Innate Immortal Seed

True Monarch Jiulian’s decree clearly ranked Master Ge Cang among the strongest Core Formation True Men in the Liang Country Cultivation Realm.

This was despite him being a step behind in terms of his Cultivation Realm.

If Blood God True Man and Fang Tiancheng were summoned to investigate the annihilation of Cien Temple,

then summoning the three otherwise unrelated individuals most likely meant preparing for Combat at the Core Formation Layer.

"Master, what about the Holy Lotus Sect’s own Core Formation True Men? If there’s really going to be Combat, is True Monarch Jiulian planning to use only outsiders, without a single one of his Sect’s Cultivators taking the field?"

’Brother Qi always seems to be on the same wavelength as me,’ Bai Zichen praised silently. ’He asked the very question on my mind.’

"I’m not boasting, but none of the so-called Saint Heirs and Saintesses from the Holy Lotus Sect’s recent generations could last thirty moves against me... The newest Saint Heir, Qu Yang, is actually quite good. He has a Fire Element Celestial Spiritual Root, but he only just reached Core Formation during the last Lotus Secret Realm. His Cultivation is still too low."

Master Ge Cang’s voice was soft, but his words were incredibly domineering, treating the Holy Lotus Sect’s Saint Heirs and Saintesses as if they were worthless.

"Most of the Holy Lotus Sect’s Core Formation Perfection Elders were propped up by resources, so their chances of forming a Nascent Soul are minuscule... If that weren’t the case, True Monarch Jiulian wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to convince me to switch to the Holy Lotus Sect."

’So the Holy Lotus Sect, which seems so endlessly glorious, has such a hidden weakness...’

Bai Zichen’s thoughts churned. A Nascent Soul Major Sect like Holy Lotus Sect would undoubtedly fall back into its darkest era the moment it lost its reigning Nascent Soul True Monarch.

But for the Qingfeng Sect, this wasn’t necessarily bad news.

True Monarch Jiulian still had over a hundred years of life, at the very least. If everything went smoothly, the Qingfeng Sect’s power could grow to an unimaginable extent by then.

"If things truly escalate to a Combat showdown, the Core Formation Cultivators invited by Ju Bo Arhat will undoubtedly be experts from Beiyuan... This is a great opportunity for you to broaden your horizons. If you travel more, you might find inspiration for an epiphany. Those who cultivate in seclusion for years can easily become lost in a self-imposed fog, completely unaware."

Master Ge Cang’s words were obviously directed at Bai Zichen. Unless a person mentioned it themselves, there were no outward signs that they had formed a Pill Discussion.

He was clearly worried that Bai Zichen—a rare Nascent Soul Seed for the Qingfeng Sect, whose talent was great enough to be a Saint Heir in the Holy Lotus Sect—would burn himself out by focusing too much on his Pill Discussion.

"Thank you for the advice, Junior Martial Uncle Ge."

’If this had happened just two years later,’ Bai Zichen muttered to himself, ’you would have seen a Perfect Foundation Establishment Cultivator who mastered his craft in seclusion, one who had even formed a Pill Discussion and was ready to attempt Perfect Core Formation.’

Still, the chance to witness a Combat between the most elite Core Formation True Men up close was something he found quite intriguing.

Especially since they hailed from various sects, including cultivators from beyond Liang Country’s borders.

Even if he couldn’t master the strengths of every school, at least he’d gain some understanding, so he wouldn’t be completely clueless when he traveled to other countries in the future.

Among them, Wan Qi, the Supreme Elder of the Sun Concealing Sword Sect, interested him the most.

For a century, Wan Qi had been known as the First Sword Cultivator of the Liang Country Cultivation Realm, a position no one had been able to challenge.

Besides the fact that the Sun Concealing Sword Sect was the only sect in Liang Country that specialized in the dao of the Flying Sword—meaning there was little competition—he himself undoubtedly possessed true skill in the Sword Dao.

As a fellow Sword Cultivator, Bai Zichen was deeply curious about the Supreme Elder’s Sword Dao Realm.

’I wonder if he’s reached the Great Success stage of Sword Qi Thunder Sound, or if he’s already at the Refining Sword into Silk Realm... If he fights, I must watch him closely and learn what I can by drawing parallels.’

Bai Zichen guessed the Supreme Elder’s Sword Dao was somewhere between the Perfection of the Second Realm and the Third Realm.

As for the next level, Sword Light Division, that was out of the question.

Even a Sword Dao prodigy like the Star River Sword Monarch was only at the Fourth Realm of Sword Dao.

If Wan Qi had reached the Sword Light Division realm, his fame would have long since spread far beyond this region.

The Fourth Realm of Sword Dao, the realm of One Sword Births Ten Thousand Techniques, was enough to allow a Perfect Core Formation Sword Cultivator to fight above their level.

Defeating a Nascent Soul True Monarch was impossible, of course, but they could at least last for several hundred moves against the weakest Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

When it came to comprehending the Sword Dao Realms, Bai Zichen had the *True Understanding of Sword Dao* from the Star River Sword Monarch—the very essence of the Taibai Sword Sect’s knowledge.

For learning swordsmanship techniques, he had the *True Enlightenment Sword Technique*, a compilation of all the swordsmanship achievements from the Sword Cultivators of the Naihe Sect over tens of thousands of years.

One could say that, aside from the lack of a renowned master’s guidance, Bai Zichen’s Sword Dao heritage was no worse than that of a Core Disciple from any Sword Cultivation Sect—in fact, it was superior.

This lack of guidance wasn’t a major problem, thanks to his Mysterious Sacred Body and his own considerable aptitude for the Sword Dao.

At worst, he might take a few detours while cultivating certain swordsmanship techniques, wasting a little time.

But he would always find his way back to the correct path in the end.

Having said his piece to the two, Master Ge Cang closed his eyes, centering himself and adjusting his state.

If it came to an actual Combat, his opponent would certainly be one of the best among the Perfect Core Formation Cultivators. Since he was a realm behind, victory would not come easily.

After all, the Beiyuan region was more than ten times the size of Liang Country, and it produced an endless stream of astonishing, demon-level talents.

However, Beiyuan was not like Liang Country, where only the Holy Lotus Sect reigned supreme.

Beiyuan had three Nascent Soul Level powers alone.

Even within the Dharma Aspect Sect, Ju Bo Arhat was merely the Supreme Elder of a single branch. He was a far cry from True Monarch Jiulian, whose Words Become Law and who could command the obedience of every cultivator in the entire Liang Country Cultivation Realm.

Bai Zichen and Qi Yue quietly backed away, not wanting to disturb Master Ge Cang.

On the sixth day, the Flying Ship suddenly shook; it had finally left the Ten Thousand Feet Gang Wind Layer.

It circled once in the air, pinpointed its destination, and plunged down.

...

「In Burial Immortal Valley.」

Upon entering the valley, one could see countless coffins packed so densely that they covered half the mountainside.

On a hundred-zhang-tall Magic Altar at the valley’s center, a monk and a Daoist priest sat opposite one another.

Surrounding the Magic Altar were over a dozen cultivators, all of them shockingly Core Formation True Men.

Among them, three monks in yellow robes and red kasayas were particularly conspicuous. They sat on the ground with their legs crossed, their hands forming the Flower-Picking Finger mudra.

Their expressions, a faint smile that wasn’t quite a smile, were filled with Zen-like tranquility. A heavy Buddha Light flowed unceasingly around them.

As time went on, the Buddha Light grew thicker and heavier, and the power it emanated began to faintly surpass the Perfect Core Formation Realm.

"Hmph. A hollow bluff!"

Blood God True Man’s expression was grim. No one would feel comfortable being targeted by an Arhat Monk.

He was confident in the profundity of his Hundred Demons Blood Sea Technique. As long as the Blood Sea did not run dry, he was immortal and undying.

He had no fear of being surrounded by several Perfect Core Formation Cultivators; even if outmatched, he possessed the skill to escape.

But against a figure on the level of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, his so-called ’immortal and undying’ trait was a complete joke.

A casual strike from a Nascent Soul True Monarch might only contain a few times more True Essence than that of a Perfect Core Formation Cultivator, but the crucial difference was the Great Dao True Intent it held—as vast as the sea, as deep as an abyss.

It was powerful enough to be transmitted through a single drop of blood to every single one of his Blood Sea clones, wiping out any possibility of him being reborn from the Blood Sea.

If True Monarch Jiulian were to abandon him, Blood God True Man genuinely didn’t believe he could escape Ju Bo Arhat’s grasp and flee back to Great Li to seek his senior brother’s protection.

"And isn’t this mess all your fault!"

A sloppily dressed, middle-aged man standing nearby with his tall hat askew wore a woeful expression. He continuously drank from a wine jug, a large, damp stain spreading across his chest.

"Peng Zefeng, I’ve told you many times... That day, I was in the thick of a heated Combat with Fellow Daoist Fang. It would have been impossible for me to send a clone to Burial Immortal Valley and wipe out everyone in Cien Temple."

Blood God True Man whirled around, glaring furiously.

"Someone is trying to frame me! If I ever find out who it is, it’ll be a fight to the death!"

"Within Liang Country, and even in the several surrounding countries, there aren’t many Demon Cultivators with such power... Even Ju Bo Arhat said that the attacker is already extremely close to the Nascent Soul Realm, which is how they could leave no trace of their actions."

Peng Zefeng took another large gulp of Spirit Wine and staggered, his words thick with the reek of alcohol.

"Everyone knows you come from a Major Sect, Blood God True Man. So you didn’t do it yourself... what about your brothers in the sect?"

Blood God True Man fell silent. On the surface, it was true—he was the prime suspect.

Although annihilating Cien Temple offered no benefit to the Blood Demon Sect, the image of Demon Path Cultivators—cruel, heartless, and vengeful over the slightest offense—was firmly seared into every cultivator’s mind.

It was plausible that Blood God True Man could have annihilated Cien Temple out of sheer rage or as a show of force to intimidate others.

"Enough. Now is not the time to argue. Let’s wait for the outcome of the True Monarch’s discussion with Ju Bo Arhat... Regardless, the Dharma Aspect Sect must be given an explanation."

Fang Tiancheng glanced at the distant Magic Altar, his silver hair fluttering in the wind.

"Deciding right and wrong through Combat is actually a good option. Win or lose, Ju Bo Arhat will have stood up for the Buddhist Cultivators who came to him for refuge, even going so far as to confront a Nascent Soul True Monarch of the same rank... That alone is more than enough."

As they spoke, they had all cast Forbidden seals.

With so many layers stacked, it would be impossible even for a Nascent Soul True Monarch to eavesdrop without alerting them.

"True Monarch Jiulian also invited a ’Ge Cang’. Who is he, and why is he included among us?"

In the farthest corner of their group stood a cultivator cradling a sword. With downcast eyes and a plain gray robe, he kept an extremely low profile.

No onlooker would ever imagine that this gray-robed cultivator was Wan Qi, the Supreme Elder of the Sun Concealing Sword Sect, who had held the title of Liang Country’s First Sword Cultivator for nearly a century.

"I have had a few dealings with Ge Cang. His strength is unfathomable; he cannot be judged as an ordinary cultivator... Since True Monarch Jiulian invited him, he can’t be that far beneath our level."

Fang Tiancheng spoke.

’Ge Cang fought me to a near standstill when he was only at the Mid-Stage Core Formation. Now that he’s at the Late-Stage, he’s certainly even stronger... No need to enlighten these ignorant fools.’

Peng Zefeng sneered inwardly. As an Honored Guest Elder of the Holy Lotus Sect, he had known Master Ge Cang for many years and had even clashed with him once.

At this thought, he tipped his head back and emptied the jug down his throat, the Spirit Wine flowing like an endless mountain spring. He drank enough to fill several large vats.

"Ju Bo Arhat, I have already explained it to you very clearly. The man was not killed by the Blood God Son... He had an alibi for that time and lacks the ability to be in two places at once. Furthermore, none of the Demon Cultivators under his command possess such skill."

In appearance, True Monarch Jiulian was a handsome young cultivator, but his voice was weathered by the vicissitudes of time, honed by ages past.

"Jiulian Benefactor, there is no need for further words... Inner consciousness is not nothingness, but attachments must be relinquished. My Nephew Ruyi was on his way to join our sect when his entire temple met with disaster. Not even their Divine Souls remain. This is a tribulation."

Ju Bo Arhat was an old monk with a kind and gentle face. He wore a string of Bodhi Beads around his neck and held a Golden Alms Bowl in his hand.

"I, this humble monk, replied and granted Nephew Ruyi’s request to relocate his sect. I have shouldered his karma, and therefore, I must see this matter to its conclusion."