Chapter 35: Cultivation, Grand Void Land, Kill!
The Taixu Spirit-Refining Art is deeply imprinted in your mind. It can only be comprehended, never transmitted in words!
As for that slip of paper obtained from the Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sect, it vanished. The Soul-Refining Sect’s sect-guarding technique no longer glowed either.
“A one-time use?” You found it somewhat hard to believe. Whose sect-guarding technique can only be passed down once?
You inwardly groaned. You had wiped out someone’s sect-guarding technique, and it couldn’t even be passed on. You yourself felt disaster was imminent!
You rose, preparing to flee with Shangguan Lan, when Qingyunzi appeared just in time.
“Cough, Fellow Daoist.” You greeted him with a guilty conscience.
“It’s fine. So it failed. No one in my Soul-Refining Sect has been able to comprehend it for a long time.” Qingyunzi looked at your embarrassed expression and dismissed it, assuming you had failed to comprehend it and couldn’t save face.
“Then this… why did the sect-guarding technique stop glowing?” You thought for a moment, then probed.
“You mean this? Normal phenomenon. The sect-guarding technique’s spiritual power is simply exhausted. It will recover after absorbing spiritual power for a while.” Qingyunzi waved his hand.
“So that’s how it is.” Realization struck. “Good, then I’ll head back first.”
Returning to your cave residence, you kept Shangguan Lan at your side, ready to flee at any moment.
Over the next month, Qingyunzi never came looking for you, and you gradually relaxed, focusing on cultivation.
“Disciple, your Master is about to enter seclusion. If anything happens, crush this jade talisman, and your Master will appear in time.” You handed Shangguan Lan a jade talisman, just in case.
“Master, rest assured and enter seclusion. There’s no need to worry about your disciple.” Shangguan Lan accepted it with both hands and smiled at you.
You reached out and rubbed Shangguan Lan’s head. “Cultivate well. If I still haven’t come out of seclusion in four years, remember to wake me.”
“Mm!”
You began your seclusion.
With the entire Soul-Refining Sect providing you cultivation resources, plus your immortal-grade technique, the Boundless Longevity Art, your cultivation progressed extremely fast!
In the second year of seclusion, you successfully broke through to Golden Core, fourth layer!
In the third year of seclusion, you reached Golden Core, fifth layer!
In the fourth year of seclusion, you successfully broke through to Golden Core, sixth layer!
The Golden Core stage cultivation resources Qingyunzi had prepared for you were completely exhausted!
In three years, you broke through three barriers in a row, your strength soaring!
To ensure a solid foundation, you stopped raising your cultivation and began refining your divine sense instead!
You had obtained the Taixu Spirit-Refining Art three years ago. Today was the first time you formally cultivated it.
Your divine sense left your body. According to the technique’s introduction, your divine sense arrived at the Taixu Realm.
Here, there was nothingness. Your divine sense roamed within it.
Time seemed to lose all meaning here. You didn’t know how long had passed — it felt like an instant, yet also like tens of thousands of years.
Your divine sense wandered through the Taixu, gradually growing stronger.
You didn’t know how long had passed. Your divine sense gradually became lost within the Taixu. You didn’t know where you had come from, or where you should go.
“Master, Master!”
An anxious voice rang out, jolting you awake from the Taixu!
The calls continued. You followed the direction the voice came from.
“Where’s your master? Hurry and let him out of seclusion. I want to challenge him!”
“Master is still in seclusion. He will not see anyone!”
“Seclusion? I think he’s afraid!”
“First Elder? True Person Wuji! Hurry up and get the hell out here! I want to challenge you!”
“If you don’t come out, I’ll start with your disciple!”
“I have to say, she’s quite the pretty one.”
A cacophony of voices came through. Your divine sense rippled, its speed increasing.
“Zhang Dechou, what are you trying to do? This is the First Elder’s cave residence! No one may trespass!”
“So what if I trespass? If you have the guts, kill me!” Zhang Dechou laughed loudly, immensely pleased with himself.
“With my cultivation at Golden Core ninth layer, great perfection, and both Sect Masters absent, who in this world can kill me!”
“Who can kill me!!!”
“I can!”
Your divine sense returned to your body. Your eyes snapped open, and the cultivation of Golden Core, sixth layer, erupted in full!
“Master!” Seeing you emerge, the pale-faced Shangguan Lan could no longer hold on and slowly collapsed backward.
With her cultivation at Qi Refinement, ninth layer, holding out this long under the pressure of Zhang Dechou’s Golden Core great perfection was already her limit.
You instantly appeared at Shangguan Lan’s side and reached out to catch her.
“It’s fine. Your Master is here.” You channeled spiritual qi into Shangguan Lan and said softly.
“Mm.” Shangguan Lan looked at you with her large eyes and relaxed.
“So damn slow. You finally deigned to come out?”
“Hand over the First Elder token now, and I’ll spare your dog life!” Zhang Dechou clamored.
You turned a deaf ear. Once Shangguan Lan had recovered somewhat, you set her down, then turned to face Zhang Dechou.
Behind you, Shangguan Lan looked at your back, her face slightly red.
An Elder spoke up. “Fellow Daoist Wuji, according to the rules, Fellow Daoist Zhang is now challenging your position as First Elder. You have no right to refuse!”
“Hurry it up. I’m in a rush. A mere Golden Core, sixth layer — I can wipe you out with a wave of my hand!” You hadn’t concealed your cultivation, so Zhang Dechou looked at your Golden Core, sixth layer, and spoke with utter disdain.
You said not a word, because you never spoke an extra sentence to a dead man!
Your right hand rose, and in an instant, tens of thousands of palms appeared above, all of them smashing toward Zhang Dechou in that instant!
Zhang Dechou’s contempt instantly turned to gravity. He immediately used the Soul-Refining Sect’s Profound-Rank High-Grade ultimate art, the Void Great Hand Seal!
As the palm seals clashed, you weren’t idle either. You closed in on Zhang Dechou, preparing for close combat.
Seeing you approach, Zhang Dechou retreated at extreme speed, always maintaining a distance from you.
Clearly, Zhang Dechou already knew you were a body cultivator.
You gave a light scoff, took out your spirit sword, and said to Shangguan Lan, who was watching from behind, “Disciple, watch closely. The Startled Swan Sword Art at the perfection realm!”
The moment the Startled Swan emerges, there is life without death!
You gripped your spirit sword, poured all your spiritual power into it, and unleashed the Startled Swan Sword Art, heading straight for Zhang Dechou.
Zhang Dechou’s expression changed drastically. He sensed the aura of death within that sword qi!
He hurriedly brought out all his dharma artifacts to block, shouting, “You can’t kill me!”
Chi!
Your spirit sword pierced straight through Zhang Dechou’s heart. The powerful sword qi rampaged within his body, destroying all vitality.
Zhang Dechou’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something more.
You drew your spirit sword and swept it out, directly beheading him, blood splattering everywhere!
In that instant, all was silent!
The Soul-Refining Sect Elders all wore expressions of disbelief. One strike, and a cultivator at Golden Core ninth layer, great perfection, was just gone?
“Master is amazing!”