Chapter 81 ·Transporting Talent to the Spirit Realm!

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍story splits into two paths.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍main body, Gu Yan, leisurely sipped spiritual wine while watching Haotian Mirror broadcast in high definition as Ning Hongye fought five bald monks. Life was, quite simply, extremely comfortable.

As ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍for the evil-body external incarnation, Nether Soul… well, things were rather… how should it be put—busy.

Azure ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Wave Sect, Sect Master Hall.

Nether ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Soul sat at the head seat, with three piles of jade slips stacked before him.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍pile on the left contained daily sect affairs.

The pile in the middle contained resource requests from various peaks and lineages.

The pile on the right contained all sorts of correspondence from other sects.

Nether Soul calmly looked at the three small mountains and remained silent for quite a while.

He raised his head and looked at the several Golden Core elders standing below.

“Elders, can anyone tell me what these are?”

The elders exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.

In the end, Elder Zhou Yuan steeled himself and spoke, “Reporting to Sect Master, these… these are all sect matters that require your review.”

“I know they require review,” Nether Soul said.

“What I want to ask is—why are they all piled here with me?”

Zhou Yuan coughed lightly. “This… has always been the case. All major and minor sect affairs ultimately require the Sect Master’s decision.”

Nether Soul looked at him calmly.

“Then what are you all for?”

Zhou Yuan froze.

Nether Soul continued, “When the two Nascent Soul ancestors were here, did they personally handle all these matters too?”

“Not exactly,” another elder quickly said.

“In the past, the ancestors only focused on secluded cultivation. Sect affairs were handled jointly by the Sect Master and the elders. It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“It’s just that after you broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, the former Sect Master, Elder Su, handed all these matters over to you. We thought… we thought you were willing to manage them personally.”

Nether Soul fell silent.

He understood now.

These elders were simply lazy.

When Su Wanyue was around, they pushed everything onto the Sect Master and enjoyed their leisure.

Now that she had left, they wanted to dump everything onto the new Sect Master again.

So no matter who became Sect Master, that person would be the unlucky one.

Nether Soul picked up his teacup and took a sip.

He set it down and looked at the crowd below.

“From today onward, sect affairs will be reassigned.”

The elders were stunned.

Nether Soul continued, “Daily matters of each peak and lineage will be handled by their respective heads.”

“Anything requiring the Sect Master’s decision should be written in a report and submitted. Anything that doesn’t—you handle yourselves.”

“Resource allocation—Elder Zhou Yuan will take the lead in forming a Resource Allocation Office. Submit a summary once a month for my awareness. Anything under one thousand spirit stones—you approve it yourselves.”

“External relations—Elder Liu will handle them. Ordinary correspondence, reply as you see fit. Important matters, bring them to me.”

He listed them one by one.

With each point, an elder’s expression changed.

By the end, their expressions had become quite colorful.

Zhou Yuan coughed. “Sect Master, this… this isn’t in accordance with the rules, is it?”

Nether Soul looked at him. “What rules?”

“Well… the Sect Master has always overseen everything. These specific matters have always been handled personally by the Sect Master…”

“Always?” Nether Soul interrupted.

“When the two Nascent Soul ancestors were here, did they personally handle these trivial matters?”

Zhou Yuan was speechless.

Nether Soul said calmly, “I broke through to the Nascent Soul stage to serve as the sect’s pillar—not to be your housekeeper.”

“If any of you feel this arrangement is unsuitable, you may also choose to leave Azure Wave Sect. The Spirit Realm is vast, and there are countless sects—there will surely be one that suits you.”

His tone was calm, even gentle.

But the elders inexplicably felt a chill down their backs.

Leave Azure Wave Sect?

It sounded like they were being given freedom of choice.

But the Spirit Realm was indeed vast, and sects were indeed numerous.

However, a Golden Core cultivator carrying a belly full of sect secrets, wandering alone outside…

What if something happened?

For example, encountering a rogue cultivator who kills for treasure, accidentally trespassing into a demonic beast’s territory, or simply being silenced…

The elders exchanged glances and swallowed in unison.

Zhou Yuan quickly cupped his hands. “Sect Master, you overstate it! We absolutely have no such intention!”

“That the Sect Master is willing to delegate authority is our blessing! We will certainly do our utmost to share your burdens!”

The other elders quickly echoed him, their attitudes extremely sincere.

Nether Soul nodded, his expression softening slightly.

“In that case, it is settled.”

He paused, then added, “Of course, your hard work will not go unrewarded. From today onward, your monthly stipends will be doubled.”

The elders’ eyes lit up.

“Additionally, the resource quotas for each peak and lineage will be appropriately increased according to actual conditions. As long as you work diligently, spirit stones and materials will not be lacking.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the elders’ expressions immediately improved.

Doubled stipends and increased resource quotas…

This was far more tangible than their previous leisurely days.

When the two Nascent Soul ancestors were present, most of the sect’s resources were sent to them.

What the Golden Core elders received was barely enough for cultivation.

Now that Nether Soul was distributing resources, they would receive far more than before.

Zhou Yuan was the first to declare, “Sect Master is wise! This old man will certainly do his utmost to share your burdens!”

The others followed suit, and for a moment the hall was filled with praises of “Sect Master is wise.”

Nether Soul waved his hand, signaling them to leave.

The elders departed happily.

As they left, Zhou Yuan whispered to someone beside him, “This new Sect Master is much more generous than Sect Master Su…”

“Shh! Keep it down, what if she hears you…”

“She already ran off, she won’t hear.”

The hall fell silent again.

Nether Soul looked at the three piles of jade slips and casually waved his hand, sending them to the elders’ respective caves.

Then he leaned back in his chair, his gaze calm.

Resources meant little to him.

On the surface, he was at the early Nascent Soul stage, but his true realm was the same as the main body.

These resources weren’t even enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

Rather than letting them pile up and gather dust, it was better to distribute them and strengthen the sect as a whole.

After all, the stronger Azure Wave Sect became, the more stable the barrier of Southern Sea No. 73’s mortal world would be.

That was his true objective.

Nether Soul withdrew his thoughts and suddenly remembered something.

The main body had mentioned that in a few days, someone would be sent from the mortal world to the Spirit Realm.

……

Several days later.

Outside Azure Wave Sect’s mountain gate, a figure descended.

The person looked to be in his early twenties, handsome, with a certain… how to put it—a restless aura in his brows.

Like a wild beast that had been caged too long, finally smelling the air outside.

This person was Ye Chen.

He looked up at the sect’s archway and took a deep breath.

A new world! A broader world!

He had finally arrived.

He had waited for this day far too long.

All those years in the mortal world, he had nearly gone mad from suppression.

It wasn’t that the mortal world was bad.

On the contrary—it was too good.

So good that he had nothing to do.

Ever since that world had been taken over by a figure known as Great Love Immortal Venerable, everything had completely changed.

Universal harmony.

Four simple words—but achieving them required countless years of effort.

Yet the Great Love Immortal Venerable had accomplished it.

Under his rule, the mortal world was orderly, people lived in peace and contentment, nothing was lost on the roads, and doors were left unlocked at night.

Upholding justice?

No place for it.

Speaking out for righteousness?

No one needed it.

At first, Ye Chen had been delighted, thinking the world had finally become better.

Later, he realized… he seemed unnecessary.

He liked upholding justice, liked the thrill of shouting when seeing injustice.

He liked the satisfaction of watching villains punished and good people saved.

But there was no injustice left in the mortal world.

Villains? Managed by the Great Love Alliance.

Good people? Protected by the Great Love Alliance.

As a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator, the only things he could do were find lost cats and dogs or discipline petty thieves.

This was far from the martial world he had imagined.

So even while cultivating, he always felt restless.

As if something was burning in his chest, making him unable to sit still.

Until that day, when Gu Yan came to find him.

A former fellow disciple, now a high and mighty Longevity True Lord within the sect.

Ye Chen stared blankly at that familiar yet unfamiliar face, momentarily forgetting to salute.

Of course he remembered Gu Yan—he just hadn’t expected their reunion to be like this.

At that time, Gu Yan had asked him, “Do you want to go to a broader world?”

With just that sentence, Ye Chen’s eyes lit up.

He didn’t even have time to think about why the other had asked him that.

Nor did he consider what words were appropriate given their difference in status.

Thus, he blurted out the word that had been buried in his heart for years:

“Yes!”

And so he came.

Ye Chen withdrew his thoughts and stepped toward the mountain gate.

After taking two steps, he suddenly stopped.

Wait.

Who am I?

Where did I come from?

Where am I going?

Ye Chen stood frozen, brows tightly furrowed.

Strange—why couldn’t he remember?

He only knew he had come to join someone called Nether Soul, entrusted by an old acquaintance to cultivate here.

But who that acquaintance was—he couldn’t remember.

Where he came from—he couldn’t remember.

It was as if a portion of his memory had been forcibly erased.

Ye Chen scratched his head, puzzled.

Forget it—if he couldn’t remember, then he wouldn’t think about it.

That person called Nether Soul should know.

He continued forward toward the mountain gate.

Two disciples were on guard. Seeing someone approach, one was about to question him when he suddenly paused.

“You’re… new?”

Ye Chen nodded. “Yes, I have come under the Sect Master’s orders.”

The disciple sized him up—Foundation Establishment peak, aura solid. He didn’t seem like a bad person.

“Follow me. The Sect Master gave instructions that someone would arrive today.”

Ye Chen followed him inside, passing several halls and a long corridor, finally arriving before a grand hall.

“The Sect Master is inside. Go in yourself.”

Ye Chen thanked him, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

……

Sect Master Hall.

Nether Soul looked at the young man before him, his divine sense sweeping over him.

Foundation Establishment peak.

Solid aura, stable foundation.

Nether Soul nodded slightly.

“Your name is Ye Chen?”

“Yes.” Ye Chen cupped his hands. “Disciple Ye Chen greets Sect Master.”

Nether Soul gave a soft acknowledgment and said no more.

Of course, he knew Ye Chen’s origins.

He came from Southern Sea No. 73’s mortal world. In his previous life, he had been a ninth-revolution Martial Dao Venerable.

Martial Dao Ninth Revolution.

Those four words might mean little in the Spirit Realm.

But in the main body’s mortal world, that was a legendary existence.

Martial Dao differed from Immortal Dao.

At the ninth revolution, one’s lifespan could reach three thousand years.

What did three thousand years mean?

A ninth-revolution martial artist might not match a Golden Core cultivator in combat.

But living long had its advantages.

Unfortunately, after the purge by Tianyan Dao Sect, the Martial Dao inheritance in the mortal world had been completely severed.

Techniques above the seventh revolution were almost entirely lost.

Those eighth- and ninth-revolution Martial Dao Venerables were either killed or disappeared.

Ye Chen was one of the few survivors.

Back then, he had faked his death with a secret technique, then used another method to be reborn, his memories sealed, becoming a mortal.

Later, by chance, he entered Taiyi Dao Sect, and through the main body’s teachings of immortal cultivation techniques, he stepped onto the Immortal Dao path.

Now, with his memories restored, cultivating both Martial and Immortal Dao, his strength far surpassed others of the same realm.

The main body had even deduced a complete ninth-revolution Martial Dao cultivation method from him, now stored in Taiyi Dao Sect’s Scripture Pavilion.

Those who wanted to cultivate Martial Dao could do so. Those who wanted Immortal Dao could do that. Those who wanted both—also possible.

Many disciples of Taiyi Dao Sect were now dual cultivators of Martial and Immortal Dao.

Martial Dao—long lifespan in the mid stages.

Immortal Dao—strong combat power in the early stages, and even longer lifespan later.

A perfect combination.

Nether Soul withdrew his thoughts and looked at Ye Chen.

“From today onward, you are an inner sect disciple of Azure Wave Sect.”

Ye Chen’s eyes lit up. “Many thanks, Sect Master!”

Nether Soul continued, “You are restless and like to roam. I won’t interfere. But remember one thing.”

Ye Chen immediately listened attentively.

“In the Spirit Realm, cultivators are everywhere. Golden Core are like dogs, Nascent Soul walk everywhere. As a mere Foundation Establishment peak cultivator, if you go wandering, you may die very quickly.”

Ye Chen: “……”

Why did that sound so harsh?

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but realized he couldn’t refute it.

Nether Soul said calmly, “So cultivate first. Once you break through to Golden Core, then think about roaming.”

Ye Chen opened his mouth again.

Nether Soul looked at him. “Any objections?”

Ye Chen quickly shook his head. “None, none! Sect Master is absolutely right!”

Nether Soul nodded and waved his hand.

“You may leave. Someone will arrange your residence.”

Ye Chen bowed and withdrew.

At the door, he suddenly turned back.

“Sect Master, this disciple dares to ask…”

“Speak.”

“Have I… met you before?”

Nether Soul looked at him calmly.

“Why do you ask?”

Ye Chen scratched his head. “It’s just… I feel a familiar aura from you, like I’ve seen you somewhere before. But I can’t remember.”

Nether Soul was silent for a moment, then said:

“Perhaps you saw me in a dream.”

Ye Chen froze. “A dream?”

Nether Soul nodded. “Leave.”

Ye Chen wanted to ask more, but seeing Nether Soul had already closed his eyes, he could only leave reluctantly.

The hall doors closed.

Nether Soul opened his eyes, his gaze calm.

Ye Chen’s arrival was only the first step.

In the future, more people would be sent from the mortal world to the Spirit Realm.

Those who could not remain in the mortal world.

Those who sought a broader sky.

Those with talent, ambition, and drive—

He would bring them over, one by one.

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