Chapter 219 : Sect’s Generous Reward
Chapter 219: Sect’s Generous Reward
Chen Beiwu followed the sound and looked; he saw a young woman of fine age in plain robes step out in front of the Elders’ Hall.
Her voice had peal like thunder, and an overwhelming aura issued from her body that made Foundation Establishment cultivators feel chills.
That aura was not a deliberately emitted magical or spirit-pressure, but arose from a gap in life-tier.
Strictly speaking, a Golden Core True Person who had condensed immortal power could no longer be called merely human, but was a higher-level lifeform — an existence from another dimension.
Such an existence, if it deliberately controlled its aura, could even crush a early Foundation Establishment cultivator outright.
Moreover, the Golden Core elder standing before the Elders’ Hall was Yu Zhaoli, the Lord of the Talisman Hall, one of the top Golden Core True Persons among the Five Great Sects, revered by Earth-Proliferation Territory cultivators as the Futu True Person.
Yet above Yu Zhaoli’s head Chen Beiwu saw a dark, cloud-like omen blotting out her golden fate-radiance — an ill-fated calamity aura.
“Such terrifying doom!” Chen Beiwu felt a chill in his heart.
To bear so dire an omen, the Golden Core elder was either approaching the limit of her lifespan or facing a great calamity.
If Elder Yu could survive this calamity that would be fortunate; if not, she would die and her Dao would be extinguished.
“Could this ill omen be related to today’s summoning of the Golden Bell?” he wondered.
Chen Beiwu glanced again at the surrounding Foundation Establishment cultivators and exhaled in relief.
If a great calamity truly threatened the sect and an event that could slay a Golden Core True Person had occurred, the Foundation disciples present would each bear scarlet doom-auras above their heads, not still shine with resplendent fate-radiance.
Paying no heed to the reverent gazes from the disciples below, Yu Zhaoli said in a deep voice, “Four months ago, the heavenly phenomenon ‘All Stars Extinguished’ appeared; the heavenly mechanisms shifted greatly, and it caused a Nascent-Soul True Realm to break through the void.”
“This secret realm was the residence left behind when True Monarch Tianyan dissolved his body and sat in final repose six thousand years ago.
“The Ancestor deduced the heavenly mechanisms and calculated that the place of his sitting-and-dissolution concealed a fourth-grade natal-magnitude treasure, the Tianyan Star-Chart Disk, which masked the heavenly mechanisms and set a great array to prohibit True Monarchs from entering.
“Only Foundation Establishment cultivators may enter the Tianyan True Realm; otherwise the secret realm will self-destruct under the great array’s power.”
“Therefore, by the Ancestor’s decree:”
“Disciples of the Mirror Moon, Illusory Sea, Cold Marrow, Deep Still, Flowing Cup and Empty Spring lineages — each shall lead inner-branch Foundation elite; under my lead and that of True Monarch Nine-Palace, they shall enter the Tianyan True Realm to contend with disciples of the Profound Sword Pavilion, Greenwood Sect, Blazing Flame Sect and Heavy Gold Sect for the True Monarch’s inheritance.”
As he spoke, six jade talismans flew from Elder Yu’s sleeve and merged into the brows of six true-transmission disciples.
“Each of you true-transmission disciples was supremely talented. Whoever obtained the True Monarch’s inheritance — the Tianyan Star-Chart Disk — or the fourth-grade Infant-Forming Profound Pill within the secret realm would become the era’s top true-transmission, receive a portion of superior-grade Earthly Sha Qi, three Golden-Palace Pills and three Three-Turn Qi-Yuan Pills, and become a candidate for the Mirror Moon Sect’s sect leader.”
Where great reward lay, brave men would appear.
At those words the six true-transmission disciples’ expressions remained unchanged, while the Foundation Establishment cultivators on the plaza grew restless and began to mutter.
“There are three Golden-Palace Pills and Three-Turn Qi-Yuan Pills to take — even a pig at the peak of Foundation Establishment could advance to Golden Core by taking them!”
“That’s not right; there have been Nascent-Soul True Realms breaking from the void before, but the sect never promised rewards this lavish.”
“Exactly — the richer the reward, the more dangerous that Tianyan True Realm must be!”
“Indeed. I think that Tianyan True Monarch was most likely a high Nascent-Soul cultivator; otherwise the sect would not spend so much.”
“A True Monarch of that caliber — how could our Foundation-stage selves covet the place of his sitting-and-dissolution!”
“Ridiculous. The path of cultivation is about competing. If we can snatch a True Monarch’s inheritance, wouldn’t we have a chance at Golden Core?”
Listening to the surrounding cultivators’ talk, Chen Beiwu’s eyes darkened slightly; he grew interested.
If the Tianyan True Realm prohibited Nascent-Soul True Monarchs and Golden Core True Persons, then he would be near-invincible within it.
He knew that when he and Golden Egg had jointly driven the Fish-Leap-Dragon-Gate True Spirit Diagram, even a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator had to choke with regret and fall.
Unless ill fortune had him face a gang-up from peak Foundation cultivators of the other Four Great Sects.
Even so, Chen Beiwu had confidence he could withdraw safely.
When the Foundation disciples’ discussions had subsided, Yu Zhaoli spoke again, her voice covering the entire training plaza.
“The Tianyan True Realm contains countless rarities and treasures. Not only true-transmission disciples; if any of you Foundation disciples wish to contend for the opportunity, you may register within the Elders’ Hall today.”
“By sect law, cultivable resources obtained in the Tianyan True Realm must surrender fifty percent.”
“Disciples who submit their Golden-Palace Pills forfeit may gain priority to exchange for Golden-Palace Pills.”
“Inner-branch disciples who obtain the True Monarch’s inheritance and the Infant-Forming Profound Pill will also receive many benefits reserved for the era’s top true-transmission.”
As her words fell, Elder Yu’s figure vanished.
“The Earth-Proliferation Territory is going to change.” Senior Sister Yun murmured.
To guarantee the Earth-Proliferation Territory’s dominance, Mirror Moon Palace, Profound Sword Pavilion, Greenwood Sect, Blazing Flame Sect and Heavy Gold Sect — the Five Great Sects — all kept an outward appearance of stability.
If the other eight great cultivation sects of the Southern Wastes invaded, the Five Great Sects would temporarily set aside grievances and unite against the enemy.
But this contest for the Tianyan True Realm might break the tacit cooperation and order the Five Great Sects had maintained for millennia.
“Senior Sister, shall we enter the Tianyan True Realm together?” Chen Beiwu took the initiative to invite.
She had often looked after him; entering the True Monarch secret realm would allow him to watch over Senior Sister Yun.
Yun Yishu slightly shook her head, “I will not go.”
She held fourth place on the Mirror Moon Rankings and already had a share of Golden-Palace Pills; there was no need for her to risk entering the Tianyan True Realm.
After a moment’s hesitation she spoke to dissuade him, “Chen junior-brother, you only recently advanced to Foundation Establishment and your cultivation is merely mid-Foundation; there is actually no need to meddle in this True Monarch secret realm.”
“Do not worry, Senior Sister; if I dare enter the secret realm, I naturally have some confidence,” Chen Beiwu nodded. He agreed with Yun Yishu’s opinion.
A mid-Foundation cultivator entering the Tianyan True Realm was indeed dangerous and could fall at any time.
But he was not an ordinary mid-Foundation cultivator.
Seeing that Chen junior-brother’s mind was made up, Yun Yishu did not further dissuade him, but offered a suggestion.
“I have ties with Feng Yao. Senior Sister Feng’s temperament is gentle and trustworthy. If you wish to enter the Tianyan True Realm, team up with her; that will be safer.”
Senior Sister Feng came from the Illusory Sea lineage, was at Foundation Establishment peak, and was an extremely powerful fighter; she once alone repelled the joint attack of two same-tier Foundation cultivators. She ranked tenth on the Mirror Moon Rankings and was the Illusory Sea lineage’s face — otherwise the Ancestor would not have decreed Senior Sister Feng’s entry into the Tianyan True Realm.
“Senior Sister’s words are reasonable.” Chen Beiwu did not refuse.
After all, once inside the Tianyan True Realm he could act freely; there was no need to rebuff Yun Yishu’s goodwill.
“Be careful of cultivators from the Blazing Flame Sect and Heavy Gold Sect. If necessary, do not hold back — you may kill them.”
After that warning, Yun Yishu took out a Transmission Talisman and activated it.