The Zhoutian Immortal Sect had innumerable subordinate sects scattered throughout the middle and lower worlds. Yet although those sects belonged to lower worlds, their members could not forget their obligations.
Consequently, every subordinate sect master was required to visit the Qianyuan Great World once every thousand years as a matter of course. Outstanding disciples of subordinate sects also had to be absorbed into the main sect once they met certain standards, to cultivate there under its guidance.
This arrangement was certainly beneficial to those exceptional disciples. Support from the main sect greatly increased their chances of attaining immortality and benefited their original sects as well. At the same time, however, entering the main sect greatly increased the possibility of dying along the way. The dangers of the Qianyuan Great World far exceeded those of the Qingyun Great World.
Xu Ziqing had another question. “Sect Master, how did the Zhoutian Immortal Sect learn about Senior Brother?”
The Sect Master sighed softly. “Every master of a subordinate sect is bound to the Zhoutian Immortal Sect by profound karmic ties that are difficult to explain. Disciples who enter the inner sect likewise form a connection with me as their Sect Master. Several powerful experts in the main sect possess methods of immortal divination. Through these karmic connections, they need only calculate with their fingers to learn what they wish. The main sect performs such divinations every fifty years. They must have conducted one recently, which led to this decree.”
After considering that, Xu Ziqing asked, “What kind of disciple qualifies for this honor?”
The Sect Master looked toward Yun Lie, admiration flickering in his eyes. “Anyone who forms a Nascent Soul before three hundred years of age must be accepted into the main sect. Yun Lie has reached his realm before turning two hundred, which is extremely rare in our world. Even in the Qianyuan Great World, his aptitude would be considered exceptional.”
Xu Ziqing looked at Senior Brother with considerable pride.
His senior brother’s abilities could never be underestimated, wherever he might go!
The Sect Master smiled reassuringly. “But you need not be anxious. Although the Zhoutian Immortal Sect is the main sect, our Wuling lineage has not been without people there over the years. When you arrive, members of our lineage will contact you and offer assistance.” He paused and continued, “The main sect is likely to hold many dangers. This time only Yun Lie has earned the opportunity by his own qualifications. Xu Ziqing is permitted to accompany him as his Dao companion under a special exception. No servants or other relatives may follow. You must therefore be careful in everything you do.”
Xu Ziqing had been worrying about what would happen to him. Hearing that he would not have to separate from Senior Brother relieved him considerably. He nodded with a smile. “We certainly won’t bring shame upon our sect.”
Yun Lie also nodded and agreed.
The Sect Master gave them several further instructions and bestowed numerous gifts.
Among them were more than ten gleaming treasure artifacts, many spiritual artifacts of differing grades, and a large quantity of spirit stones, all intended to help the two establish themselves.
Whatever dangers the Qianyuan Great World held, being chosen by the main sect was undoubtedly an honor.
Because Yun Lie had earned it, the Sect Master also granted him a second-rank spirit vein and two third-rank spirit veins as his private property.
Given such generous rewards, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie thanked him again and returned to make their preparations.
After a few more days, the Sect Master would employ his great power to break through the barriers between the great worlds and send them into the Qianyuan Great World.
Once they arrived, someone would come to receive them.
After returning, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie became very busy.
First came the arrangements for their disciples. They had only just completed twenty years of instruction, but now they could no longer continue teaching them. The disciples would have to cultivate independently again. Their masters offered guidance about their future paths, advising them to prioritize their states of mind while continuing to accumulate cultivation. If they met difficulties, they could consult their grandmaster Perfected Qiu He. Qiu He had many friends who might help when he could not resolve a problem himself.
With their disciples settled, Xu Ziqing hesitated repeatedly but eventually decided not to bring Chonghua.
Chonghua was an exceptionally fast flier and could certainly prove useful. But they knew nothing of the complicated dangers within the Zhoutian Immortal Sect. If they took Chonghua there and something happened to him, Xu Ziqing might regret it for the rest of his life.
Chonghua seemed to understand. His mind was closely connected to Xu Ziqing’s, so he did not cling to him. Yet beneath his low cries was a faint sense of resolve: he would train still harder.
Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie then visited their master and explained the situation to Perfected Qiu He from beginning to end.
Although Qiu He was honored by the news, he was even more concerned about his disciples’ safety. He gave them earnest instructions for a long time before reluctantly setting his worries aside.
Xu Ziqing hesitated over one matter but ultimately said nothing.
It concerned Perfected Qiu He’s future attempt to form a Nascent Soul.
Qiu He was only at middle Golden Core, but when his state of mind reached the necessary level and he had accumulated enough cultivation, he could use the Posuo Fruit to try forming a Nascent Soul in a single leap.
Yet the fruit offered an eighty-percent chance of success, leaving a twenty-percent possibility of failure.
Xu Ziqing had originally wanted to ask Master to temper his cultivation carefully and not attempt the breakthrough too soon. If he waited until Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie returned from the Qianyuan Great World, they could stand guard while he underwent it and improve his chances.
But another thought made Xu Ziqing reconsider.
The road of immortal cultivation was difficult by nature. Having a Dao companion beside one was already exceptionally fortunate. In other matters, cultivators ought to rely on themselves so that they could temper their resolve and continue advancing.
Xu Ziqing and Senior Brother had already procured the Posuo Fruit and used Flesh Upon Bones to restore Master to health and youth. If they also insisted on controlling even the remaining twenty-percent risk of failure, who exactly would be forming the Nascent Soul: Master, or the two of them?
Even if their assistance ensured success, Qiu He might become the weakest of Nascent Soul cultivators, with little hope for further progress on his immortal path.
Having considered this, Xu Ziqing abandoned his earlier plan.
Yun Lie, meanwhile, raised a finger and drew a sword mark about an inch deep on the nearby stone wall.
The mark released an extraordinarily sharp sword qi. Even from several chi away, it felt capable of slicing the skin of one’s face.
As long as the mark remained, Yun Lie would still be safe. If it vanished, he would have fallen completely, with not even his primordial spirit surviving.
He had done this simply to reassure Perfected Qiu He.
Xu Ziqing understood the intention immediately and silently admired Senior Brother’s thoughtfulness.
Learning what the sword mark meant, Perfected Qiu He felt greatly comforted as well.
After talking together for half a day, Xu Ziqing returned to the mountain with Senior Brother to prepare their belongings.
With storage bracelets and rings at their disposal, Xu Ziqing packed everything useful except the items they had left to their disciples.
Only after considering everything repeatedly were they satisfied that nothing had been forgotten.
They then sent word to the Sect Master.
The Sect Master’s sleeves billowed as he became a streak of light, racing forward with tremendous speed.
Though still only an incarnation, it possessed cultivation at the Soul Transformation stage, far stronger than Yun Lie at present.
Yun Lie drew Xu Ziqing partly into his arms, turned into black-gold escape light, and followed closely.
Despite the Sect Master’s extraordinary speed, Yun Lie kept pace and was never left behind, remaining within three steps of him throughout.
The two streaks of light, one in front of the other, entered a region of desolate mountains and wilderness.
The place looked no different from any other, but after arriving, Xu Ziqing faintly sensed something unusual.
He had noticed it neither through spiritual sense nor with his physical eyes. It was simply a feeling.
It came from the vigorous wild grasses and sparse trees growing across the mountain wilderness.
With one glance, the Sect Master noticed Xu Ziqing’s response, and satisfaction flashed through his eyes.
This disciple’s future prospects might well be no less than Yun Lie’s.
The two were truly a pair made for each other.
Having a disciple as outstanding as Yun Lie in the Wuling Immortal Sect, one whom the main sect had chosen to accept, gave the Sect Master considerable concern for his safety, but also stirred excitement within him.
Others saw only the glory of the Wuling Immortal Sect standing supreme in the Eastern Region of the Qingyun Great World. He, however, knew that the Wuling lineage’s position within the Zhoutian Immortal Sect had been weakening steadily.
It had been many years since fresh talent had joined their main-sect branch.
During competitions for resources, gaps in their ranks repeatedly left them at a serious disadvantage.
If this continued and the Wuling lineage suffered constant suppression, its standing in the main sect would decline ever further. Eventually even other second-rank sect branches might be able to bully it.
Now Yun Lie had formed a Nascent Soul before two hundred years of age, and his exceptionally domineering sword Dao gave him tremendous offensive power.
His Dao companion Xu Ziqing was only at late Golden Core, yet the Sect Master could faintly sense a power within him that felt dangerous even to the Sect Master. Once fully nurtured, it could achieve earthshaking feats. Because he was Yun Lie’s Dao companion, he could enter the Qianyuan Great World earlier than he would otherwise be permitted, and his accomplishments would surely be greater than if he remained trapped in the Qingyun Great World.
So long as he did not die halfway along the path, he too would become a pillar of strength for the Wuling lineage!
Though these thoughts passed through the Sect Master’s mind, his expression betrayed nothing. With a sweep of his sleeve, the surrounding wilderness suddenly changed.
It was as though a thin gauze veil had been lifted, revealing a pillar that supported the heavens, piercing straight into the clouds!
The three rose into the air and raced upward as streaks of light, reaching its summit before long.
When they landed, Xu Ziqing abruptly discovered that the ground beneath his feet was perfectly level, as though carved from jade without the slightest flaw.
The Sect Master raised one hand. In his palm appeared an object resembling a golden mace, about the length of a forearm, round at the upper end and sharp at the lower, with a piercing tip.
He lifted it and drew a decisive stroke through the void ahead.
In an instant a point of black light shot from its tip, tearing open the void as though slitting a curtain.
A narrow black crack appeared directly ahead.
The crack rapidly stretched and lengthened, its sides being pulled farther and farther apart as though something were ripping them open.
Within several breaths, the naked eye could see it expanding into a great opening!
It was a black, unfathomably deep hole, filled with innumerable raging hurricanes!
Xu Ziqing sucked in a breath.
Those hurricanes were enormous. Even before they escaped the opening, he felt as though they might tear him apart!
If he were caught within them, even the body of a Golden Core cultivator might not withstand their destructive force.
Unless… he wrapped himself in Rongjin.
He began calculating the possibility.
The Sect Master was an honorable man and probably would not object to Rongjin. But however remarkable Rongjin was, his growth from Xu Ziqing’s own flesh and blood depended upon true essence, which could easily be consumed.
What would happen if Xu Ziqing exhausted his true essence halfway through and Rongjin was forced to withdraw?
At that moment the Sect Master smiled. “The storm within this world gate is no ordinary thing. Passing through by yourselves would consume a great deal of strength. It wouldn’t be worthwhile. Save your strength for the main sect. Allow me to take care of these minor difficulties along the way.”
As he spoke, his sleeve swept outward and drew both men into it.
Then his body flickered, became a point of light, and plunged into the boundless darkness.