Chapter 53: The Beginning of a New Journey

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: The Beginning of a New Journey

***

Three weeks later.

Signs of a breakthrough began to appear around Ye Xuan’s body.

Powerful bursts of qi erupted from him, accompanied by fierce gusts of wind that swept across the top floor of the Golden Pagoda.

Wang Shuyuan, who was cultivating nearby, was startled. He even paused his cultivation for a moment and looked toward Ye Xuan.

The qi aura radiating from the young man’s body was growing stronger, rumbling like the beat of a war drum.

Qingyu, who was beside Ye Xuan, also reacted. She opened her eyes and looked at him, occasionally letting out a soft hiss.

Ye Xuan could feel something different happening within his body.

The sea inside his dantian was churning like turbulent waves as streams of spiritual qi accumulated and flowed into it.

He could also feel his meridians becoming stronger, wider, and clearer. This allowed him to absorb spiritual qi more smoothly.

Ye Xuan realized that he was on the verge of a breakthrough.

He immediately formed a cultivation seal with both hands and maximized the refinement of qi within his dantian.

The moment he did so, the spiritual qi erupting from his body grew several times stronger before gradually settling down completely.

He opened his eyes and looked ahead. Wang Shuyuan had already opened his eyes, while Qingyu had moved closer to Ye Xuan’s side.

"Congratulations. You’ve successfully broken through to Peak Foundation Establishment, Brother Ye."

"People rarely call it Peak Foundation Establishment. They prefer the term Half-Step Golden Core."

"Half-Step Golden Core?"

Wang Shuyuan nodded. The term wasn’t exclusive to the current era. It had already been used in his time.

The reason is simple. The Golden Core is a crucial stage within the First Realm, preceding the Nascent Soul.

Many sect elders were selected based on their Golden Core cultivation base, although the selection criteria varied depending on each sect’s capabilities.

Even so, most sect elders were Golden Core cultivators.

Ye Xuan listened without paying much attention to whether his cultivation stage was called Peak Foundation Establishment or Half-Step Golden Core.

What mattered most to him wasn’t the name of his cultivation stage, but the improvement in his strength.

He had now reached the strongest level a Foundation Establishment cultivator could attain, just one step below Golden Core.

"With your current capabilities and strength, you should be able to learn Profound-Stage techniques," Wang Shuyuan explained.

"Really? Aren’t Profound-Stage techniques only suitable for cultivators who have reached the Golden Core?"

"Some techniques of that rank are relatively simple and carry minimal risks. That’s what determines whether someone can learn them at an earlier stage."

Ye Xuan listened and gradually began to understand what Wang Shuyuan meant.

Even so, he still wasn’t sure what kind of technique would suit him.

He turned to the side and extended his hand. Qingyu immediately slithered up onto his palm.

Ye Xuan gently stroked her back with his finger, watching as the white snake seemed to enjoy the sensation.

Even so, he noticed that Qingyu’s qi aura remained the same as before.

In fact, he could see it more clearly now that his own cultivation base had improved.

"You haven’t broken through yet?" Ye Xuan asked.

[Not yet. It seems I’ll need a lot more time to break through to the Profound-Beast stage.]

[It’s fine. I can take my time.]

Ye Xuan nodded and allowed Qingyu to return to his neck. He then shifted his attention back to Wang Shuyuan.

"How long have I been cultivating?" Ye Xuan asked.

"I’m not sure. Perhaps three weeks."

[Three weeks, Ye Xuan.]

He was somewhat surprised to hear that. If three weeks had indeed passed, then he had been away from Sky Cloud Sect for more than three months.

He didn’t know whether the elders’ evaluation had already taken place or how Elder Ming had responded to his prolonged absence.

However, because of Sky Cloud Sect’s connection to the Dao Sword Sect Alliance, returning to the sect was no longer a viable option.

Returning to Sky Cloud Sect would be like handing his neck directly to the Dao Sword Sect. It was unlikely that they would protect Ye Xuan.

"What are you planning to do next, Brother Ye?" Wang Shuyuan asked.

"I should return to Sky Cloud Sect as I promised my master," Ye Xuan replied.

"If that’s the case, I wouldn’t recommend it."

"Given that the Dao Sword Sect is hunting you, it would be better to sever all ties with any sect. I’m worried that some of them may already be cooperating with the Dao Sword Sect," Wang Shuyuan explained.

Ye Xuan fell silent for a moment and glanced briefly at Qingyu. The white snake responded with a nod, seemingly agreeing with Senior Wang.

Realizing how complicated his situation had become, he had little choice but to follow that advice for the sake of his and Qingyu’s safety.

"Would it be better for me to join a demonic cultivation sect?" Ye Xuan asked.

"I wouldn’t recommend that either. Although they despise both the Taoist and Zen cultivation factions, the environment within demonic sects is extremely hostile."

"Without overwhelming strength to establish your position, you could easily become prey for someone stronger."

"Joining the Zen cultivation faction would only restrict you, making it difficult to see the world, understand life, and comprehend the life of Heaven."

"My recommendation is that you become a wandering cultivator," Wang Shuyuan said. "That is the most suitable path for you right now."

"You won’t be bound by any sect, and people won’t pay much attention to you. You’ll be free to explore the world and learn many things."

Qingyu nodded once again, agreeing with Wang Shuyuan’s advice.

Seeing that both of them shared the same opinion and that he had no other choice, Ye Xuan decided to follow Senior Wang’s suggestion.

He would become a wandering cultivator, observe human life up close, understand the meaning of their lives, learn techniques independently, cultivate on his own, and free himself from the restrictions of sects.

That was the only path available to Ye Xuan if he wanted to become stronger.

"Very well. This junior will follow your advice, Senior Wang."

Wang Shuyuan cleared his throat and tapped his bag of holding, summoning two items: a new teleportation token and a technique scroll.

"While you were cultivating, I made another teleportation token and inscribed a technique that might prove useful to you."

"Consider them a gift for successfully breaking through," Senior Wang explained.

Ye Xuan accepted both items and put away the teleportation token, while allowing the technique scroll to float before him.

"Tortoise Mountain Suppression Shield?"

"Yes," Wang Shuyuan replied. "Cultivators are always trying to increase their strength without considering their defenses."

"I showed Qingyu three techniques to help me. She recommended that I write a defensive technique for you."

"Perhaps she realized that you’re strong in offense but weak in defense."

Ye Xuan instinctively looked toward Qingyu. The white snake turned to face him and let out a soft hiss.

He soon heard her voice in his mind.

[He’s right. You’ll have a hard time fighting other cultivators if you don’t have a defensive technique.]

Thank you, Qingyu.

The young man put away the scroll and cupped his hands, lowering his head in respect toward Wang Shuyuan.

"Thank you for your generosity, Senior."

"This junior will take his leave now."

"Be careful, Brother Ye," Wang Shuyuan advised. "You may be capable of fighting them, but you have too many enemies."

"At the very least, you should have someone besides me who can help you out there."