Within the confines of a large meditation chamber, a pristine jade platform gleamed with an ethereal light. Wu Yuan, seated in the lotus position on its surface, felt a profound sense of tranquility wash over him. His mind also seemed to unravel the complexities of the Dao at a faster rate.
The effects of this jade platform surpass even that of Reverend Qing Yan’s in the Yanqing Hall. Wu Yuan was awed.
While this was just one of the dozens of guest houses in the Redmoon Immortal Army’s outpost, every courtyard house was incredibly lavish.
The true measure of luxury for an accommodation lay not in its outward appearance, but in the standard of its protective arrays, the abundance of spiritual qi, the quality of its jade platform, and numerous other intangible aspects.
Even a seventh-grade grotto of the Redmoon Immortal Tower pales in comparison to this place. The Redmoon Immortal Army indeed lived up to its reputation.
Even a fifth-tier city outpost was furnished with such superior cultivation conditions. One could only imagine the treatment provided to their top talents and powerhouses.
And to think, I am allowed to reside here for free. Wu Yuan shook his head. What in the heavens are Zhuo Haiyue’s intentions?
Previously, Wu Yuan was abruptly whisked from one place to another with no idea of what was going on. But now that he had time to process his situation, he began to piece the puzzle together.
This Zhuo Haiyue is a high-ranking figure in the Redmoon Immortal Hall, currently overseeing the Redmoon Immortal Army in Starsword City, and happened to be conducting a routine inspection in Fengchuan City?
The elimination of Tu Chi and the other man was somehow brought to the attention of the high-ranking officials in Fengchuan City.
So, was it at Zhuo Haiyue’s behest that I was captured by that super powerhouse and brought here? Wu Yuan speculated.
He soon largely concluded that there was a 50% chance that the Tu Family’s Shambhala cultivator might have caught up with him and killed him. Zhuo Haiyue’s swift intervention had allowed him to completely resolve this disaster.
Why did she help me? Wu Yuan pondered, his brow furrowed in thought. The first possibility is due to a sense of justice, that I was in the right as a victim of the raid. But violence on the path of immortal cultivation is an everyday occurrence.
Though being in the right held little weight in the cutthroat competition along the road to immortality, it somewhat justified her actions.
The second possibility is that she sees potential in me. Wu Yuan’s eyes narrowed in contemplation. Did my abilities catch her eye, prompting her to consider me for recruitment?
Though she had stepped in to save him, Wu Yuan was not blind to the fact that he had been tested. Had he fallen short of her expectations, his fate might have been bleak.
Yet, she also spoke of aiding me further? Promising friendship? Wu Yuan let out a quiet sigh.
Such were the whims of those in power. Their emotions dictated their actions, and Wu Yuan was left with no choice but to comply.
My strength is no match for hers. Wu Yuan shook his head faintly.
In the world of immortal cultivation, strength dictated all. If he possessed the power to eliminate Zhuo Haiyue with a single strike, no one would be able to say anything. But lacking both strength and connections, Wu Yuan had to follow her lead.
From an objective standpoint, perhaps she sees my strength as an asset she can make use of. But if she can truly assist me in gaining admission to a suitable first-rate sect, this could very well shape up to be a fortuitous turn of events.
As long as he took advantage of this situation, it was also an opportunity for him. The so-called fortuitous encounters did not always come in the form of treasures or cultivation teachings; sometimes, even seemingly minor help or guidance could have an incredible impact.
She couldn’t make me her servant, but for other matters, it’s difficult to extricate myself for the time being. Wu Yuan made up his mind. Let us see what Zhuo Haiyue can offer.
If it proved advantageous for him, Wu Yuan was willing to accept it. It was important to know when to advance and when to retreat. Unwavering stubbornness or arrogance would eventually lead to failure on the long path to immortality.
Hmm? Wu Yuan received a message transmitted by several Qi Sea soldiers standing guard on the outside of the courtyard house.
The Dong Family’s ancestor seeks an audience with me? Wu Yuan furrowed his brows.
Having roughly grasped the power dynamics in Fengchuan City, Wu Yuan knew that the Tu Family and Dong Family were the top families in the city. After a moment of deliberation, he made a decision. “I will not meet with him.”
He had no interactions with them, yet they sent an Amethyst Cradle ancestor to pay him a visit personally?
It could be a ploy to win me over to the Dong Family’s side, then use me as a weapon against the Tu Family. Or, an attempt to curry favor with Zhuo Haiyue through me.
Regardless of the intentions behind the visit, Wu Yuan did not wish to become entangled in their affairs.
I should continue my cultivation. Wu Yuan closed his eyes, continuing to cultivate his essentia and mana, and expanding his qi sea.
During the Qi Sea phase, my cultivation speed was quite fast. But upon entering the Golden Core phase, the qi sea is magnified immensely, by a hundredfold or even thousandfold. The golden core is the condensed form of essentia, requiring a strong enough will and comprehension to control it.
Hence, to reach the fourth stage of the Golden Core phase, one must reach the Domain stage of Dao comprehension.
At the Qi Sea phase, advancing one stage could take anywhere from several years to decades. However, in the Golden Core phase, one’s essentia and mana might not suffice to advance a single stage even with centuries of cultivation.
A deeper comprehension of the Dao leads to greater control over the Golden Core, making it easier to condense. Wu Yuan reflected. A robust soul accelerates the refinement of spiritual qi, thus expediting the cultivation process.
I also have the support of the blood-red mist. Wu Yuan sensed the dense mist swirling within his upper dantian lobe, around the majestic black pagoda. His qi refiner self did not originally possess blood-red mist, but after killing Tu Chi and Fang Youlong, a large quantity of blood-red mist flooded out of the black pagoda.
If all goes well, I anticipate reaching the ninth-stage Golden Core phase within 80 years. Wu Yuan calculated.
Without the blood-red mist, relying solely on ethercrystal would extend the timeline to a minimum of a century. This speed was impressive by all accounts, given that most late-stage Golden Core cultivators spent 500 years or more striving to reach the ninth-stage Golden Core phase.
It is a shame that the blood-red mist cannot be shared between my two true selves. Wu Yuan lamented.
Each of the two true selves harbored a black pagoda in their upper dantian lobes, identical in form. Though their souls were intertwined and their consciousnesses united, the blood-red mist would only remain in the true self that had killed an opponent.
…
Outside the courtyard house.
“He is not willing to meet me?” The Dong Family’s ancestor stiffened.
He had considered various possibilities. Wu Yuan might deny his request, or demand additional conditions. But to not meet with him at all? He didn’t expect this.
“Reverend Dong, please leave,” the guard soldier declared in a deep voice.
“Mm, I understand.” The Dong Family ancestor nodded. Despite his strength, he did not dare to act presumptuously in the Redmoon Immortal Army’s base and departed swiftly.
It appears I must consider an alternative approach. The Dong Family ancestor muttered to himself.
…
Time passed.
As the general of the Redmoon Immortal Army in Starsword City, Zhuo Haiyue held immense authority. Just a few days into her inspection, she incited an upheaval in Fengchuan City.
One Amethyst Cradle Reverend and eighteen Golden Core Superiors were investigated and executed for various crimes.
Several Amethyst Cradle families, including the Tu Family, were dealt severe blows. Countless individuals were apprehended and met their end.
Zhuo Haiyue’s method of ruling with an iron fist left the entirety of Fengchuan City on edge.
However, all of this had little to do with Wu Yuan, who remained in seclusion. Three days after starting his quiet cultivation, he received a message from Zhuo Haiyue.
Whoosh! Wu Yuan soared out of the courtyard. Immediately, he saw dozens of figures waiting for him in the sky. Among them were many local Amethyst Cradle Reverends from Fengchuan City, and also Zhuo Haiyue and her retinue.
All eyes were fixed on Wu Yuan as he flew over.
“Your Highness Haiyue.” Wu Yuan gave a slight bow.
“Mm.” Zhuo Haiyue nodded lightly. “Everyone is present, board the battleship.”
With a wave of her hand, a colossal battleship over 500 meters in length materialized in the sky.
The entirely red battleship bore dense inscrutable patterns on its surface and emitted an ancient aura.
Hovering in mid-air, the battleship’s intimidating presence caused the hearts of onlookers to quiver slightly.
Undoubtedly, this was an ultra-high-grade battleship.
“She can stow away such a colossal battleship?”
“What a large storage artifact.” Many Amethyst Cradle cultivators, including Wu Yuan, were taken aback.
The larger the storage space of a storage artifact, the more challenging it was to stabilize the space, magnifying the difficulty of construction exponentially.
Typically, the flying boats of an Amethyst Cradle Reverend were only around 200-300 meters in length. For instance, the Yanqing Hall, deemed exceptionally large among second-grade spirit flying boats, measured just over 100 zhangs in length, approximately 300-400 meters.
Meanwhile, neither Wu Yuan, General Luo, Tu Guanghe, nor any others present took notice of a pair of eyes shimmering with a tinge of envy underneath a black hood.
A celestial flying boat—when will I ever possess one? The black-robed figure sighed softly.
Among the assembly, with the exception of Zhuo Haiyue herself, only he understood the power and worth of this battleship.
“Enter,” commanded Zhuo Haiyue.
Whoosh! Zhuo Haiyue led the way into the flying boat, followed by the figure cloaked in black. A group of more than a dozen individuals in crimson robes and Wu Yuan followed closely.
Without delay, the flying boat shuddered ever so slightly before vanishing in the blink of an eye.
“We’ve already surpassed the array’s detection range,” exclaimed General Luo less than one breath later, astonishment evident in his voice.
The other Amethyst Cradle powerhouses were left in shock by the news. The Fengchuan City’s array was designed to cover a radius of 100,000 li. Could it be that Zhuo Haiyue’s flying boat battleship had traversed more than that in less than one breath?
“We’re still within the immortal continent. If the flying boat leaves the continent and enters outer space, it will only get faster,” an Amethyst Cradle Reverend marveled.
…
The red flying boat raced across the landscape at an incredible pace, the dozen or so crimson-robed servants swiftly making arrangements for everyone on board.
In the main hall.
“Not bound for Starsword City?” Wu Yuan was startled.
“No, I received an urgent order yesterday to head to the first-tier Rising Dragon City,” Zhuo Haiyue explained. “Our plans for establishing your reputation must wait. Furthermore, I don’t have much time to handle your affairs.”
She paused for a moment before continuing with a gleam in her eyes, “After some thought, I believe the best method is the most direct one. I propose challenging the Seven Star Luminaries Tower.”