Chapter 212 - 123: A Thousand Years of Cultivation, Scattered in a Day

Chapter 212: Chapter 123: A Thousand Years of Cultivation, Scattered in a Day

Celestial Waterfall Realm, Yunlan Province.

In the Hall of Councilors at the True Form Temple, Daoist Zhang, clad in a Feather Robe and holding a duster, sat at the head. On either side of him, more than twenty cultivators were seated upright.

Ever since Xuzhuang suppressed Moyun and turned the tide, bringing great fame to the True Form Temple, Meng Fusheng had also returned to stand guard. The sect had been flourishing, producing over a dozen Golden Core Cultivators in just a few decades. All of them were now present in the hall for a council meeting.

Besides the dozen or so Golden Core Cultivators, the rest of the attendees were all at the peak of their current cultivation, on the verge of forming their own Cores. They were merely waiting for the right alchemical ingredients to form a Middle Grade Golden Core, or were ambitious talents who dreamed of a Top-grade Golden Core.

Despite this, the atmosphere in the hall was quite solemn.

Daoist Zhang frowned slightly, his gaze piercing through the dome to look at the sky. Up in the heavens, two Spiritual Qi vortexes, each spanning several miles, were slowly rotating. It was apparent that two Nascent Soul Cultivators were fiercely contending, devouring the spiritual essence of the world.

Although the True Form Temple’s prospects were bright, it was not without enemies lurking on its borders. With the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly fast approaching, Meng Fusheng had been cultivating diligently and advancing with fierce determination. He hoped to break through the barrier to the second realm of Nascent Soul and forge his Gangyun before the assembly began. He was now at a critical juncture.

However, not everyone was happy to see this happen. At this critical moment in Meng Fusheng’s cultivation, a strange Nascent Soul Cultivator had suddenly appeared outside the True Form Temple. This newcomer was competing with Meng Fusheng for spiritual essence, clearly with the sole intention of sabotaging his cultivation.

This was the reason for the solemn atmosphere in the Hall of Councilors.

But for now, no one in the hall spoke; they all waited in silence. After about a quarter of an hour, a young Daoist with a righteous face and a gentle disposition landed before the hall in a flash of light. He strode inside and bowed to Daoist Zhang.

Daoist Zhang raised a hand, cutting off the elaborate formalities. "Nephew Wen," he asked, "how did the other party respond?"

When the foreign Nascent Soul Cultivator had appeared and started competing with Meng Fusheng for spiritual essence, Daoist Zhang had sent Wen Ning to negotiate. His instructions were to firmly convey the True Form Temple’s stance and demand the person leave their territory. However, Daoist Zhang held little hope for a positive outcome.

Besides, the celestial phenomenon hadn’t stopped, which told him that Wen Ning had undoubtedly been rebuffed.

Wen Ning’s face was grim. He cupped his hands and replied, "Sect Leader Uncle, the man claims he is merely passing through. He says he is injured and is only borrowing our auspicious land to cultivate and recover his Magical Power. He will leave once he has recovered."

Daoist Zhang’s frown deepened. "Have you identified his origins?" he asked.

Wen Ning slowly shook his head, but a disciple on the left with sharp, upturned eyes and an aggressive air spoke up. "What other origin could there be besides the Divine Flow Sect?" As soon as he said this, others murmured in agreement, a shared sense of enmity filling the hall.

Daoist Zhang shook his head. "You all know the situation," he said to the assembly. "If anyone has any insights, you may bring them forward for discussion."

Hearing this, the crowd discussed it for a moment before a female cultivator asked, "Could Junior Martial Uncle Meng come out of seclusion to drive that person away himself?"

Daoist Zhang said, "Junior Brother Meng is in seclusion this time to ride the momentum of his fierce advancement and step into the Second Celestial Realm in one go. If he comes out now, even if he drives the other party away, his breakthrough will likely be severely delayed."

At these words, everyone was at a loss. The intruder was clearly here to sabotage Meng Fusheng’s cultivation. Everyone present was only at the Golden Core realm—and mostly of the middle and low grades at that. What could they possibly do? They weren’t a god-like figure such as Junior Martial Uncle Dao Miao, who could suppress a Nascent Soul Cultivator while still at the Golden Core realm.

Thinking of this, a Low-Grade Golden Core Cultivator of the same generation as Daoist Zhang spoke up. "I wonder, could we send a message to the upper sect? When Junior Martial Uncle Dao Miao returned to the upper sect, he said he had not yet relinquished his responsibility for overseeing the True Form Temple. With the Celestial Waterfall Dharma Assembly approaching, he should be returning to this realm soon, shouldn’t he?"

Daoist Zhang first nodded slightly, then shook his head. "I already sent a message to the upper sect a few days ago, but I haven’t received a reply yet. Even if Junior Martial Uncle Dao Miao returns upon hearing the news, it will likely be too late to resolve this crisis."

Everyone fell silent at his words. Seeing this, Daoist Zhang could only sigh. He stood up and said, "Let’s dismiss for now. This old Daoist will make another trip to the Ancestral Hall."

The crowd cupped their hands in unison and filed out of the hall. Before they dispersed, the disciple with the sharp, upturned eyes glanced at the two vortexes in the Celestial Vault and said resentfully, "Those Divine Flow bastards! They’re sabotaging Junior Martial Uncle Meng’s cultivation. When our Grand Martial Uncle returns, he’ll make them pay tenfold!"

It had to be said that the temperaments of cultivators were often passed down through their lineage. Although this sharp-eyed disciple was not a direct disciple of Zeng Quanfeng, he had received much guidance from him. He and a few others were considered the most radical faction of cultivators in the True Form Temple.

In contrast, Wen Ning, their leader, was much more level-headed. But regardless, he too had a sharp edge to his spirit. Hearing his junior brother’s words, Wen Ning’s expression didn’t change, but he clenched his fists and looked up at the heavens. Suddenly, his gaze shifted, and he hurriedly called out to the departing Daoist Zhang. "Sect Leader Uncle, look! What is that?"

Daoist Zhang followed his gaze and saw several golden rings faintly appearing within the churning clouds stirred up by the two vortexes. At first, they spun slowly, but their rotation rapidly accelerated until a brilliant golden light, ten thousand zhang high, erupted forth. It shot from the heavens to the earth, momentarily outshining the sun itself.

"Could this be...?" A look of joy suddenly appeared on Daoist Zhang’s face. Among those present, some who had witnessed this scene before had their memories jogged. Someone cried out, "Could it be that Junior Martial Uncle Dao Miao has returned!"

Even the newest cultivators present had joined after Xuzhuang turned the tide and brought about a new era for the True Form Temple. Their admiration for him was immense. Hearing this, their spirits lifted, and they all looked to the sky. After the golden light faded, the flowing clouds parted naturally, revealing a young Daoist with a magnificent bearing in the heavens. His wide robes and long sleeves billowed in the wind, presenting an image of relaxed, immortal grace.

The moment this person appeared, everyone from the True Form Temple was stunned, then cried out in joy, "Junior Martial Uncle Dao Miao!" / "Grand Martial Uncle!" They all straightened their robes, preparing to bow, but saw Xuzhuang standing in mid-air with his hands behind his back. He was gazing thoughtfully at the two Spiritual Qi vortexes and didn’t immediately descend.

A thought struck Daoist Zhang. He instructed those around him, "All of you wait here."

After everyone acknowledged, Daoist Zhang straightened his Daoist Robe, shot up into the sky in a flash of light, and arrived beside Xuzhuang. He bowed respectfully and said, "Disciple Zhang Ren greets Junior Martial Uncle."

Xuzhuang wasn’t surprised to see Daoist Zhang fly up to him. He pointed toward the sky and asked, "What’s the situation here?"

Hearing Xuzhuang ask about the matter, Daoist Zhang immediately felt relieved. He began to recount the entire story of Meng Fusheng’s secluded cultivation to reach the second realm of Nascent Soul and the conflict with the outside cultivator over spiritual essence. He finished by cupping his hands and saying, "I ask for Junior Martial Uncle’s judgment. Please drive away that person with ulterior motives."

Xuzhuang gazed at the vortexes of spiritual essence being contested outside the True Form Temple, his expression unchanging. "Do you know that person’s background?" he asked.

Daoist Zhang replied, "This disciple sent Wen Ning to inquire, but the other party did not respond."

Hearing this, Xuzhuang nodded and replied nonchalantly, "In that case, there’s no need to know."

Daoist Zhang was taken aback. He then saw Xuzhuang’s figure blur, transforming into a white rainbow that shot toward the enemy’s vortex in the sky. With a sound like a clap of thunder, BOOM, the vortex instantly shattered. The flowing clouds scattered, and spiritual essence dispersed in all directions, only to be immediately captured by the Spiritual Qi vortex that Meng Fusheng was generating above the True Form Temple.

Seeing this, Daoist Zhang and the disciples below were greatly invigorated, knowing that Meng Fusheng’s cultivation was no longer obstructed. However, Xuzhuang wasn’t finished. After shattering the Spiritual Qi vortex, his Dharma Eyes swept across the ground below and locked onto a location in the mountains.

On the mountainside, a Daoist with a high topknot had been sitting cross-legged on a large boulder, seemingly cultivating. The moment Xuzhuang destroyed his vortex, he let out a cry, his body slumping sideways. He nearly rolled off the boulder, and though he managed to stabilize himself, a trickle of crimson blood couldn’t be stopped from escaping the corner of his mouth.

Xuzhuang’s gaze sharpened, and an almost imperceptible sneer touched his lips. Giving the man no time to react, he formed a seal with one hand in front of his chest and pointed down. A sky-shattering white rainbow shot out from the crown of his head. As it reached the mountaintop, it exploded into a vast white mist that enveloped the entire mountain. In the next instant, it coalesced into the Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture and slapped down fiercely!

The high-topknotted Daoist hurriedly looked up, only to see a flash of white light as an immense hand descended upon him. His inner organs were already in turmoil from Xuzhuang shattering his Spiritual Qi vortex, and now an alarm bell rang with a HUM in his head.

Xuzhuang had defeated Qiu Song in full public view; his signature Divine Techniques were known throughout the world. How could the high-topknotted Daoist dare to be careless? He put forth all his strength and shook his body, causing a Gang Wind to swirl up from the crown of his head. Golden blades spun within it, scraping against the mountaintop and instantly shearing off half of it. The wind howled upwards, as if trying to blow the Great Capturing Hand away, but a single slap from the hand shattered the wind’s force, causing one hundred and eight golden blades to rain down.

His Divine Technique didn’t even last for an instant before the Great Capturing Hand was upon him. With his technique broken, the high-topknotted Daoist let out a muffled grunt. In the next moment, he found himself caught within the palm of the Great Capturing Hand. It was as if he had fallen into primordial chaos; everything around him, even the very substance of the air, became unstable, twisting wantonly in utter confusion. He could no longer escape.

"AHH!" the high-topknotted Daoist screamed. His Daoist Robe inflated like a balloon, barely holding back the Great Capturing Hand, as a cyan-colored infant shot out of his body. It hastily produced a yellow talisman and began chanting an incantation.

"Oh?" Xuzhuang stood in the sky, his attention never wavering for a second. ’A Substitute Death Technique?’ he mused to himself. ’Or the Golden Cicada Skill?’ His expression remained unchanged as he waved his sleeve, causing streams of Thousand Jin Dharma Qi to condense into Dharma Balls that rained down in all directions like a torrential downpour.

The next moment, the Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture slapped down, pressing all the way to level ground and even a bit further, as if it had smashed the hundred-zhang-tall mountain peak into the earth. When it lifted, the ground had become a desolate ruin.

A yellow talisman fluttered down. Immediately after, a cyan-colored infant leaped out from it, summoning a beam of light to flee. However, Xuzhuang hadn’t let his guard down. With a slight twitch of his fingertip, the nearby Thousand Jin Dharma Balls instantly shot toward it.

The cyan-colored infant saw that the Thousand Jin Dharma Ball looked like a light, wispy ball of smoke. It projected a beam of spiritual light to meet it and shouted, "Fellow Daoist, have mercy! I was just—"

But the seemingly weightless Dharma Ball merely touched its spiritual light, and the light instantly shattered. Before its expression could even change, the Dharma Ball had already smashed into its chest. The cyan-colored infant exploded with a POOF, dissolving into streams of pure Spiritual Qi.

Xuzhuang waved his sleeve, and the Innate Tai Su Qi Grand Capture and the Thousand Jin Dharma Qi all dissolved into mist and flew back to him. He gave the battlefield one last glance, then summoned a beam of light and returned to the True Form Temple in an instant.

A pitiful Nascent Soul Venerable, who had cultivated for nearly a thousand years, had perished just like that. His life essence wasn’t even collected, instead scattering between heaven and earth. This would, however, be a boon to the surrounding area, likely giving rise to several new Spirit Veins within the next ten to a hundred years.