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Chapter 500: Winds Rise (Catch-up Chapter 41)

Chapter 500: Winds Rise (Catch-up Chapter 41)

Thirty years passed in a flash.

Three Immortals Mountain.

The new generation of disciples who had entered the Three Immortals Sect no longer questioned why Qingxu Peak remained shrouded by a formation.

They even naturally assumed that the Three Immortals Mountain originally had only two peaks.

Only from the Foundation Establishment deacons and Core Formation elders of the sect did they learn that a Nascent Soul True Monarch was in secluded cultivation on Qingxu Peak, and absolutely must not be disturbed.

The Three Immortals Sect's somewhat precarious situation, after news of the Myriad Poisons True Monarch's demise in the Myriad Poisons Gate and the Tian Kui Zhenjun's secluded cultivation spread, slowly stabilized. During the most recent open recruitments, they even managed to take in several disciples with excellent spiritual root aptitudes, including even a Heaven-grade spiritual root! This made Sect Master Chuanwu grin from ear to ear.

This day.

Chuanwu flew on a streak of light to the outside of Qingxu Peak, sent out a sound transmission talisman, and then waited respectfully.

Chuanwu flew into it on his streak of light, arriving at a peach blossom forest.

It was the height of the peach blossom season, and pink peach petals drifted through the air, a sight of breathtaking beauty.

Tian Kui Zhenjun sat on a bluestone, occasionally pouring fine wine from a green-skinned gourd into his mouth.

Everything was like a re-enactment of thirty years ago.

“Flowers can bloom again, but a person cannot be young again! ”

For some reason, this realization welled up in Chuanwu's heart, tinged with sorrow.

Their sect's Yunzhu Zhenjun's lifespan was gradually waning, yet the Three Immortals Sect had not yet cultivated a second Nascent Soul cultivator. This was their greatest crisis!

Although Yunzhu Zhenjun had kept a low profile and rarely made appearances in the past ten years, taking care of his body, aging was a rule of the Heavenly Dao's operation. How could one resist it?

If Yunzhu Zhenjun were to perish one day, and Tian Kui Zhenjun were to depart, the Three Immortals Sect's glorious situation, like a flowery tapestry and an oil-fueled blaze, would surely collapse in an instant.

At that time, all the disciples and elders of the sect would face unknown devastation. . .

Chuanwu's heart was filled with sorrow, almost bringing tears to his eyes.

“Sect Master Chuanwu, long time no see. ”

Just then, a voice as clear and resonant as jade sounded directly in his ear, pulling Chuanwu back from his near-demonic state.

His whole body trembled, and then he immediately bowed deeply: “Many thanks to Senior for enlightening this junior. Otherwise, this junior would surely have fallen into a heart demon tribulation during cultivation. . . ”

“A cultivator's Dao aligns with nature. Over-attachment is the greatest taboo. . . ”

Fang Xi took another swig of Green Bamboo Wine, looking incredibly relaxed. He even kindly offered a few pointers on the path of cultivation.

Since refining the deluxe version of the spiritual root optimization liquid, he had entered secluded cultivation and consumed pills.

Judging by his speed of absorbing spiritual energy and the efficiency of refining the 'Soul Separation Pill', his wood spiritual root had undergone another advancement, officially entering the Earth-grade spiritual root level!

This was undoubtedly a great boon for Fang Xi!

His aptitude now surpassed that of most old Nascent Soul monsters!

Moreover. . . there was still a certain possibility for an Earth-grade wood spiritual root to awaken the 'Wood Spirit Body'.

This meant that from now on, there would be no mismatch between his spiritual root and spiritual physique, and no one would be able to guess that he cultivated the 'Longevity Art', effectively removing a weakness.

Not only that!

With the assistance of the four-stage mid-grade spiritual vein here and the 'Soul Separation Pill', Fang Xi had cultivated more than half of the eighteenth layer of the 'Withered Glory Chant' to completion in just thirty years of arduous secluded cultivation, not far from the peak of the Nascent Soul mid-stage.

This cultivation speed far exceeded his previous estimates.

This was naturally due to the benefits brought by spiritual root optimization and the 'Soul Separation Pill'.

Fang Xi naturally wanted to keep up the momentum, cultivating in one go to the peak of the mid-stage, and then attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul late-stage!

After all, with the foundation of the Kyushu World supporting him, cultivators there had already written many thick papers on how to break through from the Nascent Soul mid-stage to the late-stage, making the theoretical foundation very solid. The only thing lacking was probably enough spiritual items.

And in that aspect, Fang Xi believed he was not lacking.

Receiving Chuanwu's sound transmission talisman at this moment, his mood was actually quite good, which was why he had the leisure to offer some guidance.

“This junior also doesn't wish to be entangled by obsessions, but the sect is where this junior's heart lies. As a sect master, this junior's aptitude is not the best, and I probably won't be able to condense a Nascent Soul in this life, so this is simply how it must be. . . ”

Chuanwu said with a bitter smile.

Almost all immortal cultivation sects would never allow true cultivation geniuses to serve as sect masters, burdened by worldly affairs.

The task of such geniuses was singular: to cultivate and break through realms, eventually condensing a Golden Core or Nascent Soul, and becoming the pillars of the sect.

As for the position of sect master? It was most likely handed to a loyal but average-aptitude disciple who was good at managing worldly affairs.

Strictly speaking, they belonged to the group of cultivators who had been 'given up on'.

However, most cultivators could not ascend to immortality. Being able to control a major sect and wield great power was also the desire of many cultivators.

Many cultivators, after reaching a bottleneck in their cultivation, returned to the mortal world, to start families, or establish clans and sects. It was simply a matter of different personal choices.

And Fang Xi was solely devoted to the Dao because he saw the hope of ascension!

Compared to ascending to the Earthly Immortal World, what did mere mortal power, wealth, or status truly count for?

“Never mind, the path is ultimately your own choice. ” After offering a word of advice and seeing that the man was still stubbornly fixated, Fang Xi was too lazy to persuade him further, and asked, “Why have you come today? ”

“Congratulations, Senior! The matter you previously instructed has finally shown some progress. ” Chuanwu said with delight.

“Oh? Could it be news of a certain demonic fire? ”

Fang Xi grew interested.

He had long since sent a flying sword message to Chuanwu, instructing him to halt the acquisition of raw materials for the 'Soul Separation Pill'.

So, if there was still news, it naturally had to be about demonic fire!

Four-stage demonic spiritual flames were incredibly hard to find, not to mention Fang Xi had already acquired all the easily obtainable ones.

For news to come now, in terms of a cultivator's concept of time, it was still considered efficient. . .

“Reporting to Senior, there is news of the Three Yang Demonic Fire. ”

Chuanwu bowed, solemnly stating.

“The Saint Fire Cult's Indestructible Sacred Fire? ” Fang Xi smiled, taking another sip of Green Bamboo Wine: “That Sacred Fire cannot possibly be stolen, so it must be a child flame? ”

Even a child flame of the Three Yang Demonic Fire was of a high fourth-stage grade, quite extraordinary, and sufficient for the Demonic Fire Refining Nascent Soul process.

In fact, according to the latest version of the 'Demonic Fire Refining Nascent Soul Great Technique', once the demonic nascent soul was completely refined, the demonic fire used would not be wasted. Instead, it could become an innate divine ability of the demonic nascent soul!

“Senior's guess is correct. Our sect's disciples have made contact with a certain Core Formation elder of the Saint Fire Cult. From what he revealed, he intends to exchange a Three Yang Child Flame for spiritual items at an upcoming private auction. ” Chuanwu smiled.

“That's indeed good news. ”

Fang Xi smiled faintly. With this, the materials for Demonic Fire Refining Nascent Soul were almost completely gathered.

He pondered for a moment, then asked, “What about the Blood River Stone? ”

“That. . . please forgive this junior, Senior. Such top-tier demonic materials are almost legendary, and our sect's disciples have not heard of anyone willing to part with them. ”

Chuanwu replied, feeling ashamed.

“Never mind. Finding even one lead is quite good. . . Tell me the specifics. What spiritual items does the other party require? I wouldn't want to return empty-handed. ”

Fang Xi frowned slightly, then relaxed.

“Yes, that elder is named 'Jue Yanzi'. What he seeks are likely Nascent Soul condensing spiritual items. . . ”

Chuanwu respectfully answered.

“Nascent Soul condensing spiritual items, huh? ”

Fang Xi mused. Giving a Soul Transforming Pill would clearly be far beyond the value of the Three Yang Child Flame. Any spiritual item that could slightly aid in condensing a Nascent Soul would probably suffice.

Three days later.

A streak of green light tore through the mist, flying out of the Three Immortals Mountain in moments. It shimmered a few times in the sky, then vanished. . .

...

At the same time.

A horde of ferocious flying insects pulled a strangely shaped green carriage, rapidly traveling into the Western Six Domains.

Seated inside the carriage were several people, all of them Nascent Soul True Monarchs!

One woman wore an indigo blue dress, with a blue scorpion tattoo covering most of her face. She was a Gu Cultivator!

Pan Yin held a bamboo tube, which was entirely blood-red, as if soaked in blood for too long, the dark red having permeated every fiber of the spiritual bamboo.

And from within the bamboo tube, a continuous chirping of insects could be heard.

“The direction pointed by the Pathfinding Gu should be these Western Six Domains. ”

Pan Yin looked at the bamboo tube in her hand, saying with a slight reluctance: “I stimulated this Earth-grade Gu worm's potential with 'Thousand Poisons Fei Pill', allowing it to exert an effect comparable to a Heaven-grade Gu worm, but the cost is its immediate death after use. . . Thankfully, it was always a one-time Gu worm anyway. ”

“I've long heard that fellow Daoist is the foremost Gu Cultivator, and that many ancient Gu worms often have ineffable miraculous uses. Seeing it today, it's truly not false! ”

Another male cultivator in a green robe spoke. He was indeed a modest gentleman, gentle as jade. Fang Xi actually knew him; it was Jade True Monarch!

Beside Jade True Monarch sat an elder of the Black Dragon Sect, none other than Hei Xuan Shangren!

Hei Xuan Shangren's face was aged, without a beard on his chin. He mused, “This old man once read in an ancient text that the legendary 'Pathfinding Gu' was said to have originated from Gu Cultivators' deep study of the 'Divination Arts' among the hundred immortal cultivation crafts. Its conception is truly ingenious, using the Gu worm as the subject of divination to avoid the consequence of lifespan depletion. . . Seeing it today, it is indeed profound! ”

“Fellow Daoist Hei Xuan exaggerates. ”

Pan Yin's heart felt a chill. The Black Dragon Sect truly deserved its reputation as the overlord of the Southern Border, knowing even such matters so clearly!

“This 'Pathfinding Gu' is merely a one-time Gu worm; otherwise, this concubine would not bear to unleash its potential. . . Besides that, it can only provide a general direction for divination matters. There are no other clues whatsoever. ”

“Moreover, refining it is extremely difficult; often, out of a hundred attempts, it's hard to succeed even once. . . ”

Pan Yin shook her head, listing many weaknesses of this Gu worm, clearly fearing that these two Black Dragon Sect Nascent Soul cultivators would harbor improper thoughts.

Jade True Monarch smiled faintly, and naturally changed the subject: “With the three of us joining forces this time, we will surely be able to open that ancient Gu Cultivator secret realm! ”

“Exactly so. . . ”

Hei Xuan Shangren also said, “If fellow Daoist Bi Yu and I hadn't fortuitously found the 'Gu God Token' left from ancient times, would fellow Daoist Pan still have intended to keep this secret hidden? ”

“Our Gu Immortal Gate has always had the map to the Gu Cultivator secret realm circulating, it's just incomplete and must be combined with the 'Pathfinding Gu'. . . How can you call that hiding? ”

Pan Yin glared at these two great Nascent Soul True Monarchs: “What's more, without the 'Gu God Token' as the key, that secret realm cannot be opened. This concubine wouldn't have cooperated with the two of you either. . . ”

This woman also felt quite frustrated. These two Nascent Soul elders from the Black Dragon Sect had, by chance, found the key to the ancient Gu Cultivator secret realm that the Gu Immortal Gate had always sought in vain, and then came knocking.

Under the temptation of the secret realm's fortuitous opportunity and the might of the Black Dragon Sect, it truly made it impossible for her to refuse. . .