Chapter 416 : Impact of Nascent Soul Formation
Chapter 416: Impact of Nascent Soul Formation
Chen Beiwu’s thoughts stirred, and he suddenly recalled the matter of the Azure Origin Realm.
This Star Conqueror path sounded rather dangerous.
Sensing Junior Brother’s thoughts, Yue Chenfeng explained: “Immortal Alliance cultivators who join the army to conquer foreign domains have always suffered extremely high mortality rates, but the Star Nexus is a special institution established by the Immortal Alliance specifically for worlds beyond the domain.
Immortal Alliance geniuses who wish to enter it must first attain the Dao as True Monarchs and be outstanding genius experts who have distinguished themselves among the Thirteen Immortal Sects. Only then do they have a chance of passing the Star Nexus assessment, becoming Star Conquerors with special status, and participating in the Immortal Alliance’s top-secret development operations.”
“Junior Brother Chen, becoming a Star Conqueror is indeed dangerous. One must face worlds governed by bizarre laws, planetary deities that have gone out of control, and even extraterritorial evil demons and Demon Beasts, but the rewards are also the richest.”
“Star Conquerors with distinguished achievements can not only retain part of the spoils from conquering foreign domains, but can also use battle merits to obtain priority in exchanging for various cultivation resources within the Immortal Alliance treasury, and can even mobilize local Immortal Alliance forces to assist in completing their own rituals for seeking the Dao and pursuing Truth.”
At this point, Yue Chenfeng refilled everyone’s tea and looked toward Chen Beiwu:
“In short, these three paths each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and are also the mainstream paths chosen by most Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the Thirteen Immortal Sects.”
“Which path did Eldest Senior Brother choose back then?” Chen Beiwu asked tentatively.
“Eldest Senior Brother chose to become a Star Conqueror back then, rapidly comprehending the Dao on the edge of life-and-death battles. He even once formed an army by himself and helped the Immortal Alliance suppress and conquer a Middle Chiliocosm.” Su Muyi praised.
“Junior Sister Su overpraises me. It was merely a Middle Chiliocosm whose rank had nearly fallen.”
Yue Chenfeng smiled, unable to conceal the pride on his face.
Middle Chiliocosms varied greatly in strength, but even the weakest Middle Chiliocosm had many existences comparable to Nascent Soul True Monarchs presiding over them.
Fortunately, his strength had been superior and far beyond what True Monarchs outside the domain could compare with. Relying on absolute strength, he had forcibly carved out a path to survival and ultimately completed his ritual for seeking the Dao and pursuing Truth, reaching the perfected True Monarch realm.
Hearing this, Chen Beiwu picked up his tea cup and proactively proposed using tea in place of wine to toast Eldest Senior Brother.
After several cups of tea were drunk, the atmosphere within Cloud Evolution Residence became increasingly lively.
“Junior Sister Su is more familiar with the remaining three paths, so I’ll leave their introduction to her.”
Hearing this, Senior Sister Su continued from Eldest Senior Brother’s words and explained: “The other three paths are also simple.”
“The fourth is to operate industries and enter the world to manage wealth. Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the sect who are proficient in immortal cultivation arts such as pill refinement, artifact refinement, formations, talismans, and beast nurturing, and whose attainments have reached the Fourth-Rank Mystical Master realm, can take positions in various industries under the sect, or establish their own enterprises and form merchant associations, using immortal cultivation arts to accumulate various cultivation resources.”
“However, competition along this path is fierce. Cultivators not only require extremely high technical skill and business acumen, but also find it difficult to collect high-rank resources that almost never circulate on the market.”
At this point, Su Muyi glanced at Chen Beiwu.
Pill refiners were famously wealthy among the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation. A Fourth-Rank Mystical Pill Refiner could casually make a single move and earn an enormous sum of spirit stones unimaginable to Golden Core True Persons.
But for Nascent Soul True Monarchs, no matter how many spirit stones they had, they were still less precious than high-rank resources compatible with their own cultivation.
Precisely because of this, after Su Muyi made a name for herself among the Thirteen Immortal Sects, she never accepted spirit stones when refining pills for others, but instead charged various Mystical Medicines depending on the pill formula.
Little Junior Brother’s talent did not lie in the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation, but in comprehending the Dao and combat strength. Choosing this path would be equivalent to abandoning the root for the branches, so she did not think highly of it.
At the same time, thoughts were also turning within Chen Beiwu’s heart.
He had also achieved modest accomplishments in the path of formations.
Remaining in the sect to cultivate and teach the Dao, while taking Mystical Formation Master as a secondary profession, would be just right for concealing the origins of some Southern Wilderness resources.
But if he wanted to perfectly resolve the issue of the origins of Southern Wilderness resources, becoming a Star Conqueror of the Star Nexus was undoubtedly the best choice.
There was no other reason. It was perfectly normal for Star Conquerors to obtain some rare resources while conquering foreign domains.
He could take advantage of this opportunity to substitute one thing for another, completely laundering the cultivation resources he harvested from the Southern Wilderness through the channel of foreign-domain conquest, ensuring he would not lack resources for daily cultivation.
The only concern Chen Beiwu had was that becoming a Star Conqueror was too dangerous and prone to accidents, especially given that he had already formed enmity with Xiao Yu.
“It seems Junior Brother has already made a decision.” Su Muyi smiled sweetly and did not continue explaining.
In her view, including operating industries, none of the remaining three paths were particularly suitable for Little Junior Brother.
Under the gazes of his Senior Brothers and Senior Sister, Chen Beiwu stated his decision: “Senior Brothers and Senior Sister, I plan to remain in the sect to cultivate, focus on researching formations, and handle the affairs of the Evergreen Lineage.”
“Junior Brother, you don’t intend to become a Star Conqueror?” Mo Chen was greatly surprised and hesitated to speak.
In the eyes of True Monarchs from the Thirteen Immortal Sects, especially those geniuses aspiring toward Divine Transformation and requiring deep accumulation, although the path of the Star Conqueror was dangerous, it was universally recognized as the smoothest path for the fastest cultivation progress, helping Nascent Soul True Monarchs seek Truth and Position and complete the Four Origins Dao Attainment.
“I don’t have any plans to become a Star Conqueror for now. If cultivation requires it in the future, it won’t be too late to consider it then.”
Chen Beiwu did not completely close off the possibility.
Attaining the Dao as a True Monarch was when he was at his strongest, yet also at his weakest.
This sounded contradictory, but in truth it was an apt description used by Immortal Alliance cultivators for newly advanced True Monarchs who needed to undergo ‘fetal breathing and sitting in oblivion, secluding themselves for a hundred years’.
Simply put, rather than spending his time becoming a Star Conqueror now, he might as well use seclusion as an excuse to conquer the Southern Wilderness Earth Evolution Realm, harvest enough cultivation resources, and smoothly pass through the fetal breathing and sitting in oblivion period of early-stage Nascent Soul.
“Senior Brother Mo, did you forget?”
Jiang Chuan suddenly reminded him: “Junior Brother Chen is the Jade Purity Chief. According to the sect’s customary practice from previous generations, after attaining the Dao as a True Monarch and completing fetal breathing and sitting in oblivion, he needs to head to Earth Abyss Stream Cave and serve as Guard Commander for ten years. It would also be difficult for him to become a Star Conqueror in the short term.”
“Right, look at my memory.”
Mo Chen chuckled and smoothly changed the subject.
“Guard Commander? Senior Brother Jiang, what kind of position is that?”
Chen Beiwu’s heart stirred as he looked toward Senior Brother Jiang Chuan.
“Junior Brother Chen, looking at me is useless too. You’ll know when the time comes.” Jiang Chuan smiled and laughed it off, with no intention of explaining.
The matter concerned Earth Abyss Stream Cave and the sect’s plans. There were some things he could not explain too clearly, lest he violate taboos.
……
After determining his cultivation path, Chen Beiwu left Cloud Evolution Residence. With a single step, he activated a teleportation Mystical Ability and returned to his cave dwelling.
Meanwhile, outside Shuiyan Residence on Azure Nether Peak.
Xu Ziqing and Xu Lingling exchanged glances, the atmosphere solemn.
In the next instant, Chen Beiwu’s figure suddenly appeared.
“Long time no see, old classmate. Congratulations on attaining the Dao as a True Monarch.”
Xu Ziqing’s eyes lit up, her gaze firmly fixed on Chen Beiwu.
“Old classmate, congratulations on successfully forming your Nascent Soul.”
Xu Lingling stepped forward and sincerely congratulated him.
Sensing that the two women were somewhat nervous, Chen Beiwu deliberately teased them to ease the atmosphere:
“You could call me old classmate before and I wouldn’t nitpick, but now that I’ve attained the Dao as a True Monarch, what should you call me?”
Xu Ziqing and Xu Lingling exchanged glances, smiles appearing on their faces as they properly performed a salute: “Greetings, True Monarch Chen.”
“Forget it, your salute isn’t standard at all.” Chen Beiwu slightly shook his head and raised a hand in invitation: “You’d better come inside and have some tea.”
His divine sense was powerful, allowing him to easily perceive the trace of nervousness and estrangement hidden beneath the two women’s smiles.
Chen Beiwu could completely understand this.
Within the Immortal Alliance, the status of Nascent Soul True Monarchs was far beyond that of Golden Core True Persons. Even if Xu Lingling’s father came, he would now have to respectfully address Chen Beiwu as True Monarch.
To summarize the two women’s feelings in one sentence, the disparity in realm and status between both sides had become too enormous, so enormous that the two old classmates instinctively developed reverence.
At that moment, three hesitant Jade Purity cultivators in the distance gritted their teeth and activated escape lights, rushing before Chen Beiwu.
With muffled sounds, the three Jade Purity students dropped to both knees without hesitation and solemnly saluted Chen Beiwu.
“Student Wen Anyu, forged a Third-Grade Golden Core, cultivation at early-stage Golden Core, contracted Mutual Participation Beast is the Earthly Fiend Treasure Beast Flying Sky Flood Dragon, undefeated in combat at the same realm, kowtows before True Monarch Chen.”
“Student Wu Tianhe, forged an Over-Limit Dao Foundation, cultivation at peak Foundation Establishment, contracted Mutual Participation Beast is the Third-Rank Treasure Beast Fire Purgatory Eagle, skilled in pill refinement, capable of distinguishing the spiritual qi of myriad medicines, a Third-Rank Treasure Pill Refiner, kowtows before True Monarch!”
“Student Hu Yuhua, born with Spiritual Eyes, forged an Over-Limit Dao Foundation, cultivation at late-stage Foundation Establishment, contracted Mutual Participation Beast is the Third-Rank Treasure Beast Eight Sceneries Sparrow, skilled at arranging formations, a Second-Rank High-Grade Formation Master, kowtows before True Monarch Chen!”
After speaking, the three looked at Chen Beiwu with burning gazes and respectfully said in unison: “Our aptitude is ordinary, and we dare not delude ourselves into becoming True Monarch’s disciples. We only wish to follow at True Monarch’s side, sweep the courtyard, and constantly listen to True Monarch’s teachings!”
Hearing this, Xu Ziqing and Xu Lingling were stunned, their gazes subconsciously turning toward Chen Beiwu.
Good heavens, was this the prestige their old classmate now possessed?
Even Golden Core geniuses of the Jade Purity Immortal Sect were willing to put aside their pride, kneel, and beg Chen Beiwu to accept them as disciples, asking only for the status of nominal disciples.
Xu Lingling was more observant. Her gaze moved toward the clothing and accessories on Wen Anyu’s body.
Cloud patterns faintly appeared while spiritual light circulated. This Dao robe was the Third-Rank Magical Treasure 【Flowing Cloud Vestment】 produced by Rosy Weave Pavilion, priced at one hundred fifty-eight thousand low-grade spirit stones.
Flawless jade-green light, condensed without dispersing. This ring was the Third-Rank Magical Treasure 【Mind-Calming Treasure Ring】 produced by Treasure Refinement Pavilion, priced at one hundred ninety-nine thousand nine hundred low-grade spirit stones.
……
Xu Lingling calculated extremely quickly. In only the blink of an eye, she worked out that all the visible Magical Treasures on Wen Anyu’s body had a total value of around three million five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones.
Possessing such wealth, combined with the relatively uncommon surname Wen, this Wen Anyu most likely came from a Nascent Soul True Clan ranked toward the lower end among the merchant families of Heavenly Origin City.
Sensing everyone’s gazes, Chen Beiwu swept his eyes over Wen Anyu and the other two.
Golden、pale orange、deep orange.
Chen Beiwu had never intended to accept disciples in the first place, much less when the fate of these three Jade Purity students was truly ordinary.
Combined with the precedent of Chi Quan, this little scene was nowhere near enough to change Chen Beiwu’s thoughts.
“I have no plans to accept disciples for now. You should return.” Chen Beiwu refused.
Accepting disciples was no small matter.
But judging from the reactions of Wen Anyu and the other two, Chen Beiwu could already foresee that this was only the beginning.
Next, there would probably be many immortal cultivation geniuses within the sect proactively submitting visiting cards, hoping to take him as their master. Their procedures would simply be more formal and not so presumptuous.
Hearing this, Wen Anyu’s expression did not change, while Wu Tianhe and Hu Yuhua’s eyes dimmed, yet neither moved.
“Get up, there’s no need for you to do this.”
As soon as Chen Beiwu finished speaking, Wen Anyu and the other two immediately sensed an irresistible force beneath their knees lifting them to their feet.
Watching Chen Beiwu disappear into the cave entrance with Xu Ziqing and Xu Lingling, Wu Tianhe and Hu Yuhua turned toward Wen Anyu.
“True Monarch Chen refused. What do we do?”
“What do we do? Naturally, follow the proper procedure and have the families behind us send formal apprenticeship requests.”
Wen Anyu chuckled and turned to leave.
He had never expected this apprenticeship attempt to succeed. It was enough merely to leave behind an impression of ‘steadfast determination toward the Dao’ in Teacher Chen’s mind.
Wealth could move gods.
His father would naturally plan and arrange the following apprenticeship procedures for him.
‘Families?’
Wu Tianhe and Hu Yuhua exchanged glances, both stunned and somewhat unwilling.
If they truly had families behind them as backers, they would not have disregarded their own dignity and knelt to beg for apprenticeship merely for a little compensation and hope.
“Forget it. With our aptitude, wanting to enter Teacher Chen’s lineage is ultimately nothing more than a dream.”
Wu Tianhe exhaled a breath of turbid air and turned away dejectedly.
Before coming, he had already guessed the outcome.
Although being unable to enter Teacher Chen’s lineage was somewhat regrettable, this was reality.
Without a family background and without a Mutual Participation Beast of powerful bloodline to rely upon, his aptitude was ordinary. Why would Teacher Chen even notice him?
Among the immortal cultivation geniuses who could rely on aptitude and comprehension to break through the disparity created by family Mutual Participation Beasts within the Jade Purity Immortal Sect, only Teacher Chen had emerged as such a peerless genius in ten thousand years.
“But I’m unwilling.” Hu Yuhua murmured softly.
Compared with an unpredictable future, what was even more terrifying was an immortal cultivation life whose end could be seen at a glance.
Without a lineage to rely on, without a True Monarch’s guidance, and unable to obtain a Calamity-Breaking Golden Pill, according to his current cultivation progress, he would most likely fail Core Formation.
In the future, he would obediently graduate and enter the Immortal Alliance’s three great institutions, obtain a job with excellent benefits, and continue cultivating, at the cost of possibly never reaching Golden Core in this lifetime.
“What can you do even if you’re unwilling?”
Wu Tianhe paused, looked toward Hu Yuhua, took out his phone, and opened the Jade Purity Immortal Sect’s official website: “Look carefully. This is fate!”
Seeing the comments on the screen, Hu Yuhua’s pupils contracted: “This is definitely fake news!”
“How could it be fake?”
Wu Tianhe sighed, his tone complicated: “A Core Formation phenomenon of that scale can basically be confirmed as a First-Grade Golden Core.”
“With Chi Quan’s spirit root aptitude, forging a Fourth-Grade Golden Core should already be his limit. A First-Grade Golden Core? That’s absolutely impossible!” Hu Yuhua said incredulously.
It was not as though he did not know Chi Quan.
In terms of aptitude alone, he was even above Chi Quan.
“What if Chi Quan was fortunate enough to receive Teacher Chen’s guidance?” Wu Tianhe reminded him through divine sense.
Hu Yuhua swallowed and quickly reacted.
“This matter has caused too great an impact. The Jade Purity Immortal Sect’s official website is already in an uproar. Many second-generation immortal cultivators within the sect want to take True Monarch Chen as their master.”
Wu Tianhe glanced at his storage ring, unable to conceal the envy in his heart.
The reason he was here was precisely because a second-generation immortal cultivator had paid a high price for him to test whether Chi Quan’s method would work.
Otherwise, he would never have coincidentally encountered the other two and joined them in rashly visiting and kneeling to beg Teacher Chen.
Unfortunately, some things could succeed once but not twice.
That kneel of Chi Quan’s back then had truly allowed him to kneel out a path leading straight to the heavens!
“If I kneel here and refuse to rise, could I move Teacher Chen through sincerity?” A thought stirred in Hu Yuhua’s heart.
“Don’t do anything reckless. If you anger Teacher Chen, you should know the consequences yourself. Don’t drag me into it.” Wu Tianhe hurriedly shook his head and left.