Chapter 209 - 122: Avoiding Tribulation and Overcoming Hardship, Cyan and Purple Pearl Fruit

Chapter 209: Chapter 122: Avoiding Tribulation and Overcoming Hardship, Cyan and Purple Pearl Fruit

At some point, a five-colored splendor began to circulate atop Chongyun Peak. It soared high into the heavens and pierced through the sea of clouds to illuminate the land, a magnificent sight that continued day and night.

A streak of white light flashed across the horizon, reaching the summit of Chongyun Peak in an instant. Xu Zhuang materialized, glanced at the sky, and felt a flicker of surprise. ’My main body’s progress in the *Five Elements Primordial Union Formula* is astonishingly fast,’ he thought.

Although Xu Zhuang possessed a Nine Orifice Golden Pill and a profound foundation in Five Elements Dao Techniques, creating such a phenomenon after only a month of cultivation was not something that could be easily explained away. ’Could I be a prodigy in the Five Elements Dao Technique, with an aptitude that surpasses even my talent for the Tai Su Taoist Technique?’

Xu Zhuang shook his head with a smile, dismissing the groundless thought. He descended from his cloud and entered his abode. As he drew near his main body, their spirits and energies naturally merged, and he understood everything.

It turned out that when Xu Zhuang first began cultivating the *Five Elements Primordial Union Formula*, he discovered that converting Tai Su Magical Power into Five Elements Magical Power was exceptionally natural, as if it was meant to be. Coupled with his already profound understanding of the Five Elements Dao Technique, his progress was naturally swift.

In addition, another event had occurred during the short time Xu Zhuang’s avatar was away:

An envoy from the Three Mountains Immortal Sect had arrived at the Tai Su Orthodox Sect.

The Land of the East Sea was vast and boundless, rich with natural treasures. As the only major Xuanmen sect in the Land of the East Sea, the Three Mountains Immortal Sect’s wealth was unimaginable. However, the East Sea was no paradise. The Three Mountains Immortal Sect stood guard over the East Sea, acting as a shield for the Divine Continent, and was locked in a ceaseless, year-long war with the East Sea Demon Race. For this reason, they did not attract jealousy; on the contrary, their relationships with the Shenzhou Xuanmen were all quite good.

No matter how wealthy the Three Mountains Immortal Sect was, their resources ultimately flowed into the Divine Continent. This time was no different. Within the Tai Su Sect, the various cultivator families were all stockpiling their strength, causing all sorts of magical items to become quite scarce. To alleviate this situation, the sect purchased a large batch of cultivation resources from the Three Mountains Immortal Sect.

As for what the Three Mountains Immortal Sect received from the Tai Su Sect in return—was it Dao techniques? Dao Soldiers? A large batch of standardized Magical Artifacts? Or perhaps simply some form of support from the Tai Su Orthodox Sect?—these were all matters for the Three Halls’ council, things Xu Zhuang had no way of knowing.

Perhaps because of his past acquaintance with Xu Zhuang, Daoist Zhang Ji was appointed as one of the envoys from the Three Mountains Immortal Sect. After arriving at the Tai Su Orthodox Sect from the East Sea, he naturally paid a visit to Xu Zhuang. In doing so, he brought Xu Zhuang many Five Elements treasures and traded for many of Xu Zhuang’s unused Magical Artifacts that were incompatible with the Tai Su Taoist Technique.

Of course, compared to the sheer volume of the transaction between the sects, Xu Zhuang’s private exchange with Zhang Ji was but a drop in the ocean. Nevertheless, the Five Elements treasures Zhang Ji brought had further advanced Xu Zhuang’s Five Elements Dao Technique, and even his progress with the Five Elements Primordial Divine Light.

If he continued cultivating like this, his Five Elements Dao Technique would soon catch up and become the fourth True Technique he relied upon. The *Primordial Venerable Dao Transmission and Demon Refining Scripture*, on the other hand, was not showing very encouraging progress—though that was partly because Xu Zhuang hadn’t focused much energy on it. At the very least, he had not yet reached the point where he could refine the Celestial Will Demon Form Talisman.

’Compatibility with a True Technique is clearly crucial for me.’ Xu Zhuang’s main body was still cultivating, so this avatar wasn’t in a hurry to return to the quiet room. He took a seat in the hall and mused, ’But the Celestial Will Demon Form Talisman inherits the Divine Techniques of the Formless Celestial Demon; it contains the Dao of formless change. In terms of compatibility, it shouldn’t be any worse than my Tai Su Taoist Technique...’

Having reached his current level of cultivation, Xu Zhuang had to seriously consider his Nine True Techniques. Of course, his current Dao techniques were more than sufficient for his cultivation. But he held the ambition to attain the Great Dao. Ever since he had forged the Nine Orifice Golden Pill, he had benefited immensely and advanced by leaps and bounds. How could he casually abandon this unique ladder to the heavens?

Of course, if the time came to discard one, Xu Zhuang wouldn’t hesitate. ’Perhaps I need to successfully refine the Celestial Will Demon Form Talisman and integrate its cultivation with my own before I see a breakthrough. If that truly doesn’t work, then I’ll have no choice but to abandon one True Technique.’

’I must be extremely cautious in choosing my next Dao technique. Ideally, it should be like the Five Elements Dao—compatible with the fundamentals of Xuanmen, or even a Superior Dao Skill that shares a lineage with Tai Su and the Five Elements... Perhaps the Yin Yang Dao?’

While Xu Zhuang was lost in thought, the cave entrance suddenly swung open and another one of his avatars strode into the hall. When they returned, they had split up; one came straight to the abode, while the other went to gather information from fellow sect members. Now, through their spiritual connection, understanding dawned on him. ’Venerable Extreme Flame... so he’s a fiend from the Manifestation Sect,’ he thought.

’Not long ago, I heard that the Bone Sect was highly active in the Celestial Abyss Sect’s territory, and now an old demon from the Manifestation Sect who has reached the second level of Nascent Soul has appeared...’

Xu Zhuang took the Earth Lung Fire Stone from his sleeve, toying with it as he pondered, ’It seems the re-emergence of the Demon Sects is imminent. I wonder what countermeasures the sect has planned? It looks like I should join the Three Halls’ council as soon as possible to handle things with more ease.’

Thinking of this, Xu Zhuang gave a carefree smile. He suddenly felt that he had been far too busy ever since forging his Golden Core, seemingly never having a true moment of leisure. But if not for that, he wouldn’t have made such rapid progress. Tribulation is a hardship, but it is also a Spirit Pill. Perhaps that’s the reason for the conflict between Xuan and Mo.

As Xu Zhuang was lost in thought, the five-colored phenomenon outside the abode gradually subsided. Xu Zhuang’s brow twitched; he knew his main body had stopped cultivating and emerged from seclusion. He waited a moment, and sure enough, he saw his main body walk slowly out of the corridor. Without any visible action, the two avatars dissolved into wisps of smoky qi and returned to the main body.

Since mastering the Three Elements World Residence Great Method, this was the first time Xu Zhuang had tried sending his Dharma bodies out to act separately from his main body. When the three bodies were one, their minds were naturally connected. When separated, however, each had its own thoughts. This subtle sensation took him a moment to process before he shook his head with a smile.