Chapter 1226: A New Method for the Darkest Star Sea
Chapter 1226: A New Method for the Darkest Star Sea
Although Zhao Wuji didn't explicitly state how they stripped away talent, judging by the fact that none of the so-called prodigies from the Dao Proving Academy had ever been seen again, their fates were likely grim.
More importantly, Zhao Xian had never encountered anything like this in his dreams.
For a brief moment, the self-proclaimed seer of the future was struck by a sliver of uncontrollable panic.
But he was no longer a simple, naive youth.
Soon, an icy calm washed over him, and his thoughts steadied.
He reasoned rapidly, "It's true that revealing my talent will attract the scrutiny of the academy's higher-ups. I might even lose my life. But crisis and opportunity often go hand in hand."
"This isn't the past, when the academy's word was law. The Mysterious Immortal Boat is in turmoil. The Broken Immortal Tower and the Immortal Pivot Academy are locked in a fierce struggle for control. I'm sure that even the Dao Proving Academy has to consider the impact of their conflict on the boat's future."
"Talent is just that—talent. As long as we can survive, there will never be a shortage of geniuses."
"If I cower and hesitate, the Mysterious Immortal Boat will still meet its end. Only by confronting the three major powers and finding life in the jaws of death can I lead the boat to a path of survival."
At this thought, the fear in Zhao Xian's eyes vanished completely. His previously chaotic aura settled, becoming steady and composed once more.
Zhao Wuji watched his disciple's transformation with astonishment, unable to comprehend the change.
Zhao Xian took a deep breath and responded in a solemn voice, "A petty man sacrifices himself for personal gain; a sage sacrifices himself for the world. I have received the academy's grace to achieve what I have today. If my talent is of use to the academy, then take it! Why should I hesitate?"
"Conversely, if I were to hoard my abilities while using the academy's resources to cultivate, wouldn't that be an act of profound ingratitude?"
His words were spoken with such righteous conviction, from such a moral high ground, that Zhao Wuji found himself momentarily unable to form a rebuttal.
He looked at his young disciple as if truly seeing him for the first time.
Zhao Xian's sincere and resolute gaze made Zhao Wuji feel a pang of shame.
The two stood in silent opposition.
In the end, it was Zhao Wuji who yielded.
"So be it. With conviction like yours, I am the one who seems petty," Zhao Wuji sighed, then departed, looking utterly dejected.
Zhao Xian watched his master's retreating figure, a complex emotion flickering across his face before it disappeared.
"The Mysterious Immortal Boat... I must save it."
The thought grew ever more resolute in his mind.
Neither master nor disciple realized the true reason for Zhao Xian's obstinacy.
It wasn't because of his noble character or unwavering faith.
It was purely due to...
The clone hidden within his sea of consciousness.
"Interesting. I never expected the Dao Proving Academy to have a method for seizing another's talent. As expected of the last surviving civilization in the Darkest Star Sea, they certainly have their merits."
"Whether it's the secrets of the Dao Proving Academy or the control the Immortal Pivot Academy and Broken Immortal Tower have over the True Immortal Scripts, all of it is valuable to me. How could I let this kid, Zhao Xian, back down? Besides, with me here, harming him won't be so easy."
Within three days, news of Zhao Xian's breakthrough to the Golden Core stage had spread throughout the entire academy.
It had been far too long since such a genius had appeared, and with a storm brewing on the horizon, certain individuals fanned the flames. Zhao Xian's fame quickly spread beyond the academy's walls, growing more exaggerated with each telling.
What began as a breakthrough to the Golden Core stage soon became a direct ascension to Golden Core perfection in just seven days.
Finally, the tale escalated to the absurd claim that he was already a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator.
By that point, even if those who knew the truth tried to clarify, it was useless.
Outsiders simply dismissed it as the academy's attempt to hide such a peerless genius.
Both the Broken Immortal Tower and the Immortal Pivot Academy sent representatives to inquire about Zhao Xian's background.
Within the academy itself, a rift formed over how to handle this once-in-a-century prodigy.
As the great tide of events surged, Zhao Xian cleared his mind of all distractions.
He safely secluded himself in a private chamber the academy had prepared for him, focusing on cultivating as rapidly as possible.
"So this is what it feels like not to worry about having enough spiritual energy. It's incredible. Is this the treatment reserved for the academy's true disciples?"
"And until they decide what to do with me, I can use most of the academy's resources for free."
The strength of his divine sense soared, converting into his own cultivation base.
The advancement of his realm, in turn, nourished his divine sense, allowing it to grow even stronger.
This perfect cycle pushed Zhao Xian's cultivation speed to an unimaginable level.
Most notably, he faced no bottlenecks or barriers whatsoever.
Zhao Xian felt his heart was as steady as a rock.
No distracting thoughts or inner demons could affect him in the slightest.
"I never cultivated this quickly, not even in my dreams. Could it be... that I really am a genius?"
"Was my slow progress before just due to a lack of resources and a suitable technique?"
The thought couldn't help but cross Zhao Xian's mind.
Meanwhile, Li Fan's clone, which had been fending off all the inner demons for him, was feeling rather drained.
Even with the aid of the Heart Cleansing Mantra, these breakthrough demons were not easy to deal with.
Though Li Fan could maintain his self-awareness through the hyper-realistic illusions, escaping each one required considerable effort. It was as if his struggles were being recorded, for each subsequent inner demon he faced was stronger than the last.
It was, after all, only a sliver of his divine soul; some wear and tear was to be expected.
"One can only imagine how difficult it must have been for cultivators to advance when the laws of the Darkest Star Sea were still intact."
"No wonder the New Method was able to replace the old ways in the Xuanhuang Realm."
As he thought this, an idea suddenly bloomed in Li Fan's mind.
The Darkest Star Sea could be seen as a magnified version of the Xuanhuang Realm. The upper limit of its laws was higher.
It had just been shattered and thrown into chaos by the power of the True Immortal Scripts.
Since the Dharma Spreading New Method worked in the Xuanhuang Realm, did that mean that, under normal circumstances, the New Method could also be practiced in this star sea?
"The corresponding requirements... would all have to be scaled up to the level of the star sea..."
"Foundation Establishment Wonders, Golden Core formation methods, Nascent Soul grotto-heavens... all of these, in essence, are manifestations of the world's laws. The laws of the Darkest Star Sea are broken, suffused with the power of the True Immortal Scripts."
"Looking at it from another angle, these True Immortal Scripts *are* the current manifestation of the laws in the Darkest Star Sea."
A flash of insight struck Li Fan's mind as if he had grasped a crucial clue.
"The Broken Immortal Tower cultivates using the True Immortal Scripts. Perhaps its core principle is the same as the New Method of the Xuanhuang Realm."
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