Demonic Cultivator(226-230)

Chapter 226: The Great Extinguishing Thunder Fist

Chu Xuan lay on a soft velvet chair, introspecting his inner being. Over the boundless Sea of Qi, his small Nascent Soul sat quietly in meditation. Threads of Spiritual Qi, fine and slender, wound around the Nascent Soul, gradually enhancing its strength. The Nascent Soul, after all, was the ultimate condensation of Spiritual Qi.

At the moment of breaking the core to form the soul—the Nascent Soul—the soul had moved from the sea of consciousness into the Nascent Soul. This transition provided the soul with a more robust safeguard.

From then on, the Nascent Soul became Chu Xuan's second life. Should his physical body perish, he could escape by releasing his Nascent Soul. As long as he found another body, he could rise anew.

"Currently, I lack a cultivation technique suitable for the Nascent Soul stage. Although my Nascent Soul is considerably strong, aside from teleportation, it hardly possesses any other abilities.

For now, I might as well continue to cultivate my physical body. After all, having reached the Nascent Soul stage, I've gained an additional five hundred years of life; there's no need to rush."

Chu Xuan quietly formulated his plan. Upon returning to Heavenly Sword City, he would seek an opportunity to acquire a Nascent Soul stage cultivation technique, thereby elevating his strength. Otherwise, he would remain as he was now—possessing great strength but lacking the skills to properly wield it.

It is said that brute force can break any spell, but only if the force reaches a truly terrifying level. Among cultivators of the same realm, unless one is a prodigy among the common, the notion of brute force breaking all spells rarely holds. Without powerful spells, how could one compete against others?

"Immortal, Wang Zhenxu greets you! The Enlightenment Institute has made significant advancements!" A slightly familiar voice came from the transmission jade hanging on the wall.

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow and promptly cleared the mist, allowing Wang Zhenxu to enter.

Soon, Wang Zhenxu was kneeling before him. The chief of the Black Blade Council, now with a head full of white hair, seemed spirited despite his age. His body was still robust, likely to last another fifty or sixty years. Indeed, Psionic cultivation had a much more profound effect on the physical body than Spiritual Qi.

Wang Zhenxu sneaked a glance at Chu Xuan, marveling inwardly. Decades had passed, many things had changed, but the immortal before him remained the same as ever.

"Speak, what advancements has the Enlightenment Institute achieved?" Chu Xuan asked casually.

With great respect, Wang Zhenxu presented a stack of bound papers. "Immortal, this is a body-cultivation technique researched by Liu Meng. He believes it might be of use to you."

Chu Xuan took the papers and browsed through them, genuinely surprised. Although the technique seemed fantastical, a closer examination revealed its grounding in reality. This method seemed to combine the martial arts of this world.

Now Chu Xuan was at the thirty-first level of body refinement, possessing boundless and formidable strength. However, he still lacked the martial techniques to fully utilize this power.

While body cultivation methods were somewhat accessible, martial techniques for advanced body cultivators had long been lost to the sands of time. Most techniques available in the market were only suitable for cultivators between the first and tenth levels of body refinement. Techniques for levels eleven to twenty were exceedingly rare.

Previously, when facing enemies, he had relied solely on his immense physical strength, striking with simple and unadorned force—a true testament to the saying that brute strength can work miracles. Now, with this new martial technique, he had acquired another method to defend himself.

"Does this technique have a name?" Chu Xuan asked with a smile.

Wang Zhenxu replied respectfully, "Liu Meng believes that the honor of naming it should be yours, Immortal."

Chu Xuan nodded, smiling, "This fist technique is as swift as lightning and possesses boundless strength; let's call it the Great Extinguishing Thunder Fist."

Wang Zhenxu praised, "Worthy of an Immortal, such a powerful name!"

After a moment of thought, Chu Xuan added, "Within the Enlightenment Institute, we should establish divisions such as the Body Cultivation Institute and the Qi Cultivation Institute to focus specifically on researching body cultivation methods and qi cultivation methods respectively.

The Body Cultivation Institute could be further divided into a section for cultivation methods and another for martial techniques. Similarly, the Qi Cultivation Institute could be divided into a section for cultivation techniques and another for spells. Such categorization will ensure everyone can utilize their skills to the fullest.

Liu Meng has made significant contributions this time; according to the Enlightenment Institute's reward system, he should be commended. Tell him to continue his research, as more rewards will come."

Chu Xuan produced a large blood pearl and handed it to Wang Zhenxu.

Wang Zhenxu nodded vigorously, "Yes, I will convey your message, Immortal."

Chu Xuan nodded and waved his hand, dismissing him.

As Wang Zhenxu left, Chu Xuan mused, "This Great Extinguishing Thunder Fist is indeed worth practicing. While the Qi cultivation research at the Enlightenment Institute has not been very fruitful, the results in body cultivation are quite impressive."

It was understandable. After all, Blue Star's Spiritual Qi was incredibly sparse. Psionic energy was most suited for body cultivation. It was a remarkable achievement for the Enlightenment Institute to develop martial techniques that far exceeded their own levels in such conditions.

Chu Xuan considered that, had Liu Meng been on Mystic Azure Star during the golden age when powerful elixirs were plentiful, he might have been considered a top-tier prodigy, potentially creating numerous body cultivation methods that could be passed down through generations.

...

In the blink of an eye, another five years had passed. Chu Xuan spent each day refining the Great Extinguishing Thunder Fist. His lungs worked like furnaces, his heart like an engine. With each inhalation, his chest would rise sharply; each exhalation could scorch vegetation with its heat.

Now, his body was muscled and his strength surged—his mastery of the fist technique was near perfection. While not yet at the ultimate level, he had certainly reached a state of great refinement.

"Eh, is Hu about to break through?" Chu Xuan sensed some unusual activity within the corpse tower, and joyfully, he immediately released Hu.

He observed Hu's body, now densely covered in blood cocoons—a clear sign of an impending breakthrough to the Corpse King stage. Evidently, consuming the bodies of two Nascent Soul cultivators, Yun Zhongyu and Shangguan Hao, drastically accelerated Hu's growth.

Chu Xuan had originally planned to head to the outer domain battlefield. But with Hu's impending advancement, he decided to wait until after the breakthrough before departing.

As Hu was about to ascend, Chu Xuan suddenly sensed that his two life-bound gu insects were also showing signs of advancement. The Blood Steel Wire and the Blood Bee Queen had both formed cocoons, evidently influenced by his own ascension to the Nascent Soul stage. Such was the power of life-bound entities.

A year later, the blood cocoon around Hu shattered successfully. A towering figure over six meters tall burst forth from the cocoon, emitting an exhilarating roar towards the heavens. The sound was earth-shaking, audible even to the superhumans in surrounding cities.

However, for the superhumans at the Black Blade East Lake headquarters, such phenomena had become quite common. They knew the sound came from the residence of the immortal, presumably just his beloved little pet. What was there to fear?

"Master!" Hu shrank his body and quickly transformed into a two-meter-tall man. He dashed to Chu Xuan and knelt respectfully.

Chu Xuan nodded in approval, "Very good, very good. Take care of Long and Bao, and see that they too advance to the Corpse King realm soon."

"Yes!" Hu responded respectfully. Now as a Corpse King, his speech was smooth and fluent, no longer hesitant.

At that moment, the cocoons of the Blood Steel Wire and the Blood Bee Queen also shattered. The Blood Steel Wire emerged affectionately from Chu Xuan's palm, and the Blood Bee Queen peeked out before shyly retreating back into her cocoon.

Chapter 227: The Great Dao of the Nascent Soul

Chu Xuan pondered the Blood Steel Wire, contemplating its limitations. Even though he had refined it into his life-bound gu insect, it was merely being dragged along by his progress.

Currently, the Blood Steel Wire wasn't of much use to him. In the future, he would need to keep an eye out for gu insect essence blood suitable for both the Blood Steel Wire and the Blood Bee Queen. With the right essence blood, their realms could rapidly ascend, making them as effective as a Corpse King or a Ghost King.

With a thought, Chu Xuan beckoned with his hand, and the Evil Soul Chain appeared beside him. This magic treasure, bound to his life, could unleash 120% of his combat power.

However, limited by its materials, its current power had significantly diminished. This treasure too needed better materials to be suitable for battles between Nascent Soul cultivators.

"Becoming a Nascent Soul cultivator suddenly requires so much; everything must be done slowly, step by step, replacing each item," Chu Xuan mused, unfazed by the daunting task ahead. After all, he had some funds. He'd start by buying what was necessary. If purchasing proved impossible, or if someone prevented him from buying, he'd simply go and demand what he needed. Surely, there were kind-hearted people willing to gift him what he required. Maybe they'd even be willing to give him everything they had, inside and out.

...

Heavenly Sword City.

Chu Xuan once again approached the gates of this fortress city. Previously, being cautious, he had not stayed in his cave dwelling but had instead left Heavenly Sword City to find a cave outside. He had to go to Blue Star to save time; the heavenly tribulation only occurred once.

Since it had appeared on Blue Star, it wouldn't manifest again in the outer domain battlefield. If he had broken through from his cave dwelling within Heavenly Sword City without triggering the heavenly tribulation and yet advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, it would have certainly raised many eyebrows. After all, who ever heard of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage without facing the heavenly tribulation?

As for breaking through outside the city, that didn't matter. The battlefield beyond was vast, and not everyone could witness the heavenly tribulation.

"Halt, who goes there?" A disciple of the Majestic Sword Sect stopped Chu Xuan at the gates of Heavenly Sword City.

Chu Xuan tossed over his identity jade slip. The Majestic Sword Sect disciple scanned it with his divine sense, and his surprise was evident. "Master He? It's been a long time! We heard you went to attempt the Nascent Soul breakthrough... You're still alive?"

Chu Xuan had spent nearly forty years on Blue Star, and it had been almost four years since anyone had last seen him in Heavenly Sword City. Many had assumed he was dead and gradually, he had been forgotten.

The Majestic Sword Sect disciple remembered him because Chu Xuan had once concocted pills for him. Now, inspecting Chu Xuan carefully, the disciple asked cautiously, "Master He, have you... have you successfully condensed your Nascent Soul?"

Four years without a sighting, and returning unscathed could only mean one of two things: he had either succeeded in reaching the Nascent Soul stage or retreated to form a False Soul. Either way, he was not someone the disciple could afford to offend.

Chu Xuan smiled slightly, releasing the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator, "Fortunately, I have transcended the heavenly tribulation and attained the great Dao of Nascent Soul." His powerful presence shook the surrounding cultivators, some of the weaker ones nearly collapsing.

The Majestic Sword Sect disciple was astounded, "…I pay my respects to senior He!"

The other cultivators waiting to enter the city were also stunned and bowed respectfully, "We pay our respects to senior He!"

Chu Xuan chuckled, "May I enter now?"

"Of course! Now that you are a Nascent Soul great cultivator, you can go wherever you like!" the disciple said respectfully, "I will take you to Elder Ximen right away."

Chu Xuan waved his hand dismissively, "No rush, I want to visit my old shop first."

The disciple nodded, "Yes, then I will go ahead and inform Elder Ximen!" With that, he hurried off into the city.

Chu Xuan strode through the streets of Heavenly Sword City, eventually arriving at Pill Pavilion. Soon, he saw the familiar shop. The shop appeared deserted. The wicker chair, books, and pill furnace were all in their places, untouched and dust-free, clearly tended to regularly.

Chu Xuan gently touched the pill furnace, reminiscing about the days he spent concocting pills there, feeling quite sentimental.

"Who's there? How dare you touch Master He's pill furnace!" A cold voice came from behind him.

Chu Xuan turned around to see a familiar figure. It was He Ze. However, now He Ze had only one arm and his body bore visible scars. Such scars would not be difficult to remove with some medicinal pills, but the fact that they remained indicated financial difficulties.

Yet, Chu Xuan noticed that He Ze's cultivation had reached the fourth level of the Golden Core stage; his cultivation over the years had indeed borne some fruit.

Upon recognizing Chu Xuan, He Ze's expression quickly shifted from indifference to joy.

"Master He! Is it really you, Master He?" He approached quickly, his face a picture of astonishment.

Chu Xuan laughed heartily, "Indeed, it's me." He then patted He Ze's empty sleeve, "What happened here?"

A flash of sorrow swept across He Ze's eyes, but he quickly concealed it. With seriousness, he said, "I'm ready. As soon as I have the chance, I will personally seek revenge."

Chu Xuan nodded. It seemed much had occurred during these four years. The once somewhat naïve young cultivator had been tempered by time and now appeared more like a true cultivator.

Suddenly, a boisterous voice interrupted their reunion. "He Ze? Recovering well, I see. Back at Pill Pavilion again?"

The voice sneered. "That Master He you followed hasn't been seen for four years; he's surely dead outside the city. Stop thinking about continuing to be his dog. Come over here and work for me! I'm short on hands!"

Chu Xuan and He Ze both looked in the direction of the voice and saw several figures approaching, the leader of whom was a tall, fierce-looking man. He was the one who had spoken.

He Ze clenched his fists, then slowly relaxed them. With a forced smile, he replied, "Fellow daoist Lu, please don't rush; I'll come over as soon as I finish up here."

The leader, noticing He Ze's deference, then turned his gaze to Chu Xuan. Recognition flickered across his face, and he adjusted his expression before bowing to Chu Xuan. "It turns out to be senior He! I am Lu Wen, a pleasure to meet you.

Senior He, you disappeared for four years and have now returned; surely you have formed a False Soul? Congratulations! Your strength must have increased a notch! My earlier words were indeed rash, please do not take offense, senior He."

However, I am currently undertaking a task from Elder Ximen of the Majestic Sword Sect to collect materials for weapon forging, and I really cannot afford to be away. Another day, I shall certainly bring a generous gift to apologize. What do you say?"

Chu Xuan's smile held a hint of irony. Lu Wen was indeed quite a character. First, he congratulated him on becoming a False Soul, then apologized, all the while subtly dropping his status as someone associated with the real Nascent Soul cultivator, Elder Ximen.

If Chu Xuan were really just a False Soul, Lu Wen's few words might have left him speechless. Unfortunately for Lu Wen, he had miscalculated. Chu Xuan was not a False Soul; he was a genuine Nascent Soul cultivator!

He Ze clenched his teeth, aware that the present situation stemmed from him. He couldn't let Master He get into trouble with Lu Wen because of him. Just as He Ze was about to speak, a booming laugh suddenly echoed from the entrance of the Pill Pavilion. A powerful Nascent Soul aura swept through the area.

"Fellow daoist He, what a pleasure to see you!" the voice boomed. "To think that after four years, you have attained the great Dao of the Nascent Soul! Would fellow daoist care to join me, Ximen Changqing, for a good drink?"

Chapter 228: The Way Out

Everyone turned towards the source of the voice and saw a middle-aged cultivator with a refined appearance striding forward. This cultivator, handsome and distinguished, exuded a calm aura. The slight silver in his temples did not age him; instead, it lent him an air of otherworldly grace.

He was the new lord of Heavenly Sword City, the Nascent Soul elder of the Majestic Sword Sect, Ximen Changqing, followed by his two disciples, Wu Shang and Xun Zhao.

Both disciples looked at Chu Xuan with complex expressions in their eyes. As soon as Ximen Changqing appeared, Lu Wen, He Ze, and the other cultivators hurriedly bowed deeply.

"Greetings to Elder Ximen!"

In the realm of cultivation, one higher level commands respect regardless of age. However, Ximen Changqing did not pay heed to the others but instead focused on Chu Xuan. Chu Xuan returned the gesture with a nod but did not bow deeply as the others had.

"Greetings to fellow daoist Ximen."

Ximen Changqing sized up Chu Xuan, then laughed heartily, "Fellow daoist He is indeed young! You are sure to have a limitless future!"

Chu Xuan responded with a smile, "I've heard that Elder Ximen's swordplay is unmatched and his mastery of the tea ceremony is exquisite. May I have the honor of experiencing it?"

Ximen Changqing nodded with a smile, "Please, fellow daoist He."

His gaze briefly swept over Lu Wen, who had turned pale, and casually remarked, "Wu Shang, Xun Zhao, this man dared to impersonate an official of the lord's mansion. How should he be dealt with?"

Wu Shang and Xun Zhao exchanged looks. Wu Shang gritted his teeth and stepped forward, "Master, this man has been brutal and overbearing, bullying others by abusing his power and offending a Nascent Soul cultivator. By the law, he should be expelled from Heavenly Sword City!"

Immediately, several Golden Core cultivators moved forward to seize Lu Wen. Lu Wen's pupils shrank, and he cried out, "Brother Wu! I've done so much for you; you can't abandon me! I may not have merit, but I've put in hard work... wuwuwu..."

The Majestic Sword Sect cultivators swarmed him, and even his mouth was covered.

Ximen Changqing chuckled, "Just a minor disturbance; it's nothing. I've recently acquired a can of Moon on the Sea. Please, fellow daoist He, join me in tasting it."

Chu Xuan nodded with a smile, "Moon on the Sea? That's one of the ten famous teas of the Reincarnation Divine Church. Thank you, fellow daoist Ximen, for the opportunity to appreciate such fine tea."

The two walked side by side towards the lord's mansion.

After they left, He Ze was still visibly shaken. Master He... had attained the Nascent Soul!? Even the lord of Heavenly Sword City, Ximen Changqing, had personally come to invite him! What an honor!

In a moment, He Ze straightened his back, his face beaming with pride.

"Fellow daoist He, you and Master He are kinsmen. If you become successful, don't forget to support us, your old friends."

"Fellow daoist He is loyal and devoted. You've guarded the shop for four years for Master He. Your future is bound to soar!"

"Here is a mid-grade magic treasure, fellow daoist He. If you don't mind, please accept it."

"I often make talismans; here is a set for you, fellow daoist He."

As the cultivators swarmed around He Ze, their enthusiasm palpable, they eagerly pushed various treasures into his arms. Some of the more slender female cultivators seemed almost ready to throw themselves at him. It was clear to everyone that He Ze was on the verge of prosperity.

He Ze, witnessing this scene, displayed a shrewd smile. He accepted the gifts one by one, fully aware of the shift in their attitudes. These people, who once looked down upon him, were now fawning over him, all because of Master He's return as a Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Indeed, in this life, if one can cling to a thick and powerful leg, it is indeed a stroke of great fortune…" He Ze suddenly realized.

...

In the lord's mansion, in the back garden, Chu Xuan and Ximen Changqing sat opposite each other, quietly savoring their tea.

After a long taste, Chu Xuan expressed his admiration, "The Moon on the Sea truly deserves its reputation as one of the top ten teas. It even surpasses the flavors of the Ku Mao Feng, Fragrant Snow, and Misty Blossom teas from my own cultivation."

Ximen Changqing laughed heartily, "I know I don't have the potential to reach the Deity Transformation phase, and I'm not keen on combat; I dislike fighting and killing. I much prefer to enjoy tea."

"It's fortunate indeed to meet a kindred spirit in you, fellow daoist," Chu Xuan smiled. "Indeed, I'm not fond of conflicts either. Today I learned that fellow daoist Ximen and I are truly alike."

Ximen Changqing was delighted, "However, what is this Ku Mao Feng tea you mentioned? I have never heard of it."

Chu Xuan happened to have some Ku Mao Feng tea in his storage bag and promptly presented some to Ximen Changqing. "This is a spiritual tea from Mystic Azure Star, emphasizing the transition from bitterness to sweetness. Many do not favor it, but I quite enjoy it."

Ximen Changqing was intrigued and accepted it eagerly, "Well then, I must give it a proper tasting!"

The two found much joy in discussing various teas. After a while, Chu Xuan steered the conversation to the main topic. "Fellow daoist Ximen, do you know where I might obtain Nascent Soul stage cultivation techniques?"

Ximen Changqing chuckled, "That's simple. You either join a fifth-level sect or buy them with spirit stones. I do have a few Nascent Soul stage techniques that I no longer need. I wonder if they might suit your taste."

With a wave of his hand, he displayed several techniques before Chu Xuan. After scanning them, Chu Xuan shook his head repeatedly. These techniques were all very orthodox—reliable and steady, but slow to progress. Chu Xuan did not need such methods.

"Fellow daoist, is there a cultivation technique that speeds up progress a bit? Given that I've condensed a Blood Demon Soul, after all."

Ximen Changqing pondered for a moment, then shook his head regretfully, "I don't possess such techniques... however, I will keep an eye out for you, fellow daoist. If I come across such a method, I will contact you immediately."

Chu Xuan's face lit up with delight, "Thank you, then I shall trouble fellow daoist Ximen with this matter."

Ximen Changqing smiled, "Think nothing of it. Helping where one can, and forging good karma is my way in the world."

After a moment of reflection, Chu Xuan inquired further, "Fellow daoist Ximen, do you know how one might leave the extraterritorial battlefield? I've heard there are ways to leave early?"

The battlefield opened every five hundred years. But that was only a large-scale opening. Indeed, there were smaller, interim openings. However, they seemed to require certain conditions.

Chu Xuan felt that the extraterritorial battlefield was still perilous. Life on Mystic Azure Star was far more comforting. Now that he had achieved Nascent Soul, if there was a chance to return to Mystic Azure Star, it seemed wise to take it.

Ximen Changqing laughed heartily, "Fellow daoist wishes to return home in glory?"

"Indeed! What good are wealth and honor if one cannot return home to display them, like brocade robes worn unseen at night?"

Ximen Changqing sipped his tea, then continued, "There are indeed several ways to leave early. One is by collecting contributions from clearing ancient beast carcasses, tenfold the required amount, which grants an early exit. Another is by acquiring rare and extraordinary spiritual items of this world, like the Turbid World Blue Lotus, which also allows for an early departure. And if neither of these conditions is met, one can still leave if an urgent missive is issued by a fifth-level sect from their home star."

Chapter 229: Ximen Changqing's invitation

Ximen Changqing turned to Chu Xuan. "However, isn't fellow daoist He from Mystic Azure Star?"

"The fifth-level sect on Mystic Azure Star is the Feather Transformation Heaven Palace... and the upper sect have been quite dissatisfied with them recently..." he added.

Chu Xuan nodded slightly.

While Ximen Changqing did not make his point explicitly clear, Chu Xuan could discern the implications. An urgent missive issued by the Feather Transformation Heaven Palace might not be acknowledged by the Reincarnation Divine Sect.

And as for seeking out a ludicrously rare spiritual item like the Turbid World Blue Lotus—it was far too absurd. Thus, his only remaining option was to accumulate enough contributions to leave the battlefield.

"Thank you, fellow daoist Ximen," Chu Xuan bowed.

Ximen Changqing smiled, "I hear fellow daoist He is from the Heavenly Seal Sect, merely a fourth-level sect."

"Would fellow daoist He consider joining the Majestic Sword Sect?" he offered.

Chu Xuan gave a wry smile. A direct refusal might offend Ximen Changqing. Yet, he genuinely had no interest in aligning with any factions. After a pause, he shook his head, "I'm truly sorry, I have no intentions of joining any side at the moment."

Ximen Changqing was not upset but simply nodded with a smile, "No matter, it's merely routine recruitment on behalf of my sect. If fellow daoist He is not interested, then let it be. The monthly salary the sect gives me isn't enough to make me hold a grudge over such matters."

Chu Xuan was taken aback.

The two exchanged glances and burst into hearty laughter.

...

At the main gate of the city lord's mansion.

"Fellow daoist He, I have arranged for you a fourth-tier cave dwelling rich in spiritual qi, ready for you whenever you wish to move in," Ximen Changqing smiled. "But, as usual, I must mention..."

He cleared his throat, "...the grand gates of the Majestic Sword Sect are always open to you!"

Chu Xuan laughed heartily, "Thank you, fellow daoist Ximen."

He waved his hand and turned to leave. After Chu Xuan's figure had vanished, Wu Shang and Xun Zhao approached Ximen Changqing with respectful expressions.

Wu Shang spoke in a grave tone, "It has been confirmed that the Heavenly Seal Sect of Mystic Azure Star indeed existed but was destroyed long ago. Master, this man's identity is false."

Ximen Changqing chuckled, "I know it's false."

Wu Shang was startled, "Then why did you converse so amicably with him?"

Ximen Changqing's laughter grew even broader, "What does it matter if his identity is false? Back in the day, I navigated among various sects to preserve my own life, and I did the same thing."

Wu Shang fell silent.

Ximen Changqing casually remarked, "About that Lu Wen under your command—he's not a good sort, how do you plan to deal with him?"

Wu Shang appeared troubled, "Lu Wen has been with me for a long time, and though he may not have distinguished himself, he has endured much..."

Ximen Changqing stated indifferently, "Kill him, destroy his soul and scatter his ashes. Keeping someone around who is adept at stirring up trouble will only lead to deadly consequences in the future."

Wu Shang's fingers trembled, but eventually, he nodded firmly, "Disciple understands." He bowed and immediately departed.

Xun Zhao stepped forward, asking in a low voice, "Master, there has still been no word from my Dao companion. Could you please help me—"

Ximen Changqing interrupted sharply, "She has now become a disciple of True Master Tiancang. Do you think she would still regard you? A mere woman, if you wish, there are plenty of female cultivators for you to choose from."

Xun Zhao's expression was downcast, "I understand, Master..."

As he watched his disciples leave, Ximen Changqing shook his head repeatedly. The tasks assigned by True Master Tiancang were not to be questioned, just obeyed. Why couldn't Xun Zhao be wiser and refrain from inquiring further about Zhao Qian?

As for the newly advanced Nascent Soul, He Liang, Ximen Changqing's thoughts were simple: as long as he posed no threat to himself, what harm was there in a false identity?

...

At the Pill Pavilion.

When Chu Xuan returned, he found the shop still crowded with cultivators. The place was bustling.

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Senior He is here!"

The crowd dispersed with a rustle, parting to make way with awe-stricken faces. To many Golden Core cultivators, reaching the Nascent Soul stage was a realm they could never dream of achieving in their lifetimes. Thus, they held Chu Xuan in high esteem, respecting this senior who dared to risk his life to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Chu Xuan waved his hand, "Disperse, everyone."

The cultivators then left.

He Ze, his face glowing, approached Chu Xuan, "Senior He!"

Chu Xuan smiled slightly, "Continue to stay by my side in the future."

"Yes!" He Ze responded respectfully, "After Master went to the city lord's mansion, many cultivators brought me gifts. I've kept track of all of them, right here. They did not give me these gifts because of who I am, but because of Master He. I cannot accept these things."

Chu Xuan laughed heartily, "I don't care for these items; they are yours now."

With Chu Xuan's words, He Ze finally nodded. Now he could accept the gifts without any guilt, otherwise, he would have never dared to take them.

...

In the following days, Chu Xuan spent his days clearing ancient beast carcasses and his nights concocting pills in his cave dwelling. The pill making was not for the sake of spirit stones but to improve his own mastery of alchemy and to study the pill recipes he could access for free.

Now that he had reached the Nascent Soul stage, he was qualified to concoct Nascent Soul-level medicinal pills. Prominent Nascent Soul cultivators, including Ximen Changqing of Heavenly Sword City and Duan Xiu of Righteous Dao City, sought his services. Naturally, he could not miss such opportunities and thus memorized many pill recipes that might prove useful in the future.

A month later, Chu Xuan had nearly gathered enough contributions to leave, amounting to about eighty to ninety percent of the required total. In just five or six more days, he would have enough to leave the extraterritorial battlefield and return to Mystic Azure Star. However, he still hoped to obtain a suitable Nascent Soul-level cultivation technique before returning.

Meanwhile, during his expeditions to clear the ancient beast carcasses, Chu Xuan noticed some anomalies in the battlefield. The frequency of spatial rifts had increased significantly.

Cultivators often gathered in groups discussing how some areas, previously rift-free, now suffered from an abundance of them. The ground was also marred by deep, canyon-like rifts. Some speculated that creatures like the Nether Crocodiles might be surging from the underground en masse.

Others whimsically suggested that perhaps the battlefield itself was on the verge of collapse. Though Chu Xuan knew nothing specific, an unexplainable worry began to gnaw at him.

...

On a plain within the extraterritorial battlefield, a figure in black furrowed his brow, "The disappearance of Shangguan Hao remains unclear... What exactly happened? Could it be that he was discovered by True Master Tiancang and taken to the Reincarnation Tower? Or is he hidden somewhere? Or perhaps someone intercepted him along the way?"

After much deliberation, the man in black retrieved an array disc, which was linked to the formation embedded in a blood jade pendant. This was a backdoor he had prepared in advance—subtle and nearly undetectable, yet capable of remote connection.

It was intended to control Shangguan Hao in critical moments to prevent him from betraying the Reincarnation Divine Sect a second time and then betraying the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect.

By activating it, he could break the formation on the pendant from afar, allowing him to track down Shangguan Hao's whereabouts. He was reluctant to resort to this measure, but with Shangguan Hao missing for four years and his whereabouts still unknown, he had no choice but to implement this last resort.

The man in black executed a series of complex hand signs, and the formation was instantly disrupted. Stirred by an intuition, he looked towards the giant city shrouded in the night, surprised.

"Hmm? Inside Heavenly Sword City?"

Chapter 230: A Heavenly Longevity Pill—How Much Blood of Living Beings?

"Shangguan Hao couldn't possibly still be alive... It must be that he was killed, and his essence blood jade pendant was taken," the man in black deduced, shaking his head repeatedly.

As a cultivator from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, he was taking significant risks by venturing into this battlefield controlled by the Reincarnation Divine Sect. If he were to recklessly attack a cultivator within Heavenly Sword City, it would undoubtedly provoke a massive retaliation from the Reincarnation Divine Sect. For now, he had no choice but to accept his loss. He would have to wait for another opportunity.

"Wei Ji from the Feather Transformation Heaven Palace holds a grudge against the Reincarnation Divine Sect; perhaps he can be utilized..." he contemplated, soon vanishing into the darkness.

...

Inside Heavenly Sword City, Chu Xuan was concocting pills.

The moment the formation on the essence blood jade pendant disappeared, he felt as though a prying gaze swept over him. His breath almost halted in that instant, and the pill he was crafting explosively failed.

"What happened?" he wondered. "Why did I feel that way? Is it a premonition of merit warning me?"

Chu Xuan opened his storage bag and began to sift through its contents item by item. His gaze unknowingly settled on the essence blood jade pendant. He remembered that the surface of the pendant was originally marked with complex and profound formation patterns, but now they were completely gone.

This meant that if True Master Tiancang were to employ divination to seek him out, there was a possibility he could be discovered.

"Should I flee?" he pondered. "Or should I stay in Heavenly Sword City and watch how things unfold? Perhaps True Master Tiancang no longer cares about this matter..."

After a brief moment of contemplation, Chu Xuan found his answer. Regardless of whether True Master Tiancang was willing to spend his lifespan to take divination, Chu Xuan couldn't take the risk.

After all, this was a Deity Transformation great being. If he were to lock onto Chu Xuan and personally intervene, Chu Xuan might not even have the chance to use the Blood Mirror to escape!

Without another word, he decided.

Time to run!

Chu Xuan left a voice transmission for He Ze in the cave dwelling and then, taking advantage of the cover of night silently escaped Heavenly Sword City. He found a secluded cave where he quickly set up a formation and then departed through the Blood Mirror.

Ordinarily, when planning to flee to Blue Star, he would make thorough preparations. However, this time, lacking a Nascent Soul cultivation technique, escaping to the blue sea would serve little purpose. He could not stay on Blue Star forever. Once the immediate danger passed, he planned to return eventually. He Ze's voice transmissions would serve as his channel of information.

Of course, he would not fully trust He Ze, considering the potential for coercion. The trust would depend on his own judgment. Chu Xuan only needed to return to the extraterritorial battlefield periodically to check for any messages from He Ze.

...

At the Reincarnation Tower, what was once a bustling place had now become eerily quiet, scarcely a soul in sight. In the highest-floor cultivation room, True Master Tiancang sat on a white jade disk, his figure withered and his hair white, resembling rotting wood that could crumble into fragments with a mere gust of wind.

A knock sounded.

The voice of Leng Hanshuang came from outside, "Uncle Master Tiancang, the Heavenly Longevity Pill is ready."

"Come in," came the hoarse voice of Tiancang.

Moments later, Leng Hanshuang entered, carrying a jade bottle with determined strides. True Master Tiancang managed a strained smile, "Thank you, Holy Maiden." He took the jade bottle, which contained a pearl-like pill marked with numerous intersecting bloodlines, emitting a strong, sweet scent of blood.

True Master Tiancang looked at the Heavenly Longevity Pill with a slightly dazed gaze. Consuming one could extend his life by three hundred years. If not for the repeated use of his life force for divination, the sect might not have granted him the resources to concoct such a pill.

"Heh, one Heavenly Longevity Pill, made from the blood of how many living beings…" True Master Tiancang chuckled.

Leng Hanshuang watched True Master Tiancang's demeanor with a sense of unease. Her master had warned her to be cautious around him at the Reincarnation Tower, not to provoke him. At the time, she didn't fully understand the warning. But now, she did. This old man was indeed terrifying.

Previously, the alchemists gathered from the extraterritorial battlefield, who had crafted life-extending pills, eventually became part of those very pills, including Zhao Qian, who possessed a superior spiritual body known as the "Spirit Blood Pill Body." She was a key ingredient in crafting the Heavenly Longevity Pill.

Having seen enough, True Master Tiancang swallowed the Heavenly Longevity Pill in one gulp.

Boom!

The formidable power of the Heavenly Longevity Pill surged through True Master Tiancang's body, revitalizing his limbs and bones at a visibly rapid pace. His wrinkled, moisture-depleted skin instantly became as supple and elastic as that of a young man. His withered muscles swelled impressively, and his white hair darkened from root to tip.

Within mere moments, True Master Tiancang had transformed from a nearly dead old man into a robust middle-aged figure. He sprang to his feet, closing his eyes to feel the surging power within him, overwhelmed by the sensation.

Leng Hanshuang instinctively stepped back, her heart filled with fear. True Master Tiancang chuckled, "Holy Maiden, there is no need to fear; your status is elevated, how could I dare to harm you? The ones I consumed were but insignificant beings."

Taking a deep breath, Leng Hanshuang asked, "Uncle Master Tiancang, previously you were too weak to perform divination. Now that you are rejuvenated, can you do it again? We have sealed this extraterritorial battlefield for nearly five years without a trace of the Taotie Tree Seed, and the ancestor is furious. You must know the importance of the Taotie Tree Seed, it cannot be lost. Moreover, this battlefield will collapse in a month at most. If that happens, it might be impossible to find it."

True Master Tiancang laughed softly, "I understand, I'll perform it now." He scoffed internally.

The Astral Projection ancestor also had divination techniques but chose to let others use theirs instead, obviously to avoid shortening his own lifespan.

While he thought this, he did not show it and immediately began using his lifespan to perform the divination. Almost instantly, his newly darkened hair showed several white strands again, and wrinkles formed at the corners of his eyes and mouth, adding a hint of age.

After a long while, he exhaled and finished his effort, shaking his head repeatedly. "Nothing. The tree seed still shows no sign, completely untraceable. My divination techniques are still too inferior. If the ancestor made the effort, he would surely locate the Taotie Tree Seed easily."

Leng Hanshuang's expression turned grim. She had volunteered to locate the Taotie Tree Seed, only to yield no results after five years.

Suddenly, True Master Tiancang uttered a light "Hmm?"

Leng Hanshuang's eyes brightened, "Is there something?"

True Master Tiancang smiled, "While randomly divining, I detected the murderer of my disciple Yun Zhongyu. His presence flickered near Heavenly Sword City. This person has hidden deeply, perhaps achieving a breakthrough, which is why his aura was exposed. Unfortunately, I have expended a lot of my lifespan and now need to recuperate..."

Leng Hanshuang raised an eyebrow, "Then allow me to handle this for you, Uncle Master Tiancang. I will capture this murderer alive and bring him back tomorrow!"

Her frustration needed an outlet, and now that she had a target, she was ready to vent her anger.

True Master Tiancang chuckled heartily, "There is also a talented alchemist in Heavenly Sword City with exceptional skills in pill-making. I always appreciate talent, so please, Holy Maiden, bring that alchemist back for me as well."