Chapter 380 - 58: To Go or to Stay

The Primordial Heart Technique, derived from the Primordial Heart Seal of the Jade Void Nine Seals, was one of the world’s finest Cultivation Techniques. The Magical Power it produced was vigorous and profound, and one’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit would steadily strengthen as their Realm advanced.

At any given Realm, few could surpass those who practiced this technique.

After advancing to the Late-Stage Dao Foundation, his True Essence Magical Power surged like a tidal wave, coursing back and forth through his body.

With every breath, he could stir the Power of Heaven and Earth.

At this moment, Zhu Ju could clearly feel his own power.

Especially while seated at the core of the Sect’s Grand Array, controlling the Tier Two Array. With a single thought, he could harness the vast Qi from the hundred-mile Earth Vein. The feeling of absolute control was so intoxicating it was nearly impossible to break free from.

And yet, it was precisely because he had grown stronger that he understood, with even greater clarity, the chasm between himself and a Golden Core Cultivator.

The Tier Two Array operated like a behemoth, its every breath in sync with the Primordial Energy in a hundred-mile radius.

As the Array shifted, the vast Primordial Energy would instantly transform into devastating Magic.

In terms of sheer energy under its command, the might of a Tier Two Array far surpassed that of a Golden Core Grandmaster.

But in reality...

To him now, the process of the Array converting Primordial Energy into Magic was not particularly fast.

Before the converging Primordial Energy could even form into a Magic, it could be forcefully interrupted by Sword Qi Thunder Sound.

One could even counter the Array itself!

Before a Golden Core Grandmaster, a Tier Two Array, however powerful, was merely a bloated, unwieldy lamb waiting for slaughter.

If they wished...

...there were countless ways to handle it!

"Martial Uncle."

Seeing Zhu Ju’s somber expression, Shui Qianning asked in a low voice,

"Have you found the Golden Core Cultivator?"

"No." Zhu Ju shook his head.

"If a Golden Core Grandmaster wants to hide, it’s impossible for the Bright Void Sect’s Array to find them."

"A Tier Two Array..."

"...can’t trap a Golden Core Cultivator, either."

"Then what do we do?" Shui Qianning’s face was deathly pale.

"We can’t just sit here and wait to die, can we?"

"Don’t panic," Liu Huang’er said coldly.

"We’ve already reported to the Immortal Alliance that a Demonic Golden Core intends to move against our Sect. I refuse to believe the Immortal Alliance will simply stand by and do nothing."

"And even if they do nothing..."

"...the worst that can happen is death!"

"Must you be so pessimistic?" Xi Chen gave a wry smile.

"A Golden Core Cultivator may be strong, but we aren’t weak. We just need to stall for time. An elder from the Immortal Alliance is bound to come rescue us."

Zhu Ju gently shook his head.

He had once thought the same, but after advancing to the Late-Stage Dao Foundation, he understood that was nothing more than a joke.

’No wonder Pei Jingque had unhesitatingly chosen to enter seclusion for a breakthrough, even knowing the chances of success were slim.’

After all,

back then, he and she had joined forces and easily slain two Fake Pill Cultivators.

Even so, she still believed they didn’t stand a ghost of a chance against a Golden Core Cultivator.

"Senior Sister has already made a decision."

Zhu Ju began to explain,

"She has entered seclusion to attempt a breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm. If she succeeds, then all is well. If she fails, the Disciples are to scatter. Dao Foundation Cultivators are not to concern themselves with the Qi Refining Stage disciples. Everyone is to pick a direction and flee with all their might."

"A Golden Core Grandmaster may be powerful, but the Bright Void Sect has over two thousand disciples. Some will surely manage to escape."

"As for me, I will remain here, control the Array, and buy you time."

"What?" Xi Chen’s face went pale.

"Has it really come to this?"

"Barring the appearance of a Nascent Soul, Golden Core Grandmasters are the pinnacle of Cultivation in this world. Their power is far beyond anything we can imagine," Zhu Ju explained.

"You must remember: when the time comes, focus only on fleeing with all your might. Do not, under any circumstances, entertain the thought of fighting back."

"Hm?"

The words had barely left his mouth when his expression suddenly changed.

"A Golden Core Cultivator!"

Within the sensory range of the Bright Void Sect’s Array, a terrifying aura was approaching at an astonishing speed.

The aura was inextricably linked with the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, to the point that it instantly usurped a portion of the Array’s ability to control the surrounding Primordial Energy.

Zhu Ju’s body tensed. Just as he was about to activate the Array to face the threat, he suddenly froze.

"It’s Elder Hong from the Profound Clarity Sect."

"Let’s go!"

"We’ll go out to greet him."

Everyone’s face lit up with wild joy.

With a Golden Core Grandmaster present, those demonic fiends wouldn’t dare attack. The Bright Void Sect would be spared.

’We’re saved!’

...

Clad in a golden Magic Robe, Hong Kan descended from the sky with his hands behind his back, looking like a brilliant Divine Spirit.

He made no effort to conceal his aura as a Golden Core Cultivator. His every move caused the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi to surge like the tide.

This time, he had not come alone.

Behind him followed Dong Yuelan and a dozen or so other disciples from the Hundred Flowers Sect. However, the Golden Core aura was so overwhelming that it was easy to subconsciously overlook everyone else.

Upon the plaza.

Zhu Ju led the Bright Void Sect’s contingent of Dao Foundation Cultivators in a respectful bow.

"Zhu Ju of the Bright Void Sect pays his respects to Elder Hong!"

"Liu Huang’er..."

"Xi Chen!"

"We pay our respects, Elder!"

"Mm." Hong Kan nodded, his gaze pausing for a moment on Zhu Ju and Xi Chen before he strode toward the main hall.

"Where are the Ping Family’s belongings?"

"Right here."

Zhu Ju, following closely, took out Ping Daochuan’s storage pouch.

"Fellow Daoist Ping died at the hands of a Demoness. My senior sister and I were powerless to help, a matter of great regret."

"Heh..." Hong Kan chuckled, levitating the storage pouch into his hand with a gesture. He pulled out the Cyan Radiance Sword and tossed it casually.

"This Cyan Radiance Sword originally belonged to the Profound Clarity Sect before it was gifted to the Ping Family. I haven’t seen it in a hundred years."

Zhu Ju bowed his head.

Other than the Tier Three Demon Pill, he hadn’t touched anything else in the storage pouch, including this Middle Grade Magical Treasure.

"As for the Demoness’s belongings, I won’t be asking you for them."

Hong Kan sat down in the seat at the head of the main hall—the one that belonged to the Bright Void Sect Leader—and asked,

"Where is Pei Jingque?"

"In response, Elder," Zhu Ju said, cupping his hands.

"The Sect Leader is gravely wounded and remains unconscious. For now, I am managing the affairs of the Bright Void Sect."

"Mm," Hong Kan nodded.

"Gravely wounded..."

"During this demonic calamity, the Bright Void Sect has repeatedly rendered meritorious service. Sect Leader Pei’s performance, in particular, has been commendable."

"As a reward, a number of Bright Void Sect disciples will be granted special permission to enter the Profound Clarity Sect’s Secret Realm to gain experience."

’?’

Zhu Ju looked up, a puzzled expression on his face.

’What’s the point of bringing this up now?’

’There’s a Golden Core Cultivator of unknown origin near the Bright Void Sect. Isn’t the Immortal Alliance here to resolve that issue?’

"That Secret Realm is quite special; even Dao Foundation Cultivators can advance their Cultivation by entering." Hong Kan lightly stroked his beard, then suddenly changed the subject.

"Zhu Ju."

"What is your view on the current situation between the Righteous and Demonic Daos?"

"Well..." Zhu Ju hesitated for a moment before saying,

"The Demon Dao is powerful while the Righteous Dao is in decline. Forgive my limited perspective, but I cannot see a path to victory for us."

"Haha..." Hong Kan boomed with laughter.

"You’re an honest one!"

’He’d asked many people, and most of them simply took the opportunity to praise the prowess of the Profound Clarity Sect.’

’They’d also disparage the Demon Dao as a show of loyalty.’

"The Six Paths Demon Monarch is a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, while the two Nascent Soul patriarchs of the Righteous Dao are only in the Early Stage. Even if they joined forces, they would be no match for that Demon."

Hong Kan sighed.

"Back when Miaoyan True Man of the Celestial Yu Sect was still alive, our three Nascent Souls combined could barely gain the upper hand. Now, we are completely outmatched."

"Fortunately, due to the recent changes in the world, Nascent Soul True Men cannot act freely. Otherwise, the Righteous Immortal Alliance would have collapsed long ago."

The hearts of all present sank.

A Cultivator’s power is concentrated within themselves. A battle between those at the highest levels could decide the fate of everyone beneath them.

’According to Hong Kan, as long as the Six Paths Demon Monarch was alive, did the Righteous Dao have any chance of ever making a comeback?’

’But a Nascent Soul True Man can live for two thousand years!’

’The Six Paths Demon Monarch is supposedly less than a thousand years old. If he ever breaks through to the Divinity Transformation Realm, will the Righteous Dao ever see the light of day again?’

"Elder,"

seeing that Hong Kan’s expression remained calm and he seemed untroubled by this dire news, Zhu Ju asked tentatively,

"Does the Immortal Alliance have a plan?"

"One could say yes, and one could say no," Hong Kan replied with a faint smile.

"The Demon Dao has been in power for nearly two hundred years. During that time, the Six Demonic Sects have produced numerous prodigies of astounding talent. Many have advanced to the Golden Core Realm, and their number of Golden Core Grandmasters is nearly double that of the Righteous Immortal Alliance."

"Do you know how the Immortal Alliance has managed to hold out against the Demonic Golden Core Cultivators?"

"Because the Righteous Dao’s Golden Core Cultivators have deeper foundations and more profound Realms, while the Demonic Golden Core Cultivators are rushed in their advancement, making their combat strength slightly weaker." Zhu Ju stated what he knew. Seeing the other man’s noncommittal expression, he frowned.

"Am I wrong?"

"Of course not," Hong Kan sneered.

"’Once a golden pill is swallowed, my fate is my own, not for the heavens to decide.’ How could beings who have reached such a state possibly have unstable foundations?"

"The real reason is..."

"The Six Demonic Sects have almost no Late-Stage Golden Core Cultivators!"

’Hm?’

Zhu Ju raised an eyebrow.

"That’s right," Hong Kan said, his eyes narrowing.

"Although the Six Paths Demon Monarch is the foremost expert of the Demon Dao, he will not tolerate any Demonic Cultivator who shows the potential to reach the Nascent Soul Realm."

"So that’s how it is!" Zhu Ju murmured, lost in thought.

"So the Six Demonic Sects only serve the Six Paths Demon Monarch now because they are powerless to resist, and because there are benefits to be had by following him. In truth, the Demonic Golden Core Cultivators are not loyal to him at all."

"On the contrary..."

"...the Six Paths Demon Monarch’s very existence prevents them from advancing further, as they would be suppressed."

"Precisely," Hong Kan nodded.

"So..."

"...who do you plan on sending to the Profound Clarity Sect’s Secret Realm? This time, the Bright Void Sect has ten spots."

*

*

*

Hong Kan gave Zhu Ju three days to consider.

After three days,

he would be taking ten people from the Bright Void Sect to seek their fortunes in the Profound Clarity Sect’s Secret Realm.

"Senior Brother."

After arranging accommodations for Hong Kan, Liu Huang’er, her pregnant belly now quite pronounced, returned to the main hall and asked in confusion,

"Elder Hong was talking in circles. What did he really mean? Isn’t he here to help us with our trouble?"

’If he weren’t a Golden Core Grandmaster, she would’ve thought Hong Kan had gone senile, the way he was spouting nonsense that didn’t connect.’

’Not a single sentence hit the main point, leaving everyone completely baffled.’

"It’s quite simple," Zhu Ju sighed.

"What Elder Hong means is that the Immortal Alliance knows it’s no match for the Six Paths Demon Monarch. Therefore, they’ve reached some sort of agreement with the Six Demonic Sects to work together against him. He’s also aware that the Ping Family was colluding with the Joyful Sect."

"And it’s not just the Ping Family!"

"Perhaps the Profound Clarity Sect itself is colluding with the Six Demonic Dao."

’?’

Liu Huang’er froze.

"So..."

Shui Qianning began, astonished,

"...he knows that a Demonic Golden Core Cultivator might be targeting the Bright Void Sect, yet he has no intention of intervening?"

"Not exactly," Zhu Ju shrugged.

"Isn’t he offering to take ten people away?"

"This is outrageous!" Xi Chen couldn’t help but roar in anger.

"All these years, how many sacrifices has the Bright Void Sect made for the Righteous Dao? In its prime, the Bright Void Sect was nearly as strong as the Profound Clarity Sect! Now that we’ve fallen so low, they... don’t they bear some of the responsibility?"

The Bright Void Sect had migrated from Dazhou to the Ten Thousand Mountains, and then from the edges of the Ten Thousand Mountains to its current location.

A constant migration southward.

A constant trail of death and injury!

For the Bright Void Sect, the path of their southern migration was paved with the corpses of their elders.

And now...

...they were being abandoned by the Immortal Alliance!

How could such an act not leave one feeling utterly cold and disillusioned?

"Ten spots."

Zhu Ju’s expression didn’t change.

"Xi Chen, you and your sister, Xi Youyue, will take two of them."

"Master!" Xi Chen looked up.

"I am willing to live or die with the Sect!"

In recent days, he had come to see himself as a true member of the Bright Void Sect, developing a sense of belonging.

Now, more than ever, he shared in their righteous indignation.

"Your Talent is exceptional. Your breakthrough to the Dao Foundation even caused a celestial phenomenon. You will certainly reach the Golden Core Realm in the future," Zhu Ju said, shaking his head.

"If you live, the Bright Void Sect’s legacy will not perish. Besides, you should think of your sister."

"She’s still young. She doesn’t deserve to die."

"Master," Xi Chen said through gritted teeth.

"I believe Youyue would feel the same way. She would be willing to die for the Sect."

"Heh..." Zhu Ju shook his head gently and turned to Liu Huang’er.

"Junior Sister, you’re with child..."

"Senior Brother, say no more," Liu Huang’er said with a frown.

"Qingfeng, my unborn child, and I are not going anywhere. You, on the other hand, Senior Brother, possess the Sword Qi Thunder Sound Divine Technique. The Profound Clarity Sect’s real targets are most likely you and Nephew Xi."

"You two are the ones who should go."

’The higher-ups of the Immortal Alliance must already know about Zhu Ju’s strength. And the celestial phenomenon that occurred when Xi Chen broke through to the Dao Foundation Realm couldn’t have been hidden from those who were looking for it.’

’The Immortal Alliance wanted people.’

’Specifically, they wanted Xi Chen and Zhu Ju.’

’They were two Golden Core Seeds, after all. To lose them would be too great a waste.’