Chapter 353 - 351: News of Old Friends

Chapter 353: Chapter 351: News of Old Friends

Reading about the changes in the Qingfeng Sect over the years, Matuo felt as if he were reading a legendary chronicle.

Core Formation True Men emerged one after another. They shattered the mountain gate of a rival sect that had suppressed them for a century and utterly destroyed it, becoming a power to be reckoned with in the Cultivation Realm of Liang Country.

Two of their Core Formation Ancestors were even widely acknowledged in the Cultivation Realm as candidates for the Nascent Soul Realm.

This rate of growth was something that not even the Five Elements Sect could match, even during its own fastest period of development a century ago.

This was because among the Five Elements Sect’s few Core Formation True Men, not one had any solid prospects of reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.

More recently, the news was even more shocking: True Monarch Ge Cang had successfully formed his Nascent Soul, crossing a chasm that countless Core Formation Level Sects in the Cultivation Realm had failed to traverse over thousands of generations.

To elevate a sect to a major one was easier said than done; countless Core Formation True Men of astonishing talent had fallen in the attempt.

Matuo was shocked speechless, but at the same time, a profound sense of delighted surprise welled up inside him.

Whether it was Five Elements Sect disciples at Black Mountain or Qingfeng Sect disciples in Dian Country, neither sect would ever shortchange their stationed disciples.

But the benefits offered by a Core Formation Level Sect and a Nascent Soul Major were naturally different. Matuo was certain that the cultivation resources he would enjoy from now on would rise to a whole new level.

Furthermore, the Five Elements Sect was unconditionally granted a prime location in every Market established by the Qingfeng Sect, which they could use in perpetuity without paying a single Spirit Stone.

The Five Elements Sect had already set up shops in the Qingfeng Sect’s two major Markets. One-third of the Spirit Stones earned could be freely allocated and used by the stationed Elder.

With the rise of the Qingfeng Sect, foot traffic in the two great Markets was bound to skyrocket. The Five Elements Sect’s two shops, situated in such prime locations, were like two hens that laid Spirit Stones.

As long as they remained open for business, they would generate a ceaseless stream of revenue.

"Since you are a disciple of Master Qingmu, there’s no need for such formality. Just call me Junior Martial Uncle."

The memory of fighting alongside Master Qingmu and Master Hei Shui of the Five Elements Sect seemed like it was only yesterday. In what felt like the blink of an eye, Bai Zichen’s Cultivation had already far surpassed that of the two True Men.

"Is Master Qingmu well? Has his old injury acted up? And Master Hei Shui, has he made any progress with his Water Escape?"

"Thank you for your concern, Junior Martial Uncle Bai. My master’s injuries have stabilized. Aside from being unable to channel his True Essence for long periods, he is fine..."

Matuo was ecstatic, but due to the Cultivation Technique he practiced, his face remained as still as deadwood, betraying no change in expression.

"Junior Martial Uncle Hei Shui successfully achieved a breakthrough twenty years ago. After manifesting his Black Water True Body, he advanced to the Mid-Stage Core Formation Realm, which was a joyous occasion for our sect."

’This Master Bai’s Cultivation speed, experiences, and combat record are all the stuff of legend.’

’Back in the Five Elements Sect, I heard my masters mention Master Bai’s name. When they first came to Black Mountain, he was just a Cultivator with the prospect of reaching Core Formation.’

’But when the previous stationed Cultivators returned to Dian Country, the news they brought back shocked the True Men of the Five Elements Sect.’

’It was one thing for the Qingfeng Sect to suddenly gain two Core Formation True Men, but for one of them to be the young Master Bai was astounding.’

’And now that I’ve arrived at Black Mountain myself, everything I’ve seen and heard, along with the information gathered from other Cultivators, has painted an even clearer picture of Master Bai.’

Even though True Monarch Ge Cang had already reached the Nascent Soul Realm, a large number of Qingfeng Sect disciples firmly believed that Ancestor Bai’s future prospects far surpassed those of Ancestor Ge Cang.

"Master Qingmu’s old injury was incurred on behalf of my Sect. I will definitely find a Tier Four Demon Exorcism Spiritual Object to cure the stubborn, hidden wounds within his body..."

Bai Zichen felt a pang of guilt. ’If not for my rush to return to Feiyue Lake to protect the Grand Array back then, Master Qingmu would never have been struck by the Demon Fire of a Beiyuan Demon Cultivator, leaving him with a deep-seated, chronic ailment.’

’After all these years, he should have had a chance to advance to the Mid-Stage Core Formation Realm.’

’Unfortunately, the Qingfeng Sect has been surrounded by external enemies and has never known peace. Otherwise, I would have made finding a Fire-Extinguishing Spiritual Object a priority long ago.’

’Now that Ge Cang has reached the Nascent Soul Realm, all our difficulties can be easily resolved. This matter has risen to the forefront of my mind once more.’

"My master often says that as we are brother Sects, there’s no need to keep mentioning such a sacrifice. The Qingfeng Sect has also helped our Sect at the risk of life and limb... Besides, Junior Martial Uncle Bai gifted us a wondrous Auxiliary Cultivation Technique like the Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique, effectively granting every Foundation Establishment Cultivator in our Sect a Core Formation Spiritual Object. I, though untalented, have also cultivated this technique. Regardless of whether I ever reach the day I can attempt Core Formation, it has at least extended my lifespan by thirty years."

Matuo kowtowed in sincere gratitude. With his level of aptitude, it would have been nearly impossible for him to receive the Sect’s support in the form of a granted Core Formation Spiritual Object.

The Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique had at least given him a glimmer of hope, allowing him to stand on the same starting line as Foundation Establishment Cultivators who had taken a Core Formation Spiritual Object.

"That’s a separate matter. Master Qingmu also gave a Secret Technique of the Qingmu Lineage in return..."

’The Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique is of course precious; it’s an Auxiliary Cultivation Technique that would be considered a top-tier legacy even in a Nascent Soul Major.’

’However, the Sword-Encompassing Technique that Master Qingmu gifted me in return might be just an ordinary Sword Dao Secret Technique to the Five Elements Sect, its value incomparable to the Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique.’

’But to me, the Sword-Encompassing Technique allowed me to complete the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword, making this Supreme Divine Power, which involves the Power of Time, my greatest trump card.’

’Without the Sword-Encompassing Technique, I would have had no other way to master the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword. I couldn’t possibly have stormed Hornless Dragon Island to demand it from the Youlong Sect.’ 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

’And without the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword, forged from a century of Sword Storage, I wouldn’t have been able to defy the odds and slay True Monarch Jiulian. Senior Brother Ge Cang would most likely have perished from overusing the Pink Crystal Shattering Jade Technique, and the Qingfeng Sect would have crumbled.’

’Even if I had managed to save my own life, I would now be a stray dog, fleeing in disgrace.’

’You could say the Sword-Encompassing Technique changed the destiny of many.’

’The Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique alone was nowhere near enough to repay the Five Elements Sect for their selfless aid back then.’

"From now on, your benefits will be on par with those of a Second-Level Elder. If you run into any difficulties, just find Longx Longx to handle them."

Bai Zichen waved a hand, dismissing Matuo. It had been his decision to receive the Five Elements Sect disciple personally from the seat of honor.

The main reason was to send a signal: the relationship between the two sects would not change just because the Qingfeng Sect had become a Nascent Soul Major.

They shared a common destiny, as intertwined as branches on a tree.

This was true in times of decline, and it would not change now in prosperity.

This time, before the Nascent Soul Ceremony officially began, they were meeting with closer powers to select suitable Vassal Sects.

It would be beneath True Monarch Ge Cang’s station to handle this personally. On the other hand, if Wei Dao and Zhou Suqing were the hosts, they wouldn’t have enough prestige to preside over the other Core Formation True Men.

Only Bai Zichen could preside over the proceedings. Although his Realm was also the Core Formation Stage, his strength was undeniable, and no Core Formation Cultivator would dare treat him as a peer.

After taking a sip of Spirit Tea, Bai Zichen watched as Longx Longx led in the second guest: an old acquaintance, Master Zhu of the Danxia Sect.

"Zhu Yan pays his respects to Master Bai."

The moment they met, Master Zhu performed the grand salute of a junior scholar to a senior.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu, there is no need for such ceremony. The Cultivators your sect sent to Black Mountain for the exchange program are masters of the Alchemy Dao and have been a great help to the disciples of our Pill Hall. I am the one who should be thanking you."

’Of all the Core Formation Level Sects that have come this time, the Danxia Sect is the one I value most.’

’The Qingfeng Sect’s territory is set to expand. Once the entire Black Mountain Range is brought under our control, the annual yield of resources will increase severalfold.’

’If we can bring the Danxia Sect into our fold, we can put all those Spirit Grasses and Spirit Medicines to good use, refining them into Elixirs.’

’It’s not that I look down on our own Pill Hall, but the Qingfeng Sect really has very few competent Pill Masters.’

’The only one with the potential to reach the pinnacle of the dao, Pill Master Han Qing, is limited by his Realm and has never managed to reach Foundation Establishment Perfection.’

’His life is now in peril, and he could pass away at any moment. He lost the ability to open the furnace and refine pills long ago.’

’In the long run, nurturing the Qingfeng Sect’s own Pill Masters is what’s most important.’

"In these turbulent times, the future safety of the entire Danxia Sect will depend on Master Bai and the Qingfeng Sect’s protection."

Both men were intelligent. They had expressed their intentions in just a few words; a tacit understanding was all that was necessary.

Since both parties were amenable, the specific details of becoming a vassal could be left for their subordinates to discuss.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu, you are a grandmaster of the Alchemy Dao. I wonder if you’ve heard of something like a Demon Extermination Spiritual Pill, one that could have the effect of a Tier Four Demon Exorcism Spiritual Object?"

An idea suddenly struck Bai Zichen, and he described Master Qingmu’s injuries, hoping to find a solution through the power of elixirs.

"A Demon Fire that penetrates to the bone marrow and corrupts True Essence... that sounds somewhat like the Black Lotus Demon Fire of the No-Life Sect..."

Seeing Bai Zichen’s solemn expression, Master Zhu pondered for a long moment before speaking slowly.

"If it is indeed the No-Life Sect’s Black Lotus Demon Fire, I’m afraid even a common Tier Four Demon Exorcism Spiritual Object might not be completely effective... As for elixirs, only the Tier Four Top Grade Sun Six Wu Divine Essence Pill can one hundred percent neutralize this kind of Demon Fire poison, leaving no lingering troubles behind."

Upon asking, Bai Zichen learned that this Sun Six Wu Divine Essence Pill was a nearly legendary Spirit Pill; Master Zhu himself had only ever read about it in ancient texts left by his predecessors.

Any Cultivator suffering from Demonic Possession, or one who had a mishap while practicing a Demon Skill, could be completely restored by this Spirit Pill, and the effects were immediate.

Furthermore, the cases recorded in the texts all involved Nascent Soul Demon Cultivators, and the pill was just as effective on them.

That was why Master Zhu said that if the hidden injury was truly left by the Black Lotus Demon Fire, only the legendary Sun Six Wu Divine Essence Pill could guarantee a complete and immediate cure.

A Tier Four Demon Exorcism Spiritual Object would likely only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.

"Do you know of anyone in the Cultivation Realm who can refine such a Spirit Pill?"

"The Pill Formula for the Sun Six Wu Divine Essence Pill has been lost to time. What’s more, for a Tier Four Top Grade elixir, even a Tier Four Peak Alchemist wouldn’t dare claim a perfect success rate... In the Cultivation Realm today, I’m afraid only the Central Domain might still have such grandmasters of the Alchemy Dao."

Master Zhu knew this answer was of no real help, and an embarrassed expression crossed his face.

"Perhaps Zengguang Immortal City has a pre-refined Sun Six Wu Divine Essence Pill in its stores. The Du Family acquired a Secret Realm that once belonged to a Nascent Soul Major renowned for its Alchemy... Later, that sect declined and could no longer maintain the Secret Realm. Its connection to the void was severed, and Zengguang Immortal City was fortunate enough to stumble upon it."

Bai Zichen silently committed this information to memory. ’It’s no wonder,’ he mused, ’that the Zengguang Du Family is known as a Cultivation Family blessed by the heavens.’

’They can stumble upon something as absurd as a Secret Realm drifting through the void. Compared to that, what’s so special about several consecutive generations of their family producing Nascent Soul True Monarchs?’

After Master Zhu departed, Bai Zichen received several more Core Formation True Men.

They included Core Formation Loose Cultivators and the Supreme Elders of various sects, but they all came with a single purpose.

They wanted to find a reliable backer in this turbulent and unpredictable Cultivation Realm.

This group was treated differently than Master Zhu of the Danxia Sect. Bai Zichen gave no direct answers, merely exchanging a few pleasantries before offering tea—the signal for the guest to depart.

He noted his assessments of them on the scroll on his desk, to be considered in full after the Nascent Soul Ceremony was over.