internal injuries due to blocked meridians. She was initially seated and meditating to recover, but upon seeing Lu Qian’s return, she excitedly dashed over.

Lu Qian looked at her, as if seeing that little girl carved of jade and snow from decades ago, and couldn’t help releasing Qingfeng’s hand to reach out and ruffle Baitao’s head.

"Jiang Baitao!" Jiang Qingfeng composed herself, resuming her poised and dignified demeanor, glaring at her younger sister sternly, "How old are you now, and what kind of occasion is this! Where are the manners that were taught to you!"

Lu Qian chuckled softly, waving his hand, just about to reassure his senior sister not to mind, when Jiang Baitao suddenly rolled her eyes, reached out to pluck a hair from Lu Qian’s temple.

"?!" Lu Qian looked at her in shock, while Baitao laughed gleefully, waving the hair.

"They say a Golden Core Master’s body is imperishable, flawless and seamless, unafraid of being tempered by fire, even the hair isn’t scared of mundane flames. I’ve always wanted to try it!"

Jiang Qingfeng was nearly fuming, raising her hand to strike, but Jiang Baitao summoned the agile and clever Beiluo Shimen, relying on the Spirit Cat’s tracking to weave through the crowd and quickly disappear.

Lu Qian couldn’t help but laugh, but due to her antics, the looming sense of desolation vanished completely, and many a disciple smiled knowingly, the reverent and distant demeanor in their gazes greatly dissipated.

Though he had attained the Golden Core and achieved the Venerable Position, the Sect Leader had not changed.

He was not an aloof and impersonal immortal god, he was our Sect Leader.

My Yunshan Sect Leader, Lu Qian!

Several more figures hurried over, rushed to kneel: "Congratulations to the Upper Sect Master on attaining the Golden Core, taking another step closer on the path of transcendence to sanctity!"

Leading them was Qin Zhiyi, accompanied by three Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars from Xianyou Sect, Two Qi Sect, and Illusion Dream Temple.

Qin Zhiyi dared not raise his head, adding, "We were just meditating to heal our wounds, thus came a step late, hoping Master will forgive us."

Their clothes were in disarray, dotted with blood, truly hastily arrived. They were among the lightly wounded; those genuinely heavily injured were at the forefront of forming the Immortal Dragon Slayer Sword, led by Wang Yu of Yun Mountain Feathered Scholars, and the Foundation Establishment Feather Scholars from Zhou Family and Spirit Talisman Sect.

Wang Yu’s semi-corporeal body maintained movement despite severe injuries, but other Feather Scholars were either heavily injured or unconscious, hampered overall, now receiving emergency treatment and healing at the infirmary.

Qin Zhiyi had not yet reacted when he felt a mighty force lift him up from beneath, leaving him utterly unable to resist, his heart filled with admiration.

When will I reach such a day, when will Shouzhuo Sect reach such heights?

He heard Lu Qian’s laughter: "You Feather Scholars are too courteous, Yunshan Sect’s addition of two Golden Core Masters in one day is all thanks to everyone’s selfless courage and protection. I remember each of your contributions and will reward you heavily later."