Chapter 823: The Mysterious Origin of the Grotto-Heaven
Pei Tuo’s words left the others in the room utterly aghast.
And in that moment, everything clicked into place.
No wonder Pei Tuo had lost his composure. Ji Shaoli had promised him an ownerless Nascent Soul Grotto-Heaven!
An ownerless Grotto-Heaven was an absolute necessity for any Golden Core cultivator hoping to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.
Each one was a near guarantee of a new Nascent Soul cultivator on the rise.
Its value was immeasurable.
Unless one pledged allegiance to one of the prominent families in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, finding such a treasure depended entirely on luck.
An almost impossible feat!
The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance had countless Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators, plentiful as crops in a field, rising and falling with each generation.
They were the very backbone of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
The difference of a single realm was nothing short of earth-shattering.
And yet...
Ji Shaoli himself was only a Golden Core cultivator, yet he was offering information on an ownerless Grotto-Heaven to a member of his Mutual Aid Association?
Was that even possible?
A flicker of doubt crossed the minds of everyone present.
It wasn't that they were overly suspicious.
It was just that this matter...
was simply too incredible to believe.
Setting aside the fact that Ji Shaoli was a lone cultivator with no powerful faction to support him.
Even if he was a member of some mysterious organization.
With an ownerless Grotto-Heaven to offer, he would have a countless number of cultivators from all over the world flocking to his side.
Why would he need to come to the Cong Yun Sea to build his forces?
Could it be... the Five Elders Council?
The thought sent a jolt through the group, who had just begun to calm down from their initial elation. The more they considered the possibility, the more a sense of panic began to set in.
Ji Shaoli, of course, could see exactly what was going through their minds.
He chuckled. "You can all relax. I'm certainly no spy for the Five Elders Council."
"The ownerless Grotto-Heaven I have prepared for Pei Tuo is located within the territory of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance."
The group let out a collective sigh of relief.
"The Mutual Aid Association is still new, so it's natural to have your doubts," Ji Shaoli declared confidently. "But facts are more convincing than any argument. Once Pei Tuo ascends to the Nascent Soul realm, all questions will answer themselves."
"However, before we get to that, let's take care of your initiation first."
Ji Shaoli clapped his hands softly. A moment later, an image of a faceless stone statue materialized in the banquet hall of the grotto.
"This is the Red Dust Compassionate Immortal, the True Immortal who saves all from suffering. To complete the initiation, you need only pray to it with a sincere heart and silently recite the membership oath."
"After that, I will transfer the contribution points to you," Ji Shaoli explained with a smile.
"Is it really that simple?" Xiang Xin asked, her voice laced with suspicion.
"It's exactly that simple. We in the Mutual Aid Association don't believe in unnecessary complications," Ji Shaoli said with conviction.
At his words, everyone turned their gaze to the faceless stone statue hovering in the air.
It didn't appear particularly profound, yet they could all faintly sense an inexplicable aura emanating from it.
An aura that hinted at the statue's extraordinary nature.
Tempted by the promise of an ownerless Grotto-Heaven, Pei Tuo was fearless. He was the first to step forward and silently recite the oath.
A moment later.
He looked up. "That's it?"
It seemed as if nothing had happened.
"That's it. Welcome officially to the Mutual Aid Association," Ji Shaoli said with a warm smile.
Seeing this, the others followed suit.
Before long, the first group of six cultivators had been initiated into the Mutual Aid Association.
True to his word, Ji Shaoli immediately transferred one hundred thousand contribution points to each of them.
When they confirmed the receipt of this enormous sum of points through the island's Tianxuan Minor Mirror, they all looked dazed, as if they were in a dream.
"The strength of the Mutual Aid Association lies in its members, not their numbers. Quality over quantity. So, I ask that you all be discreet. Of course, if you have exceptionally talented friends or family, you are welcome to recommend them."
Ji Shaoli added one last piece of advice before sending them on their way.
Once the others had departed, Ji Shaoli turned to the impatient Pei Tuo.
"Brother Pei, might I ask what your Foundation Establishment Wonder and Golden Core method were? And which Nascent Soul technique do you plan to cultivate?" Ji Shaoli asked suddenly.
Pei Tuo hesitated for only a moment before answering truthfully.
"I built my foundation upon the Wall of Adamant Rock and forged my Golden Core with the laws of Protection, Life, and Earth."
"I've set my sights on a technique called the *Immovable Earth Suppression Art*."
Ji Shaoli praised him first. "Your Foundation Establishment Wonder and Golden Core method are perfectly aligned. You are truly remarkable, Fellow Daoist."
Before Pei Tuo could respond, he continued, "As it happens, I know of a place called the Thousand Crag Grotto-Heaven, which would be a perfect match for your path."
"What do you think?"
"The Thousand Crag Grotto-Heaven?" Pei Tuo was instantly overjoyed. "That would be perfect!"
But a moment later, a realization struck him, and his body went rigid.
He stared at Ji Shaoli, and the shock that seized him was beyond words.
To have cultivated to the peak of the Golden Core realm entirely on his own, meant Pei Tuo was by no means a fool.
He had a keen sense that something was off.
"Happening" to know of the Thousand Crag Grotto-Heaven, a place that was a perfect fit for him...
There was no such thing as that much coincidence!
After all, the vast majority of Nascent Soul cultivators had to settle for grotto-heavens that were incompatible with their Foundation Establishment and Golden Core methods.
Simply finding an ownerless Grotto-Heaven to achieve their breakthrough was a stroke of incredible fortune.
Who, besides the core disciples of the most prominent families, could ever afford to be picky?
And yet, the one Ji Shaoli had prepared for him was practically tailor-made.
Either it was a coincidence.
Or it meant...
That Ji Shaoli knew the location of not just one, but many different Grotto-Heavens.
And after learning Pei Tuo's cultivation path, he had immediately selected the most suitable one.
What did this imply?
That was a feat only the most powerful factions in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance could hope to achieve.
A chill rose in Pei Tuo's heart.
The image of the faceless statue surfaced in his mind once more.
The Red Dust Compassionate Immortal, the True Immortal who saves all from suffering.
Just what...
Just as unease began to gnaw at Pei Tuo, Ji Shaoli spoke again: "Brother Pei, what do you say?"
"If you have no objections, then let's set off."
Pei Tuo hastily agreed.
The two then used a teleportation array, first stopping at Ten Thousand Immortals Island to transfer.
From there, they traveled deep into the heartland of the Alliance.
This did much to ease Pei Tuo's worries.
"At the very least, they're definitely not with the Five Elders Council," he thought to himself.
After arriving in Gufeng Province, they departed from the floating celestial city.
Ji Shaoli cast a secret art to conceal their presence.
They then traveled at great speed until they reached a desolate stretch of gravelly wasteland.
After scanning the area and confirming that no other cultivators were nearby, Ji Shaoli pointed toward the empty air and sent a quiet voice transmission, "The Thousand Crag Grotto-Heaven is here."
Pei Tuo froze for a second, then flew to the spot Ji Shaoli had indicated and carefully extended his senses.
In moments, he felt it—the distinct presence of an ownerless Grotto-Heaven. He was ecstatic.
He also couldn't conceal his profound shock.
"You can make your breakthrough here."
"I will stand guard for you."
Ji Shaoli said calmly.
Comments