Within the jade chamber under Cloudhill, a hum filled the air. The three hall jades dimmed, returning to their original state. Seated in the lotus position, Bu Yu, Huan Jian, and Fang Xia simultaneously opened their eyes.
“Is it over?” Wu Yuan, standing nearby, asked with a smile.
Bu Yu nodded. “Mm. After the Middle Land Conference concluded, the Wu Sect gave us some time to exchange insights before closing the Middle Land Immortal Hall once more. It will remain closed for the next six years.”
“Six years?” Wu Yuan nodded thoughtfully.
“Bu Yu, Huan Jian,” Fang Xia interjected. “Having borne witness to today’s proceedings, I believe both of you comprehend the extent of Wu Yuan’s power.”
Bu Yu and Huan Jian nodded in unison, their gazes involuntarily drawn towards Wu Yuan. A clear glimmer of respect shone in their eyes.
Previously, they had regarded Wu Yuan as a remarkably gifted individual. However, after stepping into the Unity level, Bu Yu regained her confidence. They both knew that Wu Yuan had reached Unity, but instinctively believed that there wasn’t a substantial gap between them, especially not in such a short span of time.
Yet, their trip to the Middle Land Immortal Hall had served as a brutal reality check. One of them ranked last among the Heavenly Rankers and the other second to last. Meanwhile, Wu Yuan’s soul imprint ranking surpassed even that of Fang Xia. Bu Yu and Huan Jian understood the implications of this: Wu Yuan was destined to surpass them both.
Fang Xia continued solemnly, “Remember, the top Heavenly Ranker is Wan Liu. Wu Yuan is merely Wan Liu’s direct disciple.”
“Understood,” Huan Jian replied.
“Senior Wan Liu is averse to meddling in worldly affairs, hence he seldom makes an appearance,” Bu Yu added softly.
Fang Xia nodded in satisfaction. “During this Middle Land Conference, the various factions were all shocked and awed by Wan Liu. Combined with the combat strength I have displayed, it will usher in an era of peace for the Cloudstride Sect. This is our opportunity. Bu Yu, Huan Jian, use this time to open your qi seas and become true Qi Sea cultivators.”
Both of them nodded without hesitation.
“Very well, you two may depart now,” said Fang Xia.
Without any delay, they left.
After returning from the Middle Land Immortal Hall, Bu Yu and Huan Jian realized that Wu Yuan’s formidable soul allowed him to increase his strength at a rate far surpassing their own. There was a possibility that he could even surpass Fang Xia in the future.
In the jade chamber, only Wu Yuan and Fang Xia remained.
“Young Master, your soul…” Fang Xia shook his head, “It is extremely strong, unbelievably powerful! How far can your Soul Force reach now?”
Soul Force?
“It can extend about five li,” Wu Yuan spoke softly.
“No wonder! No wonder Emperor Dong Pan was so wary,” Fang Xia exclaimed, “Five li? A typical Golden Core cultivator can reach just over ten li upon their initial breakthrough. Although there’s still a gap between you and them, your range has already far exceeds the vast majority of ninth-stage Qi Sea cultivators!”
Wu Yuan nodded slightly. In truth, Wu Yuan’s Soul Force radius was not five li. It was eight li!
The Middle Land Immortal Hall, being a voidrealm, had several limitations when measuring the range of one’s Soul Force. It could only provide a vague estimation, hence the result was that he was a suspected Golden Core cultivator.
“Young Master,” Fang Xia exclaimed, his voice filled with awe, “your soul talent defies all common sense. It’s no wonder that the realm master has set you the goal of cultivating two paths simultaneously.”
Cultivate two paths simultaneously? Wu Yuan pondered silently. The realm master never made that his objective; it was his own insistence that drove him to attempt it.
“Fang Xia, what was discussed at the Middle Land Conference?” Wu Yuan inquired.
He had left the Middle Land Immortal Hall early not due to unforeseen circumstances or reluctance to join the conference. Rather, it was a deliberate choice to maintain his proud and aloof image as Wan Liu.
“The discussions at the conference revolved around recent events in the Middle Land,” Fang Xia said. “The unification of the Jiang Continent by our Cloudstride Sect was mentioned, as were the affairs in the South Ocean, Xin Continent, and the Arctic. Allow me to explain…”
Wu Yuan listened intently. Intelligence, news, and general knowledge were vital, even if they did not directly enhance one’s power. Just as merchants could not earn wealth beyond their understanding, cultivators could not acquire an immortal treasure that surpassed their comprehension. For example, if he had not read the immortal slips which detailed the different grades and functions of voidrealms, how could Wu Yuan have established his lofty image in Emperor Dong Pan’s mind with just a few words? frёeωebɳovel.com
After a while, Fang Xia concluded his account.
“With no major issues at hand and peace treaties established with both Great Jin and the Starcom Consortium, we can anticipate a period of tranquility, giving us the opportunity to focus on our cultivation,” Wu Yuan said softly.
“Indeed,” Fang Xia chuckled, “Young Master, you need time to evolve into an eldritch warrior, while I must steadily accumulate mana and strive to reach the ninth-stage Qi Sea phase.”
“Old Fang, I eagerly await the day you achieve a breakthrough and become a Golden Core cultivator.” Wu Yuan smiled.
After one grasped the Domain stage, reaching the Golden Core phase became all the more certain.
“It would require several decades of diligent mana accumulation,” Fang Xia lamented, yet he had a smile on his face. Even if it took several decades, Qi Sea cultivators had a lifespan of 500 years. Breaking through to the Golden Core phase before 300 was already an impressive feat. Throughout the countless generations in the Middle Land, several hundred qi refiners emerged. Yet, not a single cultivator reached the Golden Core phase.
“Young Master, one more thing puzzles me. Why did you agree to Qiong Sea King’s request?” Fang Xia asked. “We could have found a pretext to decline him, just as we did with Niu Hao. Your guise as Wan Liu can only be maintained within the Middle Land Immortal Hall. If you meet him face-to-face, our ruse will be easily exposed.”
“Don’t worry, Old Fang, I have my plans,” Wu Yuan replied with a grin, “Niu Hao is barely over 300, is he not?”
“Mm,” Fang Xia confirmed.
“A qi refiner focuses on cultivating the mana within their Qi Sea, and their physical requirements are relatively lower,” Wu Yuan spoke softly, “Even at the end of their lifespan, a qi refiner may still have hope for a breakthrough. That’s why the chances that I’ll be able to manipulate him are low.”
Fang Xia listened intently.
“Body refiners are unlike qi refiners. They place a greater emphasis on fortifying their physical bodies. Once Communion cultivators surpass the age of 600, their physique begins to deteriorate, and the possibility of a breakthrough dwindles. Once they exceed 900 years, all hope is lost!” Wu Yuan said.
“According to the intelligence procured from the Starcom Consortium, Qiong Sea King has cultivated for over 700 years. Qiong Sea King is a naturally-born jiaolong, blessed with a lifespan of 300 years. He became an Archdemon before turning 50, but even after 700 years of cultivation, he has yet to reach the Spiritual Body phase,” Wu Yuan shook his head, “Body refiners are inherently slower at comprehending the Dao compared to their qi refiner counterparts.”
The heavens were fair. Body refiners were granted long lives. For example, Spiritual Body cultivators had lifespans stretching for 5000 years, even longer than Amethyst Cradle cultivators. However, even with their extended lifespans, body refiners were bound by the constraints of heaven and earth. Their speed of comprehending the Dao paled in comparison to that of qi refiners.
“From my evaluation, the likelihood of Qiong Sea King achieving a breakthrough on his own is less than ten percent,” Wu Yuan concluded. “So, don’t you think he will seize an opportunity for a breakthrough?”
Fang Xia’s eyes sparked with understanding. Niu Hao still had ample time to discover a method to advance to the next cultivation phase, so he wasn’t desperate yet. If Wu Yuan were to propose exceedingly unfavorable conditions, Niu Hao would likely reject them outright. However, Qiong Sea King had no such luxury!
“Young Master, do you have a way to aid Qiong Sea King?” Fang Xia inquired curiously.
“Hahaha,” Wu Yuan chuckled, not providing an answer.
So far, Fang Xia had demonstrated unwavering loyalty and proved himself to be an outstanding bodyguard. Yet, Wu Yuan couldn’t forget how Fang Xia was coerced into swearing fealty through the Blood Gu Art after enduring over 100 years of imprisonment by the realm master.
After everything Fang Xia went through, he was now the bodyguard of the realm master’s successor. Resentment would surely brew within anyone’s heart if they were subject to such circumstances.
It wasn’t that Wu Yuan lacked trust in Fang Xia. However, in the treacherous pursuit of immortality, where life and death hung by a thread, rationality told Wu Yuan to never place absolute trust in anyone. No one!
As Wan Liu, Wu Yuan had carefully crafted an image of a lofty figure in the eyes of the various factions in the Middle Land. And now, he was gradually establishing his authority as a young master in front of Fang Xia. He only hoped that in 50 years’ time, when this master-servant arrangement came to an end, they would treat each other as fellow Daoists and not foes.
…
One day later, an azure-scaled colossal jiaolong over 60 zhangs long rode the clouds towards Cloudhill. It was none other than Qiong Sea King.
Soaring 1000 zhangs above the ground, his large draconic eyes surveyed the bustling human city below. Such a prosperous human city, this must be Cloudhill City.
He was still several dozen li from Cloudhill City, but with his control over heaven and earth’s power and extraordinary hearing as a body refiner, he could extract a wealth of information from the clamor below.
Hmm… it seems there are many wonders of the human race. Alas, I can’t go sightseeing. Qiong Sea King lamented inwardly, shaking his gargantuan head.
After reaching the Communion phase, one could manipulate the size of their body to some extent. But assuming a human form? It was impossible. Just as a Heavenly Ranker could employ Transfiguration to assume someone else’s appearance, they could not transform from a human into a pig.
The art of Shapeshifting could only be learned during the Spiritual Body phase.
That must be Cloudhill. Qiong Sea King gazed at the peak of the tall mountain around 100 li in the distance. It was adorned with countless structures and teeming with a large population.
In Qiong Sea King’s perception, the mountain peak was not exceptionally high. Yet, it was certainly large.
I forgot to ask Fang Xia how I’ll be meeting Senior Wan Liu. What should I do now? Qiong Sea King might have lived for more than 700 years, but the majority of that time was spent cultivating in the depths of the South Ocean, and he rarely engaged with the human race. Thanks to Black Jiao King, he learned of the defense array around the Cloudstride Sect and avoided barging in recklessly.
“Qiong Sea, come to the northern side of Cloudhill,” a gentle voice resonated in Qiong Sea King’s mind.
Senior Wan Liu? Qiong Sea King’s eyes lit up as he recognized the voice. It seemed gentler than it had been at the Middle Land Immortal Hall.
Without hesitation, the jiaolong whipped his tail and propelled its massive body forward to the northern side of Cloudhill. His presence was obscured amidst the clouds and fog, and heaven and earth’s power refracted the light around his body. Thus, not a single person from Cloudhill Province nor Cloudhill City knew that a colossal jiaolong was passing by overhead.