Chapter 389 : Advanced Study Between Two Sects
Chapter 389: Advanced Study Between Two Sects
“Buzz!”
The phone vibrated as message after message popped up.
Chen Beiwu’s Divine Sense moved. Without even opening them, he knew these messages were congratulations sent by sect cultivators, and he replied to them one by one with his thoughts.
“By the way, when does Junior Brother Chen plan to take charge of the Student Department?”
True Monarch Su Miao smiled brightly and proactively changed the subject.
Otherwise, if they continued talking, provoking the Three-Phase Mystic Flood Dragon into fury would be a minor matter, but souring relations with Chen Beiwu would not be good.
It was rare for such an interesting junior to appear, and she wanted to see just how far Chen Beiwu could ultimately go, and whether he could distinguish himself among the many Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the Immortal Sects.
“The transition for the position of Student Department Minister requires some time. Senior Brother Shen Lingxing has not yet formally stepped down as minister either, so the relevant handover procedures will probably have to follow the regulations.” Chen Beiwu did not care too much about it.
The position of Student Department Minister sounded impressive and carried high status, but compared with other departments of Yuqing Immortal Sect, such as the Beast-Taming Department and Teaching Department, it was simply insignificant.
Simply put, although they were all ministers, the Student Department Minister was usually the Chief Disciple of the Immortal Sect, a Golden Core True Person, and was mainly responsible for handling the many affairs of the younger generation, namely Sect Students and Immortal Students.
Meanwhile, the Beast-Taming Department Minister and Teaching Department Minister were elusive Divine Transformation True Venerables, true high-ranking figures of the Immortal Sect.
The difference between the two was like clouds and mud!
Of course, complaining inwardly was one thing. Chen Beiwu naturally would not believe that the position of Student Department Minister was completely useless.
Quite the opposite. If he wanted to establish his own faction and maximize the usefulness of the Nine-Breath Chaos Divine Ability, then the position of Student Department Minister was actually a rather good entry point.
“Shen Lingxing has long since stopped concerning himself with Student Department affairs in order to attain the Dao as a Nascent Soul True Monarch. If Junior Brother Chen has the time, you may temporarily take over at any moment, and the sect would also be happy to see it happen.” True Monarch Su Miao offered a reminder.
Everyone had aspirations, especially Chen Beiwu, who came from a fallen family yet possessed peerless talent. Naturally, his ambitions could not be ordinary.
Leaving everything else aside, merely from the matter of opening a hall and transmitting methods, True Monarch Su Miao could tell that Chen Beiwu had been gathering people’s hearts and building his reputation through Secret Arts of Core Formation.
But the position of Student Department Minister was only a beginning.
Barring any accidents, after Chen Beiwu became Student Department Minister, his first priority would not be installing trusted followers and excluding dissidents, but establishing credibility and prestige.
Only by accomplishing this could Chen Beiwu use the position of Student Department Minister to leverage the network of Yuqing Immortal Sect, draw in the various factional powers within the sect, and establish a relationship network belonging to himself in preparation for being listed in the Yuqing Golden Register in the future.
“There’s no need to rush this matter.” Chen Beiwu shook his head slightly：“Compared with involving myself in the miscellaneous affairs of the Student Department, cultivation realm is the true foundation.”
After speaking, Chen Beiwu proactively changed the subject and asked True Monarch Su Miao for guidance on how to forge a Heaven-Bestowed Ultimate Scene.
This question happened to touch upon the field True Monarch Su Miao excelled at most, arousing some of her interest in transmitting the Dao and teaching.
“The Companion Landscape emphasizes mutual resonance and jointly comprehending the mysteries of heaven and earth, rather than dividing master and subordinate and merely merging one’s spirit into heaven and earth.”
“Spirit refers to the soul, and also spirituality. The spirit of the Companion Beast can likewise resonate……”
Chen Beiwu listened intently, several traces of understanding flashing through his eyes.
After Golden Egg advanced to Beast King, he had felt that his comprehension had increased greatly. Now it seemed that had indeed not been an illusion.
True Monarch Su Miao’s words could be described as dispersing clouds to reveal the sun, allowing him to connect and merge all his previous insights from comprehending the two Scenic Steles and evolve entirely new realizations.
Three hours passed in the blink of an eye.
Watching Chen Beiwu ride away on the flood dragon, True Monarch Su Miao remained silent.
One hint and he understood, one explanation and he comprehended.
Among all the Immortal Sect disciples she had taught in the past, Chen Beiwu’s comprehension unquestionably ranked first.
‘This child’s momentum has already formed. Even if True Monarch Breaking Law wants to obstruct him, it will be as difficult as ascending to heaven.’ True Monarch Su Miao sighed, and her figure silently disappeared.
Although her objective this time had not been accomplished and the breeding matter had not been settled, deepening her relationship with Chen Beiwu still meant the trip had not been wasted.
……
At dusk, Taiyuan Heavenly Realm.
As an important place where cultivators of Yuqing Immortal Sect comprehended Landscape Immortal Arts, this place had never lacked renowned prodigies.
But today, the two young cultivators standing before the Primordial Chaos Yuanshi Uniting with the Dao Stele made the passing Yuqing prodigies greatly surprised. They stopped where they were, expressions of respect appearing on their faces.
The two possessed extraordinary bearing. One was handsome, with distinct facial features and an apparent age of around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He wore a fitted dark-patterned black Daoist robe, with a silver belt a palm wide around his waist and an ancient-looking long sword hanging from it.
Without question, this man wore the Daoist robes of Sword-Abyss Immortal Sect. For him to appear in the Taiyuan Heavenly Realm, he was undoubtedly an unparalleled sword cultivator who stood at the summit of the contemporary generation!
As for the other person, she appeared around twenty years old, with elegant features and skin fairer than snow. She wore a flowing-cloud, water-sleeved Daoist dress, with clouds accompanying her as she walked. She resembled an ethereal immortal maiden, giving off an immortal aura that seemed close at hand yet in truth impossibly distant, clearly possessing unfathomable cultivation.
‘Good heavens, haven’t these two already attained the Dao as True Monarchs? Why would they appear in the Taiyuan Heavenly Realm!’
The pupils of a Yuqing prodigy contracted slightly in surprise.
Seeing this, cultivators around him who were familiar with one another immediately began transmitting through Divine Sense：‘Senior Brother Qian, you know these two?’
‘Of course. These two are both famous major figures!’
Hearing this, the passing cultivators were all inwardly shocked.
‘Oh! How major?’
‘They could probably crush me to death without even using one whole hand.’
That Yuqing prodigy smiled bitterly and took the initiative to introduce them：‘The cultivator in black Daoist robes is newly advanced Nascent Soul True Monarch Mo Yuan of Sword-Abyss Immortal Sect, titled True Monarch Severing Karma. It is said that he cultivates the 《Profound Pivot Karma-Severing Causal Sword Record》.’
‘This Sword Record does not cultivate Mana or Divine Sense, nor does it cultivate transformations of Divine Abilities. It specializes solely in the Causality-Escaping-One Sword Dao and is also a supreme killing Sword Dao. Among the prodigies of Sword-Abyss Immortal Sect, extremely few have succeeded in cultivating it. True Monarch Severing Karma is the first in the past five hundred years.’
‘So it’s him!’ A Yuqing cultivator showed shock in his eyes, looking toward Mo Yuan with astonishment.
‘Senior Brother Qian, what about the other one?’ another cultivator curiously transmitted.
‘The other is even more extraordinary. She is newly advanced Nascent Soul True Monarch Mu Yunzhi of Yuxu Immortal Sect, titled True Monarch Myriad Threads.
‘She cultivates Yuxu Immortal Sect’s supreme Heavenly Book 《Ice-Soul Heavenly Net Virtue True Scripture》. Once the cultivation method reaches great completion, with a single thought she can condense Ice-Soul Heavenly Net Threads from Qi that is supremely soft, supremely hard, and supremely cold. It is said she can suppress and kill a Nascent Soul True Monarch with a flick of her finger.’
‘Hiss!’
One cultivator’s mind shook as he looked at Mu Yunzhi with deep respect.
Suppress and kill a Nascent Soul True Monarch with a flick of a finger? What kind of grandeur, what kind of overwhelming power was that!
To personally witness such a powerhouse meant that even if this trip to the Taiyuan Heavenly Realm yielded nothing, it could still be considered worthwhile.
Sensing the gazes of the surrounding cultivators, Mo Yuan and Mu Yunzhi both remained calm, quietly waiting in line. Clearly, they were already accustomed to being watched and observed by countless cultivators.
“Step!”
“Step!”
“Step!”
Just then, footsteps sounded as a white-robed figure approached at an unhurried pace.
The pupils of the Yuqing cultivators present contracted slightly. Recognizing the newcomer’s identity, they all became solemn and simultaneously saluted.
“Greetings, Chief Senior Brother!”
Everyone spoke in unison.
The voice was not particularly loud, but it caused Mo Yuan and Mu Yunzhi to raise their eyes at the same time and look toward the source of the footsteps.
‘What a graceful young nobleman in this turbid world!’ Mu Yunzhi’s beautiful eyes remained unchanged, but inwardly she was slightly startled.
Before coming to Yuqing Immortal Sect for advanced study, she had investigated quite a few things and knew that the current Chief Disciple of Yuqing Immortal Sect was named Chen Beiwu.
This person was quite extraordinary. Although he came from a fallen family and lacked resources, he had managed to distinguish himself among the many second-generation prodigies of Yuqing Immortal Sect. His temperament, talent, comprehension, and foundation were all of the highest grade.
Mu Yunzhi had expected as much.
But after personally seeing Chen Beiwu today and sensing his aura with Divine Sense, Mu Yunzhi could not help feeling surprised.
Interesting. A mere Golden Core cultivator could actually make her, a Nascent Soul True Monarch, feel threatened!
One had to know that although she was a newly advanced True Monarch of Yuxu Immortal Sect, she was not a Nascent Soul True Monarch like True Monarch Yue Xiao who had only recently broken through. She had already completed internally guarding the Yellow Court and Embryonic Breathing Sitting in Forgetfulness, could display her full strength, and was merely half a step away from entering the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul realm.
Sure enough, hearing of someone was inferior to meeting them, and meeting them surpassed even their reputation.
Mu Yunzhi suddenly lost interest in the Primordial Chaos Yuanshi Uniting with the Dao Stele and looked at Chen Beiwu with considerable interest.
‘This person is truly strange, seeming weak yet strong!’
Mo Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, emotion appearing in his heart for the first time.
Those capable of attaining the Dao as Nascent Soul True Monarchs were all among the foremost peerless prodigies of the Thirteen Immortal Sects, so naturally they would not fear the name of the Yuanshi Golden Core.
Quite the opposite, a trace of fighting intent even involuntarily surged within Mo Yuan’s heart.
Unfortunately, no matter how powerful a Golden Core was, it was still a Golden Core. If he used his Nascent Soul True Monarch realm to challenge someone weaker, it would truly violate his own Sword Heart.
At this thought, sword light flashed at Mo Yuan’s Spirit Platform. He withdrew his gaze and stopped looking at Chen Beiwu.
“Everyone, there’s no need for such formality.” Chen Beiwu lightly waved his hand.
Being Top of the Yuxu Rankings and being Yuqing Chief Disciple truly carried entirely different status.
The last time he entered the Taiyuan Heavenly Realm, few had exchanged pleasantries with him, while many either refused to accept him or respectfully kept their distance.
But this time, wherever he passed, every sect cultivator saluted him.
Even Nascent Soul True Monarchs, powerful as they were, would address him as Junior Brother upon meeting him and would never put on airs.
“Chief Senior Brother, please go ahead.”
A cultivator standing at the very front of the line voluntarily cupped his hands toward Chen Beiwu and yielded his place.
This was neither fear nor flattery, but respect for the standard-bearer of the sect’s younger generation.
The Chief Disciple of the Immortal Sect was a future powerhouse of the sect and naturally deserved to enjoy priority privileges.
In an instant, the crowd parted and voluntarily opened a path.
“Many thanks, Junior Brother.” Chen Beiwu did not hypocritically decline.
Having received True Monarch Su Miao’s instruction regarding the key points of forging a Heaven-Bestowed Ultimate Scene, Chen Beiwu was already impatient to comprehend the Primordial Chaos Yuanshi Uniting with the Dao Stele and the Bi’an Qiongqi Striving to Cross Stele.
‘Has the atmosphere in Yuqing Immortal Sect already become like this?’ Mo Yuan frowned slightly, feeling rather dissatisfied.
In Sword-Abyss Immortal Sect, even if the Chief Disciple of the Sword Sect wanted to change places, he still had to show a degree of respect toward a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
If the Taiyuan Heavenly Realm ranked people by first come, first served, that would be one thing. Although Chen Beiwu was Chief Disciple of the Immortal Sect, how could a mere Golden Core not understand propriety and cut in line ahead of Nascent Soul True Monarchs.
‘Wasn’t it said that Chen Beiwu was unconventional and did not possess the hearts of Yuqing’s prodigies?’
Mu Yunzhi also found it strange, but her gaze toward Chen Beiwu carried a trace of appreciation.
As the saying went, a woman three years older brings a gold brick, and a woman three hundred years older gifts a Mystic Pill.
Unfortunately, she was three hundred and twenty-three years older than Chen Beiwu. Otherwise, she might have gotten closer to him and sought a suitable match.
“Chief Chen.”
Mu Yunzhi slightly nodded and proactively introduced herself：“Mu Yunzhi, True Monarch of Yuxu Immortal Sect, advanced-study student at Yuqing Immortal Sect.”
“Mo Yuan, Sword-Abyss Immortal Sect, advanced-study student.” Mo Yuan spoke concisely.
“So it is the two True Monarchs in person. I have long heard of your reputations.” Chen Beiwu responded calmly.
The Five Great Grotto-Heavens and Thirteen Immortal Sects frequently interacted, and mutually sending disciples for advanced study was also commonplace.
Since he had been able to obtain a qualification for advanced study in Supreme Yin Grotto-Heaven, Mo Yuan and Mu Yunzhi naturally also had opportunities to obtain advanced-study resources from Yuqing Immortal Sect.
After all, as one of the Upper Three Immortal Sects, Yuqing Immortal Sect possessed profound foundations and an ancient Dao lineage. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it was an Immortal Sect where prodigies from the Ten Immortal Sects dreamed of undertaking advanced study.
As for advanced-study qualifications for the Five Great Grotto-Heavens, they were mostly exchanged within the Grotto-Heavens themselves. Even when an occasional advanced-study slot circulated to an Immortal Sect, it was mostly obtained by the Upper Three Immortal Sects and had nothing to do with prodigies of the Ten Immortal Sects.
“I heard you once met the Holy Maiden of Supreme Yin?”
Since waiting in line was idle anyway, Mu Yunzhi subconsciously started a conversation.
“If a mirror image counts, then I indeed have.” Chen Beiwu smiled.
It had to be said that Mo Yuan and Mu Yunzhi were indeed extraordinary.
The Fate surrounding both of them was a Crimson Fortune Dragon. The latter in particular showed faint signs of giving birth to a trace of Purple Qi. In the future, she might possibly break through the barrier of True Monarch and advance to Divine Transformation True Venerable, although the hope was extremely slim.
“Since we have entered the Taiyuan Heavenly Realm and are lining up to comprehend Landscapes, the order should either be determined by first arrival, or by seniority and virtue, rather than by status.”
The instant Mo Yuan spoke, the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.
The Yuqing prodigy who had yielded his place in particular looked at Mo Yuan with dissatisfaction.
How rude!
Although Mo Yuan was an advanced-study cultivator at Yuqing Immortal Sect, he was still a Nascent Soul True Monarch of Sword-Abyss Immortal Sect.
Being allowed to enter the Taiyuan Heavenly Realm was already an enormous favor and grace bestowed by the sect, yet he actually dared speak recklessly here and attempted to use seniority and virtue as an excuse to suppress the sect’s Chief Disciple.
Mu Yunzhi pursed her lips and glanced at Mo Yuan, also feeling speechless.
She had long heard that Mo Yuan possessed an inflexible personality, but she had not expected him to be inflexible to this extent.
Both sides were willing participants. Why was Mo Yuan, an outsider, interfering?
“True Monarch Mo, between seniority and virtue, which comes first and which comes afterward?” Chen Beiwu asked with interest.
He sensed no malice from Mo Yuan. Either the other party concealed it well, or this was simply his personality, following his true heart rather than acting deliberately.
“Naturally seniority comes first and virtue afterward.”
Mo Yuan calmly said：“Heaven and earth have constancy, and the four seasons have order. Seniority comes first because it respects heavenly timing and reveres heaven and earth.”
“The Dao has neither beginning nor end, neither elder nor young, and is therefore the ultimate senior……” Chen Beiwu rejected his view：“Thus, the senior is not necessarily virtuous, perhaps constrained by form and vessel or lost beneath accumulated dust, while the virtuous may become senior, with virtue matching heaven and earth. Why can I not stand before you?”
Hearing this, Mo Yuan looked deeply at Chen Beiwu.
“I have learned from your words.”
Although he did not completely agree with Chen Beiwu’s words, he also understood that there was actually nothing wrong with the statement that the virtuous could become senior, so there was no need to continue arguing.
Compared with debating through words, he was better at persuading others with his sword.
Besides that, the confidence contained within Chen Beiwu’s words also gave rise to a trace of appreciation in him.
Since the other party believed virtue came before seniority, compared himself to the virtuous, believed no cultivator present could compare with him, and regarded Nascent Soul True Monarchs as nothing, this kind of bearing was indeed worthy of admiration. He did have the qualification to take a seat ahead of Mo Yuan.
Unfortunately, his cultivation was just a little too low, making it impossible to spar through Dao Combat and discourse.
At the same time, some Yuqing cultivators saw that True Monarch Mo Yuan had taken the initiative to raise the topic, only to voluntarily yield before Chen Beiwu, and their expressions became strange as they felt surprised.
What was going on?
Could it be that True Monarch Severing Karma had not deliberately caused trouble to probe the Chief Disciple’s cultivation foundation? Otherwise, why would he voluntarily yield after merely a few verbal exchanges!