Chapter 439: I Shall Be the Foremost Among Golden Cores

Gu Songyue and Feng Qingyun exchanged a glance, both catching a flicker of surprise in each other's eyes.

The Eighteen Islands of Zhan County were actually willing to go to such lengths to build up momentum for this Daoist Ning Jiao. Such a display was rare not just in the Southern Wastes, but across the entire Xu Xuan Heaven.

More importantly, when their Divine Sense swept over that white-robed figure, they detected that his cultivation was like a deep pool of water—calm and still on the surface, yet impossible to fathom the bottom.

He didn't flaunt his power, but he was undoubtedly a Golden Core, and his foundation was exceptionally solid.

Gu Songyue was the first to clasp his hands and speak in a clear voice: "Daoist Ning Jiao's return to the Three Origins Sect is truly our sect's fortune. Gu, along with all the elders and disciples of the Three Origins Sect, welcomes our junior brother back to the sect!"

His voice was infused with Golden Core mana, like a morning bell that spread across the entire Heavenly Hall, then passed through the hall doors, extending along the sea of clouds toward the various peaks of the Three Origins Sect.

The elders and disciples waiting outside the Heavenly Hall, the moment they heard the Sect Master speak, all bowed in unison, their voices rising together: "We welcome Ancestor Ning Jiao back to the Three Origins Sect!"

The combined voices of dozens of elders and hundreds of elite disciples merged together, piercing through the clouds and echoing among the peaks of the Three Origins Sect.

Almost every disciple in the sect heard this shout that resounded through the sky.

Only after the wave of sound had slightly subsided did Patriarch Dangjian Feng Qingyun take half a step forward and nod slightly to Chen Yu: "Since Junior Brother has returned to the sect, why not first come with us to meet the Supreme Elder? He has been waiting for quite some time."

Chen Yu clasped his hands in return, his demeanor calm yet respectful: "Sect Master, Senior Brother Qingyun, please."

His modest bearing truly surprised Gu Songyue and Feng Qingyun.

Given his current reputation of "cultivating three Daos simultaneously," along with the grand display of a Demon King and a Golden Core as his protectors, even if he had acted somewhat arrogant, it would have been understandable.

But he didn't put on any airs at all. Instead, he was perfectly courteous and spoke with gentle words. This made the two power figures, who were used to seeing open and covert struggles, nod in approval.

The surrounding elders and disciples also nodded inwardly, thinking that this newly returned ancestor had a gentle temperament and should be easy to get along with.

Only Chen Yu himself knew that the real test would only begin once he stepped into the Heavenly Hall.

The grand spectacle of the return ceremony and the welcome were merely appetizers before the main course.

The Golden Core elders who had sat in meditation within the hall for hundreds of years would not truly accept an outsider just because of a grand welcome ceremony.

The examination of Dao heritage, the debate of the Great Dao, the probing of one's nature... these were the true keys to whether he could establish a firm foothold in this sect.

He turned sideways, making a "please" gesture: "Daoist Guanshan, Elder Wu, please."

Upon hearing this, the Old Whale Man's demonic aura converged, and his massive body rapidly shrank within a faint ink-colored halo, transforming back into the old man in the ink robe.

He and Guanshan Dao Master clasped their hands and bowed to Gu Songyue and Feng Qingyun, then followed behind Chen Yu, walking side by side.

Under Gu Songyue's guidance, the group passed through the main entrance of the Heavenly Hall, crossing the tall stone threshold carved with sun, moon, stars, and a map of mountains and rivers.

The moment Chen Yu stepped into the hall, he immediately sensed a subtle change.

The spiritual energy outside the hall was rich, but it was scattered and natural, like a mountain stream flowing through a valley.

But the instant he entered the Heavenly Hall, the spiritual energy seemed to have been rewoven by some invisible rule, becoming dense and orderly, like rivers that had been channeled, flowing quietly along specific paths.

This was the marvel of the Heavenly Hall.

Chen Yu silently praised it. The foundation of the Three Origins Sect was indeed no empty boast.

The interior of the Heavenly Hall was far more vast than could be perceived from the outside.

The dome seemed to have no ceiling, and the seven walls were built from massive white jade bricks, each inscribed with ancient runes. These runes were interconnected, forming a giant magical formation that covered the entire hall.

There were no beams overhead. Instead, there was a sea of clouds formed from dense spiritual energy, within which several white-feathered Spirit Cranes circled slowly, occasionally lowering their heads to preen their wings, their movements leisurely.

What was most breathtaking was the Dao resonance that filled the hall, almost materializing into a tangible presence.

These Dao resonances were like invisible threads, slowly intertwining in the air, creating a rhythm that calmed the mind.

Any cultivator who stepped into this place would be infected by this Dao resonance, their distracting thoughts fading away and their state of mind becoming clear and pure.

At the same time, this Dao resonance also invisibly blocked all external Divine Sense probes. Any attempt to spy on the interior of the hall with Divine Sense would be gently deflected by this Dao resonance.

On the white jade platform at the front of the hall, a figure had been waiting for a long time.

He was an old man dressed in a gray-white Daoist robe, sitting on a cushion in the center of the platform. His face was gaunt, and his skin was covered in wrinkles.

He was the Supreme Elder of the Three Origins Sect—Wu Shouzhuo.

It was said that this man was over five hundred years old. For a Golden Core cultivator, five hundred years was close to the limit of their lifespan.

In his youth, he had hunted demons in the Heavenly Mountains, and during a decades-long, massive campaign, he had achieved his Golden Core with the Primordial Unity True Technique.

Now, with his end approaching, he rarely took action, spending most of his time in seclusion, nurturing his Dao, trying to touch the threshold of ascension before his lifespan ran out.

But this time, for this legendary Golden Core who supposedly cultivated three Daos simultaneously, he had broken his seclusion as a special exception.

Standing on either side of this Supreme Elder were six other figures.

Some were sitting, some were standing, their postures varied, but the aura emanating from each one was like a bottomless, cold pool, or a sword hidden in its sheath.

Some had returned to simplicity, looking like an ordinary old farmer from the countryside, while others had a profound, abyss-like aura, as if looking at them for too long would suck you in.

All of these people were Golden Cores!

Adding the Sect Master Gu Songyue and Patriarch Dangjian Feng Qingyun, the number of Golden Core cultivators gathered in the Heavenly Hall at this moment had reached a full nine.

This was the first time Chen Yu had truly understood the depth of the Three Origins Sect. This foundation was indeed worthy of the title of a major sect in the Southern Wastes.

He folded his hands and bowed slightly: "Junior Ning Jiao greets the Supreme Elder and all the elders."

Wu Shouzhuo slowly lifted his eyelids: "I am Wu Shouzhuo. Welcome back, Junior Brother."

He nodded gently. "Now that Junior Brother has returned to the sect, there's no need to be restrained. Treat this place as your own home. The Three Origins Sect dares not call itself a blessed cave or heavenly paradise, but it can still spare a place for you to settle."

As his voice fell, the other six Golden Core elders also clasped their hands and bowed to Chen Yu one by one, each announcing their names.

Some spoke with a calm tone, some showed curiosity in their eyes, and some simply bowed in silence and said nothing more.

But without exception, their gazes lingered on Chen Yu, as if they were observing this new fellow disciple in their own way.

Gu Songyue took the opportunity to invite everyone to take their seats.

The space inside the Heavenly Hall was far more spacious than it appeared from the outside. Even if the number of guests were multiplied, it would not feel crowded.

One by one, cushions emerged from the green jade floor, arranged in a circle, perfectly accommodating everyone present.

After everyone had taken their seats in turn, a graceful Spirit Demon brewing tea flew out from a side hall, carrying a white jade teapot with its slender mouthparts. It flew before everyone and poured the warm tea into the cups in front of each person.

Chen Yu picked up his teacup and gently lifted the lid.

In an instant, a faint, refreshing tea fragrance wafted out from the rim of the cup, circling around the hall's pillars slowly, lingering for a long time.

He looked down. The tea was amber-colored, clear and bright. A few tender green tea leaves slowly unfurled at the bottom of the cup, as if coming back to life.

He raised the cup and took a small sip. The moment the tea entered his throat, a gentle spiritual energy flowed down his throat into his Dantian, warming his entire body.

He silently praised it. The Three Origins Sect's hospitality was indeed meticulous.

Gu Songyue, seated in the main position, waited until everyone had tasted the tea before smiling and speaking: "This tea is the 'Cloud Buds' produced from the spiritual tea garden in our sect's back mountain. The yield is not high, and even the elders are usually reluctant to drink it. Today, for Junior Brother's return to the sect, we specially brought some out. I wonder if it suits everyone's taste?"

Guanshan Dao Master set down his teacup, savored the aftertaste for a moment, and nodded: "It is sweet and mellow on the tongue, with a lingering spiritual energy. It is completely different from the coarse teas produced on the islands of the South Sea."

"The teas of the South Sea all carry a hint of saltiness and astringency. They require multiple rounds of roasting to remove it, but it always damages the original flavor. This tea is elegant, pure, and refined. It is truly an extraordinary product."

Gu Songyue smiled, his gaze shifting to Chen Yu: "What does Daoist Ning Jiao think?"

Chen Yu held his teacup, pondered his words for a moment, then spoke slowly: "To be honest with the Sect Master, I originally came from the North Sky Court. That bitter, cold land has few drinkable things. As long as something warms the stomach, I am content. I can only say that this tea is indeed good, but I cannot discern anything more refined."

As soon as he said this, the expressions of several Golden Core elders shifted slightly.

An elder with three long whiskers spoke up: "Junior Brother Ning Jiao comes from the North Sky Court? No wonder."

The elders present all understood that although the North Sky Court was a place of bitter cold, with thin spiritual veins and barren resources, it was also the best place to temper one's nature.

Most of the Dao cultivators in Xu Xuan Heaven came from that frozen land.

From the very first day they stepped onto the path of cultivation, the cultivators there had to face scarcity of resources and harsh environments. Those who could persevere in such conditions and ultimately achieve a Golden Core were, without exception, people of strong will and solid foundations.

If he truly came from the North Sky Court, then his foundation of cultivating three Daos simultaneously had a reasonable explanation.

After all, noble sons come from humble beginnings, and only a harsh environment can forge a true Dao heart.

The atmosphere softened considerably amidst this small talk and the fragrance of tea.

Everyone's wariness unconsciously relaxed. However, Chen Yu knew in his heart that the trial that was bound to come was finally approaching.

Sure enough, when the last cup of tea was finished, the elder with three long whiskers exchanged a glance with Gu Songyue. He then set down his teacup, clasped his hands to Chen Yu, and spoke: "I have heard that Junior Brother is a Dao cultivator. You first cultivated the Great Dao and then achieved your Golden Core, and you also cultivate three Daos simultaneously. Surely, your insights into the Great Dao are much deeper than ours."

"I, Zhao Chengyi, am a few years older. I have been immersed in the Primordial Yellow Kun Earth Dao for over a hundred years and have gained some experience. Today, since we have this rare opportunity, why don't we debate the Dao with Junior Brother as a form of exchange? What do you think?"

Chen Yu nodded slightly, his tone still humble: "I dare not call it a debate of the Dao. This junior only has some shallow insights. Since Senior Brother Zhao has this interest, this junior will make a humble showing."

Zhao Chengyi stroked his beard, a satisfied look in his eyes. He raised his hand and waved it.

In an instant, the scene in the Heavenly Hall suddenly transformed.

The walls and dome disappeared, replaced by a vast, boundless world.

The stone bricks underfoot became undulating mountains and crisscrossing rivers. A few thin clouds floated in the sky.

Zhao Chengyi spoke: "The Primordial Yellow Kun Earth Dao that I cultivate is the most profound Dao between heaven and earth. Kun Earth bears all things. The earth carries mountains and supports rivers. It appears silent and wordless, but it contains immeasurable power."

"The essence of this Dao lies in the word 'bearing.' Without sufficient bearing capacity, even the tallest mountains will collapse, and even the widest rivers will change course. Watch me reshape the mountains and redirect the rivers."

The moment his words fell, in the distant, vast world, countless mountains slowly rose like giant beasts awakening from slumber.

The earth shook, the soil churned, and in the span of a few breaths, the originally gentle terrain was reshaped into a continuous, undulating mountain range.

And with the rise of the mountains, the rivers that had originally flowed along the valleys were brutally cut off. The surging floodwaters, having lost their channels, roared like a runaway wild horse, rushing towards Chen Yu's location.

The floodwaters carried mud and gravel. The waves were dozens of feet high, swallowing everything in their path with devastating force.

Several of the observing Golden Core elders nodded slightly. This move of "reshaping the mountains and redirecting the rivers," though called reshaping mountains, was actually changing the momentum of heaven and earth.

Zhao Chengyi hadn't intentionally held back, but he had just barely left enough room for his opponent to showcase their skills.

They were very curious about how this young Golden Core, who was said to cultivate three Daos simultaneously, would deal with this problem.

Chen Yu stood on the land being ravaged by the floodwaters. His gaze calmly swept over the rushing torrent, then looked at the blocked rivers and the rising mountains.

After a moment, he smiled slightly. "This situation is easy to resolve. The rising of the mountains has blocked the rivers, causing the floodwaters. The fundamental solution is not to block, but to divert."

"If we were to forcibly stop the floodwaters with mana, it might solve the immediate problem, but it would accumulate a greater potential energy upstream. Once the dam breaks, the disaster would be even worse than before."

"Therefore, we only need to redirect the water veins, widen the river channels, divert the floodwaters to low-lying areas, and use lakes to store them. Then, we can turn the disaster into a resource for irrigation."

He extended his hand and gently clenched his five fingers.

Between the distant mountains and rivers, dozens of tall stone dams simultaneously rose from the ground, taking shape before everyone's eyes, blocking the path of the main flood current.

The floodwaters crashed into the first stone dam, producing a deafening roar. The spray shot up dozens of feet high, but the dam stood firm and unmoving.

Then the second and third stone dams successively intercepted the main force of the flood, weakening its momentum layer by layer.

The blocked floodwaters flowed along the newly opened channels, diverting one by one and pouring into the widened lakes.

In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the originally raging floodwaters subsided, turning into shimmering lakes set amidst the reorganized mountains and rivers.

Chen Yu withdrew his hand and nodded slightly to Zhao Chengyi. "This junior has made a humble showing."

Zhao Chengyi looked at the reorganized mountains and lakes and slowly nodded, his tone filled with sincere admiration: "Junior Brother's understanding of the Primordial Yellow Kun Earth Dao is no less than mine. What is even more commendable is that your perspective on this Dao is completely different from mine."

"I value 'bearing,' and you value 'guidance.' What bears is indeed stable, but what guides is what lasts long. This is excellent."

"Junior Brother's Dao conduct is indeed profound."

With this, the first tester was convinced from the heart.

At this point, the Supreme Elder Wu Shouzhuo, who had been silently observing, spoke up kindly: "Junior Brother's insights are unique. They have stirred up some interest in me as well."

He raised his hand and waved his sleeve.

The scene before everyone's eyes changed once again. A towering spiritual mountain descended from the sky, landing in the center of countless ordinary mountain ranges.

That spiritual mountain pierced the clouds, its surface faintly glowing with a golden luster. A gurgling spiritual spring emerged at its base, and the spring water flowed in all directions along the newly opened channels.

Wu Shouzhuo spoke slowly: "In my humble opinion, it is only when the hundred veins of heaven and earth originate from the same mother, and the child veins nourish the mother vein, that the myriad phenomena can endlessly give birth to life, and heaven and earth can flourish. Only then can more Golden Core talents emerge in the Southern Wastes."

He looked at Chen Yu. "If the Dao conference at the end of the year goes smoothly, I plan to join forces with a few of the elders present to reshape the spiritual veins of the Southern Wastes, seize the fortune of the Heavenly Mountains, and build a spiritual mountain in the Southern Wastes. This mountain will command the earth's energy of the Southern Wastes, ushering in a new era of prosperity for the region."

He paused slightly. "I wonder if Junior Brother has any other solutions for this?"

The hall fell silent.

Reshaping the spiritual veins of the Southern Wastes and seizing the fortune of the Heavenly Mountains—what a grand plan this was.

To use human power to reverse the flow of heaven and earth's spiritual veins was no longer something that could be summed up with the word "great undertaking." This was a vision that only a cultivator standing at the peak of the Golden Core realm would dare to propose.

And the reason he threw this problem out was not because he really expected Chen Yu to provide a solution.

He just wanted to take this opportunity to see how deep Chen Yu's understanding of the Primordial Unity True Technique really was.

However, to everyone's surprise, Chen Yu lowered his head in thought for a moment, then raised it. He stretched out his hand and gently waved it in the air.

The moment the spiritual mountain in the world landed, it split into nine peaks, each located in a different position, connected to each other by barely visible spiritual energy veins running through the earth.

Chen Yu waved his arm again. The originally chaotic mountain ranges were reorganized, rivers were diverted, valleys were filled, and mountain peaks were adjusted to just the right positions.

Using the several spiritual mountains as nodes, the mountain ranges as connecting lines, and spiritual energy as the medium, an ancient magical formation covering the entire Southern Wastes slowly manifested in this world.

Chen Yu stopped his movements and looked at Wu Shouzhuo. "Senior Brother's plan can't be just this, can it?"

"If we could gather nine spiritual mountains and distribute them across Xu Xuan Heaven, then use the principles of magical formations to weave them together, we could form a grand heavenly and earthly formation covering the entire Xu Xuan Heaven. At that time, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth would be endlessly generated."

He shook his head slightly. "However, this junior only knows some superficial formation principles and cannot truly weave a grand heavenly and earthly formation. I can only outline a vague framework."

The several Golden Core elders looked at each other, their eyes filled with barely concealed shock.

Wu Shouzhuo was silent for a long time. He gave Chen Yu a deep look and let out a long sigh. "Junior Brother's mastery of the Primordial Unity True Technique is indeed quite high. I have been planning this scheme for hundreds of years, and I have never mentioned the complete layout to anyone."

"You only took one look, and you saw through seventy to eighty percent of my idea."

"As Junior Brother said, this heaven and earth is not the world of just one sect like the Three Origins Sect. To shape such a grand heavenly and earthly formation would inevitably alarm the cultivators of the entire Xu Xuan Heaven, and resistance would be immense."

"I only wish, before I pass away, to forge a spiritual mountain for the Southern Wastes, to do my part for the living beings of this world, and to fulfill this wish of mine. Whether I can complete the full heavenly and earthly formation is no longer within my power."

"Supreme Elder..."

Several elders called out in low voices at the same time. Some showed expressions of grief, while others silently clenched their fists.

The Supreme Elder was already nearing his end. If the Dao conference this year did not go well, the Spiritual Mountain Plan would be delayed indefinitely.

And with his current lifespan, he probably couldn't hold on for much longer.

At this point, all the Golden Core cultivators present had fully believed Chen Yu's claim of cultivating three Daos simultaneously.

The two debates of the Dao, each one more profound than the last, and he had handled them with ease, even exceeding everyone's expectations.

If anyone had still doubted whether his cultivation was inflated, at this moment, that last trace of doubt had dissipated like smoke.

Then there was no longer any need to test the Primordial Origin Sword Dao.

Gu Songyue stood up at the right moment and clasped his hands to Chen Yu. "Junior Brother's Dao conduct is profound, leaving us all in awe. You all have come from the distant South Sea and must be exhausted. Why not follow my arrangements and rest first? Let today's debate of the Dao end here."

The other elders also nodded in agreement, saying that the journey from the South Sea was long, and it was indeed not appropriate to continue the tiring debate.

Everyone thought that Chen Yu would take the opportunity to back down, ending the meeting with a "Thank you for the Sect Master's concern."

But he suddenly stood up, his expression extremely serious. "To be honest with you, fellow senior brothers, my return to the Three Origins Sect this time is not simply to attach my name to the sect's rolls, but to seek help."

He met everyone's gaze and said word by word, "By now, all of you must have heard the rumors of the great heavenly calamity."

"Today, I will state it clearly to you here. That is not a rumor. Outside the Abyss, something that wants to annihilate the Dao is indeed prowling. Do not be careless."

The moment these words were spoken, the originally harmonious atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned cold.

After a long silence, the Supreme Elder Wu Shouzhuo finally spoke slowly: "It's not that we don't believe you, Junior Brother. But outside the Abyss, apart from Ancestor Cloud Cliff back then, no one has ever gone there and returned alive."

"We wish to know, what method did Junior Brother use to spy on the things outside this world?"

"This matter is of great importance. I hope Junior Brother will tell us the truth."

Chen Yu took a deep breath.

He knew that this moment was the most critical since he had stepped into the Heavenly Hall.

The previous debates and small talk were just the prelude.

Fortunately, he had already prepared a set of words for this occasion.

He met Wu Shouzhuo's gaze and spoke slowly: "Nothing special. It's just that I have also comprehended a fourth Dao."

The air in the hall seemed to freeze at that moment.

"A fourth Dao?!" Someone blurted out, their voice filled with shock.

Zhao Chengyi shot up from his cushion, his long beard trembling slightly. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but didn't know where to begin.

The other elders also looked at each other in astonishment. Some muttered to themselves, some had expressions that shifted constantly, and some remained silent, but everyone found it hard to believe.

"Impossible!" Finally, one elder couldn't help but retort, "I have cultivated the Dao for years and have seen countless brilliant talents, but I have never heard of anyone cultivating four Daos simultaneously at the Golden Core stage!"

"Even Ancestor Cloud Cliff back then only cultivated three Daos simultaneously. This... this defies all logic!"

Chen Yu calmly endured the scrutinizing gazes of everyone.

He slowly stood up, his previously humble and peaceful demeanor gone. His posture was straight and firm like a pine.

His gaze calmly swept across every Golden Core elder present, finally settling on the lofty Supreme Elder, Wu Shouzhuo.

"To be honest with you, fellow senior brothers, the Great Dao I cultivate is extremely special. When it comes to Golden Cores, the current era is full of geniuses and outstanding talents. Every sect and school has their brilliant stars."

He paused slightly, and his gaze suddenly sharpened. The voice of his Divine Sense vibrated in the hearts of all present.

"But to me, these are nothing but fleeting clouds."

"If we were to discuss the immortals of this world, I shall be the foremost among Golden Cores."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall was once again plunged into a dead silence.