Innate Immortal Seed

Bai Zichen began to understand. In the hands of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, this Clear Spirit Jade Marrow, a Core Formation Spiritual Object, was more than just a simple commodity.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect sold the Clear Spirit Jade Marrow at a low price to those they deemed worthy of befriending, earning a favor in return.

Such a favor could often be exchanged for precious things that Spirit Stones couldn’t buy.

"Ancestor, your trip to the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect now... could it be that Senior Brother Wei has successfully broken through?"

Bai Zichen’s thoughts quickly shifted from speculating whether he himself would need a Core Formation Spiritual Object to form his core, to the purpose of this drop of Clear Spirit Jade Marrow.

Currently, there wasn’t a single elder at the Foundation Establishment Perfection realm in the Sect.

The most likely candidate was Wei Dao, who was still in seclusion.

"There has been no news yet. However, before Wei Dao entered seclusion, Junior Brother Ge used a Secret Technique to observe him and said that his Pill Discussion was complete and his foundation profound... he has more than a fifty percent chance."

After saying this, Ancestor Yangg closed his eyes to rest.

Bai Zichen and Su Li, taking the hint, moved a short distance away so as not to disturb him.

The Taiyi Golden Scale Ship wasn’t a massive Flying Magical Treasure, but its interior could easily accommodate about ten people.

"You’re already a Tier Two Mid-Grade Talisman Master?"

After a brief conversation, Bai Zichen was astonished to learn of Su Li’s Talisman Dao Realm.

"Junior Brother Su, you truly are a Talisman Dao genius. With time, you will surpass your predecessors. Becoming a Tier Three Talisman Master will be within your grasp."

To advance his Talisman Making skill by another level just a few years after reaching Foundation Establishment could only mean that Su Li’s techniques had long been sufficiently honed.

After Foundation Establishment, his Cultivation and Divine Sense grew stronger, so his Talisman Dao Realm naturally rose along with them.

If not for Bai Zichen, Su Li would have been the most dazzling disciple of this generation in the Qingfeng Sect.

"It’s a minor art, hardly worthy of such praise from Senior Brother Bai."

Su Li shook his head, showing no hint of pride or complacency.

He had once been proud of his Talisman Spirit Body, but the years he spent stagnating before reaching Qi Refining Great Perfection had completely shattered his arrogance.

In front of Bai Zichen, whose Swordsmanship was superb and whose Cultivation speed was comparable to someone with an Abnormal Spiritual Root, this small achievement was nothing to boast about.

"Several thousand years ago, the Holy Lotus Sect had a Nascent Soul True Monarch who achieved the Dao through talismans. It can’t be considered a minor art by any means..."

Bai Zichen knew Su Li had researched the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, so he began to ask him about it.

"In its early days, the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect wasn’t much different from other Beast Taming Sects. It was all about having a powerful Spirit Beast, allowing one to fight two enemies at once..."

Su Li had clearly done his research; he was well-versed in the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s history, lineage, and development.

"Their most glorious period was when the founding Ancestor’s contracted Spirit Beast advanced to Tier Four. However, two hundred years after that Ancestor passed away, the Tier Four Spirit Beast fulfilled its Spirit Beast Contract and left the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect directly, choosing not to continue protecting it."

"But eight hundred years ago, a cultivator of stunning talent appeared. He created the Spirit Control Scripture, which allows a cultivator to integrate the characteristics of their Lifebound Spiritual Beast into their own body during cultivation."

For example, if a Ten Thousand Beasts Sect cultivator’s Lifebound Spiritual Beast was a turtle-type Spirit Beast known for its long lifespan, then after practicing the Spirit Control Scripture, they could transfer a portion of the Spirit Beast’s lifespan to themselves.

The deeper one’s mastery of the Spirit Control Scripture, the higher the proportion that could be transferred.

And it wasn’t just lifespan. It’s said that the creator of the Spirit Control Scripture eventually possessed a portion of a Spirit Beast’s bloodline, gaining the characteristics of multiple Spirit Beasts.

Although he ultimately failed to reach the Nascent Soul realm and passed away at the Perfect Core Formation Realm, he left behind a precious treasure for the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.

The current Supreme Elder of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect has built upon the foundation of his predecessors. Relying on his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, the Gold-Devouring Earth Dragon, he is firmly ranked among the top three Core Formation True Men in the Liang Country’s Cultivation Realm.

The Spirit Control Scripture, combined with a Secret Realm that reliably produces Core Formation Spiritual Objects, gives the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect hope of reclaiming its former glory and changing its name back to Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.

At the speed of the Taiyi Golden Scale Ship, the journey from the Qingfeng Sect to the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect should have taken only five days.

However, to bypass the territories of the Ghost Spirit Sect and several other Demon Path Sects, they took a detour, extending the travel time to eight days.

After flying out of the Black Mountain Range and crossing countless cities and mountains, the Taiyi Golden Scale Ship began to slow down as it entered a boundless prairie.

"This is the Mountain Gate of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect?"

Bai Zichen stared at a pack of Wolf Demons stampeding below. They formed a black tide several miles long from head to tail, likely numbering in the thousands.

A few cultivators in practical short robes sat on their respective Flying Cranes, calling out a series of long and short cries.

Ancestor Yangg actually said they had already entered the territory of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s Mountain Gate, and all passing cultivators had to reduce their flight speed.

"Why don’t I see a Sect Grand Array?"

Su Li was just as puzzled. How could a sect leave its Mountain Gate wide open, with no defenses whatsoever?

Moreover, the Spiritual Qi in this vast prairie wasn’t particularly abundant, falling far short of what one would expect for a sect of Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s status.

"The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect raises countless Spirit Beasts for its disciples to choose one that is compatible with them... The most outstanding Qi Refining Disciples can even form a contract with a Tier Two Spirit Beast, using the power of their Lifebound Spiritual Beast to make breaking through to Foundation Establishment even easier."

Ancestor Yangg had brought the two juniors out for two reasons. First, to broaden their horizons, lest they stay in Black Mountain thinking the Qingfeng Sect was powerful and, as chosen sons of heaven, lose their drive to improve.

Second, to pave the way for the future. If they could befriend a few Core Disciples of the same generation from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, it would make future interactions more convenient.

"The major Spirit Beast clans require an astronomical amount of meat, mixed feed, and fodder every day. Among all the sects in Liang Country, the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect occupies the largest territory. They have turned almost an entire prefecture into a pasture for their Spirit Beasts."

"Only when you reach the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain at the very center will you find the sect’s main mountain. The Mountain Protection Array is set up there."

After Ancestor Yangg’s explanation, Bai Zichen and Su Li finally understood.

"Fellow Daoist Hex Fang, are you passing through this land, or do you wish to visit our Ten Thousand Beasts Sect?"

Upon seeing the Taiyi Golden Scale Ship, those few Ten Thousand Beasts Sect disciples riding Flying Cranes patted their mounts and spread out into a large circle, surrounding it.

The leading cultivator had a sturdy build, with his wild hair hanging loosely over his shoulders. He wore a practical short robe, and the exposed skin on his face, neck, and arms was covered in beast-shaped tattoos.

Judging by the fluctuations of Magical Power he emitted, he was an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

His mount, a Red-Capped Silver-Winged Flying Crane, radiated the aura of a Tier Two Top Grade Spirit Beast. It flapped its wings uneasily, wanting to retreat.

It only managed to stay in place after its master did his best to soothe it.

The other Tier One Flying Cranes, however, couldn’t sense the terrifying presence within the Taiyi Golden Scale Ship and circled around it cheerfully.

"I am Yangg Xuan of the Qingfeng Sect, here to visit Master Hei Feng of your esteemed sect."

A clear, aged voice emanated from within the Taiyi Golden Scale Ship.

"So it is Master Yangg in person! This junior was unaware. Please forgive my impudence!"

The burly leader performed a deep bow from atop his Flying Crane. Although respectful, his expression showed no fear or servility.

"This junior is Fang Qing, a Steward of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s Iron-Tailed Wolf clan... Allow me to make some arrangements, and then I will guide you, True Man, to Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain to meet Junior Martial Uncle Hei Feng."

Fang Qing patted his Red-Capped Silver-Winged Flying Crane, gave a few instructions to his subordinates, then took out a signal flare and shot it into the sky. A golden star exploded at its zenith.

The light was dazzling, clearly visible even a thousand miles away.

"The Iron-Tailed Wolf is one of the five great Spirit Beast clans of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. For this person to be in charge of raising and herding them, he must be highly regarded within the sect. You two should try to interact with him more later."

Ancestor Yangg controlled the Taiyi Golden Scale Ship to follow slowly behind the Red-Capped Silver-Winged Flying Crane, showing considerable approval for Fang Qing.

’If it were me,’ Bai Zichen thought, ’I definitely wouldn’t be able to identify which sect a Core Formation True Man belonged to based on name alone.’

Furthermore, his actions in the presence of a Core Formation True Man were neither servile nor overbearing, and his conduct was measured. This was indeed not something an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator could achieve.

Of course, this was also related to the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s soaring prestige in recent years, which led its disciples to hold themselves in increasingly high regard.

With the exception of the Holy Lotus Sect, disciples of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect felt superior when encountering cultivators from other sects.

"Ancestor, do you know how many Tier Three Spirit Beasts the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect has?"

Bai Zichen watched the graceful figure of the Red-Capped Silver-Winged Flying Crane. ’Riding a Flying Spirit Beast might not be that comfortable, but its presence and style are certainly far more impressive than a Flying Spiritual Artifact’s.’

"The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect has a total of four Core Formation True Men, but they have at least nine Tier Three Spirit Beasts, at least on the surface..." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Master Yangg coughed lightly, showing great patience with his two juniors.

"Some of the extra Tier Three Spirit Beasts belonged to Core Formation True Men who have passed away; having grown accustomed to the environment of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, they did not leave after their masters died. Others are beasts that successfully advanced within the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and have not yet chosen a suitable master."

"Even without any hidden Tier Three Spirit Beasts, this strength alone is enough to look down on all rivals. It’s also the source of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect’s courage to interfere in the war between the Righteous and Demonic Dao."

"Thirteen Core Formation Level combatants... The entire Righteous Alliance, a coalition of four or five sects, barely has that many high-end combatants."

Bai Zichen was secretly alarmed, shocked by the power of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect.

Moreover, judging by the size of that Iron-Tailed Wolf pack from earlier, one could imagine that the number of Ten Thousand Beasts Sect cultivators at the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Disciple levels would also be enormous.

The Qingfeng Sect was entrenched in a corner of Black Mountain and had little interaction with outside sects. Its main enemy was the Ghost Spirit Sect.

This caused newly-promoted Foundation Establishment Cultivators like Bai Zichen to have a narrow worldview, unaware of how vast the world outside truly was.

After flying for half a day, Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain finally came into view.

It was a majestic mountain that soared into the clouds, its peak estimated to be over twenty thousand feet high. From a distance, one could hear the roars and cries of countless beasts and birds, a scene entirely different from the Qingfeng Sect.

At the foot of the mountain, there was a dense population that formed a massive city.

This was also related to the unique characteristics of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. Besides its disciples, Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain was also home to a large number of Spirit Beasts.

Its daily food consumption was ten times greater than that of a sect of equivalent size.

This huge city basically existed to provide logistical support for Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.

Fang Qing had already sent his report. By the time the Taiyi Golden Scale Ship reached the base of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, a squadron of immortal cranes flew out, forming two neat rows.

Amidst several high-pitched crane cries, the Taiyi Golden Scale Ship slowly flew into a thin white membrane. The surrounding scenery flickered, and they had already passed through the Mountain Protection Array of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.

"Master Yangg, you may follow the senior brothers from our main mountain. Junior Martial Uncle Hei Feng has already received the news and is awaiting your esteemed arrival."

Fang Qing rode his Red-Capped Silver-Winged Flying Crane over, bowed in farewell, and then sped away, returning to his duties of herding the Iron-Tailed Wolves.

He left no opportunity at all for Bai Zichen and Su Li to befriend him.