Chapter 142 - 89: Chaotic Heaven Hall, Celestial Waterfall Realm

Chapter 142: Chapter 89: Chaotic Heaven Hall, Celestial Waterfall Realm

News that Xuzhuang had officially entered secluded cultivation, rejecting all invitations from the great families, spread like wildfire and took many by surprise.

Some were deeply puzzled. Why would he do such a thing? The man was prodigiously talented; how could he not understand that in cultivation, one must always strive to get ahead?

Others shook their heads and sighed, saying that to each their own. After all, not every True Disciple from every generation chose to glimpse the Innate Tai Su Realm before reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

And still others commented that perhaps he had his own path to follow. It was simply a shame they couldn’t take this opportunity to forge a friendly bond with him.

But while he was causing quite a stir, Xuzhuang was not, in fact, holed up in his manor for arduous cultivation. Instead, he was following the guidance of a Daoist Child into the Cloud Palace.

This visit was different from all the others. After entering the Cloud Palace, he was led to a side path toward a side hall named the Chaotic Heaven Hall. The moment he reached the entrance, his gaze was instantly stolen by an object within.

In the center of the great hall, a Red Gold Celestial Sphere floated, suspended in mid-air. Within its several interlocking and slowly rotating Crimson Gold Celestial Rings, a deep void was revealed. This expanse was dotted with points of light of varying sizes and colors, forming a mysterious and magnificent projection of the starry cosmos.

Daochen Zhenren stood beneath the Celestial Sphere with his hands clasped behind his back, seemingly admiring the magnificent display.

The Daoist Child stopped outside the hall. Gesturing for him to enter, he waited as Xuzhuang nodded, then stepped into the hall alone. He walked forward, bowed, and said, "Sect Leader Senior Brother."

Daochen Zhenren turned around and smiled warmly. "Junior Brother Xu, you’re here."

Xuzhuang replied, "Yes."

Xuzhuang had indeed been in his manor, deep in cultivation, when he was summoned to the Cloud Palace by a directive from Daochen Zhenren. Yet the Sect Leader seemed to be in the mood for a casual chat. He pointed to the Celestial Sphere and asked, "Do you know what this is?"

Xuzhuang raised his eyes to the projected cosmos. He suddenly noticed that at its very center was a pale, golden-yellow celestial body that seemed eternal and unchanging. It radiated a light that outshone countless other stars; in the entire projection, only a handful of celestial bodies could rival its brilliance.

"This is..." Xuzhuang ventured a guess. "A star chart, with the Profound Yellow Realm at its center?"

"Correct." Daochen Zhenren pointed to the few celestial bodies in the projection that could rival Profound Yellow. "Junior Brother Xu, do you see them? The cosmos is vast and boundless. In the vicinity of our Profound Yellow Realm alone, there are several Great Thousand Worlds of a comparable scale."

Daochen Zhenren remarked with a sigh, "This cosmos has never been a lonely place."

Xuzhuang’s expression stirred. "Great Thousand Worlds comparable to Profound Yellow? How are they different from our Profound Yellow Realm? Do Daoist Sects exist there as well?"

Daochen Zhenren nodded and pointed to a cyan celestial body. "The Cyan Sky Realm. This realm is similar to our Profound Yellow in both size and structure. It, too, is a world governed by Daoist Sects. In fact, their sects have some connection to our own... I was most impressed by its sky, which is entirely cyan during the day."

"A cyan sky?" Xuzhuang listened intently, his imagination captured by the thought.

Daochen Zhenren then pointed to a celestial body that didn’t shine quite so brightly, a peculiar light in his eyes. "The Eastern Celestial Realm. This world is dominated by a single, incomparably powerful sect. They control the celestial phenomena, regulate the flow of earthly qi, and harvest its resources sustainably. Cultivation materials are produced in a constant stream, and talented new disciples emerge endlessly. The sect and the world both flourish in prosperity."

"A sect that dominates an entire Great Thousand World?" Xuzhuang was taken aback. "How powerful must they be? How does our Tai Su Sect compare?"

Daochen Zhenren simply smiled without answering and shook his head. He pointed to yet another celestial body. "The Guangyuan Realm, a bustling crossroads of many worlds, prosperous and magnificent..."

Daochen Zhenren seemed to warm to the topic, and his explanations greatly broadened Xuzhuang’s horizons. After the casual discussion, he finally asked lightly, "Junior Brother Xu, I heard you rejected the invitations from the sect’s great families. Have you given up on your chance to cultivate in the Innate Tai Su Realm?"

Xuzhuang replied, "That’s not it. I’m simply placing more importance on my own cultivation. If I can form a Nascent Soul, I’ll naturally earn the chance to cultivate in the Innate Tai Su Realm."

Daochen Zhenren said, "That is the proper path. Excellent."

Xuzhuang asked, "Sect Leader Senior Brother, did you have some guidance for me, then?"

"That is a personal choice. I have no guidance to offer you on that matter," Daochen Zhenren said with a smile. "However, since you wish to prioritize your cultivation, I happen to have a fine post for you."

Xuzhuang asked, puzzled, "A fine post?"

"Indeed." Daochen Zhenren said unhurriedly. "Before I achieved the Primordial Spirit Realm, I was in charge of a Celestial Dao Field."

"This particular Dao Field has a unique quality that is quite beneficial to one’s cultivation. As it happens, the post is currently vacant. Would you be willing to go and take charge for a while?"

Xuzhuang cupped his hands and asked uncertainly, "Senior Brother, the seniors in the sect who manage the Celestial Dao Fields all have a cultivation of at least the Nascent Soul Realm. I don’t know if I’m up to the task."

Daochen Zhenren chuckled. "Well, that will depend on your own capabilities."

Xuzhuang’s expression sharpened. "Understood. In that case, if I succeed in forming a Nascent Soul in time, will I be able to return to the sect to cultivate in the Innate Tai Su Realm?"

"But of course," said Daochen Zhenren. "Every time the Innate Tai Su Realm opens, many True Disciples return from their posts off-world."

Xuzhuang replied, "Understood. In that case, I am willing to go."

Daochen Zhenren pointed a finger at him and laughed heartily. "Ah, Junior Brother, don’t think I’m just giving you a freebie. While managing that Dao Field is certainly beneficial for cultivation, I’m not sending you there just to lock yourself away and train. Since you will be its acting steward, you must also bear the responsibilities that come with it."

Xuzhuang said in a solemn voice, "Yes. I will not disappoint you, Senior Brother."

Daochen Zhenren nodded. "Very well. Once you have made your preparations, return to the Chaotic Heaven Hall."

Xuzhuang bowed and was about to take his leave when he suddenly asked, "Senior Brother, I have yet to ask... where is it that I am being sent?"