Innate Immortal Seed

"Thank you for your guidance, Master Ge."

Bai Zichen took the Jade Scroll, his expression solemn as he bowed deeply.

Insights into Core Formation—and from Master Ge Cang, a man with the potential to reach the Nascent Soul Realm, no less—would undoubtedly cause a frenzy if they were ever made public.

Although he couldn’t use it yet, given his cultivation speed, it wouldn’t be long before it proved useful.

’Those who learn from me will live; those who imitate me will die... Does Master Ge mean that the experiences of others can only serve as a reference, that everyone’s situation is different and one cannot simply copy them? No, that can’t be right. The Transmission Hall has many notes from Core Formation seniors recording their insights. Even if they aren’t of much help, they wouldn’t be as detrimental as Master Ge suggests, leading one astray so severely.’

Several thoughts flashed through Bai Zichen’s mind. ’Those who imitate me will die’ was an extremely severe choice of words.

’He only passed this to Senior Brother Wei and none of the other senior brothers... "Insufficient aptitude makes it more harmful than helpful"... Could it be that this isn’t just ordinary insight, but something related to a Pill Discussion and achieving a Perfect Core Formation?’

At this thought, everything clicked into place.

After Core Formation, even if one cultivates the same technique under the same master and follows an identical development path, different forks in the road will inevitably appear on the path to the Nascent Soul Realm.

This is the result of each cultivator with Nascent Soul potential developing their own understanding of the Great Dao and correcting their own cultivation path.

And a Pill Discussion is the embryonic form of all this.

No wonder Master Ge Cang had said, ’Those who learn from me will live; those who imitate me will die.’ If one were to copy it completely, they would never be able to form their own Pill Discussion.

Far from clarifying the path, it would actually hinder a normal Core Formation.

’He didn’t even give it to Senior Brother Dai? It seems that in Master Ge’s eyes, Senior Brother Dai Hui’s chances of forming a core aren’t high... Or perhaps his talent is limited, and it’s not suitable for him to be distracted by other things before Core Formation.’

As a hundred thoughts raced through Bai Zichen’s mind, he stood with his hands at his sides and heard Master Ge Cang speak again.

"In that case, accompany this old man to meet the two True Men from the Five Elements Sect... You fought alongside them and have a good rapport. It will be easier for them to accept the Secret Technique if you are the one to present it."

With a wave of his sleeve, Master Ge Cang took a single step with Bai Zichen in tow, and the center of the lake was already in sight.

With another step, they were on the Lake Heart Island.

Bai Zichen was dumbfounded. He hadn’t even felt a trace of an Escape Technique being activated, yet they had crossed ten li in an instant. What an astonishing Divine Technique.

"Once you reach Foundation Establishment Perfection and can advance no further, you can also cultivate the Five Crystal Glaze Body... After you’ve made some progress, you’ll be able to use this Inch and Mile Divine Technique."

Master Ge Cang seemed to sense his astonishment. Knowing that his nephew possessed a Spirit Body and cultivated at an extremely fast pace, he explained.

He would only recommend this profound and mysterious Body Refining Technique to a disciple like Bai Zichen, who had ample time to cultivate and wasn’t so pressed that wasting a few years on a single step would cause them to miss the optimal window for a breakthrough.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have even mentioned it.

He had even repeatedly warned his own Direct Disciple, Qi Yue, not to touch the Five Crystal Glaze Body at his current stage.

"I saw this Body Refining Technique in the Transmission Hall and was interested in it at the time. I even exchanged for it and practiced it a little, though I haven’t invested much time into it... When Ancestor Yangg was alive, he mentioned that you had already reached the third layer. Could it be that one gains this Divine Technique after mastering the Five Crystal Permanent Casting Body?"

The Five Crystal Body and the Glazed Body showed no external characteristics unless actively channeled.

Master Ge Cang wouldn’t use his True Essence to probe the Sect’s most outstanding junior for no reason. At most, he would only think that Nephew Bai had a strong physical body and had dabbled in a Body Refining Technique.

’Compared to others, I really haven’t spent much time on the Five Crystal Glaze Body. It’s not a lie...’

"Back then, I had an Alchemy Grandmaster from the Holy Lotus Sect refine the flesh and blood of the Flood Dragon from Feiyue Lake into a Body Refining Elixir... I also obtained two Body Refining Spiritual Objects in the Lotus Secret Realm. With all this help, I was able to master the fourth layer, the Glazed Fire Divine Body, and thus gained this Divine Technique."

After landing, Master Ge Cang began walking at a normal pace, explaining his Body Refining Realm.

"The fourth layer, the Glazed Fire Divine Body..."

Bai Zichen’s expression was wooden. He could only say that Master Ge Cang truly deserved his reputation as the most talented individual in the Qingfeng Sect in a thousand years.

The fourth layer of the Five Crystal Glaze Body was already on par with the realm the Qingfeng Sect’s founding ancestor had achieved in this Body Refining Technique.

No wonder he was able to single-handedly face a Tier Three Array at the Ghost Spirit Sect’s Mountain Gate and swiftly defeat a cultivator of the same level.

With a Body Technique like Inch and Mile that was practically teleportation, how many Core Formation Cultivators could withstand the ferocious attacks of the Glazed Fire Divine Body once he got close?

"Unfortunately, I will never be able to master the final layer... For one, there are no traces of the two Tier Five Spiritual Materials, Five Crystal Divine Iron and Glazed Fire Jade, in the Cultivation Realm anymore. For another, the final layer of this Body Refining Technique requires fusing the properties of both spiritual materials to fundamentally alter one’s own form, which conflicts with the path I am currently on."

Master Ge Cang sighed softly. It was a great pity that he couldn’t cultivate such a supremely powerful Body Refining Technique to its final stage.

But as someone with a Wood Element Celestial Spiritual Root, he had long since determined his own path.

Following his current path, he had a high chance of touching upon the Great Dao’s True Intent and successfully forming a Nascent Soul.

In the face of the Great Dao, he would naturally never alter his fundamental path for the sake of a single Body Refining Technique.

"Qingfeng’s Ge Cang has come to visit you two fellow Daoists... Is this a convenient time?"

Master Ge Cang stopped before a quiet pavilion.

"Master Ge, your presence honors us. There’s no need for such pleasantries..."

Master Hei Shui’s gentle, almost eerie voice drifted out as the pavilion’s main door opened on its own. With a ripple of light, he appeared at the entrance, carrying a hint of dampness with him.

Bai Zichen followed behind him into the pavilion and saw Master Qingmu, who had only recently awakened.

"I am injured and cannot properly greet you. I hope Master Ge will forgive me..."

Master Qingmu was seated on a high platform, surrounded by nine sections of withered tree stumps. Wisps of green light flowed between them, casting his entire body in an azure glow.

"I was still unconscious a few days ago, so I was unaware that you had used a Primordial Ten Thousand Wood Pill to save me. I have yet to thank you, Master Ge."

"Fellow Daoist Qingmu, your words bring this old man shame. You both traveled thousands of miles to Black Mountain to aid Qingfeng. You have done my Sect a great service... A mere elixir is not worth mentioning."

As someone with a Wood Element Celestial Spiritual Root, Master Ge Cang had much in common with Master Qingmu when it came to cultivation.

After just a few sentences, Master Qingmu’s expression filled with admiration. It was as if the man before him wasn’t a Core Formation Cultivator, but a senior True Monarch who had lived for centuries.

Every piece of insight on cultivation he shared was farsighted, his perspective far beyond his own.

"You two fellow Daoists have contributed a great deal on this trip, and you even escorted Nephew Bai back to Feiyue Lake... This junior has a Secret Technique that might be of use to the disciples of the Five Elements Sect, so I have come to offer it."

Master Ge Cang gestured with his hand, speaking in a seemingly casual tone.

Bai Zichen quickly took out the prepared Jade Scroll and respectfully presented it to Master Qingmu.

"Nephew Bai, you’re too kind..."

Master Qingmu smiled and waved his hand dismissively, but seeing Bai Zichen’s determined attitude, he accepted the Jade Scroll.

He knew very well that the stated reason—presenting a Secret Technique for escorting Nephew Bai safely back to Feiyue Lake—was just a pretext.

It was clearly a gift of gratitude chosen by the Qingfeng Sect to repay him and his junior brother for their help.

Although he hadn’t traveled to Black Mountain and risked his life fighting a Demon Cultivator whose cultivation was higher than his own for the sake of a reward, the Qingfeng Sect’s gesture still brought him a sense of relief. His efforts had not been in vain.

"Your Sect’s legacy is naturally extraordinary. It is worthy of my sect’s careful study. After I return, I will ensure the disciples of the Five Elements Sect absorb its essence..."

Master Qingmu accepted the Jade Scroll and casually scanned it with his Divine Sense, only to freeze on the spot.

He quickly skimmed the contents of the Jade Scroll, looked up at Master Ge Cang and Bai Zichen, and then read through the Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique again in disbelief.

With the eye of a Core Formation True Man, he could naturally discern the importance of this Secret Technique at a single glance.

Extending one’s life by thirty years was nothing remarkable, but to burn that extended lifespan for a ten percent increase in the probability of Core Formation was simply outrageous.

This meant that every disciple at Foundation Establishment Perfection who cultivated the Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique would essentially have a Core Formation Spiritual Object at their disposal.

A Secret Technique of this caliber could only be found in a Nascent Soul Major Sect.

He had never heard of any Core Formation Level Sect possessing a Secret Technique that could aid in Core Formation.

Master Qingmu knew how precious the Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique was. The light Jade Scroll in his hand felt heavier than a mountain.

He wanted to refuse and return it, but when he thought of the technique’s importance to the Five Elements Sect, he was torn. In the end, it all turned into a long sigh as he handed the Jade Scroll to Master Hei Shui.

Master Hei Shui read the Jade Scroll and likewise fell silent.

"Master Ge, Nephew Bai, this Secret Technique is too valuable. Logically, we absolutely cannot accept it... But with this technique, it’s as if our sect’s disciples will have a Core Formation Spiritual Object for generations to come. It is of immense use to the Five Elements Sect, so we can only shamelessly accept."

Master Qingmu spoke very slowly, as if contemplating something of great importance.

"Since we have accepted a gift from a junior, we as elders cannot fail to give something in return... Nephew Bai, I saw you using a Flying Sword that day. This Secret Technique is related to Flying Swords; an ancestor of my Qingmu Lineage obtained it a thousand years ago. Although it cannot compare to the Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique, it is a token of our appreciation."

Bai Zichen glanced at Master Ge Cang. Only after seeing him nod slightly did he step forward to accept the palm-sized Spirit Leaf that Master Qingmu had taken out.

With the purpose of their visit accomplished, Master Ge Cang casually brought up a couple of anecdotes from the Cultivation Realm and began chatting with the two fellow Daoists.

For a time, both guests and hosts were in high spirits.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, considering Master Qingmu’s injuries, they took their leave so as not to disturb him any further.

"Master Ge, what should I do with this Spirit Leaf..."

After leaving the Lake Heart Island, Bai Zichen held up the Spirit Leaf in his hand and asked.

He had made a trip to deliver the Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique and had somehow ended up with a legacy Secret Technique from the Qingmu Lineage of the Five Elements Sect.

"Since it is a Sword-Controlling Secret Technique, and Fellow Daoist Qingmu nominally gifted it to you, you can just accept it... Given his character, the technique he offered won’t be a poor one. After you’ve studied it, you can submit it to the Transmission Hall in your own name."

Master Ge Cang waved his hand, completely unconcerned about the so-called Flying Sword secret technique.

At his level, he lacked for nothing—not Top-Level Cultivation Techniques, various Secret Techniques, or numerous Divine Techniques.

He was long past the stage of coveting more; he had no interest in things that were useless to his own Great Dao.