Chapter 597: One Word, Loyalty

Chapter 597: Chapter 597: One Word, Loyalty

It was none other than True Monarch Qing Yuan.

"Xu Yunfan..."

True Monarch Qing Yuan’s gaze fell upon him, and Xu Yunfan couldn’t help but feel his body sink slightly under the pressure.

The gaze carried a tangible weight, the pressure of a True Monarch’s Dao Fruit Format.

But what truly set Xu Yunfan’s mind at ease was the realization that the object hidden within his Star Spirit Banner—concealed by a Multiple Cause and Effect Secret Technique—had not been detected. What he felt was merely the True Monarch displaying his Dao Fruit Format.

Otherwise, if True Monarch Qing Yuan were to see that he possessed the Taiyin Profound Mirror Dao Fruit...

The consequences would be unimaginable.

As long as the True Monarch didn’t take the Star Spirit Banner, he should be fine.

And the Star Spirit Banner was practically his Lifebound Magical Treasure. With the True Monarch’s reputation, he naturally wouldn’t care about a mere Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

These were people who had moved beyond base interests; naturally, they wouldn’t give such a thing a second glance.

’Excellent!’

Then, a calm voice, yet one carrying enough weight to pierce the Divine Soul, echoed directly within the hall. He gave Xu Yunfan a slight nod.

"You have done well. You were the first to breach the core Celestial Court of this realm, and for leading the way, yours is the glory of the vanguard! In this campaign of Breaking the Boundary, you are a model for the core disciples of the Primordial Sect. I shall record this as your primary contribution."

In just a few words, he had stated Xu Yunfan’s most critical contribution in the campaign against the Celestial Realm, emphasizing the weight of his achievement as the vanguard.

After all, Xu Yunfan was his subordinate. If you want a horse to run, you have to feed it well.

With the merit from breaking into a World Heaven, it could be said that Xu Yunfan could exchange for anything he wanted within the Primordial Sect.

A hint of joy blossomed in Xu Yunfan’s heart, but his expression grew even more reverent as he bowed deeply once more.

"True Monarch, you praise me too highly! The breakthrough was truly thanks to the Sect, not to mention the True Monarch’s brilliant strategy and my fellow senior brothers fighting tirelessly by my side. This disciple merely chanced upon an opportunity, taking advantage of the terrain and a bit of luck to fortunately seize the initiative. How could I dare claim such great merit?

The collapse of the Celestial Realm today is a testament to the Sect’s immense power and the True Monarch’s decisive planning. This disciple merely followed orders and contributed in my own small way."

His words were both appropriate and modest, attributing the main credit to True Monarch Qing Yuan and the grand strategy of the Primordial Sect.

His attitude was humble, taking no credit for himself.

Hearing Xu Yunfan’s humble words, True Monarch Qing Yuan felt increasingly satisfied.

Leaders, naturally, hoped their subordinates would flatter them more, didn’t they?

This was what one would call providing sufficient emotional value.

As a corporate drone in his past life, Xu Yunfan was quite familiar with this.

True Monarch Qing Yuan sat upon the Cloud Platform, his face as still as an ancient well, betraying no hint of his thoughts. Inwardly, however, he was naturally pleased with Xu Yunfan.

People like him, who knew how to carry a conversation, belonged to the discerning sort.

Too many of the Primordial Sect’s disciples tried to be unconventional and stand out. He’d lost count of how many he’d had to kill. Having a normal one for a change was a source of psychological comfort.

Then, a light flashed in True Monarch Qing Yuan’s eyes. Xu Yunfan felt a slight numbness spread through his body, and before he could react, he saw the True Monarch looking at him with some surprise.

Xu Yunfan instantly realized that True Monarch Qing Yuan had noticed he had already reached Late-Stage Foundation Establishment.

According to the normal pace of cultivation, for Xu Yunfan to have achieved Foundation Establishment within a single lifetime was already quite extraordinary.

He fell silent for a moment.

True Monarch Qing Yuan’s gaze was as deep as an abyss. It swept calmly over Xu Yunfan, and the dense aura of a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator could not hide from his eyes.

The speed at which this child was Breaking Realm, while not on par with those once-in-ten-thousand-year prodigies, was already enough to make him a champion among the disciples of his generation under the True Monarch’s tutelage.

"Are you certain you aren’t the reincarnation of another Daoist Master from our Primordial Sect?"

Hearing this, Xu Yunfan replied with a solemn expression, "True Monarch, I can assure you, I am not."

True Monarch Qing Yuan looked unconvinced, assuming that Xu Yunfan had likely made too many enemies and had thus severed ties with his past life.

Xu Yunfan: "..."

’I’m really not, though.’

Most Daoist Masters of the Primordial Sect underwent five reincarnations. Many of them would sever all ties with their past lives, even destroying every single item they had ever used, all to prevent their enemies from finding them.

After all, there was a reason the world called the Primordial Sect the Primordial Demon Sect.

True Monarch Qing Yuan contemplated this for a moment.

He had indeed wanted Xu Yunfan to do something for him before.

It was a matter of both risk and opportunity, a crucial affair concerning his future plans, his promotion to Mid-Stage Golden Core, and the key to his Grotto Heaven Lifting high without falling. He had originally intended to entrust this task to Xu Yunfan, hoping to leverage his strange Destiny and his vanguard’s courage.

But upon learning that Xu Yunfan and Pure Yang True Monarch of the Wansheng Sword Sect both hailed from the same sect in the Divine Martial Realm, he now felt a slight sense of regret.

Pure Yang True Monarch!

That was a figure even he had to treat with caution.

A thousand years ago, his brilliance had shaken the world; now, his Daoist Cultivation was even more unfathomable.

Although Xu Yunfan merely shared a senior-junior relationship from the same world, and the Primordial Sect had always taught all comers without discrimination, not caring much if its disciples had ties to other Sects—even encouraging acts of infiltration or resource exchange...

’Among the disciples of the Primordial Sect, who doesn’t have some secrets and a background?’

...but to have someone who might have a special connection with a True Monarch of the Wansheng Sword Sect—someone who might even be viewed favorably by him—carry out a top-secret core mission that required absolute control, the risk factor soared.

If his loyalty wavered in the slightest, or if Pure Yang True Monarch gave an order, this crucial chess piece that he had so carefully placed could slip from his grasp and even become a hidden threat.

’This child’s aptitude and temperament are both superior, and it’s even rarer for him to have such great Destiny. It’s a pity I can’t entrust him with a major task.’

He mulled it over for a moment before speaking slowly.

"I have an opportunity for you. It will allow you to perceive the Immortal Golden Nature ahead of time and, consequently, begin to condense it."

True Monarch Qing Yuan’s thoughts raced. Since that core matter required a different approach, he might as well use this opportunity to bind this person tightly to him.

His voice remained level, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

"For your achievement as the vanguard, the Sect will naturally reward you generously. Seeing as your Cultivation has advanced and your foundation is stable, I see a bright future in your path. Today, I will bestow upon you an opportunity that will help you perceive the mysteries of the Immortal Golden Nature ahead of time, laying the groundwork for you to condense your own Golden Nature in the future."

Hearing this, Xu Yunfan naturally feigned surprise. Of course, he wouldn’t reveal that he had already obtained a sliver of Taiyin Immortal Golden Nature from the Celestial Empress of the Celestial Realm.

In an instant, he channeled his inner award-winning actor. His eyes widened, his face flushed with uncontrollable excitement and astonishment, and even his voice carried just the right amount of trembling.

"Th-Thank you for your generous gift, True Monarch! This disciple... this disciple is moved to tears of gratitude!"

He hastily bowed, his clasped hands trembling slightly.

In reality, however, his mind was perfectly clear.

’Immortal Golden Nature? I’ve already obtained a sliver from the Taiyin Dao Fruit! If this opportunity can truly help me condense the Immortal Golden Nature, it’s the perfect way to muddy the waters and make the True Monarch think I’m utterly dependent on and desperate for his gift.’

His thoughts raced. The Celestial Empress Star Soul and that sliver of Taiyin Immortal Golden Nature within the Star Spirit Banner were flawlessly concealed by layer upon layer of Secret Techniques.

With the opportunity granted by True Monarch Qing Yuan this time, he would have the perfect explanation for the speed at which he comprehended the Gold Essence Law in the future.

The Divine Sky Dao Fruit was still a distant dream, but the Taiyin Profound Mirror Dao Fruit was already securely in his possession.

Seeing Xu Yunfan’s reaction, True Monarch Qing Yuan nodded to himself. ’As expected, he knows his place.’

His tone shifted as he spoke bluntly.

"Your relationship with Pure Yang True Monarch of the Wansheng Sword Sect did give me some pause."

However, seeing Xu Yunfan’s genuinely excited expression now, True Monarch Qing Yuan nodded to himself again.